Archives: the kids

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)

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).

Back to the routines of home. Esme is a little more out of sorts than usual – Louise suspects she’s missing the attention of the others as they go off to pay with their friends. When I cam home yesterday afternoon Jude was over at Joe’s (not Jo’s) & Eve was off swimming with Amber & Jack was playing with Ethan & Aiden. Esme had been having a snooze & was a bit groggy & clingy. She remained that way most of the time until bed (distraction being the only thing that kept her happy). Lilly came over to play for a bit, but then Jude back & demanded a game of catch, so Esme wanted to join in, dropping Lily. Tears from Esme until she gets her shoes on & comes out to play & Lily has to go back over to her house.
So… In Oxford… what did we do on our first day there? As usual my memory is all fuzz. We walked into town via the canal & it was lovely. The kids were a little bored fro tie to time, but on the whole they enjoyed it as it was a good walk with plenty to look at. We headed into the Centre & tried navigate to a couple of museums with just a tourist leaflet map. That worked OK in the end & we reached the History of Science Museum – or was it just billed as The Science Museum. It’s at that very decorous part of Oxford with the round building & big wall decorated with busts of greek philosophers (in a pleasantly grotesque exaggerated style). Jut off the side of there. It’s a great place proper museum stuff with display cases full of fascinating stuff, but the kids don’t have the time of attention span for this kind of thing. They whizzed through & were bored. When I say, “The kids” I’m not including Jack – he would have quite happily stayed a lot longer & studies a lot more, but the inertia of the younger ones only allowed for skimming. Jack was not included in “The kids” quite a lot of the time. It’s funny how that is developing.

Then to the Natural History Museum (after a few false starts caused by parents being pulled in so many directions by the young & demanding. The natural History Museum in Oxford is great. There was a lot there & there was enough to keep the younger ones happy – Even Jude & Esme after Jude had managed to indulge in the calming influence of a little retail therapy…. Jude needs to satiate the ‘shop thing’ before he can relax & enjoy his surrounding – such is his need to ‘acquire’.

We spent a good long while there & as it’s not too big we could let Jack go off & explore as he wanted – and he did . In the end, when the others had finally exhausted all that we could initially provide (they were getting hungry & irritable) one of us had to go back inside to locate Jack & bring him out. I failed then Louise succeeded.

Then off down a side street to St Giles & into town but unable to get past a strategically placed kiosk with ice cream for sale.

From that day on Esme wanted ice cream every day . There came a point during the day when she would start whingeing for ice cream & carry on until properly distracted (difficult when she’s been placed in the pushchair) or satiated.

One of the tasks on the holiday for us was to not spend too much money as, (to be quite frank) we don’t have a lot of it. This meant some limitations & it meant some occasional frustration for the kids when they could not exceed the agreed budget. Jack was very moderate in his spending as he recognised he could accumulate some money & get something ‘larger’.

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’)