The Russians were hosted in families from the orchestra, or families who had travelled to Russia with us in 2010, and that all seemed to run smoothly – a lot of people relied heavily on google translate, what a wonderful invention. One friend of mine even gleefully used it, along with copy and paste on her phone, to send texts to her guests *in Russian* – very impressive. I confess we didn’t have to use it that much – one of the girls who stayed with us understood enough English to relay everything to the other one, and between them they managed to gesticulate and use enough English to make us understand most things!

Over the first weekend they spent time with ECO in rehearsals and then on the Saturday night we got together with a couple of other families within walking distance for an evening meal – one of them was hosting the bass balalaika player so we had some fun playing with that!

On the Monday, the dancers spent the day at Exeter College, with the performing arts dance students there; they exchanged traditional folk dances – the English taught the Russians some Maypole dances, and the Russians taught the English a traditional folk dance as well. We also had a civic reception from the Mayor in the middle of the day – in Russia the culture is very different and everything is controlled by the city council, so this was a diplomatic effort on behalf of our Lord Mayor – even though ECO organised and paid for everything, she was wonderful at ‘officially’ receiving the group.

Back to the college for rehearsals in the afternoon, and tea laid on by the college catering students, then a performance at Exeter College in the evening. It was actually incredible to see the dancers ‘close up’, having seen them on the big stage the night before – a totally different experience.

Tuesday was a day trip for the Russians, down to Dartmouth then a boat ride to Greenway (Agatha Christie’s house). Tuesday evening was meant to be with host families; we’d planned fish & chips but then our girls wanted to explore the city instead, so they did – on foot – and got the bus home! They seemed to get on fine, although they did end up eating in McDonald’s, but I shouldn’t mock as I remember some of our party eating there when we were in Moscow (not us, I hasten to add )!

Wednesday was a partial day out – we visited the Norman Lockyer Observatory in Sidmouth. I confess to sleeping through most of it (well, these presentations happen in darkened rooms and I just can’t help it) but the telescopes were interesting. From there we went to a hotel in Sidmouth for a lovely lunch, then the Russians shopped in Sidmouth while we sat and had tea in the hotel After that we travelled across to Exmouth Community College, whose deputy head teacher was a member of ECO in his youth, travelled to Russia with them back in the 90s, and still plays the balalaika now – so he had offered to host a performance as well.

Thursday was a day trip to the Eden project for the Russians, and then a Ceilidh for everyone. Excellent fun here – by now everyone had relaxed and made friends, even the adults – there was some vodka consumption in one corner No photos of this from me unfortunately!

Friday, their last full day in Exeter, was spent mainly shopping! The day was broken up by lunch, some gift giving, and an afternoon concert for the accordion players, and then we arranged for them to go and busk outside as well.

An amazing week really – as I have said in other places, I am so proud of ECO all over again, for being the sort of organisation that can pull off hosting such a brilliant week for people. It was very interesting to watch how the Russians relaxed as the week went on – from some tricky negotiations over the concerts/rehearsals on the first weekend to them being completely at home by the end of the week and not worrying about the details because they trusted us more (I felt). Host families were wonderful, as were key people playing organisational roles. Still, it was good to get to the end of the week and breathe a sigh of relief to send them on their way, in the knowledge that they’d had a brilliant time – there were tearful farewells between some families and their guests on the last morning, which just went to show how amazing an experience it had been.

France (being hosted by the OJHB) next Easter, that might be a little bit easier

The whole show was very well done as usual, but the stars of the show for me were two of Abbie’s friends who played Cinderella’s mice, Bubble and Squeak. They were simply brilliant throughout and sang their song (Anything you can do I can do better) stunningly! It was fab that the producer/musical director wrote in the cello song; another of Anna’s friends in the chorus did some proper pointe ballet as part of that piece too – so everyone’s talents were involved even if they didn’t have a main part. Oh and the little ones were just gorgeous – there were a lot of them and they looked so, so sweet on a number of occasions!

Josiah, as usual, was serious throughout and said at the end ‘well, all pantomimes are just the same, aren’t they?’!!

Can’t say I’m sorry it’s over, though, as the girls can do with their time back. We’ve said that Anna has to have a year off next year for exams but I can see me dithering about that when the time comes because they do enjoy it so much and get so much out of it. Anyway. Tomorrow is a catch-up-with-homework day as a result of a very very busy week.

We got home to find upheaval at home as Steve had decided to make some, erm, home improvements. The less said the better, as I was unprepared for this and I find the upheaval of his changes rather unsettling, to say the least.

