Not getting anywhere
seemed to be a theme of today. I had full intentions of going to the HE group today and told the kids that they had an hour to get dressed and do a bit of reading before we were going out. I neglected to mention where we were going, maybe that was a little sneaky of me, as I knew if they knew it was the HE group they might have been more willing. As it was it wasn’t that they were grumpy or being unco-operative really they just decided that playing some convoluted Ice Age pretend game was much more important. I pootled about making sure I was ready in case of them deciding to get dressed but they didn’t. I actually quite like watching them do these games. It *always* involves lava being on the floor and them having to work their way round it. I figure they probably don’t have *that* much time left when playing like that will be important to them. So I let them be.
I was chatting to James and looking out my window when I saw a bird I’d not seen before so I told the kids and decided to look it up in A’s bird book. I think it was a Pied Wagtail, nice to have something different! On looking at the RSPB site we realised we could listen to some bird calls so the kids wanted to hear if the blue tit and robin sounded like some soft toys they got the other day at the RSPB reserve.
Lunch seemed to start late and take a loooonng time to finish. A is not the fastest eater really at the best of times and today they decided to read a whole load of Beano comics while eating so it was longer than usual! The box of comics is from the 90’s and I chuckled when M came to me reading some joke about someone’s favourite band and it was Blur. He laughed, but it was a laugh that I knew meant he hadn’t understood really. I managed to recall a song he’d know and so he said ‘oh so they’re old then?’ Er not really. Cheeky so and so 
We did venture out at some point. We took their bikes down to the local country park. It was very cold though and they were a bit whingy. we got past the little park only as I’d said I’d go no further if they kept whinging like I was torturing them and making them go out. We headed down a part of the Trans Pennine Trail that has a big oak tree they like climbing on. It’s in a little glade type bit and just looks fab as a place that kids could be kids iykwim. I always feel a little daft hanging round when they’re playing there, I need to take a book and plonk myself on the nearest bench and let them play. Mind you they wouldn’t even let me walk 6 ft away today.
All the birdwatching knowledge kept coming back today too as we saw loads of sparrows, robins and magpies. I couldn’t stop them going on about them tbh!! Spent lots of time listening and seeing if we could recognise the songs but I’m rubbish at distinguishing them!
normal late afternoon of games but this time when James got in I headed out to Jax’s to help her do a bit of packing. Always nice to be able to have conversations with adults without being interrupted all the time by various kids. Although I suppose I don’t have that problem too much nowadays, but I always remember going to visit people and never getting into conversations as no sooner would it get interesting than someone needed you for something. Lol.
Been camped on the puter all evening, but got to be up early tomorrow so better be thinking about bed soon.
