Davies and Scarlett had a puzzle-fest this morning. Davies got out one of the British Isles and did it in about ten minutes and not to be outdone Scarlett went and got one of animals around the world and did a fair amount of that too. They then sat and chatted about the British Isles one and pointed things out to each other on it. Sort of like I imagined it would be when I bought it about 4 years ago 😆 They watched Animal 24:7 which is some sort of animal rescue service show and featured a fairly local service to us dealing with a fox cub and some semi-feral cats. There was also a beaver feature where some were released into a specially built enclosure. Beavers were one of the animals Scarlett fed at her keeper for the day so she was telling Davies lots of Beaver facts, which seemed to be on some sort of time delay with what the presenter on tv was saying for full comedy value as he said what she had a few sentences after her 😆
We eventually got dressed and ready to go out. I had a minor panic that I’d said I’d email Ady a calendar for him to print off at work for my Granny and forgotten so I hurriedly found a flickr tool to do it – very impressed with it actually, must go and play with it properly when I’m not in a rush. I then had a dilemma about which to do first – we needed to go and collect some freecycle clothes for Davies but my car was desperate for petrol and I wasn’t sure how far it would go. I decided to go the wrong way for the freecycle stuff but the right way to the nearest petrol station and got that sorted. The clothes were great – a whole bin liner full of stuff, mostly tops, a couple of pairs of trousers and some shorts and tshirts for next summer :).
Then we went to Pulborough Brooks. They were having a Mini Family Fun Day with a winter theme and I’d seen it advertised there ages ago and decided to go if the weather was okay. Unfortunately the traffic was dreadful and it took us nearly an hour to get there (would normally take about 20 minutes). But it was worth it – I do think the RSPB are very good at organising events. This was just a pound each for the children and there were loads of activities laid on. We didn’t do everything but both children decorated a gift bag with glitter and glue, they made some fingerprint gift tags and they didn’t do wordsearches, make Christmas cards or dangly snowflakes. I sometimes think I don’t do enough crafts with the children but then I realise that while I might not be doing it with them they actually do some sort of craft pretty much every day in their own ways.
There was a storytelling session at 1pm which I thought they’d want to attend but it was very busy and they both elected to have a walk around outside instead. Judging by what must have been the crowds leaving it as it finished when we came back again it was probably the right decision. Instead we followed the ‘Winter trail’ of 10 clues with pictures and jumbled letters to identify 10 birds from the reserve. We got most of them and the rest we got from the pictures in the hides. At one of the hides they had set up colouring so we did that and were then all getting hungry. Davies was less keen to participate in the activities but wanted to go for a proper walk around the reserve, Scarlett wanted to do all the activities and I just wanted a cup of tea really. We were all slightly stroppy when I suddenly reminded us all it was only two days til Christmas and then we all cheered up and were happy all the way back to the visitor centre where we did the bingo game. That was quite fun and had us dashing about and helping each other and other people and then we decided we really would go home.
We collected our crafts, the kids got a goody bag each (crammed full of stuff) and as I was feeling nice and also like to support RSPB I let the kids each have 50p for the lucky dip (also because they’d noticed it and not asked, which always makes me proud of them :)) – Davies got a set of coastal birds top trumps cards and Scarlett got some fox stickers and a little notepad, both really apt gifts and both worth well more than 50 p each too.
Once home we had lunch and I sat and finished the book I was reading while the kids did some junk modelling. They had both picked up various (small) shapes and sizes of cardboard boxes and trays from Asda last night and were taping them together to create things (see what I mean about crafts!). They also sat and played with the trumps cards for ages. They have had a very harmonious day :).
I did some bits in the kitchen – I’d made some chocolate truffle mix yesterday which needed refridgerating overnight so I added finely chopped crystalised ginger to one half and then donned gloves to roll it into small balls (it melts so quick in bare hands you end up with chocolate palms rather than balls). I then melted some white chocolate and chopped up some angelica and cherries to make mini holly leaves and berries and decorated them all as mini Christmas puddings. Really pleased with them, I think they look fab and they taste delicious. The ginger ones are for my Dad, I’ve not decided about the plain ones yet.
I also made a batch of gingerbread star cookies as I realised we’d not got anything to give to the Thank you Neighbours who arrived on our doorstep way back in November with gifts for all. I later melted some chocolate and dipped them in and they are also delicious and obviously home made so I’ll sort out a box for those and Ady can take them over tomorrow ;).
While doing all that I rang my Mum and whilst she was oblivious to it got really upset and pissed off with her. Ady rang me just as I rang off from her so he got the full brunt of it all and felt suitably indignant on my behalf and came home and pampered me all evening to make up for her :). I made the kids tea and took plenty of solace in them to make me feel better.
One of Scarlett’s small birthday presents had been a make your own scarft set with a cardboard loom which she had been really keen to do so we got that out and I started to thread it up for her. It was really crap though. I hate it when things for kids are made of really poor quality (like art and craft stuff). It wasn’t an expensive kit but it wasn’t cheap either and it said 6+ so wasn’t something that I’d have expected to be particularly hard but I was struggling to make it work. In the end I took off what I was making on my peg loom and threaded it up with the wool from Scarlett’s kit (which was actually what she wanted – to make something on a loom like mine) and she very happily got on with that. Candle – who is, we believe, completely blind wandered across the wool and was suddenly overcome with a fit of kittenness and started playing with it. It was very cute and makes us wonder if she does still have some level of vision after all.
I finished chocolating the gingerbread and then sat and read some books to the kids – a couple of festive ones Jesus’ Christmas party and Ituku’s Christmas Journey, a very lovely tearjerker – Her mother’s face and finally Tomatoes from Mars for a touch of lunacy.
The children took ages to get to sleep tonight – I imagine tomorrow will be even worse ;). Scarlett did finally get to sleep only to lay there coughing for ages. Every year I spend at least one night in winter stood over her while she sleeps fretting about croup and breathing. My brother was hospitalised with croup as a small child and Scarlett has always had a weakness for a barking cough and being unable to catch her breath back. She seems more peaceful now.
I watched the last episode of Survivors which I found really disappointing and non-endingy. I see there is already a second series commissioned so I guess that’s why but it just left it hanging too much I thought. Or maybe I’m just disillusioned after investing all those hours in Lost! 😆