Yup, our Bank Holiday Weekend was really quiet!
My camera stayed packed away in its bag, and we pretty much stayed close to home.
On Friday, we watched the Royal Wedding. Well, Tomos didn't. And Adrian only popped into the front room now and then for quick glances. Laurel watched some of the ceremony, and enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up in their finery, particularly the new Princess Catherine, but it was really only me who watched the whole service.
Adrian did a little work on the stairs, changing the upstairs bannisters, but I was amazed to see that he actually sat down and rested for some of the time. Those who know Adrian know just how unusual that is. Okay, so part of the reason that he rested is that we're on a tight budget this week (lots of bills at the end of every month and beginning of the next!) and so we didn't have any spare cash for more DIY materials, I'll admit.
But whatever the reason, he rested. And played with the kids. And then in the late afternoon, while I worked on a few songs for folk club, he took the kids out for a short while, getting back just in time to drop me off at folk club.
And folk club went great! I hadn't been for a few weeks, so it was nice to go back, and it was really quiet, so we all got to sing at least seven songs each! That cleaned out my meagre repertoire, let me assure you! I played 'Spancil Hill' and 'The Sally Gardens' on the tin whistle, accompanied by a fantastic guitar player, and I sang five songs unaccompanied
The Great White Horse (from the film 'Dear Frankie') by Buck Owens and Susan Raye
American Tune, by Eva Cassidy
Now and Then, by Don Williams/Wayland/Holyfield
Half the Moon, by Tanya Tucker
Caravans, by Mike Batt
On Saturday, the kids had their swimming lesson, and then came home for a rest for a while before heading off to the in-laws' for a visit. I spent my time catching up on Post Pals updates, working on some NAS committee stuff, catching up on emails, and then making a start on the ginormous care plan I have to type for the school to use on an upcoming two night school trip.
They're training two female teachers in the art of percussion physiotherapy, and I have to give them a crash course in caring for Laurel. It'll be the first time that complete CF novices have cared for her on a sleepover, so I'm a little nervous, and I'll admit that the care plan will probably end up being rather long, as I'll want to try to cover every eventuality, just in case!
On Sunday, Laurel, Tomos and I went to church for a lovely family service, and then Laurel had a riding lesson in the afternoon. Tomos had a bit of a meltdown and ended up choosing to wait out the half-hour lesson in the car with Adrian, so I sat and watched Laurel's lesson on my own, and she did GREAT!
Her cantering is so much smoother now, and her teacher doesn't have to use the whip at all to keep the horse going. Laurel now does all the work herself, using her legs and a small crop, and her teacher was really pleased. She also worked on trotting poles, which went really well, and she coaxed Whitsun into trotting over the middle pole, which was at a different angle, and her teacher was really impressed, because she said that for all of the previous week, Whitsun had been avoiding that pole and no one could get him to go over it!
After her lesson, we popped to Asda for some groceries, before taking the kids down to the beach for an hour. It was seriously windy, and the waves were the roughest I've ever seen them, but the kids had a great time playing on the sand, and we even convinced Tomos to take his shoes off again and feel the sand on his feet! And I'm very pleased to report that he's STILL not eating the sand this year!!!
When we finally got too cold to stay on the sea front any longer, we got the kids something to eat and sat on the cliff in the car for them to eat it, then we headed home for baths, treatments and bed.
Monday was another quiet day, we all slept a little later, and during the afternoon, Adrian played with the kids while I did some crafty budget juggling and managed to book us a pretty great summer holiday with our holiday grant from the Family Fund.
Adrian's booked his summer week off from work, and so far, the plan is to spend a day and a couple of nights at Legoland, then to spend a couple of nights with my parents in South Wales, then to spend three nights in West Wales, then to spend another night with my parents back in South Wales, before making the long journey home the following day. It works out much cheaper than just booking a holiday cottage for a whole week, plus, it means that we had enough left out of the holiday grant to book to take the children to London in July! Lots to look forward to!
We rounded off the bank holiday weekend with a quick trip to the park for the kids, then it was back home to get ready for school, and for me to tackle the ironing once the kids were in bed.
And wow, do we ever have a busy week ahead of us this week!
Today is the NAS's monthly support group, then I have a meeting with the Educational Psychologist, who is coming into school to assess Tomos today, and after school, we have to go find another pair of trainers for Tomos, and some school sandals for Laurel. Tomorrow I have an NAS committee meeting and training session all day, followed by some serious housework.
Thursday, the counsellor from the local childrens hospice is coming to see Laurel and I, and then on Friday, the kids have CF Clinic. I can't wait to see how much weight Laurel has put on, because she is looking the best she has ever looked weight-wise at the moment!
And now I'd better get my bum in gear, as I need to grab a shower and wash my hair before I have to leave to go to the support group ...
