baking, breaking cars, cards

We had a proper day today (!) Doing real stuff. After we dropped the car off at the garage, which is a proper garage full of interesting things like cars in the air, a pit (to fall in) and air lines (to trip over), we called at the market to get veg, stopped off to observe progress of the sundial, and just managed to catch the bus home.
They were very inspired to do some baking as we were making a birthday cake for Sol, who was coming round later. So my little Jamie Olivers got to grips with the digital scales, spoonfuls of cinnamon, and grated carrots. As this was going on I heard the unmistakable sound of Tan's Polo getting stuck in the mud (whatever you do, if you ever drive here, don't even think of turning round anywhere near the big iron church gates!) So we rushed out to assist, but no amount of pushing by me and Sarah could get it out, and by this time the battery had died. We couldn't get it out and even if I had any jump-leads my car wasn't here. Anyway the boys had a great time charging around like a pair of demented puppies.
We decied we had make chocolate brownies, too, for when Sarah came back with Joy and Tom. Fredddie really had to scrape all the mixture out into the baking tray while I was holding the bowl till my arm nearly dropped off.
They made cards, with great pictures, and Fergus got really into decorating his letters! We also made a sketch book for a present, well, covered it.
Sarah, Tom and Elliot were still here when Josee arrived with her 3, so there were plenty to share the carrot cake, which had "Sol" written in blue silver balls, a piece of kiwi and a segment of orange. And they still had room for black-eye bean curry. Those kids can't half eat at the moment. Eat and sleep. It must be winter. I don't seem to have the same appetite and don't always remember to feed them enough. They got into the habit of having an extra supper at 9.30, but I have knocked that on the head by making sure they were stuffed and sending them to bed at 8. Hopefully they will get up early tomorrow and actually eat breakfast.