50 days to go. What happened to the other 25? Somehow I feel like a completely wasted them. I know I completely wasted them. People keep asking me how the training is going and are so disappointed when I tell them how little I’ve managed to do.
Today is the big day. DEEFA day. As usual the morning is a complete panic. Buddy has the first game of the day, 8am at beautiful Balmoral beach. Unfortunately Buddy’s coach is away so Jake is filling in. This resulted in tears from Tiger. For some strange reason, Tiger insisted that Jake watch his game this week. Tiger’s game was not even in Sydney, it was 90 minutes north of Sydney, on the Central Coast! Le Bonn also has a game of rugby to get to, and Prinny has her netball. After frantic emails on Friday, we managed to secure Tiger a lift to his game and a lift home for Buddy after his game. Jake would then race from Balmoral to the Central Coast, hopefully making it in time for the second half of Tiger’s game. I would take Le Bonn, and Chrissy would look after the girls, wait for Buddy to be dropped off, and then take them to netball. Jake and Buddy, and Tiger and I left home at the same time. As Tiger and I headed to Balmain for his lift, I started to think about a nice, tasty, way to say thank you to the family driving Tiger up to his game. The answer was obvious. Balmain is home to a lovely café Piccolo, who stock those delicious cinnamon scrolls. What a perfect way to say thank you, and I could get a coffee.
Normally there is absolutely no parking in Balmain. For your reference, Balmain has plenty of parking on Saturday mornings before 8am. You will have to wait for some of the cafés to open. Luckily, Piccolo’s was already doing a roaring trade, which made me panic momentarily, until I spotted a heavily laden tray of cinnamon scrolls.
As Tiger and I strolled down Balmain, weighed down with cinnamon scrolls (Tiger had 5 and I had my one), we chatted about the beautiful cottages and terraces that Balmain is famous for. The only problem with the village is the price of real estate and parking!
Once Tiger was on his way, I very slowly made my way home to collect Le Bonn for his game. I listened to the news, drank my tiny little skinny decaf piccolo, and savoured my cinnamon scroll from the outside in!
Le Bonn’s game was in another beautiful part of Sydney, Rose Bay. Walking miles past beautiful homes on a sunny morning was lovely, pity about the prices and parking! Le Bonn’s game was fun to watch, but a bit lonely. With five kids, and Le Bonn playing for two different teams, I haven’t been to watch many of his school rugby games. I didn’t know any of the parents. The upside was, I watched the whole game and did lots of cheering.
As soon as Le Bonn had finished playing, I dragged him very reluctantly away from the BBQ, and hiked to the car to try and watch the end of Prinny’s netball.
By the time we reached Prinny’s game it was over. Even worse, everyone was telling me about the amazing goal Prinny shot. The goal of the season! Speaking from experience, people are always far more impressed when someone uncoordinated shoots a goal, especially when it was a long shot. I think this has been Prinny’s strategy for the season: Lull everyone, especially the coach, into having very low expectations of your ability, and then show the occasional flash of brilliance and skill to keep them guessing. It’s the same strategy I use. Except for the flashes of brilliance. I don’t have those.
At Prinny’s netball, I traded Le Bonn for Prinny, Buddy and Little Lottie Lou. Chrissy headed home with Le Bonn so he could shower and get ready for lunch. Chrissy, Jake, Gran, Le Bonn and Tiger would all head out for lunch, and I would take Prinny, Buddy and Little Lottie Lou to visit their cousins. We would all meet up for “afternoon tea”, aka DEEFA.
The kids had a great time playing with their cousins. I was surprised at how well they behaved when I said it was time to go. They did think they were going for afternoon tea with gran. I just love the way none of our kids were in any way suspicious about why we would be having afternoon tea so far from home!
As we drove the short distance to “afternoon tea”, I called Jake to see how they were progressing. Amazingly, we were in front!!!! I don’t think I have ever beaten Jake and Gran to anything before. I was so proud of myself and the little kids!
As we pulled up to the big house that belonged to the DEEFA breeder (Jen), the kids were surprised by the homely appearance of the café. As Jen came out to greet us, the kids tried to place some orders for hot chocolate and lemonade. Luckily, Jen realised our visit was a surprise and gently steered our children into her backyard. Little Lottie Lou and Buddy ran straight to the play equipment (Jen’s grandkids are regular visitors to her house, hence the play equipment), while Prinny, Tiger, and Le Bonn noticed some dogs. Jen invited us all down to have a look at her new puppies. The kids still had no idea what was going on. I think they were wondering when their drinks would arrive. Jen quietly pointed out which puppy was ours. Tiger was already patting her. Little Lottie Lou and Buddy came down to join the rest of us with the puppies, and then proceeded to run and scream as the puppy chased them. That was it for Little Lottie Lou. She insisted on being held out of the reach of the 8 week old puppy. Buddy relaxed a little bit, but ran every time the puppy turned in his direction. Tiger told Jen that when Little Lottie Lou started school we were going to get a puppy, and he hoped it would be just like this one. “I think it probably will be”, she replied.
The kids still had no clue.
Jake and I couldn’t keep quiet any longer, “This is your puppy! What do you think?”
They were all so excited!
Prinny, Le Bonn and Tiger were screaming with joy.
Buddy and Little Lottie Lou were screaming.
Little Lottie Lou refused to come home in my car, since I was going to be driving the puppy. The other four were all very excited. Buddy’s excitement soon turned to terror, as the puppy tried to climb out of her basket and put her paws on his seat. After some quick car seat reshuffling, Buddy was secured in the very back of the car, and Prinny and Le Bonn were positioned on either side of the puppy to ensure she stayed safely in her basket. Tiger sat in the front, his job was to make sure I drove very very safely.
When we finally arrived home, everyone was tired, especially DEEFA. The first job was to unhide all the dog things I’d accumulated over the week.
The next job was to give DEEFA a name. I liked DEEFA, but that idea didn’t even make the voting board. On behalf of Little Lottie Lou, I then suggested Sofia (as in the new Disney Princess Sofia the First). Bella and Lily were also suggested. DEEFA’s breeding name was Philena Sugar Berry. Sugar and Sugar Berry were both added to the voting board. Tiger suggested Puka. The whole drive home involved Tiger alternating between telling me about the story he’d read at school about a really, really cute Golden Retriever named Puca, and giving me driving advice. With these options on the board, the voting commenced.
Tears resulted.
And so DEEFA became Sofia Sugar Berry Puka.
Exercise: nil, just a lot of driving, and heavy lifting (Little Lottie Lou wouldn’t be on the same ground as Sofia Sugar Berry Puka)
Eating: ok if you don’t count the cinnamon scroll I had for breakfast
75 days to... 