September to December: a bit busy

So, we have lost September to December when it comes to the blog!  What with Tom back at school, and all his after school clubs, work starting up again and Bob to look after, it got a bit busy and the blog was the last thing on my mind.  We didn't really do that much as we couldn't leave Bob on his own for too long, so there wasn't really that much to write about.  Tom had a trial for the under 15s District cricket team and to his and Matt's surprise got in (the others according to Matt all looked huge compared to Tom!)  So, that means training in Sedbergh every Tuesday night - 8.00 to 9.30 - pretty late for our Tom who likes his bed!)

In October we went to Blackburn to see The Proclaimers which was good - they can certainly belt out the tunes, not much engagement with the audience though.  

I had my usual run around trying to find Christmas marshmallows - found them in the end in B&M in Blackburn and bought as many as I could.  They came out mid October, were exclusive to B&M this year. I bought 150 snowmen, 50 penguins and 40 rudolphs and ran out of snowmen quickly as Di Handly ordered 50 in mid November!  We tried everywhere to buy more and failed, so next year buy 200 snowmen as soon as they come out.

For October half term we met up (finally) with Mum and Dad at a cottage near Nantwich.  Even that was disjointed as Tom and I went down on the Friday, then I left him there on Sunday, came back to help look after Bob and then on the Tuesday Bob moved back to his house and Matt and I went down to Nantwich for the rest of the week.  

Also Mum wasn't in a good way - she was having chemo cream on some skin cancer on her face and was right at the end of her treatment and not doing well - she didn't really move for the first 2 days, but got better as the week went on.  We all managed to go out for dinner out on the last night - which was good.  Maybe next time we will do better.  It was a case of really bad timing, but if we didn't meet up then, it would have been over a year since we saw each other!

October to December was then the big grind of Christmas orders: marketing everywhere I could think of and then fulfilling orders.  I did an Open House: invited friends for mulled wine and cakes on the Friday night and opened up to the village on Saturday morning (11th/12th November)  Then I went to Cross Leigh Stores for a market.  Note to self: DO NOT DO A CHRISTMAS MARKET - people don't buy my goodies, mainly because there is food and drink at the market run by the organisers and people are loyal to them rather than buying from me.  I made £12. What a waste of time.  This is why I do an open house - much more lucrative!  I got lots of early orders this time, I also got quite a few cakes, so a lot of juggling.  I need to work out whether  it is better to say no to all cakes and just concentrate on chocolates?  I had to put out of stock on my website pretty early, plus the school broke up really early this year (16th December) which didn't help, along with Royal Mail postal strikes, I basically had to stop taking orders from the 12th December.

Tom had 2 really horrible colds - one in the first half term and one in the second half term - both lasting about 3 weeks.  They were evil and completely drained him.  Somehow Matt and I didn't catch them which was good - although both of us were getting headaches and rumbling sore throats so I guess it was in our system!

Tom has also had his 4 immunotherapy injections at Manchester Children's Hospital - fingers crossed they work for him in the summer.

Bob has been getting better and better, going back to his house gave him a new lease of life, and within days he was able to walk (he was still hopping at ours), he was out on the mobility scooter and getting stronger and stronger.  We found him a home help so we were able to relax knowing someone was visiting every day and doing any awkward jobs for him.  He even held a Christmas party for his friends which was fab. 

Tom has had to choose his options.  We went to the Options evening at school - first time we have been invited to the school as parents.  It was wholly confusing - came out completely confused as did every other parent we asked.  QES is an Academy of two schools: the main school and the studio - the Studio does practical courses such as engineering, art, DT, performing arts, PE, land management etc etc, but we came out not knowing what sort of qualifications you get, if they are recognised by HE/FE establishments, if you take one of these 'pathways' it takes up the time of 2 GCSEs but does the qualification equal 2xGCSEs?  We managed to talk to a teacher afterwards to get some questions answered (she told us that the Land Management doesn't lead to any qualification - surely that is something we need to know?!)  Also afterwards, we found out that if you want to take a science at A Level, you have to take all 3 separate sciences at GCSE.  Another thing they failed to tell us!  I tell you that school is just rubbish at conveying information to parents!

Talking to Tom, he was absolutely adamant that he didn't want to do any studio school courses as 'all the idiots are going to studio school".  There is a good engineering course in the studio school where you have to be top stream science and maths to qualify, but he still refused, nothing I said would change his mind.  So his choices:

1) Separate science, 2) French, 3) Modern History, 4) iMedia 5) PE (GCSE version not the studio version)

I'm sad that he has dropped geography, but was very careful not to influence him too much.  Modern History is a bit of an anomaly, apparently all history courses have to include a medieval element - so he has to do 1066 and medieval medicine, but the rest is 1900+.

He also has his first school trip coming up...to France!  They go to the D-Day beaches, Paris and Parc Asterix.  5 days, £800!!!!!!  It isn't until July - but at last a trip!!!!!!!!!

Oh and Tom has a girlfriend - Georgie (one of Evie's friends from Caton)!  We haven't met her yet, but they are texting each other all the time (all quite benign and quite sweet).

Lastly, I have managed to loose 2.5 stones.  I have slowed up recently due to circumstances, but plan to get down to 10.5 stone in January - just half a stone to go (assuming I don't put on for Christmas / New Year!)