Day Eight: School Holidays

Our Monday morning tradition of heading out to the Scout Hut continued and this time we were painting the benches with a lovely grey undercoat. We will then paint these the colours of the sixers - red, blue, green and yellow and have the cubs decorate their bench. The last bench will be for the beavers to decorate. We worked hard and left the scout hut at half one. My back was twinging a bit from all the squatting and bending over while painting. Then we chilled at home for a bit and then cracked on with Kieran's summer reading challenge. So far he has read 3 books of the 6 required. The theme is Mythological Maze and the library have some lovely books for keen readers. I will contact the Pool tomorrow to sort swimming lessons for the boys. I have been doing a bit more reading myself. Can't say I was too impressed with Wuthering Heights, and despite Jane Eyre apparently being an exemplar of womanhood I disliked it intensely.

Day Seven: School Holidays

Sunday came to pass after a delightful night of rain. Sadly Chris is suffering from a bad case of catarrh so he was disincline to move. The boys however were clamouring for their promised treat of a swim with both parents. We made it to the pool and great fun ensued. Afterwards the boys and I repaired to Howard Park while Chris schlepped home to get the bagels boiled and baked. Once home the boys decided they were exhausted. The day was not without excitement however, as Chris embarked upon an ambitious knife juggling act while preparing lunch. The ensuing cut is not 'quite' deep enough to need stitches. Hmmmm. After I popped to the shops for more soda water, lemons and ginger I commenced baking. With my able sous chef by my side I was able to produce dried cherry, oat and walnut biscuits in short order. I then seasoned a chicken and threw it into the oven while I made pastry for the pie I planned to make with Cameron's blackberries. I am happy to report that biscuits, pastry, pie and roast all rated highly on the taste scale. We will be booking the boys into swimming lessons come payday as they are both keen to get in the pool, despite knowing that they have to walk there and back :)

Day Six: School Holidays

I think this picture perfectly describes our day today :) In the morning we headed off to Kieran's last gym class until September. Cameron was being moved up to a 9am class while Kieran stayed in his 10am one as there was no room for Cam. The teacher however asked if I wanted both boys together in the 12 noon class - and so they will be doing gym together. If it doesn't work out I can always split them up. After class we strolled home and Kieran put down roots. I nipped off to the shops to buy supplies. I had bought a delicious drink heavy on mint and lemon confident the boys would dislike it. Sadly, they took to it like a pack of wolves on a fat reindeer in the middle of a lean winter :( As a result Chris made mint syrup this morning and I brought home soda water and lemons. The resulting beverage is pretty yummy I have to say!! I then amused myself by applying for jobs and another trip to the local greengrocer for garlic and avocado. Basically, I walked MILES today, MILES I tell you :). Around 5 I put the chicken drumsticks in their marinade and took Cameron out blackberrying. He is a fantastic little gleaner, and filled a ziplock bag pronto. Once home we had dinner then took the boys up to the Freetown playground for a run around. On a Saturday, at 7:30pm  it is a less salubrious area I confess, but the boys still enjoyed themselves. Tomorrow, we swim!!

Day Five: School Holidays

Well, we are five days in and the days stretch endlessly before me. Good thing I have my spreadsheet all filled in until September 8th. We had a vicious fight this morning over Kieran's desire to have a pyjama day. Alas for him my memory of the last one was still fresh and I managed to get the boys out the house for 11am. We strolled up to Shrewsbury bakery, Cameron picking raspberries and blackberries as we went and then whisked up to the library. The boys had a wonderful time there, browsing through books, playing on the computers and tinkering with the toys before hunger drove them to make strident demands upon me. We settled down for a snack, then strolled down to Tesco's to enjoy the myriad carnival delights awaiting us there. At 2 pounds a pop I restricted the boys to 2 goes on whatever they wanted. Oh, how they cavorted and thrilled to the bouncy castle and hall of horror! Oh how they wept and screamed when they were told we had to leave. Oh how I regretted taking them there in the first sodding place. Managed to get the walking wounded home as Cameron faceplanted on the footpath at a full run and Kieran ran through some brambles - in bare legs. The drama llamas turned out in force then, you may be sure. That boy has the lungs for opera! Once home I force ham sandwiches into them and collapsed onto the couch to read a book on Peak District walks, before beginning Pies and Prejudice. After a rather mediocre dinner (I contracted a severe case of can't be arsed) I took the boys off to the Freetown Playground for an hour and a half, where they made friends with some little girls. The boys had a blast and bedtime went like a dream :) Tomorrow is gymnastics and swimming - yippee!

