Falling about

I had a good little workout this morning, shovelling all the snow off the drive. This job usually falls to the Man, but of course he's in California where it's warm.

Bitter, me?

Met up with the Exiles this evening down at the YMCA. The Girl was there for her first proper skating lesson, as was 5 year-old Exile #3 who was actually stepping onto the ice for the very first time. As she inevitably fell down almost immediately, the instructor shouted 'Good fall!!!' without a hint of irony. A fine example of wonderful American positivity. In England if our little friend had glided out and executed a faultless triple toe-loop I bet the best she'd have got would've been a 'Hmm. Not bad.'

The skating students were all requested to wear helmets. If only their friends and family members watching from the bleachers had been given similar advice! The Boy managed to fall backwards off a bench onto his head, and in the process of recovery accidentally kicked baby E5N1 in his head. Luckily there was no serious damage to either party (both were more surprised than hurt). Still I'm hopefully assuming that Exile #2, like me, is not the suing type.