Archives: eve

Jack not so well today. We went out to Manchester… there was a pretext that I hand in the job application to the GMP that I’d competed at 01:15 yesterday. Thence back into the centre of Manchester – some food, & Louise & Jack went one way with me taking Eve, Jude & Esme down to Paperchase (via the vodaphone shop – spec for Eve’s birthday pressie. loopng back to meet up with Louise & Jack at Watertones.

Jack was sick this evening – bit of a temperature, but he’s quite a bit better at the moment (just right for staying up all night…) He has a new mp3 player that I picked up for him off the market for £8 – was worried that it might not work, but it seems fine – he’s onto some audiobooks.

Esme seems chipper now – she had a sleep yesterday morning – didn’t go to playgroup & that sort of thing; rested as best Esme is able (active fidget). Listening to N.A.S.A track Money bemoaning money being the root of all evil – why does no one remember it’s the love of money that’s the root of evil, not the money in itself…. It’s an important distinction & singing it wrong in a catchy tune… ah well – I sound a fool – it’s a catchy tune & the phraseology doesn’t flow with the distinction. Meh.

I’ll have to give Jack this MP3 player soon anyway.. Hey ho – it’s been good while it lasted.

Yes anyway it’s been snowing – great fun. I dipped off early to ensure I could pick the kids up from school – Louise didn’t want to be taking Esme down to school (or facing some barrage of bemoaning from Jude) . Jack didn’t go to school yesterday; he’ set off good & early & was waiting up Walsden way when a 6th former & mother in car pulled up in a car to advise that the school was closed. He called Louise to report in, she called me checked the school website & Jack was already healing back. Perhaps the buses decided that it wasn’t possible or something. It’s a bit worse (the snow) over Halifax & Huddersfield way (over a couple of big hills).

Jack had a good day.

Jude & Eve had to go to school – the only way that Louise could get Jude to go was not in uniform… Which was OK, because the school ended up going to the park to do sledging. If you didn’t have a sledge you could use a black plastic bag. I think they had fun – Eve said she did… Jude was less committal – he has to keep up this pretence of not liking the snow. He doesn’t like the cold & wet that’s true, but he does concede that it’s pretty. When I met him at school he asked where Louise was – mentioned that Esme was not so well today .. [pause] “Ah, that’s why she wasn’t there at dinnertime” (dinner playtime when Louise would be taking Esme to playgroup for the afternoon) [pause…. pause…] I’m not feeling very well…” I grinned at him & admitted I expected as much. He gave me his sheet of homework & dashed off to ‘the cage’ to slide about & throw snowballs.

Went out & made a snowman when we all got home. Took a while as I need a lot of snow, me. I was a target for Jack & Ethan & Aden for a bit that was tiresome every so often, but I did retaliate every so often, which was tantamount to encouragement. Ethan amused me for a while after I managed to hit him… He didn’t like being caught by a snowball (I made him cry), so although he wanted to join in with Jack he didn’t want me retaliating, so he’d come up to me & throw a snowball about an inch & then in a deadpan voice say, “Oh dear” & bemoan his lack of ability. I did help him out later when the cold sensation of snow in his boot caused him distress (he thought it akin to pain – possibly a little Aspergers coming to the fore) only to have Aiden dump my snow stash on me head as I was helping Ethan put his boot back on. Not only did I get a bit down the back of my neck, but had to empty the boot out again. I didn’t ‘get’ Aiden back I could have & I made a half hearted attempt, but it would be unfair, really.

Got the snowman finished.

Things moving at the corner of my eyes this morning; not enough sleep. Must try harder to stop. Jude was in a bad mood on the way home from school & decided to remain so for some time… Not unil after tea & a Kitkat that I brought back fro the swimming pool after Eve’s lesson did he become more loving & playful. I dunno – as Louise says; it’s something from the transition from school to home that seems to throw his equilibrium.

Eve was a star: she did her homework, she was in a buoyant mood, had a good swim, practised her 7 times table & did some quite complicated sums & was generally good company, so got good attention.

Forgot to give Esme a parting kiss & hug this morning – that may have been a mistake… I’ve not been in her good books so much yesterday & this morning (not doing what she wants when she wants it because… well, because…)

School nativity plays… Had to carry Jude down to school last night because he was adamant he didn’t want to go. Not very adamant though because he let me carry him (bit of a give away that). Eve couldn’t participate in her play because she’d been ill at home all day. She came along though as it’s not like she can stay at home on her own… Jude went into the class to change & get ready quite happily (so much for reluctance) & we settled down for the wait (20 mins in the hall while they got ready). They did fine with the play. Jude had his narrator’s part (3 narrators in all) & there was the traditional loud annunciation for which infants nativity plays are well known. Jude fluffed a line or 2, but did fine. His teacher though he was more nervous that yesterday when he was word perfect, but he was probably a tad more nervous because we were there (?) & he was also a bit tired (it takes t out of them a bit) I noted that he was giggling with narrator one (Rhapsody) from time to time as the play went on (the dropping nerves?). I took Esme home after the infants play – didn’t hang about for the Junior’s play because she probably would have fallen asleep during the longer play anyway… And Eve wasn’t in it anyway…

Fingers still returning to normal after making a snowman on the platform.

