A family evening

Leonora and Lara were ensconced in Leonora's room on the bed, with Tata lying between them, and the bottle of wine on the floor. They both (not Tata) had their noses stuck in the atlas and were happily anticipating the excitement of Lara's trip. First stop Beijing.

Mrs Leonard was in the kitchen as usual, happily preparing food for lots of people.

Leonard was sulking moodily in front of the computer feeling unloved and unwanted. Perhaps Rod would turn up soon and they could indulge in some Men's Talk.

Almost immediately after he thought that, the front door opened, and Rod walked in. Leonard brightened up.

"Hi dad," said Rod, and headed straight off for his customary free shower. Leonard hadn't even had chance to open his mouth.

Rod's girlfriend Jane followed in behind him. "Hi Leonard," she said. "How are you?" And she too disappeared without waiting for an answer, off to join Rod in the shower.

Right that's it. I'm going to bag a few caches.

He limped into the kitchen and said grouchily: "No-one seems to need me, I'm going out caching."

"Yes, Leonard," replied Mrs Leonard, chop chop chopping away at some vegetables.

Yes what? Yes no-one needs me, or yes it's ok to go out?

"And I hope we are having some meat or fish or something. Just because Leonora is vegetarian doesn't mean five other people have to eat vegetarian food to fit in with her."

"Yes Leonard," repeated Mrs Leonard ambiguously.

Leonard scowled. He couldn't see any meat or fish and Mrs Leonard was being decidedly unhelpful. Still, something smelled nice somewhere, so best not to start an argument. He limped out and went towards Leonora's room.

In fact he stormed in so quickly that Tata didn't have time to jump off the bed. She lay down as low as she could behind the two women and wondered if Leonard might not notice her. Not that it was very easy for a 43kg dog to hide on a bed.

"Come along Tata, we're going out. You can catch up with these two later," he ordered.

Leonora and Lara looked up briefly and went back to the atlas and their conversation.

Typical, he thought. Not even interested in where I'm going. He turned round and left the room, with Tata dutifully trotting along behind him.

Out on the road his spirits lifted a little. He was sick of fitting in around everyone and nobody being interested in him. It was time for a little Armada Groove or Basement Jaxx he thought, and pressed the CD player.

Tata groaned softly in the back of her Land Rover and tried to cover her ears with her paws. She really wished one day Leonard would discover some decent music.

There were no First To Finds, but the two of them had a couple of good walks anyway, and Leonard was in a much brighter mood when he got back.




Mrs Leonard was still in the kitchen, and everyone else was sitting together in the sitting room, chatting away about Lara's trip. Leonard was secretly jealous about her trip, and dearly wished he could chuck his job and go gadding around Asia.

He decided to join in the conversation, after all he was usually down with the kids, although Leonora did tend to cramp his style sometimes by pointing out how old and boring he was, which was a cheek when she was older than him, even if she neither dressed, acted, or looked as though she was.

"I really really wanted to do Burma," said Leonora. "Myanmar," she added to show she wasn't totally out of touch. "But it sounded so complicated, you could only get a visa for seven days, and the trip from Rangoon to Mandalay was really tight to fit in with that. So we gave it a miss. Seems a bit easier now."

Flippin' know-all Leonora, he thought.

"I really enjoyed Cambodia," said Leonard, showing off, knowing Leonora hadn't been there.

"Yes, but you went with work Leonard," said Leonora. "We're talking about independent travel. It's hardly the same thing.

"Lara's plans for travelling around with her friend are far more ambitious and adventurous than you getting some cushy number subsidised by work," she said dismissively.

"Although I know you have done a bit of camping and stuff in Europe on your own.

"And you have been to America, which I haven't, but there again you haven't been to Australia and New Zealand and I have."

Leonard glared at her. Everyone expectantly waited for his response. He considered pointing out that she hadn't been to the Middle East at all, but just couldn't be bothered with the argument.

"More wine Leonora?" and without waiting for the answer he limped off into the kitchen, wondering why on earth he had wanted the woman to come back.