Not back to school picnic

I had stuff to do this morning having been running (well limping maybe) to catch up with myself after the holiday and birthday stuff, so Scarlett waking me up at 930am was not how I had planned the day starting. Must have needed the sleep, but still…

Got everyone breakfasted and dressed and we headed out to the supermarket for picnic food and bubbles. We arrived at Brooklands at about 11.10am and there was already one family there. I’m really glad they turned up as they were very specifically the people who had wanted a Worthing picnic which had made me arrange one rather than just attending the Brighton one. In the end we had 11 families comprising 13 adults and 18 children, so over 40 people, which was a respectable and heartening number of attendees 🙂

We had a grandmother (my Mum) and a visiting family from Wales (who I met years ago when we first moved home, just before they moved away, so amazing to look at each others children who were babies / toddlers back then and have them among the older kids today). There was one family I’d not met before and I think all the people attending met at least one new person, which given we are all from the same town meant we did some useful networking :).

We were there for the full four hours and the kids had a whale of a time playing in the playpark, clambering on the rocks, joining together as a big group to play a Star Wars game and of course the obligatory bubble blowing :).

It was a smaller gathering than many and we didn’t have press or MPs attending (although I will send pictures and a few words about the event to both local radio and my MP) but it was great to add our town to the numbers up and down the country, kickstart some local contact building, reassure the new HEor who came along and just enjoy the sunshine with the kids running wild and free together. I love Home Ed and days like today remind me of why :). It was lovely to have two lots of friends who had also joined us at points last week and I’m really proud of my Mum for coming along to up the numbers and chatting away to everyone. I think she got as many goodbye hugs from the group as I did! 😆

Back home again the kids were desperate to play with the animation station some more so they did that while finishing off the very large picnic in lieu of dinner. I did some flickring and other online catching up and then we had the Grand Badger Uniform Hunt which wasnt too bad aside from Scarlett’s shoes. She has some boots donated by Chloe but could only find one. The other turned up on top of her wardrobe so I can’t be blaming her for that being there 😆 I did my usual last minute sewing on of badges, put some plaits in Tarly’s hair and we headed off.

Davies was loudly and excitedly greeted by the two lads who’d been on camp with him which was nice to see – and Scarlett got included in their posse too. I had a chat with a couple of the other parents and then sat in my car playing with my phone til Ady arrived. We walked down to the new Morrisons for something for dinner and as I have just borrowed the book from work ” alt=”” /> I called into Waitrose for a couple of blocks of his chocolate so I can do some baking on Friday, which I am stupidly excited at the prospect of :).

Gathered the children up and arranged to go for coffee next week with 3 of the other parents who stay around as it’s not worth them driving home – should be nice :). Davies went home with Ady and Scarlett came with me – we sang American Pie all the way home although some of the verses were repeated :).

I read at bedtime and ended up reading the whole thing – personally I thought it was rubbish but the kids enjoyed it.

Scarlett has been sniffly nosed and ‘bumpy’ throated (her description) although it didn’t stop her running around playing, Davies has a more runny nose than usual, I’m now sniffing and have a ‘thick’ throat (my description) and I can hear Ady upstairs sneezing so I think it’s safe to say we are all coming down with something. I will not elaborate further on the state of my stomach but I am tentatively hopeful that episode is over as I’ve eaten lunch and dinner and thus far it remains inside me… just in time for a Not Back to School Virus!