Liquidatifier

I slept terribly last night.  I was so cold and Huffle would warm me and I would go to sleep and then wake up freezing again.  This happened (apart from Huffle warming me because he was sleep mainly) about four or five times.  Most annoying!

Smallest came and woke me at 7am and it felt like the middle of the night.  I wanted to see the
SuperBlueMoon but I missed it!  Small also got up to see it but couldn’t.  I think it was too cloudy where we were.

I got Smallest and LittleOrange off to school for their Leadership Conference and made sure there was someone there as it was very quiet at 7:30am.  Small was off school again (last day before new semester starts) and started his day with a shower, stripping his bed, putting said bed in the wash and washing it, plus drying it later too.  He hasn’t made his bed yet but it’s a good start.

I went to my exercise class.  OUCH from Monday and more OUCH’s on top.  Even ExerciseNic said she was going to hurt tomorrow.

I helped Small make a Rice Pudding and we had a quick game of Kingdomino before he went off to
read while I had my shower.

For lunch Huffle, Small and I watched another Magicians episode and then this afternoon Small cleared the drive of snow and we played several games of Blink.  Today Small had to download his passport photo and details for his Band Vancouver Trip (how exciting).

Small watched the Stoke game, I made a Leek and Potato Soup and another Soda Bread for dinner later and crocheted and then MissHorse came for her lesson and we carried on with the Sheep.  I taught her to increase and I think next week we will be picking up stitches (eeeeek). I can’t believe how well she is doing and she properly listens too which is great.  Makes my job a whole lot easier.

After dinner Small and Huffle went to buy Salt Bags (for the water softener and for the paths to keep from being slippy) and then went and collected Smallest.  He had his ski club this evening and went for dinner but asked to be picked up early due to him still not being 100% well and having a long day with his Conference.  Poor little thing wasn’t well at all.  Unless he makes a remarkable recovery he won’t be going to school tomorrow.

Later we had Small’s rice pudding which was very nice.  

USAns

It did Snow during the night, but nothing too significant.  Still covered the drive again though.  Luckily, Small went out and cleared it for us.

Smallest felt well enough to go to school, though I wasn’t completely convinced.  He had Dodgeball tryouts, a leadership conference and Ski club tomorrow so that’s possibly why he pushed himself to get back.  To be fair, when he came home this afternoon (or prevening) he looked and sounded much better.

Small had a day off today and, from what I heard, played on FIFA for most of the morning.

Huffle came home around 11:30pm last night and had had a good meeting (though tediously long), a disappointing play in the EscapeRooms and a non-filling meal (where the waiter spilled food on someone’s handbag - not his though).

I went to work and made cuttings of pelargoniums and begonias in the greenhouse.  Jan made oaty choc cookies and MrsM was away but had left us coffee.

Huffle, Small and I had lunch together and watched an episode of TheMagicians (SyFy). Very strange.

This afternoon, Small and I played TicketToRide (He won) and then we FaceTimed Moo and made Fishcakes.  We entertained her with music (piano), magic (disappearing Small behind a blanket), teatowel chicken and floating teatowel and cooking and when Smallest came home he played the ukulele and piano for her.  She is one lucky Moo.

Smallest did homework, Small played FIFA, Huffle worked and I cleared up.  After dinner, Huffle and I went for a very cold walk around the Hamlet.

Filk’s inventions

Small went off to School for his last exam this semester - French.  He said it was ‘easy’.  For some reason he has always enjoyed French and found it fairly easy.  He started it early in UK and had a head start on his classmates here so that helped.

Smallest wasn’t feeling so well this morning.  His throat hurt when he swallowed and he was hot but cold!  I kept him off school and made him a hot ribena first thing and a carrot, lentil and ginger soup for lunch.  He felt a little bit better mid afternoon.

I went to my exercise class and then picked Small up from school around 10:30am.  Huffle had to go into Toronto for the day and should have left around 10 but he held on as long as he could so Smallest wouldn’t be by himself at home.  He ended up being home alone for about two minutes as Huffle left and I came back with Small.

