busy day...taking control

I asked Allie whether he wanted to go on the potty last night, and he did show an interest a bit later on. But I don't remember adding, "and please hit me over the head with the potty while I am sleeping at 5am". This is how my day began. However, it did turn out to be quite a good day, despite the sleep deprivation, which sent me into hysterical laughter at anything I found vaguely funny, even if no-one else did, like my own jokes.
I managed to to a combined trip to Halifax with Maeve and Allie, in which we bought a dishwasher-yes, I finally caved in after I couldn't not finish the mountain of washing up created on Tuesday. I managed to get a AAA rated one for under £200, and it took me about 5 minutes to decide! It's coming on Monday! Horray! We also took down her work at college, she got a merit, by the way, and Pete's work and cram in all in the back seat with her, so as to make room for the shopping! We called at LIDL on the way back, for necessities plus a camping stove, which I didn't know I wanted, but I am planning on camping at some point....(actually, I'd really like a camper van- we could go on holiday- any time, now we are liberated from the school terms-horray, again). I just had time to nip in at home to drop off all the stuff and have a quick coffee and some lunch, (which I had completely forgotton about, poor baby, no wonder he was drooling over all the food and had to sample everything!), before picking the others up, which I did quite cheerfully now I've sorted out the giving notice thing. I even had a chat with Jem's music teacher about which songs they have been doing, after realising that I only have a few weeks to glean as much of this sort of info as I can. She plays the guitar and does the sort of stuff that I did at school for a short time in the 70's, when I had a folky teacher.
Allie proudly wore his new floral souwester hat and rain mac that I found in the cupboard last night and he wanted to wear to bed, complete with oversized wellies. On the way back I had to stop off for a couple more things and we called at the Quentin Blake exhibition which we decided to go back to another day because it was fun recognising some of the characters (from Roald Dahl books) and meeting new ones.
At tea time I realised it was the end of the month and asked the dreaded question: has the mortgage been paid? ...then realised the only thing to do was to pay it myself, so I just did- online! it was very nice not having to go through any call centres or annoying phonecalls (I was not sure how I was going to do it in time, as I have been threatened with further action next time it was late). Once I had remembered my password and set it all up, it was really easy, and felt so glad that it has been done. This is where me and DP really differ: I feel better when big things like this are kept on top of. I need things to be in order.
Anyway, I really should be in bed, as it won't be long before I'm being hit on the head with a potty again.

Hebden Bridge is the least cloned town in Britain.

BBC - Bradford and West Yorkshire - Features - Hebden Bridge is the least cloned town in Britain.: "Have you ever wondered what Hebden Bridge and San Francisco have in common? "
...well I always wanted to live in San Fancisco...

I did it!

I told someone on the phone this morning that I was having a really bad day today, and it was only 9.35. I was supposed to be at school by 9.30, and someone was expecting to take Fugs on the trip, but I had been (mis)infromed only last night that there weren't enough cars going so I would have to go. So I told them to go ahead without us as I didn't want to make them another 15 minutes later. I was fed up because I woudn't have had to go if I had known, or got my act together to be earlier. I had set my clock for the wrong time, as it was set the day before to go off later than usual. Plus I had been awake since about 6, feeding and just gone back to sleep. Plus I thought DP was here, as he said he was coming home and I thought he would have returned after I went to bed, but no. Plus, I had got my packed luch ready last night, and when I went to the fridge I couldn't believe that it was gone! Pete had taken it to work, not realising it was anything other than some leftover risotto, which is what it was. there wasnt enough bread for everyone to have sandwiches, but luckily I found a packet of rice cakes and some cream cheese. Just after we set off it started raining and I only had on my flat backless shoes, no socks, and only one raincoat between 2 boys. We were going to an outdoor exotic animals centre in the pouring rain in some godforsaken lost corner of Yorkshire and we were late.
So, things could only get better from then on, really, and they did. I found the place, with no wrong turns, despite feeling some of the time: where is this place? We managed to catche up with the rest of the group, who we saw feeding the Llamas from across the car park. Fugs opted not to wear his waterproof, so I stuck it on Allie. It was only light drizzle, and we were inside some of the time inspecting reptiles, fish, etc. The children had an excellent time, especially when they found the large playhouse. I stayed out of the lizard handling experience, prefering to hang out in the rain with the parrots and toddlers. We got to feed the Llamas on the way back, too, and got a souvenier monkey. (They have marmosets there).
So, after all that I still had to face the music and talk to Jem's teacher about her leaving. I hung about for ages until she came downstairs, but this was probably better as she then knew I wanted to speak to her. She had been expecting it anyway as Jem has been telling her she's leaving. It was ok as she just said I had to give 3 months notice, which is only th 29th of September. It's still not clear whether I have to pay until October half term or just till the end of Sept, but at least its not till Christmas. But the main thing is its been decided- We will be all full-time home educated in September! I feel so much better, and relieved. It's quite liberating. I suppose I've done it in stages, one leap being out of the state system, but this still feels like a massive step.

the usual chaos

A pretty full-on day. We had to be at Oxenhope station for 10 o'clock for our trip down memory lane to the era of steam. It was already hot, and the train had been overbooked so we couldn't find anywhere to sit together, so I had wriggly baby on lap, trying to get to the others and stop him from kicking too many elderly fellow passengers. But they did enjoy it. We got off at Oakworth, where The (origainal) Railway Children was filmed. The highlight was the demonstration of the turntable, where these 2 old guys actually pushed a steam locomotive around in a circle. I'm not sure how many noticed but the train actually went through 360 degrees, so not much point for all that effort, it would seem. But someone pointed out that the younger children may not have remembered which way it was facing to start off with.
We had to get back home by 12.30 as I was looking after someone's 2 children. I also invited some other friends round that were on the train as it was a lot nearer for them than travelling from home. So we had a house full, well, garden full, actually. Most of them managed to get all of their clothes soaking wet in the paddling pool/water shute. We had another poo incident in the garden, which is begining to get a bit wearing. Well, it would have been alright, except Allie's suit was wet and even though I hoiked him into the bathroom straight away, well, let's just say we both ended up having to have a bath.

