friends
Ski 2008
10/03/08 20:33
Yet another lovely HE ski holiday has been and gone and yet another year of watching in wonder and disbelief at how my children can whizz down a mountain without thought or care!
Watching my children ski has to be the most amazing that happens each year. Sometimes when I ski, I'm scared and I stop at the top or half way down and really believe that I can't go any further. My children just ski. The girls are sometimes slow and steady and Buzz just goes
They love it, they enjoy it and they feel the freedom that I also feel when I ski.
For those that have never skied I can't explain the feeling. I imagine it's the same as those that sky dive or some such. To be in the wonderful beauty of snow covered mountains, the silence above the clouds and the wind in your face is just too much and so often I am to be found crying.
We arrived late as we needed to attend Rod's funeral. It was beautiful, heartbreaking and just perfectly Rod. The music was him playing and everybody that spoke was someone that loved him and knew him. Pea read Daffodils and was perfect, she sobbed and sobbed as did I but when it was her turn to stand on the altar she did so with her head up and clear perfect diction. The hundred or so people there shared my pride.
We arrived at skiing to be met by friends who had already started their holiday but had returned form the slopes to settle us in (we part of about a 60 person party).
The holiday was great, some very funny parts, Tony and I relaxed with each other in a way that we haven't for a very long time and some lovely family and friends time. There were many moments of crying and feelings of loss but it was a good place to be.
I made a total fool of myself one night by singing too much at karaoke. Of course included in my numbers were 'Barbie Girl' and 'I will survive'.
This holiday is now a tradition in our lives, it's fun and a way to spend a week with friends that we never normally would.
Watching my children ski has to be the most amazing that happens each year. Sometimes when I ski, I'm scared and I stop at the top or half way down and really believe that I can't go any further. My children just ski. The girls are sometimes slow and steady and Buzz just goes
They love it, they enjoy it and they feel the freedom that I also feel when I ski.For those that have never skied I can't explain the feeling. I imagine it's the same as those that sky dive or some such. To be in the wonderful beauty of snow covered mountains, the silence above the clouds and the wind in your face is just too much and so often I am to be found crying.
We arrived late as we needed to attend Rod's funeral. It was beautiful, heartbreaking and just perfectly Rod. The music was him playing and everybody that spoke was someone that loved him and knew him. Pea read Daffodils and was perfect, she sobbed and sobbed as did I but when it was her turn to stand on the altar she did so with her head up and clear perfect diction. The hundred or so people there shared my pride.
We arrived at skiing to be met by friends who had already started their holiday but had returned form the slopes to settle us in (we part of about a 60 person party).
The holiday was great, some very funny parts, Tony and I relaxed with each other in a way that we haven't for a very long time and some lovely family and friends time. There were many moments of crying and feelings of loss but it was a good place to be.
I made a total fool of myself one night by singing too much at karaoke. Of course included in my numbers were 'Barbie Girl' and 'I will survive'
.This holiday is now a tradition in our lives, it's fun and a way to spend a week with friends that we never normally would.
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Being a Family
11/11/07 21:31
Feel I should blog the week away last week but don't really know what to say! I enjoyed it, there were moments of sheer joy and excitement
and there were also moments that almost had me in tears with frustration. I loved just sitting and watching the children play, they would wander around until someone or something caught there attention and then would join in. I watched my own children laugh and interact with other adults and peers, some of whom they had never met before. I enjoyed the humour lots and being the brunt of a few of the in jokes really tickled me. At school I was often laughed at so I still get a silly buzz to be part of the joke. The location was the best and made me long for a house in the country again LOL!
To wake up and watch the sheep and horses idle their days away would be lovely. I didn't miss home too much, I took my mug, my own food and of course my own pillow. Little things to keep my head in place. The children took a mountain of toys for them to have something to escape to when they needed time out.
I think my photos might have to do the rest.
