Category Archives: Out and About

Oh for some sleep!

Posted on March 12, 2007 by HHaricot | 11 comments

v difficult to get up and go to work, but did so. [though had a mad phoner on my mobile while I was there - i think it might have been Josie! I put it on silent - rofl] The beans did a bit of maths, not sure what else and then went to the playbarn to meet with a friend. they had a lovely time

When I came home, Chris was reading the tree of life [about evolution] well, SB read half of it and he finished when she got tired. Its a really nice book actually – the evolutionists answer to a creation story. I would recommend it. They then all looked at places on google earth – my parents are off to Syria, which started the search.

We did some violin practice – both of them. SB has a stiff bow arm, so am doing various weird waving excercises as well, being a swan, wrist sighing etc etc.

We read some more of the science encyclopaedia all about atoms [woosh over her head I think, but she liked looking at the pictures - especially the rutherford model]. We looked at the worm world again, they seem to be fine, and pulling the leaves down their burrows. Other than that mostly played dolls and loved me! [the ed is all bitesized if you were wondering how it all got fitted in!]

They also helped Chris make a pineapple upside down cake [BB only ate the pineapple!] All very noisy and wild. Early bed for all of us.

oh, a late update! we have played around the world board game [draw] and connect 4 – and SB truly beat me [rather than a tactical lose] for 1 game out of 3! Hooray. More britannia and ORT reading for bedtime stories, and she is now listening to Horrible Histories CD [so I might tick history!]

11 Comments

Posted in Books, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Out and About, socialisation

Rainbow Birthday

Posted on February 27, 2007 by Daddybean | 3 comments

As Helen has blogged below, SB went to a HE friends birthday party on Saturday (also 6 and very much SB’s best friend there). Rather than an indoor party, they had procession around the local park, with people wearing as much rainbowy coloured stuff as they could, singing songs , making noise etc. The girl of honour was transported round in a homemade sedan chair.

Ended with time in playground, a coconut shy (went on forever given the poor throwing accuracy of young kids) which was popular, fish and chips and cake. We sung ‘When we Were Two Little Boys‘ a couple of times, which always brings a bit of tear to my eye. I was often sung it from as far back as I remember as a kid by my Auntie Ethel,? before Rolf Harris did it.

3 Comments

Posted in Out and About, photos, socialisation, Stringbean

Melrose – better late than never!

Posted on February 8, 2007 by HHaricot | Leave a comment

But will be quick.

Easy drive on sun, and arrived in time for a rapturous welcome of SB from E, and jacket pots! Said hello to lots of new people and tried to file names correctly with offspring!

Children got stuck in straight away. SB to bed v late!

Mon, the children set up clubs [or in SB's case, a fun cluub]. SLight panic on my part that she would be disappointed, but Alexia’s eldest took care of that, and we all went to the park to play and have races. Maddy did a brilliant play called the most unlucky [? or stupid?] pirate – well acted.

I then spent the rest of the afternoon cooking – I had very able sous chefs, adn the chopping done in no time. We had a resources and bring and buy fayre. I just managed to pack explode the code, MPH maths and story of the world – as my most blogged resources. meant to take stuff to sell, but packed in too much of a hurry. I did like the singing science – oh what was it called!!! all about monotremes!

The next day there was again much playing, and we went swimming. we had meant to go in the morning, but Sarah ascertained the pool was closed. K and B were there, Sarah and J were there, Joanna and Shannon and Jade were there, so lots of splashing around. SB learnt how to dive underwater and retrieve weighted seals. We returned in time for K’s birthday party. They liked the socks game, and K’s battleships game too. Oh, Kay’s enchillada’s were yummy.

