House Move in May

Spring has finally sprung here in Stagsden. It's been such a long winter and I really hate being cold (probably my age) We are finally getting out and about and enjoying the great outdoors.
We took a trip to Lincs to see how our house-build is progressing.The new house is coming along nicely, with surprisingly few hiccoughs so far. We are due to move in the end of the month, so it's all very exciting!


The New House

Jaime and Tony are due to move into their new home next week and they can't wait. They came to stay with us last weekend and baby Charlie was just so cute! He has quite a vocabulary now but he's still not walking. However he can whizz about at quite a speed on his hands and knees! Poor Morkie Maisie was exhausted trying to keep out of his way!

Cheeky Charlie!

Katie and I have been busy.Dave is away working during the week so we have been getting ourselves out and about. Last week we went to see the author Christopher Lloyd at Moulsoe. He gave a fascinating and entertaining talk about History, spanning 5.3 billion years, with the help of his coat of many pockets! Katie bought his book, What on Earth and she was excited to have Christopher sign it.



The amazing Christopher Lloyd

 

Last week saw us with Piano and Brownies on Monday, swimming on Thursday with our HE group in Bedford and a lovely play-date with friends on Friday. Wednesday saw us "pond-dipping and meadow sweeping" at Priory Country Park in Bedford. The weather was perfect and we really had a lovely day! I think Katie liked the meadow sweeping best, especially when the children caught the most beautiful green-veined butterfly!

Pond dipping

What have we caught...Katie like the leech best!

 

Chasing butterflies

 

Green veined Butterfly

Green-Veined Butterfly

Katie is still enjoying her piano lessons with Beth. Unfortunately, we are going to have to find Katie a new piano teacher when we move to Lincs.
I have a feeling we will never find anyone
as nice as Beth ; Katie is so at ease with her,
and it's lovely that she is home-educated too!
We'll see.





On the down-side, the dreaded LA have finally caught up with us.Typical! Just when we are about to move house  some kindly neighbour thought they would report us to the CME (children missing education). I contacted CME who were very nice, once I'd told them that Katie certainly was not "missing education" as she was electively home educated! The nice lady said she was happy, and would "close the case". Of course, I knew she would pass our details onto the EHE dept at Bedford.

Sure enough, a few days later, another lovely letter arrived from the EHE officer. The first paragraph was so enthusiastic and positive about HE, I was pleasantly surprised,but then it rapidly went down-hill. Just like every other LA in this country, they over-stepped the mark, gave themselves powers they are not entitled to, and asked of us things we are not obliged to supply!  There was the usual rubbish about meeting with us and Katie in our home (because most parents are happy with that!) Or, we could send photographs of Katie engaging in educational activities and send samples of her work!! Needless to say, we will be doing none of that.

Dave and I updated our Educational Philosophy, wrote a nice long letter, and attached a list of resources we use and places of interest we have visited with Katie. Hopefully, that will keep the LA bod busy until we move house!

Of course, Katie is oblivious to all this, and she's far too busy having fun to worry about some office bod checking up to see if she's receiving an education!



Digging for treasure...because treasures are everywhere!

 

My Mam. Ten years on

It's ten years since my beautiful Mam left us. So much has happened since then. Yet, it seems like just yesterday that she was fooling around in the hospice, making us laugh and caring for the other patients, in spite of her being so very poorly herself.

Our family has grown since then ; we have moved house, county and country since then. But no matter where we are, or who we are with, there is always my Mam, never more than a whisper away from me.


I think about you every day Mam and I miss you dearly. The  searing pain of losing you has faded, and the tears are less frequent, but it doesn't take much to take me back to the last time we spoke. I kneeled by your chair and I was your little girl again. I cried at the thought of losing you and you comforted me in my sadness. You stroked my head and told me it would all be ok.That was so typical of you Mam. You are the most caring and selfless person I have ever met.  Your last words to me were "I love you bairn". I love you too Mam. Until we meet again

New Hoose!

There's an air of excitement in the "Shovlin Hoose" right now. We have put a deposit down on a brand new house in Lincs! It's not so long ago that we were adamant we would never buy again, as renting gave us the freedom to move around the country, or even abroad again if we wanted to. But here we are, setting down roots, getting a foot on the property ladder, and hopefully, investing in the future. It's a risk, but us Shovlins have never been a family that shies away from risk!

The house isn't ready until May, so we have plenty of time to prepare for the move, and figure out how we are going to furnish the five bedrooms....Yes, I said FIVE bedrooms! We began this house search with the words "down-sizing" in mind but somehow we just couldn't squeeze ourselves into a smaller house.

But, the house is beautiful and I can't wait to get moved.