Friday I helped my brother and SIL move from Romford to Berkhampstead. Hard work as they lived on the 5th floor with no lift. They now have a lovely little cottage. I ended up staying the night after we decided we should introduce ourselves to the pub opposite
I left there early Saturday and headed for home. I met the children at the shop where they were having music lessons. Buzz showed me how he can play Hot Cross Buns! We all dragged Tony out to lunch. Felt like ages since I'd seen or spoken to him.
We then spent two hours buying curtain material. I was going off my head never mind the children! Home and the children played and I cut up all the material.
The evening passed in a happy blur of family life. Pea watched the Remembrance Service with Tony and I which lead to a large number of questions covering WW's, POW's and lots about Japan (including their bizarre choice in TV programmes).
Yesterday morning Boo had a modern lesson at 9am. On a Sunday! FFS! Tony took her on his way to work, I stayed in bed cuddling Buzz. We collected Boo and went to the Memorial Roundabout for the Remembrance Service. The children were respectful and understanding. We stood in the rain with the many others that had turned up and as always I cried silent tears.
We then did some shopping, finding Pea a coat for £10 which made her day! Dropped Pea to the shop to work the afternoon and took the other two home. They mainly played in the garden with the neighbours. I tidied up again and made a start on the mountain of curtains.
Tony and Pea came home and an XBox fest took place. We moved it from Buzz's room as it was never used and they all enjoyed a few hours with Tony playing every game we own! Tony cooked them all dinner of leftovers and I went to the gym for the first time in months. I really noticed a huge drop in my fitness level so need to get my arse in gear (literally).
Today has been education involving pen and paper. They have done maths, Verbal and non verbal reasoning, english, Famous People Project (today was Kylie pmsl!), music and reading.
I've quit guitar until after Christmas. My car is in the garage today which means I'd miss another lesson. So I've rang the teacher to say I'll start again after the holiday's. Make that the end of January then as we are in America for 2 weeks mid Jan. Feel sad yet somehow inspired to practise LOL! My head works in strange ways.
Buzz has drawn loads of pictures and Boo has started on some designs for the Newsletter competition. Buzz is still as crazy about castles as ever and has made one from the Jenga pieces (must get him giant Jenga for Christmas) and is now working his way through a roll of sellotape making a 3D one from paper Oh yeah, think I might call him a reader now!
I'm bored. I was making the curtains and the needle snapped- I know I have more but can't find them. Walked into the village to buy some more but they don't have them. Phoned Tony to cry as it's been a bad day for me and he sent his sister out to get them for me. I'm waiting for him to drive them up on his way out to see a customer and I can get started. Making curtains has been giving me ideas for presents so I think the machine will stay out for a while yet
Mum wants to come for Christmas. I think I can cope with that, and can just about manage to find beds but it also means my brother has to come. I hate people sleeping in the lounge over Christmas (especially here as were already on top of each other) so that's out. Mum probably won't come now and I feel guilty. The joys of family life.
and there were also moments that almost had me in tears with frustration. I loved just sitting and watching the children play, they would wander around until someone or something caught there attention and then would join in. I watched my own children laugh and interact with other adults and peers, some of whom they had never met before. I enjoyed the humour lots and being the brunt of a few of the in jokes really tickled me. At school I was often laughed at so I still get a silly buzz to be part of the joke. The location was the best and made me long for a house in the country again LOL!
To wake up and watch the sheep and horses idle their days away would be lovely. I didn't miss home too much, I took my mug, my own food and of course my own pillow. Little things to keep my head in place. The children took a mountain of toys for them to have something to escape to when they needed time out.
I think my photos might have to do the rest.
Friday I helped my brother and SIL move from Romford to Berkhampstead. Hard work as they lived on the 5th floor with no lift. They now have a lovely little cottage. I ended up staying the night after we decided we should introduce ourselves to the pub opposite
I left there early Saturday and headed for home. I met the children at the shop where they were having music lessons. Buzz showed me how he can play Hot Cross Buns! We all dragged Tony out to lunch. Felt like ages since I'd seen or spoken to him.
