Songs and Smells from the Country

Dear Vicky
A quickie before I get into the new super-eco Xsara and head off on the interminable school run. Loulou's football has been cancelled again, so we'll walk the dogs while Ellie shops with her mates rather than hang around for the late bus. Why can't we have a proper bus service in the country? One that brings children home, perhaps? Actually I know why because I wrote to the MD of B&H buses to ask. He told me that if I could prise everyone out of their 4x4s and encourage their children to take a bus every now and again, it might just about become cost effective. The school bus gets the local kids home and it's my fault if Ellie wants to go to a school where she's likely to learn something and so I have to hang around in bus stops in the middle of nowhere to pick her up. Rant over.

Luckily my lovely Xsara is averaging 117mpg. Or something like that. I filled up with £50 worth of diesel last week and I've done 350 miles on half a tank. That's very exciting to me. Jed worries when I say that to him. He thinks I should be impressed rather than excited. But I'm shivery with delight. I personally am saving the planet (which is also why I'm sitting here in hat and gloves)...

Who'd have thought I'd have a Xsara? I was so battered-Saab when I lived on the seafront... Now I spend my time sniffing to see where that dead mouse smell is coming from in the new car. Such a shame that I have to pump "Sea Mist" through the vents to veil the hideous stink where once I could have had the real thing by winding down the window. And mice didn't crawl into my car to die in Brighton. Apparently they swing in our trees here.

Did Martha find the kittens? I was so worried at your bonfire party that a fox would stealthily nick them while we were all quaffing your lovely red. I did love your cavalier attitude - 'There'll be plenty more kittens darlings' you said, waving the kids away from the wine table. And you're probably right - this is the 3rd litter? Don't suppose you have mice crawling into your car to die, do you?

Right, off on the endless school run.
Lots of love
xx