A misunderstanding

When Wilson returned from the village with his gladiolus, I mentioned the phone calls and gave him the numbers. 

Later I caught a snatch of one of his conversations: 'Well, what time is it there? … Really? … No, I don't think I can make that in time…'

When he'd hung up, he explained that there had been a 'misunderstanding' when he placed the adverts for his Coffee Delivery Service in the local newspapers. I raised my eyebrows questioningly, and he elaborated, explaining that he had no idea there was also a Brighton in Brooklyn. And in Colorado. And Boston. Likewise a Worthing in South Dakota, a Newhaven in Connecticut and a Lewes in Delaware. 

'I did wonder,' he reflected, 'why all the adverts were priced in $… maybe that should have been a clue.'

Wilson goes flower shopping...

Wilson has just got back from the village, as he 'needed' to buy some gladioli. 

While he was out there were a couple of calls for him. I took down their numbers so he could phone them back on his return, but I was surprised to find that both calls were from America! 

If W is regularly making peak-time transatlantic calls, I shall have to have a word with him…

The Smiths

Since returning from his holiday, Wilson has been spending a lot of time listening to his iPad and humming tunelessly under his breath. Sometimes I can make out a line or two of the song:

I am the son 

And the heir 

something shyness something criminally vulgar 

I am something something 

Of nothing in particular 

Out of the blue, he asked me if I liked The Smiths, as his sister Andrea had really turned him on to them.

Oh no! Teen Angst… and he's not yet even six!

Wilson gets to use his sledge at last!

There was no new snow overnight, but there is still enough for Wilson to go sledging!

He set off, dragging the sledge behind him with Antony sitting on it, then returned a couple of hours later, still dragging the sledge, and still with Antony sitting on it. 

He came in and I made him a hot chocolate with squirty cream and extra marshmallows, but he told me Antony wasn't allowed any as 'He refused to pull the sledge back with me on it!' 

I pointed out that the snow would have come over Antony's head, and that after all he is only a small stuffed toy, and W relented, allowing him two marshmallow pieces!

Safely home

Well, Wilson is now safely home again. Once I got out of the village the roads weren't too bad and I reached the zoo without mishap.

There was a very touching farewell scene when Wilson departed, with his mum hugging him and all his siblings and step-siblings standing in a row waving. 

Andrea was holding baby Laura, who waved and called, 'Bye bye uncle Boo!'

Several of W's new stepfathers were skulking in the background too, but he ignored them.

W waved and waved as we drove away, and there were a few tears on the journey home, but now he's settled in and working once more on Laura's scarf. 

He's talking about going sledging tomorrow, but today he just wants to stay in the warm, snacking and snoozing.

Things are getting desperate!

Today has dawned cold and grey, but I feel compelled to do something to restore Wilson to his home. His final email message, which used up the last of his credit, said, 'I have run out of marshmallows for my hot chocolate. Things are desperate. You must rescue me soon! HELP!'

There's not been much more snow overnight, and the temperature is slowly edging up to zero, so I'm going to dig the car out and try to reach the zoo to liberate Wilson. Wish me good luck. 

I may be gone for some time…

More snow today...

More snow today, so Wilson is still marooned at the zoo. 

In today's email he sounded a bit desperate, saying that The Keeper had taken him for a walk outside but insisted that he wear a leash. W said he had never felt so degraded in his life, and this was Health & Safety gone mad!

Also, he's now run out of film for his Polaroid and the 3G credit on his iPad is so low he can only send one more email, so I must come and get him forthwith! 

I'm off to check the weather forecast and hope for the best...