Shrove Tuesday

We had pancakes for breakfast and discussed the meaning of Lent. We considered the giving something up for the 40 days and decided to stay heathens as we didn't want to give anything up. Interestingly I read that Sundays don't count towards the 40 days and wondered if that means you can indulge whatever it is you've given up on Sundays?

"The six Sundays in Lent are not counted among the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter," a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death." [Wikipedia]

Drove into town as it was raining and I'd decided to get some groceries whilst out. Only to find the supermarket carpark was full, cars doing that hovering blocking an aisle thing that I dislike so much (makes me feel trapped). So extricated ourselves from there and parked at M's work instead, racing down to the pancake race area.

Was good albeit slightly soggy.





It was so much busier than usual as for the first time in my memory of attending the pancake races, Shrove Tuesday is during half term. I listened to a conversation to my left where some children were complaining of the cold and the mother was saying to her friend that she didn't understand why they were doing it now and it would be much better in the summer when it's warmer.

Then we came home (abandoning any grocery shopping plans), I made my lunch, C ignored hers as the Morpurgo book ("Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea") was more interesting and then I contemplated the fresh pineapple.

She came and ate lunch, told me to google how to cut up a pineapple, advice I ignored and instead just got on with it. There is a very good reason why tinned pineapple is so popular!

We eventually got out of the house. Not as quickly as C wanted due to me wanting to do uninteresting things like clean up the kitchen and empty the bin (we'd had smoked salmon for lunch so packaging left in the bin would not be nice to come home to later!) before leaving.

I then saw a neighbour and chatted to her for a bit (she's an artist and I wanted to explore any opportunities of getting her to do some art with C), walked past the roadworks and was astonished at how much vibration the steam roller makes to the surrounding ground. I wouldn't want to have a house right on a roadside when they decide to resurface!




We then had a fab afternoon at Michelle's. Catherine, Becs and Helen all being there too. Muchly enjoyable with lots of tea and the most amazing lemon drizzle cake :-).

Maypole Dancing and Chinese New Year

We took M to the station then had ages until the Maypole Dancing session started so we popped into M&S to get ready made spring rolls and bean sprouts to make our own with the wraps.

I then left C at the dancing. My original plan was to stay in town for the couple of hours but it was so bitterly cold I knew I'd end up in a cafe buying coffee and food so decided better to go home and have them at home for far less cost.

C said the dancing was half good and half not - there apparently was a lot more sitting out than in previous sessions, think they'd accepted more children than previously.



We then went to Jol and Ams for our delayed Chinese New Year celebrations. Jol had decorated the house magnificently with lots of hanging lanterns and had drawn banners by the front door. Inside the house Ams had made a money tree and they'd made money envelopes filled with the chunkiest chocolate coin money I've ever seen.

The M&S spring rolls are very good - we abandoned plans to let the children make their own. It took a while to get the girls to a good equilibrium, to the point where at one point I decided we should go home - this was enough to change the atmosphere entirely and the rest of the afternoon went entirely harmoniously :-).

Some difficulties were caused by the dragons I'd bought were not very well made and the tails fell off and only one decorate your own lantern kit - would have been better to have got another so there could be one kit each (especially as there is only one light chain - I'd thought they would make and decorate for the afternoon, not thinking that each child would probably want to keep the string of lights). Jol was far better planned than I with separate packs of tissue paper and coloured strands for each child so they could make a Chinese Dragon head each.

I'd been unable to buy firecrackers (other than pretend decorative ones - but I wanted the real thing!) so took along a leftover box of Christmas crackers that the girls could use up.

Jol made mushroom Chow Mein (yum!), the prawn crackers and fortune cookies went down well with the girls, noodles as their main staple. I'd brought fruit, wasn't sure if it was particularly chinesey but thought they might be; papaya, mango and kiwi fruit (chinese gooseberries). Papaya was not a success with any of us but the mango was finished. Didn't get around to the Chinese gooseberries but think they weren't quite ripe enough anyway.

I'd also bought anything in the oriental supermarket that claimed to be from China - so some dried plums wrapped in pretty purple paper, melon seeds and hawthorn snacks. The plums were vile, really I think they are inedible. They are seasoned with salt and sugar and have licorice in them too. Disgusting. I like plums/prunes and licorice but this was not possible to eat. The melon seeds were like eating bits of bark. Fortunately the hawthorn fruit snacks were nice, fruity and very sweet.