Smallest had lots of TV wrapped in a blanket, lots of drinks and a few Huggles.  I made Banana Chocolate Loaf with the nearly gone over bananas and Small played FIFA.  Smallest went for a relaxing bath and watched Small on FIFA until lunchtime.

We all watched a terrible film that was a rip off of FindingNemo but we watched it anyway.  This afternoon we played Monopoly.  We got bored after Small became bankrupt so we stopped.  I think I would have won but Smallest had more money than me so he decided he won.

I had my shower while Small made brownies and Smallest assisted.  He is definitely feeling better.

MrsPiano came and gave lessons and it snowed.  As soon as the drive was clear, it got dumped on!  We are due to have 5-10cm so I guess it will continue through the night.  It’s not particularly heavy at the moment.

After dinner, we watched TV.  Smallest went to bed early and I crocheted and watched DirtyDancing2017. Why oh why did they remake it?  What a load of rubbish.

Huffle didn’t get home until past 11:30pm and I couldn’t stay up.  It was still snowing though at 10:45pm.

Four Free

The FamilyHall spent a day in today.  The weather was okay but we were all tired and a little under the weather.  Sore throats, headaches, aches and pains.  Nothing too bad but we just felt like a day in.

Huffle and I had a lie-in and then we made Sunday pancakes.  Small asked for big ones today so we tried but Smallest couldn’t flip or turn them and when I tried to flip, mixture went everywhere.  They were nice but too big for me and too hard to make.  Back to small ones in the future.

The rest of the morning was spent doing our own thing.  I continued to crochet, Huffle played on his tablet and the boys played on FIFA.

We played Q-bitz (Small won) and Blokkus (I won) before lunch when Smallest made us Quesadillas which we ate in front of Thor Ragnarok.  How has this film turned into a comedy, not that I mind but I don’t remember any of the others being quite so funny.  My favourite person in it was Korg (who also directed the film).

This afternoon I made mini baguettes from my PaulHollywood Bread book.  Not too much faff.  Mainly made in the mixer with proving and shaping.  They were delicious and we had them later with  Pork for Smallest and Huffle and Fish Fingers for Small and I.

The boys played more on FIFA and I did some more crocheting.

I think we had a mini storm this evening.  I’m sure I heard thunder rumbling and a few of us had headaches.  Strange time of year for a storm but it was considerably warmer today.   The snow has pretty much gone.  Yay.

Pie gets a goal

Huffle, Smallest and I had to get up early to get Smallest to his football game.  Today was a 9am game so not ridiculously early but still.......    Small wasn’t even up though I’m guessing by the noise we made, he would have been awake.

The game was an interesting one today.  Smallest started as a rightback, then he was in middle of defence and then in the second half he played in midfield.  He never got subbed and his face was very red and sweaty by the end.  We didn’t win but it was a good game.  Unfortunately the lady ref (she ain’t no lady) was extremely biased against our team and gave a penalty that was dubious and a goal that was invisible.  This is the same ref that Huffle had words with last year when she ignored Smallest being elbowed.  Apparently she is a friend of our Coach!!! Coach was very happy with
Smallest being in Midfield and he now says that he has given him something to think about.   Well it’s about time.

We came home, cleared the kitchen, put some washing on, put Smallest in the bath and researched somewhere nice to eat.

We setttled on a restaurant attached to one of the golf courses which was breakfasty.  It was nice.  We did a bit of shopping and came home for some relaxation.  I did some crochet, the boys played on tablets.

Later we all went to watch Small play football.  He wasn’t too happy because he wasn’t allowed to 

play up front but he did some nice tackles on weird Hair who was afraid of him by the end!  His coach has verbal diarrhoea.  He shouts THE most ridiculous things which make no sense and obviously has no idea about the game of football.  For example:  his son is called Cameron and he calls him The Camburger, CamtheMan, TheC Unit etc.  He shouts good D to the people in defence.  Great ball when his players kick it wrong,  and so much rubbish none of it made sense!  Small’s team won 4-3.  It was entertaining. 