Wed was dynamic earth, shall I or shan’t I blog that Barbara made us crash on the way? even with that, we got there first as she got lost. home ed time rules, and we still had a space workshop and then a look round the museum. At the space workshop we touched a meteorite older than earth. SB def enjoyed the class type scenario. SB enjoyed the museum as a whole far more this time, and BB managed. We bought 2 tiny fossils in the shop. Stayed to chat and then drove back for lovely dinner [I like this being catered for]

Thurs we went to Melrose Abbey. SB and BB needed a break, and the company was great. We were given a show about clowns and acrobats as well. SB impressed me by spending birthday money on papo knights rather than pink stuff, and a thimble for my mum.

friday we even left on time, driving to Jax’s via friends in Leeds.

In all a lovely melrose, meeting lots of new people, children playing well [though BB and S had some 'mine' wars] The DS-ing adults brought a smile, and Merry’s landlock game is ace. We all enjoyed fimo and hama. Hope to see loads of you and more at Kessingland!

see, that was v quick!

Going back a bit further – the weekend!

Posted on February 6, 2007 by HHaricot | 6 comments

Friday post Melrose we went to stay with Jax and Tim. Mainly because they had purchased a teapot on our behalf, so we felt suitably beholden!! [well, ok, they are good company too] A delighted SB and Big played castles with each other until they were bundled into bath and bed. this time they slept! We adults had a Chinese and a modicum of wine!

On our way there we had stopped with friends in Leeds [S and T and baby W [nearly 2]] which was lovely. we had been reprimanded on blog about failing to visit last year, so thought we should make sure we did, and were well rewarded with good company, babies playing and tea from a teapot. rather foolishly, we drove home via our leeds house and I cried. SB recognised Molly and Terry net door’s house, but not ours. my lovely shed was still there. sob sob.

So to Saturday, and luckilly we were going to the wedding in stages, so Jax’s lot could have mayhem getting ready in the morning, and us over lunchtime. My lovely top didn’t fit, and I didn’t like the other one, so I was rather boringly dressed! Since tim put a few piccies on his ‘pute at lunchtime, i had a look at Kirsty being ravishing, and James looking quite sedate [for a change] lovely. We all enjoyed meeting up with lots of old friends, some we had just parted from, but some not seen for ages. The children turned into a pack instantly and lots of games went on – mostly of the running about variety! plentiful good food [always important!] and a fantastic ceilidh, luckilly for Kirsty there were lots of home educators to dance and cause consternation for the caller [i am thinking particularly of Ros's man-stomp impression, and Nic doing a saturday night fever routine - priceless] We mostly made it up TBH, and half the time she forgot to call. The children had a wail of a time [sometimes literally].

Went back to jax and Tim’s with K’s satnav. hmm, it only kicked in after 20 mins, when we had eventually found the motorway – not best impressed! children fell into bed in nanoseconds, and we adults didn’t – ho hum!

Still, we breakfasted early, said goodbye to the teapot and satnavved all the way to K’s for a 6 year old’s party. i was majorly impressed and amazed by the stash of crafts. BB fell in love with the big mouses [guinea pigs!] and fish, and we hardly saw the girls. We adults chatted, and there was a lovely local home educator there with her 3.

SO an easy drive home. Apparently claire from the monkey house saw chris at a service station – should have said hello! And we saw the beautiful moon. SB very excited because when she chose to play the ‘mists of time’ game it did get all misty. chris less impressed by her magic skills.

I will add photos btw – chris is being ruthless [roofless?] with them at the moment.

6 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, Out and About, socialisation

The Road to the Moon

Posted on February 5, 2007 by Daddybean | 2 comments

Which is about as romantic description of the A14 as you are ever likley to get

Heading home last night, on the final leg of our journey, there was a lovely big, low orangey moon in the sky, dead ahead of us as we crusied down the A14. Melrose then home via Sheffield for Wedding reception on Saturday, Cheshire for a kiddy birthday party on Sunday, and home on sunday night. For all that, the driving has been ok, the worst bit of the last leg was fog in the last 30 miles or so. And Butterbean being awake until we went to bed, becuase she had napped so much in the car

We’ve had great time, but now I’m to try and get kids going as we have Home Ed sports thing in town this am, so time to get a rousting.

