Author Archives: HHaricot

Thursday was absolutely raining cats and dogs. an entirely miserable looking day. after some discussion, we decided we needed to leave england, so on a whim, we took FrB up to scotland! It took a while to get there, and we did make her stand in the rain to have a photo with the entering scotland sign but finally we reached edinburgh. There was a bit of a heated debate over visiting the castle or the museum, and we went with FrB choice of castle, since it was ‘her’ day. BB slightly grumpaceous as feeling ‘castled out’.

Unfortunately we had left our English Heritage cards at home so it cost an arm and a leg – argh!!! But well worth the visit, and it is an ‘iconic edinburgh’ moment. we went via princes street gardens and the scott memorial first. quite a clamber up to the castle [and my hip not feeling friendly so harrump!] but we really enjoyed exploring it. I told the kids all about mary queen of scots, and the interelationships with the other tudors whether they listened or not and we saw the stone of scone and royal bits and bobs including a wand! FrB rather taken aback by soldiers in kilts.

when we left the castle we had to run the gamut of the tourist shops! eek!! we went in every single one on the royal mile, but the kids didn’t buy too much. In the end we needed a cafe stop to reinvigorate, but all were shut! Panic! 3 cheers for cafe nero.

I am giving this a separate post because it was fantastic! on weds we booked to go to the farne islands to see puffins. I have never been to the farne islands before, and we booked a boat trip with serenity which took as round the islands before landing on inner farne to view the chapel and nesting birds. The guide was very informative, the boat comfy and we got a really close up look at the cliffs and the seals. The island itself had lots of nesting birds, with the arctic terns being right on the path in places so that they would fly up and dive bomb to protect their eggs. we tried hard to avoid upsetting them. at the cliff top we were so close to the chicks we could have touched them. and we loved the puffins . well worth a trip.

having driven up from hadrians wall, we quickly put the tent up to reverberating thunder. we stayed at a nice campsite in budle bay. after a discussion, we also put up the porch. mostly because the weather forecast was a bit iffy, and the thunder was concerning me. a good thing too! it rained buckets that evening and even hailed. the thunder and lightening was a bit extreme! BB was actually pretty scared, and we ended up having a beans on toast supper to cheer people up before snuggling down for the night.

The next day [Monday] was gloriously sunny and we decided to spend it at the beach. Bamburgh has a fabulous long sandy beach of perfection. has sand dunes, gently slopes into the sea, there are some rock pools and it overlooks the farne islands and is overlooked by a castle. What more could you want oh, and yes, as I said, it was sunny . It is still the North Sea, so wetsuits for the kids on the boogie board! when we were kids we would swim and then be wrapped in towels and handed a cup of tea to warm up. Lots of pootling around on the beach, in the pools, swimming in the sea. FrB and BB ran up and down an exposed dune and then made sandcastles. SB read a book. I did some sewing, as rather behind on my kentwell sewing

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The girls were desperate for a BBQ, so that evening we had halloumi and veg kebabs and veggie sausages BBQ with choc banana for pudding. Very Nice!

tuesday was a slightly iffy weather day, so we decided to go to Alnwick castle and gardens. we really should have just done one of them, as we saw a lot of the gardens and hardly any of the castle [tho did visit the state rooms] and it is quite expensive! We started with the poison gardens, which SB [ as a stillroom apprentice] and I found fascinating, and our guide was informative. BB also found it surprisingly interesting, but FrB just found it a bit creepy, and even though we discussed the medicines bit, I think she was bemused about being told about all these plants that could kill people. I loved the beech walk and we all loved the watergarden. My favourite planting was the alliums and tulips in the meadows. It was perhaps the wrong time of year to visit a garden and look at the planting! We couldn’t resist the treehouse and had lunch in the potting shed and a race around the rope bridges.

The first couple of Harry Potters were filmed here, and there are various bits relating to that at the castle. However, we didn’t actually get to those bits before they shut – oops! but did go round the staterooms, along the curtain wall, in and out of various little museums and had a wander and thought we might need to visit again.

I wish I had known BB had flowers in her mouth!!

