Project 365 2017 Week 15

Project 365 2017 Week 14-15

Project 365 2017 Week 14-15 Day 92 – 105

Sunday 2nd April  – Day 92

Project 365 2017 Week 14

We’d been invited to try the London Duck Tours sightseeing trip in London and headed down on the train.  I hadn’t realised when I sorted the ate out, that Oxford United were playing at Wembley.  It’s not often you see the first train on a Sunday morning with standing room only.  We’d arrived bright and early, checked in for our time slot and went off to admire the London Eye, and take a few minutes to remember those caught up in the recent events on Westminster Bridge and beyond.

We’d prepped Monkey on what would happen on the tour, a vehicle that works on road and the water.  He’s been really unsure about going on boats the last few years, so I really wasn’t 100% sure how it would go. But he totally loved every minute of the trip.  Big hit.

Afterwards we headed to Pizza Express for lunch, an easy, please all option, and I’d got some discount vouchers to make use off.  We then headed to Shrek’s Adventure as I’d been kindly given some complimentary tickets for some work I’d completed for Vosene.  They had a How to Train Your Dragon themed Easter Egg hunt that I was hoping Monkey would enjoy.  I was concerned that he’d struggle with certain elements of the experience, and the staff were great.  He coped much better than I’d expected but he’s totally baffled as to why Toothless is now black.  In the book’s he’s green.

After an ice cream in the sunshine, we decided to head home. The train was busy, but not quite as bad as in the morning and we did actually get to sit together which ended the day off nicely.

Monday 3rd April – Day 93

Project 365 2017 Week 14

I walked Monkey to school this morning and he just let go of my hand and walked into class.  No kiss, no goodbye, no hug.  He’s growing up.  Time for me to catch up with some housework and the mountain of washing.

Monkey has really been struggling to do his 5 minutes of handwriting homework each night.  Honestly it’s been such a draining battle and has taken its toll on both of us.  After some soul-searching, I decided that bribery was the only way forward.  We’ve agreed that if he does his 5 minutes Monday to Friday without any moaning, actually completes it and continues until 12th May then I’ll buy him a Trackmaster train that he’s wanted for ages.  We’ve added on 2 weeks in May as we don’t do homework in the holidays.  There was a bit of an argument to start with, but now he just cracks on with it as soon as he gets home.  Ticks the date off on the calendar and goes off to play.  Who knew that 5 minutes homework, could actually only take 5 minutes!!  I’m really hoping that this actually just help with his writing speed at school, which is letting him down a bit.  Time will tell.

We had a quick Facetime chat with my youngest nephew to wish him a happy 15th birthday.  Where has that time gone!

Monkey had a great time at Beavers, and came home with another Easter Egg!  Walking there and back in daylight was lovely too.

Tuesday 4th April – Day 94

Project 365 2017 Week 14

Where has the sun gone?  Back to thick coats we go.  I spent the day catching up with work whilst Monkey was at school.  When he came out of school his teacher wanted a word.  They’d done a quiz AKA test in class today and he’d been rather overwhelmed with it.  From the sounds of it, it’s one of the Reading SATS mocks, which are stupidly hard for any child who isn’t a fluent and quick reader (in my opinion).  She was going to spend some one on one time with him tomorrow, coaxing him through it again.

We headed into town to get his hair cut, then home for tea.  Can you believe that the child who hates homework then pulled out the SATS workbook I’ve got on grammar and sat filling it in whilst eating his dinner.  He needed no help at all.  So he’s clearly ‘got’ grammar.  It’s just the large amount of text in the Reading modules that appears to be the issue.

Wednesday 5th April – Day 95

Project 365 2017 Week 14

I dropped Monkey at school and headed up the motorway to meet a friend.  It’s become a bit of a tradition that we have a drink and a slice of cake in Fourteas Tea Room in Stratford-upon-Avon. It’s a themed 1940’s tea room, and I can thoroughly recommend their cakes.  We had a nice catch up and this time I came home with everything.

