Archives: holiday

Oh, Eve got back fine last Wednesday night – the only seeming problem being that she lost her phone (possibly near Notre Dame – loss off something being by nature unknowable in the definite) so all that effort to get thing onto the phone for entertainment was largely lost – hey ho.    Turns out getting that all sorted out was a lot easier than I’d anticipated, as part of the ‘deal’ with these phones I’ve got Jude and Eve was the cheapness of the contract allowing insurance to be part of of all – so it being insured, it’s already replaced.  This is in, marked contrast to Jude’s phone being repaired under manufacturers warranty,  which took nigh on a month.

Still…

They’re all on half term this week (wish I was).  Jack and Esme went off on a geocaching hike yesterday afternoon. They think they overshot the target (bridestones) and the sole of Esme’s welly came adrift so she was very muddy/soggy when they got back at dusk – and being father, I ended up muddy trying to pull the wounded welly off her.

Crikey – I had a day off work, Louise & I went shopping & al was well! We had a pleasant time & Louise got a few most definitely required things that she needed & although we forgot to do one or 2 other bits & bobs, the day went to plan.

It was good.

We were happy.

And getting home, the kids were all right – they were playing outside… & well… that’s good as well.

Jack’s been a little harder to pin down on his homework again (after having been subjected to a ‘talk’ on it the other day he’s still resiliently resistant…) And we have the problem of ‘don’t blame him’. I mean – I’m one to talk – I know I disliked the intrusion of homework but then I was very lucky, in that I was managed to avoid the task of doing said (through luck & ‘changing schools’ – nothing of my design). I disliked academic things in general though – I was not a good student. Louise was more diligent & …well… academic; I mean – she has a Masters Degree & I failed to obtain my HND – I think that speaks volumes. But even she concedes that she left things to the last minute (at 5 o’clock in the morning after being out the night before was possibly an admission too far (to Jack) I thought).

Well – it’s parent’s evening, this evening, at Jack’s school… All in all this should be interesting. I guess that we should be on our ‘best behaviour’ & all that… Okay – Louise is fine, it’s just me that has to try to do a little thinking before opening his big fat gob.

Been reading a bit recently, rather than typing & I know I’ve not ‘posted’ owt for some time, therefore all is behind… I am slack, I am remiss – I’ve enjoyed reading.

Half term holidays last week & the kids were… themselves… noisy, boisterous & demanding & drove Louise a little nutty.. And she’s not been able to get out to even do some shopping (not that grocery shopping is what might be called ‘fun’, but it’s a change of pace). Still there have been better bits & all that, so I shouldn’t paint a monochrome picture.. They did manage to get all down to the park one day – that’ll be easier as the year progresses… it’s a little less hospitable in February.

At work… Well… We did get a visit from our new overlords last week… Delayed from 2 weeks past due to snow & … er… weather or whatever. No pronouncements yet, & little progress. As expected they’re not so impressed with our customer database that might require a little ‘normalisation’ here & there. Naturally I hate Sage & naturally I’ve been handed a wodge of stuff from ‘aged debt’ to see how valid it all actually is? On top of everything else I do this seems that my progress on this one may be …limited. I have advised this & been told that I should try to get the other lads to help.. which I’ve said would take better people management skills than I have… essentially I know the response – I’ve tested the water & as thought I’ve been told I’m a fool for ‘taking it on’ – therefore enrolling them of a ‘fools errand’ that I’ve been set seems an argument I can’t win.

Hmm – well work is busy & I guess that’s to be expected after things have mounted up while I was away over Christmas & New Year… and I’ll have too much to do because of the month start jobs as well. So… well… there’s nothing unusual there.

Not been typing for a while so I guess I have the freedom to write about quite a few bits & bats. It’s not like this is a diary or anything where I’m beholden to detail my daily musings… In a way that would be better n a way that would be worse. It would be better ‘picture’ if I was stricter with my jottings, but I would rebel soon enough resentful of the ‘duty’ beholden on me by the act of writing. At least I have a level of documentation here that is just about sustainable. Besides I’m not setting time aside to specifically mutter – where would I find that time?

That said I do feel a little guilty that I did not manage to get a little more detail in over the festive period as my detail of the Christmas period & what the kids were up to is going to be a little blurred & I think that my parents at least (for whom this is often pitched) will want to know more detail. Anyone who’s called the Schroeder house on the phone to speak to me will know that my attention is not so great as to be able to have an in depth conversation without many interruptions. Mind you it’s probably more sensible that the kids take over the phone conversations anyway as they’re certainly more entertaining. I was a little annoyed at Jude shouting rudely at me in the background when Jack was on the phone to my dad when they called on Christmas day, but as Louise pointed out, it was a little late in the day for a boy who’d been up as early as he dare (& he has a brass neck). Still – such detail may have been missed & I’m a fool for pointing out my own embarrassment. Can’t recall why I was considered idiotic at the time… probably something minor in the way of peacekeeping.

