just another morning here

Otherwise entitled ‘thank goodness for Tesco!’

Josiah came home yesterday after a wet afternoon at Laser Camp with soaking wet trainers. Of course I didn’t think to put them in the tumble drier (which, to be fair, might have wrecked them anyway leaving us in the same predicament in any case), I just put them on the radiator. Radiators round here aren’t on, of course, because it’s the summer, in case you hadn’t noticed (and you would be forgiven for not realising).

So this morning when it came to getting dressed, they were still soaking wet. And it’s raining again, so not the weather for sandals, even if you did wear sandals to a multi-activity camp, which you don’t because they’re not really the right sort of footwear, especially not Joe’s el-cheapo sandals! Neither can you wear school shoes, as they (a) look daft, and (b) mark sports hall floors – and as it’s raining I suspect they may spend a fair bit of time in the sports hall!

SOooo we made his lunch and got ready in double quick time, and went off to the nearest supermarket to look for a cheap pair of trainers for him to wear today. Sainsbury’s didn’t have any so we carried on round the ring road to Tesco! They came up trumps, so for a fiver he was ready to go.

When we arrived at Laser today I also stretched to booking a quad bike session as a ‘well done on your distinction’ thing, he’d looked longingly at a couple of kids doing it yesterday I think, and wondered out loud if he could afford it with his £1.60 … at which my heart melted and it was nice to have a reason to add an extra gift on to the week. Probably would have done it without the reason, too, mind!

He is really enjoying the week And I must admit that we’re quite enjoying doing girly things at home without worrying about him as well!

When your day begins with the bank manager ringing you at 9.05 am. The less said, the better!

Steve and I spent our last day lurching between coffee shops, books in hand. Dartmoor was too much effort and the sun didn’t come out enough anyway. He’s almost finished HP, while I’m in the middle of Middlesex. Really enjoying that book – probably not one I would have chosen but I’ve almost joined a reading group and that’s the book for this month. I say almost – I was invited a couple of months ago and haven’t been able to make any of the get-togethers yet … will make it one day!

Ended up in the office a little bit too, out of necessity, and then to buy our employee of the month an ice cream Don’t think it really matters that we’ve been in and out of ‘work’ while on holiday – it’s just been fantastic to make the time to spend together, both of us have really appreciated it.

Picked up the children, who had all had a great ‘last day’ at Laser. Something of a sense of relief, as well – they have found it hard to keep going this week, I think. Not really sure why, I don’t remember it being quite such hard work last year, but there we go. They each came home with certificates highlighting things they were good at – both girls had drama mentioned on theirs, while Josiah was named ‘Robin Hood’ for enjoying the archery sessions so much!

We have also ended up being invited to some random family picnic over the summer, by a family whose three children were all in the same groups as our three. My idea of hell, if I’m quite honest, but Steve reckons he fancies meeting some new people, so he wants to go. Somehow I think they’re all going to be 4×4 drivers who send their children to posh private schools, but heck. I guess they all need MPVs as their second cars, so maybe it will be worth it … and apparently the family concerned are involved in some chocolate company or other, which also sounds good. Feels very strange to do something like that simply based on the children’s friendships, though!

Dinner tonight was accompanied by veggies from the garden – that felt good And we’ve just wasted the evening away together playing Animal Crossing (me and the kids), more reading (Steve), ironing (me), and watching TV at the same time as those last two … !!

Back to work tomorrow, then.

Our holiday is going really well The kids are having a great time, despite Josiah’s reluctance to get settled in at the beginning, by Wednesday he’d ‘got used to it’, and is having loads of fun along with the girls.

Meanwhile, we’ve avoided the house (well, we’re on holiday, don’t want to be tempted to do any housework!), so have shopped, lunched, coffeed, as well as visited various relatives; my parents & brother who were on a short break nearby, and Steve’s grandparents. Had to do the odd work-related errand here and there too, but that’s life.

Lots of talking and thinking about life, work, kids, etc – SO good to have some child-free time carved out for it. Tomorrow we’re planning to go up to Dartmoor with coffee and books to read, and enjoy the last day.

Watching ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’ now, phew, is that ever scary?

A 4 year old saved the day today! First day of Laser Camp, we dropped the kids off this morning and the girls went off without a backwards glance, as expected. Josiah wanted us to take us to his ‘base’, so we did, whereupon he got all nervous and clingy. My heart sank, as that was the last thing we needed (and also not necessary from him, as he’d been looking forward to it as much as the girls, and we knew he’d be fine and enjoy himself).

A couple of minutes later a little boy walked in, a friend of Joe’s from Start Right. Josiah looked at him and switched completely from clingy mode into happy mode, said goodbye to us, and that was that. Phew. I don’t think I would have been able to enjoy the day if he had been upset. Apparently Joshua only stayed for the morning which meant Joe was a bit sad at lunchtime, but he made another friend during the afternoon, by the sound of it.

Anna loved the dry slope ski-ing, and Abbie reported that she enjoyed everything.

We popped into town to help set up a home eduation display in the central library, had coffee at the garage , then did Sainsbury’s shopping … then back into town for a general mooch around before picking the kids up and going to the dentist. They were all exhausted (the other great thing about this week – a week full of early nights!) and went to bed at 7pm! Hopefully they won’t wake up *quite* as early tomorrow morning as they did today …