just another morning here

Bang goes the third weekend of the holidays!

Friday night was fab, because Steve came home from a trip to the accountants in a good mood, and took us out for dinner Nice to know that all his hard work has paid off, this year at least.

On Saturday the girls took part in a singing workshop with the Panto people – great fun by all accounts. Josiah and I pootled around all day getting little jobs done – sorting out pets etc.

Today we spent lunchtime at Steve’s parents’ house for a BBQ, celebrating Steve’s Grandad’s and Mum’s birthdays, so that was nice. Sadly his Grandad wasn’t really up to taking part in his own birthday party though

Other than that, we’ve been packing. And giving the house a ritual pre- holiday tidy and clean (which everyone else moans about but I see as essential!). Also watching Moscow webcams and waiting for updates – the smog is clearing and apparently the airport is fully functional tonight so things are looking good for our flight next week. We’re all excited, if a bit nervous as well, but it should be an experience of a lifetime!

I now have no children at Pinhoe Primary School. Gosh, it was such a big deal for them all to start there four years ago, from having been home educated – and now I am sad, in some ways, to leave it behind. In other ways we’re ready to leave and it’s good – but it is with an emotional pang and a bit of a sniff that I write this. Definitely the end of the bookbag years

This daft saying goodbye thing started getting emotional a couple of weeks ago at the Choral Evening – when the choir sang a song that was the ‘Leavers’ Song’ the year that Anna left! It brought a tear to the eye of a number of parents – who knew how much we would blub today!

After that came parents’ evening where yet again I thanked Miss White for giving Abbie the best two years of primary school – the two of them have got on really well, and that has meant loads to me, especially during this last year when Abbie’s been a bit of a latchkey kid. Easy to get emotional when thanking someone who has probably spent more time with your daughter than you have recently, inspired her in many ways, helped her loads with academics (and hence helped with scholarship!), given her great opportunities, been a brilliant role model, and most of all had a lot of fun.

Not only that, Miss White also involved Anna well after Anna had left the school, letting her come back to sing in the choir, and play piano for them – a big encouragement. I’m sure teachers at Abbie’s new school will be just as lovely but there really was something special about Miss White. She herself is leaving ‘class teacher’ status at Pinhoe, so it’s emotional for her too this year – I’m just (selfishly!) glad she’s didn’t do it any earlier!
So, all in all, Miss White is wonderful, and I can’t help but get a bit teary when saying thank you as it really has meant so much.

We’ve had the Y6 play, and the farming exhibition, but we mums have been building up to today – joking about how many tissues we would need! Abbie’s leaving present to me was a headful of nits, but the less said about that the better – I’ve been combing like crazy over the past few days! Anyway. Today’s leavers’ assembly was lovely, a bit of a tear-jerker, but not too bad – luckily I ended up sitting behind Abbie so couldn’t see her face, which helped!

And, thank goodness, term is over for me too. We had a balloon release this morning for the little boy who died recently, so that was emotional as well; it’s the end of a year as an HLTA, and the start of a year as a teacher, which is totally overwhelming – aargh! We’re off to the beach to celebrate the end of the school year later so that should be relaxing at least – I’m going to take a few welcome beers!

We’ve had a lovely day. It started very early with Josiah feeling sick but luckily he recovered before too long. The kids had obviously been working hard in secret last night, because when we came down for our ‘surprise’ breakfast (pancakes) there was this banner in the hallway for Steve’s imminent birthday. We’d decided to celebrate today instead as the day was free.

After breakfast Josiah went off to perform chorister duties while we sorted laundry (the girls paired socks while I did the ironing!) and caught up on the Over the Rainbow final (these things are important, you know ). Then Steve and I went in for Mattins … somehow ended up sitting on Cathedral Green with smoothies instead though – it was just too nice outside!

We collected the boys and dropped Will off, then picked up the girls and drove out to the Jack in the Green where we met Steve’s parents and Grandad for a celebratory dinner. I really like the Jack in the Green – I had some really delicious roast butternut squash ravioli

We’d arranged to meet my caching friend down at Parke Estate near Bovey Tracey for a geocaching walk afterwards. This turned out to be a really lovely place to be – and we didn’t even know that Parke existed before this, unbelievably, despite having had NT membership for ages! A couple of the caches were ‘splash & cache’, so getting wet was obligatory, at least for those people who found the caches (Anna and Josiah both times, I think! I got my feet wet too but they had shoes on so they were much quicker than me!). All good fun, until the children got tired, Josiah rolled a rock down the path and it hit the back of Abbie’s foot, then they all lost it! Luckily that was at the end of the walk Anyway, I’m up to 425 finds now but my friend has hit 500 – I’ve long given up all hope of keeping pace!

Home for baths, putting laundry away, a bit of revision all round, then bed for the kids and a film for Steve and I

Oh yes, I am finding Easter very restful! Nothing to do with Josiah staying at school, I’m sure ! Ahem.

Easter Saturday was spent mainly preparing for Steve’s dad’s 60th birthday party which was an open house affair from 4pm onwards. In order to help Marg keep it a surprise I did lots of shopping and preparing food earlier in the day. Of course Steve ended up with a customer on test drive as we were due to pick him up at 4pm but we weren’t too late. I think the party was a success, and certainly Russ looked pleased and surprised with his gift of a trip to Paris; Steve took them to the airport yesterday.

The kids came home from the party laden with chocolate from various family members, and I brought home plenty of leftovers too, always good

On Easter Sunday the girls and I left Steve watching the Grand Prix and we went to church. The rest of the day was spent doing normal jobs etc., no family roast dinner as it seemed a bit mean to do that without Joe! We might get one in later in the holidays, if I can be bothered to cook one!

Later in the day our friends Stuart & Liz arrived to stay for a few days. They fancied doing a night cache so we all went out in the evening armed with wellies and torches to re-visit one that belongs to my friend; only Steve & I had done it about 18 months ago now, so enough time had elapsed for us to have forgotten the way!

Monday saw most people having a lazy start; I got up and made cottage pie for tonight while they were all still in bed! Breakfast happened; there was some gameplaying and I think some people had showers, then after lunch we went out for a long walk along the Estuary from Exton to Exmouth, with some caches completed en route.

We got the train back then headed into town for evensong. Not entirely sure what Stuart & Liz made of it – it was much busier than usual due to the annual get-together of the Old Choristers’ Association.

Fab to have Josiah home afterwards, though I did have to wrestle him to the floor to get a hug out of him! He’d clearly had a ball boarding at school over the past few days. After dinner we caught up with Dr Who, then the children went to bed and we watched a film (well, I blogged and faffed around with photos while the rest of them watched a film. Having fallen asleep during Dr Who at 8pm I thought I’d better keep myself awake somehow!).