Christmas day? Well it went OK this year. Louise got a bit cross at .. um… Hm… I forget now. It was after lunch though & she was peeved for a bit. Got over it soon enough & it was probably my fault. Hey look at me I’m moaning on about bad things! I’ve already said I thought that the day went well (glossing?). I’ve no idea now when the kids were awake this year, Jude & Eve would have been first & they were noisy enough n their excitement to wake up Jack & Esme. Jack was a bit put out when he couldn’t find his Santa stocking & went back to bed, but I’d had to keep that back as I was sure he was still awake at midnight when I dropped them off with the others; Jack’s sleeping habits go awry during holidays – staying up late reading & ligging in bed in the mornings.

With them all up & Santa’s offerings demolished there’s no point in keeping them un suspense for more presents (as they just get all cranky with the anticipation) so I dragged down all the presents from us & the wider family. Mum & dad did well (ahem) with the remote control copter for Jack, the scooter for Jude, the shopping trolley for Esme & the Brats stuff for Eve as they enjoyed these things greatly. The shopping trolley was the centre of a few Eve, Jude, Esme games during the next few days. Jack broke the copter, unfortunately but we now have a replacement unit from the manufacturers. He did spend a deal of time attempting to fix it using blue-tack which was largely unsuccessful but it got off the ground… it was just a little .. erratic.

OK – half term hols clocks change & funnily enough the kids were awake this morning before I set off for work… Eve at 05:45 & Jude probably not long after & Esme, naturally Esme was awake before six… sheesh. Remains to be seem when Jack actually stirs, but he was later to bed than usual & even later to sleep knowing him… He’s in an … undisciplined (shall we say) mood as he’s on half term, so getting him to apply himself to his homework is a little difficult (nailing jelly to the wall – bear I mind we’re vegetarian so you can’t overdo the gelatin).

Jack might have more, but might have less homework… He was ill on the last Thursday of school (sick in the toilets, apparently). It might have been the stomach bug that Louise had (& I may have had very mildly) but it may also have been mounting stress & a lack of sleep as his sleeping habits were starting to get worn – up early, yet starting to try (or being cursed with) staying awake later (he’s difficult to gauge). Therefore he still has homework that he should have completed for the Friday to complete and the homework he was set over the holidays. So – he has additional homework that he should have completed, but also missing a few lessons at the end of term (he didn’t go in on the Friday, but there were only 2 classes that day) he has potentially less as he’s missed opportunities to be given homework. Now, the other thing is; I’m not sure as to what the school policy is toward missed homework assignments… Is he supposed to do these at a later date? That might be harsh…

Still Louise has thought of some bribery to get him going on what he needs to get done – so hopefully that should help him concentrate on what he has to do, rather than on Fantastic Contraptions.

As the kids are all on half term hols, then Louise will hopefully be dragging them out to meet me after work today. Louise wants to get a present for her friend’s birthday party at the end of the week(I should really try to get something for Neil – worrying about what to get has yet to result into anything concrete in the way of a proper clue) Annnd Louise’s birthday is around the corner as well (although I do have an idea what I should be getting there… maybe.

That and the fact that I need to be getting some new shoes.. I’m not so pleased at that as my zip up Chelsea boot style cherry Doc Martens are officially dead & I didn’t get to wear the soles out… The zip went on Saturday; not sure how, but it would not fix, so I ended up breaking the zip to get the boot off my foot. Ah, well – they lasted longer than a pair of shoes usually lasts for me.

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)

Caroline’s (next door) sister Marianne popped in on the Wednesday while we were away … or was it Thursday – I’m really not so good at this precision lark… It was pleasant to see her – not so surprising as she is Dr Susie friend & in a way responsible for our being there. She was dropping a friend off at the station & he needed to pick a couple of things up from the house. And then on Thursday, (yes definitely Thursday) we met Caroline (from Hebden Bridge) from the train station in Oxford. When Louise told her that we were planning this Oxford Jaunt Caroline had decided that she might come & stay down here a little with us which was very good of her. The train was a little late in (this apparently happens a lot at Oxford) so the kids were a little bored by the time she arrived – they were glad to see though. I’m not sure it helped Esme’s perception of ‘distance from home’ – alll these familiar faces. She kept asking about going to Hebden Bridge little things like that. As the holiday progressed she asked more about the playground near Dr Susie’s house though – she did like it there.

