having spent a very marvellous weekend off the path. Great hosts and company, thankyou.
We forgot to take the camera - shock horror! So looking forward to other people’s pictures.
You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2007.
Shall we try this at the next Muddlepuddle summer camp ?
this is one. both girls on short fuse before wailing, and mum on short fuse before wanting peace.
chris brought me breakfast in bed as anniversary treat. i finished my book. girls played games.
ermmmm i read some books, SB just couldn’t decide what to do with herself, so mostly cried. SHe did settle to some zoombinis and cbeebies. also whilst BB had a nap - well by 3 she just was awful and waily as overtired - SB and i made meringues. Unfortunately we didn’t make them very well, maybe not whipped enough, maybe sugar not incorporated well enough, i don’t know. ANyway. SB loved eating the squidgy offerings, and we then put them into the choc cake we made when BB woke up. might be weird, who knows!! will see at the weekend.
and the rest of the day is in the past…
It was a beautiful, sunny,hot August day, and we got married. It was pretty much a perfect day really, we got married at Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel (though it seems to been taken over - it was an independently run place then) and had the place all to ourselves. Lots of family and friends around us, a nice simple ceremony, lots of merriment, lots of great memories. Just a lovely, lovley day.
If i hear the music we had as we left the room at the end of the ceremony (Overture from the soundtrack to Much Ado About Nothing), it still makes my eyes go all watery. Loving you as much as always Helen.
Amusing bit: The DJ got fed up playing smoochy numbers at the end of the reception, as everyone kept leaving the dance floor, so he finished up playing something (I forget what now) from The Prodigy. 
What we missed bit: As it was a civil ceremony we couldn’t have any hymns.
Bad bit: Helen’s dad realising rather too late in the day that he hadn’t had a film in his camera 
(sorry, poor photo, scanner not working properly, so I took a quick snap of it)
well, i did get to see some of the percy-whatsits last night. i hadn’t realised they could be so fast! the clouds lifted enough at about 2am - oops.
today, girls watched more bonjour les amis as they like moustache, SB did some maths and there was some tidying and reading. When I came home, she read me some more of a rainforest book and at bedtime another chapter of the magic tree house rainforest book. The has been doing a lot of jump ahead on ‘puter. i read to BB, and a doze as still migrainous - not quite so bad now, but shattered at lack of decent sleep and rest too. BB and I did a pairs game with animals. some have names [actually most do] but some are just ‘nother mamimal’ She particularly likes lions.
tea was chips, in the hopes that the real kick of carbs might lift blasted migraine! SB and I played battleships and connect 4 and BB went to bed. A good bedtime read with SB, and there you have it.
When I finished work last friday, we very slowly got off to camp at Wicksteed park. this was good - in that it was a tenner a night, and bad - in that SB kept up a permanent running commentary on how she wanted to go on this and that ride. obviously we weren’t going on any, just using the campsite. Although we said ad nauseum we would be back, she just couldn’t help it. When I finally lost my temper about it - as she was going on about it IN THE DARK - I said that any more negative whinges and we would def not come back, otherwise we would try to arrange to come back with friends. Clever girl, I thin had hours of - I am so looking forward to going on such and such ride, it will be so exciting, I should really try it out first so I can tell my firends, but … SO not whiney, but still a stuck record. Rather funnily, she did ask me towards the end whether her positive bits were now longer than her whingy bits - rofl. poor girl.
ANyway, Got there, tent up, portaloos on the stinky side - there are ‘real’ loos at a further walk, and after first night I did the walk, with BB in a fireman’s lift over shoulder, as although she had potty and nappy, she insisted on coming, but after 10m or so would collapse dramatically on the ground as it was so far.
but a friendly easy place to camp, and would camp there again.
I was smited down by migraine - getting borin in a painful way, so we were late leaving on the sat for kelmarsh as i rehydrated and swigged potions. wwhen we got there, we were parked near the deep enders, so all walking in together and towards the childrens zone. WOW is the first word really. it was well organised, very streamlined, minimal delay/fuss or queue, well set out and signposted. impossible really without the programme - ?5 extra.
We started off watching a fab play about robin hood - one of SB’s fav stories, and then SB joined in with some quadrilles and drumming in the music tent. we lost the deependers temporarily at that point, as they were romaning. Got to see some knights on horseback demonstrate their prowess at tilting and more cabbage bashing [I guess that is the best use for a cabbage for some blogring members! Yes you who has advised me that it is the lentils in the diet causing migraine!!] We caught up with those from the manor born, and ate some lunch and generally chatted. Nice civil war re-enactment guns in the backround - i am sure my heart stopped for a second!
