Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Day 10 (Wednesday 2nd June)

   I rose early and thankfully didn't disturb Ellen, had a couple of slices
of toast and a cup of instant coffee just to get me going, I could get
something more at the airport, the taxi was right on time, I watched for
him out the lounge window and waved to let him know I had seen him.  We got
to the airport quite quickly as there was no traffic in the way, booking in
was fine, a breakfast and finally onto the plane, it seemed a bit full,
lot's of business people going to London.  I managed to secure a window
seat and a man sat down beside me quite quickly, he turned and said "This
flight is busier than normal for a Wednesday, must be a vote happening in
Westminster today, I bet the trains are busy too" "Is that what you are
going to do, if you don't mind me being nosey?" "No, I've just finished a
contract in Scotland, what about you?  Do you come from here?" "No, I'm
just going down for a visit, I'm returning to Glasgow tonight, it's funny I
don't come from Scotland and I've only been here for about four weeks but I
feel that I belong here" The guy said with a laugh "Maybe you're the long
lost ancestor of Rob Roy" We both laughed then and then the talk got onto
freelance work as I said that I had used to be a freelancer but that a bit
of good luck had allowed me to retire early.  He said that he was an
engineer specialising in concrete structures, so we swapped stories on the
way and very soon we were landing then taxiing onto the apron, we shook
hands like old friends and parted company.  I made my way out to the taxi
rank and the first one was a silver saloon not a black hackney cab and I
told the cabbie, who appeared to be about 60, where I wanted to go, he
blanched a bit and I said "If you don't want this hire, tell me now and
I'll get someone else" He quickly said "No, it's not that, I've been ripped
off on a long hire before and I'm a bit wary" "If you quote me a price for
the journey I'll pay you up front, how's that?" Now the guy was beaming and
he looked up a book he had in his glove compartment, quoted me a price,
looked quizzically at me and I said "I'll give you that now" I opened up my
wallet counted out a fifty and a twenty and handed them over, he counted
them himself and said "This is more than I asked for" "I expect a nice
journey then, not too rushed, I also would like to ask if I can hire you
for the day?  Don't worry I can well afford you, only I need to go a couple
of places then get back here to fly back to Scotland.  What do you think?"
"For that you may have to double what you have already given me" "Do you
have facilities to take a credit card in here?" "Yes" I then showed him my
credit card "Do you know what that is?" He stared at me and said "Oh, yes I
do, I haven't seen many, maybe less than ten but I sure know not to
question you again" He gave a nervous laugh "Shall we get going" He said as
he opened the door for me.  I got in and got settled for an hour's journey,
the cabbie was silent for longer than any cabbie I have ever had before,
then he cleared his throat and said "Should I be looking to you for an
autograph?  I'm sorry but I don't recognise you from any films I've seen up
to now" "No, I'm not famous, just lucky, I won the lottery and if I can do
it anyone can" "If you don't mind me asking, how much did you get?" "I
don't mind you asking but you had better get a good grip on the wheel, I
won the Euro Millions and got £35 million to myself" He slightly swerved as
he listened to what I said and took it in, I just laughed, he uttered
something under his breath then said "What are you going to do with it?  Do
you have a big family?  Jeeeesus!  Even a big family would have problems
spending that lot" "I don't actually have any family, I plan on giving a
lot of it away but to smaller localised charities that are struggling to
stay afloat, I've already been on that programme where the
multi-millionaires go away to a strange town for a week undercover
volunteering then owns up and gives money away" "Oh!  I've seen that
programme but I never thought I'd meet someone that's been on it, is that
where you've just come from?" "Yes, but I've now got some unfinished
business, both here and in Glasgow, I have a car that I want transported up
to Scotland as I'll be there longer than I first thought" He interrupted me
"Look my neighbour has a car transporter and I know he is short of work,
he's just lost a long term contract, do you mind if I call him, it's
alright I have Bluetooth in this cab, he'll be able to hear you as well if
you want to talk to him" I said for him to go ahead and make his call, it
would save me time if I could get him.  I heard the ringing and a woman's
voice, then my cabbie said "Mary, is Geoff there, tell him it's Ray from
down the road" There was a pause then a cockney sounding voice saying
"How's it going cocker?  How can I help ya, mate?" Ray answered him "Look
Geoff I've got a guy in me cab that needs a car taken up to Scotland, just
talk to him mate, he can hear you" He said "Oh, okay Ray, erh sir, how can
I help you?  What kind of car is it?  Where is it now?  When can I pick it
up?  Where's it going?" He rattled off these questions not letting me get a
word in edgeways, I said "Whoa, one question at a time, we haven't spoken
about money yet, the car is a Saab convertible, the latest model, it's at
my house between Lewes and Polegate and I want it in Scotland by Friday
this week, now I have a couple of question's, do you still have your
insurance up to date for transporting vehicles?  How soon can you get to my
home?  How much?" He must have been ready for my question's for he said
"I'll charge you either so much a mile plus accommodation or we can come an
agreement on a lump sum, yes, my insurances can be inspected by yourself
and I can get there in a couple of hours as I'm in Crawley, by the way,
nice car" "Well let's agree on say £1,500" He said "Hey, that's too much I
don't want to rip you off" "Does that mean you don't want the job?" "Hell
yes, do you mind if I bring a passenger, if I'm going all that way I'd like