We then spent two hours buying curtain material. I was going off my head never mind the children! Home and the children played and I cut up all the material.
The evening passed in a happy blur of family life. Pea watched the Remembrance Service with Tony and I which lead to a large number of questions covering WW's, POW's and lots about Japan (including their bizarre choice in TV programmes).
Yesterday morning Boo had a modern lesson at 9am. On a Sunday! FFS! Tony took her on his way to work, I stayed in bed cuddling Buzz. We collected Boo and went to the Memorial Roundabout for the Remembrance Service. The children were respectful and understanding. We stood in the rain with the many others that had turned up and as always I cried silent tears.
We then did some shopping, finding Pea a coat for £10 which made her day! Dropped Pea to the shop to work the afternoon and took the other two home. They mainly played in the garden with the neighbours. I tidied up again and made a start on the mountain of curtains.
Tony and Pea came home and an XBox fest took place. We moved it from Buzz's room as it was never used and they all enjoyed a few hours with Tony playing every game we own! Tony cooked them all dinner of leftovers and I went to the gym for the first time in months. I really noticed a huge drop in my fitness level so need to get my arse in gear (literally).
Today has been education involving pen and paper. They have done maths, Verbal and non verbal reasoning, english, Famous People Project (today was Kylie pmsl!), music and reading.
I've quit guitar until after Christmas. My car is in the garage today which means I'd miss another lesson. So I've rang the teacher to say I'll start again after the holiday's. Make that the end of January then as we are in America for 2 weeks mid Jan. Feel sad yet somehow inspired to practise LOL! My head works in strange ways.
Buzz has drawn loads of pictures and Boo has started on some designs for the Newsletter competition. Buzz is still as crazy about castles as ever and has made one from the Jenga pieces (must get him giant Jenga for Christmas) and is now working his way through a roll of sellotape making a 3D one from paper
Oh yeah, think I might call him a reader now!I'm bored. I was making the curtains and the needle snapped- I know I have more but can't find them. Walked into the village to buy some more but they don't have them. Phoned Tony to cry as it's been a bad day for me and he sent his sister out to get them for me. I'm waiting for him to drive them up on his way out to see a customer and I can get started. Making curtains has been giving me ideas for presents so I think the machine will stay out for a while yet
Mum wants to come for Christmas. I think I can cope with that, and can just about manage to find beds but it also means my brother has to come. I hate people sleeping in the lounge over Christmas (especially here as were already on top of each other) so that's out. Mum probably won't come now and I feel guilty. The joys of family life.
Holiday
27/10/07 20:32
Had the most wonderful relaxing week away in Spain. Such a joy and pleasure and a time that couldn't come quick enough. We were in poor spirits and Tony was in poor health. A week in the sun doing nothing much was just what we needed. We played, relaxed, laughed, smiled, shared and just stepped out of our lives for 7 fantastic days.
Reality soon returns though
Tony went to work straight from the airport and hasn't been home much since! Poor babe, the stress lines are returning. This is confirming in our minds some life changes are needed though. One of which being the possible purchase of an apartment in Spain.
I have continued in the holiday vain since we returned though we did do some work on Thursday, I confess it was to delay the unpacking but never mind! The children did some maths and then wrote about their holiday. Buzz did his own for the first time ever without me helping to spell. I admit it wasn't much just a couple of sentences but he wowed me. Pea's spelling is vastly improving and Boo has cottoned on to punctuation and is using things such as brackets. It was really nice to sit down and do something after too long a break.
Thursday evening they went to karate and I had a sunbed! I am really missing the sun and warmth. I don't cope too well with cold and dark days.
Friday I slept in so we were late for Fishbourne, throw in too much traffic and some crashes and road works and we were ultra late. Had a great day there. Really enjoyed it and plan to return. Kids bought bows and arrows and swords and have been playing Robin Hood since.
