just another morning here

Another post, as Abbie let me take some photos … mainly as she completely drooped by 2pm and couldn’t concentrate on anything, her face was really hurting too, so despite looking like a fraud at Crealy during the morning, she really couldn’t have made it through a day of school.

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!

Didn’t write anything else yesterday as I spent the day at work; Joe and Steve had a games day at home (the board variety, as Joe was on yet another screen ban for bad behaviour the other day!). The usual mad Wednesday after school routine followed, with piano/recorder/violin/StagebyStage/wind group. Joe did redeem himself greatly by having an excellent violin lesson so the ban got lifted early

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

Most of our day was spent at a Kit and Sports Car show which was good fun – we looked around for a while, then there was a small stunt show, and then we went back for lunch in the van.

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!

Today Josiah chose to read ‘Little Hotchpotch‘. It’s a pretty boring story in my opinion, in a sort of henny penny repetitive way, but he enjoyed it. About two thirds of the way through I realised that there was some quite nice descriptive language and metaphors in it, so when we got to the end we talked about those … and the difference between just describing something as ‘black’ or as ‘black as night’.

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!