Good day at school

So Tom came home very excited yesterday.  He has been voted in as Kids' Committee representative for his class and he had gone up a level in Olympic maths.  Not a bad day!

Football and Steam Engines

Tom and Oscar

A quiet weekend after last week!  Saturday, Tom had a football match at home.  I had to stay at home to hand over some cakes, but I got to see the end of it and he didn't look completely lost and even managed some tackles which was good.  They won.

We headed over to Settle for lunch and to see the progress on Pat and Bob's house - big square of concrete in their driveway and some pipes in their garage.  We had lunch in the Folly which was good.  We then did a 4 mile walk from Settle up the hills through a forest and back down again. It was a grey day and it tried to rain on a number of occasions, but we stayed dry (just).

Tom and Harrison

Sunday was a horrible, wet and grey day.  We decided to use our raffle prize from last week - we won a return trip on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway.  The ticket was for up to 3 children so we took Harrison with us who is currently Tom's best friend.

Enjoying the trains

We got there early and found a whole load of owls on the platform, we got to hold and stroke them.  One, called cuddles, decided I looked a great target and whilst 'cuddling' with me, pooed on me big time.  Just as well I was wearing a waterproof jacket!  Tom got to hold Oscar, a massive owl.  We had lunch in the restaurant which was very very good and then got the train to Lakeside and back.

As it was raining, we returned home shortly after, Harrison and Tom played together until tea time when I took Harrison home.

The best way to use a wet Sunday.

Big Family Fun Day and Camp Out

Friday night kids

Finally it came, against the wishes of the PTA who were mostly against it (for no more reason other than it was something new?!) we ran the first ever Big Family Fun Day and Camp Out at Meadow Falls.  To say it was stressful on the lead up would be an understatement.  I had been fighting the PTA with it for 3 years, this time they couldn't say no as it was off the school grounds.  At the meeting prior to it, the 'old PTA' pretty much all put up their hands and said they wouldn't help - oh joy - whatever happened to pulling together for the sake of the kids?!

Despite the fighting, Liz and I ploughed on.  We were let down by various people with things and spent the week prior to it on the phone doing lots of smart talking to convince people to lend us bits and pieces FOC or at very reduced rates.  We got there!

Friday dawned sunny so Matt and I headed over and put up our tent (it was a bit misshapen - oops!).  Friday evening 3 other families joined us.  The kids (all boys) played football until it was too dark and then we went in the family room for a picture quiz and take away (adults and Tom on curry and all other kids on pizza!)  Saturday dawned beautiful.  We had been praying all week for decent weather (i.e. not raining) as it had rained a lot in recent days.  We were very very lucky.  It clouded over but it didn't rain.

Flo and Evie with marshmallows

Of course, to add to stress levels, Tom had football and I had a wedding cake to deliver - oh joy.  So, once we were awake, we headed back to the house, had breakfast.  Matt and Tom went to football whilst I went back to the campsite and helped set up: we had managed to get hold of 2 marquees and three gazebos in case of inclement weather, once they were up we had to haul tables over and work out how it would all go together.  Then I had to rush back to the house as a lady was dropping by to pick up a cake and then I went to Barbon to deliver the wedding cake (when I got there, they said they weren't expecting me?!  I mean really????!!!!).

A bucket of children

I got back, just as the campers were arriving and was put on the door to direct them to their pitches and handout wrist bands to day guests etc.  I was removed from the event for the first couple of hours as a result, but when I gave up on anyone else arriving, I headed into the site and was very pleasantly surprised, people were having a good time and there was a really good vibe going on.  I was pretty stressed, so took a while to relax, especially as I was disappointed about the lack of day guests, but once I had a drink or two (we had a bar on site) I relaxed and enjoyed it.

Jo rocking the glow stick glasses look

So, we had a Bouncy Castle, Fire Engine and Crew from the local station, Cave Rescue Land Rover, Jill from Run, Bike Fun did a free hour's session for kids on bikes, we had sports: Football pitch and cricket pitch, we had scouts doing den building and a crafting area.  We also had face painting.  Then a band who did a set at 3.30 and again at 7pm. A BBQ was going from 1pm till 8pm as was the bar.  We also had a raffle of family experiences and a huge hamper full of goodies to win.  The whole thing was organised by just me and Liz and then Dave helped in the last week.  The kids had a brilliant time, a lot of playing in a huge safe place whilst the parents relaxed.  What could be better?  Our vision worked, yes it was very middle class but what is wrong with that - they have the most disposable income!  Anyway, we received lots of positive feedback and demands to organise the event again for next year, so we were quite chuffed with ourselves.  