A nod’s as good as a wave

I had a very slight lie-in this morning.  Small didn’t need to go to school but Smallest did (he leaves at 8:40am). He woke us with a “I think I’ve pulled my hamstring”. He hadn’t, he had just overstretched it it a little.  Poor thing.  He was fine.  Today he took in his bridge he was making for science.  Apparently he added toilet rolls and made bridges on the bridge.  His teacher was so happy it is now displayed in the library.  Awwww. Well done Smallest.

Small did some revision and some FIFA and later I got him to make a pizza dough in the bread machine.   He followed my recipe and put the machine on.  All part of the getting-ready-for-April
training.

I went to School for assembly as Smallest was getting an award for his robot project.  He was of course embarrassed and while other mums were getting waves from their little angels, I got a nod of appreciation for being there.  Clever little man.

From School, I went to Knitting where I continued with my horrible sock that I hate but just want to get finished.  There was only four of us including ShopKeeperEl but it was still loud and chatty.

Back home, I had lunch with Small and Huffle and continued with my crochet blanket.
It’s coming along well.

For Christmas I bought Small several packs of ‘Brookside Crunchy Clusters’ (dark chocolate clusters with berries and  multigrains). He loves them and I used to be able to buy a huge bag from Costco but they don’t sell them anymore.  Anyway, he opened a new bag today and asked me to try one,  they tasted bad!  So we sent them an email telling them.  I can’t remember where I bought them from though.  Huffle said he remembers us writing to Smarties and complaining there were no orange ones in the tube.  I think we were hoping for a trip to the factory and a box full but we got a voucher for £1.  Ah well it was  something.  We wrote to Disney when Smallest’s Pluto fell apart and they phoned me and asked if I would like a replacement.  They still sent him a new one and sent a Goofy too.  He was over the moon.  I don’t expect Brookside to do anything but if people don’t report when things are bad, how will they know.  Isn’t that how things get recalled?

This afternoon I went for a walk.  It was still quite cold but not hat weather and Huffle has bought me some new gloves that means I can take photos without taking my gloves off and getting frostbite.

A bit puddly

Smallest came home with achy legs so I sent him up for a hot bath.  MrsChristmas came round to bring me some money.  Some foreign old coins for our card games, some euros!! and some English money for my trip (£2.55). Actually I was impressed I could count the English coins without looking at them, ie from the shape and size and I can’t do that with all the money here (still have to check the 10c and 5c).

This evening I went to the cinema with Suffolk and Jacq to watch Phantom Thread.  It was nothing like I thought.  Very strange but still good.  We got to sit in huge recliners which were very comfortable indeed.

I left the boys at home watching GrandTour, Big Bang and playing FIFA.

Your moustache is on the floor

Small didn’t need to get me up this morning but I still wanted to see him off and wish him luck.  Today was his Science exam.  He said he did okay.  It covered the whole semester so he wasn’t overly confident this morning but went off on the bus with his Science folder.  I still had to do Smallest’s lunch and my own lunch.

I left a note for Huffle to get him to check our solar lights on the barn as they didn’t seem to be working.  He found out later that the wires had been chewed through.  Naughty animals!!!  Wonder what it was?

I went  off to Pottery.  Jacq had my apron from Suffolk.  It was lovely.  Lots of oooh and ahhhs and what a great seamstress and many can I buy one but no actual orders.  People just don’t like to pay for things even if they can see how much work has gone into it.   We started off by watching a demonstration on how to clean our previous pots up.  This proved tricky as my pots were wonky in the beginning.  My first attempt I made a hole in the bottom (well that’s a plant pot then!), my second one I actually made lovely feet (the raised bit that sits nicely on the bottom and doesn’t get glazed) third one was okay.  I can’t say I got any better.  We then learned how to make a stamp.  I really wanted to do one that would put my initials on the bottom but you can’t really do that on a wheel thrown pot as they are too dry by that stage.  I still made an ‘S’ stamp and once it is hard I can make another one from the stamp but a relief one (standing out).

.

