just another morning here

Last night I’d imagined that today would be a washout – Joe was up and down all evening with snotty nose, runny eyes, and coughing loads, so I thought we’d be at home for the day, but he declared himself fit for action this morning, so I took him at his word

After Stage by Stage for Anna and violin lesson for Josiah (which was absolutely fantastic today, woohoo) we picked Abbie up from the garage, then headed back up into town to the Museum to see some of the Animated Exeter things that were on there – Animation Stations, and Illustration to Animation.

The Illustration to Animation display was good, but the workshop was just excellent, as these things at the museum usually are! We arrived and were sent off with clipboards and pencils to look around the Sea Monsters exhibition and the children were asked to sketch their favourite monster, which they all enjoyed doing.

Then back down to the workshop space where there were a whole host of materials available for recreating your own sea monster – flick books and 2D paper model making, then 3D stuff as well – my lot all went for the ‘decorate a vegetable’ approach. These have had to be specially reconstructed for photos, they didn’t quite make it home from town in one piece

Joe’s spiky turtle

Abbie’s long-nosed whale

Anna’s spiky sparkly sea slug

They were then able to take their models and use stop motion photography and an ibook (need a mac on these occasions, of course ) to animate them against a rather funky 3D seascape background. Lots of people were there taking photos (not me, I left my bag at home this morning, doh) so I might get some emailed to me in due course … but anyway, it was excellent.

edited to add – very nice man from Eyes on Exeter emailed me this evening – here are a few snaps …

We went for lunch in town (had managed to scrounge some money from Steve during the morning!) which was lovely too, the children were all really well behaved, were nice to one another and such good company for me, I love them to bits, so looking forward to a whole week of spending time together. Especially if they can be that nice to one another all the time – in my dreams!

Followed all that by coming home and getting the girls ready for their friends‘ birthday party – realised this morning that I’d forgotten all about piano lessons so had to cancel those at the last minute (ooops ) but thankfully their teacher seemed fine about it. Joe and I are planning to snuggle up for a film while they’re out. Impeccable taste, my son – he just went through the shelf of Disney stuff which all got the thumbs down, flicked past Home Alone, the Mask, and Bill & Ted with me holding my breath (phew!) and finally settled on Indiana Jones. I can cope with an hour and a half of Harrison Ford

I am *really* blogging from @ Bristol!!

We left our house exchange house this morning and decided to spend the day here on the way home.

Have managed to hack in from the bbc homepage which was accessed in the internet news and views section, just searched for my blog and here I am

Edited to add the proof!

Steve says it’s the ultimate in sad. I say it’s cool

Kids *really* enjoyed it here. We felt a bit ‘been here, done this’ as it’s not much different to any other science museum, but we only went in the ‘Explore’ bit, so will see Wildwalk before giving a verdict. Also it was really annoying that the family ticket was only 2+2 so we had to buy an extra child’s ticket. If these places are going to do a family ticket, it should cover all families, surely? Anyway. Pics, as usual, are on flickr.

This is the result of the kids’ afternoon with Steve

Beware, it is quite a big file, but if you’re on broadband shouldn’t take too long. Merry, this one is almost worth downloading quicktime for
Click here to view movie

Some links which are as much for my benefit as anyone else’s, although I must highlight this first one:

As well as plenty of podcast information, this site has a lovely directory of podcasts by subject – a bit school-centred, but still a fantastic resource (she says, still convincing the world and her husband that an ipod is a valuable educational tool )

Podcast receiver with funky lemon icon which I rather liked (sucked in by more marketing!)

As with blogs, because podcasts can be made by anyone, there is an awful lot of drivel out there and a fair bit of wading to do, but I quite like that

Britcaster – the hub of UK podcasting
Podcast Alley – the place to find podcasts
The Podcast Network
Podcast.net – The Podcast Directory
Digital Podcast – another podcast directory
PodcastDirectory.com – Listing of all podcasts

And a couple of sites/podcasts that I might check out if and when I sort out something a bit easier than a pc to listen to them on …
The Tartan Podcast
The Grand Prix Show – one for Steve
The Richard Vobes Radio Show – looks like someone you might find at Hesfes, imo!
Has anyone else got any recommendations?

Disappointingly, the BBC is only offering a few podcasts at the moment, and no children’s shows among them Still, you’ve got to start somewhere, I suppose. I guess I can see that there are huge copyright implications, but I imagine the fact that this technology seems to be taking off with a bang somehow means that things may change? Any thoughts?