In brief.
Worked this morning. We had no childcare so Ady manufactured some wild story about laying a festive wreath at his father’s grave annually the weekend before Christmas being snowed off so postponed til today and then dropped Davies and Scarlett off at the library at 1130 for the last hour and a half with me.
They were utter superstars – been very proud of both them, their behaviour and their reputation today :). Lovely home ed kids :).
We went to the newly opened pound shop in Lancing where I must have bought 20 things as I spent £20. Hurrah for £ shops, I love ’em.
Home again where by popular request we watched a Festive Film (capitals provided by Davies, who is in many ways his mothers son.) with popcorn purchased from the £shop. After much deliberation (Davies wanted Nightmare Before Christmas, Scarlett vetoed on grounds it was too scary, Davies wanted Polar Express, it was disqualified for not being in the case why was it not in the case???, Scarlett wanted Rudolph, Davies vetoed on the basis we’ve seen it so many times we can all recite the script along with the movie) finally they settled on How The Grinch Stole Christmas.
I caved in and rang my Dad as it had all been a bit ‘we’ll see’ as to whether he could come over and mind the kids while I went to the dentist and confirmed that he could, so I left before the end of the film to drive along the road to the dentist. I had a 15 minute wait before being seen. I was told the piece of tooth had broken off for unexplainable but slightly concerning, possibly bite related reasons (does this mean I may be a secret and undiagnosed vampire?) and given a filling. I was told it would fall into NHS band 2 of treatment and therefore cost £46.50 which did seem very extreme for 10 minutes in the chair and a teeny bit of filling but I guess I’d rather be hurt in the pocket than the mouth. Ouch all the same though, 2 days before Christmas.
I nipped to collect a couple of balls of wool from a freecycler who had left a big carrier bag out with a note to say she’d found some more knitting related stuff I was welcome to take too. Stacks of needles, crochet hooks and wool, along with various very retro patterns. Have already made a couple of flowers on a plastic loom that came with instructions to make 357 flowers and then crochet them together to make a blanket. As learning to crochet is something I have scheduled for 2010 it seemed like a good place to start.
Back home again Dad had taken delivery of presents for Davies and Scarlett from Peggy-next-door. She had sent her meals on wheels lady round with them along with a message to say she was going away and had lost our phone number incase of emergencies and could we pop it round again. As Dad was here I nipped round there and then and was invited in. I’ve not been in the bungalow before and was given a guided tour and sat chatting to her for nearly an hour. I actually really enjoyed learning more about her – she is one of 9, although only 3 of them are still alive, her husband (who we knew too, he passed away 5 years ago now) and her were married for 54 years and she still missed him every day. She thinks Davies and Scarlett are wonderful, loves the chickens and tells me she is amazed that she never hears me shout at the children when I have them home with me all day. I assured her I do indeed shout but that we probably spend as much time laughing too and that I attribute the childrens’ closeness, loveliness and our generally happy state to them being Home Educated. I think another 2010 vow is to spend more time next door with Peggy.
Back home again I put the chickens away, sorted out tea for Davies and Scarlett, enjoyed a comedy 10 minutes trying to get the wheelie bins through the garage into the back garden and sat down with a mug of tea. The children and I were in rowdy, silly moods so there was much messing about until Ady got home. I started reading which is really rather good (By Pippi Longstocking author) and then Davies and Scarlett pretended to go to bed.
We’ve watched festive Hugh and River Cottage, roasted chestnuts on an open fire, drunk the first drams from the festive spirits and listened to hailstones drumming the windows which is the closest I suspect we’ll get to a white Christmas down here.
I’m working again tomorrow morning so bed would be a pretty good idea.