Week 17

This was the last week of school.  We have been winding down for weeks now there has been no pressure to do any work, but this week Mrs Clements didn't set much at all - she just set 3 competitions: 1: draw a summer themed picture (not a chance), 2: write a summer themed poem (not really Tom's thing), 3: bake a summer themed cake (no contest - it will have to be that!) 

It stated that the entry had to be 100% the child's own work, the norm in these competitions is that the mums do it and enter it as their kid's effort.  I have never done that so Tom has always entered his own work, then we get to see the other entrants and see that there are 'professional' looking entries which have obviously never been near a child's hand!  It's impossible to stop, it is always going to be the case, but at least Tom can be proud of his efforts.  However, he was making and decorating a cake with fondant which meant that I had very itchy hands.  I directed but didn't do anything.  I showed him how to do things, then destroyed whatever it was so there wasn't any of my work for him to use.  I then took photos of every stage so it could be seen that Tom did it all.  He used past cakes of mine as inspiration but it was 100% his own work.  It took him 4 hours to decorate it and he stayed focus throughout.  He didn't win, but the cake that won was entered by a pupil who has a history of entering perfectly crafted items throughout their school career (and as a result has won pretty much everything).  Tom was proud of himself and rightly so - he was a winner in our eyes. 

Tom with Mrs. Clements and Mrs. Denby

Monday afternoon we went round to see Luca, he had some second hand school uniform for us.  They played cricket for the afternoon together at Burton astro turf.

Tuesday we had the Year 6 leavers picnic.  Normally the school do this all singing all dancing leavers assembly which is constructed to make everyone in attendance cry, that couldn't happen this year, so the school organised a picnic instead, inviting all parents but no siblings.  It was lovely, a relaxed atmosphere, everyone got on, the children played (it was the first time the whole class had been together since March) and the rain stayed away.  It was supposed to be for 45 mins, but think we were there for 1.5hrs (it was always going to overrun).  At the end, Mrs Clements did a lovely speech about the class and she presented them with a handmade brass keyring with their names and IPS on it (she used to be a blacksmith) and a booklet of memories - all tailor made for each child.  We gave Mrs Clements and Mrs Denby (her TA) some presents too.  We then got a lovely thank you email.  It was a nice way to end their time at the school, it was nice to leave with smiles and finally I felt some closure - that he had actually left school.  Found myself ordering all bits of QES uniform I haven't been able to get hold of.

The Year 6 boys

Wednesday we finally heard from QES with a form name and tutor for next year.  To be honest, I haven't been too impressed with the communications from QES.  They close this Friday and we don't know yet what day they are due back, if they are wearing uniform, how on earth they find where they are going to on day one when they haven't had an induction so don't know where their classroom is - etc etc.  Settle got all that info last week.  Also, every year the children have been able to say who they want to be in class with but that was taken from them as well, once again Settle managed to do this but QES didn't!  I was a bit on edge about it all, and then when the forms came through there was no indication as to who everyone is with, so the mum grapevine had to get going to find out who was with who.  Took a day, but Tom is in with Matthew from IPS.  He wanted to be with Caitlin but as usual the assumption is that boys want to be in with boys and girls with girls!  Out of the boys, Tom said Matthew was best.
There will be 20 something other children as well in his form, so he doesn't have to stick with him.  I've been asking around re other children who don't go to IPS, most aren't in Tom's class (there are 8 forms in total - so not surprising), however, I did find out that the other Gingerbug owner, Clare's youngest son, Isaac, is in Tom's form.  He lives in Ingleton but goes to Leck School - I didn't know of his existence until about 2 months ago.  We are going to get them together during the holidays so that they both know another friendly face when they arrive.  Anyway, his form tutor is Mrs Armitstead, she teaches French and Spanish, apparently form tutors do more than just take the register these days, they actually take an active interest in each child and are their first point of contact to resolve any problems.  The children will get taught in these forms (mixed ability) for the first year and then streaming will start to occur (normally they get taught in streams for English and Maths in the first year - but because there haven't been any SATS or even any formal teaching since March they can't do this this year)