Jacq on the wheel

Teacher modelling my apron 

Teacher, apron and wheel

I also threw three pots and got one fairly decent (though not really) one out of them.  I watched a video last night and was convinced I knew exactly what I was doing.  I didn’t!!!!  I’m sure it’s getting harder.  Well it certainly isn’t getting any easier.  At least I looked the part on my new pinny.

I came home, ate my lunch on the way and found Small playing on the XBox.  He didn’t want to come food shopping with me but did help me unload when I got back.  Small did some playing, reading and revising or reviewing as he calls it.  He now has one day off (and the weekend) and his next exam is Monday which is French.


Last year I made some Beetroot Chutney which was lovely and today I made some more.  Five jars of the stuff.  Beetroot, Ginger, Cranberries, sugar, vinegar, onion and apple.   It’s really good with cheese.

After dinner, we left Small behind studying and took Smallest to his football gym. He had trouble today with wheeziness so we have decided to put his inhaler in his bag just in case.  Huffle and I went to Mall and had a brisk walk.  Perfect place to go when it’s cold and icy outside.  We did pick up a few things we needed whilst there too.

When we collected Smallest I slipped on the ice and landed on my back in a most ungainly manner.  I hurt my elbow and my leg but nothing a bag of peas won’t fix.

A hat, 2 gloves, 2 poles, a mento and a phone

Small woke me this morning as usual.  All buses were running but he didn’t need a lunch as he would only be in school for two hours or so.  Why did he wake me so early then?  It was nice to see him off though and wish him luck in his English Exam.  I felt quite nervous for him which is silly because he had no nerves at all.  He obviously gets that from his Dad then and not me!

The temperature was around -23* with windchill and Small said he really felt it waiting for the bus.

Smallest attempted to get out of our front door wearing his snowboard bag (bigger by far than himself) and although I asked him several times if he wanted me to help him onto the bus, he went out by himself.  Going down our three steps from the door to the path, almost had him falling over, bag is too big and drags on the floor, bag is too high and won’t fit through the door.  I checked if he could step up the three steps and he couldn’t.  Bearing in mind I was still in my dressing gown, Huffle asked if he needed help.  YES PLEASE DADDY.  Daddy wasn’t too pleased and muttered incoherently under his breath whilst getting his winter boots on.  In the meantime the bus appeared early and from the wrong direction, fooling Huffle completely.  Smallest got on, with a little bit of trouble but not too bad, leaving Huffle stranded on the drive.  Oh oh!

I left Huffle working and went to my exercise class.  It was a good one (well they all are really but I missed my Monday one so it seemed even better I guess).   While I was there I had three texts from Small.  1. Finished.  2.  What time will you be here.  3. Let me know when you are here.

He only had to wait at school for about forty-five minutes so that wasn’t bad.  His exam went well and he is confident.  He guessed what the subject matter would be and what two of the quotations would be so not only was he very ready to answer them, he also helped his classmates by helping them before they started.  He said they were very grateful when two of the things he guessed were there.

We came home and he made his own dinner.  Just oven Chips, Beans and a fried egg but it’s a start.  He did well.  Huffle had more of the over-hot chilli.  I had a fried egg sandwich, yum yum, before setting out to Suffolk’s for an afternoon of sewing.  Well she sewed and I assisted.  Cutting, ironing, measuring, trying on and making tea.  She finished Jacqs apron yesterday and was sewing mine today.  It’s lovely.  We didn’t quite get it finished before she had to fetch kid3 and I had to get back for MissHorse’s Knitting lesson.

It was funny because just as I pulled up, ExerciseNic (MissHorse’s Mum) pulled up behind me.  I ran into the house (even though I knew I had been seen) and threw off my coat and opened the front door.  I said I had been just standing waiting.   We continued with the sheep and I showed her how to change colour as she may get to that point during the week.  It is coming along very nicely.

Small and Huffle went off to the ski slopes for some snowboarding fun and then met up with Smallest after his lesson and dinner.  They had three hours on the slopes and I had a very peaceful house all to myself.