A good day in the end. :-).

A Burns Supper

Saturday saw me frantically tidying as I needed the dining table for our Burn's Supper that evening.

On the way back from the supermarket I collected A-L and the girls played all afternoon leaving me free to clear and prepare.

A lovely evening with Gad, Tim and Deb. Tim had been roped in to do the address of the haggis with the full recitation. 'twas good even if I didna unnerstand a word. Girls refused to eat in the other room (as it wasn't "fair") so they ate on the coffee table - both ate some of everything (haggis, tatties and neeps with additional dishes of beef stew with dumplings and buckie carrots (vichy carrots renamed to fit a scottish theme)) and enjoyed being a part of it - especially the addressing the haggis ceremony.

Much whisky was drunk, Gad was confused as to why we were celebrating Burns Night when we have no Scottish blood in us. We just love the excuse of a party :-). From M's pov, its a license to have unlimited glasses of the amber nectar.

[as an aside, every year M, his friend and his friend's fil go to Whisky Live! (make sure you have the correct inflection as in Africa Alive!) but for this year at Christmas his friend foolishly promised his wife he could have 3 months not drinking. fil and M suitably astounded at such a rash commitment (neither of them would), so M and friend's fil said they were still going and the first thing they would do would be to have a toast to absent friends. Seems the thought of his fil and M going on their now traditional day out without him was too much and so the friend is also now going ;-). I wonder if he will have to restart his 3 month commitment?]

Forgot Gad works on Sundays - hope he was okay ;-).

We kept A-L overnight, both girls sleeping in the tent in the front room overnight.

Sunday morning dawned. I spent half the day playing the Prof Layton DS game I received for Christmas. A-L and C watched Mouse Hunt and then played until her mum came to collect her (tears from C as they'd been having fun and she wanted to keep A-L here for longer - always easier if I take the friend home rather than the friend being taken from us - must try and remember that next time and ignore the inner desire to not get dressed and go out). Chloe then had lunch (was hungry and tired - bad combination) and spent much of the afternoon on the BBC's KS2 Bitesize games - including Questionaut (again!).

State Opening of Parliament and Museum of Childhood

It was a cold and blustery day . . . but we headed into London anyway :-)

It was the day of the State Opening of Parliament and so as per tradition since HEing (bar one year when we were away), C&I headed into London for a morning of pomp and majesty.













This was the first year we remembered and saw the 21 gun salute in Green Park. That was the highlight of my day! Really loved it.

We then went to the RI for lunch (Jen kindly treated us which was lovely), C was keen to show A the periodic table. Then we all headed to the tube towards the V&A Museum of Childhood.

The Museum of Childhood was on my list of award winning places and I've heard about it either on lists or in person from other people who've visited and liked it. I'm glad we went but wouldn't be in a hurry to return. C says she did really like the museum (obviously has forgotten asking me at one point, "What is the point of this museum?"). Lots of hands-on bits such as sand pit, punch and judy stalls, books, drawing in the craft area, rocking horses and lots and lots of glass cases with things in. Jenny and I did lots of pointing and saying ooh I had one of those. I've also realised that for such an indulged child there was a lot of stuff I didn't have! Dolls houses galore and even children's costumes through the ages.

"The Childhood Cube" by Sarah Raphael 2000:



Got the bus back rather than the tube and was much happier with that. Was very easy and got front seats on top deck so girls happy. Home and dinner of various leftovers and we all watched on iplayer the hour long Parliament channel programme of the State Opening of Parliament. Was excellent as explained lots of bits I'd forgotten and showed what happened once the Queen arrives, such as Black Rod having the door of the House of Commons slammed in his face when requesting their presence in front of the queen.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

8am swimming lesson - that Sheila forgot about as she's been in Egypt for 2 weeks and hasn't got back into routine yet. Fortunately it wasn't a History day so we could afford the time to wait for her. Marcus came too to watch which was great - but not so great given everything delayed. When we'd discussed arrangements last night, he had been going to cycle to his office from the pool once the lesson had finished but we left the house in heavy rain so he went off that idea and decided to wait for us to shower/change before getting me to drive him there. When we came out we had blue skies and sunshine! Ah well. He decided to walk instead.

C & I came home and she had a chocolate croissant warmed up for her, during which her parcel of Heartlands books arrived. She'd ordered them from eBay as the library didn't have them in stock and ordering them would take ages, especially as she wants to read them in order. Hope she doesn't tire after a couple.