Thursday - the leavers hoodies finally arrived!  Lots of excitement, we went up to school to collect them and gave Mrs Clements hers - she was overjoyed by it - never seen her so animated!  We finally got joining information from QES, they are starting on a later date than advertised (thought that might be the case).  Still not sure about buses etc, but they are going to place staff at selected entrances so they can direct children in to where they need to go (normally the children spend 2 days at school in the summer term so they get to meet others in their form, their form tutor, find their way around and know where their classroom is).  On the first day it is just going to be Year 7 at school, the second day Year 7 & Year 12 and then after that the full school.  Each year is its own bubble and given an area of the school that they can be in.  Teachers will come to them rather than they go to teachers.  Not sure what happens re science, art, home economics, design and technology etc as they all need specialised rooms.

Hoodie models

Thursday evening was spent at Meadow Falls, we always said to the Holmans that when they were allowed to open again, we would book a pod with them.  This was the first decent day to do so.  We booked the nicest pod and took our bbq and some lovely Cornvale produce with us for tea along with some potato salad and regular salad I made earlier, oh and some beer and wine.  We had a lovely evening, sat by the fire pit, chatting and watching the kids entertain us.  Didn't get to bed until very late and we slept well.  In true Holman fashion, they wouldn't let us pay them, so we had to go home the next day, look up on the website how much the pod cost, then send Tom in with an envelope of cash so we could pay them!  We like camping there, not far to get to / come home, really lovely site, very clean and the owners are a good laugh.  

Tom and Luca rehydrating

Friday I spent most of the day at home whilst lots of excited children arrived to collect their hoodies.  We went out for lunch at Goat Gap which was very lovely once again (had to queue in the rain but it was worth it) Luckily the rain cleared in time for cricket so we had another lovely gathering with some prosecco and cider (turns out that Tom likes Bulmers cider!) whilst the boys were trained.  

Then at 7.30 I headed over to Janine's for a gathering around a fire for her birthday.  It rained so we sat outside under umbrellas being stoically northern.  So, two parties in one night - was feeling very normal!

Saturday - Tom was supposed to be playing cricket but it rained so it got washed off.  Looking at the radar, the Lake District was better off, so we headed over to Windermere and Gummers How for a walk.  Spent a pleasant half an hour watching kestrels diving for food on the hills. We then returned to a sunny Ingleton.

Sunday, Matt was playing cricket for Ingleton in Ingleton so we stayed put.  It was a lovely sunny day, and the village got completely rammed, when I say rammed, I mean rammed - I couldn't even let Tom cross the road by himself it was so dangerous.  People who have lived here all their lives said that they had never seen the place so busy.  Not sure what they were all doing - can't imagine it was much fun to go round the waterfalls or up Ingleborough though.  I quickly nipped out in the morning to get some mushrooms from the co-op (Matt playing cricket means mushroom pasta for me and Tom for tea) before the village got busy.  We then spent most of the afternoon watching the cricket (they won with no bother - so we had a happy Daddy!)

Week 16

Got a bit behind again - been busy with things and also suffering from emotional roller coaster that is you only child leaving Primary school.

So week 16 - saw Tom deciding to do a poster about an animal in the rainforest and maths.  He chose a Hornbill for the poster.  Now Tom is the first to admit that he isn't a great artist, so drawing a hornbill wasn't going to be an option.  We could have printed one out, but I wanted Tom to be able to do something artistic, so we found a good vector image of a hornbill and used it to trace and colour in.  Get this - Tom has never done tracing before?!  I used to trace everything as a kid, I LOVED Asterix and used to trace him and his friends all the time.  So I spent one morning showing him how to trace (apparently school doesn't allow them to do it because they think children should develop their freehand skills - I think tracing is a very necessary skill - I wouldn't be able to do half of my cakes if I didn't trace logos / images etc etc).  He was pleased with the outcome and within an hour we had a lovely looking Hornbill ready to be placed in the centre of his poster.  He then spent a long time researching hornbills on the internet and found some interesting facts.  We then filled the poster with vector images of rainforest images.  

Maths was area and perimeter which Tom aced.  I didn't need to help him at all.

