Volvo - 1 Jeep - 0

It is with the trepidation of knowing that my in-laws have a Jeep that I report the following adventure today:

I am part of a small organising team for a trivia night being held at Kelpie and Padawan Learner's school this Saturday. As part of this we needed to borrow 10 trestle tables from a neighbouring school deep in LNSM territory.

"I have a Jeep" announced fellow helper JA "It'll fit all those tables in EASILY".

Once we had decided on the right outfit to wear, ponytails at regulation height, JA and I drove off to collect said tables. But, oh dear, the tables didn't fit. Not by at least 2 inches. Not even after JA snapped off a nail trying to get them in.

"Why don't we try the Volvo" I suggested

And, guess what? They DID, with 2 inches to spare. Victory to the Volvo stationwagon!

Trouble is, now I have to take them back on Monday...

LNSM

After three years on the Lower North Shore I feel the time is right to apply to become a LNSM (Lower North Shore Mum). Let's look at the club requirements:

• lives on the Lower North Shore (tick)
• drives a 4WD (Volvo is passable alternative, tick)
• often wears sports wear/gym clothes to drop of children at school (tick)
• plays tennis (oops...)

Today I corrected the glaring ommision from the above requirements by starting tennis classes. It's not quite the same as playing tennis "with the gals" but it's a start. I'll let you know if my application has been approved.

You'll know I've become a fully fledged LNSM if I have a regular hair appointment before my tennis class to have my ponytail 'pulled' (ie put up by a professional).

I've started this class, along with two other mums, at the same tennis school that our kids all attend. This is not such a good idea as it is like taking a maths lesson from your child's teacher - they know all sorts of stuff about you that they've been told by your child. Most of it untrue. And the tennis coach doesn't follow the "I promise to believe only 50% of what your child tells me about you if you only believe 50% of what they tell you about me" rule. I did find out, however, that my kids know that I grate carrot into their Spaghetti Bolognaise. Because they told the coach.