NotSheep

I’m sitting thinking, “Hm, I haven’t blogged in a couple of days” - and I look and discover it’s been four days. What gives?

Since Thursday then. Friday… er, no idea. I’ll come back and edit this bit if I remember.

I think I spent most of Saturday and Sunday working my way through books and various other educational resources (doesn’t that make it all sound very official/schooly/organised/insert-word-of-your-choice? - I could have just said “tidying the dining-room and going through the filing-cabinet”, y’know). I also went in search of light-pulls for the bathrooms, with no success. Have now ordered one from ebay; if I like it, I’ll order more from the same person. Oh, and also stopped at Casualty to see if there was any cause for concern with regards to the chest pains and palpitations I’ve been having. ECG and chest x-ray are normal, so pain is probably muscular, as I suspected. As for the palpitations, “see your GP”. I’ll get registered with a GP sometime, really I will.

Dealt with a bit of a tummy upset; apparently something’s been doing the rounds. The kid next door is sick, friends were sick all weekend. So far it’s only got me, and only mildly - let’s hope that’s where it stops. I really don’t fancy dealing with five upchucking children.

Taking sublingual B12, as experiencing some of the symptoms I experienced a few years ago when it was discovered (after I’d suffered for many months) that I had a dangerously low B12 level.

Watched the first episode of Torchwood. Not sure if the kids should watch it or not. Will wait until I’ve seen another couple of episodes before I chance getting them hooked.

Had a planning meeting with my co-leaders from Beavers this morning; there seemed to be a little more enthusiasm than previously. We reckon that we’ll be at 25 Beavers very shortly, which is one more than our limit, but four of them will be moving to Cubs next month so we’ll run with it for now. Great to see such an increase in numbers - I know I keep going on about it, but I’m just so pleased that we recruited so well last year and ran a programme that kept them all coming back and bringing their mates Freddy will be among those going up to Cubs, but Jack will be invested the same night; nothing like keeping it in the family

Today: education, education, education (only in this case, I really mean it). The boys did some French (Barney and Freddy), German (Barney, George and Freddy), maths (Barney and Freddy), science (Barney and George), story-planning (George) and reading (Jack). Toby drew and generally tortured everyone else

Barney went off to the youth-club tonight, for the first time since he went to France. There are two other boys on our street who go sometimes, but neither of them was home this evening; Barney decided to go on his own anyway. He surprises me sometimes. I dropped him off shortly before 7, then rang just after 8 to make sure everything was okay - it was. Scratchy has gone to collect him.

George and Freddy went to ju-jitsu; Freddy needed a bit of encouragement, but only a bit, and he had a great time. George had a good time too; I’m worried about him generally though - he doesn’t seem to be coping with things at all well just now, and I’m considering asking the paed who periodically sees Toby if I can have a chat with her about him. Not sure she’s the right person, but she’s the only access to the system I’ve got just now; Even if we were registered with a GP, I doubt they’d be any more useful. I spoke to the Cub leader this evening and requested that George stay in Cubs another year - he was to have moved up to Scouts in November or December, but I’m quite certain it wouldn’t be the right thing for him.

While they were in ju-jitsu, I went off and collected some house-plants from a woman on freecycle. I know that one of them is a spider-plant, but I’ve no idea about the rest. I’ll post photos here and see if anyone can identify them. I don’t exactly have green thumbs, but heck, might as well try. If the spider-plant survives my ministrations, it’ll look good draping down the side of the huge new fridge.

Thinking about Christmas and considering buying just a Wii. I discussed it with a friend who’s had one since last Christmas, and she recommends: a second controller, two nunchuks, an accessories pack, Wii Play, a Zelda game, a Sonic-and-something game, a Raving Rabbit (or something like that) game. That should spend all our money nicely, but if you’ve got a Wii and have thoughts and/or recommendations on the subject, please comment.

Barney has just arrived home from the youth-club; he played football, pool and PS2 and watched a tv programme about the Hindeburg, apparently. Sounds like a good evening for a twelve-year-old boy. He’s just gone into my bathroom to retrieve his toothbrush and - for the first time - noticed the lighthouse light we can see from the window. We’ve only lived here for two-and-a-bit years And he wanted to know how Scratchy proposed, “to get hints”. When asked if he had anyone in mind, he thought for a minute and answered, “not particularly”