On Tuesday, Tom was supposed to have a Year 6 leavers picnic, but it rained all day so it was postponed to next week.

The rest of the week was 'normal'.  We did a Storrs walk on the Tuesday evening.  Wednesday we spent the afternoon at Anne's with Nicky and Florrie so the kids could do their virtual sports day.  Was a really lovely afternoon.  Weather was ok, kids got on really well and we adults sat down whilst the kids played.  We ended up inside Anne's kitchen as it was so windy.  Felt very normal, sat around kitchen table gossiping whilst kids played outside. The most normal we have been in 16 weeks.  Came home very relaxed and chilled. 

Blue tit

Thursday saw us up at Ribblehead meeting up with the Raddas again for an evening walk.  We went through a nature reserve which we had been in before, but had got a little lost in.  Was dense vegetation which normally would set me and Tom off, but we were both ok - is hayfever on the way out?  I hope so.  Anyway we had a lovely evening, Rebecca (as usual) was a bit of a motormouth again which always makes us giggle and we saw a deer which is always a bonus.

Windermere steamer

Friday saw Tom have his first cricket training of the season.  They are doing 1:1 30 minute sessions.  We had a lovely time - as we know all the cricket crowd quite well, there are 6 benches overlooking the field so we each had a bench each and we chatted - lots to catch up on.  The training was all very clinical - sanitise hands here, coach wearing gloves, only the trainer can hold the ball, 10 mins between kids to sanitise everything etc etc.  The kids not being trained were further over on the field playing cricket together not following the strict rules!  Should you stop the kids playing?  The coaches were fine with it - they would prefer the kids play as much cricket as possible, just that they are bound by strict rules as they are official coaches.  It does sort of make a mockery of the whole thing though!

Packhorse bridge

Saturday we fled Ingleton which was over-run with tourists and headed to the far side of Windermere.  We decided to do a short walk around Far Sawrey walk, which is on the mini peninsula from which the car ferry departs.  It was a short walk because we were all worried about hayfever, but once again both Tom and I were fine.  It was only a 3 mile walk but it took us about 3 hours as we had lots of stops en route.  It was a lovely walk, taking in woodland, lake edge (loads of wild campers) and then we came across a National Trust property which not only was free but had an open courtyard with a cafe.  A CAFE, we couldn't resist, we were lucky, they were about to close.  Matt went in and ordered some drinks and cakes and boy they tasted amazing.

Tom and Florrie

Anything not cooked by me tastes amazing at the moment.  We then looked around the property, Claife Viewing Station which is the remains of what was a lovely building where the well-off used to go for dances and balls.  Just a couple of walls and stained glass windows remain now.   We looked around then headed back to the car.  Now, we had parked the car, next door to a pub.  On returning, we had a look at the garden, there were some empty tables...it seemed rude not to support it.  The boys secured a table, I went in and got the drinks.  No-one asked for contact details?  But the server was wearing a visor and everyone was observing social distancing, so it felt fine.  We then decided to head to the car ferry to go back.  We timed it perfectly and only had to wait about a minute.  All the staff were wearing face masks and pretty much all foot passengers were wearing them too - those who had forgotten / been caught out put their heads into their jumpers in an effort to comply.  As we were in a car we didn't need to (I have a bag of disposable masks in the car in case we get caught out somewhere - don't fit Tom though!).  Got home exhausted, what a lot of new experiences for a day!

Sunday, we met up with the Wilkinsons for a walk around Thorns, taking in the packhorse bridge etc.  It was a lovely sunny day and once again we were glad to get out of Ingleton - as it was packed again.  Ribblehead was packed too, but the Raddas were happy for us to use their driveway so we did and we didn't meet anyone else on our walk - oh it is so good to know these little gems that are off the beaten track.  We had a lovely time looking around and no mad woman this time, which meant that we could take our time.  The Wilkinsons hadn't been there before and I think really enjoyed it.  They then came back to our house and we had the whole awkward situation with the house - I had cleaned and disinfected it incase they wanted to come in, but didn't want to make them come in, so gave them the option, but then of course they didn't want to offend / put us out so in the end they went round the back to the garden and we sat outside eating Tom's brownie (which he made in the morning) and drinking cold drinks whilst enjoying the sun.  It was a good afternoon with new friends thanks to Tom and Florrie's lockdown blossoming friendship.