Photos to follow …

However, as predicted, it’s exactly like pregnancy and childbirth – during December when rehearsals hotted up, we were tearing our hair out bemoaning the time they were taking up, how awful it was, and telling both girls that they didn’t have time for this another year – yet now we are in the performance week suddenly it all seems worthwhile! Both of them are talking about Next Year’s Panto already and I haven’t the heart to stop them as they have such fun, and the panto crowd are a fabulous bunch of people, too, so all in all it’s a winner (who needs to do school work anyway?!!).

I couldn’t help with Front of House during the week but I did help this afternoon for the matinee, and this evening we went to watch the final performance of Aladdin, along with Grandma, Grandpa and Aunty Esther Abbie did very well in the chorus- especially the Panda bits! Anna was playing in the band all the way through, so fairly invisible but also fairly indispensible! Josiah (bless him) did not smile or boo or hiss or anything the whole way through, even though I assure you that all around him we were entering into the spirit of things – so I can safely say that the Cathedral Choir is definitely the right place for him! He only ‘sort of’ enjoyed it …

Of course we are biased, and by now we do know a fair few of the cast, band, and production team, which makes it all the more fun to watch, but I thought it was great – well done Pinhoe Pantomime Society on another successful show

On Friday night we went to Exmouth, along with some other families, for an end of term BBQ. Well, we didn’t BBQ as that would have meant being organised; we had chips on the seafront instead. Everyone else was far more civilised than us, of course. Miss White even joined us for some of the time, which was lovely- possibly the last time we see her! The kids had a ball, and it was very chilled for us grownups as well

Yesterday Steve took all his employees on a jolly down to Haynes Race Track, so muggins here covered at the garage. It was very quiet although I did see one genuine customer – but a quiet day suited me as I had some time to think about planning for next year – not that I actually managed to get any work done, but still. The children spent a pleasant day with Grandma We were meant to go to Exmouth again with different friends but I made an executive decision that I was too tired so called an early night all round.

Today the girls went off to panto for the day, while Steve, Josiah and I went into town, then out to Wiscombe as spectators for a couple of hours – a novelty for Steve! Since he blew his gearbox up yesterday he had little choice

Anyway, back to the girls – over the past few weeks they’ve been involved with a mini-production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by the ‘Juniors’ of the Pinhoe Panto Society. Well, we thought it was a mini-production but actually it was pretty major! Considering how little time they’d had to rehearse it was an amazing show, with all the kids involved, some great singing and dancing too – and they all had such fun doing it, which was obvious in their enjoyment of the performance.

Afterwards all the panto families went and sat in the park and chatted while the kids played, lovely

There are two Y6 classes this year, and one of them did a mashup of the Old Testament while the other one did a quick skip through the New Testament. The first production included excerpts from Joseph (and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat), David and Goliath (The Giant Slayer), and Jonah (Jonah Man Jazz) – the second performance was The Gospel Show.

Abbie played Joseph – and then a Philistine, and then a drunken Ninevite – not sure which part she enjoyed the most! Joe and Anna ended up being involved too – Anna supported the Y6 keyboard player in one of the jazzy pieces that he couldn’t quite play, so Joe helped with props. It was a great evening, really loved seeing Abbie and all her friends enjoying themselves

They had a technical rehearsal on Monday night, full dress rehearsal on Tuesday evening, then performances every night after that. I’ve been helping with the front of house for the past couple of evenings, but tonight we’re going to watch properly, along with Grandma, Grandpa and Robyn. There are some pictures on flickr but only for friends and family as they’re not my photos!

Panto has been great – loads of hard work but the girls have loved it. They’ve made friends and had fun, and I think it will be much like pregnancy – I’ll have forgotten about the niggles by the time the next one comes around and they want to do it again!

In the middle of it all, on Wednesday both Anna and Abbie sat entrance exams for St. Margaret’s – and we heard towards the end of the week that they’ve been offered a music scholarship and an academic award respectively – which is great news. We had toyed with the idea of applying for a specialist music school place for Anna but they’re all miles away which would have meant full time boarding, and we quite like her really, so actually we’re all very happy to abandon that plan and keep her at home, but in a school where she will have a peer group doing music at the same level that she is. So, not exactly sure yet when Anna will move but it might be soon, and Abbie will go in September.

So, back to panto – looking forward to a great night out watching it tonight. Tomorrow Orchestra starts again so no chance of a lie-in, but after the main orchestra rehearsal the girls have to miss Chamber to get back in time for the matinee. Then one more performance in the evening and it will all be over. Until next year … maybe!

Then after piano lessons and tae kwon do (yes Tuesdays are very busy!), tonight’s entertainment was a showing of Theatre Alibi’s Teapot round at the kids’ school. I think this is the third or fourth time we’ve seen a Theatre Alibi production and they are consistently high quality in every way possible. Great storytelling, stunningly creative use of props, sets, etc., and some incredibly talented performers. The play was accompanied by a single cellist, using various special effects as well, and she was excellent too.

