OOOO A BIT OF SUNSHINE

Hiya
Just a shorty, yeah right, to catch up over last weekend.

Friday we went off to London, meeting up with friends on the train, to go on Duck Tours with a small group of home edders.  We booked the whole 'boat' which was lovely.  Anyone not knowing what Duck Tours are about can check the picture below.  It's a WWII 'duck' which was using in the D-Day landings and has been modified by putting in seats, a roof and roll down plastic windows.  The tour starts off on land and then enters the River Thames by the side of MI6, travels up to the Houses of Parliment, comes back down and then re enters the road.  Tour lasted about 1.5hrs and Callum loved it, especially the River Thames bit.

Callum next to Desdemona our 'duck'

Our guide was lovely and very funny.  And we didn't just get facts and figures, but some extra information such as the reason 10 Downing Street, most railings in London and London cabs are black dates from when Queen Victoria was in mourning for Prince Albert and they were painted black our of respect.

Saturday Callum spent the day at home whilst I had a girlie day out in wet and windy Margate visiting the Turner Gallery and the Museum.  May take Callum there another time if there was an exhibition on he may be interested in, but to be honest I think he would prefer the larger galleries in London where there is more to see.

Sunday was a lazy day.

Today, we had a doctor's appointment to see if we can get some Occupational Therapy sessions for Callum as he is now saying that it hurts his collar and shoulder to write.  We remembered last week, after discussing his pain, that he had fallen from a swing whilst on holiday when he was about 4 and had suffered a suspected cracked collar bone.  We are being referred to CAS(?) where they will have a look at him, discuss his problems and take it from there as to whether he will need OT or Physiotherapy.

After that we came home, had some lunch and wrote up our Duck Tours.  Then maths!  Estimating weights and measures today; bit easy, but I could tell Callum wasn't really in the mood.  Went well.....

Whilst sitting and having a cuppa a bit later the electrics kept shorting out!  Hmmmm, went around switching everything off, rebooted electrics and then switched back on what was necessary.  No, shorted again.  No reason that we could think off; nothing had suddenly been switched on or off and TV and computer wasn't doing anything silly with updates.  On Phil's return we went through everything individually having had the electrics short out twice more.  Discovered that the plug socket that the washing machine was plugged into was full of water...eeeek!  Wall wasn't damp, so couldn't understand where water had come from until we realised that the iron was on top of the worktop laying down.  Oooops, Callum had forgotten to stand it up again after his weighing session and the water had leaked out from the steam reservoir, gone over the worktop, down the gap by the wall and into the socket.  Oh well, lesson learnt about the fuse box, water and electricity no mixing and about being a little more careful about putting things away.  Could have been worse.  All fixed now!

Cya

WOAH THERE!

Whoops, missed another day. Hey ho.

Yesterday we did go swimming and on a bit of an adventure at the same time. We had all intentions of going to Larkfield Leisure Centre with Lorraine and her two children, Amy and Connor. They picked us up at 10.30am and we drove through lovely sunshine to the Centre, only to be told that we'd only have 50 more minutes in the leisure pool before they shut it. Obviously they weren't on half term timetable. Soooo....Lorraine drove us all the way back to Rainham and we went to Splashes instead. Thank you for being taxi AGAIN Lorraine.

Actually it turned out pretty well as Splashes was on half term times and they had the fountains, slide and pipes all working and the wave machine went on at least 3 times whilst we were there. Kids had chips for lunch, as did I (I can't eat anything else there and shouldn't really eat the chips either as they are done in the same fat as the nuggets, but I seem to be ok). Lorraine was nice and healthy with a tuna mayo baguette...hehe - it was rather a large baguette.

Had a good chat while the kids were swimming and playing around and then home. Am feeling a little pious as its chip night in our house on Fridays, but I forgo them for a cheese gluten free roll and salad. *smug me* Callum on the other hand had a fish finger sandwich with chips!!! Well, you're only young once.

Today we've pottered about really. Me painting a cauldron and trying to turn a pair of gardening gloves into knights' gauntlets (not easy when you haven't really got a lot to work with). Callum was on computer designing new games in Roblox.

