An usually busy week... and an unusually long post!

We had three different groups of visitors this week, which is totally unusual for us, since we rarely see a soul!  So like buses they all turned up at once... it was good though!

Last Saturday Benedict, Dad, Amy and Simon headed to our local museum for a free puppet making session.  The chap who ran the event had created some of the puppets for the children's programme, "Button Moon", I vaguely remember the girls watching it when they were little.Whilst they were out Sara kindly took Pip to her dancing class and I was able to catch up on chores and general tidying.


Sunday had both good and bad moments.  I woke with excruciating back pain yet again and Benedict refused to get out of the car once Dave, him and Pip had arrived at church.  Blood sugars were crazy so they arrived home sooner than expected but just in time for Sara to take Pip to our local church over the hill.  Dave and I sat with a huge mug of tea and pondered the meaning of life!!


Later the same day Nanna and Grandad H arrived bringing tea with them (thanks mum!) and they successfully entertained the kids so that Dave and I could finish the finer details on Pip's newly decorated bedroom.  Grandad also brought Dave's old Meccano Steam Engine along and it kept the kids entertained in the workshop for some time.  I think I did manage to have a snatched conversation with mum in amongst the chaos!

Grandad and Pip near the swing.

Alfresco eating at the side of the house.

Pure fascination!

Thanks to Grandad my beautiful hanging basket has a permanent place on the side of the garage and can be admired from my kitchen window as I ponder at the sink!

On Monday Benedict began his week long Mad Science sessions at Uni so Pip and I had a very productive practical start to our week.  First she...

...pegged out the washing, then she...

... loaded the machine yet again!  This was swiftly followed by...

 washing and ...

 ... drying.

After all that work she was ready for her snack time, she poured her own milk and helped ladle the stewed apple in to her bowl, here she is enjoying the fruits of her labours:

Our next task was to sweep around the side and back of the house, so she had her own little wooden broom and worked alongside me, her most favourite part was gathering the debris into the dustpan and brush:

By now it was eleven o'clock and the young lass from next door wanted to come and play so whilst the two of them charged around the garden I prepped the lunch and finished tidying, here they are enjoying a well deserved rest:

After lunch Sara very kindly walked Pip in to town and this meant that, the lounge had a thorough cleaning.  So far I've tackled two bedrooms, the kitchen, bathroom and living area.  It is very satisfying sorting, organising and clearing something I rarely have time for when we are working on a full curriculum.

On Tuesday Sara, Pip and myself visited Barton Grange once we'd dropped the lads off at Uni.  We had a gluten free coffee and cake treat and bought some seeds from the garden as well as a new ball for Pip, the other having mysteriously disappeared! 

After lunch Sara and Pip sallied forth and baked three lemon drizzle cakes, two for tomorrow's visitors and one as part of a birthday hamper for big sister Kathryn:

Assorted bowls and spoons were used in the process but a great time was had by all!!

On Wednesday our long standing friends from Cheshire arrived, we've known them for twenty years this year!  We had moussaka, baked potatoes and peas followed by Lemon Drizzle cake for dessert.  The meal was washed down with  a very fruity glass of red and once again outdoor eating was the order of the day:

 Say "cheese!"

Dave decided that the food could do with a little extra something being added!

On Thursday big sister Kathryn arrived for her belated present giving.  Both her and her "older" sister Emma hit the quarter of a century mark this week, they do grow up so quick these days!  Here she is with her baby brother and sister:

Hmm, they all look a bit subdued especially the birthday girl, yet hardly surprising given the fact that she works in excess of forty hours each week in her capacity as deputy manager of a residential home.  She looked heaps better once her and I had a treat lunch at a fantastic veggie restaurant in town followed by calorie laden Starbucks hot chocolates!

After tea and once Pip had settled Dave and I visited our dear friends Bea, Dave and their gang.  We went armed with cheeses, crackers, nachos and dips and they very kindly supplied the wine, coffee and lively conversation!

Today was Benedict's last day at Mad Science here are some pictures from the session:

"The Team" with three overly enthusiastic students!

So... I guess at nine thirty on a Friday evening it is no wonder I'm feeling a tad jaded.  Thankfully we have a quiet-ish weekend ahead of us, erratic blood sugars not withstanding and next week is looking positively sedate!