Today I did housework and the children played with the neighbours. It was a mild day and it was lovely to have the windows open as I cleaned. Boo thought I'd cleaned the carpets when I'd simply vaccumed Stripped Pea's bed and realised I have no washing powder so left the rest. Tomorrow! Headed into town around mid day to buy present for Ayden. He was 11 yesterday. Bought him ipod 'tokens'. We then headed off to his party.
Really cool idea actually. Kids had a great time on the lake (sea too rough) sailing. They picked it up so quickly and mine are keen to do more so we shall look into that come spring. I enjoyed sitting and chatting to friends.
One friend in struggling with her son and the fact he is unhappy at school. He was HE (also been to school) and then went to secondary school this September. He is finding the work load a nightmare, all day and then two hours homework every day. I'm not anti school at all, but where the fuck are you supposed to have a life? Relax and hang out never mind see your siblings and parents? Parental conflict is making the decision a difficult one. My love and support goes to them all. Making me think again about Boo. I'm a yoyo there already!
Home and the children continued to play, then they had baths followed by showers ( I refuse to wash hair in the bath, plus your not clean in a bath ). I made thai curry for Tony, junk for them (waffles and chicken burgers) and I've yet to eat but have no appetite. They watched Robin Hood and are playing. Tony and I are on our laptops listening to old CD's. All is good.
Tomorrow we may go to Longleat, then again we may go Monday!
Reality soon returns though
Tony went to work straight from the airport and hasn't been home much since! Poor babe, the stress lines are returning. This is confirming in our minds some life changes are needed though. One of which being the possible purchase of an apartment in Spain.I have continued in the holiday vain since we returned though we did do some work on Thursday, I confess it was to delay the unpacking but never mind! The children did some maths and then wrote about their holiday. Buzz did his own for the first time ever without me helping to spell. I admit it wasn't much just a couple of sentences but he wowed me. Pea's spelling is vastly improving and Boo has cottoned on to punctuation and is using things such as brackets. It was really nice to sit down and do something after too long a break.
Thursday evening they went to karate and I had a sunbed! I am really missing the sun and warmth. I don't cope too well with cold and dark days.
Friday I slept in so we were late for Fishbourne, throw in too much traffic and some crashes and road works and we were ultra late. Had a great day there. Really enjoyed it and plan to return. Kids bought bows and arrows and swords and have been playing Robin Hood since.
Today I did housework and the children played with the neighbours. It was a mild day and it was lovely to have the windows open as I cleaned. Boo thought I'd cleaned the carpets when I'd simply vaccumed
Stripped Pea's bed and realised I have no washing powder so left the rest. Tomorrow! Headed into town around mid day to buy present for Ayden. He was 11 yesterday. Bought him ipod 'tokens'. We then headed off to his party.Really cool idea actually. Kids had a great time on the lake (sea too rough) sailing. They picked it up so quickly and mine are keen to do more so we shall look into that come spring. I enjoyed sitting and chatting to friends.
One friend in struggling with her son and the fact he is unhappy at school. He was HE (also been to school) and then went to secondary school this September. He is finding the work load a nightmare, all day and then two hours homework every day. I'm not anti school at all, but where the fuck are you supposed to have a life? Relax and hang out never mind see your siblings and parents? Parental conflict is making the decision a difficult one. My love and support goes to them all. Making me think again about Boo. I'm a yoyo there already!
Home and the children continued to play, then they had baths followed by showers ( I refuse to wash hair in the bath, plus your not clean in a bath
). I made thai curry for Tony, junk for them (waffles and chicken burgers) and I've yet to eat but have no appetite. They watched Robin Hood and are playing. Tony and I are on our laptops listening to old CD's. All is good.Tomorrow we may go to Longleat, then again we may go Monday!
Mid Week Weekend
11/08/07 08:30
Tony doesn't normally get two days off work together, he doesn't always get two days of at all! This week he had Thursday and Friday off work.
