younger than that now

Wednesday we went down the the centre, as usual, not because I expected anyone to come to the group, but because I had arranged to meet Dave and play with his helium balloons, that he is planning to create some sort of mass balloon event with. It was fun tying things to them so they float in mid air and blowing them around.
I had my usual grump about HE people in Hebden, when someone phoned me to asked me the phone number of the woman who runs the group in Halifax- as if I wouldn't know what time it was on, and as if there wasn't a weekly group in Hebden. Urm, I know she knows, as she has been in touch with someone I know recently, plus I have told her, plus I walk past her house every Wednesday at 12 o clock, under strict instructions never to call round...
So I went to the fleamarket and sat outsite drinking latte and grumping...
I had another reason for going to the centre: I had inadvertantly bought a turntable the night before, and I remembered that i had left some records there. But my haul turned out to be a very dissapointing selection of joke records, my record collection having been almost entirely replaced by the ones you would only want to use as a frisbee. Anyone got a record collection they don't want? hmm, universe???

Later I sneaked out to the Open Mic with the (big) boys, including Jimbob, who is evidently younger than that now, in that hoody...(watch out for the wobbly bit where I spill Guinness all over my jeans) . urm... did that work? ***ked if I know

midweek madness

Yesterday I didn't quite manage my early start, but we were out by 12 at the flea market, where we got some lovely coloured twig pencils. We headed down to the group, with a new roll of lining paper, for some drawing and painting.

It was quite a small group, but we managed to get six of us around a parachute to play some games, including "washing machine", where someone sits in the middle of the chute and the others walk round, twisting it low to the ground and then walk outwards, sending the person round in circles (some care needed not to injure the person in the middle!), and "orange, apple, banana", where opposites pairs of people run underneath while the chute is up in the air, which is always great fun when it works.

Other news: Meg got a job and texted me in the afternoon, saying "I've got my own office!". She's so grown up.

...And I got a new job! here's my desk- at home. I've not quite got the hang of it yet and it's on an Apple powerbook, so I've given up fighting with it for tonight.
After my work initiation meeting I went to the pub for some midweek madness, which inevitably lead to a quiet pyjama Thursday for me and the boys.

bimbling

What have we been doing for the last week? Well, last Friday we made it over to Skipton to a home-ed meeting, where we had a play with some electrical ciruits from the STAR centre, plus saw some lovely old friends we havent seen for ages. That was me and the boys; Joy was up at the stables all day.

It's been a quiet week of bimbling around the house this week. We did the Hebden meeting, after some sound advice from a friend who knows: I decided to go along and open up and hang around for half an hour or so and leave if no-one else turned up. We ended up staying as there were a few things to sort out in the cupboard, Dave turned up and made me a coffee and the boys found the Duplo and got stuck into that. I even found the chalk (that walks); it had been borrowed and put away somewhere else, but I spotted it. Meanwhile some people turned up from Tod, very late but now at least they know it's on. Must set out earlier next week so we have chance to call in at the flea market on the way, as I'm sure there will be a few people coming.

It was funny when we left as we finished dead on time, which is exactly the same time that the school across the road comes out, so we found ourselves walking down the road with hoards of families, which was quite a novelty. I then had the idea that of course Dawn and Ro would be around, too, so we exchanged texts just as her van came round the corner and she gave us a lift home and came in for a good old chinwag and Ro played with the boys.

Yesterday I went out on my own for a haircut, and a good excuse to wander around Hebden aimlessly. I did get a new mouse, though, so now all the computers have one each! I got some new sketchbooks, too, the ones in the market for 99p that actually have nice thickish paper in, in the hope of inspiring a bit of non-computer based activity, which Fred and Joy both got into.

Today was a combination of computer games and Playmobil, which took off when Clare and Lu came round. By quarter to nine this evening (I'm a bit slack about bedtime when it's just me in for the evening) it had reached it's ultimate conclusion, that is, the Playmobil people were lined up on top of Freddie's laptop, along with a sea monster, watching the big screen. I couldn't get a picture as Freddie insisted on going to sleep with this going on, but now I've temporarily removed the audience so I can do this.

