Work, Badgers

Dad came over to be with Davies and Scarlett this morning while I was at work. I went out to let the birds out in my dressing gown and Ady’s boots and managed not to fall over. It is a total mud bath in the chickens and ducks area so I run this risk twice a day. About midnight last night I thought I heard a squawk from outside and wondered if Ady had put away the broody hen tucked in the hedge or whether that had been the sound of a fox nabbing her. I figured either way there was nothing I could do and going out in pouring rain, pitch dark and risking broken limbs wasn’t worth it (sorry chicken). This morning I found her, still in hedge but alive and well so clearly the fox hadn’t been around last night.

Dad ran me into work as it was pouring with rain again this morning so it didn’t seem worth even trying to start my car for such a short journey. Work was mad – really short staffed with just three of us and Storytime to do. When I left there were only due to be 2 staff this afternoon and a neighbouring library was running with just 1 person for a period. Not at all sustainable and we are clearly close to times when the libraries have to be closed. My own personal opinion is selfish relief that the days of situations like that being my problem to agonise over are long gone. Oh how I don’t miss management :).

Dad picked me up and he and the kids had had a good morning. Both kids had read to him and he had apparently been impressed with their progress. 🙂 I made lunch and we watched some Ray Mears on dvd then Scarlett did some painting and Davies did some bedroom tidying. I worked on Secret Santa for camp and failed to pre-read the books on Diwali I’d got for Badgers.

Today on the programme was making diva pots. I had 6 children in the group today so we gathered round and talked about what we knew already about Diwali, I read a bit from one of the books explaining the festival and then read one of the various Diwali stories of Sikh and Hindu gods. Then we got our the air drying clay and made some diva pots. I had some pictures as examples and we will be painting them so they get to do ornate and decorative stuff later but I encouraged them to all do something different and individual. While they did it I read a couple more stories.

Next week is supposed to be sandwich making which had a fair few groans and ‘boring’ protests so I am taking in ready risen bread dough, some double cream and ingredients to make wraps. We can bake our own bread, shake our own butter and I’ll take in a filling from each food group.

Back at home we’d fully expected Ady to be there already and Davies had written him a note asking if he could get the dinner on for them. He wasn’t there so I did have to tramp round and persuade the stoopid ducks in to their house, grab the broody hen from the hedge and try not to slip in the mud while using a torch, chop up some firewood, do some tea for the kids, get a fire lit and finally hear from Ady that he had been held up at work.

I read a fair chunk of Running Wild while the kids ate and then they went to bed. We caught the last 20 minutes of The Apprentice (I’d not realised it was on) and then Kevin of Doom.