Mum's the word

The time has flown and we found ourselves once again hosting the annual birthday event, scaled down a bit this time which proved sensible as rain stopped BBQ and we all decamped into our rather cosy living room. A load of relatives and a very lively child wanting to be pushed around on a tractor is a tricky balance in such a confined area.

In fact the tractor did prove to be the entertainment for most of the day.

There was a collective groan from the men folk in the room when Ben opened the big box to reveal the unassembled tractor, plus trailer. A quick scan of the instructions revealed that limited tools would be necessary so the crack squad of two granddads and Ben’s dad set about the challenge. Some considerable time later they were still at it, with Ben chomping at the bit wondering why he couldn’t ride his new toy like the grinning blond-haired boy on the box.

The too many cooks adage was never more appropriate and was not then helped with various female relatives, myself included, heckling the ‘assembly party’ as they came to be known.

Things took a turn for the worse as the light began to fail, we knew we at hit a low point when the tool box was unearthed from beneath the stairs.

The excuses were wide and varied but, ultimately, predictable. Of course, the pole was the wrong length, never would that screw fit into that hole without an almighty whack of the hammer.

When they stood back to admire their work the tractor three were dealt a further blow with the observation that a rather significant piece of red plastic was still unattached. Devastating. The tools once again were pulled out, things were dismantled then reassembled.

Eventually the little man was allowed on his big red tractor which he enjoyed for several minutes before there was an inevitable argument over whose turn it was next and ending up with it being put away until everyone learnt how to share. Smashing.