Written by: paul

On a personal note I seem to be managing to shake this cold, although it lingers in my sinuses & deep down in my chest, so I sniff & I cough more than normal. Paracetamol helps as well.

So then – this weekend?
It was more prickly than usual, which was not so good. Bizarrely Jack, Esme & I went off to Manchester together as Jack was sort of determined to get out & Jude was determined to stay in – so that wasn’t going to work. Jude seemed obviously over tired – hard to say why as he seemed to have slept, but then he looked tired & had bags under his eyes & acted the grouch (more than usual; “Stupid, Idiotic” his main phrases). Not a lot we could do for him there really. Esme the whirlwind was fraying at his edges as well – she wants his attention one way or another – she wants to amuse herself & he’s always so willing to react (what better than to get a reaction?).
So – to satiate & to extricate we set off to Leeds (Huddersfield would be no good) . Just as well we missed the train or we would have ended up on the rail replacement service from Halifax onward which would have been no fun at all. Checking through the times online via Louise at home, the Manchester train was obligingly late, so we sauntered over to that platform & went the other way instead (plus I have, my pass – so I don’t need to pay).

Didn’t manage to get Jack a raincoat. The only thing that Millets had that was useful has a blue camouflage style pattern on it – which is not really what we want. Did get French & German dictionaries for school & had quite a pleasant time. I upset Esme a few times because I wouldn’t let her go wandering off in busy shops & so forth. She fell asleep in the end (of course you were tired Esme – there wouldn’t be such a need for the fuss if you weren’t so tired). Jack also managed to get more Terry Pratchet books & a Dr Who book.

While we were off swanning about Louise managed to persuade Jude & Eve down to the park. Amber came along as well – so they probably had a good play. Louise took a couple of snaps with her new phone, Eve managed to get her shoes & feet completely sodden (why she wouldn’t think that grass near a huge pool of water might be sodden & messy… Hmm… Eve & thinking…)

Eve does seem over defensive at the moment. She’s unreasonable & not really wanting to discuss anything. She strikes me as worried about things – especially her appearance & social standing, & yet she continually acts with a lack of thought or maturity (for her age). Then it struck me as we were chatting last night that Jack might have been a similar age to this at the end of Mrs Mitchell’s class (Eve is just starting with Mrs Mitchell). She is a good teacher, it’s our kids self awareness at a similar age which is the comparison point. At the moment Eve’s reaction to most things is to put one her whinge voice & complain about it all – which can get a bit wearing. Her confidence seems to be very low (which is the problem with the additional maths work – no confidence sets yourself up to fail – because you expect to fail) If she’d start it & then ask for help all would be fine – after all – this is what we expect of her, but because she’s worried about not getting it right it’s classed as too hard & not something she wants to think about doing because that just upsets her. How to set the approach more in her favour is something I’m still puzzling over – I don’t see a way as yet… I would voice my concerns to Mrs Mitchell, as (as I say) she’s a good teacher in that way (she cares). Getting past her self pity & getting her more confident in herself seems to be the best tack, but getting past that annoying, annoying whingeing is quite hard.

Jack’s
1st term year 7 timetable

Times

doodle from my pad at work, again:

And a little summary – I’ve been a little under the weather this week (& there’s been some weather to be under) – head cold & bad chest: pretty boring, & make me even duller edged than usual.

Jack has coped well with his first week at school – he’s been doing French & German (seems quite taken with French).  We popped out to Manchester today as he needed to get german & French dictionaries for school; just Jack Esme & myself.

It seems a while since I was on what I consider to be my ‘normal train’ . Perhaps things have been more lax than I was leading myself to believe? I have a head cold – that probably assists in promoting this disjointed feeling I have this morning.

Despite better efforts I was not especially earlier to bed, but I did fall asleep somewhat after reading to Eve, so that might have helped (amount of sleep) & not helped (took a while to actually get to sleep properly when went to bed).

Perhaps I think about sleep too much? I think Jack went to sleep OK – he did get up in the night to go to the toilet (which woke me up: the ‘thump’ as he hops out of his tall bed) but when I popped down to turn the bathroom light off (he left it on) I checked in on him & he was jolly sleepy – so I think he’d actually woken up to go to the toilet. It would seem his body still has bad habits even if he’s trying to sleep better now.