She did eat her croissant in the end - else I'd have eaten it for her!

She then went on Moshimonsters, then I took over the PC and blogged whilst she did some Nezert maths.

She then unpacked yet more Christmas stuff whilst playing the Christmas CD's repeatedly. You now cannot cross to the stairs without it feeling as though you are on an agility course. She has put some decorations up and made a stable for her nativity scene, we had lunch and she went back to that before heading out to tennis. We had originally been planning on heading into town but the house was so calm and tranquil and she was so content that I didn't want to add time constrained errands in that would inevitably add to stress. We can run errands tomorrow instead.

Met M at the library and then home for guitar practice and M made dinner whilst C went on Club Penguin. Much time on the telephone with Rubes to arrange where to meet and to discuss what they were doing.

Jake came by just as we were about to sit down for dinner, so C ate quickly and they played Monotony until his mum texted me to ask me to send him home.

Clo then did her drama homework, so now I know she can write quickly when she chooses!

Not so neat though.

Over the past week we have . . .

Made a toy to her own design and entirely by herself with me not seeing the bunny until it was finished (Design and Technology). Made from recycled fabric and stuffing she then asked me to take this photograph to submit it for a Blue Peter entry. The entry she managed by herself and looked up the criteria on the website by herself (IT), wrote by hand her evidence (writing) and packaged up photos and paper, sealing the envelope also by herself so neither M nor I saw what she's written. I'm a bit worried she's not covered off all the criteria she should have done.



Been delighted to get an airdry clay pig, created especially for Chloe and carefully painted for Chloe by her friends over the summer. She reflected on how lucky she is to have so many lovely friends. I echoed that sentiment on my own behalf.




We've been to Latinetc for Latin, Music Theory and Science. Due to it being half term, everyone had time to go into the playing field for parachute games (in French!) with much laughter:



We spent a very enjoyable afternoon into early evening at new friends trialling the Big Bubble kit I'd bought for camp. I had intended to trial it at Latinetc but it turned out it needed washing up liquid and the environmentally friendly stuff just doesn't give good bubbles. Was relieved to find it works with earth destroying Fairy. Now I need to purchase more Glycerine as they only provide enough in the pack for one use :-(.



She cried in the car about Music Theory as she didn't understand it. She was fixated on the staves being strings (as in guitar tabs the lines represent the guitar strings). I promised to help her the next day, but remembered when dropping her off at AL's house, so delegated and AL's mum kindly helped explain the treble clef. When I got home she did her homework, getting the bass clef words wrong (finding the words in the music), so revisited her understanding getting her to write on the keys of her kiddie keyboard and now she loves Music Theory!



C and Rubes enjoyed an hour long snorkelling session at our local pool. I grumbled to Beccy about the state of the pool. The passageway exiting the ladies changing rooms has had the drain gaffer taped since the beginning of term, which is an improvement as when it hadn't been gaffer taped it was an accident waiting to happen as if you stepped on the drain it skedadled away leaving sharp tile edges exposed. They spent millions refurbing the reception area but nothing was spent where I think it really needs it - the drains and the changing rooms. One of the advantages of switching her swimming to mornings is that it is cleaner and hasn't yet acquired that ammonia smell from people letting their kids urinate on the floor. C&I always wear flip flops.

Photo evidence. Will see if it is repaired before Christmas.



After snorkelling, Rubes came back to ours and they spent the entire day sewing. Ruby made bride and groom outfits with a bridesmaid outfit too. C is unable to smile because she cut her lip with her own fingernail (side effect of having guitar as your instrument - long fingernails on your right hand) when getting changed at the pool.



She went dressed up as a pumpkin to a bonfire party at Beccy's. Marcus made the pumpkin soup. It was delicious but led to a stupid argument when I said I couldn't cook and carve the same pumpkin as getting hte flesh out is too difficult. M said I could - he has a recipe where you scrape the pumpkin and make the soup, putting it back into the pumkin as a tureen. He hasn't actually made that though. Roll on next year. We usually hide in our back room from all the scary trick or treaters. Has to be said I don't like Halloween at all and would happily abolish it, or rename it Pumpkin Night, which is the only pleasurable part about it.

