At home today Steve had been at work, while the children had cleaned out the guinea pigs and packed bags for Mill on the Brue. I checked them and scrawled initials on with biro – hope that’s enough for ‘clearly labelled’. Yesterday Anna left for Romania, so we’re about to have a week with no children … looking forward to it! Although we have still got Suzie here and she’s nearly as much trouble …

Anyway, it was a good concert, then we stayed in a cheap but perfectly nice hotel for the night, ate sandwiches and drank wine bought from the shop on the corner, oh yes, we know how to live it up! We had had lunch out in Exmouth with my parents during the day beforehand though so weren’t hungry enough to eat out again!

Today we were meant to be going to see the car in the recovery depot, but we missed it by 10 minutes. Steve was very disappointed (I wasn’t!). Picked up all our CDs which they’d extracted, bar the one which was in the CD player – Spilt Milk by Jellyfish, luckily looks like it won’t be too expensive to replace!

After that we had some time to spare before going back to Bryanston, so we found a little geocache circle to follow. It was a brilliant set of caches; each container individually made into a different animal/bug, and one of them was really tricky to find – really enjoyed them, they’ll get some favourite points from me. My favourite was the one in the first photo, which was made from a tape measure. Very creative. And then we had lunch

Everyone else had had photographs taken in formal concert clothes on Monday morning; Anna was standing on a grass verge taking photos of our wrecked car in hers – the police did wonder what she was doing in a long black dress at 9am on a Monday morning! So, since we didn’t have a posh photo we persuaded her to get her friends together for a photo instead

Anna managed to make a good impression on the Dorset Music Service people despite the dodgy start to the week (which was my fault not hers, of course!), so hopefully she’ll get invited back again another time, she had a whale of a time after that first wobbly evening which was totally understandable after the accident.

We asked her how she felt about cello vs bassoon having just done a week there with on the bassoon and she really struggles to decide … best news of all on the way home though – the bassoon that was in the accident will be mended by tomorrow – for less than the excess on our insurance. Really impressed with Griff who took the job on and sorted it so quickly. Other good news during the week were Anna’s music exam results – two distinctions and a merit – excellent!

Abbie and Joe have done an excellent job of being home alone all day, with the occasional phonecall of support. I’d totally forgotten to book Abbie in for a week at Haven Banks that I’d said she could do (bad mummy), but luckily she phoned up today and there are still places and we can hand forms and payment in on Monday morning! Suzie has kept them busy – she’s currently asleep in a drawer, which is very cute

Particularly liked seeing Colmer’s Hill from afar – this picture looks like it was taken at dusk but it was actually mid-morning! There are some far more amazing photos of the hill online …

While we were out Anna kept phoning me to tell me all the jobs she’d done – and she was the one who’d scoffed at Chore Wars! Josiah had a great sleepover and swim with a friend before coming home.

This afternoon we went over to Russ & Marg’s for a BBQ which was a lovely way to end a bank holiday weekend

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.

Today – more work this morning, Riona came over to spend the day with Abbie, we had a rather delicious spaghetti bolognaise for lunch, then drove down to somewhere near Ivybridge to visit our friends Nic & Ady who are staying there at the moment. They’re WWOOFing their way around the country this year, in a camper van called Willow. I’m incredibly envious, I must admit, as the idea of leaving the ratrace does seem very appealing at times. Josiah was shown around the farm by D & S, and we sat around drinking tea and chatting, on a beautiful sunny afternoon, looking out at a fabulous view across the moors. Simply idyllic. Fitted in a quick cache on the way home

We were due to set up for this year’s church holiday club this evening but the caretaker didn’t turn up, so it’s going to be a very efficient job done in very little time in the morning.

This afternoon Steve took the children into town, and I spent a couple of hours working. I haven’t really got all the things I need to work effectively so abandoned it after that and have decided to go into school to get it done on Sunday instead.

When they got back the kids settled down for a film, while Steve & I had a walk down through the village to find a cache which was by the Longstone of Minchinhampton.

I didn’t bother climbing over the gate to see if I could feel any vibes though, and I didn’t really think I needed to stick my arm or leg through a hole for healing either

Lovely walk, we like looking at houses etc., and just nice to grab some child-free time too. We went to the sweet shop on the way back so the kids were pleased to see us when we got back

Tonight Abbie is cooking her favourite meal – baked potatoes with tuna & sweetcorn, baked beans, and grated cheese on top. Ice-cream for pudding. And tonight will be our last relaxing evening so we’re planning to make the most of it. This has been a really lovely week. Anyone fancy a house swap in May half term?