So what was his first day at school like? It’s difficult to get any really deep impression out of him, but he’s most definitely happy. It was outside PE (& they should have had their outside kit (yet to be delivered by the school) so when he said that they should have had their other kit Louise & I were worried that we had made a mistake, but it seems that everyone else had made the same mistake; Jack said everyone was wearing their indoor whites outside, In a tremendously heavy shower from which they may have had to retreat. All his kit was damp in his bag; we’d not thought to supply a plastic bag for these events. I’m not sure now what lessons he’s actually done, but it might not be the case that at this early stage there hasn’t been too much in that way. All he’s had to do in the way of ‘homework’ is to copy his timetable into his log book; nothing too arduous to start with.

After all this I didn’t really get info from Jude & Eve as to what their new classes were like. Jude is with a teacher that Jack didn’t get along with, so we’re needing to keep an eye on that one & Eve s with a teacher that Jack really got on with, but then had a really bad year with his classmates… So again, it may be a case of keeping an eye on Eve, because there area lot of (shall we say) ‘competitive’ girls in her class; not necessarily academically competitive.

Esme has Lilly (from across the road) in playgroup with her now, so she likes that. They were making a noise & fuss upstairs on their own yesterday when I got home, so I went quietly up too see what nonsense they might be getting up to & they had set themselves out with a play picnic & were ‘reading’ Pingu books to each other. I slipped quietly away again – that’s the sort of play to encourage, not disturb.

Later setting out to work this morning, because I’ve seen Jack to the bus stop. I was going to see him onto the bus, but as there are 3 others he knows there it seemed a little gooseberry for me to hang about bringing to tone down , so I’ve scarpered to get my train. He’s probably travelling by now… on his was to his new school. Crikey!

I’m sure he’ll do fine.

It’s not been so bad all this getting ready. Louise’s most stressful point was ironing on the school badge to the blazer – think she was just so worried about getting it wrong. The badge was also to big for the blazer pocket & therefore overlaps the bottom of the pocket a bit… I was quite pleased to see that Thomas had the same arrangement on his blazer, so I mentioned that to Louise (quick call to say alls OK)..

It was quite nice to see all the kids this morning as well – we set off (Jack & I) with everyone waving at Jack down the backstreet. Naturally Esme wanted to come, but she made less fuss (in the end) than I thought she would. She wanted to go to school as well, & ‘m not sure what she’s made of Jack going off at a different time. I wonder if she’s expecting to see him at National when she goes to playgroup this afternoon?

Eve is now the oldest Schroeder at the school.

She was trying a little math work the other day & was finding it a little hard. She didn’t like it not being easier & complained about it (badly) Hm – when I say badly, I mean that she didn’t complain well; it was more like it was unfair than than it was something to be resolved & she’ll need to work on that approach to things if she’s to get a grip on it all… we’ll see – it might just take a little more maturity…

Hmm – we all managed quite a good weekend there.

Saturday… Oh, specifics…

There was something from Friday I was going to try to remember as well…
I recall thinking that to myself, but that’s about all; such is elusive memory. We didn’t go out on Saturday… I went? Not sure….
Well – if I had the chance to write on a more day to day basis I’m sure that things would seem to be more cohesive, but …

Anyway

On Sunday Louise’s mum came over to look after Eve, Jude & Esme as we had planned on an excursion out with Jack to get stuff for his new school; there are a few essential bits that need to be gathered & we needed the ability to concentrate on just Jack. If we had the others there they would have been aggrieved at the amount of time spent just on Jack & having demands of their own, whereas with just Jack we could concentrate on the task to hand & worry less of what the others might demand.

