#johnhenrywatson

They seem to be, yes.  She isn’t hitting the side of her head and crying anymore.  And the slight fever she has is gone.  She and Ada have been dashing about the house wreaking havoc all morning.  

I finally sat her down after her afternoon nap and broke out some kinetic sand to occupy her until supper is served.  She's quite keen on that.  Tomorrow I believe she and I will both be well enough to continue on with her play program.

John is also mostly feeling better.  He’s very busy coming up with Christmas plans.  He’s quite focussed and it’s nice to see.  

His sister called him this morning.  I believe the conversation went well.  She is still in a relationship with the woman we hired as her carer when she broke her ankle earlier this year.  She is still managing to control the drinking.  John told her he was happy for her, proud of her.  I’ve never heard him say things like that to her before, so I’m glad things are working out well.

Ugh!  Drinking so much when we had to be up and out by 10:00 was not a wise choice.  If we had fun I don’t remember much of it, though the blogs seem to bear that out.  I still have a headache.

The playgroup went well, I felt.  There was a couple with a son 4 months older than Watson.  His name was Charlie.  The man is an artist, and the wife works at the village library.  They were both introverted, and quiet, but friendly.  There was a lesbian couple and their two children, a girl and a boy.  The girl was near Watson’s age, and was named Tamsin, and the boy was three, and was named Oscar.  Their mothers were polite, but not overly gregarious.  They both work from home, one is a writer, and the other runs an online shop and manages their small farm.  There was one other parent, a single father, with a four year old daughter named Alice.  He is recently widowed, and I saw he and John talking for a long time.  They seemed to get on very well.  I’m not sure what he does for a living.  John talked to him more than I did.

We’re home now, and Watson is just waking up from her nap.  She seemed to have a grand time with all the children.  There were a few instances where she had to be reminded to share, and that she can’t have everything she wants exactly when she wants it, but in general she was on her best behaviour.  I was very proud of her.  I felt she demonstrated excellent social skills, which can be a challenge in a group that large, and with children of such varying ages.  

Olivia had a bit of a difficult time, half way through, and Watson noticed and went and sat in the quiet with her, which I thought was also very kind.  This was unprompted.  She seems to be very empathetic, especially towards Olivia, which is a wonderful thing.  I believe she’s decided that Olivia is her best friend.

John engaged my services in helping him prep the garden for autumn, so we have been very busy with that.  We were both sore, sweaty and exhausted when we were finished, but the beds are cleared of weeds, and some autumn things have been planted, and the grass has been mowed.  

Watson and Ada dug about in the dirt and played together while we worked.  They are, fortunately, becoming fast friends already.  It seems that Watson has forgotten her unfortunate experience with the puppy stampede a few weeks ago, and has decided that dogs are quite wonderful creatures.

We’ve all bathed now, and Watson’s just gotten up from her nap, so we may go into the shops in Eastbourne to get things for our supper.  Though I’m afraid that, like you, that might somewhat take the shine off my pleasant mood.  Needs must, though, I suppose.

John offered to go alone, but I want to see what sort of biscuits they have for myself, and I find it anxiety provoking to let him out of my sight lately for some reason.  I would rather go with him, despite the crowds.

Oh yes, John was telling me about what happened in your country over breakfast this morning. My deepest sympathies to your countrymen, and please know that I am grateful that you and your loved ones are safe.

I have recovered from my unanticipated bathe, and we were busy all day today with the case.  We still haven’t found our suspect after their get away last night. I do hope they haven’t fled the city, or worse yet the country.

John’s sister has agreed to keep Watson until Sunday night, which is very generous of her, so we don’t need to concern ourselves with that, and we find ourselves having a quiet evening in, as there is nothing else we can do until some lab results and surveillance footage is available to us tomorrow morning.

Oh.  

Well, we do it for ourselves, obviously.  But if that benefits others as well, then I suppose that’s--nice.  

Yes, my parents have left.  John asked them to leave, because I had therapy this morning, and it was hard to come out and see them still sitting in the lounge.  I have a headache and don’t feel well, so I’m resting and John is making me some tea.

It’s raining today, and tomorrow.  So I suppose we will be stuck inside with all the noise and dust.  Perhaps we will take the car tomorrow, after John’s therapy (if he feels up to it), and go to Brighton for the day.  It is about an hour’s drive from here.  We will see how we feel.

His new URL is: @johnhenrywatsonholmes

He’s keeping his old blog intact, because he doesn’t want to lose all the memories there.

He wanted a fresh start, for a variety of reasons.  I’m sure that he will write some more about his motivations on his new blog tomorrow (he’s sleeping now).  But, I just thought I would let you all know.