Week 15

A miserable, grey and rainy week.  What do we do this week?  Tom has left school, but the term isn't over yet.  Mrs Clements sent her home schooling email out but put added a caveat for Tom's bubble, saying they didn't need to do any of it but please send an email at the end of the week saying what they had been up to.  This week's topic was countries of the world and an activity was to make a poster of a country they would like to live in.  Tom wanted to do this - choosing Malaysia.  Great, but working on a poster I found extremely frustrating: Tom is very slap dash, doesn't care how it looks, just wants to do it - that is his whole approach to art activities.  Whilst, I on the other hand would like to plan it out so it looks nice and is logical - so we clash.  I tried so hard to keep my cool but it is very very hard!  

The problem is that every time I get 

The Doe in good flow

frustrated with him, I probably erase a bit of his confidence, so I shouldn't - but it is so hard because he just doesn't seem to have a clue!

Oh hum.  Tom spent most of this week with blocked sinuses brought on by his

hayfever, so we had lovely lie-ins, breakfast and then Tom would run himself a hot bath to steam his sinuses out.  That then left about an hour before lunch where we worked on the poster. 

Afternoons were spent playing board games (Wonders of the world, Articulate, Monopoly etc) and of course pool / snooker.  Then a film until tea time.  Matt did try to take Tom out for a bike ride, but after ¾ mile Tom said he couldn't breathe properly so they came home.  Thinking he has got slightly asthmatic like I did - so will get his inhaler out for next time we attempt it.

A stroll along the Prom

Not the most interesting of weeks but Tom needs to recover and with the constant rain outside, there really hasn't been much else to do.

Before Covid, we would have been insanely bored this week, but we have slowed down so much and learnt to amuse ourselves at home that it really hasn't been that bad.  

Saturday - we headed to Morecambe for a walk along the prom - it was supposed to be better there.  It wasn't!  We got absolutely soaked walking to the Stone Jetty and back, but it was needed - Tom and I had hardly been out of the house all week.  We then went to Atkinsons for fish and chips and at them in the car (again) at Hest Bank in the hope of seeing some trains.

Blea Moor on a blea day

Sunday - we woke to no rain - NO RAIN!  However, it was very windy, and by the time we had breakfast it was raining again.  Oh hum, Tom had his daily bath, we had lunch and then we headed out to Ribblehead for a walk (haven't been there since February) we did the usual circuit and then walked up to the aqueduct.  On the way back we got caught in a heavy shower of rain - so we arrived back home drenched and very wind swept - oh almost forgot to say, today we had to wear our bobble hats it was so cold and windy.  Yep.  Bobble hats.  In July! Three hot showers later we were feeling human again, but really should July have this weather?  Take me back to April!

Oh - pubs, restaurants, B&Bs, hotels, campsites and other leisure venues opened up on Saturday.  We have stayed away.  Figure the morons will be out first, also venues will be testing their procedures etc.  Will give it a couple of weeks and then head out.

And it was the 72nd birthday of the NHS today so at 5pm we had a last clap for the emergency services.  They were all out again with sirens and lights flashing.  I took a video:

Week 14

Cold water

Tom's last week at Ingleton Primary School.   We had a sad boy on our hands.  It all seems so wrong, instead of celebrating their time at school - it just sort of fizzled out.  They didn't get to do any of the fun things that Year 6 normally do in their last half term of school and therefore haven't been given the chance to grow and get that Year 6 swagger that normally happens.  They, of course, have taken it in their stride, whilst us parents feel we have been robbed of a significant life event.  So sad, but that is how it is.

Anyhow, before he could leave school, we had to work our way through home schooling for Monday-Wednesday.  Maths this week was algebra - once Tom got his head around a+a=2a rather than b (because b is the second letter of the alphabet) and that you can split c into 4: c/4  he breezed it. English task was to write a tourist leaflet of Ingleton - this was supposed to be done at school but I knew he wouldn't finish it - so he did most of it at home. 

