One Step Ahead.

 First of all I would like to thank the person who appeared to read every single entry bar one of my diary over the past 24 hours. Who ever it was deserves a medal for their efforts. The one entry that wasn't read was Happy Slapper which has now been renamed, 'Annoying Habit' and is dated 19/02/24. I say this on the assumption that it was one person as I can't tell who read what. It's just the way the numbers were that made it more likely to be just one person. If it was one person and you read this I would be interested as to why you missed just one entry. Drop me a message if you want, I'm very respectful and not at all scary.

While on the subject. Thanks also to everyone else who bothers to read what I write. I really do it for myself, to record the time I spent in Scotland. But it's nice that you read it, and helps me keep the motivation to carry on now those times are behind me and all I have to write about is daily life on the farm. Which is no doubt pretty boring to most people.

Right then, back to me. It's all about me isn't it - me me me!!

I had a fun moment with mum when leaving church yesterday. I had been wondering all weekend about how to approach her with regard me and Mr C's plan to resolve Eric's trouser situation. I really hadn't found the right time, and the courage, at the same time in order to bring up the subject. So it wasn't until Sunday morning when I decided to hold my breath and take the 3 2 1 approach. I had the speech and the answer to any opposition written out in my head. Well to be truthful, they were actually ingrained as I'd been going over it so many times that they are now imprinted in my brain somewhere. A bit like when you stare at a bright light, you can still see it for sometime after you look away.

"Mum...." I started, as we sat in the car just before starting the engine in order to drive off.

"Yes, of course you can my dear. Knowing you I'd expect nothing less." She said, interrupting me after getting the one word out of my mouth.

I haven't spoken a word about this to anyone except in my diary. So at this point I'm starting to break out in to a cold sweat thinking that by some miracle she has come across my diary. I looked across at her to see her looking straight ahead with a big grin on her face. Somehow she had gotten one step ahead of me and thrown me off balance.

She then looked at me looking at her for clues so that I could figure out what to say next.

"What's the matter, has the cat got your tongue or something? That's a first!" She said to me.

Without showing all my cards, I had to ask, "How did you know?"

"I'm your mother aren't I? I was always going to catch up with you eventually. It's been two weeks now since you've had an urge to save some poor soul from their own problems. You must be absolutely bustin' by now." She said sort of sarcastically yet with a smile in her voice.

Then before I could figure out how to answer she went on, " So who, or what is it this time that needs rescuing?"

Well at least he didn't know, about the diary or Eric so this was my chance to enlighten her about the latter. 

"It's about Eric and his trousers, I want to get him some new ones that fit him better so that he doesn't go getting in to any more trouble."

"I'm sure if Eric feels there is a need for a new pair of trousers he will buy his own." She replied, quite seriously now.

Ah! Now we were back on track, this was part of the script in my head. I didn't need to think anymore before answering.

"Yes I know that, but he isn't going to is he, you know what he's like."

"Well if you feel you have to. Good luck with getting him to take your money though."

I told her at this point about the plan, and how I wanted her to get him to run me to the farm store and I would sort something out with him when we got there.

"At least you've included me in your plans this time, so that's nice, I appreciate it. Poor Eric, he isn't going to stand a chance with you is he!" she said smiling at the thought in her head.

So we worked out over preparing Sunday lunch how mum would make out that I needed a few things for summer use on the farm as the ones I had were mostly winter clothing and so would Eric mind just running me to the store. Also when we told dad he said he needed some farm supplies from there anyway, so he would get Eric to go and fetch them on Tuesday and I could then go with him. He also told me to put the trousers on the farm account, but I said that I wanted to buy them for him as a thank you for all the things he has taught me about how to use the tractors.

"He probably doesn't need any thanks for that, you're doing him a favour. As you know he hates spending much time on the tractors himself. So by you doing the job it gives him more time with his cattle, which he enjoys more. It's up to you though. Whatever makes my little girl happy!"