I attempted to have a lie in and catch up on sleep this morning. I didn’t really manage it as it was gone 3am before I was asleep and Tarly was in bed with me before 8am being bouncey and perky and Scarletty. Davies and Ady had gone to the allotment to do early morning watering and harvesting so it was just her and I. They were back by about 9ish but had clearly done some male bonding and were leaving her out so she kept coming back to me. I eventually gave up at 1030am (which I suppose does qualify as a lay in even if it didn’t feel like one) and got up. She did some drawing on my back with make up while I put some on my face which is her current big thing (she’s not at all keen on the idea of tattoos but she does love temporary body art, must dig the henna out and have a play with that actually, we have a stash from the ill fated henna activity from Kessingland).
Breakfast was a prolonged affair with me eating my croissants and lavender and summer fruit jam (it’s delicious) at midday. We debated modes of transport to Brighton and parking issues and with a bit of pressure from me Ady agreed we’d go on the train. It was a bargain £7.20 for all four of us, with just a 15 minute walk through the Laines which are a very interesting place to be wandering through anyway at the other end.
Thanks to being tired, hot and that tangent factor which Ady’s presence often gives the children were not at their best today which was a shame as it’s the sort of excursion they and I often do and get loads out of so should have been really nice to share with Ady. It was overall good but could have been nicer with less challengeing children at times.
We arrived early and collected our tickets from the box office then wandered off to find somewhere cheap to buy water and sweets before going back. We got front row seats at the Pavillion theatre which is quite small. Last time we were there was to see Richard Herring a few years ago. We were there to see Little Leap Forward which we only discovered from reading the programe is based on a Barefoot Book which we read loads of last year although I think we missed this one.
It was an amazing show using puppets, shadows, masks and music to haunting and beautiful effect. There were no words throughout the hour long show but somehow we all managed to follow the story thanks to the great acting. If it’s travelling near you I’d recommend seeing it.
We had a walk through the Pavillion Gardens afterwards where a band was playing ‘No business like show business’ which may well be some other more classical piece of music but that’s how I know it and it’s been in my head ever since. We watched that for a while and then had a brief look round some of Brighton Museum, in particular the fashion, body image and ancient Egypt areas.
We walked back through the Laines and caught a train home. I made Davies and Scarlett their tea and then Tarly helped Ady clean our cars while I did some baking (some bananas that were really only fit for the compost heap were nicely rescued to make chocolate and banana cupcakes) and made some jam (strawberry and chili – nice!).
I read some Mr Gum to the children and then they went off to bed, Ady and I had tacos for dinner as we decided it was too hot for a roast dinner and I am determined to be in bed before 1am tonight, or should that be tomorrow!
did you make it?