Wednesday night we had Summer and Luke sleep over. I think the big girls finally went to sleep at some point in the early hours. Thursday morning Tony and I had a mini lay in- about 8am
He got up and went out to mow the lawn for the last time and I made a start on tidying the tip that had become our home having lost interest in housework the past couple of months with moving etc. Anyway I'd finally had enough. I packed away the bed in the spare room and moved lots of packed boxes into there thus clearing space in bedrooms and landing. I dusted and cleaned shelves, woodwork mirrors and floors. Laundry was put away and Tony removed the huge pile of books and linen from the bathroom floor. It had been there for over a week and I'd meant to Freecycle it but it hadn't happened. It went to the charity shop. By the time I came downstairs to do much the same all children were awake and up though the two big girls stayed in bed playing. The little ones had breakfast and Wii played.
By 2pm they were all finally dressed and we left to go view the rental house Tony had paid the deposit on the day before. It's horrible. Totally not us but that's the fun of renting isn't it It's very cleaned and well maintained though stuck in the 80's. We can do what we like with it as it's going to be knocked down to have two new houses or something built on the plot. I'm going to paint our bedroom as the colour of the walls in there mixed with the pattern on the paper sent my eyes mental. The rest can stay as it is.
The children love it. They picked their rooms and ran around the garden with Summer and Luke playing stuck in the mud. The house is in the middle of the plot so you can run right around it. It's on a quiet estate with a footpath right outside the front gate so they can finally have the freedom of going out on their bikes and there appears to be some kids next door. I'm actually quite looking forward to living a different life for a bit. We'll be able to save a fair amount by living there for 6 months also which is good news.
We left there and took the children to the beach.
The children went straight in the sea with Tony. Boo simply adores swimming in the sea. Tina joined us when she had finished work and tried to pursuade Bailey their 8 month old labrador into the sea.
She ended up going in with him fully clothed! He adored it. Kessie as usual sat and watched form a safe distance. She is so refined LOL!
Chips and fizz for tea and we left. This time Tina took the girls for a sleepover at hers. Buzz sobbed his heart out on the way home. We promised him the world in return for his sadness then Darren phoned to tell me to bring him over as it wasn't fair. Home first to collect our gym stuff and we dropped him over there much to the disgust of the girls.
Tony and I went to the gym. I had to leave my spin class after only 10 minutes with the pain in my hip. I'm really struggling with my body pains atm which isn't helping with the increasing weight I'm gaining- another 3lb. Why do my joints hurt so much?
So I went into the main gym and did some upper body work and then used the cross trainer as this is kinder on my joints than the bike. The steam room was bliss- they've finally made it proper hot and steamy.
Left there realising I'd left my shoes at home. Trainers and jeans are so not my style. Popped into Sainsbury's for some shoes but they only had those stupid ubber flat things which are horrid. So we bought a kitchen magazine LOL! and went to a different pub where I wasn't concerned too much about my footwear. It was a jam night so that was quiet enjoyable. No alcohol. We then went to get a quick dish form the chinese as we were starving having not eaten at the beach.
We ordered a soup to start and couldn't understand why the waiter was pushing for us to order more. browsing the menu for mains I realised there were no prices. Close inspection revealed it to be a eat as much as you like place. So we ordered a couple more dishes but still very little according to the waiter. The restaurant was very busy but about half way through our meal it suddenly went dead quiet. On the table next to us were three teenage girls, one of them said VERY loudly, 'look Janine, I bet you a million quid I need sex more than you do right now'. PMSL! She nearly died and tried to make amends by saying 'I didn't mean me I was talking about what a friend had said'. That made it so much better did it? It was hilarious. Then the dad of one of them turned up outside to take her home. She was supposed to be staying at her friends over night and had obviously consumed lots of wine. She was mortified and worried but gave in and went home. They paid for their meal in nothing but lose change.
