Serious Science

Instead of heading back to the Christmas market in Winchester, we decided to visit the
Science Center and Planetarium. More info here

Can you see my children running to the front door?
That's a future nerd alert.

Is that a typhoon you're making?
Better test your running time whilst we are here too.

So competitive in their cells.

With one of these ball in the air machines P just can't resist this all afternoon.

 Some would say think about the problem others just dance.

Family make and do.

Time for home, overheated and exhausted.

I think when we got back it was time to get into Christmas.

And it is still stormy out there.

CM

Carols at Winchester Cathedral.

I was just thinking, I need to update my blog before the new year, but it is New Year!
Where did the time go?

In December when school was out we drove to Winchester to go to hear the carols sung by those boys in red and white, and there are girls too, to really kick off our Christmas spirit.

The girls really love a travel lodge and would happily just stay in the room.
Is our home really that bad?

The plan was to wander the Christmas Fair that wraps itself round the Cathedral, get some dinner somewhere, watch the carols, get a good nights kip.

Here is what actually happened.

It took forever to get there, I asked G to plan the route, although there was nothing wrong with it, it felt like we were going round the houses and I got grumpy.
P slept all the way, T didn't.

The rain was awfully miserable but we were wrapped up and ready for it.
There are sheds around the Cathedral and various gift wares are sold from these.

I thought that we could buy all our Christmas presents from here but actually, it was a bit pricey.
I saw about five things I would have liked to buy but didn't.

In the middle of all this festive cheer is one of these.

Which resulted in the girls asking me, can we go ice skating?

Can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?
Can we go ice skating?

No! because we are going to hear Christmas carols in the there!

Confusion followed for them.

I skipped the tea and went for the mulled wine, I was pulled by the wrist and I lost half of it into my folded umbrella.

Dinner was a stall that sold sausage and cabbage, confusion then for G but happiness at all these delights.

Then confusion again from the girls, why could you make such pretty treats and then fill them with marzipan?

Ok. The reason we are here is because I had heard the Cathedral Choir on St. Swithins Day and had just been so moved at the sound that I went on a mission to get tickets for a Christmas concert.
I rang the box office in July and asked them what had to be done, oh, they don't go on sale till about September, no we don't advertise the date because they sell out straight away.
Helpful.

Well it turns out they do advertise the selling date on the Cathedral website and by now I'd spoken to a few different box officers and I knew that it was the Lord Lieutenants Christmas Concert was the one we were going to see.
AND the tickets do sell out as you refresh the page, Glastonbury tickets would have been easier.
There are no discounts for children, so an affordable cost of four tickets gets you on row XX with not many rows behind us.
But your ticket helps fund a chorister so all good.

This shaky one shows us post empty your bladder and tuck in your shirt before we sit down.
We had a few glances from camel coats, I couldn't work out why.
I think it was, why are you bringing small children to this.
They can handle it and so can I.
I was on it. Small ornamental suitcase with colouring in things if it all got too much for small pain in the neck.
We were all excited.

See.

I now know why you can't bring small children and it's not their fault.
It's the fault of beautiful architecture.

The choir starts at the back around the big tree with Ding Dong Merrily On High, fantastic.
Then makes their way, WAY down the front, and we are at the XXXXX back.
When I was here in the summer the choir were in front of me and as they sung mass the sound washes over you. It's incredible what ever your choice of faith.

This evening as they sing, you can't move and no one does because if you do, you loose the sound, especially at the back.
Still, is an understatement.
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is the special guest and knocks out Pie Jesu and we have to be still.
Unless you are accompanying on the piano, you don't move.

So opening an ornamental suitcase for the colouring in things and using the sharpener wasn't easy. The girls did not speak but P's leg was fidgety more than once and people around us had paid money and I wanted them not to be upset.
When she needed to go, there was no way to make it to the loo without sounding like a bull so we slipped out the back.
When we came back in there was a big carpet door mat to drown the sound of our 1940's partner dancing to White Christmas before we took our seats.
Special memory.

T melted my heart completely by bursting into tears.
What wrong?!
Nothing. It just sounds so beautiful.

