Like mother, like son

We went to a BBQ yesterday and Jake was playing in the sandpit, happy as Larry. R was slaving over a hot BBQ with Joe in the other hand and I was eating, when we both couldn't spot Jake any more. Suddenly R heard crying from behind the cars, thrust Joe at me and sprinted over there. There was a deep ditch running beside the road which is always filled with deep water. Except now, because they are working on the ditch so they drained it. Jake apparently got curious and walked to the edge of the ditch, where there is a sheer drop, cunningly disguised by tall grass. He fell into the ditch, face first.

The bottom of the ditch was a thick layer of black sludge that stank to high heaven. Jake was frightened, filthy, soaking wet and covered in grazes. We were terrified and soooo relieved the ditch had been drained! R took him home to bathe him and get him into some dry clothes. I stayed there, calming my wildly beating heart!

In a bizarre case of history repeating itself, I also fell into water, in a canal, when I was the same age. I was plucked out by a good Samaritan who gave me mouth-to-mouth and saved my life. I was luckily wearing a plastic rain poncho that had an air bubble trapped under it and kept me afloat. Like mother, like son...!