I could do with a quicker start up time in Ubuntu… I think when CrunchBang (#!) get a mature eee distro I might move there.

Yar,yar,yar… (for the sense the above makes)

So – another weekend out & about… We had planed to go to see Inkhart at the cinemas this weekend, but it seems that this as not the last weekend of Jan – as Jan manages to place a foot into next weekend after all – so we had a rethink. Mentioned to Louise that there’s a Croc (shoe) shop in Manchester & Eve is in need of new school shoes (her last pair seemingly falling apart) so we needed to go somewhere. It was planned that Sat would be the shopping day, but we turned it to Sunday & invited Louise’s mum along as well.

Saturday was a playing day for the kids & they did rather excel at it – not together most of the time, but individually they did fine.

Sunday we were worried about panicked setting off – didn’t want to repeat the previous weekend (although I pointed out to Louise that we did set out 15 minutes earlier than we’d planned to do last week). We were supposed to meet Louise’s mum at the station, but it was not surprise that she turned up at the house – as I said, she’d be early & she wouldn’t want to wait up at the station for us if she were. Served as a reasonable ‘were just about to go’ reminder for the kids as well – bit of excitement as well.

Train was crowded – didn’t all get to sit together – so I’m sat with Esme with Eve & Louise’s mum on the seat behind and the boys a distance away up the train. Packed lunches passed down we set in for the journey, Esme delighted to have an audience in the seat behind as well as next to her (lot’s of bouncing around). Standing room only past Littleborough stopped Esme being able to wander anywhere & she couldn’t do her parade down to the toilet because the train was just too packed (she was not desperate, just loves the novelty).

Shopping went OK. It was useful that we had to split up just when we reached the first shops – Jude needed the loo. So I went back with Esme & Jude to get the Crocs while Louise took Eve off to shoe shops (proper) to get her shoes. This effectively stymied the critical mass off fussing that they reach when they al want something in a shop. Jude & Esme got Crocs & Eve got shoes & no one got upset. Jack got to read (as he’s not interested in getting shoes, nor does he need any). Esme’s Crocs are too big at the moment, but they last a good while these things. Jude wore his most of the day. They are decorated with Wall-E & are brighter than we would have normally bought, but sales is sales. Eve is also happy with her new choice of footwear.

That was the predominant reason for going, so that done we decamped to a cafe (even though they’d eaten on the way in this is expected). The had fun & were satiated (Jack couldn’t eat all the chocolate & orange cake we got (although he would have drunk another 2 cups of hot chocolate given the chance… he wasn’t – just a bottle of water). A nice thing about BHS Cafe is that it’s big – you can be lost with your unruly brood in a corner & not feel that you’re bothering anyone. Not that they were badly behaved or anything – they were just a little exuberant (they usually are – they’re a happy bunch on the whole).

They to Waterstones which has this nice area at the back of the shop where the kids can sit about. They had fortne cookies out (Chinese new year doncha know) but I’m not sure they laiked the taste of this. Jack found hs book, Jude accumulated a little pile of things, but then decided on the one ‘Go go gamig thing as he was paying for this out of his own vouchers rather than us payng for it for him (shrewd). Esme wanted books, & so did daddy, but the book he wanted (on the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire) was too expensive).

Thence tesco (sundries) & home. In early for the train so although it was packed we had plumb seats this time.