What's that noise? rain? what's that? O, yes, that thing that suddenly falls from the sky. I've left loads of picnic blankets out, and my sunhat is hanging on the bird table.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma at now. Jem has now decided she wants to be home educated. That means leaving the Montessori School. Now, Fugs is leaving the same school, but I did not have to give any notice for that, in fact I would have needed to put his name down for a place. So I let him take his time to be sure what he wanted to do. Now he is definately going to be home educated, and Jem has realised she wants to do that too. The only problem is that I think I am supposed to give a term's notice if she leaves. This seems a long time ahead to know what you want to do, and I do like to be sure before telling people of my intentions. I have mixed feelings about her leaving, as on bad weeks I really enjoy the peace when they are not around for a couple of days. But I really struggle to fit in with the hours and I'm sure would find it very difficult with one at home and one at school. We already have a conflict on Fridays between Jem going to school and me trying to go to home ed meetings with the boys.
I was on the phone earlier to someone else from the school and happened to mention this and it was not met with much support. In fact it was quite a frosty reaction, which left me a bit cold. I am going to have to face the music tomorrow and talk to the person who runs the school, who is not the easiest person to speak to. In fact all my dealings with the school as far as places have been concerned have been quite difficult. I don't want Jem to leave on bad terms, as has already happened, twice, once with the Steiner kindergarten, and when I took her out of the local school, which wasn't that bad, just a bit wierd, as they obviously did not know what to say. I'm so dreading it now. One of the other girls at the school has been trying to persuade her to stay there, and that must make it quite difficult. But now she has more friends who are HE, and has really been enjoying her time not at school. Also her favouritre teacher is leaving, and she doesnt like one of the others. Basically, I still think it's good, and much better than state school, but that HE is better. And she seems to have come to the same conclusion. If only I had started to HE when I originally intended, when she was 5. I feel really bad to have chopped and changed her around so much. I think partly she wants to be HE because its more straightforward than being part time at school, as that can pull you in 2 directions, iyswim. It's hard enough trying to explain to people that you don't go to state school, but to explain a flexiscooling arrangement, it sort of alienates you from both camps in a way.
Anyway, I've got to go on a school trip with Fugs tomorrow, which I could have really done without, and the said person above is going, without offering to take him or offering me a lift in her people carrier.

crazy monday afternoon

The rest of the day was better- it was one of those days where I don't really come round till later and I am totally grumpy with anyone who gets in my way... A couple of coffees later and I finally managed to sit down in the sun by about half 4ish, with my new scoubidou instructions and have a go at the square knot- easy, done that one, next...Must get out some string or hemp twine...stop me when I start making one of those owl picture wall hangings with wooden beads....(mmm, I've got some of those from an old carseat cover.......Stop it!).
Had nice tea in the garden- I had to make it as no-one else would go inside, but I didn't spend much time on it and got helpers to carry it out. I let them go in the paddling pools after tea- (I didnt know I was not letting them until someone said, can we go in the paddling pool now?) They always go really bonkers so I have to be in the frame of mind to be able to deal with it and I can't just leave them to it as Allie is too small. He caterpaults himself into the one with high sides, and he went down the slide into the water today!
I did Jem's hair tonight and she had lice! And I only checked it thoroughly on Saturday! And, apart from ballet, where all the children are spread out, with hair in buns, she had only seen the two children who turned up yesterday afternoon on bikes, who didn't stay very long, so it was a bit unexpected, and I had already checked Fugs. What a pain.
I actually spoke to someone about willow this evening. I phoned her about something else that she just so happened to ask Brendan about yesterday in town. She lives quite near to me and she offered to give me some cuttings! And she has two different sorts. Hopefully I can get some more tips from her as she is into permaculture and biodynamic gardening.
Tomorrow morning we are going on a steam train trip, and then some friends are coming round in the afternoon to play.

How to make Scoubidous

Scoubidoucentral - How to make Scoubidous
(for anyone who doesnt already know)

daydreaming.....

I am having a bit of a rubbish day as I am still recovering from the birthday, which took over the entire weekend. I seemed to have lost part of my brain, but this is probably due to the fact that I stayed in bed till eleven, after the third night in a row of being up till two in the morning. Also, my wireless networking is still not working properly, so I am stuck in the office again while the baby siestas. I was getting really stressed trying to keep him out of the sun, as he just wants to run and play wherever and there's not much shade near the house in the morning. The only thing I could do was bring him inside. Should be ok when he wakes up, as in the afternoon the entire garden will will plunged into shade by the enourmous shadow of the house. There seems to be no subtle weather here; either really harsh sunshine or cold wind. I suppose that somes of living half way up a massive hill, in alpine conditions. Well the other children seem happy scoubying in the dappled shade of the two small birches, where the hammock is.