On the down-side, I took a quick look at Lincs Elective Home Education Policy and it STINKS! Literally! So far we have managed to stay under the radar where the LA is concerned ; let's hope it continues because these guys are taking the biscuit, or maybe they need someone to set them straight! They will have met their match if they think they can get away with their ultra vires activity with Dave!lol

Getting in touch with nature....moi?

Now, as anybody who knows me will tell you, I am not an outdoorsy time of girl. So, it was somewhat of a surprise that I booked Katie and myself on a "den building, fire-making and investigating animal homes" event at Priory Park in Bedford.

I had seen it come up on the list a while back but had never quite got around to booking it. No surprises there! The thought of spending hours outside in the freezing cold, raking about in the mud and getting in touch with nature, really did not appeal. And anyway, I don't have suitable footwear!The last time I donned a pair or wellies, I was in primary school wearing bottle green knickers and my hair was in plaits!
Then, I found that our best friends were booked up, and I knew deep down Katie would enjoy herself doing the "outdoorsy" stuff. I was feeling just a tad guilty and sometimes I just need to step out of my comfort-zone so that Katie can experience lots of different activities (not just the ones that appeal to me!)
So, I bit the bullet and with just a little trepidation, I put our names down.
I am so glad we did!

I surprised myself, and that doesn't happen very often ; it really was a fun day and who knew my Den-Building was so good! Ray Mears eat your heart out!  There was quite a turn out of families and we split into smaller groups to each make our own den. Us mums took the task very seriously and we worked diligently and meticulously to build the "best" den. We scoured the ground for the best branches and twigs and willow, while slyly eyeing up the competition. Of course the kids helped out, collecting the branches and twigs and willow, but it was us mums who took the task very seriously.
Long after the kids had lost interest in making our den "the best" (by now they were digging in the soil for treasures and collecting foliage for food ), us mums continued furiously tying the willow and weaving the twigs. Well, you don't want the den to let in rain, do you?

Note to self; must buy wellies and lose the false nails before our next outdoorsy expedition!

Snow!

When we moved into our new house in Bedford last year, our lovely land-lords informed us that
                                                                  "it never snows in Stagsden"

OK, so Katie was disappointed, me too if I'm honest. Who doesn't love the snow?
I am pleased to say our neighbours were wrong!
Of course, this has meant the country has come to a standstill....but doesn't it look so pretty?

Happy Birthday Mam

Mam loved her Fancy-Dress costumes....all hand-mad of course!

Happy Birthday Mam.
My mam would have been 68 years old yesterday. She has been gone almost 10 years, so she was only just 59 when she died. So young.

I thought of you on your Birthday Mam. I have thought of you every single day since you left us.
I thought of you with fondness yesterday. on your Birthday. I remembered how you loved a party_any excuse to get dressed up in some hilarious fancy-dress outfit ; usually one you had made yourself from recycled clothes on your trusty old Singer sewing machine! You loved that old machine, and my childhood memories often play along to the sound-track of that Singer whirring away in the background. I would watch you in fascination as your foot pedalled away on the wrought iron pedal, the needle pounding precariously close to your fingers as the material whizzed with lightening speed through your fingers!

I wonder how we would have celebrated this birthday? I wonder how you would be with the grand-children you never met. I bet you would have them in fits of laughter with your antics! I feel so sad that you have missed so much of our children's lives and I am even sadder that I have missed having my mam around all these years,
I dearly want to believe I will see you again one day Mam. The thought that I might not, is heart-breaking. I can't get my head around it. So, just for now, I choose to believe in Heaven.

Happy New Year!

2013!
Dave, Katie and I saw the New Year in, just the three of us (four if you count Morkie Maisie!!)
We treated ourselves to delicious nibbles, copious wine, and Dave even had a Bacardi or two!
We counted down together as Big-Ben saw out the old year and hailed in the New and we watched the fabulous firework display in London, from the comfort of our sofa.

We are already a week into the New Year and it reminds me how quickly time moves on.

Things are still quiet on the HE front: our regular classes don't start up 'til later in January. That's not to say we haven't been busy though!
Piano lessons have resumed and I am really impressed at how Katie has thrown herself into her music_ next Christmas she will be playing us Carols!
Beth, Katie's piano teacher is lovely, and I am sure it's down to her being so encouraging that Katie is putting in so much effort and hard work. She practices two or three times a day and I must admit to loving the sound of the piano!

We plan to carry on HEing this year in the same fashion_ have fun, talk lots, read lots, visit some interesting places and.... we may just fit in the odd lesson here and there!

Family and Christmas

We spent a lovely weekend up North. Seeing my family again after all this time was amazing! It was just like old times standing in mam's kitchen, siblings all around and hot-dogs on the table! The only person missing of course was my mam.