We had Josiah’s parents’ evening on Thursday, that termly visit where the teachers tell us about this wonderful child that we don’t quite recognise the description of! Glad he is getting on well there anyway. In the same evening I managed to squeeze in a night out with friends from work and doing a risk assessment for a school trip – quite impressive all in one evening, I thought!

Work has been slightly better this week, still incredibly challenging though, and I still feel completely out of my depth, but hey ho. Small improvements are good – and it’s only two weeks until half term now.

Anna went away to Dartington on Friday night for the weekend (more on that later). Abbie went out with the panto kids to watch a video of their summer performance, so Josiah chose a film and we relaxed a bit with that, plus additional wine, hot bath, etc.

Saturday morning was school (their open day) for Abbie, work for Steve, orchestra for Josiah (on time for once, as it’s his free weekend from choir commitments), and the orchestra AGM for me. While I was off sorting out an upset child they managed to re-elect me as chair for another year! Hmmm. I didn’t really want to give it up though didn’t think I could carry on – too late now! Still, it is the only activity that all three of my children are involved in, so I like being part of the committee there rather than anywhere else, hopefully I will manage to hold things together despite the added pressure of work this year.

From the AGM I met my sister and we made a mad dash up to Oxford for a church event – honouring Barney Coombs who has been the international leader of our group of churches – and then the official commissioning of my Dad into that role. It was a special afternoon, so glad I made the effort to go – but it was also very long so glad I made the decision to leave the kids behind!

At home Josiah had a much needed haircut, and Steve took both children in to visit his Grandad, who is very ill in hospital at the moment

I got home around 9.30ish and ate soup while watching the end of X Factor.

Today I’ve been fitting in all the things that I didn’t have time to do yesterday; the usual laundry and school work, plus my 700th geocache, which was a 5/5 for difficulty/terrain, so will be a memorable one I had to do one for the 10/10/10 challenge! Abbie cleaned out the guinea pigs and Steve did the food shopping, I ironed shirts then washed the kitchen floor.

After that we had to go to Dartington to collect Anna, and watch the first act of the Whaletone Opera. She’d accessed this weekend workshop via SWMS, and it contained lots of improvisation and composition, so it was very good for her. All a bit strange and modern for my taste but very well executed, and the dance group who joined the SWMS musicians were excellent. Anna had a brilliant time there, anyway.

Now home, had tea, watching The Cube and X Factor with the kids while doing a bit more work … I have a horrible cold and feel rubbish

On Saturday afternoon, Josiah went off to evensong, and I took the girls out to Creative Stitches. They were incredibly lucky that I’d just been paid and was feeling in need of retail therapy! We had a nice time – it wasn’t as expensive as it could have been, either. They both came home and got on with their new arty stuff while I cooked dinner – my favourite Cottage Pie … comfort food! Steve came first in his class at the new hillclimb at Manor Farm so he came home in a good mood too.

Today I was up early to take Joe to his morning services – then came home and worked (huge ironing pile plus school work) while the girls did more arty bits and bobs. After picking Josiah up we rushed off to Charmouth to watch the hillclimb – it’s the last race of the season and the first time we’ve managed to go and spectate! The venue brought back happy (and some not-so-happy!) memories of Hesfes, and actually it was a good hillclimb venue too – not too steep, and not a long hike from the paddock to the spectating area! Not as much fun to watch as Wiscombe though, although Steve said it felt fun to drive. (nb turn speakers off before watching video otherwise Abbie’s annoying cheering voice will grate somewhat – I did tell her not to do it but she thought I was joking, apparently )

Anyway, after the race we stood around chatting for a while, then went down to the town for a cache, then to the beach for an earthcache where we had to find fossils, something the kids love doing. Steve found a whole ammonite which looks like we could polish it up – so have been googling that this evening – anyone know anything about that?