I was really inspired yesterday, although I didn't get to see much of the art in the arts festival. Must try again this week and the weekend. The open studio I went to was at friend's house, from my old college days. It took up the entire four floors of his house and included mosaic tiles, collage, pictures and computer designs, all in intricate chaotic patterns. The overall effect is reminiscent of a cross between islamic art and fractals. It is a rich, multilayered tapestry of colours, lines and shapes. I did talk to him about his work, which he makes no effort to promote, and as with all the years that I have known him, I am still none the wiser in understanding what it is all about, really. I like it though. I was remided of something amazing I saw on Tech's blog a while ago, using a rotational symmetry to abstract an image, which I cant find now. (I cannot understand those catergories! maybe I'm not supposed to, but I would like to have another look at it.) I did not get a picture of this, but here is one I took of an outdoor textile piece. I think I like the words more than the piece itself, but I like the idea of a large fabric piece spiralling around poles stuck into the ground.

Yesterday I felt inspired to do all sorts of creative things. I dont feel the same energy for them now, but must record my ideas, so I can come back to them:

Completely re-design the garden, getting rid of leylandii and planting living willow stuctures. (this has been on the back-burner for some time, but I really must investigate the possibility of growing willow here and also a firepit would be very useful)

Outdoor mosaics (my mum does mosaics in the classical style, but I would tend to lean toward the more Gaudiesque)

Something coloured for the windows to create coloured light coming in - needs to be translucent and not cut down too much on the amount of light coming in, but could be some sort of stained glass effect or a textile hanging. This would also prevent birds from flying into the glass. Hmm...

Some art..........................yes,well?

I think there was more but I seem to be forgetting it already.

This scoubidou thing has got me back into macrame- must do some...................

Midsummer is supposed to be a time for dreaming up new ideas, lazing around and letting your mind wander. I think I can manage that.
yhe only thing I have to do now is sort out arrangements for tomorrow.

My baby has grown up

So...................we didnt go camping. I'm glad we were here for Meave's party last night and her birthday today. It took all the time after coming back from ballet to tidy up enough of the house to have a party in. Many push-along/ride toys were shoved under the stairs! And make the cake, which didn't take too long. So I manged to cram a black forest gateau in the already full fridge, along with a bottle of champagne. The first to arrive were two of her girl friends, who brought, yes, a multi-layered chocolate cake (pictured) and another bottle of champagne! which was nice of them. I wasn't bothered about being upstaged- all the more left over for today. She had been quite worried about having a party, about keeping the kids awake, but we moved the sound system into the kitchen, which is below her room, and it could hardly be heard from the other bedrooms, strangely. The kids stayed up till about 9.30 and were asleep by about 10. We hid in the office room, watching Glasto on the telly, helped by copious amounts of G & T and nibbles, which I had to keep sneaking in for. I missed them singing happy birthday and opening champagne at midnight, but I guess this was something I had to leave for her to share with her friends. She said later that she enjoyed her party: not too many people, but enough to make it feel like a party.
We had today, anyway. I spent the morning helping Jem finish off some presents she had sewn, whilst talking to my mum, who's calls I had not returned in over a week. (my dad had suggested that I must have gone to Glastonbury and she had images of me floating around in water with all my kids!). By the time she emerged some of Jem's friends had appeared on bikes. So, after coffee and toast in the garden I manged to offload some of the monster cake on willing children, and share out the remaining champagne between the five adults there. She opened some of her presents from the children. There was a definate drinks theme to her presents: from cappucino sprinkler sets to a smoothie maker, etc. She didn't mind the domestic nature of most of the gifts- she is hoping to leave home quite soon, so I suppose it was all quite appealing.
We went out for a walk in the afternoon, (not with Maeve and boyf, who went to the pub). One of Jem's frinds had invited her over and I wanted to look at a few open studios and other arts festival stuff. So Jem and I split off on the way down, to her friends, and the boys went with daddy to the first open studio, except I had told him the wrong place, and when I got there I had to go and find out where it was. I called at an old friend's open studio,which was ineresting (maybe blog more about this another day). I finally found the one we were supposed to be going to and it was closed and I had just missed them! So I headed off to pick Jem up, who had fallen in the river, but we managed to catch the bus home and get the tea on before anyone else got back. We had the black forest gateau and sang happy birthday, which the kids had been long awaiting.
I gave Meave another present tonight: a blog! I sent it her on MSN, and after changing the name and profile, etc she came downstairs to discuss the nature of blogging. Hmmm..............

