Life is a Highway - it’s the journey, not the destination

but since I’m not generally a busy person, I suppose once in a while I can handle it

Saturday was the drive down south to Monster’s party. James was very good about driving as I’d really rather not and the kids were fairly good in the car. We arrived with some time to spare so we headed to the beach and just really enjoyed sitting there. I so love the beach, the sound of the waves and just the peacefulness of it all. It really calms me. I think one day we’ll have to live near the beach, I can get a dog and wander along every day. Bliss.

The party has been blogged elsewhere, so I’ll not add to much to that. M was really good at staying out of party games. He’s quite happy not joining in now as he knows he can’t handle losing. I think it’s quite grown up of him A had fun and had a fab ladybird painted on her face - thanks Ros! Can’t believe I didn’t nab any cake for myself though. I love cake.

Really enjoyed chatting and socialising in the evening too, the fish and chips spectacle was very funny!! Alex fell on the slide at some point came in and said she’d hurt her eye, but I couldn’t see much so sent her away with a hug. When it came time to take her face paint off though I saw she’d really hurt her eye and managed a big cut and puffyness under her eye. She looked a state! Especially the next day as she was a little stained from the facepaint and so looked really ill, washed out and beaten up!!

I went off to bed earlyish as we knew we had to be up early to go to the Renault World Series Show at Donington Park. I’d got tickets ages ago and even though they were free it seemed like such a good event and so up our street that we didn’t really want to pass it up. So we got up at 5am ish, got ourselves tea and coffee and then tried to get 2 sleeping kids in the car and tidy away all our airbeds and stuff into the car. All done and off by 5.45.

It was just as well really as we still managed to get caught in lots of traffic going into the show and James’ dad and his mates who were going too spent 2 hours queuing to get parked as they arrived later. It was a really good event with a free funfair too. Alex and I went on the Big wheel straight away and she hated it. I did too, forgot how much I hate heights! Then they both had some more goes on some more little person rides. We watched the many races going on, got freebies and winced at the sound of the formula one cars. boy are they noisy!! Wandered around nearly everywhere I think and managed to time it just right for the Renault trackside girls to be making an ‘appearance’ in the crowd. Cue loads of men going goggle eyed!!

It was a long day though and we were flaggin by around 3pm. The food was extortionate (£2 for a tray of chips!) so we made a quick getaway. Well we tried till we hit more queues on the way out, but it wasn’t far to James’ sisters so we decamped there for tea and toast (my favourite!).

Today has been way more sedate. We had a much needed sleep in and then headed off to the shoe shop to try and get new shoes. Both kids feet have grown but Alex was most disappointed to find that the shoes with dolls in the soles didn’t go as low as her size (she’s a 9 now and they start at 10). But she was very good and chose some other trainers. M got some with a car in the sole so he was happy.

Then home and we had lunch and read a bit of Murderous Maths: The essential Arithmetricks. And that was about the height of educational activity. I cleaned up various grubby spots in the house and then it was playing outside time (not lacking here atm!). I went to Sainburys on my own after tea and managed some bargains - a wetsuit for me at half price (I dithered when the rest of the tribe bought them as I wasn’t sure I’d wear it, but at £13.50 I thoughT I’d chance it) and some fab artist stuff at 75% off. Got some watercolours, A3 pad, artist case and brushes all for less than a fiver I guess. I was naughty.

So all up to speed. I *will* try and make it to home ed group tomorrow. Shout at me if I don’t ok?