Helen's Visit: Saying Goodbye

Rory is sitting in his usual spot of late watching the tadpoles and little tiny frogs that are emerging..

Helen and Henry approach him.

It is time to say goodbye Henry...how do you think Rory will take it?  Helen asks Henry.

Well he is quite a sensitive boy.  Henry replies.

Hi there Rory.   Helen calls out as she waves to Rory.

Rory waves back.   Hiya Helen.

Helen sits down and they chat for a while.

Well Rory, it is time for me to continue on my travels.  Helen tells him.

Rory turns to Henry.  What?  She has to go already?  You  didn't tell me!

I'm sorry Rory, but I didn't want to upset you any earlier than we had to.  Henry explains.

Rory is very sad...

Helen gives him a big hug.  Don't be sad Rory, I had a lovely time, but I have so many other people to visit on my year long journey.  

It's okay Rory, Helen is going to stay with Aunty Jocelyn  next, and she will have lots of fun there as well. Henry tells Rory as he pats him on the back.

But I don't want you to go!  Rory cries.

There, there now Rory,  don't worry, you will be able to see pictures of me...and what I am getting up to.  Helen explains to Rory as she gives him a final big hug.

Rory sits back on his rock and stares into the pond.

Rory, I'm off now...

Bye Helen, Rory says as he quickly turns round to see them, after wiping his tears.

He quickly turns back to the pond as Helen and Henry turn to leave.

Poor Rory, Helen says.  He really is a sensitive lad isn't he?

He is.  Henry agrees...But don't worry, he will soon be absorbed with his frogs and he will be okay.

So how long will it take to get to Aunty Jocelyn's do you think Henry?

I'm not sure...Mum said about an hour at the most....

Henry is putting a brave face on things as he hates goodbyes as well, but knows Helen is going to have lots of adventures of her own and get to meet a great many more new friends and for that he is pleased as he knows how much fun it is meeting new people and making new friends.

Helen's Visit: Playing!

Race you Helen!

Whoa, not too fast...I'm still a bit wobbly on here Henry.

Really?  I thought you had ridden a bike before Helen?

Well I think it must have been a long time ago Henry or this bike is a lot bigger than I am used to.

Eventually Helen gains her confidence and we have a fun bike ride.  

After the bike ride Helen enjoys the swing chair.

All we need now is an ice cream!

We look for frogs...

Look there is one!  Helen points out.

Isn't he cute?

I bet Rory is thrilled about all the baby frogs in here.

He sure is!

We watch the frogs for a bit longer, before going to find Rory to tell him about the latest frogs we saw.

How many?  He asks.

We saw at least three baby frogs and several 'almost frogs'  We tell him.  Discussing frogs with Rory is always a good ploy if you want him to do something else as well.

We manage to talk a reluctant Rory into being an umpire for our quotes game.

Yeah!  I got the bulls eye.  Yells Helen.

How did you manage that?

I'm just super good at throwing!  Helen tells me.

Rory looks intently...he is sure there wasn't any cheating going on...

Seems Helen won fair and square.

Rory is pleased...he can go and check on his frogs and tadpoles now.

My new visitor, Lottie arrives for a holiday.

Oh dear oh dear, our phone and internet line went down early Saturday morning and we have been incommunicado - I like that word!  I've been worrying about whether my latest guest managed to leave on time to arrive today so I have been anxiously waiting at the door for her imminent arrival.  (I hope you appreciate all the big words I have been learning!)  Mum says to stop being a show off...  Fortunately the BT engineer came out late this morning and fixed it so I can show you all that yes she arrived!  She beat the BT Engineer man - must have come in a speedier vehicle!  Yeah I have a new visitor.

Hey there Lottie, so glad you arrived safely, we were worried about whether you would arrive on time.  

This is Rory and Sasha, who I am sure you have read about before. 

Hi there.  Lottie says.

What's that tucked in your jeans?  I ask Lottie

Oh that is my catapult, also known as a sling shot!  It is pretty cool and I hit all sorts of things with it!  Lottie tells Henry

How does it work?  Sasha asks Lottie.  

Well you put a stone, or acorn, or something in this leather end, then pull back the elastic and release.  Lottie explains.  

Cool!  

I am impressed...a girl with a sling shot.  I can't wait to show her the garden.

We leave Rory and Sasha discussing the sling shot and I take Lottie outside.

We take a walk down the garden path.

Hey look at these fungi - they must have come up the last couple of nights!

Impressive aren't they?

Can you eat them?  Lottie asks me.

Oh no, you mustn't eat them.  I tell her.  They might be poisonous, so it is better to be safe than sorry.  That's what Mum tells me anyway.

We admire the fungi for a little bit longer and then wander off to play amongst the leaves.

Wow these leaves are huge!  Lottie exclaims.

They are from our Maple tree.  I tell her.

What a shame they are so wet, it would have been fun to have been able to throw them up in the air, and crunch through them.  Not quite the same when they are soggy and damp!

We stay outside for a bit longer and then come inside for a cup of milo (hot chocolate)

The boys go bowling.

The boys decided to go and have a game of ten-pin bowling and head off to the bowling alley.

Ryder aims carefully...

releases the bowl....

...and knocks down all but three of the pins.

Ryder and Simon have been busy chatting and don't realise how well Rory has done....

They come over and look on in astonishment!

Simon has his turn next.

It was a close game, but Henry and Rory just won...