Feeling HOT HOT HOT!!

Since I updated my IPad, the app I used for blogging is no longer valid and won’t even open.  Therefore I now have to use a new blogging tool.  I am still having problems with photos though.  It just won’t seem to let me load them and constantly tells me I am not authorised or do not have permission (to use my own photos?!).  So, we’ll see how this goes.

The buses were running today.  In fact the weather was quite Spring-like with plus temperatures and sunshine at times.  We are starting to see some grass reappearing which is always good though I know I should not get too excited as we have a lot of Winter left yet.  (At the time of writing, 7:29pm it started snowing again BOOO).  I realised, as I was leaving for work, that Smallest had left his building materials for his Science project behind again, so being a kind mama, I rushed to school with a bag of toilet rolls, cardboard and plastic drinking bottles.  Of course, he has no Science today and left them at home on purpose.  Silly Mummy!  

Small collected his Maths score today of 92%.  So I find this whole school thing confusing.  His school year is split into two semesters with four subjects in each semester.  At the end of the semesters (January and September) he takes an exam in each subject.  He has just been given his results for his Maths exam for Grade9 which is a 92% (which we are very happy with, as is he).  He has now finished with Maths for this year/grade.  He is trying to get on the honour roll and although I don’t completely understand what that is, I know he needs to get over 80% in all subjects.  Good start MrSmall.  His English so far is 82% (taking into account all coursework and tests) and he has his exam tomorrow.  He is confident.  Fingers crossed (this is his worst subject).

At work we started with coffee and cookies (yay Jan is back) and then we made cuttings of begonias (my new favourite begonia is RedFred.  Despite the name, it has huge deep red leaves that look very tropical - I can’t remeber what the flowers look like).   I also potted up my snowdrops and bluebells (christmas present from AuntPear).  They have been placed on the cool floor of the greenhouse where they will think they are underground waiting to emerge for Spring.

Huffle had lunch waiting for me and we sat and watched a very gruesome Gotham.  First thing this morning I started a Beef Chilli in the slow cooker so later I made a start on a veggie one for me and Facetimed Moo while I did it.

The boys came home.  Small did some revising for tomorrow and Smallest did a chore and played on his tablet.  I continued the chillis.  I asked Smallest to taste it for me.  Being a vegetarian has its disadvsntages when it comes to cooking meat dishes for three hungry boys.  He said it was too spicy.  I had bought some new chilli powder and didn’t realise it was hot and the one I normally use is not.  I must have put an extra tablespoon in because even Huffle had trouble with it.  Everybody ate it and liked it but I had milkshakes at the ready as well as sour cream and rhubarb pie and ice cream for afters.  Poor Smallest couldnt finish his chilli and he has refused it for tomorrows lunch too!  Oh dear.  I labelled the leftovers VERY HOT for the freezer.  Maybe I could add extra meat to it for next time.  In the future I will use less or not talk to Moo at the same time ha! 

After dinner we couldn’t move to clear the kitchen so we sat and watched Robot Wars while our stomachs settled.  The boys played on FIFA while Huffle tried to find me a bew blogging tool that worked with photos.

Ps. I am having serious trouble with posting right now and am aware that I might be sending these posts out several times.  Please bear with me, I’m trying to get it right.  I’m so close to stopping writing altogether which I don’t want to do!!!

Pass 2 Go's

Smallest went to bed with tummy ache last night and was really hot and Small and I woke up with a similar thing. I think we have some sort of bug but the good thing is it passes quickly. Smallest was fine this morning. Small didn't take long to recover. I still have tummy ache but not too bad though I did miss my morning exercise because I felt quite sicky with it.

MY DREAM: I was incredibly hot (burning up hot, not looking good hot) and I threw off all my covers. I woke up and found my covers off and I was cold.

The buses were all cancelled today due to freezing rain due later. Small didn't go to school and Huffle drove Smallest in. Huffle was supposed to go into the office for several meetings, a lunch and meet with his boss but due to the roads being a bit precarious, he postponed it.


