Project 366 week 29

The first week of the school holidays is gone, and we’ve had little time to be still, though mornings have started slightly later and without the sense of urgency that goes hand-in-hand with school mornings. On Sunday, despite the mixed weather, we had a fun hour or two on the beach burying each other in the sand. DH and I actively encouraged graffiti of the sea wall when we realised that LBG could write actual words. All week we’ve kept asking her to write some more words! Dimples tried to outdo her sister by declining her nightly nappy and we went to bed with some trepidation.

Monday morning meant more dancing: as is usual, The Girls went to Boppin’ Tots, but DH and I also indulged in metaphorical dancing to celebrate getting through the night without the need for any bed changes. I booked cabs and wrote a House Instruction Manual in advance of our ‘Lympic house exchange, which is now (as I write) only a week away. The Dimpled Assassin crashed- naked- on the sofa whilst I fetched Granny, and was delighted to be able to tell of her night’s success sans Huggies and show Granny her reward sticker.

The Au Pair went on a tour of the Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday so The Girls and I went cooking by ourselves, bringing home two brownies, which were ready just in time for a visit from French Hannah and Le Boyfriend. Their arrival was something of a success so I snuck off for a nap, until it was time to bath Dimples- who smeared herself in lip-balm moments before our visitors arrived, and had an unholy sheen that needed to be removed before bed. Hannah and Le Boyfriend stayed for a delicious supper and then set off into the night to continue their wind-down from year-in-industry ready for the final year at University in September.

No surprise that on Wednesday morning LBG slept until well after Dimples had been deposited at school. We were both a little sad that our pottery-painting trip didn’t come to pass: Mamma forgot to check before promising that they opened on Wednesdays, which is a real rookie mistake. So instead we had coffee and cupcakes, then restored equilibrium by buying a couple of magazines, which kept her occupied all afternoon whilst I headed into London to hear about a delicious non-alcoholic wine. Back in time to do nursery pick-up, I almost felt like I never left.

Which is why I woke up with mascara smeared across my face on Thursday: I wear it so rarely I forget it’s there and so therefore forget to remove it! Fortunately Godlings didn’t notice my Panda-eyes when they came to play. It was like old-times: the three of them running around together like triplets whilst Mrs L and I talked schools and blogs. And then I left again, this time to see the Samsung Eco Home, drink a couple of beers and still be home and in my pjs before the 9 o’clock news. Even better, I got to pick up some free tube maps and Oyster card holders that will be perfect for our Exchangees!

And then it was Friday again. A quick trip to Waitrose, a whip round with the hoover and another playdate with a friend of LBG from school whose little brother will be in Dimples’ class. Another chance for a chat, a catch-up and get to know a new friend a little better. The afternoon involved more napping for Dimples- who is really working on her tantruming skills at the moment- and I- who am just worn out by those skills. Then, when DH returned, he announced that our cocoons had hatched, and we had a delighted hour decorating out new butterfly habitat and watching as their wings stiffened and fluttered. It was fascinating and exciting and we went to be hoping to see more by morning.

The new butterflies hadn’t hatched by the time we left for the Beach House on the first genuinely sunny day we’ve had for a while. We called via Frankie and Benny’s for Brunch and The Girls slept for the rest of the journey, so were refreshed and ready to hit the sand the moment we arrived. We unveiled the Beach Buggy, loaded up with sand toys, towels and children and set off to spend the rest of the day chasing waves, giggling and playing ball games whilst the tide slowly went out. I took a de-sanded Dimples up the road in her pyjamas to order Chinese food for supper, and she entertained other patrons whilst we waited, then carefully carried the prawn crackers home to Daddy. Unsurprisingly we were all in bed before 9pm: a day in the sun is such a rarity I don’t think any of us were used to it.