Project 366 Week Eighteen

At the risk of sounding desperately British, the wet weather, much needed, is beginning to get me down a little. Sunday brought more rain and so we took Baby Poppy to the Play Barny, where a fabulous time was had by all. Home for some lunch then we got on the road- save a brief stop at the beach- to get back to Bromley in time for more soft-play, this time at Adventure Kingdom where The Girls’ friends (also our Godchildren, or The Godlings as they tend to be known) were celebrating their impending fourth birthday. The day totally exhausted us all.

When the alarm went on Monday morning it was hard to find the impetus to get out of bed, never mind out of the house. Until, that is, I mentioned the Build-a-Bear vouchers I had in my bag. Then we couldn’t get out of the house fast enough. So whilst DH worked from home, and the builders plumbed in the Man-Cave, we went to buy teeny tiny pink flip flops. As you do.

Once LBG had been dropped at school, Dimples and I continued on to our regular cooking session where, inevitably as it was a sweet dish, we ate most of the mixture as we went along. I compounded this by burning the polenta biscotti to a crisp when we returned home so we instead made flapjacks to take to a post-school playdate. The still warm offerings went down well, as did the milder temperatures and afternoon sun, and the children had a super time playing in their friends’ garden together until nearly bedtime.

Of course it was back to wet grey skies on Wednesday, which didn’t bother me as I spent the best part of the morning holed up in a Spa. It did bother me when I emerged, smoothed and buffed and in Birkenstocks so that my newly pedicured toes could ‘air’- I was freezing. I grabbed lunch then went home to grab a nap before the School Run. After an exciting trip to Tescos on the way home, I organised a last-minute tea-date which delighted LBG. Friends came for freshly-purchased pizza and jelly whilst I put the finishing touches on what may be the World’s Largest Cottage Pie. Fortunately it was delicious, so DH was able to overlook the fact that the house was completely trashed whilst he ate. We watched a fascinating programme on the nearly-completed Shard of Glass. Even watching the builders up at those heights made me nauseous. Amazing that we can see the building from some of the nearby hills in Keston and New Addington.

 

I had a mission on Thursday morning: the hours I spend sorting toys after The Girls have trashed their room the day before

has made me realise that we have too many soft toys. LBG has a birthday in only two weeks so I had a good opportunity to clear a lot of things out in readiness and get it to the Charity Shops before they came home from school and realised what I’d done. Oh, and I had to vote. For the first time ever, I have been doorstepped by parties canvassing for votes, and not just once, but repeatedly. It makes me feel that this election is somehow more significant than ones that have gone before.

Which brings us to Friday. Friday is the beginning of our weekend: four days this time as it’s a Bank Holiday. That’s no excuse for the fact that when French Hannah arrived with her mum- French Kate, since you asked- Dimples was still naked. They spent a mad few hours with us whilst The Girls showed off all their toys, and talents, as only small children can do. I am fairly sure they both left traumatised. LBG was so exhausted by her showing off that she fell asleep whilst still sitting up. Dimples hung around for some time whilst DH fought a valiant battle against ivy in the garden and I baked something for Around the World in 12 Dishes.

Saturday saw us packing up and heading to the Beach House. We took the scenic route via Tunbridge Wells as The Girls needed to sleep, and stopped for lunch at the Tunbridge Wells Bar and Grill. After lunch we searched for ice-cream and happened upon a dancing tree. The troop of drummers that accompanied the tree were very noisy and Dimples was not impressed by the volume so of we set to Westgate. At least that was the plan. But the car developed the kind of fault that stops it from working and we spent the rest of the afternoon entertaining two small children by the side of the road whilst we waited for the roadside rescue. The Girls got to ride in their first ever Rescue Truck, complete with flashing lights, home in time for bed. Not what we’d planned for our Bank Holiday Weekend.