plastic macrame, that tent

Well today went prety well. I managed to get Jem off early and spent the rest of the morning getting ready to go to music group, ie getting lunches ready, while the two pyjama'd boys played happily with Duplo and sticklebricks, which now still adorn the living room floor. Not that I'm stepping in it as I have had to return the the "office", with is pretty cosy as offices go, as the wireless networking is notworking on this computer, or my laptop in the kitchen, which has been a pain over the last few days. So I am now "plugged in", but still on the sofa, hee hee.
We arrived a bit late to music group, after picking Jem up, and getting stuck in roadworks. The music was already going on, and was quite nice, involving lots of percussion and singing. Someone brought and played an amazing French (Breton?) instrument, which I can't remember the name of, beginning with b. Later we got our Scoobies out, which we had called in at the pound shop. I think I'm beginning to understand the nature of scoobie. It's basically macrame with plastic, right? Well, macrame I can do: I did it in the 70's with string.
On the way back we stopped at J and E's, as they had not made it to music. E was just about to go and buy a tent she had seen in a small ad. When they were all playing happily she poped out on her own to get it. Jem started to moan about being hungry so I decided to take them all to the chippy, as promised. Of course we passed E on her way back, but she dropped the car off and joined us on foot. We decided to eat them at "the christmas tree", an enclosed bit with a tree in it, as I was worried about Allie running into the road from the table thoughtfully placed outside the chippy. From there it was only a short walk to the park... we only set of back when it started to rain. We all needed a drink after that so went back into E's for a look at the new tent.
Well, she though she was buying a 6-person tent. What she actually got was an 8 person tent! fro 2 people! it was so massive, and looks amazing. It is actually the exactly the same tent as ours, only twice as big! No, 3 times as big, because it has a living area in between the 2 bedrooms. They were tryng to persuade us into going camping this weekend to try it out. We could all fit in it! but we could take ours as well, and stick them together! We could be out of the house for M's party. So I'm just thinking of where we could go. Weather forecast?

boobies and scoobies

He fed! .. well, this morning, anyway, if not tonight. He seems to be in a state of confusion over the whole feeding thing, or is it transition? He sometimes pushes me away, and actually said "bye bye boobies" today, but also seems to be still interested in a way. He is having to find new ways to fall asleep and flails around a lot. He needs to be reminded to close his eyes.
The teeth are there, anyway, as I got chance to count them in a row, row, row the boat moment, and they were all there. So no more teething. Well that was short and sharp. I noticed his smile seemed wider this morning; must have been the extra teeth. But he seems to have really changed. His excema seems to be back, too, but that may be due to sunburn, or me being a bit slack about cow's milk.
So we had a really unsensible double car school run, in convoy, as I don't think it's ok to take kids without seat belts, but every now and then I forget when I'm really tired. He is often not here so the question doesn't arise, but yesterday I was dealling with teething baby and forgot. (this is only one of a string of cars that he has had and happens to have no rear seatbelts). So today it was presumed to be OK too, but, no actually I'm not going to change my mind about that. And its not fair to confuse the kids by continually saying it's ok when I am totally not ok about it. (The fact that I am totally not ok about spending money on a second, bigger car that cannot be used for more than 2 people, well, that's something else, and something that I cannot hope to have any control over.) So its "I'll take them", "no, I'll take them", "I want to go with daddy", "I want to go with mumy", "can I go with you, mummy" "actally, you might make me late if...." How ridiculous. Not to mention the shouting. I can't bear shouting in the morning. It just puts me in a stress all day. Well there won't be any arguments tomorrow morning as he has just MSNed me that he is not coming home tonight.
They were all hot and horrible this evening. We had an early tea and played out in the sun till bed time. I got some Scoobies in the market and they seemed to know what to do with them without any help from me. I didn't need to worry about that then.
O yes, and I took Maeve to LIDL to get "a few things" for her 18th birthday party at the weekend and her mass of booze BROKE THE CONVEYOR BELT!!!!

I have a baby that doesn't want to feed and hasn't for two days. I think he may have more teeth than he had last week. I don't know if this is it (suddenly); he just pushes me away, saying no, goway, ba-bye beed. He has been better today, but still clingy and with hot cheeks. And he's woken up...
I got up a 1/4 past 5 this morning and followed him downstairs. He doesn't usually do this; he usually had a feed. He wanted a drink, and not water. He hasn't said much apart from "murmee?" for the past few days, but is was something out of the fridge he wanted. So I took him back to bed with some juice, which he wanted to sip and cuddle. I woke up later on with juice all over me and the bed. I will do things differently tonight.
I had quite a peaceful day, relatively, with only him and Mave at home. I just washed the bedding and helped her laminate a few bits of work, so it didn't matter too much that he was a limpet. We stayed out of the sun most of the time. (he did get a little bit sunburnt at the weekend while I wasn't here). He did a bit of water play, which involved putting all the chalk in the water. We called in at the second-hand market to get some sticklebricks on the way to get J and F. That kept him happy for the rest of the afternoon.
Aparently the moon is supposed to be spectuacular tonight. Well I don't need to get up and close the blind then...

a jolly good show

we went to see an end of year show this evening... Maeve has now finished her Btech graphic design course and is going onto do an HND.

proud mummy moment: Maeve with work. 