Small did some revising in his room and I tested him on it (quotations from the book The Crysallids) and then he made a Soda Bread.

Late morning we played a double game of Monopoly which Small made up. Two boards, double the money, property and houses. Everytime we hit GO we switched to the other board. We could choose which jail we went in and which we came out of. It was different but I still lost terribly even though I had hundreds of properties.


This afternoon I made a Carrot, Lentil and Ginger soup to go with Small's bread and he did a bit more revising and a bit more FIFA. We both walked to pick up Smallest. It was raining, very wet rain, the kind that soaks you right through. We walked Smallest back. Today he came home with a letter telling us he had been selected as one of four kids in Grade5/6 for their leadership ability. He is to go to a Student Voice Conference at the end of the month. Nice.

As Small didn't go to school today, he couldn't find out his EQAO score or bring back his form for us to sign to say whether he needed to do the Maths exam or not. (If the students get over 70% they can choose to have that as their score or continue and do the exam and take that score instead). His friend, who was at school, checked what he needed to do and we found the info online. His score was 89% and he is happy with that so will not be doing the exam. He has an English exam on Wednesday and a Science one on Thursday. After his exams he will get to come home. On Friday, there is no exam and so he doesn't have to go.

After dinner, the boys all played FIFA and then Huffle took them to Cubs. Huffle and I stayed at home and watched FirstDatesHotel. Small's bread was lovely and the soup was good too!
I had some nice photos to add today. Rainy splashy photos and one of Small's bread but this silly app that I have been happily using for the sat six years ha suddenly stopped being updated and it won't work. So annoying!!!!

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DUCK!

Huffle's feeling better and we had a good night's sleep.

Zanzibar nicely dried and sitting on Huffle's head!!

After breakfast the boys played FIFA and I crocheted.

After a nice relaxing morning, we decided to go out for a bite to eat followed by a trip to the lake for a walk. It was cold but not nearly as cold as it was last time we were there. We went to the harbour where it was all iced last time. The ice was gone. There was a woman feeding the ducks so we stood and watched them flying and landing. Lots of photo opportunities. Huffle has always wanted a photo of a duck landing on water and I haven't got THE right one yet. (He's so fussy). Maybe today?

Interesting that they don't do maintenance......but to just water last this point!!!

At one point they flew so close to me I could feel the flap of their wings and half expected them to land on my head. We walked along the path and on the beach and the boys played on the park.

No pets allowed to play on the park

Next we went to the cinema to watch Paddington2 which was my choice. We went to the big one as we were close and found that the showing was in a tiny little 20 seater theatre and there were only two seats left. WHAT? As there was nothing else appropriate for us all we went to another cinema and got in early to see another screening of Paddington. This time it was in a slightly larger theatre (possibly 100 seats). There was only one other family (nice and quiet family) and then a family sat right in front of us obscuring Smallest's view so Huffle swapped places with him. Then another family came in and sat right next to Huffle with their huge bag of noisy popcorn. We had a few more come in and then just as the film was starting a mum and child came in waving a small lit up lightsaber (which we later found out the cinema sold at $9 -WHY???????). The child was not interested in the film and asked questions ALL the way through which his Mother answered in a very loud voice, shining his stupid light sabre. I'm afraid I had to growl at him to turn it off. His mum completely ignored me but the child looked at me in horror and I nodded and said YES turn it off! What a naughty person I am he he he. Small looked at me and said near the end 'I bet the audience clap when it finishes'. Ha they did! It was a good film. I liked it.

Back home we had a bit of tea and watched BigBangTheory (not sure it is suitable for Smallest but he's been watching it every now and then when Small puts in on).

 

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The Overclappers

My dream: I was in a funrun and it met a girl I knew in TheVillageUK. We decided to meet up for a meal and she suggested we go to TheGryffindir which was an Artists Daughters Pub. We couldn't go until 9pm until she had put all her kids to bed. !!!!!!!!!!!! What?

