After lunch we went into school for more momo-making … the third week out of five, so we’re over half way. One day I will get round to making some at home too, including the sweet version!

Abbie’s class are apparently going to see one of the free films for schools next week. This has left me wondering what the point is, really. They’ve chosen ‘Night at the Museum’, which has been out on DVD for ages and my kids have already seen it twice. They sent home a letter all excited about the free film then asked for contributions of £2.30 towards a coach. Call me Mrs Silly, but wouldn’t it have been cheaper and easier to rent the DVD and show it in the hall on the school projector? Honestly, I don’t think going to the cinema with the class is that much of an educational experience; I only ever did it as a HEor because it was free – and this time round Joe and I aren’t going to see any of them as they’re all films we’ve seen before anyway! The educational activities that follow may well be based on the film but don’t need the cinema experience as well, really – the class will just annoy the HEors there, watch out anyone local who’s going to see that film! Don’t know why I’m getting uppity as £2.30 isn’t that much and I’m sure they’ll all have lots of fun but it just seems a bit daft, all things considered.

Anyway, other stuff happened – cello lesson for Anna, while she was there we went and bought a new washing machine as on further investigation ours is well and truly broken, dinner, then I went over to do washing at a friend’s while having a church small group mtg. Now more scrabulous … and some sleep …

Right, now that’s out of the way. It’s been busy here as usual over the last few days. On Wednesday and Thursday we spent some time looking around the two secondary schools we were considering, so that was interesting. Thankfully Anna and I agreed on which one we preferred, so our first choice on the routine application form is decided. Home education again may yet be an option but we’re all unsure at the moment so we’re applying for a high school place and we’ll make a final decision about taking it up or not nearer the time.

On Wednesday Josiah and I went to home ed group; Joe played with a bunch of boys which was good. Thursday saw us back in school making more momos with another group of children from a different class as the school didn’t get enough volunteer helpers. On Friday we had a trip to Creative Stitches with some friends, who then came back for lunch/chatting/playing, so that was a lovely day. The boys especially enjoyed the sugarcraft penguin they made – Josiah ate his before we even got out of the exhibition hall!

Today has been Orchestra for Anna (can see why she likes it, looked like loads of fun, I was jealous!), a trip into town for the rest of us, Kids’ Club film at the Picture House for Abbie, and a Happy Meal for Joe (compensation for my mistake in thinking over 5s could stay at the Picture House, then finding out it was only over 8s). Got home to do the uusal Saturday chores which aren’t finished yet so I must get back to them.

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

Our library was running a competition all about it so Joe and I spent a while looking at these activities from Film Education, and entering the competition.

Today Josiah was over the moon to get a letter in the post. He won the competition! So he’s now the proud owner of a pair of Odeon tickets, and even though it was me who helped him with the competition, for some reason he’s treating Steve to a cinema trip sometime next week!

We got Abbie home from school, and Joe finished off his music and maths and violin practice, Robyn arrived, so we made a marmite sandwich then headed out for the day. Crealy turned out to be relatively educational today as they were doing a Burns Night special lunch of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties (oh I hope I’ve got that right otherwise Joyce will disown me!) and there were poems to read and Scottish flags everywhere so we touched on that very briefly. Robyn and I liked the haggis but the other two tasted it and didn’t want a second taste And it was lovely to have Abbie with us today, even if she was a bit fragile … almost like old times

Came home and Robyn slept in bed while Abbie dozed on the sofa and Josiah played retro games on the Wii Virtual Console (we downloaded NES Super Mario Bros which I remember from my youth!!), then Anna came home – frozen but very happy as she’d really enjoyed a cycle skills session at school during the afternoon.

Swimming started again today after an extended break; Joe was really nervous about going again (:roll: sometimes I really do wonder how long the swimming lesson ‘thing’ can possibly go on for?!) but he managed brilliantly so came home and watched the Return of the Jedi with Steve as a treat. What is the word for an -ology of 6? hexalogy? Sexalogy somehow doesn’t sound right! But you have trilogy, tetralogy … then what?

After all that I took Anna to ballet and Robyn home, then this evening I’ve had a lovely little wifi session with a friend who’s recently got into Animal Crossing, so that made me very happy

And tomorrow I must think about Melrose! Cooking on the first night always seems a good idea at the time that I offer to do it, and then as the day approaches I realise that it means I have to be super organised and there’s no way I can be late!

Enjoyed festive tv when we got home – I think I’m going to try making Nigella’s chocolate fruit cake (well maybe), enjoyed the programme anyway. And then we watched Love Actually – which I know is Richard Curtis just like all the others but we still both really like it despite all the added Christmas schmaltz, enjoyed it all over again yesterday.

