We stood and watched Reagan happily playing in the paddling wearing a snorkel searching for coins I’d thrown in for that purpose, while Lincoln was at a “Youthie” day. She was content at that moment to just mess about as she had done all day yesterday with Lincoln and it was just good to watch.

At 4pm I went to pick up Lincoln from Youthie and told Reagan to be ready to go horseriding whe I returned, and Lincoln was hell bent on going in the pool when he got home and was in there before we left but was already out when I got back stating he was waiting for Reagan because she’d told him to wait until she finished riding and I think that stiffles Lincoln, because she likes to boss him around and up to now he struggles to push back so does as he’s told

As sat with me mum in her garden the other day I looked at the lawn and how overgrown it but even though it had been dry for days I had me best trainers on so I couldn’t get the mower out. When I got home later it started to rain and it bugged me that I hadn’t been able to get it mowed, and it played on me mind all week so this morning I rang her and asked if anyone had managed to cut her grass which they hadn’t so I went round.

It takes a lot to get it cut and looking something right when it’s that long and it took a high cut that thrashed through the long grass but clogged the mower so didn’t pick up any grass at all, followed by the same height which did pick up the grass and then another cut with the blade lowered a couple of notches which made it look great

Once done the brown bin was full and there was half a sack of grass cuttings and you could have gone over it again and filled the sack but I thought best to give it chance to stand up in the sun for a few days before I go back and mow again. I will try and get R Kid to go round with his strimmer at some point which will finish it off but for now a job well done!

Excitedly we set off for Manchester to meet the boys and with the help of satnav we swiftly made it to the NCP carpark we asked them to wait by but because I was so stressed driving in the city centre I forgot to capture the AMAZING hug old freinds give each other after years of separation and I regret not taking a photo of their embrace.

Chester was our first destination, our reasoning was it was the best use of time, and they can rest once we got to the house later, walking the wall was a great way to see a lot of Chester and it passes the Cathederal which is a great building with enough history to interest any American visitor and although there was a lot we couldn’t get to because it was closed off it scrached enough of the “we wanna see old stuff” itch!

The wall was a tough ask for Lincoln who was hungry OBVS and Jim with his blister but the weather was glorious and we made it even though by the end we were all hallucinating about a man dressed as a cow?
Bella Italia greeted us with “Don’t order cheeseburger we don’t have any!” but everyone ordered Italian dishes, go figure?

A fruitless search for a baby sized “Lionesses” replica shirt took us through many shops including Primarni before we boarded the shuttle back to the park n ride and home.

We had worked hard to make our house into a home for our guests and I think we succeeded from their reviews over the last couple of days, I really hope so! With the need to walk Billy I invited everyone to join me and we walked in to town to savour Middlewich because I think Jim and Ian blinked when we drove through the town an hour earlier lol.

Sweet potato wraps were the nostalgic tea which was perfect and Jamie and Ian proceeded to reminisce laughing as they recounted stories of the times they spent together before she emigrated. Lincoln bought a birthday cake, card and a gift for Jim who’s birthday it was but until we presented it, with candles we had not mentioned we knew. He was sat grinning as we sang Happy birthday, before he blew out his candles and made a wish. The perfect surprise to end the day especially because we all got cake before bed!

After a lazy start consisting of pancakes and bacon, Mommy who had been counting the minutes until Reagan arrived at MCC, after her 5 days away camping, went to pick up our exhausted daughter. She introduced her to the boys before tucking her into bed to catch up on some much needed sleep while we all did The Middlewich walk, our way of showing all our visitors where we live. It gives everyone a chance to talk as well and catch up while taking in our town. Collecting blackberries was a great way to keep Lincoln amused while he told all his stories to a very interested Ian and a very polite Jim lol We stopped off at the Big Lock for coffee, snacks and cider….the visitors, not me I only have 100 days to go until 1 year of sobriety!

While our visitors took a nap I managed to finish the last load of their laundry and get it dried, Reagan was awake and getting ready to join us for dinner at the Kinderton which was perfect because she’d been away and Mommy was desperate for her to really meet the boys so once everyone was ready we spent a great evening talking, eating and attempting the quiz. Reagan was the scribe and did really well to write down all the answers that were thrown at her. Our team name was the Ameribrits and although we were convinced we were plum last we actually achieved mid table obscurity as many teams below us as above us, good but no cigar as they say! It was another great way to spend time together, and after leaving without dessert, Mommy had made some custard to go with the blackberry crumble her and Lincoln had made earlier which hit a spot for some!

Ian and Jamie ended their final evening together chatting laughing and reminiscing as I sat just watching and listening to two freinds reunited, before time got the better and we all retired knowing it would be soon time to leave tomorrow.

A 6:30 start, I made everyone coffee and we said our goodbyes and I waved off our visitors as Jamie drove them to the airport and I began putting our house back to a four person dwelling knowing Mommy would be sad on her return as she always is when she has to let go of a taste of home….

It was so great to see Ian again, someone I hold in very high regard and respect a lot, and it was lovely to meet Jim too. It was the way two old freinds just slipped straightaway into their friendship like they’d never been apart, was the best part of the trip. !ts just a shame the visit was so brief. I know we’ll see them again but it was sad say goodbye!

Mommy is sooo excited because Ian Bawn is in the country and coming to visit tomorrow and staying for a couple of days.

Let me explain, Jamie was living with Ian (along with Danny Archuleta who sadly passed away in 2019) when I first met her, in a house in Grant Street, Denver. I think she confided in Ian about her initial contact with me, so he has probably known about our relationship as long as anyone other than us? She always refers to him as her starter husband and her face always lights up when she talks about him, she thinks so much of him!

I always found him such a great guy from the moment I met him, sat at the dining table when I first arrived in Denver before he and Keith discreetly left us alone in the house. He also seemed to look out for Jamie in the 12 months between us meeting and her moving and always made sure he was available when she returned to Denver to visit.

She is also excited because Ian is the first of her Denver friends to come a day visit her so she is pulling out all the stops to make sure everything is perfect for his visit!

I have a fond memory of promising Ian that I will look after Jamie as we stood in Sherman Street saying goodbye as I left to return home and left Jamie to prepare to emigrate to England to make a new life. I really meant it because I wanted him who looked out for her in Denver to know that I would keep her safe in England.

I would love her to write a comment under this post to describe what Ian means to her because I would be very interested