I am trying to upload some pictures to Flickr, as I am about 8 months behind in this, but my broadband connection is ridiculously slow. I am going to sack Pipex as soon as the contract runs out. Nick said he would get me a new router today, which might help, too. Yep, I new laptop would be nice, too...

happy valentines

Joy was up at the stables all day again we had a relaxed day with the boys at home. I was awoken by Freddie presenting me with a card he had made at Daddy's. When I got up he listed all the work he wanted to do today, which involved various kinds of collages. He must have enjoyed the sticking session we had at the Hebden Group yesterday, making Valentine's cards.

So we did an "R" collage, with a rhino, raspberries, red and roses; a sponge heart print (he had obviously been saving the heart-shaped sponges salvaged from Meg's bathroom box for such an occasion, though he didn't once mention that it was Valentine's day).
We also had a go at some monoprinting using a cotton bud to draw on the paint covered acetate.

Fergus did a dinasaur collage with tropical leaf background.

They played on computers for the rest of the afternoon and Dawn and Ro came round for a play/chat/tea. Dawn sang her latest song in the kitchen, which was lovely, and took some of my photo's of Callis for the LILO conference at CAT.

Joy was bushed when she came back- she was running round the paddock leading someone on a pony trotting when I arrived. She galloped yesterday, too. She's up there all day tomorrow, too; she's really enjoying it.

When I got them all to bed Nick cooked me a lovely meal and then decided to cash in his brownie points by indulging in his favourite pastime: WoW, which I don't mind, (although Meg said it should be banned on Valentine's), I think he's made a really good effort, plus it gives me time to blog, etc.

apple tarts

On Wednesday at the group Sarah did apple tarts, which was great fun and were surprisingly tasty.






We also did some leaf rubbing with beeswax crayons, which some people washed over with watercolour for extra wax-relief effect.
It was a lovely session, with four families. And I kept it together even though I was really tired.
I've had a long chat on the phone with the person I had had problems with, who couldn't come this week, and I managed to say all the stuff I should have said a year ago, when I got so fed up I stopped going. Basically I just explained that I started it off as an arts and crafts session, and I wasn't happy for it to be turned into a non-specific free-for-all home-ed group by people who, as soon as they walk through the door think they have the right to turn it into what they want it to be and put half the other people off coming in the process. I didn't think I had the right to say this a year ago as me and Sarah seemed to be outnumbered, but I think there are enough people who agree with me and are happy for it to be how it is, without committee meetings, or being turned into a workers co-op. Not that I have anything against co-ops, and I'm not telling people how to home-educate teir kids. I just think this just works best if I run it like this, as I have this to offer. It doesn't work in that space to try to do other things (ie running round noisily) while other children are trying to do more focussed stuff. And there is always the park next door.

3 days in one

I had reluctantly arranged with Sarah to have a Group meeting today, though gained a bit more enthusiasm by Wednesday morning and sent out a few texts and phoned Guy. I had a brainwave during the night to get the clay out and some pinecones and gather a few beech nuts for making gnomes as a suitably autumnal activity. This went down very well with the four families of kids that were there. Sarah also brought some potatoes for printing, which you can see in the background behind the woodland creatures.