It was also just jolly pleasant to be out like this; no stress at all (well the was purchasing stress, but not ‘juggling’ stress). Jack is now just about prepared for school. He’s ready & I think he’s quite excited about oit all. He tried on the ‘full uniform’ later in the evening & looked jolly smart ; paraded over to see Caroline next door (Louise having a chat along the way while I was bath monitor). All in all it was a very good day out; retail therapy (for my part I got a new raincoat & visited Muji) Jack got to feel it was all a bit of a treat (interspersed with dull essential shopping bits) & Louise a relatively easier day (I could never say that Louise has it easy as she bears the bulk of family management; easier rather than easy)

Monday (as this was a Bank Holiday) we were off out again; this time to Huddersfield, this time all of us. A little later in setting out this time, but that’s to be expected. Jack was I bed until 30 minutes before we set off. He’d been up late reading again. At the moment he’s wanting us to wake him earlier every day as he’s trying to get his clock back to a more normal waking time for getting off to school. Actually he’ll be needing to be getting up earlier than he used to do for school as he’s to be getting a bus at.. um… when? I think it’ll be 7:30… which should be …interesting for him. Only a week away now.

So away onto the train (only just caught it again – better than only just missing). Esme was a little over excited & Jude was not feeling his best – so he found her more annoying than usual & I ended up making Esme bawl because she wouldn’t leave Jude & Eve alone – I offended her by making to put her in the pushchair for the offence of ‘not listening’. She recovered after a good few cuddles & was even a little better behaved…. for a bit.

Change at Halifax for Huddersfield & a quieter train. Esme amuse us here & there & the general tone was better, which basically seemed to work for the whole day;the kids were pretty good. We bumped into a school shop that sold the right rugby socks for Jack (sold Crossley Heath stuff in general & was pleasant with it as well). Realised that we needed to get a gum shield & shin pads as well (but they were a tad expensive there) & went on to find shoes! Jude was a little upset that a pair that he really liked (reflective piping & 3 colour flahing lights) were not his size, but he managed to get over it quite well. Esme was a little upset that all the shoes that she tried on & were gorgeous could not be bought for her. She has a red patent brogue ankle boot with laces, & Eve even managed to swing a pair of impractical slip ons because they were cheap. Waterstones for Jack, Esme & myself (Jack wants to keep stocked up on Terry Pratchet) & Clarkes for Jude, Eve & Louise for the school shoes. Tye only blot after that was BHS refusing to make up a cheese sandwich for the kids forcing us to go elsewhere. The kids got some hot chocolate from a cafe. Actually,, I think we decided we were about done then; we’ve done well – we have what we came for – the kids are content – best quit while we’re ahead. I headed for the train station while Louise popped to Sainsburys to pick up some essentials. A little bit of tension at the train station: we were all waiting – the train pulled in – we waited for Louise… We positioned ourselves to get on & looked down the platform. The train is due in 3 minutes, 2 minutes, 1 minute… I mutter about thinking we’ll just have to wait for the next train & there’s Louise at the other end of the platform! Everyone on – me last with the empty pushchair & the door makes it’s warning beeps & closed behind me. Better than just missing it (it would have been an hour of waiting for the next one – plenty of time for the kids to get grumpy). Louise even managed to (literealy just managed to) grab some schooltrousers for Jude while she was shopping as well (bonus).

Once inside the British Museum Jack was keen that we find the Rosetta Stone. This surprised me a little, but I guess it is the sort of thing he will have read about. It’s the first time I’ve managed to get the the museum since they opened up the central area & it is very impressive – more s than pictures would have you think (because it’s about ‘space’ & such things are hard to convey on still images). Fortunately the Rosetta Stone was just on the right off the main central area, so that was an easy one… Then we did a round through ancient Egypt back down through Babylonian & bumped into the Children’s Museum Shop. After a good deal of flapping in there from the younger ones (which Jack & Louise avoided by departing for the loo & then drifting into the Greeks) it was decided that as time was pressing on (& it was pressing on & there was some squawking) that we’d best be moving on. Again Jack could have quite happily spent a great deal of time in the museum pondering things, but the family currents swept him along. For Louise’s curiosity it was left out of the gates, left a little & again, 1st right & along & there’s Senate House at the junction on Keppel Street. Her old window view of Senate House is a little obscured by building site bits & bobs…. There seems to be a bit going on – not least a great crane sicking out from the centre of the LSHTM, not that the admissions are in the building any more. Mind you – if they are building the place up (using the disused inner courtyard areas) then they might move admissions back into the building…. you never know…