Outfit, of course, was too itchy;



So she opted for thermals underneath, which, given it was an outside party, was just as well:



She rediscovered a ceramic pumpkin mask she'd made last year;



We have also been to a Ceilidh which was lots of fun but meant the next day I rested up in bed until 5:30pm so as to be mobile enough to drive. I had strained my back painting the windows the weekend before and the dancing proved to be inadvisable (though lots of fun at the time). Beccy has lent me some magnets that are held under clothing. She says they help. I will try them but they require granny knickers (the magnets velcro inside the top band) that I don't possess (so you all know far more about my choice of underwear than you ever thought you would or should!). So I need to go on a big knicker purchasing trip.

Sunday again I was careful all day as I needed to go out in the evening. Being in pain puts me in such ill humour. I was very horrible to M as he was drifting through the day not doing anything productive and I was frustrated by not being able to do anything myself. The house is a state and I had been assured a man was coming to do skirting boards in the bedroom, so I thought M could use the rainy, stay at home Sunday to move the bed. He questioned the sense of doing it now when he hasn't got a date for the skirting board man, I wanted it done as there is a lot of other furniture to shift and other things need doing in there too that will be easier with the room empty (eg rescuing my heart pendant that flew down under the floorboards via the space that would be blocked by skirting boards had we any). I got upset (possibly hormonal as well as in pain, we'll see) realising that the agreement with the skirting board man perhaps wasn't as agreed as I'd been led to understand. For example the radiator cover - I'd said to M I wanted a brass radiator cover infill, not the mdf ones. He'd said at that time he'd clarify that with the carpenter as he hadn't stated brass. It transpired he didn't say radiator cover at all. I hate being lied to or deliberately misled and got very upset and said I just wanted a nice house and if I had my own I could just get it nice the way I wanted, to which he responded that I could get a job and buy my own house. I don't think retelling the rest of the exchange would do either of us any favours, me the least. I lost it somewhat and got personal :-(.

The bed has now been moved.

I still don't feel happy as I've achieved what I wanted by having a total uncontrollable breakdown and I wish he'd just want to push forward on these things as I do. He doesn't even notice it all.

In any event, the bed will now stay there as when the bedroom is finally done, I am getting a new bed - a two singles together type as I think I'll sleep better on my own mattress than sharing a mattress with him. If I sleep better perhaps my mood will improve. It's worth a try eh?

"Just Do It Again. But Better!"

So says the Bop-it Game :-). It's my latest catch phrase :-).



It's not the doing lots of things that I find difficult, it's finding the time to blog some of them!

Monday

Art where she collected a puppet she'd made last hast term. She needs to add hair as she missed that week as we were in Melrose.

Out for lunch and she ate only a plain white bread roll and drank a carton of apple juice. Then we went to guitar. A good lesson, but I didn't have time to allow it to run on into the next hour as we had to get back to collect Megan from school. So he took £3 off the cost of her lesson. He'll never, ever make his million being so nice.

Collected the boys up and put them in the pushchair. Discovered why M had been so recalcitrant about going in the buggy as he fell asleep shortly after we set off. A, who'd had a nap before going to collect Megan, but had had to be wakened, was sleepy but awake. So he thoroughly enjoyed me running down the hill in the park. Chloe asked "did you like that A?" and he smiled a big smile and said "yes!".

I think I'll miss those boys when Trish's ankle is healed and she's walking about again.

Once Chris got home, C&I left to meet M and we had curry for dinner.

Potato Council pack arrived. Much excitement over it - like getting a proper parcel and as it's been so long since I registered for it, I'd forgotten all about it.

Tuesday

A bit of a busy early morning. M to station and C & me to Trish's so we could both use her shower before taking the boys to pre school. Someone else took Megan to school.



She ran off once we'd left the school premises. "Born to be free" she sang whilst running.



Funny girl. She's started her own blog and entitled it "Born to be free". It's invitee only so if you know her and are interested (absolutely no obligation!) please ask for an invite to be sent to you. I'm a bit off about it as I wanted this blog to be our family blog and any member of the family being free to post to it. But she wanted her own. So now she has.

The school run with the boys was quite fun but I'm very glad it was a one off and not something I have to do every day. Chloe was ace at corralling them from their house and through the park along to the school and along the path to the classroom.

We then walked into town. Panini (her) and choc croissant (me) in Starbucks before mooching around the farmers market, tossing the plastic pancakes to be used in the races and running a few errands.






She wanted a prime spot for the pancake races and made us wait 15mins before the start so no one else would get her spot.