The afternoon, went generally well, I suppose, though I did get really wound up, first with the fact that all our little chairs were nowhere to be seen, put away by the playgroup, until Dave came and got them out. Then there was the rug, recently out of my living room, which I found outside in the rain smelling musty and covered in slug trails. When I find out who did this they will know about it...
Then there was the parent who refused to stop her child from disrupting the focussed activities that the younger children were doing. I had started doing a bit of music as some of the children had picked up some of the percussion instruments. This boy actually almost joined in for about two minutes and then started runnning about and trying to get the others to do the same. Sarah's boys and Freddie were not drawn, and were sweetly playing away, but we could hardly hear each other for the noise of the running about and shouting. I asked her, and the children, three or four times to be quiet for a few minutes so we could carry on, but she just said something like, "O it's inevitable, they're just settling in which each other". But I don't think it's ok at all to let children be so disrespectful and disrupt what other people are doing. This woman had been talking my head off as well, trying to get me to go climbing/skating, etc, etc, and was keen to come every week, "because it's important for them to have regular contact with a group of kids". Well, I wish she would just go to Woodcraft Folk instead, cos she does my head in. This is one of the people who started coming a year ago and I stopped because I couldn't handle it. They just wanted to take over. I don't see why I should put up with it, but I suppose, as she was invited to the picnic she thought that it was ok for her to come to the group, too. basically, of course, I want it to be open to everybody, but when people start imposing their way of doing things it's just not fair. I mean I am quite happy to spend as much time as possible with Guy and Sarah: thay are my friends, and also wouldn't dream of walking all over me. That's what it feels like when she just takes no notice of what I'm saying- like it's not my place to dictate what happens; I'm just not being listened to at all, and quite frankly I can't stand being in that room for two hours with children running about. The can do that outside. Some of the younger ones got hurt, too, when it turned into a fee-for-all, which is probably enough to put them off altogther.
Anyway, I'm ranting, not very clearly, at the moment, so I'll move on.

So straight after we went to see the house, that I am buying, to inspect the outdoor play equipment: trampoline, climbing frame, various swings, treehouse, wendy house, swing seat, etc, etc, and arrange a price. So that was good, though also quite draining trying to picture all my stuff fitting into that house.

After the kids went to daddy's I went to let off steam at the open mic session, where I actually sang, and was very nervous, but maybe I'll get used to it. (No, that's not me, it's Joe Rybicki)
I've actually succombed to the illness the children have all had and have been lying around in bed a lot today, but manged to make some soup. Got no food left now, so I'll have to go out tomorrow, but I'm not going bloody skating, even if I told Guy I was: I'm too tired.

picnic

Yesterday we had a wonderful mass picnic in Hebden park. It was great seeing all the Home-edders approaching across the field and trying to recognise them from a distance- I didn't know who was coming, apart from a few friends that I had seen/spoken to this week, so it was lovely to see all the familiar faces again. The children went off and played all over the field and had a great time.

We also had a birthday cake (vegan, and chocolate!) for Fergus. The jester did come, but I didn't get a photo. This is the only one and it's rubbish. Must have been having too much fun to take any more.

we're-not-going-back-to-school-picnic

We are having a we're-not-going-back-to-school picnic on Wednesday 5th in Hebden Park, (Calder Homes Park) under the tree in the big field, near skate ramps, meet at 1pmish. I am hoping that we will be able to get together with some of the local HE-ers after being a bit dissipated over the summer. Anyone who is near enough to get there is welcome! Maybe if someone brings a parachute, and there are enough people there.... I am also contemplating the town Jester, but haven't contacted him yet.
I really hope the weather improves for then, but it's always sunny on Fergus's birthday!!! (poor lad being born on the first day of term, but, no, lucky lad, he never had to to there!). Actually the schools go back on Tuesady here, I think. It will be nice when Hebden suddenly empties of tourists and the locals come back out of the woodwork (woods?).

Also, I am planning to have a party at our house on Saturday- why not? It's sort of for Fergus's birthday (on 5th) so all those with kids are welcome, but it's for me, too. I'm a bit out of practice at having parties, but I think the best thing to do its just invite people and see what happens... I thought tea-time, would be nice, with a BBQ and fire, say about 4 onwards. There is plenty of space to park up vans (to sleep in or not), a bit of room for tents, and loads of spare room to sleep in the house. I don't think I've announced this on this blog yet, but we are moving in a month or so, if all goes according to plan, so it would be nice to make the most of the house and go out with a bang!

tai chi, and stuff

Here is Dave with three of the Peaceful posse doing tai chi at this afternoon's workshop. It was not very well attended, but thankfully Gill managed to swell the numbers with four of hers. It was lovely to see all of them, and they've all grown (not Gill, but it was lovely to chat with her in person.) It was all lovely and chilled out, really, or is that my hearing loss making everything seem so quiet?

