Leap into the year

How did I miss January? Just come back from a perfect weekend with my grandchildren. It takes four hours door-to-door to Guildford, but is well worth it. The house extension is going well, with a brilliant new vaulted bedroom for A and L. Not tv makeover standard stupid, but beautiful and liveable with. Lunch was in the Weyside Inn overlooking the river, all the kids behaved themselves, very pleasant. After tea I went back to London. lasagne in the flat with Pol Roger followed by violet liqueur, vermouth, and a 100-year old Madeira which was totally not to my taste, but an experience nevertheless. Next morning interesting conversation with three and a half year old E. Night before she had requested her bedtime book was read in the original French, then morning was English and some Japanese counting and animal naming. Then long cold walk to a play scheme and outdoor park, another pub lunch. Bookshop to buy ancient enlarged maps of the area for J's birthday, plus their local and very well stocked garden centre - got interesting purple lettuce seeds. J was tempted with an olive tree, but is going to wait until after their hols. Even though London is supposed to be a bit warmer, there was a bitter cold wind, can't believe the tree would survive without protection. Somehow it took 3 hours to get home - really could leave the flat later for the bus to St P, as I was there 30 mins before scheduled departure. Do my legs ache today?