Back to school

It's been a hot and busy summer. We've been camping, I've been on a healing course and we've been to Ireland for a week where we had a lovely time. The best bit was meeting up with my family. My brother came over for a few days to stay in the cottage with us. We were on the same farm as last year but in a smaller cottage. It was all just so relaxing. 

Now J's back at school and so far seems happy although beginning to realise Year 11 means work. (How can my baby be doing his GCSEs already?) He's really pleased with PE as they've been given a choice of what they do - he's chosen badminton and basketball, not due to a fascination with the letter b but because they're indoors. No more almost getting hypothermia as he plods round the cross-country course (and he really nearly did get hypothermia). I must say this school is actually really good with pupils who lack natural sporting ability andd still manage, mostly, to make it enjoyable for them instead of totally humiliating. 

The other good thing is the Maths teacher he didn't like doesn't teach him any more (apparently due to all the complaints about her). Head of Science who's a Chemistry teacher is teaching Physics.

Only a few weeks until the Sixth Form open evenings start. Yikes.

Swimming

Actually I'll just mention cos it's a nice memory for myself: J and Tim and Tim's sisters and cousins and Becky all swimming yesterday. Played piggy in the middle. Lady who owns pool sitting in shade in her wheelchair watching and  enjoying it. She's getting very frail, had had another fall.

Very hot.

Welcome to our world

Welcome little Prince George.

P gloating cos he said name would be George. George was my grandad's name. In J's class at primary school there were 4 Georges so obviously popular again.

Fingers quite painful so will have a little blogging break.

Exciting

So excited about news of Royal baby's imminent arrival. Feel for poor Kate though. Hopefully will soon be over.

Our future king or queen is about to be born. Wow.

J says it won't  be my king or queen cos I'll be too old. I suppose he's right.

Day out

Went round stately home and gardens today but we only lasted a few hours because so HOT. There was a whole line of people standing in shade by hedge eating ice creams so we joined them. We've joined English Heritage so can go back another time to finish looking round.

J still a bit under the weather. Don't suppose heat helps.

Had a break from heat yesterday - was quite cloudy and cool.

A couple from our old church turned up at new church. Were quite impacted by service and were telling me about their (very difficult) family problems. Prayed with them a bit. Poor things.

Still hot

Still HOT and they say will get hotter. Really haven't done much today except be slaughtered at Risk by J. He always wins.

J and I had a bit of a squabble last night. He thought I wasn't appreciating his help with the computer + he thinks I'm a bit deliberately obtuse when it comes to the computer + he doesn't understand why I don't 'have a life' and do things other people do like go out to work, meet friends etc + he's still feeling under the weather + pressure of school getting to him a bit + he's a teenager. 

He and P went to the cinema this afternoon - time to myself, bliss (not that I don't enjoy their company).

Ate a fig from our tree this morning - seriously yum. 

Sweltering

Still sweltering. last night in bed was lying there trying to expose as much of me as possible to cool air when 'neeoweeeee...' That's meant to be the sound of a gnat. Woke P up to kill it but he couldn't find it so had to sleep with sheet pulled up round my ears. (Talking of ears did you read in the paper about that woman who went to Peru and got a fly in her ear but thought nothing of it then got back to UK and had pain and a strange scratching noise in her ear. Maggots. She had maggots in her ear, threatening to eat through to her brain. Doctors managed to get them out which must have been a relief really). Anyway I wasn't being totally selfish by waking P up as, while gnat bites are annoying for me, he and J are quite allergic to them and their bites can swell up like eggs.

Just took Mavis and Blackie to vet. Three cats yowling and a dog barking all at once but also a box of really cute puppies. Blackie did ok. I sat with him in car with windows open while P and M went into Co-op.

Getting all blankets, throws and sleeping bags washed. There's a lot to be said for this weather. 

Can't believe it's the end of term already. J actually went to school today, said felt a bit better.

Still no sign of Royal baby. Don't envy Kate, being pregnant in this heat.