Mumbling Free - Day 11 - Running up that hill

This is probably the most misleading title yet, but you'll see why I chose it in a minute.  Thanks to Kate Bush for the title.  We now have broadband so all our devices are working at last.

My night time disturbances get worse, this morning it was still dark when I woke, and the only way to cool off was to sit on the patio.  The street lights do not go off here, yet there are many more stars visible than at home, so I enjoyed by 10 minutes cooling off wondering at and about the night sky and the awesomeness of the universe - a great way to get back to sleep quickly - I don't think.

We decided to have a lazy day - so there is not too much to follow.  After breakfast Jo and I took Leo and Brody for a walk, first we went round to the road behind the house and let Leo look over the fence at mum and dad.  Then we went down to the swings and it was my turn in the swings with Leo.  He enjoyed the swings, although he spent the time watching the other children.  He also enjoyed the slide, but at first he was nervous about standing on the platform.  I got him to say"Ready, steady", but we never quite got to "go", which is odd because Andy reports that 'steady' is the word he misses out.  The slide has three planned ways up.  At first I just lifted him onto the platform, then he decided to use the fourth way - back up the slide.  He also like one of the sets of steps, a kind of arched ladder, but the rungs were far to far apart for him.  When it was time to go home we walked up the hill, Leo even ran a little.  Grandad got tired, so Leo carried him for a bit ...

 ... and then we swapped over for the rest of the journey.

Jess cooked Fajitas for lunch and we crashed out in front of the tennis, played in the garden a little, with lots more bubbles, and then we all had to come inside to watch the TV for 90 minutes (+15).
BT were scheduled to arrive between 1pm and 6pm, he turned up a little before 5 but was working outside for some time before he came to us.  It was a long job, mostly outside at the top of the pole, it seemed, but all was finally completed andthen there was a flurry of activity as the various devices that had been dormant for a few days (or over a week for mine) connected and got themselves up-to-date.

Did I mention we have broadband - no blogger save errors tonight, no slow machine waiting for I don't know what.

As I write this Leo has come to help and we have scrolled through Jo's pictures and videos, and he has identified each of us Grandad, Daddy, Mummy, Brody and You (which is what he calls himself in a picture).

Now that we have broadband, I am hoping to do a video call with Karen in a few minutes.  Life is back to normal (whatever that is, but it is better than yesterday)

Holidays are a chance to relax, which doesn't means filling them with tiring but different activities - it is part of the purpose to sleep in the afternoon and wake up and get up in the night, to think and reflect on different things and to play with children - it makes us who we are both adults and children.

P.S. Did I mention that we have broadband, well it works well and I have spoken to Karen, and She, Robert and Robbie are doing fine.

Speed Test

Tonight's speed is:


Which is much better, and a lot more like what I was getting after the upgrade.

Summer time and the weather is awful

That must be because I'm on holiday. It's just some time to catch up with life - repairs and things I've been promising to do for people.

Liz has a new car. The bank of Mum & Dad has helped with the purchase, but its one of the few banks that does not lend to unreliable customers, so that should be OK. She had tried to buy a slightly cheaper one, but they sold it before she made up her mind. Still its good news - she had lost faith in the other one - too many creaks and groans.

I spent the morning researching broadband contracts for friends at church. Where have all the small specialist providers gone? There used to be loads. I guess the industry is maturing.

Yesterday I travelled home by bus from the garage where we bought our car - it was in for its four-year service (1st year for us), and back again in the evening to pick it up. The car was due to be ready at 5pm, I arrived at 5pm EXACTLY. Two buses, and a stop in the middle to buy the season ticket for getting to work. I was amazed. The service went well and the MOT was passed, so it is all legal.

I was going to go out, but it is still raining - I'll just have to shop on-line!!