2 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Out and About

Getting back to normal.

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Daddybean | Leave a comment

With Helen being off all the week before xmas, and only having two days at work last week and then the Bank Holiday it seems like we’ve al been at home for a long time we’ve had together, which has been good. So yesterday we started getting back to normal, in a fairly gentle way. Starting off with SB having a much needed bit of sleep catch up and not getting up until past 10.30 am. -Not sure exactly as she’d come down stairs before 11 and the TV had been left on, so she’d sidled into there and was watching Toms Midnight Garden on the TV

It did mean that I had a nice time playing with BB, with the animals, lego, books, playdoh and stuff. as well as exciting things like sorting out washing. Got SB moving when i mentioned the Library and she realised it was ‘Bic-bic day’ – they have a fund raising stall on the first Tues of the month – with drinks, biscuits etc. So we went round to the library, had biccies, coffee, chatted about xmas, the girls did their usual we are cute and lovely thing, and even got some books just before it closed

Home to lunch with Littletoe show, and then enforce nap tiem for BB – she just isn’t making it through. So I basically give her an enforced cuddle on the bed until she gives up making? big fuss about it and falls asleep. Seemed to work ok though. She was asleep by 1.30, we got her up before 3 and she went to sleep ok at about 8.30, which was rather better.

SB sat and spent ages looking at her library books, then me and SB did a fair bit of reading of them. She did a bit My Pals are Here, felt ages since we had done any so did it in gentle-ish sort of way. There was bit of something happening when BB got up, but I forget what exactly. Made a pasta bake for tea and then we sat down with tea/hot choc and toasted teacakes (BB – ‘I need choc-choc cup’) to watch the rest of Toms Midnight Garden. Then? a bit of tidying up before dinner. One of the targets for this year is to be tidier in general through the day, worked ok yesterday, kitchen ended the day pretty tidy, playroom was tidy (the main chaos areas).

Need to have a bit of think about where we are going with/approaching HE though. SB mentioned Education City again, so time to sign up to that I think.
Visitors due any minute now (M and family, a girl from a local HE group, almost the same age as Sb, and they hit it off from the first meeting) so time to be organized – at least the lunch soup is cooking

on the 6th day of christmas

Posted on December 21, 2006 by HHaricot | Leave a comment

they are whizzing past aren’t they! slow down!!!!!

Anyway, mostly broken up due to the fact that I went into work at lunchtime and with some of my colleagues, took some of the secretaries out to lunch at expensive local restaurant that is seriously yummy! We had a really nice meal and chat.

made up for it in the afternoon by being crafty and bakey. Chris made pastry with the girls, but they never turned into mince pies. We made the marmalade muffins though – also yummy, and did some more hama deeds – 2 stars for the xmas tree, and SB is halfway thourgh a big heart. BB helped me with a star, but wanted to watch TV, so we put on ‘kleine hippo’ on the laptop and listened to the German as our hands were busy.

We then settled for a read – some red nose readers for BB, and while the bear sleeps solstice and nativity narrative for them both – with discussions around as usual. I do like that book. SB has done lots of jigsaws and playing with BB.

BB was seriously flagging, so attempted the bath thing, but she stood up in it and wailed ‘mummy, tuddle meeee, I need tuddle, mummeeeeeeee’ so I did, and she fell asleep. meanly I then dressed her, and she managed to make it through tea before falling asleep in my arms whilst I was on the phone – sweet.

SB was listening to little toe, and then we have watched some recorded robin hood together. It is the most adult thing we have ever watched with her, and I wonder what she makes of some of the subtexts – if they are noticeable. But she loves the gore and fighting! :rolls:

Must wrap pressies tonight. Meant to do the stollen – so have that for tomorrow, and somehow need to do the delia scones again as all gone!

Oh, and it was fudge – rather yummy actually.

On the 4th day of Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2006 by HHaricot | 1 comment

we remembered much loved older relatives, and went to visit Little Nanny.

