just another morning here

Not too busy this weekend but somehow I am falling asleep while trying to make worksheets and plan lessons this afternoon. We’ve had early mornings and late nights though, and so when I sit down I just fall asleep!

Yesterday was ECO; final rehearsal before the Autumn Concert in the evening. Luckily there wasn’t anything else on for us in the afternoon so we made cupcakes for the concert first, then caught up on homework, room tidying, cleaning out guinea pigs, laundry, etc.

Steve and I had the luxury of going out for dinner while the kids were taken down to the concert by some friends (thank you!), so that was lovely – we just went to the Mill on the Exe which we do have a soft spot for, since it’s where we met, way back when we were far too young!

The concert was fab as usual, a few comedy moments, but generally excellent Not that I’m biased or anything

Abbie went for a sleepover with Riona afterwards. Today Josiah’s been at the cathedral all day, while Anna had a quartet rehearsal with Suzuki violin friends this morning. I took work to do while she was there, but didn’t actually get that much done due to ending up chatting with another mum instead. So I had to work for most of the rest of the day – but Steve was watching the Grand Prix and Anna had homework to do, so it’s not as if I was missing anything else terribly important!

Steve picked up Joe and Abbie then came home and we cooked dinner while Josiah faffed about moaning about violin practice (he did actually manage to do some as well), and now we’re trying to catch up on last night’s X Factor before the results show comes on!

We’ve had a busy old weekend – though with plenty of nice things in it. Saturday morning was orchestra as usual – busy, with new kids starting and lots to do; all good though I really don’t want to give it up, though just not sure I have time to do it justice. Dithering!

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 …

Abbie and I went with Exeter Children’s Orchestra to Crealy today. It was a nice day for it, and I think the kids had fun. It sounded ok too, considering that the majority of the brass section were away and that percussion were quite depleted as well.

A few people stood around watching and sound carried well from where we were – but mainly it was just fun for the orchestra members I had a chat with a couple of interested parents, and met someone around my age who’d been in the orchestra over 20 years ago!

Got a bit of work done while I was there, but still seem to have more to do this evening … in fact I am procrastinating by blogging

Meanwhile in other news, Anna was off at her first SWMS day, all on rhythm – she seems to have enjoyed herself, and Steve said the performance at the end of the day was ok. Josiah was singing morning and afternoon so he stayed at school all day – managing to get his clean trousers muddy in the process somehow so now I’m washing them for the second time this weekend

Steve did the food shopping and went to work to sell a car. Just trying to catch up and get ready for the week ahead now, as well as having another early night because we all need it.

Russia, land of the Tsars – also this summer was notably a land of heatwave, peat and forest fires, and smog. It seemed so bizarre to me that while Pakistan was enduring huge floods, Russia was suffering from quite the opposite.

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
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