i am waiting to hear that my cousin’s partner has died. She was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer shortly after my sister died and it seems that the processing of one is blended into the other. I have found myself to be quite emotionally labile during this time. Currently she is holding out, but in a coma. She has had a far swifter move from managing to hospice than my poor sister did. I hope for a swift and peaceful passing.
But, other things have been going on this week! SB had an opticians appointment, who made her eyes approx -4 [approx cos i can't remember, not because he didn't know 
] She and BB had their usual groups and clubs. Great step forward in that BB thinks she is ready to consider judo [ i am a firm believer that girls especially should do a martial arts/self defence ] and, even more surprisingly beavers!! So am feeling a bit positive about BB going out into the world. One of my worries is that she is desperate to be friends, but not got the automatic knowledge of how, and is v shy about it. I do remember worrying about SB, as I had to introduce her to everyone, but she seems better now, so hopefully with help and encouragement…
Home ed has happened. Well, definitely SB has got through some ‘normals’ and with that practice for music theory exam [slightly worried = grade 3 - eek!] and ballet exam [ ditto, grade 4] . Me working such a lot has meant a nose dive in quality music practice, but hoping to get back on track with that too [except the clarinet, as tooth still too painful] lots of la redoute trousers arrived – always good as slimfit BB has done reading practice and music theory, and lots of starfall and poisson rouge. she has had a wobbly over maths as there were too many boxes!
Going out and about also happened, as well as the usual things. On Weds we went to G’s this was supposed to be for clarinet lesson, but due to moratorium currently on clarinet playing, we had piano and recorder instead also music theory. As the exchange, i did some sciencey stuff with the youngest ones – we smashed egg shells and mixed with vinegar in 2 conical flasks, and in 2 others we placed some small marble fragments. we covered the tops with balloons and waited to see what happened. Pleasingly it worked and a gas was produced which we convincingly tested as carbon dioxide. Afish had an egg in vinegar to take home and observe, and sbiff had a chicken bone in vinegar. Yes we were happily joined by the fishes, breaking from their school-run. I also did a mosaic sticking craft with the younger ones, a bit of music theory with them and there was lots of playing Instead of a lunchtime departure, due to dbiff at home, we stayed and decorated masks for a bit. On our return home we were joined by mil and pil after a hospital appt. we demonstrated our carbon dioxide making, and then sb demonstrated making oxygen with hydrogen peroxide and manganese dioxide [again with balloon over top] . felt like a proper home educator
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SB also had HE multisport, which she has always really enjoyed, but apparently it isn’t as good with the new ppl as it was with Chris. Will see whether it is just ‘different’ and she will start to really enjoy it or not. Another HE group activity quite new was the new forest group, the made fires and attempted to cook far too much pizza in an earth oven both said they really enjoyed it.