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.
Rain awoke me this morning – a tremendous downpour at 05:20 or so. Peeped out the velux before closing it & the world was a pale orange – the sunrise through the dense rain. By the time I was out of bed 15 minutes later the glow had gone (the rain slightly less intense)
As we’re stuck prior to summit tunnel this morning it seems likely that there’s a certain amount of flooding in there, but as a train has just come through from Manchester I’d say it’s just causing signaling problems (train proceeding with a toot of horn).
Forgot to mention yesterday that Esme slept through the night in her bed (well, the futon). She woke up as I came back upstairs to rouse Louise for the day. I tried taking Esme upstairs to see she might settle to sleep again (it being a bit early, really) but she was too happy to be awake & therefore gave up & took her downstairs to let her play. Louise likes to have a little peace in the mornings before the kids wake up but Esme couldn’t allow that yesterday.
More den building for me yesterday – more Jack pestering from Jack, rather than Jude. I hung out for quite a while before popping over when I got home, because Louise wanted some adult company & I needed a rest. This frustrated Jack a little as I was ‘professionally fence sitting’, “I refer the [honorable] gentleman to the reply I made earlier”. Still – Jack had me over there before & after tea – bashing big 6″ nails into wood & working up a sweat (sweaty sweaty work). I’ve given him hints on how best to progress today – using some twine rather than just nails. That should help with strength in some areas (I have no building skills, but it seems i have reasonable bodging instincts).
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’)
So, that was Jack’s last day at junior school yesterday. He’d been there since playgroup… It’s quite something when you think about it…
Summer holidays start today.
and Esme now has a bike!
Big Empty train (strike day – limited service). Hey – my brain is the same!
It would rather be sleeping, but that could not be the case even without work to attend, as Eve was awake before I left this morning.
I shall attempt to recount a little of the holidays again. If Boxing Day was Thursday (I think it was) then Neil & Jess arrived in the afternoon. This pleased Jack no end, as he really likes them. They all had a good time. Eve tuckered out again & so did Jude (later), but Jack kept going. He would have kept on & on. He was starting to tire, even with his buoyant mood & excitement he was getting clumsy, so rather than he be upset by upsetting someone, we upset him; by taking him to bed. He howled & protested for a while, but calmed down with the reading of a new book; Ivor (the Engine) & The Foxes – which has a mounting sense of excitement as Mrs Fox gets chased.
The next day we went to this open farm. The really good thing that the kids enjoy is the barn which has one of those inside play areas – all slides & climbing & …well- adventuring for the young ‘uns.
They stayed there a good while & bounced on the trampolines & Eve had a go on the tractors (push along & pedal). Was not so mild that day tho – so the adults (Louise & I, me mum & Neil & Jess) did a lot of standing/sitting around being cold. Jack befriended some other boys in one of the climbing frames & then went off to play on the slides. The boys all then started shouting, “Jack! ….Jack! JACK!” etc. Like he gets an instant cult… weird.
Saturday was pottering around & packing. Not so interesting for the kids, but Jack & Eve did get a little walk on the beach with Neil & Jess.
Traveled back that night & home. Only Eve worried us on the journey. After we left the motorway & were ‘on the final straight’ metaphorically, she stirred & was upset. She cried & was almost to the ‘distressed enough to be sick’ point. She did one of those magnificent pre puke belches she does – forced out by a cough… but she managed to keep it together.
Jack awoke the next morning & announced to Louise, “That was the best holiday I’ve ever had” (as already mentioned).
They’ve settled down quite well. Jack still has a slightly frantic edge, but nothing compared to pre Xmas.
We have Caroline from London visiting now – so I was up far too late last night. My body has not yet adjusted to the early morning wake up that I have to do to get to work – so I was already a bit of a wreck by the time I was coming home. Actually – I’ve been clumsy as well – which is more than tired… Aha! I can happily blame this cold, then.
This being New Years Eve, it looks a lot like I will be up late again tonight. Bonus point is that I do not have to go to work tomorrow – yeay!