Huffle was up all night with a dodgy tummy. He ended up sleeping on the sofa downstairs, I think to keep me from being awake, but not sure that worked too well. Smallest's alarm went off and he went to turn it off, knocked a book on the floor which knocked his bin over. We were all (except Small) up by 6:45am so we could get to Smallest's football game for 8am kickoff. Too early, sooo very tired.

It was a better game and Smallest started by getting a goal (unfortunately an own goal but don't tell Grandad else he won't get his $2). The game ended in 2-2 draw but we should have won. At the end Coach came over to ask us how last week's game was (he was away) and Huffle told him. He also told him the story of the fight on and off pitch last year with our old team which he knew nothing about. He said we were in trouble for letting Smallest still use his old football backpack so I told him he was in trouble for not supplying us one in the first place. I don't really know if we are supposed to buy them but I personally think we have paid enough to the club.

Back home, Small had made breakfast of scrambled egg and was annoyed that we were later than he thought and that the eggs took less time so they were a bit dry for his liking. We were impressed he had done it and made the toast and put the kettle on. He hadn't made tea but the table was set.

After breakfast, the boys all watched Stoke win for a change and I sat upstairs and watched the end of GrahamNorton and knitted a bit more sock.

This afternoon we went out in search of wool for Smallest's blanket which Huffle found a huge ball of wool exactly the right colour and make. We picked up a boot tray (terrible business getting boots dry here without them being too cold to put on so extra boot trays are needed to get them dry and warm inside the house without water running everywhere). We went for dinner at our burger place and payed a half game of Monopoly Deal. We came home and the boys played FIFA while Huffle and I went for a walk, checked out the new restaurant sign (not overly impressed) and bumped into K, the lady who we lived with when we first arrived. She was having her hair done but we popped in to chat as we don't see her very often.

Dog driver

Tracks in our garden. Think they are deer tracks

Our walk

Later we all played Bingo on a random generator on our phones and tablets. It was very silly. We all played MarioKart until it was time for Small to eat before Huffle and him went off for his football game. From the texts that Huffle sent me, the game seemed very good with lots of missed chances from Small, a bad referee that Huffle hates and penguin Volleys from tripleL.

Smallest and I stayed at home. I did a bit more blanket while Smallest watched TV and then we played DisneyGuessWho and Kingdomino. I did a couple of loads of washing today and accidentally washed one of his bed friends, Zanzibar. We think the water affected him because all he could say (yes he speaks - to us) was "I'm ok, I'm ok!".

I'm ok

 

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The peg did it!

It was a PA day for Smallest but Small still had to go to school. He got me up in time to do his lunch, lucky me. During the night I wrenched my shoulder (felt like it came out of the socket, OUCH) it was very painful but the more I used it today the better it felt. Not liking that.

Small had been up since silly o'clock as usual despite him not having to go to school so by 8am he was asking to play games. We had two Kingdomino games by the time Huffle got up and then Smallest decided we would have breakfast. He watched his TV and I watched mine and Huffle breakfasted and worked.

I am watching a number of series at the moment, all disturbing in their own way. HardSun(BBC), NextOfKin(ITV) and MacMafia (BBC) and I know there is another one on C4 I need to start watching. I will have nightmares.

This morning Smallest came with me for a Costco shop. It was reminiscent of the times when we first arrived here and Smallest only went to school every other day. We used spend our times shopping, walking, playing. We laughed a lot at shopping today and met a lady from Northamptonshire whose little kids kept pointing at Smallest every time we passed them. We chatted to a couple of Indian ladies whose mops were poking everyone in the back. Smallest was very cheeky so I pushed him into a huge pile of Kitchen Rolls and when we went to a second supermarket to fetch the last of our shopping, we upset a man in the 12 items only. We had fourteen but he had 28 (I counted them) packets of 'add hot water noodles' called Mama. We found a lonely baguette in the car park which disappeared on our way out (Smallest says a hobo picked it up). All the way round Costco Smallest was texting Huffle to see if he wanted any Pepsi (he hates Pepsi) And then took random photos of things in the shop until Huffle informed him he was about to go on a call. In other words, STOP!

