Half-term. Dodging the storm to pick pumpkins.

It’s the half-term holiday. Not that half-terms really mean much to me any longer as its more years than I can remember since I was really ruled by the academic year. But the two smallest grandchildren are still at school and our daughter is a teacher, and so my life is still impacted by the school calendar. 

So, in appreciation of how hard teachers work, here’s a quotation from one of Terry Pratchett’s books:

‘You sound like a very educated man for a barbarian’, said Rincewind

‘I didn’t start out as a barbarian. I used to be a teacher. But I decided to give it all up and make a living by the sword.’

‘After being a teacher all your life?’

‘It did mean a change of perspective, yes.’

But … well … surely … the privations, the terrible hazards, the daily risk of death …

Mr Saveloy brightened up. ‘Oh, you’ve been a teacher, have you?’

Yesterday my daughter and I, accompanied by Granddaughters Number Two and Number Four and Grandson Number Two, drove to Buckinghamshire to spend the weekend with my son and his family. Granddaughter Number Four and Grandson Number Two were delighted to be reunited with their cousin, Granddaughter Number Three (and her two cats).

This morning we all set off in two cars as soon after 9.00 as we could organise ourselves so that we could have some fun and games before Storm Austen hit this part of England later in the morning.

We were going to a pumpkin patch - well, a farm that has turned itself into a pumpkin-growing and -selling place, with a plantation of Christmas trees nearby ready for when Hallowe’en is finally put away. As far as eye could see-there were fields of pumpkins, with pumpkins of all sizes and colours.

There was a mystery door leading nowhere.

And a spooky piano waiting to be played. 

My son and Grandson Number Two loaded wheelbarrows with pumpkins.

We then had to select which we would actually purchase, much to the chagrin of Grandson Number Two who would have happily kept the lot. Granddaughters Number Three and Number Four and Grandson Number Two will carve them artistically this afternoon. 

Alongside the pumpkin patch there was a churros van. Two portions of sugar and cinnamon churros were purchased and consumed. i am not as a rule a great fan of cgurros but freshly fried rhey were fine.

There was also a gift shop and a farm shop selling all sorts of food fproducts. Someone has turned the farm knto a going concern by the looks of things.

Life goes ln. Stay safe and well, everyone!