Just as we were finishing out meal a mobile went off. Table at the far end, 5 middle aged women having a night out. Husband on the phone. Cue friends telling her to tell him to get a life and leave her alone. Her face as two minutes later when he walked in the restaurant. he thought she'd be pleased to see him. She told him to go away. He went with his tail between his legs. She was furious. I'd be furious if my husband turned up to see me on a girls night out FFS! Caused much slagging off and fueled chat for the five of them though! I'd imagine his ears are still ringing from the grief she gave him on her return.
We went home- we shall return!
I fell into bed and was asleep within seconds
I love waking up to no children, the silence and stillness of the house really starts my day off well. Sorted pets and laundry, went to drop contract for house to solicitors and then bought picnic stuff, collected Tracy and went to Tina's. Hugs from the kids, I love their confidence at sleeping over, they hug and kiss me a normal good morning then simply carry on their play. We'd given Luke some Hornby trains and track a customer had given Buzz a few years ago. Buzz isn't into trains at all. Luke is MAD about them. The lounge was full of track and little farms. Lovely to see it in use rather than gathering dust.
I made up lunch for everyone and we hit the road. Back to Bedgebury Pinetum!
We decided to make use of Tony being off and send him up the trees with the girls. It was really high 40-50 feet and it took over three hours to complete, £25 for Tony and £20 for each of the girls. Worth every penny! Tony hated it, he was terrified.
Actually most adults going around were terrified and there were many upset kids who wanted to continue but their parents had quit so they couldn't. Tony bless him, stuck it out! Summer adored it, she stopped to pose for the camera all the time and was completely happy. Pea was wobbly. On some she was as Summer on others a little nervous, on one she was really scared which reduced Tina to tears as she counted her steps to the end for her.
I am so proud of all them for doing it. Poor Pea fell over right at the end as she ran to have her photo taken by the finish sign.
She'd only just healed that knee from falling at the beach! Her limbs don't work properly atm.
We left as they were locking the car park up! We were getting cold and were starving so had some scraps left over from lunch. Dropped Summer home as she was in our car, home for beans on toast for the kids before they fell filthy dirty into bed. I Flickred and then bed.
Wednesday night we had Summer and Luke sleep over. I think the big girls finally went to sleep at some point in the early hours. Thursday morning Tony and I had a mini lay in- about 8am
He got up and went out to mow the lawn for the last time and I made a start on tidying the tip that had become our home having lost interest in housework the past couple of months with moving etc. Anyway I'd finally had enough. I packed away the bed in the spare room and moved lots of packed boxes into there thus clearing space in bedrooms and landing. I dusted and cleaned shelves, woodwork mirrors and floors. Laundry was put away and Tony removed the huge pile of books and linen from the bathroom floor. It had been there for over a week and I'd meant to Freecycle it but it hadn't happened. It went to the charity shop. By the time I came downstairs to do much the same all children were awake and up though the two big girls stayed in bed playing. The little ones had breakfast and Wii played.By 2pm they were all finally dressed and we left to go view the rental house Tony had paid the deposit on the day before. It's horrible. Totally not us but that's the fun of renting isn't it
It's very cleaned and well maintained though stuck in the 80's. We can do what we like with it as it's going to be knocked down to have two new houses or something built on the plot. I'm going to paint our bedroom as the colour of the walls in there mixed with the pattern on the paper sent my eyes mental. The rest can stay as it is.The children love it. They picked their rooms and ran around the garden with Summer and Luke playing stuck in the mud. The house is in the middle of the plot so you can run right around it. It's on a quiet estate with a footpath right outside the front gate so they can finally have the freedom of going out on their bikes and there appears to be some kids next door. I'm actually quite looking forward to living a different life for a bit. We'll be able to save a fair amount by living there for 6 months also which is good news.
We left there and took the children to the beach.
The children went straight in the sea with Tony. Boo simply adores swimming in the sea. Tina joined us when she had finished work and tried to pursuade Bailey their 8 month old labrador into the sea.
