A mullet with my name on it

Jof got up early so she could help her work open the safe and then she got a haircut. Bud shaved his head last night and this morning I got myself a Grade 2 cranial trim at Sids' by the park. I had a screaming foursome on the swinging basket and got another 20p car in the charity shop where I met BensDad trying to find a video for us lot to watch this afternoon. This is because we're all invited to Bens' house to do the Puddle Olympic Tournament, an eclectic selection of games and competitions on the common. It started at 3pm.

O Boy. Was it funny or what. I made it to bed (no bath fizzer night, not even a shower) at 2230 because of how long it went on for.

We started by drawing names out of a hat to determine teams. Immediately 2 of our number disagreed with the teams and launched into Event #1, Synchronized Sulking. In fact Johnny made it all the way back to his own front door before agreeing to rejoin the collective.

Then came skipping. I do not skip so have to throw the rope, run a few steps, throw again etc. Thus I was at a terminal disadvantage to anyone who knew how to wield a skipping rope properly.

Then came balancing the beanbag on your head; my newly smoothed bonce proved a disadvantage. We threw the shot put (2kg scuba diving weight) and ran the 60 yard dash. We did the relay (using leeks as batons in a clear sop to those Welshmen amongst us) and took turns at penalty shooting which is something we can all get stuck into.

Meanwhile the PuddleParents sat on deckchairs and clapped appropriately. Throughout proceedings every one of us (except the permanently happy Elizabeth) had a strop, sulk, moan or similar, but they didn't last long. This did mean that the teams were....variable in make-up, as not all participants were always there, or were there but were not participating.

ErinsMum was in charge of medals and we all got one eventually. BensMum was the strict Mistress of Ceremonies and the Dads held up the finishing rope, prepared props, and heckled generally. In the end the other team won but we were down by a whole Johnny for a lot of it. We all got prizes really and headed back over the road to the house where the adults who were not already holding a can of lager started on their Vitamin Beer.

 For example. Here are some of our mothers, responsible adults with boring jobs, butter wouldn't melt etc. And here are the same ones later, once the butter had well and truly liquefied.

For a while there, we went back over the road to play football but whenever more than 2 of us are gathered together, there is strife so that didn't last long.

We watched a DVD of the Olympic opening ceremony about 3 times because it was so good. Variously we danced, Lego Heroed, Quarkled, ran up and down and were on average more co-operative inside than we had been outside. The barbecuist served us many sausages and at about 930 we realised it was dark and reluctantly walked home. We are the furthest away and I had to get 2 shoulder-lifts, and even then I was weaving unsteadily. I hope we get to do it all again, but not have to wait 4 years.