Back to some whittering a little. I don’t feel like I’m just whittering either – which, if I type every day, I tend to accumulate some perception of…
Mind you – if I do sort out the domain & the blog thing, then it looks like I might manage to type more because it’ll be a base of communication with the family. I called dad before Jack’s birthday & caught up on news I really should know – how my Aunties being not so well & how my dad has had his claws snipped (contracting tendons on his little fingers). Hmm.. became much more conscious that I’m a little isolated over here & I don’t call my parents enough.
Not that I’ve called since… but … I did speak to mum briefly when she called for Jack’s birthday. Jack had a long chat – I was quite pleased at that.
So – Jack’s birthday passed well – he got a camera (which he really wanted, but didn’t expect) & a tent. Taken pictures & spent Friday night in the tent (with Eve). Eve & Jude tried to do Saturday night in the tent, but found it impossible to settle & thus came back to their beds …late …& Esme was still awake… She was still awake because she had a snooze in the Imperial War Museum over Salford Quays way; not somewhere we had thought of going at the start if the day, but it was raining that Saturday & we thought it better to try to get out somewhere. Sort of an after birthday treat for Jack…
Jude was bored at the museum, impatient for some retail thrills & obstreperous, even rude… Didn’t chime well with my feeling of vague reverence for those that go to war, but he’s young & the centre of his universe (a notion we are continually trying to disabuse him from focusing: we are a family unit). Funnily enough he was a lot more accepting of things when he had taken a trawl through the shop & obtained some treasures for himself. Not that these worldly goods have been looked at much since then, you understand, but it’s that moment (it’s an age thing – or it’s a Jude thing – or both). Then if you can give him the feeling that you are paying attention t him, he’s lovely – yesterday was a good example – with Eve & Esme off at Lily’s party (over the road) Jude was able to feel that he wasn’t competing so much & I was able to give him more attention & he was a happy & loving lad – no rancour at all. He went off with Louise to the Library, the supermarket & into school (open evening) where he’s had a good 15 minutes with his new teacher for next year & hopefully set out with a good impression on both sides (Eve hasn’t had this teacher & Jack didn’t get along with her).
Another blessing to count is that Jack has not fallen foul of post birthday blues as he has done previous years. On the whole he handled his birthday very well… more mature, maybe? I’m not sure. Perhaps it was something of getting the camera; something he really wanted. He has accessories (more than me) to do things like animation with it as well (gorrilapod/tripod thing)
Eve might be more difficult at the moment. She’s really enjoyed this year of school with Mrs Wilde, but I guess she’s all too aware it’s coming to an end now – at least we guess that might be it, as her ego is a lot more fragile . She seems to enjoy the structure & social of school days & hasn’t adapted so well the last couple of years to the the big summer holidays. Louise is going to try to get her onto school holiday activity programmes for her ‘school fix’. Hopefully at will help her transition.
