Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 January 1970 00:59:59
How could I forget the half term holidays? Did I really not log it?
Want to know about my nightmare train journey to the Midlands? No, neither did I! Every time we travel by train it's a disaster. In fact, this journey was paid for with the vouchers we were given last time we complained. It was all pretty horrendous, especially with two small Smudgelets and an elderly father, but I think the classic moment was when they failed to tell anybody that the connecting train was departing from a different platform than announced. The message trickled through by rumour and a host of people raced across to the other platform, only to see the train disappear into the distance. Second to this had to be the moment when I phoned my sister from the train we caught instead. We decided to hop on the train to Stafford, which is almost equidistant from my sister's house to Stoke, where we were supposed to be going. I phoned her to say we were on the Stafford train instead and could they meet us there, to which she replied that her husband had gone early and was at that very moment waiting on Stoke Station. He had his mobile with him but it was switched off, as they only use it for emergencies ;-)
Action packed week : a morning in Coventry visiting the Motor Museum (highly recommended) with one fascinated Smudgelet and one "I'm bored" (sympathetic mummy offered the alternative of waiting for us in the car on the carpark, so he soon changed his tune) - we looked at how cars worked, designed a rather nifty looking car, tried to guess who owned various vehicles, watched Thrust 2 on video and actually saw the car itself (who would have believed I could be so excited by a lump of metal) and... highlight of the morning.... rode in a really realistic simulator of Thrust 2.
Then the Ship of Fools family meet in Tamworth which was a highlight for both me and the Smudgelets. How can I begin to describe this? It was a really good afternoon with a lovely crowd of people.
On to my best friend's house overnight - another treat. Snuggling with my adorable Goddaughters and reading them stories; drinking coffee with my friend and talking till late; walking on Cannock Chase in the sunshine and helping the four children climb virtually every tree in the area; cleaning up broken glass after my youngest had a smashing time with the shed window!
Next venue was my sister's on the edge of the Peak District. Another lovely few days (including a morning in town on my very own!!!) We did lots of little things like going to the reservoir and having a picnic in the car, and climbing a "mountain".
Then home to spend a few days ostensibly tidying the house and getting ready for school..... in theory. Well, I had to recover my expended energy after my first week of feeling really well, didn't I?