Category Archives: General

DS camp?

I wasn’t there for very long, but DSing was a prominent feature of camp. It didn’t impede playing, cooperativeness or socialisation for those worrying about it – as it was prominently as social event! [other similar photos from others on flickr]
DS again!

DS enclave
We very greatfully received our ds from the monkey house a while back – and SB has made champion efforts with nintendogs and less so with shamu. i have tried out the animal crossing to see if she would get much from it. hmm to whether she could reallly play it without me yet, but she might get it for her birthday. However, in the 3 week tryout, I have obviously become an expert – so gave E a tutorial – rofl! Mind you, teaching E suggested that although SB can read fine, she would find ‘the point’ a bit too obtuse too [mind you, not sure if she would care?].
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What other games are out there that are a bit animal crossingy but perhaps a bit more obvious in what you are supposed to actually DO! Any advice greatfully received! Something that they can wifi at camp perhaps as well?? theres a zoo tycoon ds – and I know Monster apparently likes whatever game console thingy he plays it on – would that be a good option?

Protected: Education city – weird questionnaire?

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There and back again

After [for me] and all to brief dose of Nic camps, we came back with an easy drive and at the lunch stop, chris read his texts, and the local friend had asked for a playdate today or tomorrow. Since SB and her get on like a house on fire, we are both keen to encourage this as often as possible! So since I knew I would be ‘slow’ on Sat [and I am] we chose the Friday. She finishes school at 15:30, and we got back 5 mins later! So a quick into playing mode.

Actually SB did very well, as she could have been ‘camped out’ But her and R couldn’t quite make up the same story to do with the castle and knights, so I intervened, and we played continuo – which we all enjoyed. I did the adding up for R, and SB showed off! SO we then moved onto fimo. R has never done any before, so I helped her work out how to do a zebra – and she did that, and then a kitten in a basket. Baked it and then she could take it her [parents v interested in fimo, and gave them the webdetails of a reputable local supplier - rofl!]

SO we took her home 3hours later and then relaxed in their entirely fabtastic house with wine and crisps having a good natter, whilst the girls were altogether better at playing together with pollypockets! finally coming home nearing 10 – thus no flickr or blogging as once girls asleep, chris and i relaxed with QI and a drink of coffee – i neither managed to watch or drink!

Chris cooking a parental pick me up for lunch [high in carbs!]

Sussex Nic Camp

I only made the last day – but it was lovely, and I saw the caberet, got to the beach and shared in C’s birthday party and lots of late night gossip. Sure Chris might blog more – errm, well not sure exactly! Both girls also had a great time, so thanks Nic for organising. Will wade through the 6 billion photos to flicker 10% [rofl!!]

Oh, and I will u-tube the okeycokey [spontaneously childled] and stick in here too!

PS I have been a bit lazy with the flickr tags – not entirely accurate – so feel free to add or subtract your tag if it annoys!!

Hey, I made 50!!

at the free rice
CORRECT!

  1. hawkshaw means:
  2. slide

  3. fireworks

  4. detective

  5. green-blindness

VOCAB LEVEL 50

You have now donated
570 grains of rice.

bonfire night

not feeling much like blogging as home alone. anyway, yesterday we went out for a fab meal with my parents at a local gourmet pub, and then did a fair bit of playing then got ready a bonfire and fireworks and roasted chestnuts – yummy. so a great last day of my parents stay. its been a great visit and we have all enjoyed it. more readng – celts, where the rivers go, some ill fated baking also!

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girls now at niccamp, and i am on a course, work is approaching another crisis – oh what joy!!

relatives and raptors

mum has retired to bed early as exhausted – so are we all. I a even more in awe of the home educators who are trotting about gaily. We have had 2 days of trotting about and I am exhausted!

