It's Getting Grey Out There

The new iphone upgrade allows black and white and filters on the camera that's the only feature to like, if honest the interface is a pain to get used to and if I could undo it then I would.
G wants me to stop moaning.

I think it is a good excuse to leave the phone in a cupboard for longer periods.

T said she was having trouble seeing the board in school, I am blind as a bat so thought it wouldn't be too bad to get an eye test. A few minutes before going in to the appointment she tells me it isn't her eye sight that it the problem it's that there is a larger child between her and the board.

Eye sight fine.

The days are now shorter and it is officially cosy time but there is no rest period, the pears are off the tree so it is time to start the mince pie mix, knitting to finish and last years Christmas quilts to start.

I went to Ikea yesterday, it's an hour drive. I want matching chairs in the kitchen, the ones I liked I didn't when I got there.
The cheap ones I didn't like online, I loved when I looked more closely but they are not in stock again till next year. Which is annoying.
I drove through your old stomping ground New Jersey, it was very sad knowing that you are no longer here, I felt a pang deep inside. Then stuck at those crazy traffic lights that lead over the bridge at Waldon (?) I watched a tow truck pull a 119 on two wheels and thought, you're not missing much.

Busy Busy!

CM

Guess Who? Sand Sculptures.

One other thing we did this summer was visit a sand sculpture park. I had heard how great it was and just on a day when I fancied a change we went.
It's not that great.

Who are these people?

I think they renew these every year, what a choice, the Nirvana baby!? Slim shady?

On the utterly brilliant side and I wish I'd been more prepared with a picnic lunch there is a giant sandpit with sand that sculpts.
My girls hate the pit, but love this.

The girls could have packed and shaped for a couple of hours and the weather so bright.
Maybe we will give it another go in a couple of years time if it is still there.
It's Eurovision in sand, very odd.

We got fake grass!
G calls it something else, I can't remember what.

It's a small patch but we are sick of pulling the weeds and leveling because it sinks like a grave so G started to investigate plastic and you what it is not that bad.
Somewhere over the summer I have gone off my cottage garden in favour of something more Mediterranean. Neat in pots.
I am probably a bit off in design but after a fair bit of graft and a few quid spent in the garden center on leafy greens it looks nice out there.

I even baked something in the Italian.

But now the summer hols are really over and the girls are settled back to school. Now the hard graft starts for me with two birthdays to fit in before Christmas.

As I type they are in pj's watching Lady and the Tramp waiting to turn 4 and 7 asking my endless questions about party themes.
I am so tired.

Thinking caps on it's time to get organised, again.

CM

Space Camp

Last year we went to space camp, will this link work?
SPACE CAMP!

It was such an amazing weekend, we went again despite it being the first weekend after school starting.
Looking back so much has changed in our children,

and then again,

not so much.

This year I saw a binary star system, which looks like smashed diamonds on black. You think it is just white, but it's the brightest white light that you have ever seen. Then we had a long conversation with a photographer who basically lead me a merry dance about the world ending and me moving to Mars.

Deep breathes.

Both P and T made and launched rockets and they played and played safely in the discovery parks which meant that we could sit back and enjoy the atmosphere etc and drink tea.
I couldn't be happier.
We found the best blackberry bushes and walked around the castle grounds.

There were rumors that the weather was going to be awful but it was perfect and I love it here.
It makes me feel calm and not many places away from home manage that.




Having said that I've made the decision NO camping next year.
Too many weekends under canvas in 2013 and too much wet or dull weather.
It isn't cheap to camp well and I think my girls and guy need to see some guaranteed sun and a pool.

This is our tent.
Inside and out.

I am a neat camper which annoys G, I literally wash the plates up before the food is chewed and I am forever making beds. So after a great year it is all nicely packed away ready for another time just not so soon.

CM

Back to School Shoes.

Both girls due back to school, T got her shoes and uniform ready and then on her first day of term when I had P to myself I took her to the shoe shop to get her a long over due proper pair of fitting shoes.

She chose the silver ones, £43. Thank you very much.

She is very happy with them and a well made shoe is long over due.
Such a bad parent again.

She is growing up. Here is an example of her morning routine.

Clearly someone taught her to blend.

I don't really stand a chance in ten years do I?

She even sleeps like she has a hangover.
I love her!

CM

In the Forests.

Before we went to Arundel we went camping for a weekend with one of G's family friends.
A place called Dernwood.

You get one of theses, preferably with a good wheel.

Then you take all your stuff and take it through here to the field where G erected the tent.

We got there on a Friday and there were gnats.

Then it rained really hard all the time.

Eventually there was a break in the weather for an afternoon at some point and we all headed out to the famous Sheffield Park.

Not what I was expecting after everything I had heard. Vermont in the Fall maybe?
Obviously it's summer so things are green but I thought you pulled up parked and then wandered through this amazing tree wood.
This is an impressive organised display of species that looks like a 70's jigsaw at every turn.

I was ready for caffeine and then round a corner was this!

Honestly, the best thing I had seen all year.
I love a food truck and we just don't get that many good ones locally. So happy.
It had a black rubbish sack on the back in a proper holder not just stuffed in a crack with everything falling on the floor.
Perfect.
Decent tea too. Everyone else got ice creams.

Like the chair bought the plant. Mine isn't this big yet.

The last night it didn't rain and we were able to make fire outside.
These are the Christmas lanterns sent down from Scotland, finally all released although there was a power line across the camping field and it was windy so there were times I just had to hide my eyes terrified.

After years of badgering G to make small fires, so that we can sit near and keep warm he has finally yielded. This fire was a little larger as we were cooking on it for eleven and one of our party is a tree surgeon enough oak arrived in the back of a car.

Sandals and socks for P, I think she was just done wearing wellies.
Very cute.

I have luckily never camped in the rain and I have never seen this much rain fall at any one time. It wasn't that bad and I didn't moan but I started to re think camping holidays for 2014, we had one more camp to do this year and I felt as though I had spent the holidays in a sleeping bag.

Decisions to make about canvas.

CM