Lanterns

Another backblip.... nearly there!!

On Tuesday night we lit a few of these lanterns and sent them off into the night sky. However there was a bit of cloud and we watched each one vanish into the cloud base as Ben yelled "Ben have it....."

Wednesday night we were out at Ben's other grandparents' house, but because it was a very clear evening mum and dad sent off another lantern to see how far it would go. They watched it go up and up... and extinguish (lasted nothing like the 20 minutes it said it would on the packet!) and float gently downward. I have wondered for a while about these lanterns - there must be a huge mound of used lanterns somewhere. They are supposed to be completely biodegradable, but in how many years, I wonder.

So Thursday night, after tea, just before we loaded the car ready to head off homewards, we sent off one final lantern as the sky was growing dark and the stars were starting to be visible. It floated off in a different direction, and we watched it rise and go out and start to fall and wondered if it had landed somewhere near my grandma's old house....

Car packed, one last whip round to make sure I'd not left anything behind, and off we set. Ben still doesn't like saying goodbye. He's learnt what it means. But he said 'bye lots once we were in the car. He was asleep before we'd even hit the motorway, announcing that "Ben tired, Ben close eyes?" and so off he went to sleepyland and I got to drive home in 4 hours in peace. Phew. Home by 11.30pm.... Ben into bed... Steve and I talking until the small hours!!! Daft pair.


I should record that we went out to buy sandals for Ben this morning. We'd brought 3 pairs of outdoor footwear with us: wellies, winter boots, and his red converse. The converse are a size 4, and I know I really ought to get him a bigger pair. Still, he doesn't complain wearing them, so I just let him. (He complained wearing his old sandals, which were too small apparently...) So we got him measured and he's well into size 5's now. I feel so guilty letting him wear shoes far too small!! So his new sandals, which will hopefully last all summer, are a 5 and a half.... and fit very well. You live and learn. I didn't realise his feet had grown that much! He does love his new sandals and will show them off to you if you ask. And they work well for pigeon chasing too.