Profile: Lynne & William Brooker

Our wonderful neighbours invited in Lynne and the younger kids and plied them with coffee and mince pies while William skirted the house for possible ‘break in’ points. The bathroom top window was ajar so a ladder was found and up climbed Matt (aged about 12) who attempted to push his wiry frame through the narrow horizontal gap. He tried this way, he tried that way, but no luck. Through the kitchen window, we could see our big ginger cat, Garfield, on top of a cupboard (no doubt enjoying the smell of dinner) and behind him was hanging the back door key! So temptingly near! Could the cat be persuaded to ‘fetch’? Unlikely.

Then our wonderful neighbour John had the big idea. He just happened to have (don’t ask!) a javelin – not just any javelin but the javelin with which Steve Batley won a silver medal in the 2000 Olympics! He fixed a wire coat hanger to its end and threaded it delicately through the cat flap. Garfield watched, confused and curious as he attempted to ‘fish’ for the key. Crouched down with Steve Batley’s javelin, John couldn’t actually see into the kitchen so was directed in ‘Right a bit, left a bit’ fashion by William. His aim was improving, he nudged the key and tried to hook it, nearly... nearly... and yes, the key fell down behind the oven, out of sight!

Meanwhile next door, having consumed a great many mince pies and now moved on to the sherry, Lynne was enjoying the day immensely.

Well finally of course we had to call a locksmith which, as you can imagine, on Christmas Day cost a pretty penny. We finally got in at about 2 p.m., ate dinner at 3 and that joint was crisply caramelised on the outside and meltingly sweet inside – delicious! Our kids all look back on it as one of the funniest and most enjoyable of Christmases – and I thank goodness for the neighbourliness of the Deepings!

43-45 Bridge Street, Deeping St James Lincolnshire PE6 8HA Tel: 017888 346415 www.devonportskitchensbathrooms.co.uk