Petits Haricots

we went to sandhills in mudeford with my parents, my sister and family. it was a rather excellently placed caravan park, being a short walk from the quay one way along the promenade [for crabbing, a pub, a shop and a ferry!] and a short walk in the other direction to the beach [another shop and icecreams!]

i don’t think i will do a blow by blow account! [though may well add into it] SB started off shakilly on the journey down – it was uncomfortable for her in teh car, so we left late, when the temps were cooling down. we had more stuff in the car than when we go camping due to extra craft kits, a buggy adapted for her, camping chairs etc. a LIMBO and the sealskin arrived in good time and were very well used on holiday! the worst bit of the journey was when she was sick in exorcist proportions [actually, i will have to admit to never having actually watched the exorcist, but i believe it is a lot of vomit!!] we came off motorway for me to clear it up [joanna avert eyes!] and whilst i was scooping handfuls of sick out, she asked me if i minded doing that – errrr yes!!

but anyway, we made it, and were greated by cups of tea on our arrival. much excitement! WHilst we were there, we tried to make full use of the pool. initially SB was a bit hesitant, and she remained a bit worried about possible leaking of the limbo. however, by the end of the holiday, she was showing me how many backwards somersaults she could do in the water, and swimming like a fish – albeit with an unusual leg! BB was more amusing [sort of] because she stubbed her toe, and would insist that i hold it out of the water whilst she splashed about. [it was fine to dunk it in the paddling pool!] on one occasion I was swimming with my head under water with SB watching her do various things, with my arm up vertically to still hold BB#s foot! [what a sight we must have been!] i acheived TCS status at least once by ageeing to take them swimming just after i had got the pasta bake in the oven. SInce SB could only go in for 20 mins stretches, i couldn’t think of any reason not to except that i didn;t fancy it. however, i enjoy swimming, so was fine once dunked! the girls had wetsuits to take the edge off!!

we also went to the beach – not as often as we would hope because the weather – particularly in the first week – was a bit iffy! sandcastles made, shells found, wave chasing etc. also the icecream shop had some interesting local variants. i was quite keen on gooseberry grumble and rhubarb and ginger, less so on the cointreau and choc chip. my niece rather liked the white chocolate and malteser! chris also enjoyed the lemon meringue – had they been watching the apprentice?? a rather cunning idea employed on the last day was to make sandcastles in lines just up from the incoming tide, to tell us when to have icecream – saving the discussion!

we did crafts – mask scratching [like at deependers party] magic painting, painting by numbers [actually a bit difficult for SB] dolphin pin picture, various pompom crafts, air drying clay, drawing etc. SB made a fab indian with air drying clay [though fell apart once dried, as it seems to do] and I was impressed by the people BB drew for me, complete with belly buttons.

we went out and about. in the first week to poole – including a visit to the pottery where the children got to paint something, and all 4 did a marvellous job. we bought a seconds vase, which now I’ve got it home is very similar to a duvet set we have – weird! we went on the ferry and a land train to the headland, and both girls enjoyed that. [BB fell asleep having been slightly challenging wrt icecreams!]

we went walking in the new forest twice. i use walking in the loosest sense, as only nephew actually did much walking of the children. SB would have, but still not entirely confident on the ‘crutchelators’ and easily tired. so i pushed her around in the buggy [somewhat hard work on bumpy stoney ground, espec when uphill!] and bB had a fair number of should carries [well it was 2 miles] a lovely walk, we looked at dif trees, fircones, flowers, heard bird calls etc and finished with yummy picnic. the second time was just us on the way home, when we stopped at the reptile place, which houses native species in habitat – so v difficult to spot! we did see grown up and baby adders, a smooth snake, a glow worm, some natterjack toads and a lizard. the walk there was outstanding for the amount of ant activity along the path. there were lots of ants nests, and one was particularly hyper – chris even took a video. made me think of a number of B movies…

rather good on a rainy day when we needed some just our family time was the electricity museum in christchurch. it is free and fab. the fabness is in the really interested guides there, and the demonstration room, where SB had the man’s attention and he took her from greeks with their amber through various inventions to victorian home electrocution kits! it was quite hadns on as well, and she was enthralled. he even gave bb his only choc biscuit so that we would have some peace!

we also went to adventure land, the entrance price made v bearable by chris being free as a carer for SB [reduced] and the rest of us on tesco vouchers. this being in the second week, SB was a bit more confident, though did so much scampering in the indoor bit when it rained she entirely knocked herself out. BB loved the flying elephants. since the day was gey, and schooly, there were no queues – fantastic!

obviously we went into bournemouth. the first time early on, so SB mostly in buggy, and we went round the aquarium there – which we enjoyed. BB particularly enthralled by the tortoises! and had a meal at the cafe on the pier. the second time was to play crazy golf right at the end, just me, SB dad and my nephew. dad was v patient with sb, holding her in a good position and teaching her how to swing and aim. she loved it, having been initially uncertain. on the drive dad told me stories of coming there in his training days in air traffic control, and it was lovely to spend time together like that.

