Tree House: the end (or beginning) of the story.

One or two people have reminded me that I never reported back on the Tree House. In the end, I found a Local Hero, paid him a heap of money, and he delivered the most absolutely wonderful tree house, which now sits on stout, tall legs and nestles among the trees at the bottom of the garden. I climbed up there myself with carpet off-cuts and carpeted the floor, and installed a little light and some furniture. It awaits curtains, coming soon.

Son is thrilled, not only with the finished product, but also with the fact that Local Hero, with endless patience and charm, gave him hundreds of little "jobs" to do. One bit of the house came ready-to-assemble, with instructions that said "Requires a minimum of two people to assemble" which was clearly not true for Local Hero, but he made Son read it out, and announced that the house could NOT be built without his help.

Son has now made a number of notices to hang on the door, declaring who may or may not enter. But I usually find that calling out "Jammie Dodgers and Lemonade?" works as a temporary password...

November the fifth (a terrible, barbaric English festival) we had a little fireworks party and launched the tree house properly. Local Hero came to the party too. What a nice man.