NotSheep

Freddy had ju-jitsu yesterday evening; he has twice as much reason to work hard at it now, because he wants to get the Chief Scout’s Bronze Award in Beavers. Beavers can do this in their last six months, and one of the things they must do is achieve a personal challenge - gaining or improving upon existing skills in some way. He’s decided that his personal challenge will be to get his Yellow Belt by June.

The boys did some work this morning, but after lunch I left them to entertain themselves and took Toby to bed with me; he was very clingy and whiny all morning, and I figured the best thing I could do for him was keep him warm and asleep for as much of the afternoon as possible. Jack’s not as bad as I feared last night; his throat’s a bit rattly but I hope he’s escaped the worst of it. I meant to give everyone extra vitamin C today, but I’ve only just remembered so it’s a bit late . Will try to remember for tomorrow morning.

I struggled through Beavers this evening, taking Jack with me (as I usually do), but also George, because he was in uber-meltdown-mode this afternoon, and seemed to need close supervision. There was an interesting conversation in the back of the car on the way there; Freddy and George were trying to explain to Jack the difference between replying “No” and “No thanks”. Jack often says “No thanks” - like when I say, “Can you clear the table?” or someone says “Can I have my game back?” etc I’m not sure how much difference their explanation will make though…

The Group Scout Leader was at the Scout Hall for a parents’ meeting, so I got a chance to talk to her beforehand about a few things I’d been meaning to bring up, which at least made it feel that it had been worth the effort of going. I wasn’t much use as far as actually running Beavers was concerned; my voice comes and goes and I’m still achy, so I pretty much handed over the resources for the evening’s programme and let the other leader get on with it. In fact - you want to know how lousy I feel? I got a cheque for £180 on Friday - cashback on a mobile phone contract - and I still haven’t made it as far as the bank with it. Still, the whole unable-to-swallow thing appears to have benefits; I’ve lost five pounds in the last week (eleven pounds since the beginning of January, and 25 since I started this reducing-me lark).

Barney and Henry went off to SJA Cadets as usual; they must have been tired when they got home because there was hardly a peep out of them between getting home and going to bed.

Just remembered something else about our trip last week - there was a fantastic Titanic exhibition. You know how sometimes you think you know a lot about a subject, and then you talk to someone or read something or go to a lecture or display on it and realise you only know the tip of the iceberg?* Well, it was like that. And we also realised that the date the Titanic set sail was the same as Henry’s birthday. Not the same year, obviously. But anyway, it was fabulous.

*I know, it’s a terrible pun. I’m really, really sorry. I just couldn’t resist. Forgive me; I’m ill…