Another non-stop weekend here for all concerned – we really need a quiet one soon! Nothing much to report from the week that’s just gone, although there were some highlights:
On Monday I went out caching in the evening. Not quite sure what came over me but I spotted some new listings on Haldon and just fancied going for a walk instead of working, so I did. Ten ‘first to finds’ and a fiver prize made me happy! Joe spent it on a Simpson’s comic and some sweets, I think it stretched to a cream cake for me too – we have a weekly treat on the way to violin lessons 
We had Josiah’s parents’ evening on Thursday, that termly visit where the teachers tell us about this wonderful child that we don’t quite recognise the description of! Glad he is getting on well there anyway. In the same evening I managed to squeeze in a night out with friends from work and doing a risk assessment for a school trip – quite impressive all in one evening, I thought!
Work has been slightly better this week, still incredibly challenging though, and I still feel completely out of my depth, but hey ho. Small improvements are good – and it’s only two weeks until half term now.
Anna went away to Dartington on Friday night for the weekend (more on that later). Abbie went out with the panto kids to watch a video of their summer performance, so Josiah chose a film and we relaxed a bit with that, plus additional wine, hot bath, etc.
Saturday morning was school (their open day) for Abbie, work for Steve, orchestra for Josiah (on time for once, as it’s his free weekend from choir commitments), and the orchestra AGM for me. While I was off sorting out an upset child they managed to re-elect me as chair for another year! Hmmm. I didn’t really want to give it up though didn’t think I could carry on – too late now! Still, it is the only activity that all three of my children are involved in, so I like being part of the committee there rather than anywhere else, hopefully I will manage to hold things together despite the added pressure of work this year.
From the AGM I met my sister and we made a mad dash up to Oxford for a church event – honouring Barney Coombs who has been the international leader of our group of churches – and then the official commissioning of my Dad into that role. It was a special afternoon, so glad I made the effort to go – but it was also very long so glad I made the decision to leave the kids behind!
At home Josiah had a much needed haircut, and Steve took both children in to visit his Grandad, who is very ill in hospital at the moment 
I got home around 9.30ish and ate soup while watching the end of X Factor.
Today I’ve been fitting in all the things that I didn’t have time to do yesterday; the usual laundry and school work, plus my 700th geocache, which was a 5/5 for difficulty/terrain, so will be a memorable one 
I had to do one for the 10/10/10 challenge! Abbie cleaned out the guinea pigs and Steve did the food shopping, I ironed shirts then washed the kitchen floor.
After that we had to go to Dartington to collect Anna, and watch the first act of the Whaletone Opera. She’d accessed this weekend workshop via SWMS, and it contained lots of improvisation and composition, so it was very good for her. All a bit strange and modern for my taste but very well executed, and the dance group who joined the SWMS musicians were excellent. Anna had a brilliant time there, anyway.
Now home, had tea, watching The Cube and X Factor with the kids while doing a bit more work … I have a horrible cold and feel rubbish
)