oh, and we went to loads of tat [aka local souvenir] shops to spend their holiday money from little nanny and chris’s parents. BB ended up with a tribe of reptiles and closely related! SB was more diverse, with a mermaid, a dophin, a vase from poole pottery, a pinball game etc. we were disappointed not to see any pig souvenirs [though michelle might not be] as a thankyou to chloe, who sent a fabulous cheer-me-up to SB whilst we were there – it was extremely succesful! She is supposed to be doing a card…

ermm, oh yes, crabbing! SB was the only child to actually do this, adults were roped in a surrogates for the others. she caught 8 and was mightily pleased. BB and E made every passer by admire the crabs though! we did kite flying with extremely cheap kites i bought from tesco – which was v succesful and lots of giggles. lots of games played. SB was teaching M chess.
so was it relaxing, am i refreshed – well no! chris and i did a lot to keep SB happy and entertained, and BB needed some work to, as she was feeling a bit under represented. so part of that was requiring bandages on every little scrape and bruise – so don’t panic when you see our holiday photos! SB needed dressings every 3 days, constant pain killers and antibiotics to remember. keeping ours happy included crafts, games and peacekeeping with my niece and nephew too. my sis was tired and washed out a lot of the time, requiring rest and nap time, which her children weren’t always happy with. And family dynamics is family dynamics! Actually, i could do with a holiday! but i was sad when it was over. our girls had a fab time, and i hope my sister and her children did.

because we are back now. too ‘zausted’ to blog though. hello blogiverse!

to the end of the week! we’re not packed, if it weren’t for the fact we are in a caravan at the other end, we might even be at the stage of missing the first day of our holiday [we've done that before] but the girls would be v disappointed – especially BB who has been in an absolute tizzy of excitement.

had to go into work this pm, for a critical meeting – hmm, just what i needed! managed not to cry, went to A and E to ask for more antibiotics, and howled there instead honestly, i need a holiday. this one might not do the trick though!! i am looking forward to it, and will be working hard to make it a success for the children and my sis – who btw has been feeling exceptionally rough this week [hugs for her, she rang on wed in desperation, so i mobilised gp and parents her way, and then events overtook me and i didn't get back, thankfully she is ok]. i had already bought a sufficiency of yellow moon crafts [you might remember the boxes!!], but with SB being out of action, we have added ‘a few’ more!! SB also has 3 new ds games, the waterproof thingies, and we have packed the older bigger pushchair for her, so i think we have done what we can. i have 2 huge boxes of dressings to take with me – that and craft kits etc means the car as full as when we take the tent!!

so, where are we? well BB is doing alright really at trying to be considerate. she is a gorgeous girl, and she is trying [in both senses!] SB is obviously an emotional roller coaster. we have continued on with by the clock painkillers, as i think that if we control things well, she will be hopefully less weepy. She certainly is trying to use the crutched now, and managed to not be on a lap all the time – though needed 100% presence – which we could do, though didn’t aid packing! she has played loads with the gifts from merry’s girls – so another thankyou to them! particularly the girl dressing one.

nana and grandad came over [they were going to babysit for us tonight, but after SB's accident we cancelled!] and that gave both girls a boost – particularly BB. they also bore gifts, so SB did a lot of fuzzy felt. BB did some airdrying clay stuff with nana – very proud.

so i guess that is us signing off for a bit. though chris’s parents are housesitting [well, we have good pub access!! also lots of things need watering], they are unlikely to be blogsitting!

Speaking of good pub access, they seem to have rather less good access to good bands – thank goodness for a midnight finish of high angst wailing!

poor SB. she had a dreadful night, and a dreadful day. bless her. chris and i also similar in dreadful night and day, as really you just want to wipe away the pain.

today, SB finally really grasped she wouldn’t be better by the weekend. i had been gently leading her to that, but the addition of the half plaster today – which she hates thoroughly – convinced her. the fact that we had already ordered waterproof thingummies didn’t appease at all. it hurt to have her dressing changed, the plaster is hot and heavy. she is miserable ++. i was still worried at the look of the skin injury [much more of a concern than the break] but prob most is a partial thickness with 1 large and 3 small full thickness areas. i had quite a discussion with what seems to be our family orthopaedic surgeon [well, he did little nanny's hip, and i moved mum to him with her christmas factor]. he has a lovely and confident manner. so the plan is for me to dress it [ bit of a worry that] every 3 days and when we come back a reassessment wrt healing. so i am nervous that i will miss it if it starts to look infected [cos it looks truly dreadful!] but if i am worried, i guess a and e is our friend!

but yes, it looks awful, and she is on horrible antibiotics, and she feels down and waily and basically needed 100% hugs all day. this has left BB somewhat less than impressed, but TBH, she was much better about it than she could have been. [actually, should give BB quite a credit here really for taking second place without much tantrums] a combination of watching ballet shoes, finding nemo, playing games and the new ds game of zoo hospital which arrived today [she bought it] and giving analgesia [both paracetamol and ibuprofen] in max dose by the clock got us through, and i have cuddled her off to sleep.

just paranoid about healing!!

obviously we are not packed, we haven’t done anything round the house, and i am back at work tomorrow [no choice to take time off tomorrow]. hope SB ok without me [guilt of working parent]

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

thankyou to merry and girls for presents, although SB not in an investigative mood earlier, she had a good look at them this evening and is really happy and glad to have lovely friends. she was also touched by email from various HE friends – thankyou.

i am starting at the end of the day, as this is where my head is parked. Poor SB got herself trapped in the bike wheel cycling back in tandem from judo. when chris carried in i had a look and heart jumped into mouth as a clear full thickness off in quite a large area – pretty much the whole of one side of her foot. so hopped into car and a+e . the consultant looked at it and we got x-rayed – calcaneal hairline fracture, but no weight bearing allowed. the full thickness friction burn has been dressed, and she is on antibiotics. looks really awful. i am worried about it. it is going to take ages to heal at best, and i am going to head in sand about other alternatives.

TBH, at the moment i am wondering what i am being punished for.

Bless her, she is really upset because on top of that we are going this weekend for our 2 week caravan holiday with my sister and children – beach, pool, ice-skating, walks etc. oh yes, she can’t do any of them. total crapness.

eearlier in the day we had a lovely time at the deep end doing science experiments and playing, but TBH, that seems decades ago.