my wife along" "I don't mind but I'm not paying her as well (I laughed),
are you ready to take down the address?" "Yes, fire away" So I gave him my
address and he said he would be leaving shortly and would arrive in a
little less than two hours, I said that that was fine and Ray hung up and I
said to Ray, "I know your name now and mine's Ken, you will be getting a
finders fee at the end of today, now I only have to arrange security for my
house and don't tell me you know one of them as well, I want a big company
to make sure they have their insurances as well, so if you don't mind Ray,
I'm going to be on the phone for a bit of the journey" He replied "You
carry on, Ken I'll just concentrate on the road" I phoned George Wilson, my
lawyer and he was quickly on the other end, he said "Ken I have an apology
to make to you, we are holding a letter that should have been handed to you
at the reading of your Mothers will, it's only just come to light, I'm very
sorry" "Don't worry about it George just send it up to my address in
Glasgow.  That's not why I called you though George, I am going to spend a
bit more time in Glasgow than I thought at first, so I am going to need
some security just to go round the outside of the house once in a while,
could you arrange that for me?  I'll send you a duplicate sensor so they
can get through the main gates" He agreed straight away and said he had
been talking to Donnie, he said that Donnie had said that both Libby and
her mother were very beautiful women and that he thought you would be very
happy.  I said "How does Donnie know how I feel?  I haven't said anything
to him" He replied that Donnie had said that we all seemed so right for one
another, he said you were like a `Whirlwind Knight in Shining Armour' I
said "Someone else called me that the other day, this is going to stick if
I'm not careful" "Ken, I will sort out the security for you, you take care
my friend and say my hello's to Donnie for me, tell him I really will make
the effort to come to Glasgow soon, tell him to get his golf clubs polished
up cause I want to get my own back" I agreed that I would pass on his
message, I gave him my address in Glasgow and we hung up.  I noticed that
we were getting close to my house, just through the village and a mile
beyond, I said that to Ray and he slowed down then we turned a big sweeping
bend and it was ahead of us about a ¼ mile, I got my sensor out of my
pocket and pressed the button and the gates opened ahead of us, the
driveway up to the house had been tarmaced and there was a big space to
turn right in front of the house, I heard Ray say "Wow" under his breath,
we stopped and we both got out and I walked to the big double storm doors,
they were a little stiff but I thought some WD40 would sort that and I
turned and invited Ray in.  We sat in the kitchen waiting on his friend
Geoff, we didn't have long to wait as we heard a truck pull up outside, we
walked outside and saw a custom cab with Red Indian murals all over it and
then both doors opened and a man and a woman of about 30 walked towards us,
the guy said "Hi Ray, I suppose you sir are my temporary employer, my name
is Geoff and this is my Wife, Mary" He put his hand out and we shook, I
said "Hello Geoff and Mary, I'm pleased to meet you, my names Ken Richards
but I prefer Ken if it's all the same to you, nice rig you have there"
"I've been building my business up to the point that I could afford it and
just as I got the last murals done on it my bubble burst, I lost a big
contract that I was relying on, no fault of mine, just the company said
they were `down-sizing' so me and a couple of others lost out.  I've been
lucky, I got some work from the taxi company that Ray works for and I've
hired myself out to some insurance companies, so I think I'll be able ride
out the worst of this recession we find ourselves in.  Then you come along
in a slack week and brighten it up, thanks" "Come on in to the house and
sit down, have a coffee and I'll go over what I want" So we all entered my
house, they were looking round in awe, there's a huge staircase and landing
at the top, there is a lot of natural wood on show just waxed, no staining
here and we walked into my main living room where my collection of Red
Indian stuff was, Geoff looked dumbstruck, He stuttered and then said "This
room suits the Native American memorabilia you have, it must have taken you
a long time to gather this, it's truly wonderful, I feel privileged to have
seen it" "The reason I wanted you to see it was because of the murals you
have, I knew you'd like my room, now let's go and get the coffee and I led
them into my kitchen, Mary gasped she said "You could entertain royalty
with this kitchen, do you mind if I have a look around?" "Just take your
time Mary we have some business to discuss" She went pulling some of the
rolling cupboards out and in and opening drawers, we just left her to it. I
gave Geoff my address in Glasgow complete with postcode for his Sat-Nav
system and explained "I want it to arrive on the Friday morning, about
10am" Geoff said "I could get it there sooner" "But I would rather you are
fresh to start out on your return journey and I know that you have
restrictions on the hours you can drive in one day, I don't want you to
rush.  Also if you find that accommodation is a bit more expensive than you
had thought, tell me and I'll reimburse you" "Hell I've never had a boss
like you Ken you will get your car on time I guarantee it" I opened my
wallet and counted out £1,000 in £100 notes, "That's to be going on with
Geoff you will get the balance in Glasgow, is that alright?" "It's more
than alright it's my pleasure to do business with you, so let's see this
car of yours" I led them, Mary came too, through to my double garage and
there it was, my pride and joy, Mary gasped, it's beautiful she said and
she walked up to it, touched the body and looked inside and saw the white
leather upholstery and gasped again, she said "If I ever come up on the
lottery Geoff, this is what I want" I said to her "That's what I did, Mary.
