BACK IN SEVENOAKS

Shirley and Ceri took me to the train station in Cardiff on Tuesday -  and I returned to Sevenoaks with slightly more confidence than my inbound journey.   As I left, Shirley handed me a carrier bag with a parcel - and I am now the proud owner of the Emma Bridgewater “schnauzer” mug from her collection. Evidently there was also a card with it but that seems to have disappeared somewhere en route.  Disappointing … because Shirley always writes a report on a card, when she returns a dog to its owner after a stay with her (6 at last count while I was there) and I’d have liked to see what she had to say about me.  It was a lovely week of chaos, laughter and knitting and I already miss them all.

Julia was at the station to meet me and I was re-acquainted with my larger suitcase in their spare bedroom.

Both children were preparing to start the new school year at boarding school… and have since moved in.  Darcy (16) excelled (and I MEAN excelled) in the GCSE exams this year and is now considered one of the senior pupils, responsible for “lights out” in the newbies dorms.  She, like her mother, is a very caring and loving young lady and the new students are very fortunate to have her on their team.

Wilbur is one of the ‘new boys’ at the boarding house next door.  He’s proved to be a really good golfer and I believe has a sports scholarship which entitles him to a special school tie.  I think he’s a pretty good rugby player, too - so it won’t take him long to become a popular, well known student.

They are both a credit to their parents and grandparents and I look forward to following their progress.  Julia and Chris can be very proud of their offspring.

When I was preparing for high school, my mother (particularly) used to threaten me with boarding school if I misbehaved and it brought me into line, each and every time.  If only I’d KNOWN how “cool” it was, I might have worked harder on my naughty moments.

Dad’s biggest concern was “Charlie darling”- which in his parlance meant “Take Charlie off your back and stop slouching”.  Always irritated me - and probably was the cause of one or two of the “boarding school” threats being made.

Meet the Hogg family …