OK – Catch a 29 on Gower down to Trafalgar – it’s a tourist spot – let the kids see. They might only remember the huge TV screen with China vs. USA basketball playing. They stood there a while by the fountains in a light rain… bit the rain became heavier & heavier & we decided it was time to retreat – back on a bus to Paddington. They’ve had a tiny glimpse of London – some museums, some grand streets & some central streets – but only a glimpse really. I wonder what they made of it – how it will figure? Jude might just have found it frustrating (museums & walking) Esme’s ideas would certainly be more abstract but I hope Eve & Jack came away with a little taste of interest (the wider world). Paddington was a food hunt for the tran home. We were evidently early enough to actually get seats (busy train) but not so early that the kids were bored & frustrated. The journey back to Oxford went really well all things considered.

Then next day, (Monday) unfortunately – it was time to prepare for heading home in the afternoon. We popped over to the local playground in the morning, & then (Louise) got most everything packed. Getting them to pay attention to the deadline of leaving was a little headed than we wanted & we missed the bus we planned to get, but we did get a bus in plenty of time & then there was that mammoth journey home (delays leaving us 45 mins late getting in (hey ho). On the Trans Penninnne train Louise noticed the ‘dour northern faces’ – Oxford was actually jolly friendly & cheery – it’s a good spot.

Oh, that’s nice: stuffy train & they’ve put the heating on… I know this as I’m sat on the heaters.

So, what of the weekend?

Low key – not much doing… A quite easy ‘never stop’ time rather than a frenetic & trouble ‘never stops’ time – which was quite nice. I needed to do a few jobs like, the garden, but didn’t quite manage this. We did tidy up & I did get a new vacuum cleaner (DC08) from the market. The old hoover had stopped… There was a shoe with laces on the bathroom floor & both the carpet & the lace were dark & Louise managed to hoover both, but unfortunately the hoover couldn’t eat the accompanying shoe, & the roller couldn’t turn for being caught up in lace & … well… the motor seemed to suffer burnout. It made a most peculiar noise when turned on & started smoking, so that’s not been used again. Shame really – that was a good DC07. So we have a cylinder dyson rather than an upright one now, which seems to be all well & good – seems to be working fine & all that. Forty pounds we could have done without spending, but still – you need something. And we applied a little tidying up – sorted a few things through & eliminated a bit of creeping clutter. Not that clutter will ever be defeated, but it’s good to feel a modicum of control in these things.

Holidays? Not finished whittering about these yet, have I? The Caption Convention went on to the Sunday but I didn’t bother with a return as we had said the the kids that we woould go to London & therefore we did. Sunday we did the London day trip. This meant that we had to be up early & organised (which we managed quite well) & off on the 09:38 to Paddington. Turned into quite a crowded train. We had 6 seats to ourselves to start with,, but relinquished a couple to a couple & their toddlers.

Arriving in the capital though the Westbourne Park, Royal Oak areas was interesting for me as that’s quite early London in my personal history; coming into town for the London Cartoon Centre Based at the Potobello Project from Royal Oak tube & then later working at the Kensal Rd LCC – passing Tresllic Tower. Had thery done iup those old asbestos riddled blocks at last? Were they really that bad in the end or was it just part of Dame Shirley Westminster shuffle?

We walked a bit more in London – a spot of Hyde Park to start with (handy playground for picnic prior to setting out proper) Down past Albert on the was to The Natural History Museum. Then realising that Sunday may not be the best day for a day out I London as there was a 45min queue to see the dinosaurs… hurumph. We went round the museum a little. Jude was disappointed, but he would not have the patience to queue & then be shuffled round with the snake of visitors the dinosaurs like everyone else. We made do with some marine life & mammals, but then decided that as time was not in abundance on a day trip we would skidaddle off elsewhere. A bus to the Centre of getting off past Piccadilly & walked though Chinatown, skirting Covent garden, then up to the British Museum. Brief stop before entering so I could nip off to Gosh Comics & grab some water to drink & then into the museum again. Esme, who had drifted off on the bus into town woke as we ascended the lift thing outside the museum (Maybe because Jack & Jude had a little squabble over button pressing)

on biggr is flickr