However, we, or rather he, had a bit of excitement this afternoon. Veolia, the waste company that Phil works for, was having an open day and we went along late in the afternoon just before it finished. We managed to squeeze in the tour and found out where our waste gets taken and what they do with it and then had a go at a competition with regard to spotting hazards in pictures.



Then he was shown around the Scarabs (the vehicles that clean the streets if you didn't know). He was allowed in them and Phil showed him how they all worked.




Now the exciting bit: The little scarab was switched on and he was showed how it all worked, the thing was that the handbrake was on (or at least it should have been) and Callum put his foot on the accelerator only to shoot forward a good 4ft before banging on the brake! Dad had a bit of a panic as did I, but Callum absolutely loved it and couldn't stop laughing. At least I know he'll be able to do an emergency stop when he comes to doing driving lessons.

Apparently it wasn't the first time in the day that the handbrake hadn't worked. Luckily it was an adult previously and all I can say is I'm glad it was our Callum and not someone else's kid. Must admit I've never seen Phil move so fast and he would have been able to stop it if Callum hadn't already had the sense and quick reflexes to do it first. Well done C.

The Runaway Scarab

Anyway, after all that excitement, it was back home for dinner and Merlin - love the baby dragon by the way.

Cya

THE LULL CONTINUES

Hi all

Yes, unfortunately the lull continued today except I joined it too. Callum had to be woken at 9.30am this morning. Hope that doesn't happen tomorrow as we are getting picked up at 10.30am!! I decided to not only take up a cuppa, but to take up his maths and literacy as well.

It worked, he woke up and did his work in bed with me next to him going through the post.

Our bright red Newton forcemeter (spring scale 2kg) turned up today. Wrapped in lots of bubble wrap so that meant a happy 5mins bursting bubbles. Only £3.49 inc p&p from Ebay - fab!

As well as the spring scale, the How It Works magazine arrived too, so a very happy further 45mins was had skimming through and stopping at articles that were just too good to pass over until later. Lots of discussion arose from that so all good.

I think we finally, officially, got up at 11.30am. Callum decided that he wanted Subway for lunch and as I didn't have any money he treated me too. Thank you my lovely. He ended up eating a foot long meatball sub with cheese and salad plus a coke! I had a tuna mayo salad and cup of tea...I love Subway; at least I can eat something there.

After Subway we popped into the library to pick up a book I'd reserved and had a good look round at books and games, then pet shop for claw clippers for the dog, Co-op for some bargains (but they didn't have any we would use) and then home.

MAGIC tonight at Monkey Bizz with his best mate Callum D. They had a great time running around like loonies and Callum D missed winning Magic Numbers by 1 number. My Callum managed to do an amazing front slide on the floor 5mins before leaving and now has a grazed knee. Oh yeah and he managed to lose a wobbly tooth as well!

Cya
Sorry no piccies today.

Helllllloooooooo!!!

We spent a lovely morning on a Spring Food walk at Capstone Park today - walked miles!!! Callum not amused by length of walk, but he did enjoy it and we learnt quite a bit too.

I ached like hell, but it was soooooo worth it!

Weather was beautiful, we saw lots of squirells and ranger took us up to Shawsted Farm ruin which was really interesting. Callum collected some of the things that we were told we could eat and tasted most of them! Were walking for about 2.5 hrs!

Back to base and we decided we'd have an ice-cream before calling Phil to pick us up. Sat down by the lake and watched the ducks and the fish eating the bread people were throwing in!


Callum wanted to go round to the other end of the steps and as he ran(!!!) across he went flying! 5 mins before we were due to be picked up - not good. He slipped on the steps by the lake, nearly ended up head first in said lake and now has a lovely graze on left knee, both hands and chin and a very large hole in trousers! I was concerned for him and he was more concerned about losing the stuff he'd collected!!!!!!! Brave little man!!

Got home, stripped him down and washed everything out, antiseptic cream and a couple of plasters on the knee. He insisted on having one on his chin even though it was the smallest cut and he looked a bit daft. He said it was the one that hurt most!

Sat in the garden for rest of the afternoon. Then it was feed neighbours cat, eat dinner and he was then on computer for the evening.

All in all, apart from the accident, it was a good day. Fishing next week!

Cya