18th March 2010 (Thursday)

Why this child here is so bouncy I have no idea. She should be whacked as she’s had sports day today, and we’ve done all our work and goodness knows what but there she is tall as you like up on the sofa with her swimming noodle, chewing jellies and ordering daddy to ‘pick me up and make me FLY! with the ballerina frog – fuzzy flying ears! Pretend you’ve got Fuzzy Flying Ears like ME!’


Well, we’re tired, anyway. The Mr has been supervising again in the practicals, so bushwhacked. At least it’s the last one this term. As for me I’ve of course been unpacking mostly, so pretty crusty-sweaty and stoved in – in a moderate way of course, one doesn’t like to push these things. Honestly, those packers had a screw loose somewhere – they absolutely chucked out all the clothes and things from the drawers and put them in boxes, then stuffed the (now-empty) drawers with all manner of rugs, towels and linens. Why?? Why bother? Not only did they stuff them in but in the case of the Non’s drawers (which are reasonable but not actually jointed, you know, they’ve got thinnish bottoms) they stuffed them in so forcefully they popped the bottoms out of the grooves and the sides of the drawers themselves were starting to come apart from the pressure. I mean REALLY. What’s the point? In contrast, they’ve done things like painstakingly wrap – a metal hook, two ballpoint pens, a tealight – all items in a separate sheet of A1 (or whatever that standard size is) wrapping paper. Anyway, the stuff is all here and mainly without incident but it does make one stand back and gawp in amazement.

Not entirely sure what else there is to report – not a great deal, probably. Am in the process of trying to decide what exactly one is meant to do for the Easter Hat parade next week – there have been notices that we have to ‘gather materials’ (as if we were trainee bower-birds preparing to make a display ground) for the task.... and that there would be a practice run but I’ve no idea when, or who attends. I’ve only encountered Easter Hats since the Littles has been at school, never heard of the concept before then (hmm, I wonder why – because it’s a RIDICULOUS IDEA maybe??). In the UK it seems to be de rigour to get a white paper plate and stick fuzzy Easter-chick figures on it, perhaps some crepe paper, and then go through the process of attempting to secure this to an infant’s head – invariably with very limited degrees of success. I have since looked them up and it also appears to be acceptable to buy a cheap staw hat and stick stuff onto it – usually more crepe paper and Easter chicks figures. Now crepe paper and Easter chicks are easily obtained of a weekend at the local crafts shop, and we already have a cheap straw hat knocking about so I’m kind of hoping that this might cover my bases but actually I’ve no idea. Not the foggiest. Must sniff around a bit more. Funnily enough, when I ask about a lot of the parents seem pretty clueless as well. Innocent as the babe unborn of knowledge of what we’re meant to be doing. I’m sure there must be someone in the know if I try hard enough.
Tee hee, we’re sitting here after dinner on our sofas, sipping wine from real wineglasses. Ah, the luxury. I try to ignore the slight tang of dried sweat that occasionally mingles with the alcohol off my chops. Not that it’s been very hot but you know, hauling boxes up and down stairs ... well, it tends to get the circulation going. Can’t wait to have my shower. Been lovely weather actually, really sunny and bright and just nice, I think it was about 27 degrees, very pleasant for just pootling about in – perhaps getting a trifle too cold for the beach but probably still doable. Hope you’re all very well, and many thanks to the Pie for the lovely phone call, very luxurious and cheering! Lots of love to all xxxxx