A visit to Cheshire

A weekend away visiting old friends is always nice. And for a bachelor the bonus of a short trial of family life. Especially nice as I get treated as part of the family, eg the kids give me as much cheek as they would their parents. Well rather more actually.

Having gone up Friday lunchtime I was in time to see their youngest arrive home from his last day at school before the summer break, bringing with him his stonking good school report. Mother almost bursting with pride. Not unnaturally, as he is a lovely fun kid even without the added bonus of being good at school. And then we took him to sailing club whereupon he proceeded to far outpace his friends in their little sailing boats. More parental pride. Mother virtually splitting at seams by now. So sweet.

But, one has to ask, are kids a good commercial investment? Probably years before you get any financial return. That's not the point you say. Mm, well maybe that's why I never had my own, but suggest the borrowing of others for short periods is the best answer. You get the pleasure (for a period) without the cost and still able to do other things that parents don't seem to get round to anymore. Like gigs and theatre. A  loan system may be the solution. It works in football.

But my other conclusion is that 12 is a nice age. It certainly works on this lad.

Saturday we went to Biddulph Grange Gardens, a National Trust property in North Staffs. A sort of Victorian theme park with lots of follies - Egyptian tombs, Indian monuments, a Chinese garden. A place you could get lost in even on a small site.  Well worth a visit even if its not really a colourful flower garden.

Sunday was another garden, but rather closer - Abbeywood. Now much stronger than Biddulph on the pure flower front. Great herbaceous borders. But rather lacking in maturity. Especially the "arboretum". I am sorry but if I am going to see trees I expect to be gazing up at them, not stooping down. A tree should be taller than at least the grass and weeds that surround them. This was a nursery plantation. Come back in 20 years.