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.

mm – might leave off this for some dull data sifting as I’m not quite sure where to go this morning.

Planting: we were planting yesterday when got home from work. Initially there were piles of schoolwork all over the place; they having brought work home accumulated over the year. Jude’s maths book is full of encouraging comments & lots of ticks (doesn’t seem to get much wrong, but did note he occasionally omitted bits). Esme was keen to be plying footballer (passing the football back & forth on the back street). Jack had a hankering to be doing something & Debra gave us some coriander that she’s been growing & could no longer keep, so Louse decided it was planting time; & lo, it was. Could have been more messy, could have gone more wrong, but all in all it was quite a success if you discount the fact that we used too much compost & it’s liable to dry out quickly rather than retaining water & consequently the plants are under risk of dehydrating…. but aside from that it worked fine. Jack even managed to go swimming! Not at home, obviously, but Eve was persuaded to go with him to the pool. They both like swimming & they are old enough to go on their own, so we do encourage them, but Jack has played too rough with Eve previously & she was not keen to go & be dunked & dragged into deep water, so she needed some cajoling & promises of better behavior before she was happy to agree.

Jude has a party day at school today so is allowed to wear party clothes or fancy dress… Louise was worried because she didn’t think he would be happy with the selection of clobber available, but we remembered that Vicky down the road has loads of dressing up clothes, so we checked with her & she was happy to let Jude borrow something for today. Batman is going to school – but not one I really recognise: he has quite tall ears,, mainly black, with a red logo & sort of wing things from the arms rather than a cape. Still Batman, but which one?

Back to some whittering a little. I don’t feel like I’m just whittering either – which, if I type every day, I tend to accumulate some perception of…

Mind you – if I do sort out the domain & the blog thing, then it looks like I might manage to type more because it’ll be a base of communication with the family. I called dad before Jack’s birthday & caught up on news I really should know – how my Aunties being not so well & how my dad has had his claws snipped (contracting tendons on his little fingers). Hmm.. became much more conscious that I’m a little isolated over here & I don’t call my parents enough.

Not that I’ve called since… but … I did speak to mum briefly when she called for Jack’s birthday. Jack had a long chat – I was quite pleased at that.

So – Jack’s birthday passed well – he got a camera (which he really wanted, but didn’t expect) & a tent. Taken pictures & spent Friday night in the tent (with Eve). Eve & Jude tried to do Saturday night in the tent, but found it impossible to settle & thus came back to their beds …late …& Esme was still awake… She was still awake because she had a snooze in the Imperial War Museum over Salford Quays way; not somewhere we had thought of going at the start if the day, but it was raining that Saturday & we thought it better to try to get out somewhere. Sort of an after birthday treat for Jack…

Jude was bored at the museum, impatient for some retail thrills & obstreperous, even rude… Didn’t chime well with my feeling of vague reverence for those that go to war, but he’s young & the centre of his universe (a notion we are continually trying to disabuse him from focusing: we are a family unit). Funnily enough he was a lot more accepting of things when he had taken a trawl through the shop & obtained some treasures for himself. Not that these worldly goods have been looked at much since then, you understand, but it’s that moment (it’s an age thing – or it’s a Jude thing – or both). Then if you can give him the feeling that you are paying attention t him, he’s lovely – yesterday was a good example – with Eve & Esme off at Lily’s party (over the road) Jude was able to feel that he wasn’t competing so much & I was able to give him more attention & he was a happy & loving lad – no rancour at all. He went off with Louise to the Library, the supermarket & into school (open evening) where he’s had a good 15 minutes with his new teacher for next year & hopefully set out with a good impression on both sides (Eve hasn’t had this teacher & Jack didn’t get along with her).

Another blessing to count is that Jack has not fallen foul of post birthday blues as he has done previous years. On the whole he handled his birthday very well… more mature, maybe? I’m not sure. Perhaps it was something of getting the camera; something he really wanted. He has accessories (more than me) to do things like animation with it as well (gorrilapod/tripod thing)

Eve might be more difficult at the moment. She’s really enjoyed this year of school with Mrs Wilde, but I guess she’s all too aware it’s coming to an end now – at least we guess that might be it, as her ego is a lot more fragile . She seems to enjoy the structure & social of school days & hasn’t adapted so well the last couple of years to the the big summer holidays. Louise is going to try to get her onto school holiday activity programmes for her ‘school fix’. Hopefully at will help her transition.

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!

Hmmm… Could well be my last bit of ‘regular diary’ this year. Holidays start tomorrow & we’re off down to Somerset to spend Xmas with my mum & dad. Are we ready? Are we hell as like! At least, I think we’ve got all those present things now.

Jude hasn’t really got anything much in the way of presents, but he’s not 1 yet (actually… it’s not that long until he is!) so I’m sure he’ll get by on wrapping paper & such like. Must remember to pack a few of the things he likes to play with. I can predict that Louise & I will be spending a considerable amount of time going up & down the stairs with him. The stairs at maw & paws are nice, straight, wide, not too deep & ‘a good run’ up. I wonder about ornaments & alike, as he’s well into climbing up the furniture…. We will see.

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.