Family paddle

We went river swimming in Ingleton on Tuesday and Burton on Wednesday.  Burton made me a little uneasy - too many people and huge high up jumps.  There were loads of teenagers in the river, and to be fair they kept their distance from us but still made me nervous.  Think we will stick to Ingleton.  The river in Ingleton was freezing, but Tom went all the way in.  I barely got my toes wet!  He certainly doesn't take after me!

Thursday was roasting.  Tom was full of hayfever, but went to school regardless.  He spent most of the day outside, so came home exhausted.  Friday, his last day, he had sports day and a massive water fight, Mrs Clements got wetter than anyone else!  We went up to school to collect him as it was the last time ever.  I held it together but then saw another mum who went, so then of course I went.  I just about held it together.  We then got home and found a lovely letter from Mrs Clements, that was it: Matt was sobbing, I was sobbing and Tom...well he just laughed at us!  Plenty of FB posts went round - the parents were feeling it bad!  

Last ever school run

I had to have a couple of gin and tonics and Matt a couple of beers to recover.  Then we decided to give Tom a new West Brom football shirt we bought a while ago as a well done for having such a great attitude towards home schooling and  as an end of school gift.

We had tea, game of crib and then went out for a walk to see two of Tom's classmates who had birthdays today but weren't in his bubble.  We got back, and Tom started to get quite ill.  Silly us, it had been thundering, and that means that pollen comes down from higher in the atmosphere - he was suffering from pollen overload he was a snotty mess - could barely breathe through it all.  And of course he had spent most of the school day outside too.  He then started to cough.  Panic stations...is it Covid or is it the asthmatic cough that landed him in hospital this time 6 years ago?  It was 8pm, the best thing we could do was get him asleep.  We took his temperature - he was fine, so we put him to bed.  Took him ages to get to sleep.  Once he did, Matt and I were listening out for coughing - no coughing.  2am, no coughing, later on, no coughing.  He woke up: no coughing.  His temperature was fine.  Both of us were convinced it was a hayfever snotty cough.  Phew!  Was ready to call for medical advice first thing. I also had nightmares of having to call school to tell them that Tom had Covid symptoms.   I spoke to a friend who has a son with bad hayfever too and he had a cough last night too and was fine this morning - we put each other's minds at rest.  It wasn't a dry cough anyway - a horrible congested cough, but wow - it was a bit of a fright!  Talk about a day of emotions!

Saturday was a rainy, thundery day so we decided to stay in.  Tom had a long bath in the morning, we then watched Whale Rider, which we all enjoyed (highly recommended if you like New Zealand  / Māori culture).  I then popped out to re-stock Gingerbugs and Tom had a lengthy video call with Florrie (when I say lengthy I mean it - over 3 hours!  Only came to an end because Florrie was hungry!).

What a week, and school isn't completely over yet - we have done a collection for the teachers - but couldn't hand anything over because the other bubble haven't finished yet.  So we will have to go again to say goodbye again - plus the kids haven't got their leavers hoodies yet either so plenty more time to blub!

Oh - Tom has set up a camera trap in the garden to record all the new birds that have been visiting us.  Matt put together a compilation of the best bits so far.  Take a look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peM0uLhcWMw.  

A friend has sent us a list of the birds in the clips which turned up some surprising ones we didn't realise, never heard of a Dunnock before!  (Carrion crow (with clubfoot), Starlings, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Robin, Female Blackbird, Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) with young, Young Blackbird, Great Tit with young, Jackdaws, Lesser-spotted catfinch, House Sparrow, Robin, Long-tailed Field Mouse, Carrion Crow, Wren, Magpies, Jackdaws, Wren, Goldfinch, House sparrow, Carrion crow, Blue Tit, Dunnock)

Great Yorkies

Sunday - another rainy day, we spent the day doing lego - trying to finish all the models, we are so close!  Matt went out to do the waterfalls walk in the pouring rain - he came home saturated - but got some good footage.  Lo and behold - we had an actual Sunday roast.  Tom made the yorkshire puddings - and did such a good job that is will now forever be on Yorkshire pudding duty - silly boy!