Apparently the quiz at school didn’t go well so we’ll just put that down to experience and hope that his reading ability improves for the test itself.  If it doesn’t, well I’ll still be proud of him, he’s still achieved so much this year that that result won’t show.

Mum had her follow-up appointment at the hospital following her TIA earlier in the year, and they’re pleased with her. All good.

Thursday 6th April – Day 96

Project 365 2017 Week 14

I had a day trying to get on top of work before the Easter holidays.  I also got a replacement for the Stella and Dot ring I lost last month.  I’ve ended up getting a smaller size to make sure it won’t fall off!

Daddy P had a funeral to go to in the afternoon of a business associate which meant he had dinner with us, much to Monkey’s delight.  We don’t normally see him at all on Thursday’s.  When he went back to work, Monkey arranged a pizza delivery for me with his Roblox toys.

Friday 7th April – Day 97

Project 365 2017 Week 14

Last day of term and no college for me. Time for plenty of play time after school.

Saturday 8th April – Day 98

Project 365 2017 Week 14

Glorious weather and Monkey spent the morning out in the garden having fun.  We’d been invited to stay at The Manor at Weston on the Green, and afternoon tea was the treat to start the weekend off with.  I even received a lovely early birthday surprise. After we’d finished our tea treats, we headed out into the grounds to explore.  Monkey was in his element, taking photos.

We had a lush evening meal and we were staying in a suite, so Monkey could go to bed and we could stay up watching tv, which was great.

Sunday 9th April – Day 99

Project 365 2017 Week 15

Another beautiful day, and a view I wish I could have taken home with me.  After a lovely breakfast we wandered around the grounds of the hotel again, before heading home.  The rest of the day was spent pottering around at home getting jobs done.

Monday 10th April – Day 100

Project 365 2017 Week 15

Monkey spent most of the day in the garden in his mud pit, which seems to have expanded beyond the agreed borders.  I got our bags packed ready for our forthcoming adventure which nearly got cancelled.  Daddy P went to check the oil level in my car and spotted a problem with my radiator.  He took it straight round to the garage he uses for the business and they confirmed that my radiator was knackered.  Uurgh!  Not quite the birthday present I had in mind.  Thankfully, they managed to get hold of a replacement and fit it all within the space of a couple of hours. Stars.

Tuesday 11th April – Day 101

Project 365 2017 Week 15

Time for a road trip and Monkey and I headed down to Paultons Park for some dinosaur adventures, using some complimentary tickets I’d been given.  The weather was great again, and we had lots of fun at the Park.  Monkey loved the dinosaurs in The Lost Kingdom and the queues weren’t too bad at all so we got to enjoy lots of rides.

I didn’t fancy driving home afterwards so had booked us into a hotel in Bournemouth overnight. It’s a coastal town I’ve loved right from my own childhood and we’ve had day trips with Monkey before.  We checked in and headed straight to the West Cliff Lift which took us down the cliff to the beach.  My son certainly has my love of shell collecting, along with pebbles.  He was so happy.

I’d noticed that the Big Wheel was up close to the Pier and suggested that we have a look at it.  Could I get him to go on?  I was rather amazed when Monkey said he’d try it, he was a little scared to start with and held on really tightly, but he faced his fear and an hour later, was asking if we could go on again!  He’d certainly earned an ice cream for his bravery.

We finished the day with Fish and Chips at Harry Ramsden’s, the service was slow, Monkey’s meal was wrong, but we didn’t want to wait any longer for a replacement, and they tried to charge me for drinks we didn’t have.  But we weren’t going to let that ruin an otherwise perfect day.

Wednesday 12th April – Day 102

Project 365 2017 Week 15

My last 40 something birthday, and I woke up by the sea. The sun had deserted us, but after breakfast Monkey and I headed back to the seaside and walked along to Alum Chine.  I showed him where our beach hut had been and where his Uncle and I had had our own childhood holiday adventures.