Now home and trying to fit too much ‘finishing off’ into one evening – there’s ironing to finish, school work to finish (all four of us schoolies have some!), not to mention a shopping list that needs making and other general tidying up …

My penultimate weekend of the holidays was spent caching; my friend and I were rather proud of ourselves managing 109 in one day, a figure of 8 walk of around 20 miles, mostly in the pouring rain as well. We did 30-odd the day before, and 28 the day after, as well. We had been going to camp up in North Devon but in the end because of the weather we decided to camp at home instead, so that we could dry our clothes/boots and charge batteries overnight!

The girls had time with friends over the weekend which was great for them, Josiah came with us on Sunday, and Steve had some peace and quiet!

All I can say, having done that, is that it might have bumped my total caches found number up significantly, and it was fun to have the marathon challenge, but I can hardly remember any one individual cache. I would far prefer to spend the time and energy on one decent cache(password available on request) than on 150 pots behind posts. I can safely say that the graph won’t carry on going upwards at such an almost-exponential rate, as I won’t be carrying on like that throughout this academic year!

Since then we’ve just been bumbling around at home; I’ve been working every morning on school stuff and a little bit of orchestra as well, and the children have been generally annoying me. We hoped to have some ‘family afternoons’ but Steve hasn’t made it home before 5pm any day so far, so never mind about that! Evenings have been spent sewing nametapes onto school clothes in the vain hope that if they’re named they might not go missing so often

Anyway. This summer’s trip to Russia has been in the pipeline for years; it was first conceived by a small committee of people around the time that Anna joined Exeter Children’s Orchestra three years ago. Little did I know then that I’d have anything to do with it at this point!

Last year we signed up to be part of the trip – I figured it would be the experience of a lifetime, since I knew that our family would never be brave enough to go to Russia on our own. I’ve been part of the planning process this year, working harder on things as the year went on, so it was just incredible to finally see it all come together and for 104 people to *actually* go to Russia (and get back, too!!). We had an amazing time – we all really enjoyed it for various reasons, and I don’t regret it for a moment. I’m almost looking forward to helping organise the reciprocal visit!

So, read on if you want the details … or as many as I can remember, at least

Usually I write a diary while we’re on holiday, so that I can remember things to blog about when we get home – but I was so busy organising things this time that I didn’t get round to it. I thought I hadn’t taken many photos either, but Steve made up for that, even if they’re not quite the shots I would have taken. Here goes, anyway.

Sunday 8th August
Our adventure started this evening, as we travelled up to a Travelodge the night before our flight out. I’d thought that this way we’d get some sleep before a whole day’s journey the next day, but I was wrong. In typical Travelodge style the mattress was soft and bendy so I spent the whole night lying awake trying not to roll into Steve … he slept ok, apparently, and so did the kids, so that’s what matters I suppose!

Monday 9th August
We had to be up early, to get our car to Purple Parking (all great there – would use them again, does what it says on the tin, happy customers!) before getting to Terminal 5 for 6am. When we arrived lots of our group were already there checking in, so we joined the queue! We had Anna’s cello with us as well, which had a seat booked on the plane, so that made for some extra excitement … and we took another couple of kids plus cello and tuba with us so that we could get the instruments through security – almost lost the tuba at one point but talked the security people round! They were the first three onto the plane because of the instruments so that was fun

The coach journey from Domodedevo airport to Yaroslavl was about 4 – 5 hours long. This was a bit dire for some as the stops hadn’t been organised in advance, the drivers didn’t really know where to stop, and none of us had much to eat … anyway, never mind.

We made it to the hotel, eventually (our coach driver got lost, which was quite amusing), around 11.30pm which really wasn’t too bad. Everyone checked in and went to their rooms. The Park Hotel was great – it made all the difference for everyone to have a bit of personal space! Unfortunately this evening we discovered that one of our group had lost their passport at the airport, but this got sorted out during the week, with only a day lost for the people concerned when they had to visit the British Embassy in Moscow to apply for a replacement.

Tuesday 10th August
We woke, bleary eyed, and had our first strange breakfast of the stay: savoury rice pudding with butter, followed by a strange cheesecake – all a bit much to take first thing in the morning. Still, our group was fed in a nice conference room which we had to ourselves, making it nice and easy for me to give notices every day about what was happening (if I knew, of course, which mainly I didn’t!). The most annoying one this morning was that in order to use the hotel swimming pool we needed swimming hats – only 3 out of 104 people had thought to bring them!