Naturally I’m feeling better today – not the bemoaning mutter of yesterday.

Jack was complaining this morning that it never snows at convenient times: he’s either having to go to school or go to bed.

Eve has ‘Star Of The Week’ in her class thus week for “not complaining”. There was some indecent in the playground where she was accidentally hurt & she was brave & stoic about it all (apparently). Ironic that she spent a good portion of the evening (when not playing) howling like a banshee about some injustice, discomfort or difficulty. Having said that she & Amber & Jude did play well together. Esme was louder with her complaints… I’d say she’s feeling better as she’s trying to assert her presence somewhat with various tactics… most of them noisy.

Jude was a little tired & hotheaded from time to time, but then that seems to be his nature at the moment… Ah, aside from flashpoints around tea he was fine.

Can you get a hangover from eating chocolate cake?

Perhaps not…

Been a difficult week of rail travel. Missing the ‘usual’ train this week has resulted in some considerable standing around on a chilly platform as the ‘turnaround’ has been absent this week, & the ‘next train’ is 45 minutes after the ‘usual’. And it gets more crowded – especially with a lack of ‘turnaround’. I had to stand all the way yesterday, which is unheard of.

There was some difficulty getting in out of the house yesterday; I was having to fix batteries & find things & tidy up & – well – it was Eve’s birthday & they were up early & they were all excited. Eve & Jude were awake before I was down for my shower, but I chivvied them back to bed where I had to remind them to be quiet, I had to remind them to be quiet, I had to remind them to be quiet, I had to remind them to be quiet (such is the toll that excitement takes on their sensibility). Hmmm – actually – when those to become as thick as thieves, the barriers of insensibility become shattered… We’ve had a very wet bathroom when they’ve been in the bath together…

So – I managed to get them to stay abed while I got some breakfast & pop the humane mouse trap outside for collection later. Naturally when I went to rouse Louise, Esme was awake, so there’s no point in denying Eve & Jude further & their desire for ‘presents’ could be satiated (if it is possible to satiate such a desire in children… I suspect not). A lot of noise & joy (& some tears fro Jude because he doesn’t have as much as Eve etc, etc)… They are happy for the most part – they are chaotic & noisy & I’m surprised tat they didn’t wake Jack (but then he’s used to sleeping through the noise they make at weekends). Eve was very happy with her lot.

Work: I’m going through the monthly invoice run at the moment as Paul is ill.

Left work early … hm – when I say early, what I actually mean is that I left at the time I would normally leave, but I normally leave late… OK – I left at the time that my non-existent contract would dictate that I left, which is an hour earlier than I actually (usually) leave.

Picked up a few needful things (balloons, candles, Go-gos) in town before returning home to a house with Just Louise (what a luxury, but no time). Louise’s mum had gone to pick up Esme, but we had to be there to get the others (including Amber who was coming back with us as well). Louise’s mu returned without Esme & Lilly before we set out (Lilly & Amber’s mum brought them back in their car). After telling Louise’s mum that the front door was open 3 times & then telling her again when we left the house while looking at her so that she ‘heard’ us, she went across the road to see if the others were back & whether Lilly & Esme wanted to come over to ours (where there were balloons) Louise & I set off down to school. Jude was out quite quickly & in good mood (especially with the distraction of a packet of Gogos to placate his math that he had less than such-&-such). Eve took longer. We had reports of her handing out chocolates from Mrs – her class has her lot & she’d handed one to & Mrs Ledbitter & Mr …but she was still not out. We went in to find her & she wasn’t in the cloakroom, not in the classroom not in the hall… Hmmm… Caught her further afield by the girls’ loos as apparently Amber had got changed into her party gear.

Home for the party. A little more present opening & excitement & a lot of dashing about. I quickly did up a ‘pass the parcel. Jude did the music & wasn’t allowed to look & Amber won the prize n the end. A few histrionics from Esme who was one of the last ones to get an ‘unwrapping’ of the present.

Jack arrived at some point, staggered through the door & aimed a flop onto the chaise-longue (swimming & a 2 mile cross country took its toll).

All I all it went very well though. Much happiness, lots of shrieking & just a few gripes & grumbles.