Hatrick doing their thing - they were ace

Of course the chair of the PTA still had reason to lay in to me on Monday morning (even though she got her daughter in to the event free of charge - no thanks, no nothing, just a list of things I did wrong, which were ridiculous!), she caught me unawares, I didn't have the fight in me and came home and had a cry!  There is only so much petty nonsense you can put up with. 

I soon cheered up when we added up the total - we raised £1,236.80 which was more than either the Xmas or Summer Fairs last year - which had the help of all the teachers and where parents had to donate stuff.  If that isn't proof that the event was a success, then I don't know what is?!  We met up with the Holmans after school and went down the pub to celebrate a job well done!  Very pleased it went well, very pleased it was over.

Aylesbury

The cousins

This weekend we headed to Aylesbury for the weekend - it was our turn to visit them.  Also they got Mum and Dad over so we were all together - first time since our failed attempt of a family gathering in Shropshire when Tom ended up in hospital!

The journey wasn't too bad, we got there before 9pm and had a unexpected but lovely meal in Norton Canes services at Leon, who thought the Midlands was cultured?!

Mum and Dad headed to their hotel shortly after we arrived.  The kids went to bed pretty well considering and get this, we were given Simon and Clare's bed??!!!!  We were not expecting that, but were very happy to take it and we slept well as a result.

Cliveden

Disciplining the boy

Saturday we went to Cliveden for the day.  We had been before, but a long time ago (way before Tom anyway!).  It was a good day out, we had children running around, Mum and Dad dawdling and us somewhere between the two.  We all had a good time, and a fantastic lunch in the orangery (although I had to have Matt's as the macaroni cheese he ordered had mushrooms in it!).  We returned to Aylesbury where Jake and Tom played Minecraft (dull as doorknobs - this weekend has cemented that we are NOT getting a playstation or whatever it is he plays it on) and S and C cooked.  We had a very pleasant tea of pork stew.

All of us in one place and looking at the camera - well done us!

Sunday we went blackberrying around the lanes of Fairford Leys, who would have thought it?!  It was quite pleasant and the blackberries very plentiful, we all managed to get quite a few.  We were then treated to a full roast dinner and crumble before we headed home.

All in all not a bad weekend, was nice to all be together.  Think I put on half a stone though!

Skipton

The weather since we got back from Malaysia has been terrible - it has rained EVERY DAY and it is constantly grey!  YUCK!!!!

Cows checking each other out!

We didn't really know what to do with ourselves at the weekend, The Andersons were supposed to be visiting for the weekend, but Michael is too sick at the moment to come so far so we were at a loose end.  Football hasn't started yet, so we headed to Skipton for the day.  Instead of just going to Keelham, which is what we normally do, we headed into the town for a mooch round (I had some caking stuff I needed to buy).  Matt did a quick check of Trip Advisor reviews and suggested we had lunch at The Cake-Ole.  Wow!  What a place.  Very eclectic decor and really good food at very good prices.  We were bowled over, can't believe we hadn't found it before!  Matt had the most amazing treacle tart (he's been hunting for one since The Sun stopped making them in Dent).  We all left with very happy bellies.

Moo!

We came home via the high road, hoping to see some hairy fellows, but it wasn't to be.  We stopped by the farm instead and said hello to some.  Tom had brought Mullan with us specially, the 'real' cows were quite perplexed by him!

The evening was spent with the Bickerstaff, they headed over for a Malaysian evening, so we made curry, Tom Yam soup and made some flags and animals to decorate the kitchen so we could show them what we had been up to.  It was a fun evening.

Sunday was an easy day, think we may have been a little hungover as is normally the case when we meet with the Bickerstaffs.  Thinking is we went out for a big lunch and then stayed in and watched The Lion King in the afternoon (Tom only cried the once which was a good result!).

Last few days before school

Year 4!

So Monday and Tuesday were spent in and around the village, getting over our not too bad jet lag.  We bumped into the Ward's on Monday and ended up going down to the river to throw stones with them for the morning.  Tuesday was spent at Caroline's house hanging around whilst the boys played.  Nothing earth shattering, but a nice way to spend a couple of days - especially for Tom who has been starved of children to play with for 3 weeks!

Wednesday saw Tom back at school.  I was sad to say goodbye to him, we had become good mates over the summer.  Now we are bracing ourselves for the onslaught of school and after school clubs!