One of the kids’ friends gave them all some sweets which they ate on the way home, then as we got back all hell broke loose. Turned out that Abbie had offered Josiah a love heart which said ‘Cheer Up’ on it, but then in order for him to cheer up, in her wisdom she decided that he ought to be miserable first, so she punched him So he retaliated, unsurprisingly! Daft children. It did make me laugh, even though I shouldn’t have! Thankfully they both managed to say sorry and make up before going to bed, all is now peaceful!

So, this weekend Steve upped and left us all at 5am on Saturday; he has spent the weekend on one of his hill climb jaunts – but some of the rest of us had things on and couldn’t be bothered to be to-ing and fro-ing from Cornwall so we didn’t go. He’s still not home as I write this, I imagine he will be exhausted, having towed his Subaru and slept in the back of the Audi, never mind the motor racing itself, so I may have to update this later if there are any photos or anything worthy of mention!

Saturday was really chilled and lovely here. Anna has been working on a project all weekend – one she was given at half term I think, but it’s due in on Monday and she’d hardly done any of it before now! So that’s been bubbling away in the background all weekend; Abbie and I have helped her with a few little bits of it, too.

We went to Tesco and Pets at Home first thing to pick up a few necessary bits – ended up with some unnecessary ones as well when Josiah decided to spend his birthday money on a new fish tank and another fish to keep Digger company. Came home and started re-arranging the kitchen to accommodate said fish tank, although I might yet move it, as I’m not sure the fish will like being on top of the sideboard directly above the washing machine. On top of the fridge is probably better, but we’ll see. I’ve done all the washing this weekend already in any case!

Josiah was picked up by some friends for a playdate at their house, and we arranged to meet up later on for a walk and geocache hunt … always like to introduce more of my friends to caching as Steve and I don’t ever seem to have the time (or the inclination when we have the time!). Thought it was a bit trickier than the description suggested, especially as the GPS pointed us to the wrong side of the river to start with! Found it eventually though – an empty box! Perfectly big enough for some swaps but there was nothing there, so we put a few little bits and bobs into it for the next visitors to find

Came home from there and after another hour’s project work for Anna, we headed down to Rog & Ruth’s for a BBQ with them and some other friends, so that was really nice. Staggered home and caught up with Saturday night tv

On Sunday we started early with the China project again. It annoyed me in the end, as there was so much that they were supposed to include that it was a sketchy overview, rather than a detailed study of any particular bit – I would have preferred her to be able to choose a particular focus rather than try to cover everything. Ho hum. I helped a fair bit to get it finished so that we still had a little bit of weekend left!

We didn’t make it to church because we were taking Anna down to some auditions, for the Northcott Theatre pantomime children’s chorus. Not sure what the standard is or whether she stands a chance of getting in, I guess time will tell! They have said they will let us know this week. While she was there we walked along the river for a geocache

We came home and have tidied up, put washing away, sorted out, and are now lazing around watching tv and waiting for Steve to get back.

On Tuesday Abigail had a special trip up to an event at the University; from what I gather it was a Devon County event for schools to do with generally being green and environmental issues. [yes, I am informed - a Travelwise Schools' Event.] She and three other friends from their school Environmental Group got to go – lunch was laid on, so that was a treat. She enjoyed herself so much that she forgot to come home after school and visited the book fair instead, spending someone else’s money in the process!

Needless to say, Come Straight Home Unless We Have Arranged Otherwise has been added to the ever evolving list of after school ‘guidelines’ for the kids, along with Don’t Light Candles Unless An Adult Is There, and Raiding Of The Snack Box Prohibited Until Mummy Gets Home. I have been somewhat surprised at the mischief that can happen in the 10 minutes between when they get home and when I get home!

All of this week Anna has been madly doing last minute rehearsals for her Year 6 Play – Roger Ravenbeard, Scourge of the Oceans. Performances began with dress rehearsals in front of other classes on Wednesday, then they had two real performances on Thursday, and the final one on Friday night. Anna was playing Mrs Ravenbeard, Roger’s mother, and was on stage almost all the time. She did really well and we enjoyed watching the final performance, not to mention the takeaway with Grandma and Grandpa afterwards.

Not much to report on Josiah I don’t think … still working hard on music exam stuff, and he received multiple compliments from his accompanist at our rehearsal on Wednesday, so that was encouraging.
Steve and I not up to much other than work either; he’s been working on Gran Turismo racing and not improving all that much.
I’ve been trying to keep up with housework (constant battle! think I’ve caught up a bit tis week but it won’t last long!), and attempting to fit the odd cache in here and there.