before i start on wed, i would like to poit out that i finished work at 10pm on tues, so somewhat knackered. i think i am finding work a bit overwhelming in the hours dept at the mo, and it will get worse. ho hum. but i am being resolutely polyanna that i do have a job, and a well paid one – well, i am trying to be anyway as i cerebrally know that is good!! but occasionally it is good to take a second to feel sorry for oneself, and wonder how i got here!
so i dragged myself up on wed early early and the kids so we could go to london, i knew it would be worth it!! we had brekkie of croissants and brioche in the train – such a good idea! a surprise as we saw the manor borns at one of the stations along the way, but they were waiting for another of their party, so we waved and carried on.
we had a plan you see! SB and I were going to an RI lecture on explosive sounds [or something like that] and chris and BB were going to the science museum so she had something fun to do. and then we were going to have a picnic lunch with friends – including the monster teenies – and then spend vouchers in waterstones before going home, SB having her brownie whatsit thingy and judo. well, that was the plan!
SB and i did duly go to the lecture and met up with michelle, c and their friends there. the monsterteenies were rain stopped play though. it was truly fab. being early, we had ringside seats, and the chappie was v enthusiastic, inhaling helium and oh tarnation I have forgotten what the heavy gas was sulphur hexa fluoride anyway we had squeaky and then low darth vade voices, and discussion of asphyxiation and drowning in gases. we all did various not mexican waves as well. the kids all v happy.
the piece de resistance was his home made flame wave machine. when uploaded to youtube, i will put it here. it was well worth the early morning start. we loved it!!
[imagine short video here!]
[flickr video=3239676358]
Afterwards i hired the pda’s and went down to the basement to interact with the museum exhibits. what a fab idea that was. we had to skip out to meet chris and BB, but next time would spend longer in the museum.
We ate at a place called cilantro [ 
that too trendy to be called coriander!] and then spent 90 mins in waterstones agonising over books. BB surprisingly rejected the latest Winnie’s Flying Carpet (Winnie the Witch)
oops, so we missed the beginning of brownies, SB missed her swearing in, and by the time she finished judo she was wiped out. we did read books on the train though!
BUT a fab day!
ooh, forgot to say, that I got this book. We had a bit of discussion round it on the tube, and you could see lots of peerers over!!
Wow, sounded brilliant.
i would recommend the RI events, they are usually 2/3 school and 1/3 HE audience, and even have special forms for home ed feedback. they are free, though obviously for us, getting the train in isn’t free
oh I really must try and make at least one of these events. How much do you normally spend on train fares? I’m wondering if when I’m looking I’m just being too tight with my money
Sounds fab anyway, if a little long day. I had a very similar day yesterday! A was late for Badgers and we were all wiped out by the end.
Oh and I’ll need to show A the new winnie the witch – she loves them
Maybe I can get it from the library (showing tightness again;))
I am determined we will go at some point, though have no idea how or when. Do at least have railcard now
oooh just been looking at amazon and there is winnie the witch first chapter books! Have you read these? I’m trying to be restrained.
I know!!! i think we will wait till bb bigger, and then she gets her own set of chapter books!
[or buy them from you
]
The train fare for us (2 adults + 1 child >5 with a familyrailcard is something like £25, plus tube/bus fares (about £5 for a railcard, though we use the Oystercard, tube/bus is free for kids)
so not a cheap day!! but well worth it. michelle saves money usually by driving to beginning of the tube and oyster carding.
no not cheap. Sorry for being nosy!! Found a lecture in Macclesfield so might make it to that one, it’s a kitchen science one so maybe if that’s good it might be worth trying to get a cheap travelodge room one night and making a decent trip to London and going another time.
If I get the Winnie the Witch books I’ll let you know!
Spooky! 3 of my children were there (with dh) at the same time as you! V glad to see the video, will show it to them mane. (Like the medical jargon?!)
I’m so sorry you missed the train – that’s my fault for turning up just as you were about to leave.
Michelle I reckoned it was getting us back for getting C in a hump by waving to you from out train
@ Elizabeth, now, I actually thought i recognised your oldest girl, but was uncertain, so didn’t go and say hello!! were they up the back at the opposite side to normal?? more photos on flickr
love the jargon!
Don’t know where they were… I will look on flickr if I can find your page! Next time (if there is one) you should def go and say hello.