The orchestra had a rehearsal in the morning, which, due to being late, didn’t really happen A few parents went out into Yaroslavl and we all met up at the Jubilee Restaurant for lunch. After lunch we had a tour of Yaroslavl’s monastery, which was interesting. Most amazing were the singing quartet who just started singing in the Cathedral – incredible voices and the acoustics in there gave it a wow factor too.

One of the ladies from the Friendship Group (Yaroslavl’s version of our Twinning Circle) had, however, managed to buy 100 swimming hats! I’ve never seen children looking so excited about swimming hats – most of them immediately went swimming before dinner!

Wednesday 11th August
The smog lifted – but it was still very very hot. The kids had a rehearsal in the morning, during which a few of us walked around the city. Steve and I walked as far as a supermarket to buy drinks and fruit from a fruit stall, then back to the Art School where the children were to meet up in time for lunch. In fact then I went off with one of the Friendship Group people to look at venues for the other concerts, and had an epic taxi drive back through the city at 60mph – Russian driving is worse than French, I think! Met the rest of the group back at the Russian Hunt restaurant.

Wednesday afternoon was the first ECO concert, in the Art School. Some Art School students performed as well, making it very long – and the auditorium was very very hot – little or no air circulation; I seriously thought some of the kids might melt (or at least faint!) under the stage lights. We were all sweating buckets (nice!). There was a presentation at the end too, making everything take even longer! Luckily then we could leave all the instruments on the stage and the kids had a ‘disco’ outside, with some Russian children – I’m hoping someone else has photos of this because I didn’t take any …

Back to the hotel for dinner after that …

Thursday 12th August
We had a sightseeing day today – something I’d never usually choose to do when on holiday, but it was strangely relaxing, and very entertaining. Firstly a three hour drive through the Yaroslavl Region to a small town called Myshkin (definitely worth clicking on that link to get the full story on what the town was all about, it will save me explaining), where we had a brilliant guide, and visited an interactive museum – this had everything from singing tea ladies to live mice that made you jump, a potter and a blacksmith, loads to see and do, and we had lunch there too.

Friday 13th August
Today was ECO’s second concert – at Yaroslavl’s Palace of Culture. Sounds posh – and it was! An amazing building, which, thankfully, was much cooler than the last venue. The weather had cooled off a bit itself, too, but temperatures were still in the high twenties, if not around the 30º mark. Anyway, the kids had a rehearsal, during which we discovered a missing music folder, and a missing trumpeter, so a couple took a taxi back to the hotel to pick up the folder and Alex, who had fallen asleep after breakfast and missed the coach – and no-one noticed . Bedtimes were strictly observed after this so that no-one could claim they were so tired!

The concert went well, then we all had some free time in Yaroslavl, before going back to the hotel for dinner, and then watching ourselves on Russian local news tv – very exciting!

Saturday 14th August
We had a sightseeing visit to Tutayev by boat along the Volga river today. Very relaxing on the boat – lots of chatting going on as well as having the chance to take in more Russian countryside. When we arrived we were greeted by a welcoming party who presented Richard and Ron with decorative bread – some Russian tradition or other, I understand! No-one ate it, which I thought was a shame!

The actual tour around Tutayev was rather rushed, but we enjoyed seeing the cathedral there – both inside and out – amazing. We had lunch cooked in a school, which was interesting – and then had to rush off to catch our boat back to Yaroslavl.

In the evening, the hotel had laid on a ‘Russian Evening’ for us; which consisted of traditional Russian food (ie stew!), but then we were treated to a Russian folk band who came and played for us. They were totally amazing – I was particularly impressed by the accordian player, I’ve never heard an accordian sound so wonderful We bought CDs, we liked it so much!

Sunday 15th August
We had a bit of a later start today, thank heavens (it was all great but somewhat ‘full on’), everyone enjoyed a bit of a lie- in. After lunch in the Jubilee Restaurant again we had some free time in Yaroslavl. A few of us went to Exeter House, significant for all of us from Exeter anyway but specifically for one member of our group who was the architect who designed the house when it was built! He and I went in a taxi with the director of Yaroslavl’s city council’s International Department who quizzed us about how and when we were going to arrange a reciprocal visit. This has always been our intention, but there is clearly a difference in expectation about what a ‘city council’ will be involved in. They were clearly very involved in hosting our trip, but I can’t imagine the city council here to be involved much at all if ECO host a return visit! Anyway.