It's coming up 10 years since she left us, but we all still miss her so much. The overwhelming pain at losing her has dulled over the years, but the memories and the longing to see her are still as fresh as ever. It makes me so sad that she never got to meet Katie, her grand-son Leon and ofcourse, her great grandson, Charlie. She would have gathered them up in her arms and showered them with kisses the way she used to do.

There has not been one single day when I have not thought of my mam, sometimes with sadness but more often with fondness. I guess that is how it will be for the rest of my life, but that fills me with comfort ; my mam will forever be in my heart.

Seeing Dad again was lovely. He is 5 years older of course, and his health has deteriorated of late. I feel so bad that I have left it so long, but I have promised to visit more often in the future. Anyway, the drive to Newcastle didn't take as long as we anticipated, so I have no excuse!

Dave met up with his boys and we all went Christmas shopping at the Metrocentre and then had a superb meal at a lovely Japanese restaurant.

Katie at the Metrocentre

Shopping with her Big Brother

Christmas Day was just the four of us (including Turkey-loving Maisie!) We opened our presents around the tree and had a delicious Christmas Dinner. Later we settled to watch Christmas TV, surrounded by chocolates and Baileys and a whole lot of love!... Perfect!

Unwrapping Presents!

Ginger-Bread House, another Birthday and Christmas

Finally finished the ginger-bread house! It's very PINK and smells delicious and I am kind of pleased with it

Katie  is now nine years old! Wow...I don't know where the time goes. We are so proud of her; she is the sweetest, funniest and little girl!

Dave was working away for Katie's birthday, so she opened her presents and blew out her candles the day before, when Dave was around to see her excitement and eat birthday cake!It was that, or wait until the day after her birthday when Dave would be back home, but it was just a step too far to ask an excited and impatient almost nine year old to post-pone her birthday for one day!

Maisie's licking Katie's feet while she opens her pressies1



Happy Birthday Katie!

Me and my Girl!

On the actual day of her birthday, Katie and I took  ourselves off to Jaime's house for the day. It was lovely seeing gorgeous little Charlie and we all had fun at Space Kingdom in Clacton.

Things are much more quiet for us now that the Christmas Holidays are upon us.The last few weeks have been hectic, We have had our usual Science, French and Art classes at Moulsoe, piano lessons, Christmas Concert, Christmas Party, Cinderella at MK theatre, and this weekend we are off to Newcastle to see family before Christmas!

We will get back home Christmas Eve, and hopefully have a relaxing, quiet Christmas Day.

Katie Loves Music at Moulsoe

 

Ah...this is what a Science lesson looks like!

Happy Christmas!

Christmas is coming!

It's that time of year again : frosty mornings, robins in the garden and twinkling lights in the shops...
Christmas!

Now I have been known to say "Shovlins Love Christmas" and we do; however it is so incredibly busy in the shops already and I am starting to feel the pressure to find those perfect presents!
Milton Keynes Centre is pouring with people, the car-parks are over-flowing and my poor feet are aching! Katie and I have spent hours and walked miles whilst searching for Christmas Presents. Just when you find what you want it's not available in the right size, or the right colour, or the right price!I have been feeling so stressed and tired and frustrated. This is not what Christmas is about! So, I have vowed to shop online from now on (from the comfort of my sofa) Let's see how that goes!

The tree(s) are up and decorated and the ginger-bread cookies have been baked and are hanging from the branches of our "home-made" tree.
Last year our cheeky little dog Maisie helped herself to a couple of ginger-bread men hanging from the lower branches of the tree. We won't be making that mistake again! Must remember to hang sweet smelling delicious cookies from the upper branches.......Sorry Maisie!



Ginger Bread Cookie Tree

We still need to make our ginger-bread house. I have all the ingredients, including LOTS of pink candy. Katie and I were planning to get baking this weekend. However, a stinking cold (me) has put paid to that..... Just waiting for poor Katie to catch the cold now!

We were busy as usual last week. We had music and rehearsals for the Christmas Concert at Moulsoe, piano lessons in Bucks, Sublime Science Sessions where Katie mad slime and sherbet and other exploding stuff!! We visited "Hazard Alley" in MK which was really great!





Katie made sherbet...FIZZY sherbet!!


Katie attended her first Brownie meet in Great Denham and so far she is enthusiastic! She has promised to help more around the house, including cooking and walking Maisie, as part of her "helping hand" Brownie Promise.

Cute Brownie!

Piano lessons are going well. Katie seems to have a talent and she loves her teacher, Bethan. She loves practicing on her keyboard at home. Unfortuately, Dave like practicing too!

We are heading up to Newcastle just before Christmas. Dave is looking forward to seeing his boys and I am looking forward to seeing family I haven't seen in a long time. Let's hope this rotten cold is long gone by then!

