just another morning here

My half term is always too short. The children, jammy things, have two weeks, so are revelling in their second week off while normal people are back at school.

We didn’t do much during the week, but it was nice to have a break. On Monday it chucked with rain all day, so it didn’t really matter that I worked during the day, at school. Josiah chose to come with me and finished off a fair bit of homework that he’d left during the week before half term. We left the girls here supposedly to do homework, but I don’t think they were very productive. Fitted in some haircuts at lunchtime too.

Tuesday started early at the dentist’s, then Josiah had a laserquest birthday party to go to. I worked a bit more at school, and took the girls and their homework with me this time! In the afternoon I collected Joe from the party for a violin lesson, then deposited him back at the party again! We went out to see the Sound of Music in Exmouth with Abbie plus a friend in the evening; Anna was playing cello in the pit orchestra, and a couple of people that we know through orchestra were in the production, so that was an enjoyable evening.

Wednesday was cupboard-sorting day; the rest of the family had been promised dinner out if they helped me sort the cupboard in my classroom. It was in a terrible state, after not really having been sorted well when I ‘moved in’, and having had a year of people chucking things back in it quickly and not necessarily tidily (I’m the worst culprit!) so it desperately needed doing. Now it is very tidy and I am very proud of it, no longer will I be throwing things into it willy nilly! We went out for Chinese down the road before the girls went off to Panto rehearsal.

On Thursday I caught up with a friend and her lovely baby; the children slept in! We took Suzie to the vet to get weighed … made an appointment for the all important spaying/chipping, too – Suzie is desperate to get outside a bit more so she will be very pleased when we can let her go. She is quite a lovely cat and often waits on the lounge windowsill for us to get home, etc – we all love her to bits
I digress. Thursday afternoon was yet more sorting out; this time sorting out boxes and boxes of ECO’s music at Richard’s house. Anna had another evening playing in Exmouth after that.

Friday was about the only nice day weatherwise, and we had to spend it driving Anna and a friend to Harrow House in Swanage for a SWMS residential. When we got home we lazed around for a bit, and then in the evening we went out for a nightcache, which was fun as usual. We met another cacher and his dog at the start of the trail and did the whole thing together. Hot chocolate and an early night after that.

On Saturday we had orchestra as usual. In the afternoon we carved our pumpkin. Not sure whose idea it was to make it into a Cyberman but it became a bit of a serious project, with heated discussions about how best to do it! Steve ended up in charge and went for the simplistic approach – it turned out fairly well

I was just concerned about getting as much flesh out of it as possible, for pumpkin pancakes (they were delicious) and pumpkin pies as well! Then Abbie went off to a party at a friend’s house, and I helped Josiah to pack.

Sunday morning started early – we had to take Josiah to Plymouth for 7am to catch a ferry for his French trip. He’s gone to Chateau de la Baudonierre with around 60 other children from his school. Haven’t heard a dicky bird so far – no news is good news though! The rest of Sunday was spent with Abbie after we picked her up from her friend’s house. We ended up having lunch at BSRS and then also ended up agreeing to her having an early birthday present in the form of a three day course this week. Not entirely sure how that happened! Anna came home in the evening having had a fabulous time at her residential, but I haven’t seen her since …

And then it was back to school for me today. The girls had most of the day at home before going over to/out with friends for Halloween activities. The rest of their week will be pretty much taken up at the stables (Abbie) and with maths revision and music practice (Anna). Josiah will be back on Saturday

We were up relatively early today and Josiah chose to feed the cats for the last time, while Abbie went out to sort the chickens. She was rewarded for her efforts this past few days with the only egg of the week! I think the chickens were less trouble than the cats, but it has made me want a cat even more – though not until the guinea pigs have snuffed it

Anyway. A quick clear up after breakfast and we were away – home by 12.30pm. This afternoon Abbie has carved a pumpkin, Josiah has tried and failed to import his game save on SD card so had to start over at the beginning, and Anna lost track of time at a friend’s house.

After a long discussion about which clothes and shoes were suitable, and many changes of clothes accompanied by much foot-stamping, we attended Grandad’s funeral at the crematorium. It went as well as these things go; we were invited back for tea at Steve’s parents’ afterwards which was pleasant. We have his thanksgiving service up in North Devon tomorrow too, which is more of an event to remember him by, but you still have to get through the official necessary bits as well.

Got home just in time to run the girls round for panto rehearsals, and the rest of us are catching up at home tonight. Here probably ends the daily blogging, we’ll be back to weekend posts from now on. I do enjoy having the time to write posts though, it takes me back to the good old days

Another very lazy day here, though we are gearing up for home, a little bit anyway. This morning the children tidied up their rooms and all the things they’d played with, and we did a bit of laundry.

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?

Today was Wells day. Josiah had an audition for the NCO at Wells Cathedral School, so we decided to go down for the day. It is half way home for us, but we would have had to leave the same amount of time to get there from home, so it didn’t really matter!

We got to Wells late morning and ambled around the rather lovely market for a while before heading for lunch. It was Steve’s turn to cook so we ate out – so lazy! After that I had thought we might look around the Bishop’s Palace, but I had foolishly told Joe that he could be in charge of what we did today, and he didn’t want to! So actually we just went to buy fudge from the market, and ate it while walking around the moat of the Bishop’s Palace where apparently one of Josiah’s classmates’ cat drowned (very interesting fact, that). We then wandered over to look at the cathedral, and Vicars’ Close (where there just happened to be a geocache ). Joe had wanted to go to evensong in the cathedral but it was a ‘said’ evening prayer service today so we didn’t bother.
Annoyingly I forgot the big camera but took a few phone pictures anyway … in no particular order …

Anyway by then it was time for the audition so they went and did that – we have no clue really how he got on – Anna was accompanying and we could hear it a bit, there were a couple of mistakes – but he said the sight reading was very easy (probably because he played it in the wrong key ). We really have no idea what they are looking for from a 9yo, as there are so many tiers to the orchestra. His violin teacher suggested that he try out for it, so he did. Good experience in any case – we won’t find out for another month so will just forget about it for now.

Stopped in Starbucks for a cup of tea after that, before driving back again. Pick’n'mix tea, then some games/tv, and that’s about it.