Lots of fun then a brisk walk back to Trish's where I'd left the car and home as the boiler repair man said he'd be by in the afternoon and I was counting on that meaning after 1pm. He rang to say he'd be there in 15mins whilst we were driving so was lucky really. Still not fixed it.

C did lots of stile, Jen came for tea and brought cake as I'd forgotten to bring Ben's clothes into town where she works with me so she had to come out. Was very cross with myself.

C looked at her eggs in vinegar:



Then she played with the video function on the camera and did most of her guitar practice before it was time to take he to AL's house for an afterschool playdate. (is there a less American expression for playdate?).

I joined for pancakes, tea and chat.

Twelfth Night

We examined the ship models in the Seaman's Waiting Room at Somerset House before going onto the fabulous balcony overlooking the Thames to admire the south bank and the London Eye.

We admired the photographs of Greater London displayed in a free exhibition; "Architectural photography of the city by Richard Bryant, who has spent the past two years capturing open spaces, landmark structures and building sites using new digital processes which allow for the creation of spectacular panoramas."

We explored the Nelson's Stair:



We then went ice skating:



Then walked along (in brilliant sunshine - though a bit nippy!) the Embankment as far as Blackfriars, admiring the statues and buildings we passed along the way;

We were amused to have a picture of two children who don't attend school by Forster's statue:



We were unable to get a drink at this fountain:

"From children of the loyal Temperance Legion in memory of work done for the temperance cause by Lady Henry Somerset, the President, National British Women’s Temperance Assoc, incorporated June 1896. I was thirsty and ye gave me drink"



Admired the gilded vane of Christopher Columbus's caravel 'Santa Maria’ at No.2 Temple Place, WC2:



The Kindertransport Sculpture:

At Liverpool Street Station we noticed another statue - one to the children evacuated to Britain from Germany between 1938-39. The statue was only erected in 2004, so very new. I like that there are still memorials and statues going up.



Finally arrived at The Geffrye Museum for lunch and for Beccy and Ruby to have a quick look at the rooms of the museum before it was time for us to join the small throng outside for the Twelfth Night celebrations in the Geffrye's gardens.

"Join us in the Geffrye’s own traditional burning of the holly and the ivy, celebrated with carol singing, stories about Epiphany and a taste of mulled wine and Twelfth Night cake. Please note that this event takes place in the garden, so wrap up warm!"

The mulled wine and cake was free and most delicious! Apparently last year the event was much busier, but I guess that would be because it fell on a Sunday so more people were free to be able to attend. We all absolutely loved the event and would make effort to return next year.

Chloe has been singing the carol songs ever since (we were given songsheets we were allowed to keep). They had pieces of cake with a bean and another with a pea to determine the Twelfth Night King and Queen. It was a lovely event and a wonderful way to end the festive season.

Boxing Day

Tea brought out to us in the tent - how lovely is that?

We'd all slept very well and hadn't needed the heater on at all until about 7:30am and even then it wasn't that it was particularly cold but I thought it was quite damp so put it on to try and de-damp the interior a little. Though I then fell asleep through most of the middle of "Swallows and Amazons" so must have still been very tired. Have been lethargic all day - must be the fresh country air! Nothing at all to do with excessive consumption of food and drink ;-).

Dave and Grandad came round for the traditional Boxing Day breakfast (naturally served at lunchtime!) of smoked salmon, caviar (ok not the real stuff), champagne (yes the real stuff) and scrambled eggs. More crackers and Boxing Day daft table gifts made it just perfect.

Dave had been baking extensively and had brought with him Christmas Cake, chocolate crunch (aka Crack as it's so addictive! - I will be attempting to make this. Especially as I'd inadvertently left my snaffled supplies at Mum's - still, my sister will be able to enjoy them when she goes down at New Year), mincemeat and marzipan tealoaf, apple and apricot slices, cinnamon and nutella cake with hazlenuts, marzipan fruits and also marzipan and dates petits fours. All delish.




Hmm, the crack isn't pictured - we must have been eating it already! Perhaps it's in the bottom storage box.

We were supposed to be going to the beach but somehow none of us had the motivation to do so.

Madagascar featured in the playlist. Not really sure what else we did at all.

Turkey curry for supper. I do love leftovers.

Christmas Day

was an unqualified success.