I came up on the Euro Millions.  Just keep playing it could be you next"
She looked at me and I nodded.  Geoff said "I think you've made Mary a very
happy woman today, Ken" We all laughed and Mary looked a bit flushed but
laughed along with us.  I opened up the garage door, went and sat in the
car, started it up let it idle for a moment or two then moved it out onto
the driveway in front of the house.  They all came out of the garage and I
closed and locked the door.  I got out of the car and gave the keys to
Geoff, He said to me "Don't worry I'll take great care of it for you" Mary
piped up "If anyone looks at it funny while we are coming up, I'll flatten
`em" We all laughed at that.  I said to Geoff "I have a car cover that
hooks under the wheel arches if you need it" "Ok, I'll put it on after it
the car is on board" He started to get the truck ready for loading up and I
went into my workshop and retrieved the cover and brought it out, by that
time Geoff was just climbing into the car, then he drove it very expertly
onto the truck, switched off the engine, got out and locked it up, he
turned to me and said "You keep hold of the keys, then you know there won't
be any funny nonsense" "Thanks Geoff for thinking that way, it didn't cross
my mind" I pocketed the keys and gave him the cover, he got help from all
of us to fit the cover and then he clamped the car wheels to the truck and
fitted a yellow wheel clamp to one wheel, he said "That will deter any
wannabys on the way" Then the bed of the truck was moved up into travelling
position and the back ramp raised and locked into position too.  I
considered my car to be as safe as it could possibly be.  I said to Geoff
"Don't forget, around 10am Friday, no sooner, I have other things to do
before then and won't be home" He agreed and he shook hands with me, Mary
gave me a kiss on the cheek "For luck" She said and laughed Then she
climbed into the cab with Geoff.  Ray and myself waved them off.  "You've
saved me a lot of time Ray.  I know, you can drive us down to the pub in
the village we drove through and I'll buy you lunch" I went into the house,
made sure everything was locked up put any perishable food into my waste
bins out the back, then out the front door, set the house alarm and locked
the front door, we drove out through the gates and I hit the sensor button
and turned and saw the gates close behind us, Ray looked in his mirror and
said "That's a real fancy setup you have there, Ken" I agreed and we went
to the pub and had our lunch, while I was relaxing with a pint of beer and
Ray had a soft drink, I phoned Gatwick and asked if I could get an earlier
flight as my business had finished quicker than I thought it would, I paid
a bit extra owing to the flight time was in their `rush hour' slot, but I
was okay with that and hung up, I turned to Ray and asked if we had time to
get my earlier flight and he said that that was no problem if we left now,
so I finished my pint, went and paid the bill and met Ray outside.  We got
into the cab, I climbed into the front passenger seat this time after
asking Ray if it was alright first and he had no problems with it.  He
drove me back to the airport.  On arrival I got out of the cab and walked
round to the drivers side and got out my wallet, I counted out four £50's
and gave them to him, he blustered "What's all this for?  This is more than
enough Ken, I'll give one of these back to you" "Put it in your pocket Ray,
I said I would give you a `finder's fee' before didn't I?  Well that
includes it" "Thank you Ken, it has been my pleasure, if ever you need a
private hire let me know, mate.  I'll give you my card" He gave me his
card, I shook his hand and I turned and left with a wave behind me.  Well I
got my earlier flight and landed at Glasgow airport in the afternoon
instead of about 10pm in the evening, I was well chuffed with myself at
having got so much done in so short a time.  A ½ hours cab journey in the
`rush hour' that should have taken a little less time, I opened the door to
our house as quietly as I could, took my shoes off and crept to the kitchen
door and looked in, they were both engrossed in making dinner, Ellen was
putting something in the oven and Libby appeared to be cleaning veggies, I
shouted "BOO!!  Gotcha" They jumped and screamed, looked at me then ran
towards me, I almost got knocked down in the rush, then the tickling
started and I finished on the floor shouting for help, none came.  Then
they let me up and it was hugs and kisses.  Ellen said "How did you get
home so quickly?  Did you really go home?  Is there something wrong?" I
said to them both, lets go into the lounge and I'll tell you about my day.