Have woken up this morning and realised the date and that I have failed on birthday cards yet again – many happy returns of the day to Jax and Alison, hope you both have fab birthdays

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!

Had a break for violin practice (done beautifully again with no hassles, how long can it last?!) and Raven-watching, then went back to the Little Hotchpotch theme by making up our own imaginary animal – the plan was to draw it, describe it, then hopefully make a 3D model version … but that’s saved for another day as by the time we’d got that far and rounded up crafty bits from around the house Joe was wanting to play a game instead, so we had an extraordinarily long game of Trilemma/Addendum. Followed that with another episode of Raven (I’m guessing it must still be half term programming on CBBC?) before getting some food

After lunch Steve and I swapped over so I went to work, and they got lego out together – another of those things we simply haven’t had time for when he’s been at school so it was much appreciated. And children *should* have time to play lego

Girls got home from school and they all watched tv for a bit, then I came home, Steve took Anna out for her cello lesson, and the other two played with Geomags for a while before watching more tv (Blue Peter is a favourite here at the moment). The girls are currently engaged in bedroom lunacy aka putting their clean washing away before bed, while Josiah and Steve are discussing syllables …

Planning to watch the Da Vinci Code later, can’t think that I’ll enjoy the film as much as the book but you never know. We watched a couple of films last week too – R.V. which was just meant to be a bit of a laugh with the kids while we were staying in our camper, but Steve and I both enjoyed it too – we were in a slapstick humour sort of a mood, obviously – and the obligatory American mushy sentimental bit made us both cry!

Also made time to see Tsotsi in a couple of instalments last week, and I really enjoyed that film, it was brilliant cinematography and a compelling story too – definitely gets a recommendation from me and there are very few films that I actually go that far with these days!

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

The weekend
Was spent in various places; Steve and the children at home, and me away in London. They had a ball doing not very much although they did manage to buy new school shoes for Josiah, I’m not sorry to have missed that particular ordeal. They mooched around in town, had lunch in the park, and bought DVDs which they then went home and watched (Steve’s idea of a good day ). Apparently they missed me, because I don’t get cross as often as Daddy. Grass is always greener, I think, I’m sure I do!!

I was camping at Crystal Palace, where I went in order to meet an internet/acww friend! I decided to camp so that I could check out the site for possible future use ourselves, but as it turned out it was only 10 mins walk away from my friend’s house, so that was handy. And, she rents a room from a home educating family, I met her landlady as well so we compared Hesfes stories and I wished I was still a proper home educator. Ahem. Anyway, Chorna and I cooked, chatted, and played DS, all of which was lovely. And then I had some very self-indulgent time in the van as well, reading, sleeping, etc. Didn’t see London at all, but I couldn’t really be bothered, we’ll go back to the site again soon I’m sure. The drive home was horrendous, but the less said about that the better.

Got back into town, picked Anna up from her Wizard of Oz rehearsals, then went home to watch King Kong with friends for film night, we had dinner together in an extended interval too – quite enjoyed the film, at least I managed to stay awake for once! Mainly because we started it so early!!

Monday
Back to the usual routine (only not quite so usual as Russ is away for a couple of weeks so Steve and I are on full office duty), I think it’s the first day since school started again that Josiah hasn’t said he didn’t want to go.

Emma and Robyn moved in; they’re staying for a while because Steve’s parents’ house is undergoing major refurbishment. Meant I was finally forced into sorting out the cupboards and drawers in the music room which has needed doing ever since we moved house so that is a good thing! Might be chaotic to have them around all the time but on the other hand it could suit us all quite nicely and I’m sure she can babysit for us as much as we can for her

Got some new books for Anna; she’s doing WWII in school and is getting really into it, so thought it was the ideal opportunity to try and get her to read something different (having finished Harry Potter she’s back onto Lemony Snicket and while any reading is better than no reading, there is limited literary value in Lemony Snicket! although I notice The End is out soon, must get it and finally put the series to bed!). She fancied When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit so I’ve got hold of the trilogy for her, as well as a couple of Michelle Magorian books too. Don’t know if she’s actually going to read them but it’s worth a try! Now if only I could wean Abigail off those wretched fairy books …

Watched another film in the evening but have decided I can’t stand Nicolas Cage and anyway I was wifi-ing with acww friends at the same time which was more fun

Tuesday
I’m blogging from work This morning was interesting, getting everyone through breakfast, getting dressed, music practice etc. is bad enough usually but with Robyn thrown into the mix at that time in the morning it was even more chaotic. My children are *so* easily distracted! But we managed it with only one broken glass (Robyn ‘helping’ to empty the dishwasher!), and hey, it makes everything more exciting