We wandered up to catch the next children’s play - Nelson’s last hoorah. a really fab theatre company [of 2 people!] and SB loved it. we wandered around some of the re-enactors tents, and SB and chloe quizzed as many people as poss. SB rather likes the spindles and the carding of wool, so lots of looking at that, and they both bought some natural dyed silk from a lady, and we discussed making natural dyes, mordants and so-on. A huge hit was the armourer looking lonely, who asked the girls what they would like to try on - answer = everything, and for the next 20 mins, he took them [and us!] through all that he had. Marcus quite liked the beer maker, and SB smelled the golden hop flowers and indentified them as the source of beer. hmm!!
Time to watch some jousting - rather good, and CHloe and SB had good views upon their own steeds [nearly wrote stallions, but would give entirely the wrong impression] before wandering down to the ‘other side’ and the world war bits, the tea tent - fantastic! ANother ‘flyboys’ display, and a really awsome grand parade out. we were stood with the romans - i rather like romans! some had v v short skirts! and watched them cheer out the other reenactors. particularly funny were the romano british walking like cockneys, and then riding imaginary horses [a la monty python]. I quite liked also the home eddiness, of SB and chloe shouting sinestra dextra at the roman soldiers marching.
We wandered through the ‘village’ and the romano british sailed their coracle, and we had a long chat in the inn. SB flagging, as was BB, so time to go home. Met up with the deep enders, for a restorative cup of tea by their car before going back to the tent.
That was the jokeevening. SB thinks she is a dab hand at jokes, and is now teaching BB execrable knock knock jokes. like - knock knock, who’s there? orange, orange who? knock knock, who’s there? orange, orange who?knock knock, who’s there? banana, banana who? bet your glad I didn’t say orange
girls slept well v quickly, and adults not long behind - heard via twitter that chris is not now the only pole forgetterer - though not really a sport in which he wished to be joined.
Next day migraine epic, had considered just throwing myselfg intolake, but chris packed up tent, and suitably fortified we got to kelmarsh - too late for the roman display i fancied though. We did sort of see a viking vs norman battle, but the rain poured down at that point, so mostly under the mat! i think both girlsmore fragile due to long day previously, and I was not any better! SO we had a gentle wander around the civil war encampment and a restorative icecream [there went the roman games display!] SB again v interested with the spinning and carding of wool. there was also a lady doing wood turning, who gave SB a practice one, so she was v happy with that, and a good demonstration of tools as well.
it seemed sensible to be relaxed and enjoy rather than try and see the bits we had missed the day before, so we went to the family zone, SB got to do some elizabethan dancing - she loves dancing and music, and then both girls got to decorate a crown and do some colouring. We had a good look at the ‘flyboys’ which i found v moving, then a last company performance - don’t mess with bess - and SB finally got picked to perorm, and was Will SHakespeare - and was v proud. we should do more theatre again with her, I don;t know why she didn’t like stagecoach when we tried that out? DOes remind me that she brought the barefoot book of stories shakespeare used for her bedtime stories, and chose the romeo and juliet one for the first night - cue much wailing at unhappy ending! As you like it did better for the second night. as a bit of insight, she asked why they always used someone else to kill snowdrop/snow white etc. ‘if you want it done, you should really just do it yourself’
Both BB and SB said lots of blogable things i have forgotten. that is why i blog!! ANyway, we had a short final drink with deep enders as all children had need of calm down and bed! [and me] and we stopped off at little chef on way back - which actually was quite good again, and children ate well. BB played a cute game with the sauce packets.
And that is that, just need to sort out hundreds of photos of men in costume!
oh yes SB - a century is a large slice of time
as tagged by t-bird
well, it saves me from the memory loss!
It is a good distraction for when i should be doing something else
I like lists, and blogging is a bit like listing!
i get to have conversations and keep up with people i don’t see often. ‘m not a phone fan, so comments and reading are good.
one day, when feeling flush, i will be able to make books with blurb about bloglife
And sometimes, it is useful just to work through thoughts!
over on the other blog worryingly keeps swinging between spider and tiger. I am not neutral on this issue!
Things they say:
Stringbean has a piggybank, Butterbean has been going on about fishy things. I realised that she wants a Fishybank
we’ve been camping. All weekend in our little vango. And the reason was so that we could have 2 long but easy days at kelmarsh. it didn’t quite work out like that, but the theory was good! we had friends, romans and countrymen - what more could you want??
will do proper blog with photos perhaps tomorrow
I did an incredibly tedious but of market research, and now have ?40 amazon vouchers. going to see what of the approx ?800 basket I might choose!!
What have we done today? ermmm. I did get up late. I am just sooo tired at the moment.
