This is a slightly unusual post but bear with us, we think it’s a nice story. It’s from Dumpton school, deep in the Dorset countryside where two of our granddaughters are being educated. They will be there until they are thirteen. This week, however, they have been left parentless because their parents are away on business, one in San Francisco and the other in New York. Or, at least, that’s what we’ve been told. We suspect they’re lying on a beach somewhere on an all-inclusive! That’s why we are down here in Poole on England’s south coast.

Teas for parents

Anyway, our week seems to be getting spent travelling around to various sports venues to watch the girls play hockey and football. They are good!

After a match parents are invited for tea and cake in one of the sports halls. Dumpton has fantastic sports facilities and seems to have everything else as well to give kids a well rouded education.  They don’t hang about with the cakes. An amazing array of baking had us tucking in to all sorts of brownies, shortbread (branded) and a variety of sponges. No scones but imagine our surprise when Lola turned up with a dish full of ones she had made while we were watching her sister’s hockey match.  

This was a complete surprise. Not only were they presented on a plate she had made herself but amazingly she had even put some raspberry jam and clotted cream into little pots to go with the scones. This girl will go places! Don’t think this would have happened at any of the schools that we went to. However, there was nothing for it but to take them home since there was no way we could eat any more sweet things.

We did, however, have them later. Understandably, readers might think that an element of bias might creep into judging these scones. As it turned out, there was no need. Truthfully, they were absolutely delicious. Jam and cream perfect as well. Topscones, however, because readers can’t access them they have to remain “uncategorised”. But well done Lola, a fantastic surprise!

They live just a five minute walk from Poole’s Branksome Chine beach. Lifegaurd training means they are in the sea almost every day … though not this week while we are looking after them … there’s a limit!

Gymnastic energy is never in short supply and Ebba has developed a unique way of getting onto the beach. She’s been trying to teach me but there’s another limit!

Shocks

Getting up in the dark to take them to school has been a bit of a shock to the system and standing watching hockey in monsoon like conditions is becoming quite normal now. The girls have been fantastic. We will almost be sorry to see their parents return … almost!