Category Archives: vivien

i almost couldn’t face getting up today, and i almost couldn’t bear to go out today. luckilly i managed to ban the duvet from my mind and went out and we all had a lovely day at paxton pits. le ciel rouge, deependers, gina and a number of home edders i don’t get to see much were there, which was lovely, and also got to meet new ppl too – also lovely. and actually managed to spend most of the day giggling and laughing, which if you had asked me last night, i would have said was frankly unbelievable. so thankyou to those that made my day go with a giggle, friends and my lovely girls.

the weather seemed a bit unpredictable, so we had waterproofs and suncream – lol! and listened to italian on the way down, with some new things – colours! had to just look up on google blue and yellow in italian, it is quite unnerving to have yellow nearly the same! missed the paxton pits turn once off the a1, but had been looking at maps for geocaches, so told girls not to worry, could take another road. was just about to check with a stranger when z rung me to say i had gone wrong! when we beat her to car park she was most surprised!! joined our group, acquired 3 more children for the day – who were all fab and excellent! think we had had a really lovely group. sometimes the kids can be quite, well, disparate! so the mix is a bit oil and water, but today all went really well. the lady ‘in charge’ of our group did start off with a bit of ‘in charginess’ and TBH, although allegedly keystage 2 [i am not keen on all this keystaging either] it seemed best pitched for BB. [who named the icthyosaur]. luckilly she got less teachery enthiastic, and more facilitator as she reached what is prob her comfort zone of looking for beasties! then the day got far better!!

so we started by stepping back in time to the time of dinosaurs, and discussed in BB terms that paxton pits was a shallow warm sea, then we moved forwards a bit, but only so we could search for fossils in the gravel. TBH, I would have done this all quite differently, as the concept was good, but the delivery was a bit we have had a jolly good idea! then we moved to the iceage – not sure what that was about, but we then looked for insects around the woodland, under logs and shaking trees, and it started to work, with show and tell, identifying, and our facilitator was into her comfort zone! kids and adults obv didn’t have enough brekkie tho! as tummies rumbling. the final bit before lunch was in the bird hide, which sb really liked, and bb was wingeing. they had binoculars for everyone, and we saw cormorants, great crested glebe, heron and swans. then lunch = phew! they provided tea with real milk too!!

the afternoon was the best bit, the kids were happy, the adults were happy and the facilitator was happy – had the measure of us! and we started with pond dipping = fab! caught so many different things to last week as well. pond scorpions, caddis larvae [well cool!] water stick insects, swan mussels, as well as the more common water mite, boatmen, watersnails etc! and again a good show and tell, as well as lots of looking and helping to identify. she was really good at remembering the kids names too. so excellent. and then, what was prob the piece de resistance, bug catching with big swooopy nets! i have never done that before, and it was really ace. one of the other children-that-were-mine-but-not-mine confided that it was very much like animal crossing on the wii! caught lots of crickets and grasshoppers, as well as a variety of other bits and pieces. many happy children! we finished with a view of the future, how paxton pits might be when grows larger, and thanks to the organisers.

we all then congregated at cafe for icecreams and cold drinks! i managed to get sunburnt then, but due to the longsleeves and long trousers rule the girls were ok. chatting and finally drifting off. we had french on the way home. BB fell asleep and then when home we harvested potatoes from the potato challenge. i don’t think we will advertise our paltry weights!! rocket >>emerald tho! i had bought some sewing supplies [must ask merry where she got her aida from] and the girls argued and stropped over buttons etc – ok it was mostly BB, ending up with her wailing big style. chris couldn’t find brownies for SB, so was prob a trip somewhere we have missed, and then she got a splinter and was tired and washed out, so we elected to miss judo. instead all snuggled and watched toystory 1 together and then prehistoric park. but girls still not asleep in bed, so prob no better 2moro!!

ooohhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 edited to add – and how could i forget! – BB’s dinomite magazine arrived today as well, and the pic she submitted of a dinosaur was printed!! she is SOOOOOO proud!!

well, busy for us! i know lots of people doing crazier busy weekends
I had had some stressy work shifts the 2 days before, and pulled out my back and shoulder at work, so woke up feeling emotionally wobbly, and about aged 90 in the getting about stakes!
sat saw SB off and out for her grade 1 music theory exam. keeping my fingers crossed really, but think she should have passed. all her practice papers have been a pass anyway!
then, after hurrying and scurrying back, a quick lunch – SB made herby omelettes – yummy! – and out to watch the carnival procession through the village. some fab floats and costumes. bit of a fraught moment when blue lighting ambulance wanted to get past, but all sorted.
we finished lunch and then wandered down to the carnival field, dropping SB off to get ready for her ballet moment. BB wnet on some bouncy castles whilst we waited, and also got some gifts from surestart. the tannoy announced SB’s dance school and we all went across to watch. think they all did pretty well, and SB more confident that she was in the weeks running up to her grade 2.[she has her grade 3 exam on mon - bit of an aargh moment!] v proud of her for dancing in front of the carnival! after that, she went on some of the fun fair rides. BB , unfortunately, had a massive melt when she realised she could only choose some small animals at the darts thing, rather than the big tiger, oh well. we should have explained to her better. the heavens then opened, so we beat a hasty retreat home!!

