Another School Year Over ........

Our thoughts today are very much back home with Eric because, goodness only knows how it happened, but another school year has come to an end, in the blink of an eye! It only seems like yesterday, that  we were dabbing an emotional eye over our beloved niece proudly modelling her new school blazer and tie and worrying about her settling in, as if, in the end, we needed to ....... a duck to water springs to mind!

So, this afternoon Eric set out for the very last time, this school year, to pick up his beloved niece and nephew from their respective meeting places, trying to keep it all together!

He collected Bertie first, knowing that he had to embrace each and every single second, as this was one of those reflective days where memories, happy and sad are made (..... the next time he picked up Bertie, he would be in Year 5, his last year at first school).  As per usual, his young nephew leapt into his arms with a huge hug and sloppy kiss, before they set off to met Iris, going over Bertie's very last day with his class and staff, as they will all be mixed up next year.  

 

Eric had his "spare provisions" bag ready, as the young master is always starving, hungry, famished after school, usually opting for a Jaffa Cake, chocolate coated Biscoff or Jamie Dodger ........and on hot days, well, it would be rude not to pop into the only corner shop we've ever found in Evesham, for a slush.  

And then, there was Lidl, where on no slush days Bertie and Eric pop in to pick up (often following a early morning text message) an item from the bakery department for Iris, usually a yum yum, pretzel or pink doughnut. Bertie doesn't often fancy anything, but will occasionally choose a cookie. 

It is also where Eric taught Bertie how to use the self service machines and scan his debit card, the trust and responsibility something Bertie is very proud of! 

With baked comestible in hand, it was time to meet Iris for more hugs and kisses, before wending their way slowly to Snake Mountain, each a little lost in thoughts of no school or school runs for the next six weeks, and wonderful adventures, holidays and weekends away ahead and so many carefree days stretching before them......  

Eric, we understand from Alice, returned home a little quieter than usual and knew instinctively that he needed a little space for a while. 

She felt exactly the same, it's a bit like New Years Eve but in July ........ with soooooo much been, done, gone and behind us and a whole raft of new starts ahead, if you know what I mean?