Sports Day

Another sunny evening. We sit out to eat our ham & egg flan. In the bog  garden, visible from the table, the ligularia is just starting to come out. The rich gold stars are just emerging above the dogwood. One flower is out, the rest still buds with the golden edge of petals just peeping out. The gold seems all the more brilliant for the chocolate coloured foliage all around of the ligularia.

We laugh as we remember PD's account of the school sports day he'd had to attend earlier in the afternoon. He missed supporting his own children at such events - too busy teaching other children to go. Now he was attending that of his grandchildren. They're still of primary school age.


One grandson had thrown his bean bag underarm with enthusiasm. Only thing is he forgot to let go, with result the bag went flying back.

PD used to teach sports as well as geography. "I've never known anyone to get a negative score at a throwing event," he commented affectionately. We made a mental note never to stand behind this young lad if he decides to take up darts.

Clearly one grandson hasn't inherited the sporting gene. PD has to admit this child is far more artistic. They are in fact wondering if he wouldn't benefit from learning some instrument, the piano perhaps. The older grandson is much more sporty.

The next event is a concert in which his grand-daughter is playing the part of Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz". PD's letting his wife support that one on her own. He can't face the assault on his ears of such young children singing(?!). I suspect he will change his mind if his grand-daughter specifically asks him to come. He doesn't like to let them down if he possibly can.

His fourth grandchild is still at pre-school age. Such events are still for the future with him. 

We couldn't help remembering some of our own childhood experiences, the sack race, the egg-and-spoon race, the three-legged race, the obstacle course. Sports day seemed to become so much more serious at secondary school. Neither of us were ever great athletes. Sports days ceased to be fun days & became chore days to be endured. That was all.