There I go again.  No sooner had I said that all was progressing smoothly with Jill and Stan's house buying then ... problems.  I have to admit I was a little surprised to find them in my cottage when I got back from Australia but on the face of it, they'd made absolutely the right decision.  Finding somebody to buy your property when you're about to move out is often harder than discovering the 'dream-house'.  Having got a buyer, I can't say I blame them quickly finalising the contract and taking the money, even though it may make them homeless for a few months.  However, I've got to concede that the pleasure's worn a bit thin in the last few days.  There must be an old adage somewhere about living with your mother-in-law (although for the life of me I can't remember it) and take my word, it works both ways.  Mums and grandmums will never see eye to eye on the rights and wrongs of bringing up the children.  After all, we each have our own ideas and every generation is a little different from the one before.  That's only to be expected and everyone has to exercise a little patience.  But the trouble really comes to a head when you're living on top of one another.  Small differences soon turn into big arguments and the last person I'd want to see in the middle of that is little Sarah Jane.

 

How I do wish Hugh would give me a date for when he's coming home.  Every time he writes he assures me that he's not working too hard and that he's feeling much better.  Somehow though, I'd like him to be here ... just to make sure.  I'm lucky that he does keep in touch so regularly.  It would be absolutely awful if he were one of those people who wrote once in a blue moon.  I'd be at my wit's end wondering what was going on and what he was doing.  Still as the saying goes, every day away is a day nearer the return.

 

David and Carney are rally getting involved in the grand Crossroads garden party.  I wish they'd hurry and make up their minds exactly what is going to happen so I have something concrete to look forward to.  Anyway, the flower show sounds a lovely idea so, weather permitting, it should be a day to remember.  Apart from anything else, as far as I'm concerned, it will be marvellous publicity so I'll make sure the local press comes along to cover the merry-making.

 

Something that's making me less than merry right now is the new, unofficial dump that's been fast gathering strength on a piece of waste ground just down the road from the Motel.  It all started with one or two old cars that were left there to end their rusty days as eyesores.  Then suddenly a few people caught on to the idea and the pile of old bed springs and paint pots has been growing nightly.  Hopefully, the council will soon take action.  Before he left for Australia, Hugh contacted the Borough Engineer's office and they promised him they'd do something soon.  What makes me angry though is that it should happen in the first place.  Don't people realise that it's not difficult or expensive to have rubbish taken away on a lorry and the consequences of their thoughtless actions can be immeasurable?  The child who suffocates on the old abandoned fridge when the door closes and locks, the youngster who gashes himself on rusty metal or glass whilst innocently playing and so on.