Post by annilora on May 5, 2015 13:46:19 GMT
Sibling Thoughts (May 15th 2015 Meeting)
The sun was shining and glistening on the river ripples. It had been a good summer, only on a very few days they’d been kept indoors.
Patrick was lying flat on his back, nibbling a stem of grass. Lucy and Jen were sat by his side, deep in thought.
“Only another week and we’re back at school,” Jen commented.
“Yes” replied Patrick quietly, “and I’ve got to begin at Gordano”.
They were sitting on the grass at the Battery Point waiting for yet another huge car transporter to come lumbering up the Bristol Channel, and pass, heading for the Portbury Docks to unload. They were so huge it always attracted a number of spectators.
“It has been a good holiday though hasn’t it?” said Lucy. “I mean we’ve done an awful lot this year, haven’t we? More than usual I think.”
Patrick and Jen both nodded, and then Jen said “how about that terrific horse drawn caravan trip in Ireland at the very beginning? That was unbelievable!” Patrick laughed and reminded them of the downhill scary bit when the brakes had failed when he, Lucy and Mum had decided to get off and walk. “That was not very funny” Jen remarked, “everything was falling out of the cupboards, I was scared stiff, and Chippy hated every minute. Thank goodness Dad managed to hang on to the reins, and stop over the other side of the bridge in the middle of the village. Luckily he was able to contact another Post Office Engineer who gave him the name of someone local who could help mend them.”
“Yes, and when we all went into that field in the morning and picked loads of mushrooms for breakfast, that was great.” Lucy smacked her lips. “I can also remember when Chippy was racing that Irish Wolfhound, we couldn’t see Chippy’s legs and that big dog was only gently running”.
“Then we went to stay at the caravan again in Cornwall, when I went out with the local fishermen, and brought home so many mackerel. I went round that evening and sold what was left to the other caravaners. I made quite a bit of extra pocket money that day.” Patrick grinned at the memory, “anyway I did share the proceeds with ice cream the day after. They sat quietly for a few moments, watching the huge transporter being led by the small Pilot boats bustling around like chicks around the mother hen. It was quite a sight seeing such a massive ship, so close in to the coastline. Whenever they knew one was expected they always turned up onto the Point for a front row position.
Rising from the grass, grabbing their bags they made their way down the steps and turned into the swimming pool. Being local children they had season tickets so were allowed in and wandered into their respective changing rooms. Lucy came out first and went straight into the water. Immediately she started swimming lengths, one after the other. Her aim was to copy her mother who had competed in the previous year’s Annual Long Swim. This was a regular event and was a mile in length from the Battery Point to the Sugar Loaf Bathing Beach. The local sailing club members volunteered to attend and make a point of follow individual competitors to ensure all was well, and if necessary perform a rescue. Lucy enjoyed swimming and was very competitive, whereas Patrick and Jen were quite happy to swim about and join their many friends also in the pool on that beautiful day.
It was nearing midday and it was a rule that they should report home for their lunch and if necessary take Chippy for a walk. He was a rough haired Jack Russell and they all loved him dearly, and were happy to take him for his daily walks. For lunch Mum had prepared a salad which they, having built up an appetite enjoyed. Chippy was lying by the door, watching every movement with hope in his eyes. They then grabbed his lead and left the house.
“Where shall we go now?” Jen asked.
“How about walking to Clevedon along the cliff path?" Lucy suggested. Jen was not so keen, being only 8 years old, and quite tired after the morning in the pool. She was happy to take a local walk through the woods to the Royal Hotel and again sit on the shore. She then said, they should go ahead, and she would go back home and spend the afternoon in the garden, she did have some homework she could be doing and today would be a good time to get on with it.
They separated on the Lake Grounds; Jen turned and climbed up the slope to Yurnga, calling to her Mother she was staying home to work on some outstanding homework.
It was very shortly after when Patrick and Lucy began running as fast as they could having seen Chippy before they could stop him, lift his leg against a man’s foot, the owner laid out in the sun. Chippy was delighted, he liked racing with Patrick and Lucy and usually won! They had to stop at the start of the walk as they were doubled over with laughter. Thank goodness the guy was fast asleep and perhaps did not feel the present Chippy had left him, they were still laughing as they continued along the path.
It didn’t take them long to reach St Mary’s Bay and were looking out onto the water. It was Patrick that suddenly stopped and pointed out into the channel. It looked like a rubber dingy with a couple of boys in it who were crying, shouting and waving.
“I wonder what‘s the problem?” Lucy asked.
“They’re sinking” said Pat, “we must get help quickly as the tide is on the turn and they could get swept out.
I’ll run on and see if someone could phone the rescue services from the Pier shop,” and off he raced. Lucy put Chippy’s lead on and followed as quickly as she could. By the time she had nearly reached the shop Pat was on his way back to meet her.
“The Rescue Boat is on it’s way to save them, thank goodness”. He was still puffed after his run, but was pleased he had been the first person to have alerted the local sea rescue services. Arriving at the Pier the Clevedon Mercury journalist and photographer had been advised and were waiting for them.
Mum and Dad were very proud of Patrick’s quick thinking and even managed to apply for a photo from the Mercury and have it framed to hang in a very prominent position on the lounge wall. It was something they were unlikely to forget for quite a while.