She ended up going in with him fully clothed! He adored it. Kessie as usual sat and watched form a safe distance. She is so refined LOL!
Chips and fizz for tea and we left. This time Tina took the girls for a sleepover at hers. Buzz sobbed his heart out on the way home. We promised him the world in return for his sadness then Darren phoned to tell me to bring him over as it wasn't fair.
Home first to collect our gym stuff and we dropped him over there much to the disgust of the girls.Tony and I went to the gym. I had to leave my spin class after only 10 minutes with the pain in my hip. I'm really struggling with my body pains atm which isn't helping with the increasing weight I'm gaining- another 3lb. Why do my joints hurt so much?
So I went into the main gym and did some upper body work and then used the cross trainer as this is kinder on my joints than the bike. The steam room was bliss- they've finally made it proper hot and steamy.
Left there realising I'd left my shoes at home. Trainers and jeans are so not my style. Popped into Sainsbury's for some shoes but they only had those stupid ubber flat things which are horrid. So we bought a kitchen magazine LOL! and went to a different pub where I wasn't concerned too much about my footwear. It was a jam night so that was quiet enjoyable. No alcohol. We then went to get a quick dish form the chinese as we were starving having not eaten at the beach.
We ordered a soup to start and couldn't understand why the waiter was pushing for us to order more. browsing the menu for mains I realised there were no prices. Close inspection revealed it to be a eat as much as you like place. So we ordered a couple more dishes but still very little according to the waiter. The restaurant was very busy but about half way through our meal it suddenly went dead quiet. On the table next to us were three teenage girls, one of them said VERY loudly, 'look Janine, I bet you a million quid I need sex more than you do right now'. PMSL! She nearly died and tried to make amends by saying 'I didn't mean me I was talking about what a friend had said'. That made it so much better did it? It was hilarious. Then the dad of one of them turned up outside to take her home. She was supposed to be staying at her friends over night and had obviously consumed lots of wine. She was mortified and worried but gave in and went home. They paid for their meal in nothing but lose change.
Just as we were finishing out meal a mobile went off. Table at the far end, 5 middle aged women having a night out. Husband on the phone. Cue friends telling her to tell him to get a life and leave her alone. Her face as two minutes later when he walked in the restaurant. he thought she'd be pleased to see him. She told him to go away. He went with his tail between his legs. She was furious. I'd be furious if my husband turned up to see me on a girls night out FFS! Caused much slagging off and fueled chat for the five of them though! I'd imagine his ears are still ringing from the grief she gave him on her return.
We went home- we shall return!
I fell into bed and was asleep within seconds
I love waking up to no children, the silence and stillness of the house really starts my day off well. Sorted pets and laundry, went to drop contract for house to solicitors and then bought picnic stuff, collected Tracy and went to Tina's. Hugs from the kids, I love their confidence at sleeping over, they hug and kiss me a normal good morning then simply carry on their play. We'd given Luke some Hornby trains and track a customer had given Buzz a few years ago. Buzz isn't into trains at all. Luke is MAD about them. The lounge was full of track and little farms. Lovely to see it in use rather than gathering dust.
I made up lunch for everyone and we hit the road. Back to Bedgebury Pinetum!
We decided to make use of Tony being off and send him up the trees with the girls. It was really high 40-50 feet and it took over three hours to complete, £25 for Tony and £20 for each of the girls. Worth every penny! Tony hated it, he was terrified.
Actually most adults going around were terrified and there were many upset kids who wanted to continue but their parents had quit so they couldn't. Tony bless him, stuck it out! Summer adored it, she stopped to pose for the camera all the time and was completely happy. Pea was wobbly. On some she was as Summer on others a little nervous, on one she was really scared which reduced Tina to tears as she counted her steps to the end for her.
I am so proud of all them for doing it. Poor Pea fell over right at the end as she ran to have her photo taken by the finish sign.