Dave did some animal movements, with sound effects, which was outside of my comfort zone (a bit like John Higginson's workshop), like, a bit too freeform, and, well, not my usual thing, really. But the kids really got into it- Dave was right- especially Freddie and Fergus. And we did the Swimming Dragon quigong, which I like, but we didn't do all of it. (O, I really missed last night's class, but got as far as Mel's with a clingy Freddie and gave up and drank some cider instead). After a break we did a bit of form, which a few kids actually tried to join into for a bit. They had drifted in and out of the tai chi. I think it's a bit slow for them, but I think some kids do get into doing taichi.

Afterwards I took my lot to the park, but Dave was too tired and ratty to cope with the playpark, (well, so was I, but hey, I do it anyway, and I just wanted someone to sit with for five minutes, grrrr). Thankfully Charlotte was there, but she wasn't feeling too good either, so I decided to go in search of company at the fleamarket, but it had all but finished. So I arranged to meet Dawn at Callis, as Rowan wanted friends over to play. So we ended up staying there till quite late in the evening. They went in the huge paddling pool, in the rowing boat, and picked fruit with Guy. It was lovely sitting there chatting with friends while the children ran around gleefully- they just love it there, they can be so free.

While we were picking raspberries there was the distant sound of a child crying, which my mummy-radar had just not picked up, being quite deaf at the moment. Guy heard it first and, realising that it was coming from the direction of the swamp, heroicly waded right across the swamp, while I ran round the edge of it. He wasn't in it, but was stuck. Fergus and Rowan had "lost him" in the long grass, but hadn't thought to tell anybody. Well, he was quite unphased when he got back to the raspberries, and continued to try to get me to leave him alone. On the way to the fruit bushes he had said "where are the rest of the kids? Stop following me". It's nice that he now wants to go off with the other kids and they do look after him (usually!). When I was watching my three running about together before, from inside of Dawn's boat, I imagined them as three Victorian orphans out of a novel- which one? not sure.

The kids got into making and burning smudge bundles out of aromatic herb twigs to ward off the midges. They're quite good, actually.

It was when I saw Freddie and Jago in the rowing boat, (in lifejackets) with Martin that I realised that I must have put my camera down earlier. Thankfully it was still on the windowsill in the Arts Centre when I called in on the way back home.

Right, I'm definately going to bed soon; I really need some rest. I went to the homeopath this morning and took my remedy straight away, which has left me feeling quite, well, like going to bed with a hot water bottle. Brendan looked after the kids, while fetching Fergus's computer back, which I am now on as Joy's won't work now- what's he done to it?
I went to a commitee meeting.
I met Guy and others in the park and didn't make it to Callis. Talked to some people about setting up a community!!!! we have money! we can do it! shall we? Meg's not keen.
Joy scooted round on her new scooter at the park, with Yggy, and at home.
I realised that Joy has only two more days left of school and she didn't go today as there was a baby rabbit emergency she had to deal with.
Fergus and Freddie did some weedning on the track (it has grass growing all the way up it, so not sure how they got on).
That means no more gardening at the school, I think, and I haven't kept a track of my days or hours (what wasn't it on my blog?).
Dave came round for a visit at tea time, which was nice. (here I go again).
Michelle also called in just before bedtime. Joy, especially, always wants to talk to my friends.
I read some nice stories that Fergus chose from the Barefoot Book of Pirates. I really enjoy reading stories if they are written in a way that reads aloud well.
ok, z z z time.

wet dressing gown days

I can't remember when Freddie took this picture of me having my breakfast, but there have been a few wet, dressing-gown days. I think Tuesday was like this- I was feeling a bit rough and didn't get up in time to take Joy to school. She didn't want to go, anyway. I think she had had a good time being at home with me at the weekend and Monday. So she played with the baby rabbits.