The sun was shining and glistening on the river ripples. It had been a good summer, only on a very few days they’d been kept indoors.
Patrick was lying flat on his back, nibbling a stem of grass. Lucy and Jen were sat by his side, deep in thought.
“Only another week and we’re back at school,” Jen commented.
“Yes” replied Patrick quietly, “and I’ve got to begin at Gordano”.
They were sitting on the grass at the Battery Point waiting for yet another huge car transporter to come lumbering up the Bristol Channel, and pass, heading for the Portbury Docks to unload. They were so huge it always attracted a number of spectators.
“It has been a good holiday though hasn’t it?” said Lucy. “I mean we’ve done an awful lot this year, haven’t we? More than usual I think.”
Patrick and Jen both nodded, and then Jen said “how about that terrific horse drawn caravan trip in Ireland at the very beginning? That was unbelievable!” Patrick laughed and reminded them of the downhill scary bit when the brakes had failed when he, Lucy and Mum had decided to get off and walk. “That was not very funny” Jen remarked, “everything was falling out of the cupboards, I was scared stiff, and Chippy hated every minute. Thank goodness Dad managed to hang on to the reins, and stop over the other side of the bridge in the middle of the village. Luckily he was able to contact another Post Office Engineer who gave him the name of someone local who could help mend them.”
“Yes, and when we all went into that field in the morning and picked loads of mushrooms for breakfast, that was great.” Lucy smacked her lips. “I can also remember when Chippy was racing that Irish Wolfhound, we couldn’t see Chippy’s legs and that big dog was only gently running”.
“Then we went to stay at the caravan again in Cornwall, when I went out with the local fishermen, and brought home so many mackerel. I went round that evening and sold what was left to the other caravaners. I made quite a bit of extra pocket money that day.” Patrick grinned at the memory, “anyway I did share the proceeds with ice cream the day after. They sat quietly for a few moments, watching the huge transporter being led by the small Pilot boats bustling around like chicks around the mother hen. It was quite a sight seeing such a massive ship, so close in to the coastline. Whenever they knew one was expected they always turned up onto the Point for a front row position.
Rising from the grass, grabbing their bags they made their way down the steps and turned into the swimming pool. Being local children they had season tickets so were allowed in and wandered into their respective changing rooms. Lucy came out first and went straight into the water. Immediately she started swimming lengths, one after the other. Her aim was to copy her mother who had competed in the previous year’s Annual Long Swim. This was a regular event and was a mile in length from the Battery Point to the Sugar Loaf Bathing Beach. The local sailing club members volunteered to attend and make a point of follow individual competitors to ensure all was well, and if necessary perform a rescue. Lucy enjoyed swimming and was very competitive, whereas Patrick and Jen were quite happy to swim about and join their many friends also in the pool on that beautiful day.
It was nearing midday and it was a rule that they should report home for their lunch and if necessary take Chippy for a walk. He was a rough haired Jack Russell and they all loved him dearly, and were happy to take him for his daily walks. For lunch Mum had prepared a salad which they, having built up an appetite enjoyed. Chippy was lying by the door, watching every movement with hope in his eyes. They then grabbed his lead and left the house.
“Where shall we go now?” Jen asked.
“How about walking to Clevedon along the cliff path?" Lucy suggested. Jen was not so keen, being only 8 years old, and quite tired after the morning in the pool. She was happy to take a local walk through the woods to the Royal Hotel and again sit on the shore. She then said, they should go ahead, and she would go back home and spend the afternoon in the garden, she did have some homework she could be doing and today would be a good time to get on with it.
They separated on the Lake Grounds; Jen turned and climbed up the slope to Yurnga, calling to her Mother she was staying home to work on some outstanding homework.
It was very shortly after when Patrick and Lucy began running as fast as they could having seen Chippy before they could stop him, lift his leg against a man’s foot, the owner laid out in the sun. Chippy was delighted, he liked racing with Patrick and Lucy and usually won! They had to stop at the start of the walk as they were doubled over with laughter. Thank goodness the guy was fast asleep and perhaps did not feel the present Chippy had left him, they were still laughing as they continued along the path.
It didn’t take them long to reach St Mary’s Bay and were looking out onto the water. It was Patrick that suddenly stopped and pointed out into the channel. It looked like a rubber dingy with a couple of boys in it who were crying, shouting and waving.
“I wonder what‘s the problem?” Lucy asked.
“They’re sinking” said Pat, “we must get help quickly as the tide is on the turn and they could get swept out.
I’ll run on and see if someone could phone the rescue services from the Pier shop,” and off he raced. Lucy put Chippy’s lead on and followed as quickly as she could. By the time she had nearly reached the shop Pat was on his way back to meet her.
“The Rescue Boat is on it’s way to save them, thank goodness”. He was still puffed after his run, but was pleased he had been the first person to have alerted the local sea rescue services. Arriving at the Pier the Clevedon Mercury journalist and photographer had been advised and were waiting for them.
Mum and Dad were very proud of Patrick’s quick thinking and even managed to apply for a photo from the Mercury and have it framed to hang in a very prominent position on the lounge wall. It was something they were unlikely to forget for quite a while.