Friday...at last!

Today has been another scorcher and it's set to get hotter over the weeekend. I'm sure all the parents who struggled to keep their children amused in the wet summer holidays are really happy by this hot weather now!

I picked Sophie up from school and she was bubbling over with enthusiasm as her photography teacher had lent her a beautiful Nikon camera to take photos over the weekend for her homework. She has to take at least 24 shots of a transformation so she was talking about getting up early to capture the sunrise... Er, I don't think so!

Sophie and I went off to the gym and had a very good workout. Again, the pool area was busy with swimming lessons so we just relaxed in the spa afterwards and said hello to Liam who was enjoying the sauna. He told me he was really looking forward to the forthcoming Wine Evening as I've set them all a challenge to find wines for different countries. Hopefully it will be very interesting!

In the changing rooms we bumped into Sarah, Liam's wife, who had just arrived so we chatted about exam results (they have a daughter the same age as Sophie) and how Hannah was getting on at her new school. It's all change!

Going on a jolly!

As we were quiet again at work today, Mum and I had a jolly to Ikea in Milton Keynes, something we haven't been able to do for ages! We were looking for stuff for work so it wasn't completely self-indulgent but we did have lunch there and a good look around, buying another new rug for the Tots area, some plates for the restaurant and a little play-tunnel which should amuse the wee ones.

When we picked Sophie up from school we then headed off to a local wholesaler's as Sophie needed some folders for school - again she has to provide all the things she needs. They are treated much more like adults and she has several free periods during the week where she can sit in the common room and drink hot chocolate! I wish I was back at school again!

Unfortunately, after our little shopping trip we had to pick Mikey up from school as he had been in isolation all day, because of a misdemeanour last term. I personally didn't think being kept away from the other children all day was punishment enough but that's the policy of the school. I think he should have been kept behind every afternoon after school, but then it would have been a punishment for me as I would have had to pick him up every day!

In the evening I went out with my three friends I used to work with, Lynda, Fiona Andrea. Both Fion and Andrea have girls the same age as Sophie so we compared notes on exam results and talked about holidays. We had a very pleasant evening at the Chinese restaurant we went to the other week and as usual, ate far too much!

Back to normal

Sophie and Mikey started back to school today and as Soph is now in Sixth Form she is no longer entitled to a free bus pass. It would have cost us £600 a year which I think is outrageous, especially as the area around the school at the start and the end of the day is completely congested. We made the decision to take her to school as it's on my way into work anyway, but this morning was a bit of a shock because of the traffic and the fact that I am now tied to this schedule every day.

She'd arranged to meet two of her friends so we waited for them and then I sped into work, which luckily only took five minutes on clear roads. I'm not sure I like arriving half an hour later than I usually do, though, so I may ask Keith to do a couple of journeys a week!

Mum and Dad took today off so Keith came in with me and what a difference a week makes! The weather today has been gorgeous and it's set to remain like this for another few days. Typical!

After work we arranged to meet Mum and Dad at the gym and we had another shock there as it was packed out, mainly with children having swimming lessons so we didn't venture into the pool, but had a very relaxing time in the spa after our workout!

Last day of freedom (for the kids!)

Phew, they're almost over and the school holidays certainly went out with a whimper, rather than a bang! It's been another dry day although it clouded over at lunchtime and I thought we were going to have a storm - no such luck!

After work I went out and tidied our front garden which needed weeding and the verge cutting. Keith cut down some of a large conifer that has grown like a mad thing over the summer and in fact at one point I did think we were going to lose it as it looked so poorly. It's amazing what a summer of rain can do!

Susie arrived at 6.30pm as she and Sophie were off to a Chinese restaurant for a final meal before the holidays ended. I took them both and then came home and had a very simple dinner of soup and rolls with Keith. I'm trying really hard to cut down on the sugary foods and for two nights I haven't even had a glass of wine!

An active family!

We now only have two days left of the summer school holidays and I can honestly say that they've flown by. As the weather was lovely today we were pretty quiet but that suited me fine after the busy days of last week!

Sophie came in to cover over lunchtime but by 4pm we were all finished so we headed to the gym. We had a good workout and said hello to Liam, a friend from next door, who also goes to the gym. We chatted about his recent holiday and then Sophie and I had a shower (no swimming for us today) and went home to find Mikey on the Wii doing some exercise as well! We are an active family at the moment!

A little shopping trip

We were a bit overdue a shopping trip so today Sophie, Mum and I went over to Milton Keynes, had lunch at Caffe Italia and then hit the shops. Sophie needed a new bag for school while I wanted some new tee-shirts for the gym.

Sophie soon found what she wanted in River Island and also spotted a new jacket which her doting Nan paid for, much to my bemusement. We had a slight tiff in the shop as Sophie can certainly spend her money and I always come over as the moany mum as I'm looking ahead to things she's going to need and want such as driving lessons next year and a little runabout! Hmmm!

I never managed to get any tee-shirts. I had a look in M&S but they were all very boring so I returned home bagless. After a cup of tea at Mum's we went home and I made up for it a little by buying some Californian Pinot Noir from the Tesco Wine Club and then ordering the film "Sideways" which I love. I can now watch the film and drink the wine at the same time!

Weekend relaxation.

After a lazy start to the day Sophie and I went off to the gym and worked hard for an hour before going for a swim and then having lunch in the cafe. Very relaxing and civilised if I may say so!

The rest of the day was spent doing some family tree research and lazing around the house, which is just how
 weekends should be! We had a delicious dinner in the evening followed by the film "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" which was enjoyable escapism, if nothing else.

After the film, we managed to catch a Top of the Pops special called "School Days" to coincide with the return next week. The songs brought back many memories and even the children enjoyed listening to some of them, including Busted!