Meanwhile life goes on and we had a beautiful moment in our day too; Robyn was with us until the early afternoon when Em and Adam came to pick her up. Lovely to watch Robyn see Adam again after such a long time apart In fact, really sweet – she took a minute to get used to him again but then she soon started treating him like her favourite long lost playmate, she’ll have him wrapped around her little finger in no time at all, I guarantee

Somehow they (E & A) managed to get a rather lovely picture of the two of them onto the front of our local paper (this link only good on Nov 20th I imagine! Piccie is very small but you get the idea) tonight, part of a ‘Devon & Dorset regiment back from Iraq’ thing.

We went to Sainsbury’s and sorted out stuff for our Christmas Child boxes, as well as normal food shopping. Came home and wrapped boxes, then took a couple of parcels to the post office.

Josiah did some violin, some maze puzzle things from an adventure maze book, some more music theory, changed the vinegar in our ‘egg in vinegar’ experiment, and then we spent a while playing Pictionary together – well, after a fashion! We just took it in turns to pick a card and choose one of the things on it to draw – fascinating to watch Joe’s thought processes. He was quite good at the drawing, too, although I’m not sure he’s ready for a full blown game yet, we weren’t using the timer! Nice to have some ideas for different drawings though. Must remember about Illustration Friday more often!

When the girls got home from school we went off to swimming lessons; home for tea, and now they’re sitting planning for a joint birthday party that I have resigned myself to …

The kids had had enough by then, so they stayed in the van playing DSs while Steve and I went back for another look around on our own. I found a quirky car that I was sorely tempted to order, just for fun – I might go back tomorrow The man said I could have it in any colour I wanted – what do you reckon, pink or purple?! It sort of reminded me of the original Twingo (don’t like the new one), I always wanted to import one when they were first around but I don’t think I could even drive at the time!

The idea of building a kit car does appeal to me – people often ask us what we would drive if we had the choice and because we drive so many different cars we never know what to answer, as there really isn’t a car that we’d choose – but something as individual as a kit car might be different. One day, when the ideal donor car comes in in part exchange, I’ll do it … Anna and I saw some really cool pink and chrome handbrakes and gearsticks, so we started getting really into the idea of it, at which point Steve went off it, I wonder why?!!

Anyway, stop dreaming, back to reality. Came home and watched Narnia on DVD, then Anna went over to Caitlin’s to do homework, I cooked a roast dinner, and the other three did a bit more of Joe’s science kit. Photos are one from the other day when we started, and the rest from today … I think the biggest thumbs up was for the egg being sucked into the jar

Had dinner, now Steve’s travelled miles to go and see the new Bond film as three nearer cinemas were sold out! Obviously a popular choice of activity tonight!

It’s the first day of Emma’s new job so Robyn was with us today; Joe got his homeschoolwork out of the way first thing and then we headed off out for a nice long drive across Devon, just to deliver some stick insects to a family who live here. I’d put them on freecycle, and was going to ask for collection then when we got talking a bit I said I’d deliver them in return for a visit to the farm.

Josiah and Robyn loved it, as did I – one of these days I think we will move further out into the country – well maybe! We stopped for a coffee and piece of cake; Joe jumped on the huge trampoline which was in the huge garden (distinct from the huge trampoline that was in the huge field!). Saw the sheep and the alpacas and the dog and the cat and the ducks, and then the highlight, Josiah was invited to check the hens’ nest for eggs and when he found one he was offered it to bring home. So we’re having boiled eggs for tea, and I’m even making bread to go with them (well that saves me going to Sainsbury’s until tomorrow ).

Got home in time for a late lunch, and now we’re just playing with road track and cars; it’s not very long until the girls are home and we have swimming lessons … and that will be us done for the day.

Other highlights were the Bees and Honey marquee, where we saw moulded candles being made, beehives, saw a man making ‘baskets that you catch swarms of bees in’ … these have a special name but I’ve forgotten – will have to go googling and look it up … , and the kids also got to make a small candle by rolling up a sheet of coloured beeswax. We also liked the Eggs & Chickens tent, where we saw chicks hatching from eggs, and lots of cute yellow fluffy chicks running around … Joe particularly liked these! Anna entered a competition to design the top of an eggbox, and also helped sort eggs into their different sizes.

We saw cows being milked, a motorcycle stunt display, stands about recycling and environment issues, bought some Very Lovely Lunch from a fantastic stall which was so busy I didn’t find out it’s name (they were different ‘breads’, a bit like danish pastries in shape, but brown bread with different flavours – mine was Pesto & Walnut, the kids had Cheese & Onion, and there were loads more besides), and watched a very good jazz band from one of the county’s high schools. We stroked angora goats, looked at their wool, and talked about all the different things you can make from wool. We saw glass being blown, lots of other crafts and displays … too many to name!

Sounds educational, huh? Anna’s comment to me on the way home … “Mummy, we haven’t done any home learning today, have we?” … Well, I don’t know what her idea of home learning is, but I think they probably have learned a little bit … we’ve also come home with two ‘Bags of Science‘ that we bought in one of the stands, one is Create a Kite, and the other is a Worm Farm kit. I’m a sucker for pretty looking stalls.

Anna’s now chosen to watch Evita on video, think I’m going to go and join her because I rather like it, too.

p.s. don’t worry, one of these days the novelty of knowing how to do this photo business will wear off …