I'd spoken to mum the day before and she expressed concern about the time we would be arriving. The last time mum hosted Christmas, two years ago, we arrived just as lunch was being served and I think they may have been getting concerned about where we were. This year, as we are sleeping in the tent so Marcus can breathe more easily (cat allergy seems to be getting worse as he's got older), we needed to arrive early enough to get the tent sorted before lunch.

So we set an alarm for 7:30am. Which felt really early but reading around, seems others had earlier starts . . .

After stockings (M&I participate too as it's more fun than when you're the only one with a stocking). We have those felt stockings, no pillowcases or sacks here! And 8 gifts per person. I got a new kettle as Marcus broke the whistle on our current one and I forget it's on the boiling plate unless it's screaming at me! Lots of books, hand cream, foot cream. Then a mad dash to get dressed and out of the door as that took longer than I'd anticipated - ooh and I'd forgotten that Piggy gets a stocking too. That girl ain't daft! This year she'd asked if Poley could have his own stocking as well but I ain't that daft either and said they could share. If we start down this route there'll be more stockings than could fit in the room let alone by the fireplace.

Panic done and in the car only half an hour after I'd said. Drive down more eventful than usual. What is it with driving at 50mph in the middle lane? Or 65mph in the middle lane and someone in front of you overtaking them at 70mph? I know, you shouldn't exceed 70 but it's incredibly frustrating.

Radio 2 as enjoyable as ever on Christmas Day.

Got to Mum's and we put the tent up with no arguments. We tried Marcus' method which is far easier. He then sorted out the bedding later - it was lovely to eventually go to bed with it all laid out nicely :-). (ok so he didn't just get on with it like other husbands of friends but he did do it on request - and though he wasn't exactly glad, he didn't snerl (a cross between a sneer and a snarl)).

I got dressed up and felt more Christmassy. Grandad and Dave (my uncle) arrived. Superb lunch. Turkey, sprouts, carrots, parsnips, Yorkshires, peas, delish chestnut stuffing, non chestnut stuffing, roast potatoes, boiled new potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce (homemade and bought). Champers and vino aplenty.

Clo knocked her champers (apple juice) over with a cracker but not too big a disaster.

Pressies afterwards. One at a time the way I like it. I love to see people opening the gifts we choose for them.








Grandad opened his gift from his lady friend, we saw the Rotary packaging so realised he'd been given a watch just as it started talking - we were so impressed with him being given a phone watch. What else do you give an 80-odd year old gentleman but a James Bond type gadget? Also very impressed that there was some trigger in the packaging that activated the phone feature just as he was unwrapping it such that he got a lovely Christmas message from her. Fantastic.

Well it was until we realised the sound was coming from his mobile phone in his jacket pocket and the watch is, in fact, just a watch. It just tells the time. Bit of a disappointment really.

Mum opened her card from us detailing the weekend away. I'd used a card with "SNOW" written on the front in large bold letters. She opened it upside down. Having been pre-wardned that even though it was an innocuous envelope it was in fact their main gift, she was obviously anxious to not get it wrong. She opened the evelope such that the card was upside down when she opened it, read out the word "MONS" as if it were some designer type store. Oh, how we laughed . . .

Which reminds me, note for next year. Mum and Keith want to get cards as well as see us on Christmas Day.

Christmas Pudding with brandy butter and custard (cream also available but I chose not to). Cheese and biscuits for Marcus (and anyone else who fancied).

Watched "Scrooge" (C was scared) and "Wallace and Gromit". C was unimpressed with W&G and occupied her time assembling her 4d pig puzzle from Rhian (label said it was from Abigail but it's Abigail's mum that has definitely spotted that for Chloe). The 4th dimension would seem to mean details; "3D + details" on the back of the packaging. It took her a long time, so that would be the 4th (correct) dimension.



Mum, C and I played Katamino quite a bit. Dave had bought C a fantastic circuits kit using magnets so they did that together. Mostly together too - Dave has a reputation for taking over somewhat. Grandad retold the story of Dave and his little friends sat playing Monopoly many years ago with the friends just sitting there whilst Dave was a blur of movement, rolling the dice, moving the pieces, sorting the money and cards out. For all of them.

Clo also got the "The Magnificent I Can Read Music Book" which most of us explored. Will read that with her a few times before she starts Music Theory with Gina in the new year as the others all do formal music reading and she just knows guitar tabs.

A lovely, lovely day with family.








Very grateful to have them all around us.