Anyway, BB and I read books and did jigsaws - she is quite happy to do a 12 piece jigsaw, but likes me to give help if bigger. she has a cute celebration dance when they are finished! Through the post I got a rainforest challenge game for SB [rather excellently for 1.50 from ebay!] And we did the first section on animals. She has quite enjoyed tying in with the magic tree house book - she reads a chapter alternate days.
chris’s parents also popped round as they are about to go on hols to greenland and iceland. Needed some help with the automatic fish feedr
it was then time to go to SB’s hip hop dancing at the liesure centre - third and final one. SHe has really enjoyed this. they have done routines made up by the isntructure, and routines made up by themselves in small groups - not as complicated as sparkies! We went to the supermarket with BB to top up on suncream, buy her a treat, and generally use up time before the ’show’. SB very proud all her family there, and really enjoyed doing it. In fact all the children looked like they had had a fab time. of different ages, and had differnt bits to showcase the different ability levels as well - what a good instrcutor with plenty of enthusiasm.
?
When we returned, BB played with beetles, SB did some more of her rainforest book. SHe then did some getty and dubay writing practice.
I then read loads of library books to BB, and SB read loads of library books herself. SB and BB also had a spell of cutting things out of newspapers, and helping Chris fix the lights on my car - rofl. SB then made sandwiches for a picnic outside - PB and jam! So playing outside, and I picked yet more beans from the garden and some toms.
BB is in a lovely phase of making up songs all the time - often describing bodily functions, but not necessarily! But a particularly nice song was the i love mummy and daddy song in the car today.
Had tea and BB now in bed, and SB doing zoombinis. She has done the practice ones a lot, so is now doing adventures - on the easiest setting. My migraine has finally settled with huge wallops of tablets!
Chemistry fun
Castle fun
Weald and Downland museum
cool playpark
portsmouth historic dockyard
we love camping
triclinium at fishbourneas I’m doing something else!! [writing talk]
SB did maths, BB did happy maize [no longer supplied by bead merrily!] then SB wailed as we hadn’t signed her up for any of the clubs at the sports centre - because she said she wanted to make her own mind up and hadn’t! she decided that after all she wanted to go to the one I had suggested - hip hop and street dance [i was guessing sparky party dances!] . it started today. luckilly there was spaces, so a quick drive out. SB has really enjoyed it. 2 hours x 3 days. maybe she’ll also do the cheerleading one in a couple of weeks time?
When she got back and I got back from work i had a short demo, we did jigsaws, SB had a complex game with her paper dolls [another benefit of the start of room of doom 2] and BB was keen on the ABC book and cards, and the ABC animal puppets. she is desperate to read.
We made heaps more mess with trying to sort out the books though - oops. DId read some more rainforest stuff, and played a rainforest addition game with SB.
BB did some poisson rouge and starfall. she knows how to start up the computer, wiat until the personal setting screen comes up, ‘press snowflake’ and then the ‘firefox’ - rofl at a 2 year old knowing the browser we use. SB? expanded - its the mosaic firefox [close!!]
Both had a short violin lesson. SB picking up london’s burning. Happy to have had a break after stress of thinking she was going to play at kessie. SB then wrote me a letter on the etchasketch about how? ‘ I lic plaing with you mummy. love from elinor ++++++++’
BB fell asleep at the dinner table - bless, and we had such a nice snuggle then on the sofa that I fell asleep too - oops. woke up to find SB happily playing with zoombinis.
both girls filling me with lots of rewards and blessings as they are so loving and affectionate - well, when BB isn’t being awful to SB, and SB isn’t wailing in repsonse, or winding BB up!!
On and off during the day the girls are playing at being dogs, SB has been Fido, and BB Brutus. SB particularly has been a gorgeous child today. She is usually gorgeous, but some days i am reminded just how lovely she is more than others. today she has been so caring and loving to BB, trying to think of things to do with her that she will enjoy.
the taming of room of doom has again had benefits, with both girls hama-ing first thing in the morning. I didn’t know where the big hama beads were, but BB unerringly found them She is very good at just finding things - when she wants to. Has a better memory than me, thats for sure.
Actually, that reminds me of a game they were playing that chris overheard. SB was being mummy going to work, and Chris said she was very good at the intonation of ‘i can’t find my shoes, anyone seen them? I can’t go to work without them’. yes, I do tend to have shoe crisis on work days. Maybe i should have more than one pair, but they have lasted nearly 8 years now! Actually, maybe BB should be in charge of my shoes!
We started filling up the pool [its about 11 foot] and SB and i made a start on room of doom 2 - ie the playroom. It took for ages to get to the point of maximal mess, when you’re just about to logically put it away, when i was abandoned as the pool was ready!
