this is a chris post, maybe, but actually the girls had a v interesting trip out and about on mon as went to Duxford with an HE group. they got to make planes and investigate, and both thought it was great. mon also ballet day.
tues i know the new tent was put up and inspected, and then BB’s footie and SB’s swimming.
other things – SB doing loads of reading, still explorer based and also this series The Revenge Files of Alistair Fury: Bugs on the Brain
Posted in General
i am getting a bit behind with this blogging thing! and chris is being even worse. actually chris and the girls have been having a v busy time of it. anyway, after finishing work on the friday, in some crazy plan we drove here! the sustainability centre it was on the crazy side, as even with not so much of a traffic hitch we still only just got there in time to put up our tent before it was pitch black! good thing we had friends there waiting for us, who helped out! We chatted to the parents whilst SB, BB, monster and teeny all caught up, ds-ed, played etc.
the next day was a lazy day. the children adventured and played, in fact the 3 oldest adventured for so far and long that i got a bit worried, so with bb went around the site calling for them – to no avail. TBH i was sure they were ok, but had that frisson of fear thing, so Nic and Ady also looked too – this time they allowed themselves to be found 
got to have a really good look round the site, and it had interesting looking tipis and yurts, and a v interesting composting toilet. bb absolutely and resolutely refused to use this at anytime. i wasn’t that keen as you couldn’t lock it! BB was fascinated by the tennis court covered in chalk flints, and investigated these alot until she eventually found one with a fossil, so was v happy. she also did some of her painting by numbers very carefully. so we had a really lovely happy day. The older 3 went back to adventuring after lunch, all carefully packed, and told this time if they heard us shout to PLEASE respond! [but mobile phone as a backup] and were v proud and happy to be going off doing their own thing in the woods. nic me chris and BB also went for a longer walk through the woods and burial area and thought it pretty idyllic.
there was one blip, and such a shame. the older ones played for a bit with an older group and both sequentially came a cropper from bullying games. i was most upset when sb recounted her tale of woe, but did manage to thank the girl for bringing back her glasses, and 3 of the children involved did come and apologise. grrr. luckilly they had better and kinder friends around. calmess prevaled!
chris and ady sorted out something with our ad hoc washing-machine-fire-pit, and what with wafting and oil pouring we eventually got a good blaze going to keep warm on and the kids could toast marshmallows. one of ours was v not tired, and the screams reverberated around the campsite! but we adults had a lovely evening, giggling as each loo stop resulted in ‘kindling’ being brought back – i think ady chopped a tree down in the middle of the wood! oh, and i saw a shooting star.
the next day i was woken at too-early-a-clock by a v sad voice saying she felt all hot and cold at the same time and not at all right. opning my eyes, SB was looking pale and interesting, though didn’t feel hot. a quick check and i thought she would be ok, but she did say he was sickly, so after a bit of recovery time finishing off The Twelve Tasks of Flavia Gemina: Roman Mysteries 6 (The Roman Mysteries)
after all of this, when chris and i felt like we should be only just getting up, rather than having finished tent down, SB perked up. which i AM glad of, but… anyway we set out to the green fair and loved it [thanks N and A for organising the weekend] BB and i wandered over first as it was being set up to chat too the stall holders and eye up places to go to, then with the monsterteenies we wandered up to the story teller, who i did enjoy and then to the firestarters! moving on to have an icecream and more of a wander. we ended up at the area of the steward community woodland which had hunks of clay, dangerous tools and hunks of chalk. both girls were attracted by the chalk and spent over an hour hammering, chiselling, drilling and otherwise shaping it. v happy! this was BB’s most favourite bit of the weekend she said. the other fav – for both girls was the pond dipping bit. SB dipped an emperor dragonfly, and BB a newt [she loves newts!] and these were then caught on a camera rigged up to a ‘puter and screen so could be seen in BIG. gradually the fair came to an end and we were then pleased to have already taken the tent down as we had a long drive ahead! so good bye to friends and we were off home, relatively easily. so thanks for a fab weekend camp – i really do love camping.
we went for a school taster session today for both our girls. they both did really well. obviously we stayed with them. they did some alphabet, copywork and money with a bit of history thrown in. they had some games as well. they looked particularly cute in the school uniform [which was compulsary]. the teacher also seemed v pleased with how each of them listened, behaved and applied themselves to the work. i was rather impressed by BB’s copywork as she hasn’t done any of that before!
but i am getting a bit ahead of myself. in the morning we went to michelle’s to say hello, gossip, drink tea and have lunch – not necessarily in that order. BB was v excited as she loves playing at their house – thinks it is v exciting! SB and C played labyrinth, and BB geomagged and basically kept herself interested. she was being mostly a sweetie today. As part of her brownie promise thingy, SB helped to tidy up after lunch. i am hoping to instill some domestic servitude into them before it is too late, and we are no longer allowed to do it!
in the afternoon we went to hitchin school museum for our taster session. ably led there by michelle with chloe leaning out of the back at precarious angles [ 
] and were the first!! to arrive. so we got to look round the museum bit in piece and quiet, have the undivided attention of lots of ladies of a certain age dressed quasi victorian [as it was a victorian event].