My camera stayed packed away in its bag, and we pretty much stayed close to home.
On Friday, we watched the Royal Wedding. Well, Tomos didn't. And Adrian only popped into the front room now and then for quick glances. Laurel watched some of the ceremony, and enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up in their finery, particularly the new Princess Catherine, but it was really only me who watched the whole service.
Adrian did a little work on the stairs, changing the upstairs bannisters, but I was amazed to see that he actually sat down and rested for some of the time. Those who know Adrian know just how unusual that is. Okay, so part of the reason that he rested is that we're on a tight budget this week (lots of bills at the end of every month and beginning of the next!) and so we didn't have any spare cash for more DIY materials, I'll admit.
But whatever the reason, he rested. And played with the kids. And then in the late afternoon, while I worked on a few songs for folk club, he took the kids out for a short while, getting back just in time to drop me off at folk club.
And folk club went great! I hadn't been for a few weeks, so it was nice to go back, and it was really quiet, so we all got to sing at least seven songs each! That cleaned out my meagre repertoire, let me assure you! I played 'Spancil Hill' and 'The Sally Gardens' on the tin whistle, accompanied by a fantastic guitar player, and I sang five songs unaccompanied
The Great White Horse (from the film 'Dear Frankie') by Buck Owens and Susan Raye
American Tune, by Eva Cassidy
Now and Then, by Don Williams/Wayland/Holyfield
Half the Moon, by Tanya Tucker
Caravans, by Mike Batt
On Saturday, the kids had their swimming lesson, and then came home for a rest for a while before heading off to the in-laws' for a visit. I spent my time catching up on Post Pals updates, working on some NAS committee stuff, catching up on emails, and then making a start on the ginormous care plan I have to type for the school to use on an upcoming two night school trip.
They're training two female teachers in the art of percussion physiotherapy, and I have to give them a crash course in caring for Laurel. It'll be the first time that complete CF novices have cared for her on a sleepover, so I'm a little nervous, and I'll admit that the care plan will probably end up being rather long, as I'll want to try to cover every eventuality, just in case!
On Sunday, Laurel, Tomos and I went to church for a lovely family service, and then Laurel had a riding lesson in the afternoon. Tomos had a bit of a meltdown and ended up choosing to wait out the half-hour lesson in the car with Adrian, so I sat and watched Laurel's lesson on my own, and she did GREAT!
Her cantering is so much smoother now, and her teacher doesn't have to use the whip at all to keep the horse going. Laurel now does all the work herself, using her legs and a small crop, and her teacher was really pleased. She also worked on trotting poles, which went really well, and she coaxed Whitsun into trotting over the middle pole, which was at a different angle, and her teacher was really impressed, because she said that for all of the previous week, Whitsun had been avoiding that pole and no one could get him to go over it!
After her lesson, we popped to Asda for some groceries, before taking the kids down to the beach for an hour. It was seriously windy, and the waves were the roughest I've ever seen them, but the kids had a great time playing on the sand, and we even convinced Tomos to take his shoes off again and feel the sand on his feet! And I'm very pleased to report that he's STILL not eating the sand this year!!!
When we finally got too cold to stay on the sea front any longer, we got the kids something to eat and sat on the cliff in the car for them to eat it, then we headed home for baths, treatments and bed.
Monday was another quiet day, we all slept a little later, and during the afternoon, Adrian played with the kids while I did some crafty budget juggling and managed to book us a pretty great summer holiday with our holiday grant from the Family Fund.
Adrian's booked his summer week off from work, and so far, the plan is to spend a day and a couple of nights at Legoland, then to spend a couple of nights with my parents in South Wales, then to spend three nights in West Wales, then to spend another night with my parents back in South Wales, before making the long journey home the following day. It works out much cheaper than just booking a holiday cottage for a whole week, plus, it means that we had enough left out of the holiday grant to book to take the children to London in July! Lots to look forward to!
We rounded off the bank holiday weekend with a quick trip to the park for the kids, then it was back home to get ready for school, and for me to tackle the ironing once the kids were in bed.
And wow, do we ever have a busy week ahead of us this week!
Today is the NAS's monthly support group, then I have a meeting with the Educational Psychologist, who is coming into school to assess Tomos today, and after school, we have to go find another pair of trainers for Tomos, and some school sandals for Laurel. Tomorrow I have an NAS committee meeting and training session all day, followed by some serious housework.
Thursday, the counsellor from the local childrens hospice is coming to see Laurel and I, and then on Friday, the kids have CF Clinic. I can't wait to see how much weight Laurel has put on, because she is looking the best she has ever looked weight-wise at the moment!
And now I'd better get my bum in gear, as I need to grab a shower and wash my hair before I have to leave to go to the support group ...