Pete with his photographs 

happy summer solstice

I've been having some problems with connecting to the internet, (hence minimal blogging). But I think it's ok now.
So, I've just put all the interesting stuff we've been doing over here.
Allie's been teething really badly today: I was wondering when those back teeth were going to come through, he's had the rest for ages. He's been whiny and clingy for days, but today he's been hot and dribbling and putting his finger in his mouth and not eating or feeding. I've been carrying him around a lot, well. I've hardly been able to put him down. Managed to make the tea somehow, with no adult help. I was totally exhausted after tea and had to lie down. And this was not lack of sleep, as I've been going to bed on time. Just home it's not the return of the dreaded mastitis or chronic fatigue, but, I suppose, could be just the exaustion of having a teething child, who appears to have woken up...
no it was Maeve giggling. (for god's sake...)
So, I am probably still recovering from my whole weekend of rag-rugging. I quite enjoyed it, really. In fact the children just let me get on with it most of the time, and had a go at it, too. There was plenty to do for them: paddling, watching sheep shearing, felting, picnics, etc. We got a lift on Sunday in my friend's car and broke down on the way back. So there was me, in a thunder storm, in the back of beyond, with the 2 kids for 1/2 an hour while Jill tried to get a signal and ended up walking up this track to a farm. She phoned the AA who said they would be 2 hours so she also phoned Brendan to rescue me and the kids. He couldn't stop himself from being heroic and bombing off in search of jump leads, which lead to a lot of shouting and car-sickness, but we were starving and got some chips, too. By the time we got back, the AA man had come, as well as a coincidental recovery truck, which just happened to be passing. So atleast we brought her some chips. And some jump leads, just in case. I think there were a lot of breakdowns that day.
Monday, I was stressed in the morning, I think because *daddy* was working from home, which I always find difficult. Especially when he does things like fill up 2 paddling pools first thing in the morning and then announces that he has to go and do something, and I am not ready for paddling pool duty when I haven't had my breakfast. So I decided it best to go out, somewhere. Anywhere. There wasn't anything in particular I wanted from LIDL, apart from the usual boring stuff, so I wasnt very motivated to go, but then decided it was better than staying in and being stressed.
I decided to call in at the weekly local HE meet for the last 1/2 and hour, but they were just going to a great park round the corner. So it turned out OK in the end. I knew I needed to go somewhere outdoors with the kids, but couldn't quite face being 'alone with my thoughts', so this was ideal. They had some friends to play with and got on really well. I just found out that a new HE friend is just 3 days older than Jem and only lives 10-15? minutes away.
We ended up at LIDL, which was ok and we got some bouncers, which have been hours of fun (which is funny, as we already had one).
Today started out nearly as bad as yesterday (daddy at home again), and teething clingy boy, but even so, we manged to do some soltice activities. The children did a lot of bickering this morning, but they are always worse when daddy is here, working. I suppose he did take Allie off me at and put him to bed when he was particularly whining. But he then disappeared at 3.30, saying he would be back in 2 hours. 5.30 came and went, 6.30 came, and 1/4 to 7, and by then the tea was eventually ready. Mind you I am totally used to this, but it really is the worst time of day to be on your own with tired hungry children, trying to make the tea. Mornings I can do with the children. I prefer it if no-one else is around- it's great. I suppose this is how [...] it can be living with someone. So tomorrow I expect I will have the morning. To do the school run ...arghhh!

Here is me having a (ahem, not) child-free moment at the rag rug making workshop on Sunday. O, yes and there they all are, too ; ) 

needle felting 

having a go at some spinning 

Sheep shearing demo 

I am assuming

my blog is now behaving itself now and sitting in the correct position on the page?

at Wycoller today...

the willow has grown

They were too busy, paddling in the stream to do the rag-rugging workshop, but I enjoyed it, anyway.

they went off and had a picnic in one of the rooms of the ruined castle, just next to where the workshop was.  

the workshop was in this amazing barn 

a curlew ... urm- I think she has done this before... 

Fugs (as Huckleberry Fin) tries his hand at rag-rugging. 

This took me over an hour- it is supposed to look like bluebells, which i am assured it will, when the background is added. I didn't choose the colours; the artist who is getting mega bucks chose them.

rug-making 

Friday- Skipton meeting

I was feeling very frazzled and stressed on Friday morning. Maeve was doing some work on her final project (Btech Graphic design), which has to be finished at the beginning of next week, and kept saying things like, how do you do... in Photoshop? which I can only guess at, really, and getting all stressed. She's been doing alright in the stress stakes so far, considering, anyway. She suddenly ran downstairs ant 11.30, saying "bye"..."where are you going?"... "Manchester" (duh?, of course?)...I know she was going out in Manchester in the evening to see REM, but 11.30am is a little bit early?
Anyway, Jem was off to Magna before 9, with the Montessori School trip. I cant say that I had had enough sleep. The boys were following me around, mithering all morning, while I was trying to help Maeve, and wake up, etc. I had to find out how to get to the Skipton meeting. I was determined to go as I didn't have to get back to pick Jem up as I usually do on a Friday. I'm usually pretty shattered by Friday, anyway. So, the meeting was Ok, it was nice to see people IRL, anyway, even if it was a bit difficult to actually have a conversation, due to boys continuing to be very demanding. Allie had only slept for about 5 minutes, but was still tired and clingy. Fugs was a bit shy for most of the time, and wouldn't join in to the activities without some help from me, which can be a bit wearing when all the activities, including eating are based on the floor and you have a toddler clinging to your lap. I was very kindly provided with some soya milk for my tea, which made things more bearable, athough, why do these places always have cups that are about a third of the size of what you actually need to drink? And once youv'e got your tiny cup of tea that's really it, because it's really too much hassle to go and get another. (Perhaps this was all grossly exaggerated by my tiredness; the cups seeming even tinier in proportion form my greater need for tea?)
I didnt reallise until right at the end that a much older boy had been hassling Fugs. He had been tickling him and picking him up, and Fugs seemed to be laughing and didn't say anything to me. But just before we left it happened again and he was suddenly crying and it had obviously got too much for him. He told me on the way home that an older girl had told the boy not to be so rough with him. I suppose this is what he is 'missing out on' by not going to school. Well, at least I was there and will be more vigilant next time. I mean he is only 4, and I don't think this sort of thing will toughen him up in a good way, more likely to make him do it to other kids. I don't know if the older boy knew he was upsetting him; I think maybe it was his way of interacting; he doesn't interact overly with other children. He had been hassling Jem on another day and I just assumed he had been accidentally bumping into her, but this when this was reiterated by Fugs today, I thought differently. Well, it's not a big deal, because I can watch out for it next time, and I'm sure I can deal with it somehow if it happens again.
It was a hot and humid day, with Irish mist (AKA light rain), which they played in th excellent park in, which I think was probably the best bit. The weather made me feel even tireder, but at least I talked to quite a few people, and managed to remember their names!
We were a bit late picking Jem up, but I think it was OK as it was a bit vague what time they would be back, anyway. So I managed to get everyone fed with roast vegetables, and while I was having a pre-putting to bed moment with a cup of tea and the computer, a large inflatable pirate ship paddling pool appeared in the hallway! (very enterprising children to suss it all out). I fell asleep as soon as they all did, so the 10' pirate ship was still blocking the door when the others came in, and almost fell right into it.

Thursday

I just realised I forgot to do Thursday, and I can barely remember it now, but I found this picture on my camera. We went to LIDL to get one of those wooden practice bikes with no pedals- about the right size for Fugs, who cant ride without stabilizers, so it's ideal. I also got persuded into getting a pirate ship paddling pool (which was the last in the shop) and a pump, although daddy had already got a paddling pool (in picture), but I had already promised them the pirate ship one so now they have 2! I justified this with all the bargain purchases I had made at the jumble sale, well, a Letterland book, a few guide books (one of Pisa, of the leaning tower, in which they are fascinated), an organic gardening book, a cookery book, little wooden bowl (for some sort of Montessoriesque game, no doubt, beads, etc), urm, I cant remember what else, but all for £1. I got veg inthe market, too, which I always seem to get more than I pay for. The man gave me a free punnet of vine-ripened cherry tomatoes, plus a banana for Allie (which he always gets). This has got to be better than a supermarket loyalty card.
O, and yes, we got some bubble making stuff, which they insisted on opening the minute we got home, even though it was really windy and they kept blowing away really fast.

What type of homeschooler are you?

Ok I just had to do this as it seemed a pertinent question, anyway, I cant be bothered to put the kids to bed. My blog is already "down there" again, so it couldnt mess up my page any more. This is not a picture that I like, but I suppose the description is fairly accurate, although the q's weren't all that relavent.

Salvador Dali Melting clocks are not a problem in
your reality. You are an unschooler. You will
tolerate a textbook, but only as a last resort.
Mud is your friend. You prefer hands-on
everything. If your school had an anthem, it
would be Dont Worry, Be Happy. Visit my blog:
http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com


What Type of Homeschooler Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

blogging

I seem to have created another blog, which is really an extention of this blog, and is just a learning diary. I'm not sure if this is going to work, as it's difficult to separate learning from life. Well, impossible, really. But I just wanted to keep a seperate record of education stuff, so I could feel free to rant to my heart's content on this one. I have been struggling with the whole blogging thing lately. In the last week I have:

• decided I need to blog more to retain sanity, as it is only bit of time I get to myself
• created a post and not published it
• ranted on other blog comments and then regretted it
• ranted on other blog comments and then deleted it
• Not been in bed before 1am
• agonised over the inadequacies of communication via blog
• hardly seen another adult, well not much, anyway

I bumped into...

This afternoon we went to the park to meet Josie and crew. Jem was a bit tired, from school. When she saw Immi she started saying she doesn't want to go to school any more. She has been wavering about it, and it seems to be bothering her, but she won't admit it and I don't really know what I can do. It seems pretty certain that she only wants to go 2 days a week after September. But although it is more flexible than a state school, they need a terms notice if you want to change anything, which can be quite difficult. I only really send her because she insists that she really wants to go, although sometimes says she would rather be home educated full time. I just told her not to worry, as we will sort it all out... I think maybe she was all excited about the trip to Magna on Friday, which she has insisted she doesnt want me to go to, so I have arranged for her to go with some friends.
We were quite a long way from the car and raincoats, so, of course there was a heavy shower, so we sheltered under the slide till it eased off. Just as we were about to leave I saw a familiar face run into the park. Mave's dad has a little boy the same age as Allie, and he lives with his mother, who I had not met. Strangely I was talking to a friend only yesterday, who has been childminding said little boy, that's how we know him; she was asking me if I had met the mother and that I might bump into her in the park. Well it's taken 18 months of living in the same small town, with the same aged child, and it was bound to happen sooneror later. It turns out she is also friends with quite a lot of people I know, I suppose that is bound to be the case, really. It was quite strange, meeting the person who has a child with the same person you have, although it was very casual and friendly, and I certainly didn't have a problem with it.
It was all a bit strange for Mave when he was born, because it was bad enough me having a baby, as I hadn't told her immediately I was pregnant, but she found out almost straight away and then waited for me to tell her, and it got really awkward, as I hadn't wanted to tell the kids too early, but people kept blurting it out, so I had to tell them all. Then, she didn't know anything about her dad being a father again until the day the baby was born! She does see him when he goes to her dad's as she often coincides her visits to be at the same time as his. He is obviously not related to my other kids, but it feels like he is, somehow, as he is Mave's half-brother.
Anyway, we did have a bit of chat about what kind of a father he is (I think that was the strange bit). She said he wasn't very reliable, but made grand gestures, like offering to take him on long holidays, which is not want mother or child want or need. This really made me shudder as it was exactly the same when Mave was little. Although he is living in the same country as her, and he does have him one night a week, which is a vast improvement. I told her I put up with that sort of thing for 5 years and then told him to get lost, which is a bit of an over-simplification, but, hopefully got across some of what I meant.

finn family moomintroll

I found this today in the market for 25p

Had a bit of a mad tidying up sesh last night, even hoovered the hall! well, at least it looks tidy when you first come in the house. I decided to make the kitchen table small again to make more space as it doesn't seem to make much difference to how many people can comfortably sit round it, due to the position of the legs. So I needed another adult to help push it together. Fortunately Pete came in at about 11; Mave had been babysitting. Apart from that, I realised I hadn't seen another adult in over 24 hours this morning. No wonder I go a bit gaga. (O, no, there was the recycling man, but that just makes it worse, if you have to count that, I'm rushing out onto the street undressed, in desperate search of adult company!).
After lunch Mave got my new blender out and made a smoothie.

can we *do* something?

We did do something in the end, yesterday afternoon...

pavement chalks

We did a bit of chalking outside when it stopped raining. This is inspired by Moominpappa at sea, where Moominmamma paints pictures of her garden on the walls of the lighthouse and disappears into the mural. They said they would like to paint their own rooms with murals! Jem even did a design of it on some paper. I promised Mave she could have a mural in her bedroom when she was little, as we had inherited horrible Thomas the tank engine wallpaper, which I did strip off, but never did the mural. She will be 18 next week, and I feel a bit bad that I never did it. Well, maybe when she gets her own place... 

Jem started sewing a present for her sister. 

Fugs did a bit of weaving. This small weaving card is more manageable than a wooden loom, as he can sit with it on his lap. It's just cut from think card and the shuttle is, too. We sang "in and out the dusty bluebells" while he was going under and over. He asked if there was such thing as an electric loom, so I chatted a bit about how fabric was made, and we looked closely at the the fabric of our clothes. 

Allie played with the coloured pencils- he loves doing this- he just takes them out of the holder and puts them back in. 

by the way...

Never believe anything I say to you unless you can feel some echo of it in yourself
Rudolf Steiner

Is it just my computer....

or has my blog just disappeared down the page?
If I ignore it will it go away?

Every now and then Jem comes in and says "oh, can't we do something?" , or "I want to do something", then goes away and does something. I think this is a phase she is going through: (according to what I have gleaned from various waldorf teachers) when they get to around 6 or 7 they become less spontaneous and start to think more logically and plan things before they do it, so often say they are bored and ask what to do. People often try to provide them with lots of things to do, but this can prevent them from developing their own ability to think for themselves?

I forgot: "sticklebricks" Allie's cutest word.

while I was still in my pyjamas...

I heard the recycling men come and realised there was still some stuff I hadn't put out, so I rushed out with it, explaining that it wasn't sorted as I didn't want to get any more beer on my pyjamas. I just got I rye smile from the man, who is disturbingly familiar, and knows me by name, although I can't remember who he is. Maybe its the uniform that's throwing me. I wouldn't even think of going out and chatting with the randy postman, who seems to have replaced the old, over friendly postman, but, then there is never the need, except when he bolts up the road with my paper, or having left the neighbour's paper. But he is always much later than that, anyway.
While I was engrossed in blog reading, Allie manged to take all his clothes and nappy off and poo on the carpet, duvet, duvet cover, and several cushions, which are now in the wash. I was informed straght away, so it wasnt too diasterous, in fact the others had been getting him to sit on the potty moments earlier.
After all that was sorted out, baths, etc, and everyone was dressed, they had a game of musical cushions, followed by yar-yar and spelt biscuits.
Actually, I had to come downstairs in my pj's because Allie was so starving and demading "more beed", which means feed. he is getting more demanding in terms of feeding, shoving his hands down my shirt, saying "my, my beed" but my solution is to try and offer him food and drinks instead when I dont want to feed him, which usually works. Once I said to him "where's your hand?" and he took it out, pointed to it with the other hand and said "there", thinking that was really funny. I think "beed" is cross between feed and boob, as it means both things, and is his own special word, which they all seem to have had (noo-noo, num-num, etc). I'm so used to it I have caught myself calling them "my beeds".
His speech is coming on really well, now, having seemed to have grasped the idea of what talking is for before really developing a vocabulary (as John Holt describes in How children learn). As a result of reading this I have become more careful not to correct children's errors in speech, and to let them do it themselves, in their own time. This also applies to the older children. Allie has built up quite a vocabulary now, including "marmite", "juice", meaning any drink, almost indistinguishable from "shoes", which refers to any footwear; "mummy", "daddy": these are sometimes interchangable and sometimes I am called "mummydaddy", or "amummyadaddy", water is "wawer", cake is "nake", "duck" is now pronounced properly, no longer "dut". There are also sentences, like "that's mummy's book". "Don't do that" is copied as "doodat!" and means something else, like "its so funny when you get annoyed". There are also one-off attemps at longer words and phrases, like today's very clear "margarine" , and "somebody's drawn on that"!! (I wonder why he's learned that ;)). Also "my" and "mine" are becoming major words. It's interesting how they learn the words they really need to know. Fug's first word was "cheese" as he deperately wanted some after I had put him on a dairy-free diet. Cruel mummy. It cleared up his excema, though, and Allie's. I try not to "teach" them to talk, as I believe it can only produce unsatisfactory results. I really don't want to go to any more of those health-visitor checks, in case there are any boxes unchecked, as I think it's mostly rubbish. I remember speech therapists being mentioned when Jem was 3, although there were just a few pronunciation inaccuracies, which just wouldnt have showed up in a less vocal child. I wonder if they are compulsary.

