Melrose 2008 – melrose music and the rest of the week!

Tuesday was melrose music morning. i have to admit to have been slightly worried about this. My aim was to be as inclusive as possible, have something that should still sound good, and that it should be entirely fun with no pressure. i think the music choice was good, as there were lots of A and D players, but enough people carrying the tune [especially with me singing it too!] i hurriedly wrote a part for a cello – didn’t quite work in all places, but pretty good considering lack of anything except humming to work it out! with tuning up and setting out, we did about an hour, everyone was smiling, we got faster and faster! yep, the rhythm of the a/d group was not right – and i planned to pay that a bit of attention with the next rehearsal that never happened. but i think it did achieve what i set out for it to do, and yes, i would do it again. I did have able assistant parents encouraging me, and also then did a quick hold and check for a few would be violinists. Always good to spread the love of string around…

in the afternoon, i prepared tea [camp curry - recipe on camps page] and the children did a fab computer games workshop with Matt. SB’s had an underwater theme, and she got to see it demonstrated. BB drew a ‘cattie’.

Wed we went swimming and then a wander around the abbey. unfortunately that eve SB was sick, and our hol finished effectively then. but we had had a fab time as always.

other things of note – it was a great melrose for board games. gradually melrose evenings have become gamier for the adults, i particularly liked playing blokus and settlers of catan. [actually i love playng the games and chatting - though blokus is a surprisingly unchatty game!] the board games spilled over into kids time as well, with alot of blokus playing – both sb and bb enjoyed it, so perhaps a purchase for me to make. suggested to play merrily they should increase their games line!! i saw hare and tortoise, draughts and chess played too. i love the co-operation and friendliness if the group. there were lots of clusters of children, with different group members dependent on interest in what was going on rather than fixed friendship groups. i like that, and it was all angst free. Also the ready skill sharing – thanks to anni for showing me how to cast on, and jax for doing the sheep thing! And the ready helpfulness and friendliness. i heart Melrose! the littlies did lots of cooperative happy streeting, and BB was seen intermittently with a variety of littlies and bigger kids having fun. did i say i like the easy inclusivity of this group of kids – must be lack of hierarchical schooling that lets them still be age indiscriminate so well.

I am also seeing SB become more confident socially, and since i am so angst ridden on that front it is such a relief. It probably is because this is a fairly ‘forgiving’ group of children who seem happy to take people as they are and are prepared to like and be friendly. but this time in particular she seemed to be happy in her skin and play and have fun, with no needing to refer to me. grin.

so we were sad to miss the last day and the talent show eve [hoping the orchestra was fab] and guilty that we didn’t help with the grand clear up. thanks to all there that made the week so fab.

and yes, i am flickring!! Em is there before me, and Sarah
edited to add [no doubt first of a few addings!] we were given our sonlight order [thanks t-bird!] and BB was desperately excited and started doing her before the code and singapore earlybird with great glee. indeed she insisted on doing it every day! SB enjoyed the brain academy with aprilia and also ds-ing at other times [she specificaly wanted me to add that!] and she is very thankful for her presents. Also we all would like to thank the dinner cookers.