just another morning here

On the gardening front, we sowed various seeds a couple of weeks ago - sweetcorn, runner beans, and peppers.

First two are doing well but no sign of the peppers yet.

Over the weekend, after watching the run on Sunday, we basically did not a lot at home. The girls did (yet another :roll:) big room tidy. One day they will learn that if they pick things up every day then they won’t have to do mega-tidies at weekends. Then again I sometimes prefer the ‘do nothing for ages then give it a blast’ approach too, so I shouldn’t complain too much I suppose. Meanwhile Joe and Steve worked on this meccano type metal kit, which kept them occupied for a while.

Steve watched too much snooker, and has traumatised me by shaving off his beard yesterday. Changes like that shouldn’t be allowed. I started a new ac:ww town and moved my (almost completed catalogue) character over there so that took up far too much time over the weekend as well.

We did have a nice walk up on Haldon yesterday with various friends. Abbie and Josiah took bikes, while Anna decided not to take hers because she wanted to help look after baby Josh.

Today has been hard work, I really don’t like bank holidays, they lull you into a false sense of holiday and then you have to snap back into normal work mode, not only that but I always spend all week thinking it’s a day earlier than it is! Might not feel so bad if I hadn’t been kept up by a certain snooker match last night

We had Robyn this morning so got some stuff done first thing and then took her out to Crealy as it’s ten times easier than staying at home! Had to bribe Joe with a muffin to get him to help look after her in the play areas but then he did an admirable job.

Home for lunch, said goodbye to Robyn, now having a lull (I needed one) before the girls come home from school.

… that have appeared in various places today

I’ve had a nice day, the girls gave me home made cards and presents this morning before school, Joe (practically by himself) made me a lovely marble cake yesterday, and Steve gave me a Jack Johnson CD which I’ve wanted ever since we saw Curious George and fell in love with the soundtrack - and some birthday money which was much appreciated. I’ve spent some of it on this, which has kept me happy for the rest of the day.

Yes, it does mean that I am now cheating at my favourite game, but it’s not as if I haven’t played it properly for the last 15 months, and I’ve wasted sooo many hours on it - I’ve now got to the point where I just want to finish it so that I can get on with … another game! Haven’t had nearly enough time to play Zelda

Anyway, plans for this evening include a nice bottle of rose (present from the inlaws, started it already and I can’t type straight as a result!), roast dinner, and Little Miss Sunshine later on

Back to education another day

Not only did my Secret Santa this year create a unique and personal gift (which we all LOVED), they also arranged for Christmas Day delivery!!!

To anyone who knows all the participants in the blogring secret santa, it won’t exactly be a big secret who this came from, so I don’t feel at all bad in thanking Merry publically.

What might not be that obvious to the average reader of this blog is that this is no ordinary wintery scene with our family in it - oh no, it’s all Animal Crossing themed - the Nintendo game that I (and Merry!) have been addicted to all year long - so a very fitting tribute The details are fabulous (right down to Steve being on the phone in the background), the floor, the snow, the flowers - everything!

Just love it. Thank you again

Yesterday passed in a blur of tidying, I sorted out some stuff in our playroom and then in Josiah’s room, while being ‘helped’ by Robyn. A usually-far-away friend was in town so she popped in for lunch which was lovely (and a surprise, I’d sort of forgotten about it!) and then the afternoon disappeared quickly as well, between a bit more tidying, some cooking, and picking the children up from school. Time does fly when you have a toddler in tow, strange how you forget these things …

Anna had ballet in the evening, then when the children were in bed we watched Memoirs of a Geisha with another friend who came over for the evening. Really enjoyed the film and for once didn’t fall asleep!

Today has been pleasant enough, too; we popped into town first thing, and then went for coffee with Becca and baby Josh, lunch with Steve, and now the afternoon is being moved along with a rather liberal helping of Cbeebies. Amazing what changes in a few years of children’s tv, there’s stuff on Cbeebies that I’ve never seen before so it’s amusing me for now at least! Robyn and I particularly like Charlie and Lola

In the world of AC:WW it’s been the Acorn Festival this week which has kept me busy (as well as the usual Stalk Market watch of course ), although once I’d figured out how it worked I did get a bit bored and have been manically cutting down oak trees, I want my fruit orchards back!

Off to spend the weekend chez HEMUK which everyone is looking forward to … back Sunday night

A busy yet lovely day here … trying to get sorted out for yet another weekend camping, this time we are off to Greenbelt. I’ve said for the past ten years that we’ll go ‘next year’, and finally we’re going. Really looking forward to it.

Spent most of the morning and lunchtime entertaining Max, Merry and the girls, which was lovely - there was wooden castle roleplay going on in the front room and Serious Animal Crossing going on in the back room I must get some more princesses for that castle playset though, they are *always* fighting over them, even Josiah! And despite having no less than 6 ACWW towns between us, we didn’t have a good turnip price in any of them, pah!

They left to go to Dartmoor and Moretonhampstead Carnival - we tried to make it out to the carnival too but Steve ended up being late at work so we couldn’t get there in time Robyn was with us for the last part of the afternoon so we took a trip to the park with her, and then played around at home.

And the day ended with the kids having tea in the kitchen, us sitting in the back room, suddenly Anna shouted “the fish has jumped out of its pot!!” repeatedly and with more urgency, and almost crying! It really had somehow flipped out of the bowl and was lying on top of the fridge! Steve ran into the kitchen to rescue it by which time Josiah was crying as well, but the fish seems unscathed, thank goodness Anna saw him do it! There is now a colander perched on top of the bowl in case of any more escape/suicide attempts

Just lots of chilling out here

Looked after Robyn yesterday, and did a lot of clothes washing and van sorting after one camping weekend, before another this weekend. Popped to Sainsbury’s, always a Robyn Day activity as she is so funny in the trolley, she waves and says ‘hi’ to everyone who passes, it’s very comical.

Saw my sister and brother in law yesterday as they came down to pick up a car from us, earlier than planned due to having had theirs broken in to at the weekend.

Oops!

Popped into town this morning to do lots of errands including the ‘back to school’ shop, which wasn’t too bad actually - a couple of pencil cases etc, one sweatshirt, and not a lot else. I’m procrastinating over shoes until as late as possible though! I hate buying school shoes, they are so expensive and get wrecked so quickly in the playground. Another good reason to home educate

Did have to invest in some proper ballet kit for Anna which set me back a bit - until now the dance she’s done has been very informal, but she’s stopping swimming lessons and picking up some formal ballet lessons. Couldn’t find everything we needed though - still need a character skirt, whatever one of those looks like - and an embroidered pillow was on the Grade 2 uniform list too - can anyone enlighten me - Ros?!!

Music stuff has been going on here as usual, practice and lessons here and there - all seems to be going well even if Joe’s violin practice can be a battle at times. Abbie’s recorder teacher (who is here teaching her as I write) is starting a new wind group in September so Abbie’s looking forward to doing that. She wants to move on to the flute at some point before too long.

In my alternate life I’m still on a tarantula hunt before the end of the month - I saw three last night, one ran into the sea before I could catch it, and the other two bit me. It doesn’t help that I am actually scared of them!!!

Could only mean one thing … and lo and behold it did