Good Neighbours are a God Send

Returning home from morning Kindi, with Sophie drifting off to sleep, I had thoughts running through my mind of things to organise for Charlotte’s 4th Birthday tomorrow (and the party on Sunday). I was set on decorating boxes, tidying up the house and making sure Sophie got up to bed for a good nap. Charlotte was enthused with other ideas of making play dough and scones.

We got home and I promised to bake scones with Charlotte after I’d done a little cleaning up first and got her set up with some paint decorating ‘zoo boxes’. Well, I got carried away and Sophie woke early, so it was going to be a long afternoon. Sophie was really missing her Daddy today and after the walk at the weekend she kept heading for the backpack saying, ‘Back pack, back pack, Daddy, Zoo.’ Charlotte meanwhile was really fixated on making scones.

Always wanting to keep the troops happy I said we’d head to the zoo after we made scones. Well I was covered in flour when my good neighbour popped round for a friendly chat. She always loves to play with the children and they really enjoy seeing her. She carted Sophie off to the mailbox to check for cards for Birthday girl, whilst Charlotte and I got busy baking.

When my neighbour returned, with Sophie giggling in her arms, she said she’d got a little pressie for Charlotte. She’d seen a ‘racing shirt’ and waistcoat/jacket whilst out shopping in the morning and wanted to ask if it was okay to give it to Charlotte. Now Charlotte LOVES cars and I knew she’d be delighted and sure enough she was. She put on the shirt and then put the jacket on Sophie – two little pit crew girls!

The scones were in the oven by this time and my neighbour volunteered to play car races round the house with the girls whilst I attended to some much needed cleaning. They were racing round and round and it was beautiful to hear their laughter and not have to worry for five minutes. They kept stopping by the back door for Charlotte to refuel their vehicles and change the tires. She loves racing and kept awarding ‘The Piston Cup’ to Sophie and herself alternatively.

The Pit Crew were all quite hungry after their race so we then took a break and enjoyed our warm scones. Meanwhile my neighbour put the hoover round! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful neighbour.

We headed off to the Zoo, where we met up with my neighbour and her son. Everyone enjoyed a walk in the sunshine. Sophie loved riding in the backpack and Charlotte enjoyed telling all the animals she is turning four tomorrow!

Photographs from a previous visit with Marrisa and Bethany: