Due home in 2 days. It's been a fantastic and busy couple of weeks and we are all ready to return now. Flo has her best friends Salome and Alize coming over this afternoon and Joe had a friend sleepover last night. I spent the evening at the Fontaine with my best friend last night which was really lovely. The house is getting in order, Stu has taken most of the contents of the shed to the dump this morning and I am ploughing through lots of washing....

I'm picking up free wifi at the house in France but its intermittent. Life here stands still, it's quite strange. There has been a warm welcome but we have all revisited old emotions which has been tough. Things have been really good for Joe, and it's really clear that both kids have matured a lot. The weather is amazing and I am looking forward to Mas Patoxas in Spain this weekend.

We are back in France in Prats de Mollo, and we are having a wonderful time. Stu especially is loving being back, and has felt really welcome. My children astound me. They are so plucky and clever and Joe has such integrity and strength. They are an inspiration. They have both been to the newly opened cinema twice, on their own. They are out more than we are!

Passports have been printed and are now just sitting there waiting to be collected by DX. It's torture! We have been into town to do some jobs and lots of stuff is packed. I am gradually ticking things off the list. The doggies are loving their new dog flap. It didn't take them any time at all to get the hang of it. The poor things are going to be awfully lonely. Especially in the evenings when they usually get lots of love and cuddles. I hope they don't hate us for abandoning them when we get back.
I'm really nervous about going to the house. I hope it isn't in a dreadful state. I have no recollection of what clothes I have left there, and I have very little room to take many with me. Or footwear. That makes me anxious lol. I can't really fit in much reading material for my course either. Just 2 letts revise science and maths books but I guess that will keep me going. I'll have to get stuck in when we return. We have Lucinda from Taiwan arriving on the 20th. She's a 33 year old lady on a workaway scheme. Her placement fell through for 10 days, so she is coming to us for board and lodging until 30th, in return for 24hours work a week. I am hoping she is a good cook and loves kids! (and dogs). Either that or she is into DIY!

Sorry for the blogging hiatus, on Thursday I received letters from the passport office, saying the children's passports couldn't be issued because the counter signatory appeared to be a relative....ahhhhhgggggggg!!! It has been stressful since then. I filled in new forms and got a friend to sign them and another photo, then sent them off recorded delivery, guaranteed next day. They weren't processed until the afternoon, which meant they couldn't be fast tracked until the next working day, today, Monday. Talk about cutting it fine. I have called this morning and made payment, a further £120, and in 4 hours they will be ready, in Peterborough. They will then go into the hands of DX the courier company, at the end of business today, when I shall be able to track them using my postcode. They SHOULD arrive between 9am and 5pm on Tuesday. We fly at 7.55am on Wednesday.
I haven't slept properly and there is loads to do. I can't wait until we get there and I can stop worrying!

Yes yes yes! Got my placements for my course. First is at Colyton Promary, 5 mins away, second is Feniton Primary, 28 mins away according to google maps, and that's through the lanes so no traffic jams I reckon. Feniton is ofsted outstanding, and I'll be teaching reception. At Colyton I'll be teaching yr1/2. I'm so excited.

Summer days.......

Slept like a log after taking night nurse. Day 2 of filling the trolley for the beach and it seemed a bit more arduous than yesterday, even though I actually feel less ill. I burnt my back where I couldn't reach to get the cream on, and now it feels like I've been whacked across the back with a bat! The children have had the time of their lives though. Flo is with all the bigger girls which she loves. They all went to the sweet shop today, each with a pound to spend, and she went along holding hands with everyone under strict instruction to keep her safe. Joe is a real water boy. He took his body board down today, and Dad came down after work and brought the fishing stuff, although they didn't catch anything. I lugged the trollies home and cooked up my birthday haggis, it was really yum, much to everyone's surprise. We had it with neeps and mash. All the kiddies are arriving at 10 in the morning to watch a film, before we head off for day 3 at the beach. STILL no passports ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

What a lovely day! Just goes to show, that even when you really can't be arsed, and feel like poo, you should always make that little bit of effort, because invariably, the effort really pays off.
I filled the shopping trolley for the beach, and we headed off at around 1pm. We took the doggies for a walk to the marshes first, then knocked for friends and headed down to the beach. It was gloriously sunny, and a lovely day was had by all. The forecast is good until Friday, so we plan to do the same all week. I still feel poo and full of cold, but I feel good for the sun on my skin, and the fresh air and good company.

Proud, him and me.....

Sorry, got a bit upset and emotional yesterday. Some people can be so hurtful and thoughtless. It was the last day of school today, and I swerved it completely. My husband is off on Friday's, so he did the school run, and came home with cards, photo's and wine as thank yous from my daughters' teacher. There was a class picture signed by all the children, so sweet and it got me all teary again. Flo took in a number 1 teacher pen for the teacher, and some fairy dust, in a bottle on a necklace, for the teachers assistant, as well as cards. Joe took cards and malteesers. I sent in cards for all the KS1 teachers and assistants, with some choccies and a birthday card book for Flo's lovely teacher. It's such a lovely school, just in general, but by comparison with France, well, there is no comparison.
This afternoon, Joe has gutted and filleted the mackerel he caught, then lightly seasoned them and drizzled them with olive oil, before putting a slice of lemon on top and grilling them to perfection. He made himself a salad and then served us up the mackerel, as he's unfortunately not keen on it himself.
He went along to the science roadshow at the town hall, which he really enjoyed, then they watched the Lorax, which they both loved. Joe's tooth came out in a toffee, Flo is having a sleepover in his room, to be near to the fairies when they come. All is well and good. Except me, I have a stinker of a cold. Just what I need at the start of the holidays.
The passports haven't come. We now have 3 nights booked in a ready tent at a lovely site in Pals on the Costa Brava, as well as flights and car parking, everything is crossed that they come soon.
I've had some really sad news today, two people in my family are splitting up, after being together for almost 25 years. I am totally shocked. It's such a shame. It's early days and not public knowledge, so I can't say anymore, other than how very sad I am.

Today's assembly.
1.
One more step along the world I go,
one more step along the world I go;
from the old things to the new
keep me traveling along with you:

Refrain:
And it's from the old I travel to the new;
keep me traveling along with you.

2.
Round the corner of the world I turn,
more and more about the world I learn;
all the new things that I see
you'll be looking at along with me:

3.
As I travel through the bad and good,
keep me traveling the way I should;
where I see no way to go
you'll be telling me the way, I know:

4.
Give me courage when the world is rough,
keep me loving though the world is tough;
leap and sing in all I do,
keep me traveling along with you:

5.
You are older than the world can be,
you are younger than the life in me;
ever old and ever new,
keep me traveling along with you:

Judge me, go ahead. We judge people all the time. But know this, I am conscientious and I really care. I do my best, all the time. I get it wrong sometimes and I mess up occasionally but I try really hard to afford people the benefit of the doubt. Grant me the same....... I love deeply and with all my heart, and as a consequence I hurt deeply when you ridicule and slight me.... aren't we all the same? Don't we all feel such hurt? Today, as a grown woman, an unkindly comment from a  thoughtless person made me cry.... I was and am really upset. Good friends gave me kind words and cheer. For that I am grateful xxxxxx

Just testing my blogging skills from my new phone. It's a wee bit tricky but I'm getting the hang of it. Uninvited birthday critters on my sons head! I can do without that. That's what my son said too, bless him. Today was long, busy and exhausting but nice. Shame no card from Mum, just a call but she says she doesn't "do" cards. Helping at school again tomoz, plus son's celebration assembly and then collapse. Overwhelmed by all my lovely birthday wishes, a big thank you to everyone. I can't keep my eyes open, so I must sleep now x

I should just ignore my hair, then I wouldn't get so fed up about it. I know I shouldn't, I know it's only hair, but it's horrible! I should console myself with the fact that even when it's longer it doesn't look nice, but I can at least hide behind it a bit when it's longer. I feel terrible stressing about hair when there are people with real things to stress about. Maybe I need a good hat?
It's not sunny, hubby is at work and I am trying to smile and be cheerful. I am taking the children to Pecorama (gardens, train ride and play areas in Beer) at 1pm. It's free entry today, and we've never been. We're meeting some of the children's friends there so I can't back out, I can't back out anyway because the children are expecting to go. I don't feel like it at all. Never mind, I'm sure it will be OK once we get there. This week is hectic with a capital H. Son has a walk from Beer to Branscombe on Monday, daughter has class party and needs party clothes, Tuesday I am helping in year 2, Wednesday is my daughters celebration assembly and I'm helping all day with year 5/6 fun day, then it's Rainbows Olympic event and Scouts fishing trip. Thursday is my son's celebration assembly, and friday is the last day and toy day. Parents are also invited on Tuesday or Thursday to watch a powerpoint of year 1's highlights at 3pm. Oh, and my son has swimming on Tuesday and Thursday. I think that's most things school related covered. It's the Marshes on Monday for the last Junior Rangers and we are all invited there to see a presentation too.... I'm bound to forget something!

The World Of Country Life was lovely, and I am whacked. Totally worn out! I think it's the coach travel that does me in. I hate it. There was one puke up, it came without warning and didn't make it to the bucket. Poor Miss Whitworth, the student who has been on my course this year, got the clean up job. I tried to help with my supply of wet wipes and perfume, so that we weren't gagging as much as we might have been.
The children had a brilliant day. There wasn't enough time to do everything, we could have stayed another few hours and still not got the most out of it. The weather was shocking, and my daughter felt icky on the way back, and was in tears when we arrived. I think she was just physically and emotionally drained. She puts so much into everything, that she's just wiped out after an event. I feel the same, so I can see where she's coming from. What a fantastic school though. The teachers and teaching assistants are amazing.
My husband's had a busy day, he's prepared our dinner and boarded some of the loft. He's repainted the bathroom floor and collected and put up the trellis to take the strain of the jasmine over the gate. He's a star! My daughter now has second wind, I, on the other hand, do not.

Swimming this morning was lovely, nice to see the pool with it's roof on finally, so the torrential rain didn't matter. It matters here though! Water plopping off the light bulb in the kitchen, and splashing in a pan on the window sill. Glad the flights are booked, they had gone up a further £50 but nowt can be done but to grin and bear it. Since the time we arrived at the airport a day late for our flights, I am totally paranoid about making reservations. Car park is also booked, and Mrs Tomlin is all set to take on the dogs. Pheweeeee. Just awaiting passports now.
Mac cheese is prepared, so I spose I'll be heading back to school to collect the 4 kiddies shortly. IN THE BLOODY RAIN YUK!!!!! Just learned that some friends attempted to get to Lyme to see the Olympic torch on it's journey and aborted the mission, so I don't feel so bad now about deciding not to bother.
My course leader for next year has reviewed my assignment, and her comments were favourable. I'm chuffed. She also informed me that we shall be spending the night camping on the 5th October, and now has me down as the 'outdoorsy type' from my assignment. Lol, she's barking up the wrong tree there. One night should be OK. She said there are 10 places in a yurt, but the rest would have to be in tents, and that actually it would be nice if we were all in tents. I could hardly say, book me a place in the yurt please could I? I'm rather disappointed, I've always wanted to have a go in a yurt. Camping without alcohol is no fun at all! This is where we're going.
http://www.embercombe.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=160

Today has been exhausting! If ever I was thinking I'd like another baby, today was a great point in time to refer to and remind me what it's like having a baby, and that I 'm probably not up to the challenge. Three children under the age of 2 came to visit today. The toys in my playroom where not all entirely suitable, and mostly ended up tipped out in a heap on the floor, and then bashed very hard against the floor until they were practically smashed to pieces. As they reached for something I would see in my mind what was going to happen to it, then dash to get there first and try and sneak it away and offer an alternative. The crane ended up in the cupboard under the stairs and the china tea set just about managed to get put up high in time. There were a few casualties, and my daughter was furious when she got home tonight. She thought the play room was a real mess, I said 'now you know how I feel when I look in there after you've finished playing', she was not amused.
Year 1 are swimming tomorrow, so I am there all morning, then it's a trip to the World Of Country Life on Friday. Next week it's my daughters celebration assembly on Wednesday, and then I've been asked to help with the year 5/6 fun day for the rest of the day. That suits me, it's my Birthday, but I don't have other plans.
It's then Rainbows Olympic evening. Daughter came home tonight from Rainbows with a paper plate that I must fill with cheese and pineapple for her to take next week. Each child has a plate marked with a food. It was the Scouts AGM and BBQ tonight, so the boys have been there for the evening. My son is now in the bath getting rid of the bonfire smell that is customary after Scouts. Both children have a brother and sister friend over tomorrow for tea so it's macaroni cheese on the menu. Everything is just a blur at the moment and I'm sure to forget something major. I need to clear up the dinner things still and get my son off to bed. I won't be far behind if I'm lucky. I've painted another bit of floor today. Slow and steady wins the race!

Lighting the fire is a sure way to get the sun to come out it seems. Now the oven is on as well and it is sweltering in here. I'm cooking salmon (for three of us, daughter is having fish fingers), in baking sheet parcels, with couscous and coriander, (coriander only in two, as son won't like it!) Then there is oven roasted sweet potatoes with sweet red peppers, cherry tomatoes and spring onions, kids won't eat any of that (big sigh), and fine green beans, we ALL eat those thank goodness!
Today at school was challenging, there was a supply teacher who had been left blank sheets for the class to work on in pairs, filling in information about different countries that they have all chosen previously. The sheets didn't have the titles on, ie they weren't labelled with headings like, population, continent, currency etc so the poor supply teacher had a right job trying to get them all started. Then in numeracy we were using a 'bee bot' to try and programme directional instructions for it to draw shapes. Bee bot's are little moving toys in the shape of a bee, that have buttons on the top to send it in different directions. They only really go backwards and forwards, but they rotate left and right at 90 degree angles. The explaining was hard, but the children could easily programme the bots to trace a square or an L shape or even a T shape. They could even do it all in one go, then set the bot off to complete the shape. It was much harder getting them to plot the directions in point form on a white board.
My daughter said she felt sick and had a sore tummy, so she had to come home with me after her lunch. She has made quite a miraculous recovery this afternoon, although she does have diarrhea (I can never spell that!)
I feel that progress is being made. We now have the dates from hubby's work, even though the flights on those dates have gone up in price now by £200. We have someone to look after the dogs, and it won't cost a fortune. We have found out that it will only cost £70 to park at Bristol airport for 18 days which is cheaper than return tickets for us all on the train,so that's brilliant. Don't you just love it when a plan comes together.
A lovely lady that we know in France, who is a retired special needs teacher, is going to do daily phonics lessons with my son when we get there, which is absolutely fantastic. She is also going to collect the key from the agents, as she is in France at the moment, and she will read the electric meter, and give the reading to the electricity board so they don't send our estimated bill to the debt collectors. Hurrah!
There is light at the end of the tunnel. Fingers crossed now that the passports come back in time.

I read a friend from junior schools blog and it's brilliant! http://hpmcq.com She says things that are wonderfully true, and that I can totally identify with, and she puts them in such a brilliant succinct way. She has a real way with words. She doesn't tell everyone everything, and reveal all the mundane drivel that goes through her mind like I do, perhaps she doesn't have mundane drivel in her mind like I do! She is cool. I am not cool. Never mind, that's me. I bet she doesn't cut her own hair all off either lol.
Today I am cold. It is really cold. I have finished my assignment and mailed it off, so that's good and a weight off my mind. My son seems mildly boosted by the good comments in his school report, and my praise and encouragement. He is trying to be more organised and got his bag ready this morning and cut his nails, without prompting. They are attempting to go for a coastal walk with his class today. He is wearing shorts. I hope he isn't cold too.
I plan to do some reading and some tidying and washing. Talking of washing, my husband came home from work the other day and ripped his clothes off immediately, as if there were a bee up his jumper, he threw them down by the washing machine and then the stinky bonfire smell reached my nostrils. He had knocked off a glass bottle in the museum at work, which he subsequently found out contained a liquid called 'train smoke'. Apparently it is used to make the museum exhibits smell authentic and old. His clothes still smelled smoky after one wash, so did his phone cover which also went through at 60 degrees! He was mighty glad though that it had been 'train smoke' he smashed, because he found out the next day that the other bottle next to it contained 'farmyard'. It did make me laugh.

It's been a very sunny day, yippee!! I hate lonely Sunday's without my husband. They make me grateful that I'm not a single parent. I often spare a thought for people bringing up children on their own. It must be really tough. Not just physically and emotionally, but not having another person there to hear and see what you experience, and share the daily grind, laughter etc must be very difficult.

I did some work on my first assignment about play in childhood today. Meanwhile, my children wound each other up and failed to play together nicely all day. Except when we finally got out of the house and went for a lovely walk with the dogs. We went to two parks and my son took his bike. They played and laughed together beautifully, it was a joy to see. Therein lies the moral of the story etc....

The silly Mildred Hubble dog had eaten all my strawberries (all 3 of them), and has made a good start on the raspberries. If it's not slugs and snails, it's a dog. Incredible!

Murray sadly lost the tennis. Maybe next time I reckon.

And oh, I nearly forgot to say that we nearly disappeared under flood water yesterday. It rained so much that the Axe Estuary almost burst it's banks and all the local fields were swamped and lake like, with everything but the tree tops submerged. Who would have thought it was July.

Husband STILL doesn't know what dates he can have off in August. The flight prices have all changed now, and it's going to be nigh on impossible to organise everything we need to organise in time, and cheaply now. So that's poo.

My husband collected my daughter from school yesterday, they waited to get home (in the rain), before opening the all important school report. She read it herself, when she saw the name of her teacher for next year, she lept from the sofa and jumped in the air! Up and down over and over again shouting yes, yes, yes and waving her arms with joy with the biggest smile on her face. Her report was shining. The teachers comment said -
It has been a pleasure teaching her this year. She has brought so much to our class with her entertaining personality. She is a natural leader and enjoys organising games and activities for her friends and has proved to be an ideal class representative for the school council. She approaches all her tasks with an enthusiastic attitude and is very conscientious. She listens carefully to instructions and is always keen to offer interesting thoughts and ideas to class discussions. It is lovely to see her flourish in her environment and enjoy her time at school so much. I certainly enjoy seeing her smiley face every morning! She should be very proud of her achievements this year and I wish her every success in year 2. Well done!
This comment actually brought a tear to my eye. How lovely.
Then we called our son and opened his report (with a little trepidation). It was thankfully brilliant. Despite the obvious difficulties with reading and writing, he is doing really well and has lots of amazing achievements this year too. He is above average in science, and doing very well in maths. His ICT effort and achievement were both A's. In his teachers comment she wrote that in class discussions he gives valued insights and demonstrates and expresses his wide ranging general knowledge. In music and drama it said he exudes enthusiasm. His CAT (cognitive tests) showed his non verbal reasoning scores were above average, which confirms he is a little brain box. Just as I thought! We made sure we heaped him with praise and told him he was doing really well. That he is a incredibly bright and that he shouldn't let his extra difficulties get him down. Easier said than done!

The fire is lit and we are awaiting a months worth of rain over the next 24 hours.... this summer is not panning out as it should. I have a poorly boy at home today, he was home yesterday as well. He has a really sore throat, feels like razor blades when he swallows, poor thing. I painted some stairs yesterday and cleaned the house from top to bottom, not that you would know it today as it is back to the usual state. My daughter had her favourite friend over for dinner. This is a friend that she thinks is the bees knees. A girl she thinks is just about the best at everything in the world. I have no idea why she thinks she is so much more impressive than her other friends, but it's just typical that this girl can take or leave my daughter. Isn't that always the way? I don't hold it against her, there are other girls that think my daughter is pretty cool, and she hasn't got the time of day for them really, so what goes around comes around, as they say. My Nan always used to say "you run, they follow, you follow, they run". She was talking about boyfriends, but I think the principle works well for children's friendships too.
I spoke to Grandma this morning, she has cataracts in both eyes and has been waiting to get them seen to since last November. How appalling. She lives at home totally independently at the age of 87, she's not a burden on anyone, not costing the NHS loads of money in care etc, and she can't see the ball or scores when she watches Wimbledon. We were talking about the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I watched it recently, and she went to see it at the cinema and loved it. She said the guy that plays the owner of the hotel was brilliant and I suggested she would like Slumdog Millionnaire. I'm sure she would like it, so I said I would send it to her, but on account of her poor eyesight, she can't set up her DVD player, because the text on the menu screen is too small. I asked about getting her eyes done privately but she said it costs £2500 for each eye, and that she hasn't really got that kind of money. It's disgraceful!

What was I thinking, not wearing wellies to the marshes! What a doughnut. It was shin deep in places and inevitably water crept into my boots via the zip. One foot is soggier than the other. Fortunately, no children fell in during pond dipping, or even fell in the mud, and they all had a fantastic time with Meg the Ranger. It didn't rain, well not too much, which seems to be all we can be grateful for this summer. My daughter will find out whose class she is in next year on Friday. The classes will be mixed year 1&2, so she has the chance of having the same teacher again. This could be negative, because it might mean it is a bit 'samey' but she LOVES her teacher so much, that I think she will be upset if she is put in another class. We will just have to present the positives, whatever the decision. My son also finds out, but his choices are devil and deep blue sea, so either way, it doesn't really matter!
What to cook for dinner is presenting me with problems at the moment. There is no good reason, other than it seems to be a total chore. I really am not feeling inspired. I would quite happily live on takeaway this week, or salad and picky bits if it was actually summer.
The bills are all paid, and the account is practically empty and the holiday is not yet booked. Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?

Car passed the MOT yippee! School this morning went well, but dare I mention it again, the rain is torrential. It's the school play tonight, we got soaked on the way home and had to change, so I imagine we will get soaked again, and have to sit through the show all soggy and wet.
I had a coffee and a lovely chat this afternoon with my dear friend. Really nice people, who are decent, and on the same wavelength, are hard to come by, and I am so lucky to have found my friend, her husband and her gorgeous son.
We have been checking out flights and dates for our trip back to France. My husband is struggling to get the right dates off from work, the price of flights varies so massively and there are so many things to coordinate. Why are things so complicated? Dog sitters, hire cars, airport parking at this end and/or lifts to and from airports. If we manage to sort it all out, it will be a miracle. Anyway, thats my moan for the day over. Hubby is due shortly and we must dash to collect the car and get to the show.........

Sorry to go on about the weather but OMG OMG!!!! This is ridiculous. It's freezing cold, windy and raining non stop. I've had a very unpleasant morning trying to sort out a car insurance cock up of huge proportions at loads of extra cost to me, followed by passport nightmares, french electric bill disasters, MOT headaches and general paperwork blues. With all that, and a back drop of stormy winter weather, I am more than ready for holidays of some kind. Sadly, my holidays will be mostly spent cleaning, sorting and repairing and decorating in France. At least one can hope that the weather will be good. Aside from all that joy, I have noticed the onset of jowls. I was so busy stressing about my wrinkles and crows feet, that the jowls and the equivalent of bingo wings on my inner thighs had temporarily escaped my notice. The jowls are now much more noticeable because, since my fabulous new haircut wouldn't go right after 3 days, I have chopped bits off my hair daily, resulting in a short, escaped from mental hospital style, that now shows off my jowls and leaves me nothing to hide behind at all. They say we make our own destiny, so I think I have been using the wrong ingredients in life! I need to sort out my filing, eat healthily and stop smiling or smile more to combat the jowls. Incidentally, is there a name for inner thigh bingo wings? Does anyone else suffer, and what can one do to combat them?

The weather has been intermittently good.... I guess that's as good as it gets in the UK. We had a lovely hour or so on the sandy beach in Lyme Regis yesterday which was nice, apart from the wind. I know we English are always complaining about the weather one way or another, but wind and sand = annoying!
We watched Danny The Champion of the World with the kids, it was a lovely film but a struggle to keep the kids watching. Not fast paced enough or action packed enough for them, although they stuck with it and enjoyed most of it. We've been down to Byrne Jones the local chemist today to get passport photo's for the kids. Not smiling was hard, my daughter looks positively miserable in her photo due to her attempts to keep a straight face. What a silly rule! I think smiling should be compulsory. Who introduced that ruling? It's ridiculous. There are so many silly rules these days. If you have encountered any lately, please leave me a comment. I love a rant about silly rules!
I've just been sent a video from my course that I have to comment on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiDV6uOY9QI

It expresses sentiments that I wholeheartedly agree with! I have just booted my son off his xbox and sent him down to the local council flats where his friend lives, to play out. At least council accommodation incorporates relatively safe outside areas for children to play (even if it is to the annoyance of the neighbours!). I've blogged about it before, but I am really disgruntled that kids don't play out any more. There is nowhere my 6 year old could play out safely on her own around here.

We are trying to plan our summer. We would really like to get over to the house in France if money and other commitments permit. I can't wait to see the old place and catch up with friends. I wonder how the children will find it? My daughter is looking forward to it, but my son hasn't made his feeling known yet. My Dad finishes his tour on the 23rd of July so he will be back in France from that date. I really look forward to seeing him. I love my Dad!

Is it only Wednesday! Mum and Cousin John got off OK today, and I think we can say the visit was good. Mum is proceeding with the house buying, it's a massive step for her. She's lived in Essex all her life. She's spent time in various other places, but she has never sold up and shipped out. Actually, it's monumental. I envisage melt down in the coming weeks before things get clearer in her mind. I am really looking forward to a new start for her. You only get one life, and whatever has passed, is past. The future can be better and brighter for everyone if we all want it, and we all make it happen.
I have spent the rest of the day researching more age appropriate material to help my son with his reading and spelling. I am starting to see him as a hugely bright and intelligent human being, and I'm trying to find less condescending and belittling ways of tackling his difficulties. Do you know, he is so clever, he could pass an entrance exam for grammar school if he had someone to read and write for him. If he were physically disabled he would have that allowance, but because his disability is invisible, he is already being denied opportunities that are rightfully his!
On a really positive note, I had a call today from a university friend who is a photographer. He invited us to a celebration of his upcoming marriage which is lovely, and he also said he would be delighted to spend a day with my son in his studio, showing him all the cameras and processes etc. My son will love that!!!!
It's a trip to the beach on the schedule tomorrow, with my daughters class. If the weather is the same tomorrow as it was today, I envisage the trip cancelled. It's not June weather. It's not even February weather at the moment. She has been to the police station tonight with Rainbows to have a look around. She had a great time. My son has been gardening at Scouts, he too had a great time and is feeling like he fits in there a bit better which is good news. He had a lovely shower tonight and declared that he would like to shower every morning from now on. Yippee! No more dragging him to the bathroom kicking and screaming. Well that's the theory, what actually happens in practice remains to be seen lol! Hope you are all OK. I wonder whats new in your lives lately? I feel like I've been out of touch for a while. Lots of love and night night for now x

Twenty past midnight on a school night is no time to be blogging! Mum's visit has been a success and no-one has fallen out (so far)! I am delighted. I am also shattered. I'm off to bed, I feel like I could sleep for a whole day and night........

One visitor departed on the train, the other two en route to arrive. It's all go here! Just feeding the troops before I get cracking. Got to change beds and tidy up. Don't even know where to start. It looks like we've been burgled. Good job in this instance that my Mum is blind, although she is likely to break her neck tripping over stuff if I don't get this place a bit ship shape.
Jut burnt the roof of my mouth on  jacket spud, it's really throbbing. My son is permanently on the sofa with a controller in his hands, even more so since his auntie treated him to a new game. I keep asking him to help tidy up, but the children need step by step instructions when it comes to tidying up. You have to say 'pick that pen up and put it in the pen drawer' etc or it ends up in the lego. Seeing as I'm in a hurry, it's just easier and quicker to do it myself! I've sat down to write this, it was a fatal move. I could quite easily snuggle up and have a doze. No, I must prize my backside off the sofa........

I'm just destined to have shit hair! I had my hair cut last week and it looked really nice, now it looks awful, god knows why, and I can't do anything with it! Sister in law has arrived. I have made a felt hand puppet of a cheetah this morning at school, cleaned and tidied the house as best I could in the time left over, and cooked veggie lasagne and have now been left downstairs alone with the wine.... not to mention having the kids friends for tea and managing to serve up a jar of pasta sauce in an unpleasing way... think the sauce pasta ratio was not right! Even though it was the jar of preferred carbonara, and I usually make my own!
Anyway, this is midsummers eve and it feels more like midwinter. Sis in law has a stinking cold so I imagine it has my name on it for next week. School summer fete on Saturday, which will undoubtedly be rainy. Can you tell, I'm feeling really positive at the moment!

Sorry I haven't blogged for a wee while..... it's been hectic. I was back with year 2 at school on Tuesday and there are some sad issues affecting some of the class members which made the morning a real challenge. One child in particular is having a really bad time, and the resulting behaviour is rubbing off on another. It really affects the whole class dynamics.
My son was canoeing all day today on the axe estuary. He had a fantastic time. Then we went to the doctors for my daughters crop of verrucas that have been with us for a good few months, which apparently we just need to keep treating with good old bazuka. She was very upset not to have had them cut out with a scalpel resulting, in the need for crutches! Then it was Rainbows and Scouts. In between that I have made some curtains out of a charity shop sheet, painted some furniture, selected some lovely nick nacks for the spare room(also from charity shops), shopped several times for various random items in an array of other shops including shells and marshmallows, entertained a plumber for a quote to move our boiler, and numerous other things that I have started to forget thankfully now. My sister-in-law arrives tomorrow. She is with us till Sunday, then my Mum and her cousin arrive about an hour after her departure, to view the house that I viewed for her, and that she has made an offer on that has been accepted. They leave on Wednesday. I am helping tomorrow morning at a year 2 parent involvement morning, and my daughter has a friend for tea. I have a filling on Friday and soon, I am sure, I will deserve a holiday! 24 hours in A&E was on and I missed most of it, I am rather upset coz I love that. I haven't opened a book all week, I hate that!

I love music. I don't play an instrument, and I don't even play music as much as I'd like any more. Partly because when I listen to music these days, I get very easily overwhelmed by it, and end up with a tear in my eye. I don't know if I was just born loving music, or if I've been surrounded by it from an early age, and that's what's formed my passions and taste. My Dad is a sound engineer and he's always been involved in the music industry. Some of my earliest memories of my Mum are of her loving a record so much, that she played it over and over and over. She did that with BA Robertson and Maggie Bell's Hold Me. Also, From a Jack to a King by Ned Miller, that one really crackled. She played Pink Floyd The Wall, Bob Marley Legend, Pat Benetar, Blondie Parallel Lines, REO Speedwagon, Lou Reed and so many more. My love of music throughout my life has meant that there are songs that have accompanied each period. If I think back to events, they are always characterised by certain songs. When I was 6 yrs old, I went to my first big concert at the Hammersmith Odeon. It was Manfred Mann's Earthband Chance tour.



















I had the night of my life and was thrilled to get back stage and see my Dad working. The atmosphere was amazing and the music was so loud. He is still touring now, he is in America at the moment, with Roger Waters from Pink Floyd. He has been on this tour for over a year. I love The Wall, but listening to it in concert almost every night for a year must be detrimental to your health! My Dad being away meant I couldn't send him a Fathers Day card yesterday. I sent him an email and I attached my favourite song at the moment. It's a lighthearted, uplifting catchy tune. I hoped it would make him think of me and be a good contrast to "Mamma Do You Think They'll Drop The Bomb".
The song I sent was this.......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv6dMFF_yts
I love it!

Have you heard Ed Sheeran's new tune....

"Small Bump"

[Verse 1:]
You're just a small bump unborn, in four months you're brought to life,
You might be left with my hair, but you'll have your mother's eyes,
I'll hold your body in my hands, be as gentle as I can, but for now your scan of my unmade plans,
A small bump in four months, you're brought to life
[another version:] A small bump in four months, you'll open your eyes

[Pre-Chorus:]
I'll whisper quietly, I'll give you nothing but truth,
[another version:] I'll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth,
If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you

[Chorus:]
You are my one and only.
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.
Oh, you are my one and only.
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.
And you'll be alright.

[Verse 2:]
You're just a small bump unknown, you'll grow into your skin.
With a smile like hers and a dimple beneath your chin.
Finger nails the size of a half grain of rice,
And eyelids closed to be soon opened wide
A small bump, in four months you'll open your eyes.

[Pre-Chorus:]
And I'll hold you tightly, I'll give you nothing but truth,
[another version:] And I'll hold you tightly, I'll tell you nothing but truth,
If you're not inside me, I'll put my future in you

[Chorus:]
You are my one and only.
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.
Oh, you are my one and only.
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.
And you'll be alright.

[Bridge:]
You can lie with me,
With your tiny feet
When you're half asleep,
I'll leave you be.
Right in front of me
For a couple weeks
So I can keep you safe.

[Chorus:]
'Cause you are my one and only.
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.
You are my one and only.
You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight.
And you'll be alright.

[Verse 4:]
You were just a small bump unborn for four months then torn from life.
Maybe you were needed up there but we're still unaware as why.

Today I finally had a really good haircut and have found someone that I like and trust to cut my hair well, which is truly fantastic. The day then disintegrated.... I couldn't find my car in the car park, after much searching and retracing steps we concluded that it must have been stolen! We were gobsmacked and quite upset. We contacted the police, the community officer visited, we informed the insurance company etc and then about 3 hours later I thought again about the train of events, and in a eureka moment, I realised I had left the car in Tesco's car park since Wednesday morning! I think I am losing my mind. I have given everyone a good laugh as I announced the crime immediately on facebook. I shan't be so hasty next time.
Has this type of thing happened to you?

I'm sitting here smugly because I've been working hard again all day. I've been learning about phonics today and how to teach children to sound talk and blend. I'm now fully proficient in graphemes, phonemes, digraphs, split digraphs and trigraphs! Well, I say I've been working all day, it's only 2.30pm, but I have to pack up now to head off to school for the kiddywinkies. I had a pretty good idea of what it was all about because I am in school so much, and I've sat in on phonics stuff and taught one session myself. I've found a lot more examples today of activities to do that practice the different phonemes. Once you have the relevant word lists, and are clear on the phases and order in which to attack them, then it's really just a case of making it snappy, accessible and fun. Then also providing usable examples and applications. There is quite a big comprehension gap between recognising and reading the different phonemes, and choosing the right graphemes to use in writing. By that, I mean for example it's relatively easy to recognise a sound in a word when you sound it out, like tube, chew or Tuesday. It's much harder when you are writing, to choose the right grapheme or way of writing the sound. So a child might write tube, tewb or tueb or Chewsday even. There are sometimes rules that govern which spelling to use like the ai,ay, a_e sound. The spelling AY is often at the end of the word, like day, pay, way etc but the English language has so many exceptions (like crayon) and often we just learn through repetition that something looks right. That's why reading is so important. I wish my son found reading easier. I really must keep motivating him and reading with him, it's so important. I've found a load of stuff to do with him today. I really want to give it my best shot between now and the end of the summer, to try and help him make some significant advances and feel more confident in his abilities. Talking of reading, what reading scheme do your children follow if you have children? The books my children have to plough through at school are so outdated and boring! It's no wonder they aren't inspired. They are the Oxford Reading Tree books, and there are a few other types of books thrown in like Ginn ones, but they are all so DULL! Do you agree? What alternatives are there? Please comment with suggestions or your views if you have even the tiniest thing to say. I love a bit of feedback. Thanks you.

I have just been reading a report about The Primary Education Review, and the proposed revision of the primary curriculum. (feeling good as have done some course related reading, got smug grin). However, it was all worded in a quite complicated way, so I have spent the first half hour working out what it says in normal language, which I think I have just about done, and now I can't really remember what I thought about the points raised, and need to read it again! I can see this is going to be a long and difficult process with my aging brain.
The changes to the curriculum seemed to have been called for because other countries are doing better than us, ie Finland. However, Finland is not a very comparable country (not entirely sure why, but could re-read or research Finland later.) The government apparently want to roll out in schools, what Finland do in their schools, but there is opposition to following their model in schools, because there are conflicting opinions as to the actual reasons why Finland performs better than the UK. It would appear that the their whole ethos is different to ours. They have invested time and money over many years, in equality. In trying to bridge the gap between the country's rich and poor, and research shows that it is this improvement in society as a whole which has had the greatest impact on raising the outcomes for children in education. Our government is reluctant to acknowledge this. Employing their education model alone, to a system where the standards of schools varies greatly as it does in the UK, where we have introduced academies and variation to provide parents with 'choice', will not necessarily improve outcomes for our children, or raise standards for every child. Does that make sense? Now I must formulate in my mind what I personally think they should do. I do have an answer, but I don't think I could construct it sensibly yet! I would really welcome some comments and views about what is good about the primary education in the UK, and what is wrong with it. There are lots of parents amongst you who must have a view. Please raise some points, either by sending me comments or sending me a PM. Thanks xxx

After reading some more......

Michael Gove seems to interpret the findings of research in a very strange way. As politicians tend to do, he has cherry picked certain ideas that 'please' him, or suit current political agendas, and disregarded key aspects of what has been put forward in a truly fundamental way. I've just read his letter to Tim Oates, the chair of the expert committee, which contains his proposals for the primary curriculum. I have also read his preliminary outline for English, Maths and Science. The content of what should be taught, (which was supposed to be slimmed down considerably, leaving much to the integrity of individual schools and teachers), is by and large acceptable, I am not a teacher yet so I can't really comment competently on how it differs from the previous curriculum content. However, as I understand it, he proposes doing away with assessing development in stages, in favour of stating explicitly what MUST be learned by certain ages, and at the end of specific school class years, not by the majority of children, but by ALL class members. He also states that the teacher and class may not 'move on' with learning, until EVERY child has acquired specific skills and knowledge. Well even I, with limited classroom experience, can say that this is totally flawed and unachievable. Children are all individuals. They do not learn at the same pace. They do not all develop at the same rate, or in a linear way. That is not to say that a child, who at any particular stage, who develops more slowly than another, will achieve less in the long term. There is no mention of what extra measures or resources will be in place, to ensure this happens. None, no doubt.

Gloomy morning today. Weather is shocking, AGAIN. My poor boy says he isn't looking forward to anything at school except seeing his friends, and even that was an after thought. Daughter is as excited as could be. It's all about the teacher, they are so important. It's not that his teacher isn't good or nice, she just isn't right for him. Her approach is too shouty and instructional. She teaches and they learn, rather than them being given clues and finding out for themselves. Also, he is now old enough to reflect on his experiences in France and he is viewing them very negatively, he is also starting to reflect more on his own short comings and compare himself with others. The sense of self awareness shows development and maturity, but it's also the bearer of bad news, as it is for us grown ups!
I just need to persevere with all the extra phonics work because he really seems to be getting stuff at the moment. Maybe if he can see progress, he will feel a sense of achievement and be motivated to stick with it.
Anyway, we had a lovely day with my Dad's ex girlfriend yesterday. They took us to Lyme and bought us fish and chips. The children played in the sand and they even bought them buckets and spades. The sun shone for a short while and the afternoon was finished off with ice creams. Then my son set off on his bike for rangers club, where he met a bat. He thinks they are cute.
I am viewing a house just around the corner this afternoon, for my Mum. I have everything crossed that this is 'The ONE'. It's really near, but you can't see if from my house. It has three bedrooms, a bathroom and an en-suite. There is a downstairs loo and a new and practical kitchen. The garden is decked for easy maintenance which is perfect, and it has a garage too. It's on the market for £220,000 which is quite steep. It's very central for town, it's newish so a survey shouldn't frighten her off this time. Lets just hope it ticks all the boxes.

Daughters second tooth came out yesterday, so the fairies have been with us again. She wrote them a note this time and got one back. She says the note and fairy dust are way more exciting than the pound. Shame there was no fairy dust in Hertfordshire for my sons tooth, I think it's because they only need fairy dust, if you wake up and see them. The dust is magic and makes you forget that you saw them.
Pants weather. Sitting in my dressing gown listening to Cerys Matthews on Six Music, and browsing ebay is the perfect Sunday morning. Except my husband is at work and son is at camp. My little girl has watched the Julia Roberts Snow White film three times this weekend, she has watched it this morning, but is now playing schools in the play room. She is practicing a joined up Y.
 We watched Mike Leigh's Naked last night. It started off quite good, but went on and on and on, and the characters were all quite horrible. I am looking forward to seeing Ill Manners, or whatever the plan B film is called. I heard a review on radio 1 whilst stuck in traffic on the M25, and it sounds really intense but well worth a look.
We went to the garden centre yesterday and bought some new plants for our little garden. I love our little garden. We planted up two new hanging baskets and got some everlasting sweet peas that will come back every year. I love sweet peas, they are so pretty. We got another foxglove, neither have flowered yet but it's practically the only thing the snails and slugs won't eat, on account of it being poisonous. I do love them too. They remind me of Beatrix Potter books, if I remember correctly, they feature in lots of the illustrations. We saw a gardening programme that showed us how to take cuttings, so we got a couple of spare pots and we are going to give it a go. It's a definite sign that I am getting on a bit!
Think it's time I got dressed, there are lots of jobs to do as usual, and tomorrow I am looking forward to seeing my Dad's girlfriend from my childhood. They are no longer together and she will be visiting with her new boyfriend. She is lovely, she taught me to horse ride and we had lots of fun and laughs together. She visited us a few years ago in France but she didn't meet my son or husband because they were both away at the time. I think son was on a school holiday and husband was in the UK looking for houses to rent and places to live. Anyway, I hope it doesn't rain all day when they come.

Just to be going on with today.
Thank goodness there is a little bit of sunshine in our lives today! And for the scouts and cubs too.

Devon is incredibly windy, it has been quite wet and is now just grey and miserable. I am nevertheless, happy to be home. We had a really lovely time in Croxley Green with my Uncle. The children love family and really enjoyed spending time with everyone. Uncle has a 3D tv which was brilliant. The children watched Happy Feet 2 and tried to catch the bubbles at the end. Marvin, my cousins Staffy was a real hit with the little ones. They loved him. I am always wary of those muscly dogs, but I have to agree that he is a nice natured, very lovable fellow. I wasn't quite so keen on him the night he slept on my side of the bed with my son! I couldn't get him to budge over, no matter how hard I tried.
We spent most of today unpacking, and then re-packing for scout camp. My son has set off for Taunton now, on the minibus with the other scouts and some of his old cub mates. I really hope the weather improves. Every camp he's been on so far has been torrential rain. At least this time there is no school on Monday, so he has time to recover.
My daughter, who has spent most of the week being contrary mary, and saying the opposite of whatever he says, and generally tormenting him and making his life hell, sobbed as he drove off in the bus. "I want to go to camp" she wailed, missing him before he had even pulled out of the car park! Typical. As compensation, we treated her (and us) to a chinese takeaway tonight. We really pushed the boat out and went for half a crispy duck with pancakes. She liked the prawn crackers and the egg fried rice. Can't really call that a success. She loved the Mars ice cream for afters though.
We stopped off at the beach on the way home and collected some driftwood. It was lovely to get blasted by the sea salty wind. The smell of the sea air is lovely. There is no better place than the beach when it's windy. Generally, I hate wind. It is bothersome in all circumstances, other than just standing in it and appreciating it for what it is.

We are home!

Terribly upset not to have blogged for what now appears to be 2 days! It's 1.20am so I have therefore technically missed 2 days. Gutted! The children and I are in Croxley Green for London half term outings, and the traveling and entertaining of children and being out of familiar surroundings without the right power cables etc has caused a lack of blog! So sorry. Today we visited the science museum and had a great time. Tomorrow we are back up to London for the Natural History!

I'm all jubileed out! This is what always happens. I could do with a duvet day so I am actually requesting more rain please. Sorry to all you folks who have your fingers crossed that it holds out tomorrow. No, maybe that's a bit hasty. I feel mean now. I'll probably feel more celebratory again tomorrow. I started reading through some of the revision and test books for literacy and science yesterday and realised just how much work I have to do. Who remembers all this?

This is really basic stuff and I knew it all, a long long time ago! The Literacy stuff was a bit easier and I haven't dared look at the maths yet. It's exciting really because with the benefit of hindsight, all these natural wonders seem so much more impressive and magnificent than they did when I was young and everything was new and incredible. Somehow, as a child, you learn stuff and you accept things that are quite awe inspiring, as if they are matter of fact. Because they are. It's only now with age and more of an overview that I can begin to appreciate the intricacy and cleverness of how things occur and how things interconnect. I think that will be hard to convey to a child. It's like telling a child or teenager to enjoy their youth! I really hope my own sense of rediscovered wonder will rub off.

I always used to think that school shows and events in France went on for hours and hours which was really tedious. They never started on time, and were usually held way past bed time. That is one thing that is much better in England. However, now I want to complain because the jubilee singing was so good, and such a lovely occasion, and I wanted it to last much longer! The same cannot be said of Sturstrom. The choral performance in the quarry caves was very 'arty'. The pebble orchestra, which was the children banging and scraping stones in the style of Stomp or Blueman Group, well they were brilliant, but as for the noise making of the rest of them, it was a hideous din in my uncultured view, it was such a shame as the quarry caves were beautifully lined with hundreds of tea-light candles. and the atmosphere and acoustics were amazing. Never mind, it was an experience.
Today, my lovely husband has finally managed to put a new roof on the shed. Just in time before it rained as well. He's done a really good job. Talking of rain, it has set in, and I fear it is going to rain for most of tomorrow as well. I'm really not looking forward to the picnic. If it's bad weather it will be a real chore, and I am in the mood to wear pyjamas and potter at home. Sadly, the children won't see it my way.

This table is testament to my day. It was tidy this morning, and now, apart from blowing out the candles, I am going to bed, and leaving it looking like that. Tomorrow is another day, as they say.

Why have I never seriously considered home cleaning wipes before? A friend recently said she uses floor wipes and I thought, it must be hard to clean the whole floor with a wipe. Then I saw them on special offer today in the Co-op and got 2 for 1. I need a few more sets of 2 for 1 and then I need to place each pack in a strategic hidden place. The plan is not to use them for 'proper' cleaning, no, that's not how you use them. You just pull one out as you pass by a wipe spot, and swipe round somewhere as you are passing. Thus prolonging the time between 'real' cleaning. It's genius. Am I a terrible housewife??
My son has spent 2 hours at Beer Quarry Caves this evening. He is in the 'pebble chorus'. There is going to be a recording tomorrow night of a song written by someone local, the children are actually scraping and bashing together pebbles to the music. Tonight was a rehearsal. We have tickets to attend tomorrow night. It's a busy day tomorrow, it's the school jubilee picnic and singing show for us parents. I am really excited. I am less excited about applying the union jack false nails on my daughter before we leave in the morning!

Crown making with year 1 and their parents was a success! We have created a suitably bejeweled crown for my daughter to wear at the celebrations on Friday. I stayed behind to help tidy up. The sticky tables and glitter filled carpet are almost back to how they were before we started. Staying on meant I was there to see 'pin the tail on the corgi'.  My daughter lost, as did everyone else except one child. She was devastated. The girl that won is perfect in my daughters eyes. She wins everything and is good at everything and is generally perfect. I think that was partly why she was so upset and cried. I wished I had left at that point. It's not nice having a bad loser for a daughter lol!
Grandma is celebrating her 88th Birthday today. I rang her briefly and the M&S flowers arrived safely first thing this morning. I hope that makes up for the fact that  the card is still on my kitchen table! Woops. I managed to get hold of my Mum who is not very cheerful. She has a bad knee, she hasn't done anything to it, it just feels uncomfortable, and like it might 'go' at any minute. She was more distressed about the neighbour that has died. It was a woman who was 2 years younger than her, she had a fit at home and died all alone. Mum was quite tearful and talking about the fragility of life. I just wish it would inspire her to get up off her arse and start living! Nothing else has so far, so I doubt this will be any different. She is registered blind, she is really tall and underweight, she is rather too fond of a glass of wine BUT she is only 58. I think she could really be classed as agoraphobic. I have tried to get her to move down to Devon, and tried to get her help but unless someone wants things to really change, it's pointless trying to cajole them. If she had managed to get herself down here this year, she could have been a great help when I start my course. She could have contact with the children, and generally feel a bit more involved, and even useful. It's not going to happen now.
It's Rainbows and Scouts tonight, and each child has a friend for tea. I have opted for pizza and curly fries. It's the safe option. I will do a bit of salad as well, but I am sure most of it will be left on the plate!
I will have to dash to pick them up now. I might get back to you all later........

My poor son is not having much luck at the moment. There was a note in his bag telling me he was beaten up today by a year 6 boy who has been punished, and that he was completely innocent. He didn't want to talk about it but a friends child concurs, he was innocent, and very upset. We went swimming at Pinewood after school, which is a holiday park nearby with a lovely pool. The outdoor pools have just opened and it was truly lovely. I hope that has helped him unwind.
I dropped off the kiddies on our return and left my husband to feed them, while I did a supermarket run. Whilst out, my Mum phoned but my husband was varnishing the picnic table so I didn't really get the full gist of the story. She apparently has a bad foot or knee, and one of her neighbours has died. I did return her call but, unsurprisingly the line was engaged, so I will have to call tomorrow to find out what's going on.
Tomorrow is parent involvement morning in my daughters class. We shall be gluing and cutting out, and making a crown for the Jubilee celebrations. I have loved listening to them both singing 'Any Old Iron' around the house; it takes me back to my own junior school days. We used to sing all the old tunes like 'Daisy Daisy' and 'My Old Man, Said Follow The Van' etc etc I am finding it very frustrating, my junior school memories are getting more vague as the years pass, and I loved my time at junior school so much. My school was brilliant. It was a smallish catholic school and I wasn't a catholic, but I was never made to feel like a heathen. I didn't do Holy Communion but I was quite a believer as a child. I said my prayers and wanted to make the world a better place. I wanted to be a good Samaritan, and I felt that I could make a difference. I think that was the start of a good outlook in life, and I am so grateful for that. I had one teacher, Mrs Lang, who was a real inspiration. When we entered her classroom, we entered her world. She was always magnificently dressed, she played the piano and did calligraphy and wrote beautifully. She was very strict, but she believed in teaching us that the world is a magnificent place, full of wonder and opportunity. Her education focused on the wonderful English language, which she clearly adored and felt should be mastered to be used with great skill. I think she was so right! She spoke beautifully, and with an amazing vocabulary which she didn't limit due to our age or comprehension. She used fabulous words and told us what they meant. When we practiced handwriting, we reproduced the lines from wonderful poems life Daffodils. We were being exposed to amazing things and learning about them, without even realising it! She is my role model. Her style and immersion in her work and devotion to it and passion for it are rare in teaching.
Woops, I went off on one then lol! On a more depressing note, I saw the news today and it was pretty grim. That family of 6 children that died in a house fire and their parents have been arrested. That poor old lady of 93 I think she was, who was dreadfully beaten in her own home and has died today of a heart attack. Finally Bob Dylan and Barrack Obama, not sure why Bob has the freedom of somewhere in America, but he does! I was still reeling from the terrible news at the beginning of the programme to fully pay attention to Bob and Barrack...........

My white dog Milly, decided today to eat all the stamens from the lilies I threw out with the garden rubbish. She looks like she's been smoking for years with yellow stains all around her chops. What on earth would possess a dog to eat that disgusting pollen? It's bad enough when they start to wilt in the house and fall on the mantle, now its all over the garden and the dog. The other major incident for the day was the text message I received from my husband at around lunchtime, which read "Train derailed!!!!!!!!!!" It's not quite as dramatic as you might think, he is the train driver, amongst other responsibilities at a botanical gardens. It's a pootling sight seeing train, that runs on diesel. Although the summer engine is pretty big and powerful and carries around 130 passengers so I replied F***, was anyone hurt and are you OK? I got one reply which said that he thought he was OK and that one woman had been taken in an ambulance. I didn't hear anything after that for over 2 hours. I was starting to get really worried but eventually he got back to me, and told me that just one carriage had jumped out of the rails, and that a lady had bumped her head. It did make me think though, that it could have been a lot worse. I know it's only a piddly little train but still, it is quite a responsibility. Most of the passengers are either children or babies or the elderly!
The secondary school visit to Axe Valley was quite a success this morning. My son liked the place and was impressed at the facilities. They are supposed to be regarded as quite good, although I have to say my old school was better, and that was quite a few years ago now and it's been totally modernised since I was there. The headmaster was a bit 'teacherly' but nice, and informative. The layout was higgledy piggledy but a mix of old and new, with quite a lot of character and nice outside areas to eat in and sit. It felt quite small and underwhelming which is probably a good thing from a child's point of view. We stood in the doorway of a science lesson, which seemed dynamic and quite exciting. The class sizes at GCSE stage are small, around 22 pupils in each class which I liked. The learning support area was really nice, and quite extensive and the SEN coordinator is a man which is good for my son, as he responds much better to male teachers. They have a programme for dyslexics called Lexia which I will have to look up, and a really good reading programme to keep on top of reluctant readers. I looked at the website again this afternoon and browsed the options booklet for year 9 which had some alternative learning options it it. That was really interesting and included vocational courses with a day a week work experience and a day at Bicton college. I think my son could do a lot worse, but I shall reserve judgement until we view the other school in Lyme. I'm not sure my daughter would like it there. It's early days for her though. She is only 6 still thank heavens!
The dentists was OK, except I need another filling. Bum! I didn't have any fillings until I had my children. Then my whole body just started to fall apart. Eyesight, hair, teeth, skin, it's all gone to rack and ruin.
Hubby is out fishing tonight. The TV hasn't been on all day, I am enjoying the peace but I may have to shatter it with the Eastenders 10pm showing. I am quite a saddo still when it comes to Corrie and EE. I don't watch them avidly but I do like to follow whats going on. As for today's world news, I haven't a clue. There could have been a huge earthquake somewhere and I wouldn't know a thing about it!
Gorgeous day in Seaton today.

I've got that horrible Sunday feeling. I come down to earth with an extra big thud after a particularly lovely weekend. It's back to seriousness now and trying to get uniform and bags ready, cleaning children and doing reading and homework. My son was looking at his computer in his room at nearly midnight last night, which is most definitely against the rules, even if it was a Saturday. I've told him he is to be in bed by 7.30pm and asleep by 8pm all week, then awake under his own steam at 7am. He is most disgruntled to say the least. There haven't been many consequences of actions lately, and I think that this is a good punishment, because the extra sleep and more strict routine will actually do him some good. For now though, I think he's gone back to hating me!
It's another busy week for us. Thank heavens it's half term at the end of it. I still don't know what we're going to do for the hols. We should really make the most of it before my course starts. We are viewing a potential secondary school for my son tomorrow morning then I have the dentist in the afternoon. Then it's rangers club after school. I'm writing this down to try and commit the schedule to memory more than anything else!
The party in the park was nice, and we were lucky it didn't rain. We were just packing up as the beat boxing vicar was getting going. It was a lovely event and both children really enjoyed it. They did clean out my purse with a constant string of demands for 50p, but in this day and age you have to thank your lucky stars it wasn't a fiver a go! My friend just put the cherry on the top when she popped to the Coop for a couple of cans of Pimms and lemonade, and a lovely champagne and strawberry cake. She is an angel!
Unusually, my husband is out. He has popped down to the beach to join another friend of mine's husband fishing. He hasn't taken his rod, but he wanted to see what they had caught, and get some tips for catching his first bass.  I love it when he gets excited about things like fishing. His face lights up and his whole demeanor changes. It's so true that we derive happiness from 'doing' stuff. That reminds me, I still don't have a hobby. Oh yes I do, I blog ha ha ha.............

Today has just felt like one big moment. I would like to put today in a bottle, put a cork in it and keep it forever. Today's been rich. It hasn't been perfect, there have been some tears, some bust ups and a few things didn't go to plan, but I have soaked up my beautiful family along with the sunshine, all the long day through.Water fights and paddling pools, the lovely garden centre and delightful plants in pretty Colyton. Plants then planted with love and care into out heavenly little garden. An unplanned stop off at the bike shop and a fabulous new pink bike for my lovely little girl. A boys bass fishing trip, with no catches but no mind either, and a girls bike riding visit to the park and car park, ending in triumph as she rode along whispering to herself 'just be confident, just be confident' and then a beaming face as she shouted 'I'm doing it Mum, I'm doing it'!!!! All topped off with a change of frock and pub dinner with the dogs in the garden at The Kings Arms. My cup runneth over. Devon is scrumptious on lazy summer days, wild flowers bimble in the hedgerows, smiling people bob along and people play all sorts of loud music in their cars with the windows open and I love that. I even made iced tea today, and iced coffee. I wouldn't swap what I have now for all the tea in China. I even got to watch The Voice when I got home on iplayer so I am one very happy bunny. Tomorrow the forecast is for rain. Booooooooooooooooo. There is a party at the Underfleet Park for the children with a climbing wall and circus skills area and drop slide and all sorts of other cool entertainment from 2-5pm. I really hope it doesn't rain too much. My daughter can take her bike and her and my beautiful boy can ride around together. We haven't been crabbing yet this year, we must go crabbing. We all love that. I'm sure that would freak the doggies out.
How have you all spent this magical day? Leave me a comment if your day has been special in some way. I am off to my lovely clean bed now, and I am sure I shall sleep with a smile on my face. I will probably have aching cheeks in the morning lol. Night night all. Love to everyone xxxxx

Just watching Plan B on Alan Carr. He's such an arrogant twat but it's annoying because he does do good music and films. I just can't bring myself to like him. The children have just gone to bed which is ridiculous. I should be in bed already. Have you seen the Estrella Beer advert? It has an orange Mehari in it, just like the one my husband owned when we first lived in France. It brings back the memories of him crawling up hills with all his gardening equipment in the back. We must have been mad to spend our £4000 on such a vehicle but in a way I am glad we did.
We have had our grown up day today. My husbands day off while the children are at school. It hasn't been restful but it has been productive. The porch now has full lino, we collected the futon I won on ebay in Sidmouth for 99p, the lawn has been mowed and the whole house has been hoovered. We have laid on a full vegetarian bbq which is a challenge and our friends and their kids have been and left and I think they had a good time. I have eaten bits and pieces and drunk some rose and now I am again vey ready for my bed. My son seems on an even keel today and my daughter is as bonkers as ever. She gained a golden ticket from her teacher today for writing a 12 page story about  fish fairy during golden time while everyone else played. I spoke to my 87 year old Grandma this morning who is so on the ball and very interesting to talk to. She shared her views on this weeks question time and what she feels about David Cameron and austerity measures. Just imagine being 87. I think that's quite incredible. It will be 2061 if I ever reach the age of 87. OMG!

It's really hard to write anything that's going to make sense when I am so tired! I had a chat with my son tonight, during which he got extremely upset and angry, and I didn't shout at all. After telling me he hated me and that I don't love him (never said that before!) he finally told me in still quite a sketchy way, what happened with the writing on the wall incident. The poor boy is having such a hard time making decisions and working things out at the moment. I just don't know what to say to make things better for him. Should I play it down or play it up, be analytical or not give it too much importance? Go for the hard line punishment and forget it approach or the understanding, we all make mistakes approach? He contradicts himself all the time so I am either asking the wrong questions, or putting them to him in the wrong way, or more likely he just doesn't know how to explain how he feels. I love him so dearly, all I want is for him to be happy with who he is. He takes things to heart, is so black and white and sees things in such extremes.
He did say he was really sorry for saying he hated me, and that he knows I love him very much. I hope he does!

I haven't blogged yet and it's nearly midnight, on what seems like the longest day ever! It's been draining for lots of reasons but mostly due to a meeting yesterday, and then today with my sons teacher. There was an incident yesterday where he wrote on a wall at school. He wrote a 'bad' word, although he assures me he wrote luck! The talk with his teacher was more about his individual education plan but she did chat about his low moral and general lack of confidence which is all very sad.
This evening he has been on a mammoth bike ride with scouts, he wanted to take his mobile phone and I wouldn't let him so he was very upset with me. He didn't get home until 9.30 which is just too late for a 10 year old. He needed a second dinner and a bath when he got back so didn't get to bed until way too late. After all his tears at school over the last few days combined with the physical exhaustion of the bike ride, and the late night, I am sure he will be a mess tomorrow.
I have half lino tiled the porch, collected a picnic bench from Honiton and participated in year 1 PE today amongst all the other things so it has been epic. I am too tired to reflect on it all now. My bed is calling me................

For me, there is only one type of love. There are many other things like adoration, passion, respect, trust,desire and support but love stands alone and is none of these other things. Out of all the people in the world, there is only one person that I love that I chose to love. That I wasn't born to love or that wasn't born to be loved by me. That is my husband. The love I have for him is pure and deep and everlasting. It's the same as the intrinsic love that I have for my children. That is the love that I want to express freely with him. Unclouded by other emotions, relinquished from the ties of passion and respect. When this love between us flows freely, everything else falls into place. There is no particular way of expressing this love, you can't show this love in it's honest form through any particular act. It is just flowing from the soul. It can be felt by the one you love if it is allowed to flow freely between two people. I need kindness and warmth, cooperation and the strength that comes from being two, from being together and united in this world.

All my first tasks, summer reading lists and primary curriculum revision notes have all arrived with an official welcome to the PGCE course. OMG!!!! I like the first part which is a reading list of children's books. I can get my head around that. I've just returned some books to the library and picked up some books by the recommended authors. I've got The Troll by Julia Donaldson and David Roberts, Watch Out! Big Bro's Coming! by Jez Alborough. Here Comes The Poo Bus by Andy Stanton, which was my own choice. I think it'll go down well with my own children but may not be quite so suitable for the classroom setting. Kids do love poo though, and any toilet humour. I think it's their way of getting comfortable talking about the more taboo bodily functions and aspects of life. One of our family favourites is The Story of The Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business. It's a book about a mole who pops his head out of his mole hole, and is promptly pooed upon. He then sets off on a mission to find out who pooed on him.
I fear the other books on my reading list will be a little less humorous and harder to digest. On the plus side, having 2 children at primary school in different year groups gives me good access to the curriculum. I can try all my sons maths homework from now on, which should ensure I can pass the maths skills test. My English is not bad, and my son's science has helped me refresh my knowledge of plant propagation and the properties of solids, liquids and gases etc.
I don't know yet where my school placements will be, and I haven't got my timetable for the days I am at the university. I have my first day's schedule which doesn't seem too challenging. I will be more worried about traffic and getting there on time and parking somewhere.
I have applied to undertake my 2 week observation at my children's school where I volunteer. I need to do that before the course officially starts. The observation is structured. I have to analyse absolutely everything and present my findings and reflections. There are loads of points I am being asked to consider, and lots of those refer to PE and ICT. These are two areas that I know very little about. I'm going to ask at school this week if I can join PE and computers for a few weeks now so that I can get an idea of what goes on.
Right, gutted we didn't go to Exeter yesterday, it looks like it was a fantastic day for all who cheered on the torch bearers. Never mind, we will have to catch up wtth it in Lyme on the 12th July. The weather today is glorious but sadly there is a heap of clothes upstairs and a pile of hangers with my name on it.

My son has been out most of the day with a friend. My daughter has been entertaining Hugo, the class bear, and reluctantly writing about her weekend activities with him . We've baked cakes and made playdoh spaghetti. I have cleaned in the kitchen drawers and rearranged them and made a powerpoint presentation to make up for the lack of photo's of Hugo. I have arranged to be refunded for a useless item bought on ebay but I haven't tidied any clothes yet. It's such a big job, it's top of the list for tomorrow. For some reason, I am watching the railway children, well it's on in the background. My daughter isn't interested in it, I think she should be, but I can't force her to look at it. The weather forecast is heartening, I think I saw 27 degrees for the end of the week. That can't be right?
I've had a deep and meaningful text conversation with my husband. That can't be right either. He's working which is usual for a Sunday, so that means communication has to be via SMS. Better to communicate like that I suppose, than not to communicate at all! It's hard to always be on the same wavelength with your partner. We generally get on really well, and we love each other dearly, but sometimes our wheels find different grooves. They run parallel rather than together, and it takes a bit of a shoggle to get them back in the same track. Relationships are much harder work than I ever imagined. Communication is always the key. Realising that people can actually see things completely differently to me is easy to forget, as well as remembering that no one is a mind reader! I also am beginning to realise that whilst people develop and grow, they don't change, not fundamentally. I don't think there are any couples out there that can say they are never out of sync with each other. Whenever I see couples that never have disputes or differences of opinion, then there is usually one person who is suppressing their views and feelings, and sacrificing themselves for the sake of their partner. What are the secrets of a long lasting and happy relationship? Of course you have to have love, but you have to have so much more too.

I'm having a relapse today and feeling pooped and ill again. The dog flap hasn't been fitted because we need to borrow an angle grinder. I have re-arranged the building site of a kitchen for the 100th time but I haven't done a lot else. The curry was yum and the kids all really enjoyed their busy days.

As you can see, the make-up artists did their stuff at Back to Broadway. She had glass shards in this fake arm injury, with a black eye, bashed head and bleeding nose, when she arrived back, she came in crying and my friend who brought her back ran in saying there had been a terrible accident. I momentarily forgot about the make-up workshop and genuinely thought there had been an accident! How gullible am I?
She brought home some extra fake flesh, and has been doing her own mock injuries all afternoon. Paintballing was also a huge success.
The hangers arrived so I shall be tackling the wardrobe situation tomorrow. We also have the task of presenting Hugo, the class teddy bears weekend antics. This is going to be extra difficult as the printer has decided to pack up. It always does that just when you need it the most. I think we will use my sons new powerpoint skills and put it together on a disc.
The olympic torch is in Exeter tomorrow. I have half thought about going, I think parking will be a nightmare. Might wait till it passes through Lyme Regis!

What a lovely relaxing day I've had. I've done some washing and a little bit of clothes tidying, although not much seeing as the ebay hangers haven't arrived yet. I've spent most of the day on the kitchen sofa, in front of the fire. It's not often that I laze around, so when I do, it feels sooooo good. My husband is 38 today. He prefers 38 to 37 because he doesn't like being an odd number. He does the school run on a Friday, and he was chuffed to have a friend remark on how slim and trim he's looking at the gates. He's been on a diet, well not really a diet, we have just been making a conscious effort to eat more healthily; to eat less carbs, we eat hardly any meat any way, and my hubby has cut out the snacks, crisps, sweets and cheesy chips from work.
We got two lamb bones from the butchers this morning for the dogs. It's amazing what it does for peace and quiet in the house. They are both guarding the bones, especially the girl Millie (we call her Mildge now, my daughter coined it), she has barely set foot out of the basket all day!
My husband has prepared a lovely curry for tomorrow night, and this evening, we have been to Lyme Regis for birthday dinner on the cobb. The cobb is the area on the sea front near the harbour, for those of you who are not familiar with Lyme. We ate in a lovely pub, really nice atmosphere and good mixture of young and old. It was quite lively with a pool table and a nice restaurant area tucked round a corner, away from the busier bar. It was called The Royal Standard. I had pan seered local scallops with salad and new potatoes for £14.95, husband had homemade cottage pie with veg at £9.95 and the children's meals were £5, one had fish, chips and peas and the other had yorkie, mash, sausage and gravy. We were disappointed. The portions were small, the fish was over cooked, the yorkie was like a bullet, the Cottage pie was flavourless with not even cheese on top, my spuds tasted re-heated, the scallops came with the coral and hadn't even been seasoned, the salad was mixed leaves and 3 halves of baby tomato so, all in all it was a bit disappointing. Nowhere near as nice as The Harbour Inn in Axmouth. We live and learn.
There is a battleship moored just outside the harbour in Lyme. My son says it's there for something to do with the Diamond Jubilee.

Yes, just looked it up, it's The HMS Edinburgh, a type 42 destroyer. There will be visits to the boat for £2 on Saturday but tickets were on a first come first served basis, and started being sold on Wednesday so I guess they will be sold out by now, seeing as there were only 180. My son would have loved that!
Anyway, there was a really nice atmosphere along the cobb in Lyme this evening, a real buzz and a feeling of Friday night in town. It's beautiful in Lyme, but somehow I am always glad to visit, and glad to come home again to Seaton.
This weekend, my daughter has the class teddy bear Hugo, for us all to entertain. It's her most favourite thing in all the world. He came for the meal with us, he now has his jamas on and has had his teeth cleaned and is in bed with her 2 other teddies Maggie and Snowy, listening to her singing those blooming songs! He had to hide his eyes when snowy got her jamas on because he's a boy and she is a girl. She is hoping that one day, they might be boyfriend and girlfriend. Ahhhhhhh........
My son is off to a paintball birthday party at 10 tomorrow. He's never done that before and is so so excited. My daughter is off to Back to Broadway again with my friend. Tomorrow they have some professional make up artists coming in to do a workshop. They will be doing prosthetic make up stuff with the children which sounds like great fun. We are SO lucky!
Husband and I will be at home trying to fit a dog flap. The instructions are just 2 pictures with no writing so it doesn't bode well. I shall let you know how we get on.
I hope you all have a great weekend. Thank you so much to all my lovely friends who keep reading my witterings, and saying such lovely things. Your comments are so nice to hear. To my friend who's son is getting stick,  I hope the situation can be sorted and that he hasn't felt too upset by it all. He is such an adorable boy, he was here this week and I loved hearing him and my 2 talking about the war wounds of their youth. He's one in a million you know, and what you said about charisma is spot on!