London

Today I can't walk! Perhaps that's a slight exaggeration ; my legs, ankles and knees ache so bad this morning and I am walking around like a very old woman!
Yesterday, Katie and I spent the day in London with friends.... the whole day, from dawn 'til dark. We must have walked for miles and miles!

We took the train from Flitwick into London, which was an adventure in itself, as Katie is not used to using public transport and she sees it as real treat! Even the bus, and of course, The Tube, was a source of great enjoyment during the day!

We visited the National History Museum first. We had been there once before with the Cambridge HE group but we were eager to go back, as it was impossible to see everything in just one visit. We didn't get to see everything on this second visit either ; the children wanted to linger at the exhibits soaking everything up like the little sponges they are. Meanwhile, it seemed the many other visitors over-took us, squeezing past, on their tour of the museum. That's something I've noticed... everybody seems to be in such a rush, even at the museum where there is so much to linger over.

The museum was very busy and I noticed lots of groups of school children pouring over the exhibits but then being hurriedly moved on by their teachers to the next exhibit. Some kids weren't ready to move on and had to be called several times before reluctantly joining their class.

That's the beauty of HE... we didn't have or need a time-table, we didn't even know the time! We just wandered wherever the kids led us and made slow but thoroughly enjoyable progress. No rushing here. We almost forgot to stop for lunch, we were enjoying the museum so much! So, we had a late (and delicious) lunch in a quaint French patisserie, when the hunger-pains finally got the better of us!

After lunch we made our way to Kensington, where the girls played in the park, chasing squirrels across the grass which was littered with autumn leaves. I was glad we'd wrapped up warm! The park, like the rest of the city centre, was thronging with people, joggers and dog-walkers. The latter delighted Katie, what with her being such a dog-lover! As always, she recognised all the different breeds and she was delighted to pet lots of friendly dogs. She even threw a ball or two for a beautiful black lab named Freya. Freya had boundless energy.... she would have played with Katie all day had she been allowed!


Exploring Hyde Park

It grew colder and as the sun set, we jumped on a big red bus and made our way to Trafalgar Square, the fountains, monuments, the majestic lions, shopping and the Christmas Lights!

There were people everywhere! The lights were absolutely beautiful and in the theme of the "Twelve Days of Christmas" which was especially lovely, as this is the song Katie has been rehearsing for her Christmas Concert at Moulsoe!

What with the sparkling lights and festive music, the crowds of people wrapped up warm for winter, and the shops filled with the sights and sounds of the season, for the first time this year I felt "Christmassy" (and it's only November yet!)



Trafalgar Square



 

We took the girls to Hamley's toy shop and spent an age looking and touching and "oohing and aahhing!" I even made a start on my Christmas shopping!
Katie had money to spend too, and she treated herself  to a model family of wolves (no surprises there then!)

Later, around 7ish, we went to Nando's for dinner and filled our empty stomachs again.

The day just flew over, and by the time we'd caught the Tube back to St Pancras, jumped on the train and then driven from the station to home, it was nigh on 11pm!
We had been out and about for almost 14 hours!! Ah, that's why my legs don't feel like mine this morning!!

Halloween Disco Diva!

Katie and I went to a Halloween Disco held at the Forest Centre in nearby Marston Vale. Now Katie doesn't do dancing, so she wasn't too impressed when we first arrived to pounding music and flashing lights. On top of that, we didn't know anyone there, not that it seemed to bother Katie too much. The DJ asked all the kids to the front for competitions and Katie reluctantly made her way onto the dance floor. The music started...... and suddenly Katie came to life! Who knew we had such a disco-diva in our midst?!! You know, Katie never ceases to amaze me ; she is full of lovely surprises!

The disco was great, (which is more then could be said for the buffet!) and Katie danced for two hours solid! She came away with 2 certificates for her dancing efforts and was chuffed to bits! Unfortunately, she couldn't walk the next day!!

Katie dancing her heart out!

Katie's loving her "lessons" at Moulsoe Hall right now. She particularly enjoys the Music and Recorders on Mondays although she has confessed to being nervous about performing "live" at Christmas! She is also doing Science, Art and French at Moulsoe but I suspect she enjoys the play-time in the park afterwards, more than the lessons!

We had planned to go out tonight to watch the Fireworks in Milton Keynes but it has rained solid for days and the thought of wading through muddy fields in freezing temps put us off. And, our house is so warm and cosy, it's hard leaving it when it's so wintery (is that a word?) outside! So we stayed home and wrote letters to friends, watched TV and Dave and Katie played on the PC and then the Wii. They finished off with Dominoes. No prizes for guessing who won!

Dave's still working hard. He must be doing something right as his contract has been extended until Christmas. Katie and I miss him when he's away from home, but we appreciate him all the more when he's home. And I don't tell him enough, but I really do appreciate everything he does for our family. He is a gem.x