Then the rest arrived and the event started, we were split into 2 groups and got to do the classroom bit first – which i have to say i think is a bonus! SB was so sweet, putting her arms around BB to make sure that they were put together, and generally being loving, adorable and an ace big sister. as it was, they split the mummies up and then asked the children to follow, and realised they had small families on one side, and large on the other, so re-divvied!! we all enjoyed the classroom, we had only a couple of unruly children! and we and the ‘teacher’ managed to ignore quite well for the majority as they were only unruly in that little child way. BB had 2 small melts – all sorted with a huggle. one for when she dipped her fingers in the ink… and the other when she struggled to write 1/3d on her slate, having written everything else v nicely. she did improve again, and as sand writing was next, she thought that was fab!! i thought the lady teacher had excellent teaching and class control skills, and i alternated between being the clever child [d for denarius] and then the dunce [not knowing queen victorias birthday!] so had to sit in the corner with dunce hat on! chris got caned though [SB initially worried, but we told her it would be an act, so she thought it was fab after all]
we went into joseph lancasters monitorial room next, and sb listened keenly [i know this, because she discussed it at bedtime!] and bb didn’t wriggle too much, and there was an interactive bit, a worksheet bit and a crawl through a pretend horizantal chimney bit [v much enjoyed!!] and we finished with SB spending her money to buy a slate, and BB bought a sticky springy lizard [a surprise as she had been much taken with the pop guns!] .
home for SB brownies and judo run, BB having a snuggle, a book read and then my little pony video [groan] and then tea infront of dr who.
we decided on a fairly spur of the moment basis to go to deepdale farm campsite on the north norfolk coast as the weather looked good, and we felt the need to crack open the tent cupboard! I love the north norfolk coast, and brancaster is one of my favourite beaches.
so we went after work on friday, the traffic was a bit stiff, so we made it for 8pm and did a quick pitch of the ridgipod [well, and hour for all up, set up and in, so i guess not THAT quick!] and a quick pasta tea. was a lovely clear warm evening and girls looked at moon and stars before settling to sleep. BB somewhat put out we hadn’t found room for telescope!
next morning we were up bright and early, and the girls played and had breakfast and we headed out to a bike shop. i have decided that i really have to face my fatness, and i hate diet, so should add some enjoyable exercise to my life. the girls and chris all love cycling, and i did too when younger and fitter, so here we come! I was v happy with the customer service there, help and advice and lack of sales pressure and just all round what i needed as a very fat bird hoping to actually fly! so i bought this one. i had a cycle on this one and really liked it, but he did suggest that [in the v nicest possible way] that i would be better off with a stronger frame!]
we then went down the road to hunstanton beach, stopping to buy icecreams on the way as girls were so good with a prolonged time in bike shop in heat [bless them!] was perfect beach weather. SB even swam in the sea [well, v briefly with wetsuit!] we looked at shells splashed, had lunch and just enjoyed ourselves until the sun went lower in the sky, the wind came up and tea beckoned! BB and SB cycled round the campsite and played with ‘campsite friends’ whilst i made curry for tea. the girls collapsed into bed 9-ish, and chris and i then stayed up till one playing my birthday game Race for the Galaxy
yep, we beached again the next morning, to brancaster. the plan had been to bike there, and chris had bought a New 2009 Trail Gator Bicycle Tow Bar
After lunch we tootled off to little nanny’s, my aunt and family were there too. we had a lovely time, though was given a bit of a third degree about home-ed and safe and well checks They had all obviously had quite a chat on the disapproving side before we got there. girls oblivious though, and I don’t need the approval! however, that is a minor gripe, and i really enjoyed seeing them all. lots of cake eating, chatting and playing. bb in a bit of a grumpy mood but cheered up. little nanny looked well. all our presents for her birthday were up and about, and she was amazed i had made the fimo owls. Back in time to make ken hom for tea, get girls to bed and 2 more race for the galaxy games!
last day on monday. SB was really helpful taking down the tent, so we were all down in an hour, but another hour to actually wedge it all in the car! unfortunately i think all other campers had decided to take tent down and go to cafe too, so instead we went elsewhere and had a lovely soup [did have to take bb out, have a chat and then go back in!] and then after mooching about we went to holkham beach. not been there before [that i remember] and it is a LONG walk out to the sea! but some lovely dunes and and a geat blustery walk! and LOADS of shells. so a good end. unfortunately the icecream van had left the carpark and somewhat of a scream started. so we drove to holkham stately home and caught the icecreams there before cafe closed and then started off for home.
SO we had a totally fab time, playing together, the girls got on well, did some crafting, cuddling chatting and playing. just what i needed to relax! returned feeling def blessed by my family
Posted in General, Out and About