Friday Caroline spent the day with us.
We didn’t get back to the Natural History Museum, but we went to the Museum in the Town Hall (History of Oxford) which did have a few things that the kids could enjoy (dressing up). We also went to the Cafe there. Set out for the Botanical gardens though Christchuch fields – took a wrong turn & ended up walking along a very pleasant waterway path. Would have been more enjoyable if there were no boats or punts because Jack then got a serious hankering after boating. Not that there looked to be anyone under 16 (or 18) in a boat or there was anywhere that we could hire one from, but that matters not – he got himself a bit upset about that; which was a shame. He did come out of it & he was Ok after that – so that’s good. Naturally Eve & Jude spent far too much time close to the edge of water throwing things in – which meant that Esme was either ina pushchair or on my houlders & continuously complaining that she would be good & then completely not being good when she wasn’t… Hmm… yes it was a little stressful… That’s how things went a lot of the time though, so the levels of stress decline whe the stress is at a constant (if you see what I mean). We have wilful children & although this can be frustrating we’d prefer them to have will than to drone through life. Sanity & freedom is a hard balancing act.

We didn’t make the Botanical Gardens in the end (I didn’t know it was the desired destination or I might have had looked at the map). The wrong turn led us that merry dance – it’s a lovely walk, but it wasn’t where we planned to be.
So we took a back route back toward St Giles for the stocking of supplies & the catching of the bus & headed back to base., Pleasant evening with a cople of bottles of beer & wine (me beer, Louise & Caroline wine) Jack was late to bed as well, but he slept well. Louise was a little groggy in the morning so we didn’t manage to make the 10 o’clock opening for the Caption Convention (not that I’d seriously planned how to get there or anything. Fortunately I’d remembered the name of the venue correctly & we got there without much difficulty (in the afternoon) – The East Oxford Community Centre is “The stop before Tescos” (helpfully shouted out to the bus driver from the bus) on the Cowley Rd.

Time at the Caption Convention was all too brief. I guess all in all I got to say hello to a few people, but actual chatting seemed a bit of a push as n the end Jude refused to go back in& I was left with Esme, Eve & Jack while Louise & Jude went back into town to meet up with Caroline (They all went to the Ashmolean before Caroline had to catch a train home).

I’m frayed at the edges as usual – tired & so on. Back to the usual routine & it’s wearing. Jack is also adjusting his sleep patterns for the worse again. When the holiday started he was terrible. I don’t think it helped that although there were no TVs in the house, there had been one left (thought not to be working) in Jack’s attic space; he was never gong to leave that alone. It worked…. all it needed was switching on & tuning, so Jack had a telly in his room… I’m sure he’ll do his best to deny it but I’d say the temptation to watch it late at night was probably a little too much from time to time. He was verboten, but (in general with our kids) we do say, “Don’t” until we’re blue in the face with little effect. We allowed the trust though – it seemed the sensible thing to do & Jack was doing his best (& did very well) at being sensible. Toward the end of the holidays (when he was settling in) he started sleeping quite well for him. He had a light on, but didn’t have a radio, so it was quiet & if I’m not mistaken he got more used to this & was able to sleep quite soundly. It will have helped (I guess) that he banked up a good portion of tiredness to start with that he needed to work through. Back home now – it’s more usual habits. He went down to the library before tea to pick up another Terry Pratchet audio book yesterday & started listening to this (over watching telly, reading, or the Internet) & was still doing so at 10:20 after gleaming a little more time downstairs than I intended to let him have. He still wasn’t asleep when I (very very tired) went to bed at 11:10 (I’d been doing some data sifting in some spreadsheets for this ZUM! Database I’m attempting to create). Darn… Just realised I’ve forgotten to get the screen shots for the posting guide for dad off my computer to work on… never mind.

Back to the holidays… Ice Cream at St Giles… then what? I’m really not sure. Was that the day we went the the Tourist Information next & then went to Waterstones as Esme claimed she needed a poo & then didn’t & then Eve blurted about Ben10 books to Jude just after Louise had managed to calm him down from all his, “I want’s” & stress ensued so we just decided it was better to go home?

Might have been – but that might have been the next day… I don’t really recall. I shouldn’t point fingers… As I’ve said – Jack was OK for the most part on holiday but it took the younger three a while to settle into things & we do suspect that Eve was not so well at times (she’s not so quick to admit she’s unwell, but she’s harder work when she is because she’s less ‘together’ (being diplomatic).. It also seemed that Esme had an aura of excitement, giddiness & silliness that rubbed off an any youngster that came close enough to her. This tended to cause a giddiness feedback loop that was especially difficult to dissipate. I think on the third day we decided that it was foolish to leave the pushchair at home because she needed to be sat in there from time to time to allow giddiness overload to subside. When in the chair & in town she would at some point realise that she had not had an ice cream yet & holler until she was assuaged. She is only three & it is a difficult ‘boundary defying’ age for her (or rather for us).

<a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/monocat/sets/72157606709144600/”>holiday snaps</a>