Yesterday I took mum and the girls to visit Little Nanny. We had a lovely day, the girls reading books [SB a DK one and a book house one about big cats and grasslands respectively, and BB on apple tree farm] and playing games with the Nanny’s [rummy, patience and whos who] whilst I tried to make sure my mum didn’t do any helping [as post op] and little nanny was sorted out for food etc. And the girls didn’t spread chocolate everywhere… SB also did a piano practice after tea – entirely unsolicited! BB did both piano and violin – very cute.
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today, BB and SB made a card for Chris’s Uncle Robert who had a 70th birthday party today [one of the 2 birthday parties we didn't attend today] My parents were invited to both of them, and orignally i was going to Josies, but Mum was worn out after cambridge followed by little nanny and had a lie in [for her] and felt in need of TLC.

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TLC duly given whilst SB did maths and writing, and BB also did some maths – counting and making numberjack buddy blocks. Mum’s raised eyebrows over the term was neatly shown when SB continued to call them bloody box. SB read mum a book about why we eat, and discussed healthy eating whilst eating more of the trick or treat spoils – rofl.

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mum felt more chipper after lunch, and the girls needed a run. Dad also here, but has been doing our garden – it looks fantastic. He is so helpful. And no, he doesn’t have to do it, I tell him this repeatedly, but also that he is my hero for ignoring me – mixed messages! Anyway, he had had enough, so we all piled out to the Raptor centre [apart from Chris, who had had enough with windows, and puled off down to his uncle robert's birthday - his uncle robert is not v well]

We enjoyed looking at the rescued birds, alot of them were in Harry potter movies, so had their star portraits – SB wondered if Harry Potter was about owls then – bless. Nearly ready I think to start on Harry Potter. Then there was the flying display, which was fab. The main man doing it was very knowledgeable, obviously loved the birds, and talked both top them and us. I loved the owls best. The audience got to stroke the 2 owls – BB and SB very keen to do so. lots of discussion round them, and a trip to the shop, where they each got a flier for 40p – bargain!!

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there is also a craft shop on site – a bit deadly, but SB noticed they had a small haberdashery [we had been discussing haberdasheries, and their decline, so yes, she does know the word!] so I bought her some headed pins, she also noticed Mum looking over some leather purses, and asked me if we could get one for her for Xmas – so a little pantomime, of me telling SB to ask mum what she would look for in a good purse, and a good colour – ie mum picked one out more or less – and then we bought it! SB very proud to have chosen it – my credit card slightly more surprised! [I also bought an Xmas tree dec for me, and one for SB and BB's tree]

Home, and I made enchilladas for tea – yummy. Girls flew their flyers – nearly confiscated them at one point mind you! SOme numberjacks, game playing and BB to bed, SB watched various fireworks going off and then played more card games before her bedtime.

I am knackered, Mum already in bed. I’m waiting for Chris though, so he doesn’t come in to a dark house – hurry up sweetheart!

A quick Photo

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Notes for another time

Tues: chris’s parents here, maths, writing, lots of baking, read a bok about oceans and fishes, SB read another fish book, grek myths and legends.

Wed: my parents here. maths, writing, piano and violin practice, rainbows. fimo halloween decs. trick and treating, spooky picnic. games

Thurs: sightseeing. Sedgewick museum of earth sciences, fossil hunting, drawing a dinosaur, following a trail. Peeking in at various colleges and a nice lunch . violin practice, reading about the body. playing with grandparents

I think I am now a bit partial to sewing

said SB when BB gone to bed. I would quite like to try the doll kit [from Vix and M some time ago]. OK. I get out my sewing and the doll kit, we decide to start easy with the waistcoat and she is away. no stabbing incidents. We are slightly disagreeing on what some f the clothes might be, so if anyone done this, could they comment on whether the red bits make dungarees, and whether the yellow flower is a skirt for the yellow and red top bit? Anyway, a very happy hour.

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Other than that, whilst I was at work a massive tifying fest. i rescued the little angel dress knitted by aunty phyllis [little nanny's sister] from the bin pile.

Angel in our garden

Sb has done lots of webland, some handwriting, read usborne first elizabeth 1 and looked at quicklinks and decided that the dolphins at daybreak is a totally fantastic book and read the lot. Also been to ballet.

BB and I have baked choc cupcakes, she has been a total pickle otherwise. hmm!!