Not really the best day to be on fen roads, as freezing fog and icy ground – very beautiful but moderately stressful drive there. Pulled over to get camera out of boot, as SB took pictures along the route of how little we could see! We imagined we were going through swirling mists of time, and had vignettes of mediaeval, roman and Iceni life, interspersed with a brief cavaliers vs roundhead battle with sound effects from SB [made me laugh anyway as the all went plop when they died!] rahter cool view of the ecocentre wind turbines, as the fog cleared a bit, so you could see just the very tips but nothing else – wierd. SB missed that picture though!

Little Nanny was pleased to see us, and though a fairly massive limp, is moving about in the house OK, but hasn’t left it. The girls were delightful – possibly because I packed the toy bag as well this time – noahs ark, paper fold away palace, colouring pads and crayon, etch a sketch, dolly and a few boks [for future reference!] They played with each other and with Nanny, being a good advert for near perfect children! SB having more of a go at Upwords [a scrabble a like game, where you can build up as well as off a word] putting ram, car, pig [going up!] and pen before stopping. BB made towers.

Always sad to leave, and Little Nanny was sad she won’t be seeing us over christmas – however she and aunty margaret and family were all invited!But i knew it was likely to be a dreadful drive home, and it was. Pitch black and dense fog. at one point going at best 5 miles an hour, looking out of an instantly etched appearance to the windscreen [it wasn't as I checked!] totally blinded by oncoming traffic. nearly pulled over, but after 10 mins, as I was losing nerve [but with no idea where i was on the road] a car pulled out in front, and although still going 5 miles an hour, at least could see they were on the road, so much better for me!

So, totally hideous drive home in the end, though the bad bit was only about 30 mins altogether. Chris’s parents were here when I got in, and bought us curry for tea – lovely! And chose a nice digital camera online as a replacement for the one that is awful. Our camera working well – though some getting used to settings to do.

I am knackered now, just put SB to bed but BB awake, and Chris has just given her to me! I love her, but after 10pm, I would rather love an asleep version TBH.

1 Comment

Posted in Butterbean, General, Out and About, photos, Stringbean

muddling along

Posted on December 13, 2006 by HHaricot | 7 comments

Well, I am anyway. Perhaps in common with a number of others on this blogring Chrsitmas has snuck up on me. I have a craft cupboard full of good intentions. We do have trees up, and SB has done lots of Xmas cards – even if not posted [first 2 handed out today though] and I am mostly done on pressies. no cooking/baking preparation. House a mess.

I have also been letting the side down with spending so much time at work. 2-3 days a week I don’t make it home in time to see SB, which makes me feel very dislocated from family life.

I have been appraised – and passed. Wait to see how job planning going for next year [AKA how many hours they think they can wrangle out of me for nothing]. I just missed being excellent enough for an excellence award – but a miss is as good as a mile [or something?], so feeling grumpy.

SO onto better things. BB is weaned, and failry happily. A couple of feeds snuck at Barbara’s but none other now for a month. Kind of sad and kind of happy, but def right! She is a total cutie, and talks beautiful toddler talk, and has wierd dancing shuffle runs and mooch walks that she does to show her mood – saying OTay as she goes off to do something. Still very edible.

SB has been reading more, and enjoying a number of books from the library – including a good transport Xray book, and ocean book and archaeoloogy book. should have done another story in while the bear sleeps tonight, but she preferred the xray transport as a bedtime story! She’s enjoyed watching robin Hood as well as various of the David Attenborough natural history DVD’s. I need to spend more time with her, as I also miss our reading and craft sessions. She had her dancing thing last before week – which I did manage to get back for [terrible temporary camera!]

today we went to Merry’s. I am glad she lives relatively close, and we really should see each other more – maybe when I am made redundant or summat… instant disappearance of SB with the older girls. Fran tried to encourage them to put on a show, but SB and Amelie weren’t being very thespian! They then all disappeared off pretty much for the whole day. SB did look gorgeous in Fran’s skating outfit though. BB and Josie mostly played together – though BB did terrorize her a bit – she is obviously getting a nasty habit of face scratching – not often, last infact with R at Barbara’s. mostly over a Dora laptop though!