We are trying to write our own History of Britain [ok  mostly England] journals as our homeed project with FrB whilst she is here. It will be a lovely thing to take back to France with her, and will be personalised education of her time here. We take extracts from a variety of history books, read some relevant stories, watch some relevant DVD’s and then visit places associated with that time. I buy a postcard and they get to stick it in the journal too. I had planned to do arts/crafts and cooking of the time, but haven’t quite managed to have that much time! For the Roman period, I would very much like to visit the roman baths at bath – done, hadrians wall [now done] , fishbourne palace – might not get to, verulamium museum in st albans – definitely on the list. I think these are significant romans-in-britain icons to visit. We might catch other places, but TBH, there are fab roman places in france too…

SO, Hadrians wall had us driving straight after the Kentwell open day as North as we could get – Durham-ish – to stay in a travelodge. Again I ended up with the 3 girls whilst DH had his own room. BB and FrB fell asleep in the car so were a bit waily tired, easier just to stay in room to get them all asleep! A big breakfast and we were on the road. I love going North, I love Northumberland. The weather was beautiful, the views lovely, and when we cut west from Newcastle, we followed Hadrians wall along until we got to housesteads. I have visited Vindolanda with the girls and deependers before, and think I prob preferred it, but housesteads was really worthwhile visiting. a bit of a down and up before you get there, and then a bijou museum to look around. We read, looked and watched their video. I think they took a lot of inspiration from Game of Thrones because there was a lot of snow falling on the wall, and moody music .

We then had a great time investigating and exploring the fort, the hypocausts always a hit, the moody imagining looking out from the wall daring those wildlings to attack… BB loved visiting the most in shape roman loos in britain [and that is what is on her postcard!] , and we did some good self timers.

Finally we ended up geocaching on the wall, but BB hurt herself, so we went back to the museum for icecream . eventually we were all on our way to Budle bay and the next segment of our holiday.

but how far behind am I again. so, so i know what to blog about!

1. housesteads/hadrians wall

2. northumberland

3. sotp party

4. circus camp

5. home ed week

6. visiting my parents

ok so that is a lot to keep me going! but just should say how lovely my 3 daughters are

this week was a bit of a book week as we knew we were going to be holidaying for 2 weeks, and wanted to ‘keep at it’. the usual clubs and lessons went on. ballet, swimming, clarinet/oboe, cubs/guides. More importantly there was judo grading!

FrB and BB had their grading at the club on weds night, and both have gone up to the next belt. FrB is particularly pleased as that means she is no longer a white belt . SB had her grading at the regional gradings so no pics of that, but she also got her next belt.

weds was supposed to be a visit to sutton hoo, but my on call had been knackering and i hadn’t had enough sleep to drive all that way. Also, BB really needed a quieter day with me, so we made it a morning home ed bookwork and an afternoon of painting kind of day. SB chose mostly to do music theory though instead of painting, as she said the painting muse wasn’t with her. We used oil paints on canvas and had a modern art book for some inspiration. FrB drew hers from the wave crossed with shakespeare 12th night storm.

Thrsday both older girls had wind lessons, and BB had young engineers, where she made a catapult. Friday was conservation group and then packing for the holiday.

as i said, saturday SB did her judo grading whilst FrB and BB came with me to Kentwell open day. I didn’t see frb much as she was running with the early teens. BB got some stilts, which she practiced on, and luckilly the weather was good.

Sign off pictures: we are nearly all signed off and approved for Kentwell 2014 – 1578 .
DH

There is currently no change from last year. no new items and no adjustments. He is signed off in this. However, if I do make him a doublet, I will need to get check for the new clothes.

Me

There is no change with last years clothes, so have been approved on last year photos.

DD1

There are a no real changes from last year, so last years photos used for approval. I have put a small triangular piece in the front to add a ‘kick pleat’ I will need to make her a new jacket next year I think.

DD2

I have let down the growth panel in the kirtle, and have made a lightweight petticoate bodies for hot days.

