Palm Saturday

There were two events on the calendar for Saturday.  In the morning between 10am and midday it was Messy Church, and in the afternoon and early evening it was the Quarterly Meeting of the local branch of our bellringing association.  So far, so good.

Happy and Sad face biscuit decorating

Then I had a bright idea... This is usually the point at which life gets interesting, as my 'bright ideas' usually complicate life.
"We had plenty of helpers last time at Messy Church. I think I shall take grandchildren Four (aged five) and Five (aged three).  You can go ahead, and we will walk."
However, I hadn't realised that Grandchild Five (aged 3) had completely eschewed the buggy, meaning that extra time needed to be allowed for communing with nature, as only a three-year-old can. Every passing leaf and insect must be examined and marvelled over.







Meanwhile, I checked the itinerary for the days ringing and realised that we were supposed to be at the first tower at 12:30pm.  The first tower was fifteen miles away.  It was agreed that the mother of Grandchild Four (aged five) and Grandchild Five (aged three) would come and collect them at the end of Messy Church, leaving us to depart to our ringing.

My plans received another blow, when the morning dawned to persistent rain, and the implications of standing in the rain examining every wet leaf and insect dawned upon me...

Then I didn't get up early enough.

End result - we all went in the car. DH went to pick up Grandchild Four (aged five) and Grandchild Five (aged three), whilst I gulped down my breakfast. They then came back and picked up the KHT and moi.
Grandchild Four (aged five) was chattering away.  Finally from Grandchild Five (aged three) came a solemn announcement,
"And I'm a big girl now!"

It was really interesting to see how they coped with it all. Grandchild Four (aged five) was very aware of his own limitations, even with a pair of left-handed scissors. All the activities involved following instructions and using skills he was not yet proficient in.  Grandchild Five (aged three) had no such qualms and had no concept of failure. She wanted to do everything the other children did, and she did. There was has no thought that her efforts would not be of the same standard as anyone else's. No-one cared that her colouring was more scribble. It was hers. Finished items go in a shoebox. No-one has time to compare - they move swiftly on to the next craft.

"I am just colouring in Mummy's beard..."

During the activities, there was time to chat
"I am just colouring in Mummy's beard" announces G5 (aged 3).
"Do you know anyone with a beard? I enquire of G4 (aged 5)
"Jesus has a beard!" chuckled G4 (aged 5)







They had only been to Messy Church once before, quite a while ago. G4 (aged 5) looked at the tables laid with paper plates and serviettes.
"Why are the tables like that?"
"We have a meal."
G4 (aged 5) departs to get his iced biscuits...
G4 (aged 5) ate the sausage from his hot dog, then a cake, and then finished off his biscuits.
Meanwhile, G5 (aged 3) took rather longer to consume her cake. Despite several cleanup operations during the cake consumption, she still managed to spread icing from her armpit to her nose.  A dozen wet wipes later and she is almost respectable.  I hope the rest came out in the wash...





At the appropriate time, they were collected by their parent and we were about to depart.
"Can you take the prayer tree back to St. J's?"
enquired one of the leaders.
"Yes, but as we are not going home, it will be going on a tour of Worcestershire first!"
The Prayer Palm Tree - based on the centre from a roll of carpet - was duly fed into the boot and over the back seat.

And so it came to pass that on the last Saturday before Lent, we took a palm tree on a tour of Worcestershire. Like many modern cars, ours has tinted windows. The salesman said it was to reduce the glare of the sun, but I think it is just so that people cannot see the random things that get carried around.