Typing on the train home as i didn’t catch the usual train to work (missed it) & so was indulging in a little reading this morning.

Hot again today (or in tabloid speak, “Phor! What a scorcher!” – with accompanying photo opportunity).

I got The Spiderwick Chronicles for the weekend from the library for the kids to watch (& I rather hoped to watch a bit myself) but the kids were too busy to pay attention to the film & were off doing other things. Granted one of those things on Saturday was ‘watching a film’ – but nonetheless it’s a good thing, I guess.

Saturday we met Caroline on the train to Halifax/Bradford; Louise & myself, with Esme got off the train at Halifax in order to do a little shopping (mainly for Jack’s new uniform). Caroline stayed on with Jack, Eve & Jude & they all went on to the cinema in Bradford to watch Wall-E (something I wouldn’t have minded doing myself).  They all enjoyed the film & are reported as all being very good..

Jack has a blazer (made from recycled plastic bottles, (it says on the label) which fits him OK. Louise is worried that it’s not quite right, but we’ve plenty of time to change it (that’s one of the reasons for buying it from Marks & Spencers)

Annnd then there’s the den. On Friday night, before setting off on Friday, after getting home on Saturday, on Saturday night, on Sunday morning & various parts during the day on Sunday I was asked if I could go to the den; to help at the den & asked if permission was allowed for going over to the den. The den is back. he irony here is that as Jude is allowed to go now, he pesters Jack like Jack pesters me. Jude pesters me as well, but for the sake of a tiny bit of schedenfruede, I’ll say it again: Jack gets pestered.

Having been a little disparaging there I have to say that they are making reasonable progress this time. It’s in the same place as a couple of years ago (down the street, up the street over the wall behind.. there (why should I be specific). This is the same plot of unused ground that that other kids roam through from time to time (kids ‘adventure’ – so it’s hardly surprising). Thus far it has not been discovered by the elements that found it last year & demolished it & then caused further trouble accusing Jo of doing things that he didn’t (therefore getting him into trouble & allowing the chavvy parent to be sanctimonious). So – so far no vandalism & as a result they have concentrated on building & as i say, made good progress. They have a floor & some uprights. The ground is quite sloped, but the floor (even if ‘stepped’) is …reasonably level. How it will all pan out I dunno. I called Louise before leaving work (checking on groceries0 & Jack was in a grump & had left his tools over there (!) because he & Jude had a falling out getting back over the wall (I think Jack had climbed over & Jude was supposed expected (by Jack) to lift the bag up to him. As far as I know it’s stil there if it’s not been ‘found’)