Nanny Thomas - day one duties completed

Kitty and Henry have just been picked up for a sleepover at Rachel's friend Annie's. We filled our day very well, though my "Kissy Monster" innovation and the scavenge hunt may well be my undoing in days to come.  My ears are still ringing and my throat feels raw from all the roaring required to achieve full monster status.  And, as every caring great aunt cum nanny knows, it's always good to hand them over to someone else at the height of excitement and noisyness.

I am very aware that over the next four weeks, there are going to be many more days of sole responsibility during which I may regret today's enthusiasm.

Will phoned during the afternoon and said that the last twenty four hours had been difficult ones, with the news from the specialist being rather heavy.  Evidently Rachel told Philip yesterday, but nothing has been said to me, probably because they need to process it before sharing.  Basically, Rachel is at a crossroads now - her surgery wounds have to heal (and are proving to be unco-operative) before more chemo can be administered ... and without the chemo the cancer has a mind of its own.  

Sarah and Nick arrived in Cirencester this afternoon and shortly I am going to walk to Philip's for a family meal together. I am very familiar with finding my way in Philip's immediate area but it may be interesting finding Rachel's empty house on my return journey in pitch darkness.   I don't think anyone thought that one through when the arrangement was made - and I haven't got enough breadcrumbs to scatter, so that I can find my way back home again either! 

Henry is a delight at three years old.  He has an excellent vocabulary and understanding - most likely due to his granny's input.  So I was somewhat amused today when he was talking about our time at Disney World and seeing Stinkerbell with Peter Pan.  I suspect it was a deliberate play on words.

I sought professional help with the "sending emails" difficulty today - just prior to buying a full green wig for Kitty and Executor's axe for Henry in readiness for Halloween.  It must be very difficult for shopkeepers finding space for that AND Christmas fare - but it's certainly quite big over here with hedges and fences festooned with faux spiderwebs and evil looking plastic (I hope) spiders and carved pumpkins everywhere.   Another reason for looking forward to walking out shortly in pitch darkness!!

Anyway, it seems the iPad cannot be sorted out from here, because the relevant information seems to delete itself outside of New Zealand.  We did try to ring Paradise (now Vodafone) to get the relevant details from Australia ... held on for over 10 minutes and then got cut off.  They suggested I try again from here, but since I don't really know what I need in the first place and the cost of a call would be astronomical (particularly if they cut me off again) I have decided that I will just have to leave it this time and resort to texts at best and silence at worst.  Very sorry about that.  I have always had this problem when I come over here, but generally it can be sorted out. Evidently not any more.   Guess who is going to get a new provider on her return to NZ?

Thank you for the emails. I think this could become a very difficult visit and your support is greatly appreciated.