She'd only just healed that knee from falling at the beach! Her limbs don't work properly atm.
We left as they were locking the car park up! We were getting cold and were starving so had some scraps left over from lunch. Dropped Summer home as she was in our car, home for beans on toast for the kids before they fell filthy dirty into bed. I Flickred and then bed.
Bedgebury Pinetum
08/08/07 23:30
Today we should have gone to Chessington, but Tina was feeling rather unwell yesterday so by the time she got her act together time was ticking on so we decided against it. After some discussion we decided upon here. A popped to Waitrose for picnic stuff whilst the children got dressed and ready to go. Tina came round with kids and dog and we all hit the road. It's only about 40 minutes from home.
We an amazing place! The dogs and kids ran off into the woods upon arrival and didn't really stop for over 5 hours. We walked to the kids play area where we sat and ate lunch, the children wandered here and there popping back very occasionally for water, Tina and I chatted. Tony rang to say he'd viewed a rent house for us and paid the deposit.
I spent much of the day listening to loony parents talk to their children. One kid got told off for getting sand in his new trainers, another for sitting on a bench for a rest when they had paid the grand total of 6 quid to get in. Fuckwits.
My kids had a ball, they played in the woods, climbed trees and walls. They dug in sand and played make believe on the pirate ship. They hung upside down on a spiders web and gazed in wonder at people zip wiring and rope walking through the trees above their heads. They talked to strangers and smiled and laughed throughout the day.
I laughed and talked, got teased and at one point nearly died as Tina said there was a man behind me as I was weeing in the bushes- cow!
We drove home after ice cream from the very nice man in the van
Tina left but as seems par for the course I kept her kids Tony came home and soon left again for the gym. the boys played on the Wii and the girls played in the garden and sorted out the pets. Dinner of chicken and noodles followed by yet more play.
Convincing Luke to get into his PJ's at 9.30pm resulted in a cool jump on the bed and pillow fight with all of us getting thrashed. I do like to get the kids hyped up at bed time!
The boys were flat out within 10 minutes and the girls watched a DVD. I sobbed my eyes out watching the programme on ITV about Alzheimer's . Tony came home and had dinner. Buzz got up crying. Boo fell off the bed and cried. All kids packed back to bed to sleep and I tried to sort my email issues to no avail. It's just Yahoo and Flickr.
We an amazing place! The dogs and kids ran off into the woods upon arrival and didn't really stop for over 5 hours. We walked to the kids play area where we sat and ate lunch, the children wandered here and there popping back very occasionally for water, Tina and I chatted. Tony rang to say he'd viewed a rent house for us and paid the deposit.
I spent much of the day listening to loony parents talk to their children. One kid got told off for getting sand in his new trainers, another for sitting on a bench for a rest when they had paid the grand total of 6 quid to get in. Fuckwits.
My kids had a ball, they played in the woods, climbed trees and walls. They dug in sand and played make believe on the pirate ship. They hung upside down on a spiders web and gazed in wonder at people zip wiring and rope walking through the trees above their heads. They talked to strangers and smiled and laughed throughout the day.
I laughed and talked, got teased and at one point nearly died as Tina said there was a man behind me as I was weeing in the bushes- cow!
We drove home after ice cream from the very nice man in the van
Tina left but as seems par for the course I kept her kids
Tony came home and soon left again for the gym. the boys played on the Wii and the girls played in the garden and sorted out the pets. Dinner of chicken and noodles followed by yet more play. Convincing Luke to get into his PJ's at 9.30pm resulted in a cool jump on the bed and pillow fight with all of us getting thrashed. I do like to get the kids hyped up at bed time!
The boys were flat out within 10 minutes and the girls watched a DVD. I sobbed my eyes out watching the programme on ITV about Alzheimer's . Tony came home and had dinner. Buzz got up crying. Boo fell off the bed and cried. All kids packed back to bed to sleep and I tried to sort my email issues to no avail. It's just Yahoo and Flickr.