Back home Huffle helped us unload and pack everything away. Smallest was my freezer stasher as our large freezer is in the basement. We had lunch and Smallest watched his TV and Huffle and I watched ours. Smallest Went up to read in his room and I FaceTimed Suffolk who was showing me how the apron was progressing and asking me for measurements and suggestions. AuntyMiaow FaceTimed me and we had a lovely chat. Just what I needed. We decided on some dates to get together for April. In the meantime Huffle was Facetiming Grandma and Grandad and catching up with them.

This afternoon, Smallest and I played more Kingdomino and Guess Who. Small came home and while he got on with homework, Smallest and I made pizza (he had made the dough in the bread machine so now he knows how to follow the recipe and how the bread machine works). He wanted to make baguettes today but we didn't have enough time.

Dinner was eaten in front of TheGrandTour, I was supposed to be going out to the cinema with Suffolk and Jac but we postponed it. We were going to see PhantomThread which looks very interesting. Maybe next week.

Freaky lava lamp action

This evening Huffle and I watched MontyDon in Paradise gardens. We had a discussion about the old phrase 'dirty Arab'. Is that right? I wasn't sure. I thought it was cheeky Arab. Anyway, it was nice to have Monty back on a Friday.

 

 

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Potterations

I woke up to messages galore on my phone. It's weird being here in Canada, five hours behind the UK. By the time I get to sit down and write messages, emails, texts etc, it's bedtime for the UK, but for me the best time to get organised. I send my texts etc while the UK sleeps and in the morning all the replies are through. No time to properly answer as I am then busy getting kids off to school and today busy at pottery. So I finally sat down to look and reply again during UK sleep time. It's crazy. I get up at UK's midday and UK sleep when I finally sit down. So forgive me if I haven't replied or haven't text when I said I would. Tomorrow is a PA day for Smallest so I should have much more time!

The boys went off to school but not before Smallest emptied his bag and showed me his robot project he did. A stokey robot all red and white. He got a 4- (A-) and only missed out on a 4 because he got a calculation slightly wrong. It sits on the fridge, pride of place, for now. Small had tests all day and presents his Ideoendent Study Unit on 'Are Sportsmen/women paid too much?". He said he thought it went very well and goes towards his final mark.

I ran out of washer fluid in my car several days ago and have been puddle jumping (in the car) ever since in an effort to get my windscreen clean. Another thing I've been doing is rubbing snow on the window. This morning I went out earlier so I could buy some and filled it up when I arrived at pottery.

There were a few more at pottery today. We started by trying to remember each others names and then watched a demonstration on the wheel. Last week I made two rainbows (disasters that went back in the bag) and one decent pot. Today I made two decent and two rainbows. We also learned how to use the slab roller and a new hand building technique. I found today just as difficult as last week but I still love it. Next week we are going to make a stamp and hopefully get it fired in time to use it in following weeks.

I ate my lunch on the way to the material shop to meet Suffolk who was trying to decide which fabric to use for my pottery apron. In the end, after lots of discussion, we decided on a light denim and a cream cotton. She is going to make two, one for me and a spare to see if we can sell it. I am not now making my own, Suffolk is making it and I will assist in future ones if needed. We went back to hers for some measuring and tea and then I drove off to fetch Small from Band Practice.

The traffic was bad and I left late so he ended up waiting outside for me as he had been let out early for good music work (or something like that). Small had no homework so he decided he would help with dinner after he decided we would have Lentil Dahl and Butter Chicken. He wanted to learn how to make the Lentil Dahl as it is one of his favourites. He did well and mixed all the spices together to make the masala paste, stirred and looked after dish while it was cooking, put stuff away, grated ginger and garlic. He wants to do it again so he understands it all. He also cooked the rice. It's nice that he's interested.

After dinner, the boys all played FIFA while I carried on with Smallest's blanket. Almost out of the main colour and not found any yet (except online).

Huffle and I went for a walk this evening. Over 13,000 steps today. Mind you I'm not surprised. The only sitting down I have done is driving, throwing pots and eating dinner. Exhausted.

 

 

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