So we went and sat and I recounted all that had happened finishing up with
managing to get an earlier flight, I said if it hadn't been for that
cabbie, Ray, I would still be there.  I said "So what's for dinner, your
man's home and no vitals on the table, I think I'll have to trade you in
for new models" Then I got more tickles, I shouted "Okay, please, I'll not
trade you in" I laughed and they joined in.  Ellen said "We had intended
having a snack and waiting for you to come home and have our dinner later
tonight, so you are too early" "How about we get one of those deliveries of
food tonight, I've seen some menus somewhere here that have been shoved
through the letterbox, then I found one, an Indian.  I said that I would
make up an order for the three of us, nothing too hot and I got a notepad
and wrote down: Chicken Jaipuri, a mild prawn Buriani and a chicken Korma,
two types of rice, spiced onions with poppadums, mixed Pakora and hot dip
and a yoghurt dip and some garlic naan bread, I phoned the restaurant gave
them the order and my name and address and I asked how long it would take
to deliver, paid the bill with my debit card and hung up.  I said to the
girls all we have to do is warm up some plates and wait about ½ an hour. 
So they went and put some plates into the plate warmer and we sat listening
to the radio until the door bell rang, they were both so excited as they
hadn't had one of these before, I carried the filled carrier bags into the
kitchen and laid out the Pakora, the dipping sauces, the spiced onions and
the poppadums and put the rest into the plate warmer to keep hot.  We sat
at the breakfast bar and I showed them how to dip the Pakora and try both
sauces and to break off pieces of the poppadums and put the onions onto it,
the starters went down well, even the heat of the dip and the onions,
though lots of water was on hand.  I got out the heated plates and served
the Buriani, Korma and the Jaipuri, broke up the naan so we all had some, I
said "Now you can try a part of each dish, I know I like all of them so I
don't mind eating what you don't want.  That was it, they each took a
mouthful of each dish, they weren't sure about the heat of the Jaipuri but
they shared the Korma and the Buriani between them and loved the naan
bread. It was a great success and they both said that they would like to
experiment with different food again and thanked me for suggesting it. 
Ellen said that the dinner they had prepared would do for tomorrow as they
were now stuffed full.  I asked Libby if she had any homework and she said
she had a little, I said "Right if you want to watch any TV tonight you had
better finish the homework first" She turned to Ellen and said "Mum, you
are going to marry a bully" She laughed and walked up to me for a hug and a
kiss (I kept my mouth closed again) and she tried again, it didn't work,
she said "Your no fun, I've got to learn, how can I do that if you won't
open your mouth?" "I told you, and I'll tell you again you naughty little
girl, not till your birthday" I gave her a playful smack on her rear end
and she said to Ellen "He's not only a bully, he's started slapping me
about too.  I'll report you for child abuse" Then she giggled and I said
"Be careful, I might just put you over my knee again" She remembered that I
had no problems lifting and turning her onto my lap, I could see the memory
come back and it showed on her face, then she blushed "I was only teasing,
Daddy, forgive me please?" I smiled at her and put my hand up to her face
and stroked her cheek "Of course I will, just don't go over the top with
being cheeky, it doesn't suit you darling" She melted into my arms for a
hug and I kissed her on her forehead, I said "Now it's time for homework
dear" She came out of our embrace and went over to her mother, who had
listened to everything and Ellen said "Libby, I don't have to tell you how
lucky you are, you know how much you are loved by us both, circumstances
threw us all together, I'm not going to give you a lecture, but always
remember there are always consequences associated with our actions, some
good, some bad, so there is a bit of home, homework to think about, alright
darling, now off you go" She got another kiss on the forehead from her
mother and a much subdued Libby left to go upstairs.  Ellen came over to me
and said "She knows you were mad at her for being cheeky and I stood up for
what you did, you were right of course, she did need to be told.  I don't
think she will do anything like that again, she doesn't like you being mad
at her, that's how much she loves you and her hormones are raging, she
would walk through fire for you.  I haven't seen anything like it before, I
love you like she loves you but she doesn't understand her feelings yet"
"Wow Ellen how do I handle this?  Even I am scared of her feelings" "Just
love her darling" "Well that's not hard" "Right Buster, you swaned off to
who knows where and I didn't get proper cuddles last night or this morning,
you are going to have to make up for that, I suggest you start now but not
down here, I want proper cuddles upstairs" So that's where we headed, I did
say when we got to the top of the stairs "Should I go into say goodnight?"
"No, just give her time to think about what she did tonight, OK?" So we
entered our boudoir for fun, frolics and eventually sleep took over.