just another morning here

Yesterday the four of us (without Josiah, as he was still on chorister duty) got up early and drove to Oxford, in time for church at OCC on Easter Sunday. We got there stupidly early – there was NO traffic on the road at that time of day on a bank holiday weekend! Met most of my family at church, and caught up with some old friends there too, an added bonus. Good service, then home to my parents’ house to see the rest of the family for lunch and the afternoon.

As usual it was a fabulous meal cooked by Lorraine, then we just had a lovely time hanging out together; we went to the park and some people played frisbee while others sat around and chatted. Back at the house, the true Thomases (Anna & Abbie included in this!) played cards, while the spouses were left to chat- really not quite sure why they all seem to think that they can’t keep up with us! I would like to add that I won Photos are here

Cups of tea were served, along with some rather strange cake made by Esther – apple, raisin & walnut, with a layer of goats’ cheese in the middle. Turned out to be a bit like Marmite, either you loved it or you hated it. I want the recipe!
Eventually left, not that we really wanted to … home and bed.

Today we did separate things. Abbie and I went geocaching with my friend, while Steve did some food shopping and fiddled about with a Toyota Starlet, and Anna spent most of the day making a birthday present for a friend. Abbie and I found 32 caches today, and were still home by 4pm! The first of them had a ??5 FTF prize in it so that paid for our post-caching ice creams Others included a ring where we had to build up the digits for the bonus using a stencil – the numbers were like digital clock numbers so each stencil added a few more lines, which was a very inventive idea, I thought. The bonus was a safe, which had been embedded into a stump, so you had to collect the combination for that on the way round as well – definitely worth a favourite point on the Geocaching site. I kept trying to take photos of Abbie’s hair as it looked particularly nice today but she wasn’t really helping …

So, we got home for ice-creams and a quick shower; Steve got home in time to sling a shirt on before we headed to the Cathedral for evensong – Easter Monday is when the choristers are joined by the Old Choristers Association, so it was a full house and a massive sound, excellent. Then we scooped Josiah up and most of his possessions from his time boarding – I say most, as he always leaves *something* behind He’d had a brilliant time, as usual – he thinks it’s one big holiday, which it is, for him. I’m glad the chorister thing is so positive for him and that he doesn’t resent it at all. We missed him, especially yesterday with family, but he didn’t mind at all. There was more chocolate at the boarding house, too
So, home for pizza & salad. He then had to catch up on Dr Who as they hadn’t watched it!

Bedtime now. I don’t feel at all ready to go back to work tomorrow, but at least we have a short week ahead.

Good Friday started early; I needed to get some work done so went into school for the morning. Meant I missed the re-enactment of the Easter story in town this morning which was a bit disappointing but there we go. Still didn’t quite finish at work so will have to do bits and bobs over the weekend as well. Steve ended up delivering a car too, so it was a productive morning. In the afternoon we went to the Passion service at the Cathedral – which I quite enjoyed. Did have to grin at one point when I realised that the reason I knew the hymn was because Amy Grant sang it on a rather old album that I don’t even have on CD … of course we sang *all* the verses in proper ancient English …
Every time I attend one of these ‘big’ services I realise that my churchgoing upbringing really was just one sort of church (I suppose everyone who has one is something like this, put the CofE people into our church and they might feel kind of uncomfortable, too!), and I am quite nervous about stuff like communion etc so don’t do it – I don’t know what to do! Let’s not even start on the veneration of the cross – I’d never really come across that as a tradition. My children are all being well educated in this sort of stuff though Josiah didn’t even stop to say hello after the service, so he’s obviously having a great time.

We popped in to see Steve’s parents after that, as Marg had been trying to get hold of me. I’d assumed it was to give some Easter treat or other to the kids, so I hadn’t been in too much of a hurry to get back to her – but lo and behold it was a totally unexpected Easter treat for me! Thank you again – my phone will never again run out of battery on a long geocaching hike

Got home to the girls who had been mooching around at home all day, painting and playing games and not a lot else – so we joined them. They and I had a nail varnishing session, we all ate hot cross buns for tea, then settled down to watch Groundhog Day.

The girls and I have spent the past four days helping out at Isca Church’s annual holiday club. Often it’s a summer event but this year it’s happened a bit early. It’s been a lot of fun but I am quite tired now, I’m too old for all the jumping about these days!

We’ve had a piratey theme and been learning all about the greatest treasure, which, of course, is Jesus. The kids did try and answer ‘Jesus’ all the time even when the answer wasn’t Jesus, which was amusing at times My group were truly disappointed to find that actually there was no real treasure for the pirates to find, but we did give them a Creme Egg to go home with …

Josiah came to three days of Landlubbers but then went back to school for Easter. I feel kind of guilty for sending him in to board, but he really thinks it’s a huge treat to stay at school for the duration. He’ll have a fabulous time both singing and chilling out at the Boarding House and won’t miss us at all.

Anna learnt the hard way that mid-week clubbing isn’t generally a good idea. She’d pestered us for ages to let her go to this under 18 club night last night, plus a sleepover at a friend’s, and we caved in eventually, but on the proviso that she was up ready for holiday club this morning. She has felt a bit wrecked today … poor child, my heart bleeds

And Abigail has had all her hair cut off.
She toyed with having it cut short last time she had a trim, and chickened out, but this time she’s done it.

It looks way too grown up for my liking, and she won’t let me take a decent photo. Ratbag.

In addition to holiday club I’ve been working on school stuff, trying to get my head around next term. Haven’t quite done it yet so there will be more work happening over the weekend. I have, however, completed the Angry Birds Seasons’ Easter update with three stars on every level and all (I think) the Golden Eggs found

Oh yes, I am finding Easter very restful! Nothing to do with Josiah staying at school, I’m sure ! Ahem.

Easter Saturday was spent mainly preparing for Steve’s dad’s 60th birthday party which was an open house affair from 4pm onwards. In order to help Marg keep it a surprise I did lots of shopping and preparing food earlier in the day. Of course Steve ended up with a customer on test drive as we were due to pick him up at 4pm but we weren’t too late. I think the party was a success, and certainly Russ looked pleased and surprised with his gift of a trip to Paris; Steve took them to the airport yesterday.

The kids came home from the party laden with chocolate from various family members, and I brought home plenty of leftovers too, always good

On Easter Sunday the girls and I left Steve watching the Grand Prix and we went to church. The rest of the day was spent doing normal jobs etc., no family roast dinner as it seemed a bit mean to do that without Joe! We might get one in later in the holidays, if I can be bothered to cook one!

Later in the day our friends Stuart & Liz arrived to stay for a few days. They fancied doing a night cache so we all went out in the evening armed with wellies and torches to re-visit one that belongs to my friend; only Steve & I had done it about 18 months ago now, so enough time had elapsed for us to have forgotten the way!

Monday saw most people having a lazy start; I got up and made cottage pie for tonight while they were all still in bed! Breakfast happened; there was some gameplaying and I think some people had showers, then after lunch we went out for a long walk along the Estuary from Exton to Exmouth, with some caches completed en route.

We got the train back then headed into town for evensong. Not entirely sure what Stuart & Liz made of it – it was much busier than usual due to the annual get-together of the Old Choristers’ Association.

Fab to have Josiah home afterwards, though I did have to wrestle him to the floor to get a hug out of him! He’d clearly had a ball boarding at school over the past few days. After dinner we caught up with Dr Who, then the children went to bed and we watched a film (well, I blogged and faffed around with photos while the rest of them watched a film. Having fallen asleep during Dr Who at 8pm I thought I’d better keep myself awake somehow!).