it was a looong weekend!

This weekend, we pardied; hiked to a waterfall; rally-car ogled; played a mad cricket match in the rain (plenty of skidding in the mud to make spectacular catches, even when the ball wasn't even coming their way, because being as muddy as possible is SO COOL!), with ongoing faux-British commentary ("and it's Spin Bowler Sam S, and Issa K hits it silly-mid-on AND ITS A SIX! Excellent batting by K, and midfielder Chas S is rolling in the mud in his dismay!" ); played video games; surfed; tried to fill a jacuzzi with a leak using small cups of water from a swimming pool; had late nights; ate too much; and I don't know what else.

How is it even possible to do so many things? The whole family is in a daze today, and we were 10 minutes late for school this morning. That is really unusual! I am on intravenous coffee, and milky way dark bars, to keep me going till tonight.

My car is showing signs of stress: MUD on the outside and inside; wet stinky hiking shoes and socks in the trunk, which smell WONDERFUL since I parked up in the sun outside the studio for 3 hours this morning (as in, I WONDER if something died in here?); dirty clothes and towels; possible food and drinks; and "special" rocks and assorted treasures which were picked up over the course of the weekend. Hopefully not the jawbone of a barracuda, because that smell never really went away last time. Anything smelly is now forbidden, no matter how cool it may be. Live animals also forbidden, unless securely contained since the great snake escape.

I have called in the professionals, who will come to my workplace and CLEAN my car with their mobile cleaning unit. I only call them when things are looking REALLY bad, and each time, we have the same conversation: "Uh, this is gonna costya extra." "Whatever it takes, honey!" then, I get a lecture about basic car care, as if they are convinced that my car ALWAYS looks like a hurricane after an earthquake. What is their problem? If they can't handle a dirty car, then they are in the wrong business! I am relying on these people BECAUSE there is mud ground into the upholstery!

It was the kind of weekend that it takes a whole week to get over. And of course, I have a rush job to do and I just started getting calls from SERVOL, to do lectures this week. Never a dull moment! So if you never hear from me again, you know why. Send messages of succour and empathy. Also, hot meals and babysitting. (today, my Mama is cooking for my family, because she is THE BEST!) It looks like my bedroom will remain half-painted till next weekend!

In other news, CONGRATULATIONS to Diana and Beens, who have figured out how to comment! Hopefully others will follow?

Also, CONGRATULATIONS to Chasbo, who came first place in a British Gas Science thingy at school today, for Amazing Brilliance in spite of General Tiredness. He is feeling pretty good about that!

When we went on our hike, Chas attached himself to some Americans and disappeared up the river. I assumed they were "with us", (it was a big group, and I didn't know everyone) so I didn't worry. When I finally began to wonder where he was, someone said "oh, he went off with those researchers!" That is so typical of Chas! He can smell a biologist from a mile away. When we eventually caught up with the guys, they were deep in animated discussion about the tiny inhabitants of Marianne River. I directed the researchers to Karl, who they had heard of and intend to hire for a deep forest excursion.

Chas has big plans to meet them in Brasso Seco and go with them on their trip. I have big plans to tell him "no" and make him go to school every day. I am so mean!