Merry and I gossiped a lot, Looked forward to Melrose and did a bit of fimo – Merry made a very beautiful statuette and I did some fiddly angels that fell apart in backing and made me stroppy! The bordeaux red in the classic range is a perfect angel colour. Merry intervention and they are now hanging on our Xmas tree! [they look rather brill actually on the tree, the white one looks best, we used superglue with no ill effects]

oh, Chris went out and did his usual timewarp thing, but did return with camera. Didn’t get the paper i asked him too though! oh we got SB’s mug back, and it looks lovely [from that painting place] and SB’s choice of colours works really well.

Anyway, thanks Merry for a lovely day. Everyone should have a fimo angel or 2 on their tree, and listening to carols is good for lifting the mood! [as well as spending the day with friends]. I am now going to watch telly and make a few angels. I am sure I have bought this colour, so will search it out!

7 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, history, literacy, Out and About, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

very very tired

Posted on December 3, 2006 by HHaricot | 2 comments

something to do with a game of risk.

last week did have some redeeming moments – one of them being SB saying we were best friends… like Becky and Barnaby !!! And actually, we have had lots of spontaneous home -ed type activities and conversations all over the place, from ordering counting and using multiplication to work out how much money she had in her purse, to how to make money! Bits of history, science and anatomy thrown in for good measure.

But the week really got to its high point when we went off to Barbara’s. We went fri rather than thurs due to an appalling night. this did mean that her and E missed skating, which was a shame. Lots of adults nattering and children playing with all sorts. i liked their showing off what they had learnt! They conversed in French, did multiplication tables, counted, read danced etc, all not quite competitively beacause of the year gaps between B, SB and E [youngest to oldest] Though SB was a bit panic struck when she thought the maths on the table was E’s, when in fact it was from an A level tutoring!!!!!! [that would have been scary]. BB and R got on very well most of the time as well, though BB seems to be acquiring a delight with scratching that we are going to have to deal with.
the next day Jax and co popped over in the afternoon as well and stayed for dinner – I have to say we were treated to gourmet vegetarian – yummy – from someone who said she had only one dish to her repertoire. SO anyway, lots more adult chatting and children playing.

Having access to children’s channels on freeview, SB also watched a fair number of adverts whilst we adults had a lie in, so now she HAS decided what she would like for Xmas [a baby Annabel and accoutrements] . Humm, so I told her all pressies bought, so she needs to think earlier what she might want for her birthday [not really that far away] whether it be towers of doom and knights or yet another baby. [oh, her hair tangler had arrived when we got home - fab!]

they mostly played imaginative games, with the dolls house, pattern blocks, hama, lego, trains and infact everything and anything, and without fuss[much] on tidying! so a great time was had by all. I was impressed by E’s handwriting books. We must get on with handwriting – our getty and dubay is languishing in a cupboard!
Us adults were not AT ALL sensible though, as we started a game of risk [which I had never played before] at 9.30, and at 4am decided to just all retire!!!! TBH, I think Barbara had a slight edge, but after a rocky start from me, and some mistakes – and some appalling dice throwing! – there wasn’t much in it, though the lads [helped also by appaling dice throwing] were in decline.

Unfortunately we woke BB going to bed, so i am fairly sleepless, as Chris was driving back I elected to be the early riser – aarrghhh. So, am about to watch some Robin Hood with SB and then to bed.

oh, education city is being a real hit at the moment, and they have added lots more since we last trialled it. I am going to buy it this time when the free trials run out!

2 Comments

Posted in General, Out and About

Category Archives: Out and About

Oh for some sleep!

Rainbow Birthday

Melrose – better late than never!

Going back a bit further – the weekend!

The Road to the Moon

Getting back to normal.

on the 6th day of christmas

On the 4th day of Christmas

muddling along

very very tired

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