The car movie club

We have a new mantlepiece! It is wonderful, made of wood with 2 bookcases slash toy boxes either side. Pride of place is given to a small DVD/TV player, a sitting Buddha and a fruitbowl - green and white striped and full of bananas and chocolate biscuits. Above the mantlpiece hangs a new clock - not just a time teller - but also a baraometer and a thermometer. Air pressure and centigrade are now part of our language.

The only slightly odd thing about my new piece of furniture is that it is in the back of Big Blue John the Second - the car!

J turned the bank of three seats around the other way and as well as placing normal homely fair on the wooden wall decoration also carpeted the back wall in fetching grey cast off carpet. All precious items are held on with blue tack against the rock and roll of the car as we drive along and the dogs sit calmly at the boys feet as if in a moving sitting room. I thought the added touch of a fake fireplace, a vase of plastic flowers, and a mini bar, may finish the motif rather well.

I have begun lobbying for BBJ II to be renamed Lenny the Lounge, not getting anywhere though. You have to love J and his imagination - we took the boys down to Bella the van for the weekend and the journey was exactly timed for them to watch the transformers cartoon movie from start to end. Lenny the lounge, ok BBJ II, came through with flying colours this Saturday... 7 children in the back - doors to the 'car movie club' firmly closed to adults and an adventure from 7 til 9 - you really cannot buy that type of fun.

I nearly exploded with pride this week as Wednesday night both boys polished to the nines and Chas with clean (and blowdried!) hair were presented with their prizes at school. Chas raised his hands for a hug from the person presenting them only to have his hand then held in a grown up hand shake (the row behind us let out a collective ahhhh) and Alfo busily making sure his blazer was done up just so before he made it onto the stage. Not only have the boys found this school a wonderful place to go - especially after A's first school- but J and I found ourselves biting back tears on Friday (their last day for the summmer) as we had to give a fond farewell to Charlie's form teacher. All gone a bit soft haven't we. Finding the fees is all worthwhile when you see how far they have come and how happy and confident they are there. There you are I said it!!

So the beginning of 6 weeks adventure begins...

This time of year for the past 3 has meant that I am now home alone whilst the boys and J enjoy fun at Bella, but Celine (my car - I have only just realise writing this that I name everything no matter how mechanical?! - to keep you in the loop she is Celine because she is French with a big nose)...

Anyway, Celine's back brake went for a burton this weekend. Alf, Charlie and me were beside the road for 2 hours waiting for the rescue wagon. Never have I been so charmed by Ninetendo! They played like little cherubs on their DS' Lites til we were finally delivered home again. I think they think that I had the time planned as time with mum as they were totally unfazed - I on the other hand needed a very large glass of wine. The good news is they are here at home with me to ferry me back and forth from the station. Good girl Celine!

Finally my weekend injury...Alfie and I were playing football on the beach today. He tripped his foot over the ball and landed flat on his bum, I laughed went to kick the ball in glory - tripped my foot over the ball and landed with a thud on my own backside. I fall from slightly higher than him and with a bit more ballast behind me so my left hand derriere is now a different shade of black and blue.

All happy and living in luxury (!!)

catch

Just come back from attempting to light the fire! I seem to be getting a bit better at it and can really get the kindling into a rampant flame now. All goes horribly wrong as I try to put real wood on there - need for J to step in as the 'man of the house' and get it going for real. I am sure I will crack this one day. Fire is on as it is rather gloomy tonight and as soon as it starts licking against the glass again I remember how much of a heart to the shed it is.

Had a busy old week. Only one week left now before the boys break up and they are absolutely exhausted - all this education takes it out of them. Soon a six week holiday to recharge their batteries and brains. We went to the school fun day this weekend and then back to our old road to visit with our old neighbour. It felt so weird being back there looking at the outside of the old house, but not living there any more. You realise what having close neighbours is like. Standing outside we had about 4 conversations with people as they walked by. Good to see them again, but strange to think that here we can go days without seeing our nearest and dearest.

J has begun clearing the front garden here and has thinned out some of the vegetation. My previous list of things I could see (moped, caravn etc) has now dwindled to nothing as the rag and bone man has come to take anything of any metal value away. J is also beginning the metal fencing along the front path which makes the driveway in more obvious and clear. I suppose you could say we are getting there with the land, but there is still a long way to go.

The newest craze in this house for boy number one is tennis. I have had about 8 games over the weekend, and every now and again I test his throwing and catching skills too. For those of you that don't know I pride myself on my near championshhip level thowing ability (trust me - I am great at it!) I am pleased to announce that number one son has the same superhuman skills. I threw a tennis ball as high as I could manage and calm as you like A stood underneath it - reached out - and held on. Dad would have burst with pride as my inherent ability at this fine old sport - catch - comes straight from him. Son number two will soon be put through his paces!

happy, warm and chucking balls