Tuesday teatime Joy went to ballet and I had a nap, followed by coffee and Tai chi class, and later on I couldn't sleep. I was just about to come downstairs to do some 3am blogging when I saw Meg's light was on. She was doing college work, fuelled by adrenaline, so I sat with her till 4 then went to bed with "Mrs Dalloway".

So: Wednesday, I was quite spaced out through lack of sleep, but I managed to keep on going all day and do the home-ed meeting. This was really nice, as, though I could hardly hear, I was surrounded by friends: Guy, Kelly, Sarah and Charlotte. The children did some really colourful wet-on-wet paintings. We cleared up to go to the park, but then it started raining again, and we were all tired, so we went home.

striving to get my life together

OK, I'm sure you're all getting a bit bored with my midnight ramblings, well, don't worry I think I will sleep tonight, very soon. I'm a lot more settled about stuff than I was earlier, having had it out with Dave: I had to see him at the AGM, and I was very frosty, but I never seem to be able to keep this up very long with him, especially when he's caught my cold (he he). I think I managed to say everything on my mind. Not at the AGM, obviously, but afterwards when he found me in the park, with Kelly, and then afterwards when I phoned him, as I hadn't quite finished. I was very honest and clear about my feelings and I think I will have to leave it at that and not see him for a couple of weeks. Well, I have got a lot to do, anyway...

No-one came to the home-ed meeting apart from me and the boys, who made birthday cards for Meg, painted and looked at books, which was pretty good going as I had to leave them to it when the AGM started. Someone commented that they might get really bored and cover all our notes with snot, but I pointed out it was more likely to be me who did that. Kelly came along for moral support, after I phoned her, and inadvertantly joined the commitee.

Afterwards I met Joy and we all went to the park, where Kelly joined us with her Brendan. It was no-where near as busy as last Wednesday evening, for some reason, a bit of chill in the air, but still really sunny and pleasant, mind you I was in my coat and hat and scarf, due to my cold.

This evening Joy went to Judo, where there was some kind of masterclass with an olympic medal winner called [I've got no idea nor interest in his name and neither do you]. I think she enjoyed it though. I think she will get quite into Judo, and wants to go to a second calss on a Thursday eve too.

I saw Meg briefly, at her friend's house, where she has all her stuff. She is not coming home till tomorrow night. I got a pang when she told me there was nothing to come home for as she had already moved out and is not prepared to move back in while we wait to sell the house. Well. I will have a spare room then. She looked quite tired, and with a peeling nose, after her trip back from Glastonbury, I'm sure she'll tell me all about it in her own time. O, this would be so hard if I didn't have the other kids.

Yes, lots to do: I have ordered a load of paint from my friend's fiance, who works for a paint company, and who's ear I bent for half an hour, filling him in on the latest, in lieu of her, as she wasn't in, but she came back, so I got to do it all over again! Gosh, must sort out my phone tarriff so I get free calls: note to self...but I just don't understand all those different tarrifs and packages you get nowadays. But this is part of the disempowerment I got from being in a 10 year relationship where someone else does everything like that (however badly) so I never had to look at a phonebill so never kept up to speed with the latest ways of doing things. (I only got involved when the phone got cut off, which happened regularly). Funny thing is, now it's in my name I'm on the phone more than ever and the bill is through the roof- I must sort it out.
So thats 2 things:

paint
phone bill

and...
sort through box of paperwork (again!)
sort out fireplace- priority- may take time
return plastic boxes to Dawn- tomorrow
Sort out light fittings- Brendan will do this tomorrow night?
Do something for Meg's birthday: present? party?
remember I have children
remember I have friends

