hindsight 20/20

MasterM could not join us at the picnic

because he was running a marathon.

Not just any old marathon

but up and down the coastal footpath

from Lulworth Cove to Shell Bay.

The Jurassic Coast Challenge is 120 km

from Charmouth to Shell Bay.
3 marathons in 3 days.

You have to be superfit to complete it.

MasterM ran on the last day

to support his friend
who completed all three marathons.

This is MasterM's pedometer for last week:

MasterM has never run a marathon before

but, as you can see from the pedometer,
he thought he was already fit enough.

He won't make that mistake again!

It was all in aid of teamArchie,

set up in memory of Archie Lloyd,
inspiring and enabling young people,

helping them to fulfill their potential.

meanwhile

...MasterM and Drummond the horse are getting on just fine.

MrsM is delighted to receive this aquatic action shot but MrM looks slightly faint and goes off to check the insurance policy for clauses excluding 'phones dropped into rivers within ten days of purchase'. 

tall tales

MasterM's friends are spilling the beans.

"Do you remember that party when MasterM said he was in the import/export business, specialising in giraffes? And the girl was quite impressed. Especially when he told her that giraffes can't lie down so he had to charter special planes."

MasterM is unabashed.

"I explained that I saved costs by using the space underneath the giraffes' legs to transport rhino but sadly she didn't believe that."

MasterM, Obedient Servant

MasterM is writing a letter to his new Commanding Officer. With a fountain pen.

Sir,

I have the honour to inform you that following my commissioning...I will be reporting for duty...at 0700 on Monday x January.

Various pleasantries follow until the letter concludes

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
your obedient servant,

MasterM

Letters like this have been written by successive generations of young officers. It may seem an anachronistic tradition in an age of email and text message but the structure of the letter is designed to introduce MasterM, giving information about his achievements and interests. In return MasterM will receive a hand written letter of acknowledgement and welcome. These formalities ensure that working relationships and new teams can be established as quickly as possible.

MrsM ponders the vision of MasterM as an obedient servant and concludes that miracles must happen after all.

pips!

I did a little applique work over the weekend, sewing on MasterM's pips. It was not as easy as you might think because the embroidery is done on very thick black fabric so there was a minor finger injury and some unladylike language before I resorted to a thimble and tacking respectively.

It was odd to realise that I could not remember the last time I had threaded a needle and yet I used to sew for pleasure. Dressmaking, patchwork, embroidery and tapestry were once essential for my creative self-expression and now they are abandoned at the high water mark of another part of my life. My lovely friend Caroline, a keen needlewoman, would be shocked if she knew and encourage me to join a class or start a new project and perhaps I will but, right now, sewing on pips is enough.

MasterM : Officer

Just before Christmas we attended the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst. It was the culmination of a year of training when MasterM and his fellow Officer Cadets paraded before the Duchess of Cornwall, representative of the Queen. 

We sat in the stand and felt so many emotions:

Surprise that MasterM had ended up applying to join the Army. Relief that he had made it through a tough year where he was challenged physically and mentally. Joy that we could be there with his sister and grandparents to watch and applaud. Gratitude that Master has ended up in a place which uses his gifts and experience. Astonishment at the gold braid, flags, trumpets and pageantry.

Meanwhile...what was MasterM feeling?

Anxiety that we would accidentally step on his polished boots.