The weekend’s been busy – no Steve all weekend as he was off racing (more on that later). The rest of us had ECO as usual on Saturday morning, then a bit of homework on Saturday afternoon before heading to Poole for a Night at the Movies with the BSO – a concert full of John Williams’ film themes. Joe, Anna and I really enjoyed it – Abbie enjoyed spending the evening with a friend instead!

On Sunday Abbie and I went to join Isca Church handing out doughnuts and coffee at the Great West Run; then we all watched Young Musician of the Year while I folded the laundry and did the ironing. Steve got home and we were very proud of him; he’d won his class on both days and set a new class record

Monday started with some caching in the morning, while everyone else stayed in bed. I got home late morning, as they were getting up. I headed out to help with a community BBQ and the rest of them slobbed around a bit more … then had to finish my school work in the evening. Poof, there goes a long weekend. Blink and you miss it. I could do with three days every weekend.

Apart from that, we’ve all just been working, in our various places, so not much else to report. I’m still loving my new job, I’m very pleased I made the move. Happy.

Josiah went to a friend’s birthday party today and had great fun on quad bikes. They looked a bit tame to Steve and me though … we took part in a navigational scatter rally last week and that was far more fun

I have had a brilliant first week at my new job – I love the school Everyone else has had a good first week at school too – Anna has somehow managed to get some decent results in exams, and Abbie passed her Grade 5 flute so well done all round

On Saturday we went to watch Josiah’s chorister football match, a traditional Easter Saturday event, and stayed for lunch afterwards. Joe decided to come home with us for the afternoon, but went back to the boarding house at teatime; he had a lovely time there while singing in the Cathedral over Easter.

We spent the day with Steve’s family after church on Easter Sunday which was lovely – very relaxed.

Monday was a geocaching day – 35 caches found, two not found – meh.

A new Angry Birds game was released recently, but I decided I wasn’t going to download it until I had completed all the Angry Birds games that I currently have. So I have spent quite a lot of time getting three stars on every level on the main Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio last week before allowing myself to download the Space game on Monday. Obsessed, much, me?! I quite like the new one!

We’ve done homework; the girls had schoolwork to do and I had a lot of reading/preparation for my new job – I’m still not sure I’ve got my head around it all to be honest. Getting a bit nervous now but I’m sure it will be fine – looking forward to getting stuck in there.

Between us all, we’ve also: had a violin bridge fixed, applied for a couple of new passports, been to the dentist, sent off applications for various summer holiday activities, been to birthday parties, had a sleepover, started on a new Youth Alpha course, been to the cinema with friends, worked (a little), eaten too much chocolate, and had plenty of lie-ins. A good week I think.

We had a fairly standard Saturday yesterday with orchestra, suzuki violin group, and then a choir concert to facilitate; Steve and I watched a vampire film somewhere inbetween all that. Abbie had a friend to stay, because Anna was away at a SWMS strings residential for the weekend. Oh, and we finished moving the remnants of Steve’s house improvement leftovers out to the garage, having sold the folding camper …

So, anyway, today after church in various places we did some homework (yes, me too), and watched another film before heading up to meet Anna at Kilve where she’d been staying. It was great to hear the results of the residential – some fabulous music performed by some very talented youngsters. We’ve not really heard much SWMS music, especially not any standard classical stuff, so it was interesting from that point of view – and very very impressive.

Anna had had a wonderful time and she even volunteered information about it on the way home ! We stopped for dinner on the way back and blew the calorie counting with curry and a rather large dessert – and now home we have a glass of wine and are sitting in front of the third film of the weekend. Yum

Back to the discipline tomorrow though … the next ignore the diet day is at the end of February!

In other news – I didn’t get shortlisted for a job that I really wanted. Perfectly happy where I am though so no worries really, just marginally disappointing and very annoying to not even get an interview. Kids all fine; Anna went out busking with school/choir tonight and had a nice time, Abbie is planning birthday events despite the fact that she’s had a birthday treat already, Josiah’s just chugging along with choir and school. Steve’s thinking of new ways to make a million, as usual … and Suzie is enjoying having a new catflap to the big wide world outside. She still comes to give me a cuddle every morning though – and hasn’t brought me any special gifts yet thank goodness!

I played the piano for my school’s tree decorating assembly today which was fun as ever, and we went out for a team Christmas meal this evening; I love Christmas, I really do. People think I’m mean for not really doing decorating at home, or presents at home, but I don’t think my children are going to suffer that much, honestly

We didn’t do much during the week, but it was nice to have a break. On Monday it chucked with rain all day, so it didn’t really matter that I worked during the day, at school. Josiah chose to come with me and finished off a fair bit of homework that he’d left during the week before half term. We left the girls here supposedly to do homework, but I don’t think they were very productive. Fitted in some haircuts at lunchtime too.