blob

I just went back in the kitchen and saw the sorry sight of my phonebook open and my phones next to it. I completely blobbed out and spent the entire evening on the phone and texting people- O, I haven't texted Meg yet... I made myself a barleycup (yes, I actually like the stuff- it comforts me). I suppose I should make the most of Meg not being here and get a relatively early night.
Today went a lot better. I took Joy to school, thinking we had missed the bus, but we hadn't, but wasn't too much bother really, I seem to be able to do it in my sleep. At least I didn't have my pyjamas on so I called in at Dave's for an early morning cup of tea on the way back. It's nice to see a grown up sometimes before starting the day.
This morning, back at home, the boys wanted to do some sewing, well, Fergus started and Freddie was compelled to join in, too, so I had to unpack another box to get the needles out. Freddie made a present for both grandma's because they are both sad. His face lit up later on when I said we could go and visit grandma; he could take the thing he made: what I found in the box was some binka and some think gold thread. Its a thing, a really good thing, it's a machine, it's for grandma. It's like a ball of scrunched up binka, but maybe grandma will appreciate that. The other grandma got a (rather nice) peg doll, which he was very determined to finish before we went to the group. (Hmm, determination, wonder where he gets that from, then?).
The group was pleasant enough, after the slight unpleasantness with the playgroup, who also use the room, but obviously think they own it and are oblivious to anyone else using it. I called in while they were still there to ask them if they could please leave our chairs out of thier locked cupboard because otherwise I would have to wait for Dave to come and open the cupboard. They obviously hadn't noticed that they had inadvertently nicked all our chirs and were quite sniffy about giving them back- it was too inconvenient and I would have to go into the loft to see if there were any up there. Really I should wait for Dave to do this too, because of, you know health and safety, but you know, I'm quite accustomed to going into lofts... What I really wanted them to do was just say: OK, on Wednesdays we'll leave you x number of chairs out, we can share them. I was really trying to be light and friendly with them, but they really hate having anything to do with me- the whole HE thing is obviously such a threat to some people. And they obviously don't reallise that I am on the Arts Centre committee and me and Dave and Dave (other committee members) are like that (*crossed fingers*). Ahh well, AGM next week...
So, anyway, the group was ok. Mary came along and did her singing workshop. It was really nice, although it wasn't really aimed at children, and they all drifted off towards the book corner eventually. It was nice to see quite a few Hebden people there, plus Lucy, who has moved a bit closer. Shame, there were a few children ther who were quite into singing but it was too difficult, even for some of the adults. They were just difficult songs to learn, only one was in English. O it would be great if Jude would come over and do some music with us- I'm sure she will do soon.
So, after meeting Joy off the bus, and bumping into several people, we went to the park, and bumped into a few more people there, which was nice.
Went home and made curry, at Joy's request, sat in the garden and contemplated making a bigger tai chi space. I might be here for a while yet, but realistically I can't stay here forever. I can't face putting house on the market just yet, but I'm sure I will feel better soon, hopefully. I just don't want to be rushed into anything.

didgeridoo workshop

This is what we did today at our group....

I think it went well and there was a great turn-out from Manchester, West and North Yorkshire, plus a few regulars.

Andy Wood was great: he played his amazing didge, got everyone playing, plus a bit of rhythm and singing all together.

didgeridoo workshop- reminder

Just to let people know, if you don't already, that there is a didgeridoo workshop for home- edders in Hebden Bridge tomorrow afternoon, with Andy Wood, of Pied Piper Pianos, who I met in a moment of synchronicity. There will be the opportunity to listen to, play, make and buy didgeridoos!
There already about 15 adults and 30 children coming.
Leave a comment or mail me if you want more info.

bank holiday

Joy was really upset this morning as one of the rabbits had escaped and she didn't think it would come back. This set the mood for everyone to get very whingy and when I couldn't stand it any longer I decided we had to go out. The sky wasn't looking too promising but I decided on a walk down to Hebden. So after a slightly crazed moment of panic when I couldn't find a pump for the buggy wheels I decided to risk it as far as the bike shop, which was closed, but we managed.