Day Four: Summer Holidays

Another glorious sunny day in Glossop and I kicked it off with a spot of baking. I whipped up some cheese scones and blackberry muffins with Cameron's able assistance then chivvied the boys off to the Scout hut to do a bit of a tidy up. Once home at 12:30 we had lunch, chilled for a bit and did some reading and time on the IPAD. Cameron and I made some breadrolls and I served up chicken burgers for dinner. After dinner we headed off to Freetown playground. We met up with another mum and have wangled an invite to go see her pony and have the boys cop a ride on it. We eventually waved farewell and sought out the playground. The boys thoroughly enjoyed it and romped for ages! I have to admit feeling slightly knackered today, but will take the boys to the carnival tomorrow morning. Tomorrow afternoon, who can say.....

Day Three: Summer Holiday

Another hot sunny day dawned and the boys and I sprang into action. We packed a picnic and headed off to Pye Grove playground, pausing only to discover, pick and consume some raspberries. On the way there we met up with another mum by the train station, and realised it was Cameron's last gymnastics session. After 'some discussion' we turned back and headed into gym. They had a bouncy castle up and Kieran was invited to play with the budding gymnasts - and they had a blast. An hour never flew by so fast. Afterwards we headed to Manor Park, where the boys cavorted in the stream, flung balls for some Scotty dogs, ate some sandwiches and threw themselves around the place for an hour or so. Then we headed to the lake and fed the waterfowl. Leaving pandemonium in our wake we headed through the formal gardens in search of the secret doorway on our way to Pye Grove playground. We went our secret way, over the hills by the cow paddocks, weaving between the rape and the thistles. Once there the playground was deserted and the boys went hard out. Eventually, at 2 we wended our way homewards and relaxed while I made spinach tagliatelle and pumpkin pie. My delicious dinner of chicken and bacon carbonara was spurned by the boys but the pumpkin pie was inhaled with great fervour. I must confess - it was amazing! After dinner we headed down to the fields and threw a ball around for some time. On the way home Cameron picked blackberries while Kieran sauntered beside him pretending that blackberrries don't exist. Tomorrow morning is a Scout meeting at the Scout hut, and then we'll hit the Carnival down by Tesco in the afternoon, or even on Friday - depending how the boys go.

Day Two: Summer Holidays

Change of plan for the day eventuated when Kieran requested a pyjama day. I am NEVER agreeing to this again. Lesson learned. The day went well otherwise with us working towards three Beaver activity badges, doing some reading, boardgames, writing a story about Perry the Platypus (Kieran) and The Doctor and the Naughty Dalek (me) and finishing up with a spot of baking. Cameron helped make the pizza bases and the chocolate and walnut brownies. He has become quite the accomplished baker. Kieran's shark teeth are coming along nicely. One of his baby teeth is quite wiggly, the other - not so much. He can't wait for the toothfairy to come - and we have been collecting welsh dragon emblazoned pound coins for the tooth fairy to give to him :) This evening I trotted down to Manor Park where there Glossop Heritage Society were organising a tour through Old Glossop, which was very interesting. Manor Park was donated to Glossop by the Duke of Norfolk, who was of course a Howard - the family of Catherine Howard, poor maligned wife of Henry the Eighth. Sadly the Manor was demolished in the fifties but traces of the outbuildings remain.

The plan for tomorrow is to walk down to the playground with the helter skelter by the woods, then head to Manor Park for a picnic lunch and play before heading home to prepare spinach pasta with chicken, bacon and mushrooms. Then on Thursday a carnival comes to Glossop - woot!!