The Day Thomas Almost Does Grandpa In

Today Grandpa took Thomas to see Thomas's Tor (yes, named after Thomas, by Grandpa, who is inordinately fond of trotting about on Dartmoor, risking certain death by gigantic phantom hounds and various mires, Grimpen or otherwise). Here Thomas poses atop his namesake, clearly deep in thought. Is this everything Thomas was hoping for out of life?

Then, in Grandpa's own words, he writes, "If I had any sense that would have been it: about a mile from the car and then back again. But I had to try for a longer walk: another half mile to Great Links Tor." They made it, and here we see Thomas at the controls of the Tardis that was parked on top.  Er, I mean "clutching the old triangulation pillar" rather apprehensively (wheezed Grandpa).

But has Grandpa any sense? I think we all know the answer to that. What was an easy trot for Thomas was a hellacious ordeal for Grandpa. According to Grandpa he urged Thomas not to wait for him as he wheezed and gasped, so young Thos. cantered ahead, but never letting him out of sight, apparently a little worried that aged G. would pop his clogs (or rather, extremely comfortable fancy hand-made shoes that look like something out of the Asterix books) and leave him stranded miles from anywhere.   Happily, though, all lived to tell the tale.

Thomas continues touring southern England, and working like a dog in the kitchen

Thomas contemplates Knighthayes House, Tiverton:

Hair blowing proudly in the breeze, he stands outside Killerton House, Bradninch

Here seen contemplating the gardens at Killerton House

And now Thomas demonstrates his mad skillz at making a salad. (I'm very curious to find out if he ate this salad as my salads are left untouched most the time.)

Master Chef in training

Here's what Grandpa reported:

We were considerably more ambitious today: he [Thomas] made a moussaka with rice but also cooked a pudding - apple crumble. The rice was undercooked, which wasn't our fault since we followed the instructions on the packet, but made a note for next time. I'm not sure what Thomas thought about the moussaka - he didn't ask for a second helping - but he definitely liked the crumble. 'When I do this next [NB] I think I'll use a bit more sugar'. He was amazed, however, at what you had to do to make the topping out of butter and flour: 'You mean I've got to put my hands in it?'

Thomas settles in at Hickling Cottage

Hickling Cottage is chez Grandpa and Margaret.  Here is Thomas relaxing with a cup of tea and one of his favorite objects in the world:

And here he is attempting cauliflower cheese!

Grandpa is apparently determined to make a man of him.  He failed with me, but maybe second time's the charm.

Thomas goes rumpety rumpety all down the road

Thomas has traveled successfully from Sheffield to Exeter by train, and can now visit a park we used to go to when we visited more regularly at the start of the 21st century.  (The park is called Bury Meadow, supposedly because it's on top of a mass grave, dating back, I believe, to the Black Death.  Talk about making lemonade out of lemons...)

2000:

2001:

2002:

2016:

It's just not the same when his father tries it (2014):

"King Charles II surveys his domain"

So went the title of Peter's email with this photo attached.  Apparently he and Thomas bicycled TEN MILES this day.  Pretty amazing for a kid who had put off learning how to ride a bike (because of Calvin-esque early experiences) until earlier this year!
A saddlesore monarch scans the horizon for any encroaching Dutch.
(For those puzzled by the reference, here is the real monarch in question.  I think Thomas has his portrait as the wallpaper on his laptop:)

Baby Thomas or Baby Charles II? Difficult to say.

Sunday lunch at the Harlings'

Here's Thomas with some of his step-relatives and a houseguest.

From L to R:
Japanese lodger
Thomas
Matthew (son of Peter)
Peter
Louis (eldest son of Matthew, a few months older than Thomas)

Apparently lunch was veggie-stuffed roasted squash.  Yum!  (Note Thomas briefly experiments with a green hoodie in this picture.  Perhaps that's his special Sunday Lunch Finery.  At any rate, you'll see he's back with the purple one in the next picture.)

More Sheffield Shenanigans

On the day of the BREXIT vote, as all of Europe was crumbling around his ears, Thomas was remarkably unconcerned. Perhaps because he knew that the exchange rate suddenly was very favorable...

 Thomas waits for the bus with Granny.  The delights of Oxfam await!

 Cousins!  Non-identical cousins!

And an aunt.  Martha is clearly intrigued.  "He's like a giant poodle!"