Tuesday started early at the dentist’s, then Josiah had a laserquest birthday party to go to. I worked a bit more at school, and took the girls and their homework with me this time! In the afternoon I collected Joe from the party for a violin lesson, then deposited him back at the party again! We went out to see the Sound of Music in Exmouth with Abbie plus a friend in the evening; Anna was playing cello in the pit orchestra, and a couple of people that we know through orchestra were in the production, so that was an enjoyable evening.

Wednesday was cupboard-sorting day; the rest of the family had been promised dinner out if they helped me sort the cupboard in my classroom. It was in a terrible state, after not really having been sorted well when I ‘moved in’, and having had a year of people chucking things back in it quickly and not necessarily tidily (I’m the worst culprit!) so it desperately needed doing. Now it is very tidy and I am very proud of it, no longer will I be throwing things into it willy nilly! We went out for Chinese down the road before the girls went off to Panto rehearsal.

On Thursday I caught up with a friend and her lovely baby; the children slept in! We took Suzie to the vet to get weighed … made an appointment for the all important spaying/chipping, too – Suzie is desperate to get outside a bit more so she will be very pleased when we can let her go. She is quite a lovely cat and often waits on the lounge windowsill for us to get home, etc – we all love her to bits
I digress. Thursday afternoon was yet more sorting out; this time sorting out boxes and boxes of ECO’s music at Richard’s house. Anna had another evening playing in Exmouth after that.

Friday was about the only nice day weatherwise, and we had to spend it driving Anna and a friend to Harrow House in Swanage for a SWMS residential. When we got home we lazed around for a bit, and then in the evening we went out for a nightcache, which was fun as usual. We met another cacher and his dog at the start of the trail and did the whole thing together. Hot chocolate and an early night after that.

On Saturday we had orchestra as usual. In the afternoon we carved our pumpkin. Not sure whose idea it was to make it into a Cyberman but it became a bit of a serious project, with heated discussions about how best to do it! Steve ended up in charge and went for the simplistic approach – it turned out fairly well

Sunday morning started early – we had to take Josiah to Plymouth for 7am to catch a ferry for his French trip. He’s gone to Chateau de la Baudonierre with around 60 other children from his school. Haven’t heard a dicky bird so far – no news is good news though! The rest of Sunday was spent with Abbie after we picked her up from her friend’s house. We ended up having lunch at BSRS and then also ended up agreeing to her having an early birthday present in the form of a three day course this week. Not entirely sure how that happened! Anna came home in the evening having had a fabulous time at her residential, but I haven’t seen her since …

And then it was back to school for me today. The girls had most of the day at home before going over to/out with friends for Halloween activities. The rest of their week will be pretty much taken up at the stables (Abbie) and with maths revision and music practice (Anna). Josiah will be back on Saturday

All tuck shops should be arranged like this, apparently

This half term …

Joe has: lost one trainer and thankfully found it again two weeks later; made it into the A team for rugby so been playing in matches every week; joined hockey club; sung a lot.

Abbie has: had far too much homework, done a fair bit of horsing around, and made a couple of lovely meals for us in Home Ec lessons.

Anna has: played in Oliver! then auditioned for more musical theatre stuff; taken part in a school production of ‘The Witches’ even though we didn’t see her in it because she was ill on the night; enjoyed being ‘in charge’ of the cello section at ECO, but not done enough music practice or worked hard enough on schoolwork…

Steve and I have: just kept facilitating all of the above plus lots that I didn’t mention; taken on two new mechanics at the workshop; and had a surprisingly positive start to a second year of teaching. Steve also bought himself some new CDs – Mary Chapin Carpenter. I’m laughing about this because if you could cross Amy Grant with Nancy Griffith you would pretty much end up with MCC’s music! He is now getting country music recommendations from Amazon

So it’s not all bad, but we are all fairly exhausted!

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In other news, Oliver! is happening, so Anna has been rushed off her feet playing bassoon for that; she’s really enjoying the experience, her first time playing in a professional band.

Luckily for her, the girls had a brief reprieve with two days off school on Friday and then tomorrow – the fire alarm system at their school is broken so they’re at home until it’s fixed! I gave them housework to do on Friday and school have set them work for tomorrow so they won’t have too much time to kill.

Josiah sang his first service of the year this morning before joining us at Crealy; he’s changed sides in the choir again which will no doubt confuse me when I make it in for evensong later in the week.

My first week with children at school was a bit of a whirlwind but I think everything went ok. This term I’m teaching two days in the Early Years class and then three days in my Key Stage 4 class so I have lots to juggle but I think I’m going to enjoy it. I’ve been going into work very early each day and then not working at home in the evenings which seems to work well for us all round. Steve is here to sort things out and do the morning school run, and then I don’t feel guilty about ignoring the kids because I’m here for them in the evenings. So far so good, anyway.