Went to mum and dad's yesterday to check on the house - they are on holiday for a few weeks. Watered the plants, pottered about and had lunch. And then went into the garden for a bit of a run about. Smashed ice in the ponds, dug up some snowdrops from the wild end of the garden (mum and dad won't miss them!) and then because it was such a lovely afternoon we played hide-and-seek. There aren't too many places to hide in the garden, but we managed it, and OH then chose to hide in the new shed/lean-to. A lovely solid wood door has just been fitted to the shed part, which is really strong and burglar proof. So OH hid in the shed and LP started hunting for him, and I offered assistance. Eventually she found daddy and rushed in for a hug. She ran back out and I went into the shed because OH wanted to show me something. And LP decided to play with the door! She slammed it shut and we then realised that the inside of the shed didn't have a handle. We asked LP to open the door, but she said there wasn't a handle. She tried to open the door using the shaft but wasn't able to, and there was no other way out. She started to get rather scared, so I chatted to her while whispering to OH about our possibilities. By some miracle he'd brought his mobile phone out with him, so he called 999 and explained the situation. Now bearing in mind that my parents live in the middle of nowhere, and we had to explain that we couldn't shout for help because the nearest neighbours are about half a mile away, they were brilliant. We explained that our four-year old daughter was alone, and scared, and they sprang into action. Twenty minutes later (well M&D do live in the middle of nowhere!) and LOTS of stories and songs later, a WPC arrived, along with some bigshot man with lots of silver bits on his uniform. We'd already explained to LP that we had called the police who would come and open the door, but actually seeing them did scare her a little more. But they were great. They laughed their socks off, but they were brilliant. And it was hardly a taxing call for them! They even blasted the siren for LP when we waved them off. So all's well that ends well - but what a scare, for the whole family. Funny that the last time we looked after the house the firebrigade were involved.....
;D ;D
Poor you though!
Sounds as if you could do with a nice glass of wine tonight!
The police are wonderful. Such as when my horse escaped onto the Fosseway many years ago - she was impossible to catch except by me so they stopped the traffic until I could get through.
Actually your story reminds me of when I was housesitting for my aunt (more years ago than above) and the key broke in the lock one evening. Friendly PC arrived, 'borrowed' ladder, managed to open upstairs window and let muself and girl friend in from the inside.
Is Little Plocket over the fun?
Love CLx
Dan2 - right reaction!!!
CL - I think a bit of fermented grape juice might pass my lips tonight! We phoned my BIL as soon as we were able, he's a Police Inspector - he'd had a rough day so our story soon cheered him up. Sounds like a scary story with your horse, but a more amusing one about your key! The two police who came to our aid were brilliant, and found the whole incident very funny, as did we when we knew the police were on their way. LP is absolutely fine - she was scared when she realised what she had done, but stayed by the shed talking with me, and I explained that it was ok and the police would come to let us out. I was more worried about her running off in the garden (which is huge, has two large deep ponds, and easy access to the road) than our ability to escape! But she was great, liked the "police lady" and has learned a valuable lesson about playing with doors!!! L&H Px
Poor you Plocket! But all's well that ends well. :)
Good for you Plocket! Glad LP is OK, at least it turned a potentially nad experience into a 'story to remember for years'.
Actually the horse one was scary, but the police were so brilliant I dropped off some chocs the next day as a thank-you. They even gave me an escort back down the main road, but darling mare was getting very fractious and difficult to hold, so one PC stayed with me while the other drove to an acquaintance's house to get her to come with her horsebox and pick us up!
And I'd got through the inevitable traffic jam - to the rescue, when having abandoned my car to run up the middle of the road, a local jockey drew up, put his hazard lights on, and delivered me to the centre of the scene.
Sorry for twittering...can still remember it as if it was yesterday. Darling mare died aged 19.
CLx
Oh Plocket! That really made me laugh! ;D ;D ;D Glad it all ended well and LP is okay. I must get my allotment shed sorted out, if the door slams shut too hard the latch on the outside falls down and it would be quite easy to get locked inside...although the shed is very old and wonky, one good kick and it would probably fall apart anyway so no fear of being trapped for too long.
Oh CL that sounds like an awful experience. I'm so glad your mare was ok in the end. It must have been so stressful for you and her. I'm afraid I don't know much about horses but judging by your comment I assume that 19 years is quite old for a horse? Bless her. I bet you've got some lovely memories.
Px
Jesse - it's all very well your shed being old and wonky - but if you kicked it where would the shed go to??? Get the latch sorted! We always learn from experiences - whether they are our own or those of others!!! ;)
:) tomorrow's job I think!
He he he! ;)
Hi Plocket.
Yes, darling mare was the one and only for me -she was difficult, talented and totally wonderful. We had a fair few scrapes during out 13 years together. She died in 1996 and I still miss her, but I have a lovely portrait of her, in pride of place in the sitting room.
She came out well out of the police story though!
Cheers,
CLx
Once I read that all was well I had a good laugh!!!! Actually Plocket you live too far away for me to ask you to keep an eye on my place when I am on holiday!!(Thank God ;D)
When they were very young three of my Grandaughters (sisters) with only 4years between eldest and youngest locked them selves in my bathroom. Luckily the eldest who was about 6 climbed on the bath and opened the little window. I am sure my son-in-laws arms stretched to double their length so that he could unlatch the big window.. I threw the key away.. door has never been locked since ;D
OMG! :o Plocket that must have been quite scary at the time even though looking back there are some comic sides to it. I would have loved to have seen your faces when you found you were locked in. Glad you were rescued and your daughter was safe and okay. At least it now makes a great after dinner story and your daughter can retell the adventure when she gets older.
My being locked in tale, was when I was 18 years old and a kennel maid; I got locked into a kennel with two big dogs during a thunder storm, the place was deserted and it was very dark (apart from the eerie flashes of lightening) and noisy, and the dogs weren't happy at all about the storm. Eventually and by luck, someone was passing by and heard my cries for help. Was I glad to get out. ;D busy_lizzie
Hi Lorna! Yes I think I got locked in mum and dad's loo when I was little. Now they are in a new house all the locks have been moved to high up on the doors so little fingers can't reach - but guess which grandaughter discovered she could drag a stool from the hall into the loo and lock the door? The same grandaughter who decided to try out grandpa's cordless drill when he wasn't looking - while he was moving the loo lock!!!!! Needless to day the stool has been moved. She didn't get locked in on that occasion either because she knew how to work the lock. Little madam!!!
Hi BL! It was a bit scary but more because I didn't want LP to run off - and our faces must have been a picture when we realised we couldn't get out! I posted the story only because we've been laughing about it, and I thought you guys would appreciate it!! I don't like the idea of being shut in somewhere with two large scared dogs though - eeeeek!