DD3

our French daughter has been costume checked in the new ‘a la mode’ clothes for working females. She looks lovely

This year, as before, we had a celebration of family with a party at our house. We really missed Jackie and John this year, as John was living in the final stages of cancer with the journey being too much for him, and very shortly afterwards passed away, so heartfelt love to Jackie and hoping John is causing chuckles/laughter/outrage wherever his spirit is currently. Certianly he will be entertaining wherever he is, and remembered here with affection.

SO, moving on to more cheerful things, having raised a glass, here we are at the party. We had far better weather than we had expected there to be. Loved seeing DH cousins and their kids, and lots of laughter! Really glad my B-I-L could make it . As always loved having Aunty M and co, we were really pleased F-I-L could make it, as he also hasn’t been well recently, and still isn’t, so fab for him to be surrounded by family

do you know, I think I have given up on DH doing blogging again! He was sure he would whilst FrB was here so her parents could read it [waves at V and E] but actually the addition of another family member and us going crazy at the weekends showing her the world means he doesn’t really have time. This blog is the lowest priority thing  – no, actually the garden is! I feel a bit sorry for our poor neglected veg patch this year! I had better try and remedy that! Argh to having so much life that there is no time to blog I have had to rely on photographic and fb evidence for what we have done! i should just write a list to then pad out! I think at 2+ months in, the girls have all found their balance with each other. I am used to BB/FrB being exceptionally similar in moods/likes and dislikes, and also that both of them wear their emotions on their sleeves, so the house is more dramatic than i am used to! [and that is prob saying something] but they are now more often in tune having a fab time together rather than antagonistic – phew. I think it has been good for both of them, as FrB used to being the youngest, and BB used to being the most vocal with SB more likely to give way, and FrB decidedly not so much. They both have new skills. I have also had to develop new skills in working out when to intervene, and when to let them slug it out. I don’t always get it right, but my heart is in the right place! certainly all 3 girls are very loving, and I feel a blessed matriach, if exasperated on occassion

monday – was part of the weekend, as a bank holiday

tuesday – a home ed day with botany, this time propagating fruit bush stems. otherwise bookish day.

weds – so… from what i remember, weds4ed was without me, as I had to work that weds. DH did some science from the kitchen science thingy for the kids, babs did maths and no idea what else – sorry. judo for the girls in the eve

thurs – there was the usual weekly clarinet/oboe lessons on the thurs, and then multisports home ed sports group. the kids, as usual, had guides/cubs in the evening.

fri  – was the second of the glass art masterclasses, and like before the kids loved it. J is very patient as well as being v skilled, and has a lovely working space. I am quite jealous [can you tell?]

when they returned home, it was time to bake for the family party. SB made a baked cheesecake without assistance. FrB made meringue when I got home, and we giggled and giggled over piping out whilst we worked out which bag she liked best. A certain amount of the meringue mixture had whooshed over both of us by then . Mum, dad, m and e [the cousins] arrived in time for tea, and mayhem ensued!

One of the problems of having such busy weekends to try and make the most of FrB’s time in the uk is that I just don’t get time to blog, to relax, to sew for kentwell! However, instead I get to share lots of wonderful experiences with my family, so it is all very worthwhile. I have no regrets. But i do wish there were a few more hours in the day!!! Definately pushing myself to the max juggling this with work!

This weekend saw BB take on her next being brave challenge, and go to PGL activity camps for the weekend with cubs. This is very brave as she doesn’t like sleepovers or being away from us. She is quite fussy about food, and knew there would be eat it or nothing as a choice. She isn’t brave about heights necessarily, but wanted to make the most of her options. SHe had an absolute ball and loved it. the food was a bit of a problem, but she did her best. she was too shattered at night once lights were out to not fall asleep, and she had a wonderful time and made the most of all the things you could do, screaming, squealing and delighting. We were very happy about that . no pictures tho.

It being the May Bank Holiday, we did the inaugural camp of the year to the North Norfolk Coast. We went to cromer – which has kind of tipped around the edge to east coast . We stayed at Manor Farm campsite, visited Felbrigg Hall, the RNLI museum and had a meal out at a greek restaurant. We cycled, walked, geocached, and the girls swam in the sea. It was a perfect weekend. I loved it . I also loved the gooseberry icecream