SO we have all had much fun in the pool. i still need to give the playroom a sort out - will do that with both girls in bed. SB and I have also played a few games, and read a book about the rainforest - ties in with her magic tree house book, and she wanted to learn a bit more. i also have a DK search for eldorado book as a rainforest theme, so maybe will read some of that to her too. All these books she can read herself, but its nice to be read to, and I like reading aloud. We chatted about my time in borneo, and how it is like to be living [albeit temporarily] in the rainforest. Mostly whilst she mimicked sloths and monkeys on the swing and trapeze. she has rigged a rope to the 2 person swing, so that i can sit on a chair and read a book to her whilst pulling the rope and swinging her!!
The room of doom 1 has a new shelf for not finished art/craft projects, so she picked up a painting project present from big that we hadn’t done for a while, and happily painted together various insects. BB by then was fast asleep from so much playing in the pool. You know, I might even try to stay tidy [faints to the floor].
Sb and I then had fun picking french and runner beans, looking at the different flower colours of the different varieties. We have Blauhilde french beans so they are a nice purple - though green once cooked. I think beans are going to be a staple of our summer food this year.
SB did then a bit of diego on nick junior, and BB woke up with lots of books. both girls are now playing in the pool with chris looking on. past both bedtimes, though BB not going to sleep due to long sleep earlier, and it seems a shame to spoil SB’s fun as she has been such a blessing today.
this eve i must write a talk I am giving, as next week might be rather hectic.
ever since SB saw the squared circle group on flickr she has been keen to find pictures to take. she thinks I should be able to get the pool from our bedroom, hanging out - i don’t think so!!
One of the nice things about living here, is all the people round us growing things, esp. the orchards. A common situation is a house built in an orchard, which is always rather appealing. There is one place outside the village whch the woman runs as a buisness, she seels various plants for gardens, as well as apples and pears from the orchard, and some veg and top fruit she grows there as well, eggs from the chickens etc.. She has couple of fenced off areas as fruit/veg beds, and a nice big polytunnel. It’s Helen’s perfect place really, and it always looks nice, well maintained, nicely mowed bewtween the trees etc.
Yesterday popped in there for a few bits, got some nice plums - always much nicer as they can be picked much riper I think as they don’t have to travel. - BB eaten most of them this morning, Raspberries, which the kids devoured, also got some of the first English apples of the season - some Discovery and Beauty of Bath, which were lovely and crisp and fresh (the BoB were pretty sharp actually, I quite like that though). I only really buy imported apples in the English off season for the kids, I try not to otherwise. This makes those first apples taste so much nicer.
I do think we miss something when we can just go and buy anything at anytime, imported from somewhere or other in the world.
Down side of those first apples, is that it reminds me that Autumn is lurking a little way over the horizon
Girls woke up way to early and bounced and screeched round our bed for a bit, eventually chris got up and I had a lie in.
our room of doom tidy has already paid dividends, as when SB went downstairs, she easily found the bead/bracelet kits that she now remembered we had. SHe and BB spent a while making bracelets that they wore for the early part of the day, and are now deposited in various corners of house and garden. ritual offerings again. future archaeologists are going to be stunned by the wealth of tat they find in our garden - hama beads, fake jewels and now bracelets. posibly bits of plastic food too - almost certainly ritual offerings for the afterlife!
oh, and once they had done that, more autonomous entering the room of doom to the science shelf to get out all the magnets, and play with iron filings and what might be magnetic. Hooray!
when i got up, this spontaneous learning activity was over, SB was playing a diego game on nic junior and BB prob poisson rouge! i read some books to bB, SB took ages to get dressed, and decided she wanted to do more science, so found a science chemistry experiment kit, and we went outside to do that. BB helping. we mixed up sand and iron filings in water, and the worked out how to separate them out [second part best done after sand an iron dried out]. We also proved that the bubbles in fizzy drinks were gas, and we could separate them out too. We nearly but not quite made sticky ice, and discussed melting points.
This took up quite a bit of time, so BB also did jigsaws on the side, and Chris realised our freecycle pool has 2 holes - now repaired, so we couldn’t put it up till tomorrow - cue wailing and gnashing of teeth from children! I trimmed SB’s hair - looks much better, about 3 inches shorter. ANd then we had lunch.
After lunch, SB played a lot with the castle, and BB and I read and did jigsaws until SB fancied painting. She sorted BB out with magic painting, and did some herself too. fantastic this new organised room of doom!! I flickred. Chris abused the washing machine some more. SOme more maths went on, and a map of the world jigsaw.
Erm, mind hits a blank? I think we played a game outside, and the girls ‘putered a bit, then bath early as BB looking sleepy. After bath, BB flung herself off the top bunk slightly wrong, so fell onto the floor rather than gracefully landing. SO we watched tell, she chose bonjour mes amis, and then wanted ‘the one with the bottom’ [sigh] ie first fun with french.
We had dinner - rather yummy frittata. just needed chickens to supply own eggs. BB went to bed, abd and I played games and the she went out for a last swing and tapeze as cooler.
Another lovely day! last prison break tonight
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