I often find my life is like this:
You are on the west side of a river, with a fox, a duck, and
a bag of corn. You must cross to the other side of the river, taking everything
with you. However, you have only a very small boat, large enough to carry you,
and one of your "traveling companions" at a time. There is no other way across.
How do you get everything to the other side of the river, without anyone eating
anyone else? (Assume none of them will eat the others if you are present. Also
assume nothing runs away if you leave it alone.)
Now, I can work this out, although I can never remember how I did it last time. In my own life, I don't manage quite so well. Two small grandsons to be collected from a halfway point, to stay the night tonight. They need to be home (96 miles away) tomorrow evening. Daughter-in-law prepared to meet again, but she's a busy doctor, and I am .....not. So. I'll take them back. But do I want to do that journey twice in one day? Not really. Plus, the Devizes Carnival Procession tomorrow evening means all the roads will be closed, so I may not be able to get back in.
I won't bother you with the furth complications. Suffice to say that this time, problem solved. Although one grandson has a friend for a sleepover tomorrow night, he and friend actually want to sleep in the living room, so I can stay over in grandson's bed. Whew.
Until next time.
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I have been alone for the past 10 days, and it feels like I'm juggling with 20 swords. I'd almost forgotten how complete tiredness feels.
ReplyDeleteI have been with two folk from Prussia. Not quite accurate as the bloke was from Vienna.
DeleteI'm wandering blogland saying sorry for being a piss artist.
I don't expect you to feel the need but I do
Cro, you have my sympathies.
DeleteAdrian, I honestly don't know what you're talking about...
I needed a piece of paper, but I worked it out and no one got eaten!
ReplyDeleteLife is a logistical nightmare sometimes - more so when you're a grandparent I think. Weaving it all together, making sure everyone is where they are meant to be and no one gets left behind requires a lot of planning.
Hope you enjoy your sleepover :-) x
It was the left behind bit that was worrying me, Teresa. Smaller grandson holds the family record for getting lost. But I returned them both intact. Phew.
DeleteI'd just let the duck eat the corn.
ReplyDeleteThat kind of attitude may explain why I haven't been asked to babysit for quite some time.
Or maybe you just don't need the money, and they know it, Patsy? After all, we all know how brilliantly writing pays. Hm.
DeleteI'd let the duck swim behind the boat. My life is quite calm by comparison Frances.
ReplyDeleteThat's fine, provided the duck wants to follow the boat. Not always the case.
DeleteThe Garrood Grandsons Conundrum - a new star in Puzzle Heaven! It will appear in The Times, and if I translate it in German I am sure I'll be able to sell it at a nice profit to the ZEIT magazine.
ReplyDeleteThe duck, the fox and the bag of corn is easy. The GGC is not. I admire you for having solved the problem!
My biggest problem today was to decide what to do next Friday night - attend a fashion show (upon personal invitation; complete with fancy drinks, snacks and live music) or join my girlfriends for a night out. Guess what I will be doing.
Night out, every time.
DeleteA good analogy, Frances! Glad you've managed to sort your busy weekend out in some way.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rosemary!
DeleteI remember the first conundrum's solution and my first wave of 'grandchildren' problems are long gone. By the time the second wave comes I suspect I shall be passed caring.
ReplyDeleteGraham isn't that a bit pessimistic, with a son newly married?
DeleteAssuming they have children sooner rather than later Frances by the time they are needing ferrying around at 10 I shall be over 80! I would hope to be driving then but perhaps ferrying children will be a task for someone else.
DeleteFrances, grand parents are there to help not as unpaid child minders. Now what is the word I'm looking for? It's two words and the second is off.
ReplyDeleteYou could always ask Cro to nuke them.
Adrian, I still don't understand. Are you still on whatever you were on last week?
DeleteI'm one of the grandsons and it was brilliant!
ReplyDeleteF, it was great having you!
Delete