After that I legged it down to meet Steve, who was entertaining two small boys, on a little island where there was a fairground type thing – and also a geocache Well, it wouldn’t be a holiday without one! I took a couple of teens with me, who cache at home too, so they were chuffed to add a Russian cache to their count as well.

We met up with the rest of the orchestra after that for the final open air concert, alongside the Volga Embankment. The concert had been publicised and there was a big crowd out listening, which was great. We were entertained by the dancing OAPs at the back, and then by the stray dog which wandered into the orchestra. Richard, being a dog lover, stopped the concert to stroke and make a fuss of the dog!

Monday 16th August
Our last full day in Yaroslavl was spent visiting the city’s new zoo – which they opened specially, it was their cleaning day, but they let us in! The kids loved the area where they could hold some of the animals. Again a bit of a rushed visit but nice nonetheless.

After the reception we hung around on the Volga embankment taking photos and being interviewed by the TV cameras again (and were on tv again that night), before finally going back to the hotel to pack.

At dinnertime we had our own embarrassing thank you speeches and I was presented with a rather lovely engraved glass which has taken pride of place *in front of* Steve’s motor racing ones! It really was a superb trip, and Ron, who organised most of it, was amazing – there was nothing that he hadn’t thought of. Everyone went down and took photos afterwards, of the ECO kids and then the boring old grownups. Then it was off to the shop to stock up on snacks for the next day …

Tuesday 17th August
This was always going to be a long and tiring day but I think we all agreed it was worth it. We got up at 4am to throw last minute things in suitcases before gathering downstairs at 4.30 in order to leave by 5am – which, miraculously, we did! It was 5 hours’ drive back to Moscow, where we picked up some fantastic Moscow guides who were with us for the day.

We had a bit of a coach tour round on the way into Red Square, then some time in Red Square itself. This was when, on visiting the toilets in the GUM shopping centre, Josiah’s croc got mangled in an escalator. I still look at the photos and wonder how he didn’t lose his toes as well! Anyway, that made Red Square even more memorable for us

After that a tiny bit more sightseeing from the coach then it was on to the airport. Or so we thought. One of our three coaches broke down on the way there! We had to be collected by another coach and unload/re-load all our luggage by the side of the road. Still, we made it to the airport on time nevertheless, checked in etc., and waited for the plane home. The flight was fine, everything went smoothly, and I think everyone just fell asleep!

We picked up the car, then opted for a Travelodge again since it would just have been too much to drive home straight away. We all slept well and then drove home in the morning.

Other general memories:
The Friendship Group people were amazing – they had thought of everything. They were rubbish at telling us, and I often didn’t have a clue in the morning how arrangements for instruments or whatever were going to happen, but they invariably did happen, and seamlessly, at that.

Late night drinks with Ron & Natasha (the main organisers of the trip) made for some fantastic evenings – in fact some nights we started drinking before dinner as well as afterwards – I was exhausted (and at times slightly merry!). But it was very entertaining and Steve & I really enjoyed getting to know them

All the families and individuals there really pulled together – it did feel like one happy family, which the Russians even commented on! A brilliant sense of camaraderie despite little niggles along the way – fabulous.

Hotel breakfasts – as odd as odd can be. Savoury rice pudding/semolina/custard, then strange cheesecake or egg bake things – or cold sausage and peas. Lunches and dinners were nice though, once you knew what to expect: vegetable starter of some kind (coleslaw type things), then soup, then meat and pasta or potatoes. A few of us had dodgy tummies for a while but nothing awful.

Spent ages trying to download the Moscow Lonely Planet app on my phone – eventually did it and I’d recommend the apps – for £3.50 you get what looks like pretty much the whole Lonely Planet book as well as an interactive map which you can use offline too. Very impressive I think – and it gave me technical gadgets to play with while we were in Moscow

Steve and I even really enjoyed having time together – we often ended up sitting next to one another on the coach, and because the kids were with friends they just took care of themselves, leaving us to enjoy the sightseeing stuff together – a rather nice by-product that we hadn’t expected!

And if you’ve made it this far – well done. Ron predicted that 50% of the people on this trip will visit Russia again – I know Steve and I would quite like to see St. Petersburg now … in a few years’ time perhaps