We called in at Helen's for a drink and I told her about my new dress for her wedding and that the kids couldn't come because their father has got them tickets for the Cambidge folk festival, without asking me first.

We looked in at the Trades club and caught the last chord of the man singing Woody Guthrie songs, but didn't stay for the man with the sociallist hat on going on about stuff. We walked down the canal to Callis, even though I hadn't managed to get a reply from Guy. It turns out we just missed them, but at least he has my phone number now... "do we have to walk all the way home now?" "yes" "waaaah" " no, I meant no". Turns out there was a bus from Hebden, phew, I think five miles was enough for me, too. We did see a heron and some geese, ducks and a duckling. I got a text from Brendan saying the rabbit had returned- he must have called in specially after my panic phoncall which used up most of my credit.

Now I just need the housephone back on, a working fridge, to start packing and sorting my stuff, and to stop feeling so disintegrated.

O, but, synchronicity... I got in touch with the man about the didgeridoo workshop today, after hearing about him last week from Jude, who I hadn't seen for about a year, and it turns out he was at the sacred singing yesterday so I kind of met him then- wierd that I was suddenly compelled to do it (he is one of at least five people that I need to organise workshops with) and decided I had to phone him first and not email.

bubble prints

We did some bubble prints down at the arts centre today. Fergus had been looking on something on the internet, which appeared to involve a song about bubble prints. I'm sure there were also instructions to do bubble prints but I didn't have time to look.

It was just me and the boys but we had arranged to meet Charlotte to got o the park after school, so she came along and her kids did a bit of bubble printing too. Nic also came along for a chat.

For the uninitiated in the joys of bubble printing: just mix a bit of paint in a pot with a bit of washing-up liquid and water.

Blow with a straw until the bubbles are at the top of the pot and place the paper face down onto the pot. It's nice if you can do a few colours on the same picture.

when I'm cleaning windows

Here are some pics Joy took on Wednesday when we cleaned the windows of the arts centre, where we have our Home- ed group, and my tai chi class. It really is a lovely space, also home to a playgroup, brass band, food coop, and five rythms dance class, as well as the weekend fleamarket- it just needed a bit of TLC, a "woman's touch" or, as I said last week, someone who knows how to operate a hoover... Use it or lose it! Come and join! Share the love!

The boys really got into sloshing water around on the floor, as fast as Dave could mop it up!

The boys did a spot of digging this morning- just what you need when your'e trying to sell the house- well I don't think it was that bad- I'm past caring really.

And look at all these lovely froggies and frogspawn we have in the pond!

I saw a toad last night in the park- well I think it was a toad, could have been a frog, I suppose. It jumped on my hand to say hello.

At the Arts Centre meeting we (me and Mosaic Dave) decided it was OK for the home-ed meetings to carry on after Easter.

Update on Joy: I decided that it was better for her to carry on at the Montessori till summer, considering that she is more settled there now and there are so many unsettling changes going on at home, and she wants to. So I sorted that out tonight. I've lost my cleaning job there, as it has already been offered to another parent, but... I have another job! Gardening! So I'm loooking forward to that and I can take the boys and do it while Joy is at school.

Phew! what a day! I sorted my car insurance and found out I can put Meg on for another 180, which isn't too bad, considering what it could be for her, plus she can build up her no claims bonus as a named driver (OMG do I sound like an insurance salesperson?) So I might just do that- maybe I can tap her dad for a contribution- well that would be a first in 19 years, but there's always hope, as he phoned me tonight, out of the blue, and is coming over this week.

I also made a hair appointment and did some more house moving type stuff, phoning agents, etc. I've been a bit stressed this week, but at least I'm doing something with all the manic energy. I think I've got a bit of a full-on day lined up tomorrow, so I'd better down some chamomile tea and try and get some sleep.