Arrghh...money!

I've not been writing much in my blog for quite a while, mainly because I don't ever seem to have the time; so many other 'important' things to do! But I have realised that I need that bit of me-time and a chance to gather my thoughts, so I am trying to squeeze that time back into my life, whilst also trying not to go to bed too late. I have been interrupted several times whilst trying to write this, and even abandoned my attempt last night, which really proves the point that I need more time to myself. One of the reasons I do a lot of photo-blogging is that it doesn't require so much concentration, and there always seems to be somebody wanting some of my attention.
Today I spent at least 1/2 and hour on the phone to the bank trying to reach an agreement about reducing the mortgage arrears, whilst being shouted at at this end by *co-owner-of house*, who, it turns out had not paid the relatively small amount that I had promised last week. I finally agreed that an extra amount would be paid each month, on top of the mortgage, and decided the only way I could guarantee it had been paid was to phone up the bank and ask them, as I never seem to get a straight answer from anyone else. I am quite pissed off about it still, (though I have calmed down), because I had been under the illusion that I was finally out of personal debt, having insisted that my supposed-to-be-short-term-loan be paid off, plus another thing, as it was seriously eating away at my housekeeping.
All this happened as I was trying to get out of the house to go shopping. And I had received another phonecall from someone wanting to pick something up that I had advertised on freecycle. I had just got the thing out of the garage, expecting her to possibly come while I was out, after an annoying mix-up last Monday, when the thing bonked me on the head while I was trying to adjust it, and seemed to be falling apart. It did all go back together, but by this time I had told her I would have to phone her back and then her number seemed not to exist, Grrr. I really didn't want to be bothered with it any more, but as it turned out she phone me later on and picked it up and was very nice, so that was ok.
So I finally made it to LIDL, where there was retail therapy to be had in the form of a jug blender, which I have wanted for ages, but now can't quite remember what for, exactly. I was a bit conscious that my kids are possibly some sort of example of home education (but maybe this is a hangover from being on the gala float at the weekend), so am more bothered about them behaving themselves whilst they would otherwise be in school, iyswim. This may seem a bit daft, but it seems the supermaket during the day is almost like going to a pub- like a grown-up's space, and you really stand out if you have a load of kids with you, and do get a few stares. Not that I take that much notice. It's just another layer of anxiety when they are running about or sitting on the floor eating jammy dodgers or climbling the refigerators or all 3 simultaneously- (urm, I've just reallised this is not an exaggeration). No, well, it was ok, I was able to take it all in my stride, especially as impatient-checkout-lady was not there.
So I managed to be in a better mood after shopping, especially when I received a hefty amount of board money from Pete, who has just got his first pay-cheque. Do you think I can squeeze any more lodgers in? I can pile them up pretty high. I don't mind when they help out with those gardening jobs I don't want to tackle, too.
There. I've done it. But not gone to bed early. O well.

theological worldview?

You scored as Emergent/Postmodern. You are Emergent/Postmodern in your theology. You feel alienated from older forms of church, you don't think they connect to modern culture very well. No one knows the whole truth about God, and we have much to learn from each other, and so learning takes place in dialogue. Evangelism should take place in relationships rather than through crusades and altar-calls. People are interested in spirituality and want to ask questions, so the church should help them to do this. Emergent/Postmodern 82% Classical Liberal 79% Modern Liberal 50% Charismatic/Pentecostal 50% Neo orthodox 50% Roman Catholic 43% Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan 36% Reformed Evangelical 25% Fundamentalist 4% What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com

I thought maybe this one was more relavent, but maybe I am a bit out of my depth here: I've got no idea who this geezer is, for example.
I'm only doing this because I can't concentrate on blogging, even though I am now in a different room to the TV.

Which religion?

You scored as Paganism. Your beliefs are most closely aligned with those of paganism, Wicca, or a similar earth-based religion. You may also follow a Native American religion. Paganism 92% Buddhism 88% Hinduism 75% Islam 67% agnosticism 67% Christianity 46% Judaism 42% Satanism 38% atheism 13% Which religion is the right one for you? (new version) created with QuizFarm.com (thanks to Jax and Tim who I got this from)

Redemption Song

Redemption Song
This song has been going round my head all afternoon, after I heard someone playing it on the guitar the other day.
Guitar music is here.

knittingplastic

O, dear. I was just messing about with my blog template when I realised I had gone too far and couldn't undo what I had done so I had to start again, taking valuable advice from an expert programmer, who happened to bring me a cyp of coffee with not enough sugar in it (causing me to click on "save" instead of "clear edits", well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it). The advice was to save the bits I am editing into a text document. Hmm, well, I've managed to redeem more or less my original template, with a few minor alterations. Well, I had lost the profile ages ago and didn't know how to get it back, so there's a bonus(?) but I really am not in the frame of mind to be editing HTML -far too logaical an exercise. I am still tired from yesterday's escapades, and I still can't quite get over the fact that I played my guiatar and sang dressed as a rose bush in public. Maybe it was good for me. I certainly found it liberating at the music roup, if slightly harrowing at the same time. Afterwards its a bit like the morning after when you cringe at what you did/said when you were drunk, except you werent drunk.