We checked out of the hotel and headed home via Mottisfont.  It’s somewhere I’ve wanted to visit for a number of years, the sun came out and my oldest friend and her daughter surprised us and spent the day with us.  It was a lovely way to spend my birthday.

Thursday 13th April – Day 103

Project 365 2017 Week 15

We were both shattered after a busy couple of days, so we had a chilled out day at home.  We watched some films and just enjoyed some sofa time.  I nearly forgot to take a photo too, luckily we needed to put up our Easter Egg Tree.

Friday 14th April – Day 104

Project 365 2017 Week 15

Emma from Bubba Blue and Me had asked if Monkey and I would like to join her and N on a blogging trip.  She’d been invited to the Lambourn Open Day and as Daddy P would be sleeping/working on Good Friday, it seemed like something fun to try.  We got to look around Nicky Henderson’s stables of 120 race horses.  I don’t know a lot about horses, but even I knew that these really were beautiful beasts.  I was amazed at Monkey’s confidence with the horses.

In the afternoon we watched the local Hunt parade around the show ground, and again Monkey was a different boy. He asked to go and see the hounds close up in the field.  Is this my son!?  Then he was first to ask to go on a trip around the field on a trailer pulled by Shire Horses.  It was a lovely day, and something totally different.

Saturday 15th April – Day 105

Project 365 2017 Week 15

The plan was that today was going to be a quiet day at home.  It’s just as well, as I received a large parcel this morning.  As soon as I opened it I knew there would be no chance of getting Monkey to leave the house.  He’s received 4 different things from Tomy/Britains today and the Forage Harvester was on his birthday list from December, so to say he’s happy would be an understatement! I’m in for a quiet afternoon.

Project 365



11 thoughts on “Project 365 2017 Week 14-15

  1. Lots of complimentary tickets has made for some lovely trips out, nice to get something (technically) for nothing.
    The suite sounds ideal, no tired boy cos he is up late and no early night for you cos you needed to be back.
    Glad MIA seems to be ok.
    Glad the bribery is working for the 5 ins of writing.

  2. We’ve had tractors out today too – out in the garden and inside. Glad you both enjoyed Lambourn – it was fun and lucky the weather held for us.

  3. Ahh! I read about the London Duck Tours for the first time today. They sound like such fun.
    Sometimes bribery is the only way to go. I know I have resorted to it in the past when it comes to homework….
    It looks like you have had a fab couple of weeks x

  4. I was feeling sorry for you all thinking you’d been at school this week then – realised it was a two week catch up! Tests/quizzes drive me potty – the reading ones are always too much to take on board. Mottisfont looks lovely – one I have yet to visit.

  5. Happy belated birthday! It sounds like you’ve been having some lovely trips out over the last couple of weeks. It’s good that you’ve found a solution to the five minutes of reading. I struggle to get my younger son to do a lot of really basic things and I don’t know whether to use the carrot or stick to encourage him!

  6. happy belated birthday .
    sounds like a busy but productive couple of weeks. bribery has to be done form time to time, heck who am I kidding I use it a lot! Sometimes it works well, other times not but you have to do whatever you can sometimes! Thats a lot of homework Monkey gets isn’t it?
    I bet Paultons Park was fun and I like the beach photo , and what child would not love a mud pit in the garden? lovely x

  7. I love the Duck Tours. I’ve never done the London one but I’ve done some in different places around the world, my favourite was in Singapore! I’m pleased Monkey had a nice time. Urg school testing – I feel sorry for all involved in the stresses of the lead up. I love the Union Jack mug 🙂 Looks like a busy two weeks, and sounds really nice to wake up by the sea on your bday.

  8. Glad you had a lovely birthday. 🙂
    Monkey always looks happy when he’s playing with his tractor type vechicles.

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