Sun, after a bit of kerfuffle, and myself migrainous [again] we made our way down to my sis [ <3 ] for the day. brought lunch – chris made v yummy asparagus quiche! i did some baking with the older 2 [choc brownies] watched them wii, chatted to sis and bil, and we had a chilled day. My sister loved the knitted items from t-bird – thankyou v much, and also the dolphin stickers i had got for her dsi.

home rather late, and journey messed up, so we had to stop to eat and therefore even later home, to collapse into bed.

this weekend has been internet free for me. parents here, busy being busy etc etc!!
somewhat relieved to see that i got to thursday on last blog!

things what have been occurring:

both rabbits settled in – will put up a pic of snowy when i get round to it! once snowy happy to be here, have gradually been introducing her to skittles. after lots of side by side runs, swapping over to get each other’s scents, we tried them together. skittles made a dash for snowy, who ran away, looked scared and thumped. so that was short and sweet! but the next eve they were far more friendly, racing around the room. still a fair bit of skittles chasing, but some nose rubbing etc. so the next day we popped them in a run together, where space much more compressed. skittles ‘very affectionate’ towards snowy, v repeatedly. need to make sure def both girls! anyway, since then far more time together, and seem happy for now. apparently things can go pair shaped both if we neuter them and if we don’t, but at least for now seems ok!

parents visited! my parents arrived thurs eve and stayed till mon am. lovely for the girls to spend time with them. lots of playing games, talking, hugging. dad did a fair bit of work in the garden, and with mum in charge of the girls whilst i was at work, chris did some of the window work!!

oh yes, home ed! well, this blog is on a home ed ring! SB did an excellent day of home ed with mum. can’t remember exactly what, but included music theory and writing a story. mum gets to see at first hand the idiosyncratic spelling, but also how well SB can work [did prime her to do her best tho!] and a 2 page story! BB did some more reading, painting and playing.

on sat we visited my sister at centreparcs. well, me, mum and the girls! dad was gardening and chris windowing. met up in the pool, and i took charge of Em and BB whilst M and SB shot around rapids and slides etc. sis didn’t feel up to coming in the pool, some mum and B-I-L took turns to keep her entertained. def far more crowded than jan! lovely seeing her on her special weekend, and the kids all had a ball!! time just as always felt too short, and too much to leave unsaid…

SB had a quick turnaround as dropped over for brownies sleepover, which she really enjoyed. the ‘owl’ she finds difficult wasn’t there – so much better. tho she was v v tired when i picked her up!

a chilled sunday,lots of rabittiness, playing, reading of books to kids [as both overtired and overexcited!] and the playing alhambra with mum and dad!

mon i returned to work, and parents went to uncle reggies funeral. it turns out that we knew even less about him than imagined. he had a full regalia masonic lodge thing. in the eve SB had both ballet and then judo grading, and she has gone up to her next belt – woohoo SB!

obviously skittles is our top agenda item! but actually SB had to make do with early morning and evening both days. saturday she had a whipsnade brownies outing, which was a 50:50 affair unfortunately. BB and i played with skittles tho, who is remarkably happy to be handled. painted bb’s face as… skittles! and bb painted a pic of…skittles! and then we played dinosaurs for a bit, sb came home, more skittling, then dr who and bedtime!

up bright and early, as today ‘popped round’ to mum and dads for lunch with sister and family! and when is say popped, just over 2 hours each way involving some parking on m25! children all had fun together. sis looked well, but fairly sedentary and they left early. but lovely to see her and kids anyway. and always lovely to see mum and dad.

chris was left behind rewiring… so we returned to a house in darkness, but most of the lights now working.

i might have to have a bit of a blogging break. the things that i can’t talk about on blog as they are another person or peoples process are taking over huge swathes of my time, concern, and thought processes, and it feels just inadequate to not blog what is central to me.

BUT, before i decide what to do…

Easter weekend went v well, with lots of playing and fun with the whole family coming, and sis really enjoyed it. lovely to see the whole family, i over-catered wildly. i got to really connect with my nephew over what is happening around him, and sorted out counselling etc. we played lots of olympic wii with various relatives. lots of hugging with mum, dad took sb and nephew and actually played some real holes of golf – so v exciting!

girls are going through a bit more of an argumentative phase…

today i had a retrenchment day! felt things and info getting on top of me, which is a bit unfair of me, as i am an indirect participant but felt particular need to not leave home. did some seed stuff with girls and then wii olympics. some general messing about playing. BB got a new book

and loves it. so we are soaking some dwarf french beans and have painted some buckets today. BB really has a lovely way with paints! i partic loved her t-rex. we then finished the day with a treat and saw how to train your dragon in 3D. it was fab and i really enjoyed it. i then felt phenomenally guilty about feeling happy for a bit.

finished the day with BB spectacularly throwing up everyone.

weirdly i can blog from work, but not set up bright kite! but i would like loads of thoughts for my sister. she has been admitted for scans ? mets to neck/ eear/ brain. what we have all been worried about. i am finding it hard to even think today. so can someone else do the thinking for me.

i think i am gradually retiring into recluseness!! woke up today with migraine. and knee still hurts from falling down the stairs on tues! must be getting old. Thus SB and BB went to the library with chris but not me for the easter raffle. BB won an easter egg!! SB then won a fluffy chick on a tombola. both returned happy.