My seven year old can be a still as a pin, but she cannot cry quietly.
Culture with kids is very exhausting.

If you want to hear one of the most beautiful tearful versions of Over the Rainbow click here
You need to scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see the link

Lovely New Year to you all

CM

Madrid.

Somewhere between October and November I put myself on the plane to Spain much to the shock of one of my oldest friends who with her family have made their home there.

It was beyond fantastic to be with her for a few days she is a light in my life.

I don't normally post photos of friends or their children, but hey no one's looking!

Many moons ago Señor B remarked that she liked it when friends came to stay and they knew what they wanted to sight see so with that I forwarded a list.

Plaza de Toros de las Ventas
Bring on those Bulls!
More to the point let me see that embroidery.

There is a museum round the back and we spent a lot of time, which one would you wear etc.
In the end I chose a black and flesh tone jacket that looked Victorian. The early examples are almost papal, reds, gold and ivory. Then Elvis must have come to town and the pink and turquoise make an appearance.

The construction of the garments is incredible and those that are soaked in blood, sweat and dirt, make your tummy turn even though they may be thirty years old.

You get the idea, every time a Matador is killed a new angel gets it's wings.
Bulls are treated like royalty, I like dogs, it makes me sad to think of the bull in the ring trying to find it's feet saying, Why? why are you doing this to me, you were so nice to me yesterday?

Lovely weather.

There was also fabric and shawl shops on the list, but we were a bit late arriving after closing time but I didn't mind. A trip to a Sephora ended with a mini haul of v expensive samples because Ricardo had spent some time in Milton Keynes and just couldn't help himself when it came to Tom Ford and top shelf Lancome.

Had this place been open I'd be wearing those shoes. Luckily I've saved 60 euros, and what the hell I'm creative, some navy ballets flats from the high street and raid the girls craft pom pom stash and a glue gun viola!

I spent the rest of the time walking and eating and talking about how you cook stuff.
I now know how you make the sauce with the tomatoes, peppers and potatoes, keep it simple and add butter toward the end of cooking.
I few with a small bag so stayed out of the supermarket.

Chocolate con Churros, done, and it doesn't need repeating.
It's a lot for the system, I went all out.

Then it rained, which I hear is unheard of.
So the flea market on a Sunday will have to wait for another time.

This last one is one of those grand old buildings where they are waiting for the last tenants to 'leave', before the developers swoop in.
It is all quite beautiful.

How many heads can you count?
I know! no photos!

I had a wonderful time being away from my own kitchen, I loved hanging out with the children who were tots when I was with them last. I think they liked me.
I never drink, but as I was out of the country, it felt good.

Señor B, walks. She made her legs long by walking. I thought I might need new hips are the end of it, but no I just have a new thought.
If you think you are walking, then you can always walk further and faster and it is good for you.

Thank you for having me.

CM

And Happy 4th P!

Three is no longer the magic number.

You have been waiting for your birthday since the summer, we took you ice skating you hate it, again.
You eat lots of cake and love your presents but Toy Story's Jessie, doesn't leave your side and you promise never to leave her.

Very very lovely.

G has bought a new thing from the apple shop and I found these photos of you from this year.

Just so busy every day, getting a bit of a mouth on you too, a bit too honest.
You are running so much faster now, you use everything bit of strength to try and beat your sister.
Still super cute and I love hanging out with you still.

Lets love four as much as we did three.

CM

Happy 7th T!

It's your birthday, 7.
The year has gone by so fast and you have grown so quickly.

I am so excited for 7 and can't quite wait for tomorrow morning when we can really get on with it, I don't even care that it's winter not even the weather is going to make me unhappy.

Despite my excitement,  and you are watching a movie way past your bed time, it's has been a long day and I am dropping with exhaustion. I need my rest because you are going to ride a horse tomorrow and I am dutifully going to walk behind you far enough to keep you safe but not to be kicked in the face.

Maybe that is a message for life.

I think for your seven I am going to try and see more at your level and I want to yell less.
Happy Birthday babe and as Daddy said over cake, you have a good compass T, follow it.

I love you

CM