After an all too quick holiday I’m back on this train to work. As suspected, I had no time to sit down & type – but that is not a bad thing, as far as I’m concerned. I had a pleasant time – thoroughly pleasant.
Jack said as he woke on the 1st day back at home, “That was the best holiday I ever had”.
I think the madness of anticipation had calmed down in Jack once we got there & he settled more to his usual self. He was really good & loving. The journey down (my dad drove us) nearly went to plan. If we had not hit a traffic jam for 2 hours on the M5 down from Manchester to Birmingham it was likely that the kids would have stayed asleep better. As it was, they all awoke at some stage here. Eve managed to get back to sleep. Jude was asleep & awake, much as his sleeping pattern had been the past few days, & Jack just stayed awake. We got in late & Jack was buzzing with the fact that we were there at Grandma & Grandma’s house. All this meant that he was frighteningly late to bed. Louise said that I was reading to him past 12:00 (or was it 01:00). He was keen as mustard to get to the beach on the 1st day, but we didn’t make it. I can’t really recall why, but probably because Louise & I were still in a state of chaos. We managed to get out to the shops to get some supplies & essentials, but that was about it.
Christmas Eve, Jack was keen to be off to bed early. It was the ‘early to bed so the morning comes earlier’ thing. Again – not sure if the evening bedtime went more to usual time or not… I suspect that it did, as I seem to recall reading to him.
Up on Christmas day not too early – which was nice. When I was young, I could hardly sleep for the excitement of it all, but ours did well. Presents a plenty – & the kids were jolly happy. Jude did not get much, but then – he’s not really at an age to appreciate much of what’s going on. Christmas day mum & dad had the restaurant open. I’m sure we’ve done this scenario before, but when it was starting to get late – past 5? & the kids were starting to flag, it seemed a bit odd to have not seen much of them. We had been down to the beach during the day & they had a massive walk (in their terms) down to the lighthouse. The weather was unseasonably mild; it was pleasantly sunny. We were asked for buckets & spades, but we didn’t bring them, as we didn’t think that it would be this nice. Still, Jack & Eve had fun & they prodded the sand, jumped about splashed, climbed in the sand dunes. They were starting to get worn out by the final stretch home, but the promise of ice creams from the garage shop (next door to the parental abode) got them there. All that took rather a long time. The kids, Eve especially, were flagging badly by evening & it was starting to look like bed time was on the cards. Eve had some boiled egg for tea. She was starting to look like she was going to just drop asleep there & then, when…. Mum & Dad returned! Much bustle. A Christmas dinner suddenly appears & we are all around to table. After dinner is our traditional ‘presents from the family’ time. Eve said that she would only open 2 & then go to bed. She then proceeded, with Jack, to joyfully rip open the multitude of presents. Much excitement (all over again!). So many toys! Can’t recall when bedtime came, but it was very late again. They were happy.
Boxing day – Mum & dad nipped off for Golf in the morning.
To those I missed – Happy Xmas!
Went to church last night. The whole family. How…. odd. There was a ‘Christingle service’. It was CofE – I was brought up CofE & I’ve never seen one of these before. Louise was busy making tea & Jack asked if he could go. Um… Ok, Louise said – so cheese on toast is rolled out at the dozen & we’re tidied up & off! We even make it there on time. On entering the church we were given an orange with a red ribbon 4 cocktail sticks with sweets & a candle stuck in it; all very significant details. We sat upstairs in the upper pews. Nice view of the wooden beams. Interesting church – can’t place it in a ‘traditional architectural’ era. Suspect not all of it is not that old, but has airs to look that way. Service went well & the bizarre totem was explained. Eve needed a wee just at the end – so had to take her outside with her ‘portable potty’ & try to get back in while everyone else was leaving. Jack consumed the sweets on the sticks stating something like, “I like sweets, I do”.
I think I’ve got the majority of my Xmas cards sorted out this year. I would send many more cards if I was assured of correct addresses & actually had taken note of people’s addresses properly. I am poor at such details; bad paul. The most amazing thing I find about this is the fact that I managed to get organised this year. It’s been a dreadful month for getting anything done.