SB is trying to do well with home ed, and so has now moved on to singapore maths 4a!! woohoo!! Also nearly finished explode the code 6 [which we have been doing to try and get spelling!!]. BB did her word cards and was absolutely ecstatic when she read ring!! when she is comfy with this lot, then we will try first books again!

So, what else? lots of playing outside. enjoying the sun, partic as snow is forecast again we had some dried runner beans from last year, so picked them, and were far more than i thought!! a HUGE bowl full. we might try cooking some of them in a stew. otherwise, good for bean experimentation! SB helped, and we decided it reminded us of the jacobean farm programme. the girls then got far more interested in bag kites and ran around like loons!

Sis still not well, and no appetite, so i have set up a surprise present of a subscription to graze with the fresh fruit option, and hoping she likes it!

Having looked at healthy food, the girls and i did some easter egg making – far more expensive and more chocolateness than bought easter eggs! but def fun! BB’s subscription mag of dinomite arrived. would have been great, except bought exactly same mag by nanna last week, we both obviously saw its potential!! v cool give away explorer wrist thingy, and since bB lost the last one, this calmed her down.

Some crafting – with BB finishing a paint by numbers and both girls then making easter cards. i overheard sb telling the true story of humpty dumpty and then had to wade in to calm a hysterical BB!! SB started to ask if father christmas real, and then decided to back away! I have made some food for next weekend, chris has started excavating dining room! we did earth hour, and the girls thought that v interesting.

i knew we had done something else!! SB and i spent over an hour playing on the wii together, BB cheering me on. The day seemed reasonably flowing and yet this blog seems a bit empty!! I did have lots of hugs and cuddes too.

ooh, yesterday was a home ed golf meet. SB enjoyed it, got a couple of holes in one. she is really enjoying learning golf at the mo, and this perked her up as well. BB also enjoyed it.

bedtime reads for sb with me we are back to roman mysteries. bb liking puzzle books

actually, i don’t drive for long in the fast lane! my days of speed disappeared with the children, haunted by visions of a babyseat rolling across the road and across the central reservation… i mentioned that to chris early on, and his days of speed stopped too.
anyway, having now determined this should say life predominantly in the middle lane with some slow when not covered in lorries, and some fast when overtaking… we can discuss how many miles i racked up!

have we got to the weekend on blog – nips off to check! oh yeah, not far anyway!! thurs i think chris did gym with the girls, and nots and tots in new venue! fri they tidied some of the house! lots of home ed done this week by both girls anyway, of both the interactive and book led kind.

fri my parents came – woohoo!! arrived home to find dad and SB battling it out on the wii, and then she started her grade 1 clarinet pieces with my mum. need to regain the initiative on clarinet and piano practice! lots of chatting too! the next morning they got a game in before leaving.

my sis not feeling so well, with an ear infection on top of other things, so some humming and hawing about whether she needed me to dash down etc. but eventually she chose sunday so we left for the science festival, though having missed the morning stuff.

we started in the maths zone and met the babs straight away!! and also gina… such a cool building! and we enjoyed the tables. SB did some enigma coding – and i think we could make our own pocket enigma codes! BB did a roman code wheel. we loved some of the games and puzzles and had our packed lunch. chatted to friends and went onto vet school. TBH i was a bit dissapointed with vet school, poss cos we didn’t get in all the bits? the xrays were good. the theatre too crowded. bb had a total melt over the food disinfectant bit, horses heart listen was cool though! we then went across to physics, but bb really had it, so a chocolate pick me up, and decided to take in a lecture byt hese guys

we all really enjoyed it, and the girls would like me to buy their book! we then went for the last bit of the day, at astronomy, and as walking heard a large kerfuffle behind us – R and D with their famous dad i think astronomy was the best bit of the day. BB and i made a spectrometer. SB and chris looked at all sorts, and got their pictures taken – so bb and i did too, as did the deependers, raindrops and famousfamily [i promise i won't use the name again!] before we were photons and then disappeared.

excitement on driving home, it was toad night! lots of signs to watch out for toads crossing, and we did see quite a few!

next day me and the girls drove down to unwell sis with pick me up nibble foods and craft kits for the kids to do! kids had a great time. sis not so good, but did persuade her to take meds, eat and drink something! took some of the pressure off b-i-l! kids made nice yellow moon easter boxes and played a lot, including dr who games and some wii sport [sb rather good at the archery] loooooong drive home! and there we are!!