Right Now …

... I'm finding the going to be tough.I'll be back next week.

All Things Mandarin

Yesterday, I accompanied The Boy Child, 13 other pupils from Year 5and assorted staff members to a Mandarin Taster Session at a local school.It was huge fun!There were three sessions: language, art/culture and dance.A few boys were silly during the dance session, but that notwithstanding,all the children and adults enjoyed the afternoon very much.

Rituals

When The Brainy One travels abroad for work,a few things happen in our house. I change our bed.I love a freshly made bed.More so if I don't have to share it for a night or two.Is that selfish of me? I also get into that freshly made bed earlier then when TBO is home.The ritual involving … Continue reading Rituals →

Memos: Mail: Me

The only bright spot in a week of envelopes with windows inwas the arrival of my sub copy of The Simple Things.Plans to read it over the weekend didn't materialise, but I'll be rectifying that error today.As for the weekend, we drove 25 miles out into the countryside in order to dog walk in the woods.It was … Continue reading Memos: Mail: Me →

Sywell Aerodrome

On the Saturday of the Easter weekend, we drove up to Northamptonshireto meet my brother at Sywell Aerodrome. To be honest, there's not much there unless you are an aviation enthusiast.But it turns out that lots of people are, as it was fairly busy. The flying highlight was the arrival of a privately owned Spitfire, which drew the … Continue reading Sywell Aerodrome →

What a Pair

We caught up with our great nephews over the Easter weekend. Although it was difficult to find all three boys awake at the same time, we did manage a family photo with Los Pequeňos. As you may have noticed, Pequeňo Dos no longer needs additional oxygen (that's him on his Gruncle's knee), and they are … Continue reading What a Pair →

Month in Numbers | March

Did March turn out to be marvellous?Let's take a look:55: the number of minutes it took for the orthodontist to attach my braces. 330: the number of lengths I put in at the pool - the biggest total of the year so far.6: the number of separate donations made to either via freecycle or to a … Continue reading Month in Numbers | March →

Autism | Five Years On

I'm back from the Easter break and ready to mark what has been a huge milestone for my family. Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of learning formally that The Boy Child has autism. I wrote a blog post back then and, having re-read it just now, I find that I was far too cocky in … Continue reading Autism | Five Years On →

The Roman Walled City of Chester

When I was a child, a day out in Chesterwas both a treat and a joy. We did the same thing pretty much every time we were there.A walk around the walls.An hour in the cathedral.Lunch in one of the city's first family friendly pubs.We're just back from a long weekend in Chester,and I re-enacted those … Continue reading The Roman Walled City of Chester →

Secret London | The British Dental Association Museum

Tucked away behind the madness that is Oxford Streetis the tiny museum of the British Dental Association.Given that the Boy Child had a dental check-up on Tuesdayand I am into week three of braces wearing,the timing seemed perfect for a visit. See those real teeth? taken from dead soldiers on the battlefield at Waterloo.Gulp. Pre plaster casts and … Continue reading Secret London | The British Dental Association Museum →