Project 365 2017 Week 22

Project 365 2017 Week 21-23

Project 365 2017 Week 21-23 Day 141 – 161 and a three-week round-up.  It’s been busy.

Sunday 21st May  – Day 141

Project 365 2017 Week 21

We’d had a really long day yesterday and were shattered today.  I even got to have a lie in, and was then woken by great excitement as our first butterfly had emerged.  Another followed later in the day.

An early night was in order for both of us.

Monday 22nd May – Day 142

Project 365 2017 Week 21

The first day of SATS and I was rather shocked to see the class tables pulled apart, looking so much like an exam scenario.  Monkey didn’t seem phased at all, another boring test Mummy.

A day of sorting out things for me ahead of Mum and Dad arriving later in the week.  Time to clear some more clutter. We now have another two butterflies, although one’s wings haven’t opened up properly 🙁

Monkey had an exciting time at Beavers putting up a tent.  It’s such a shame he can’t go to the big Beavers gathering over half term but spending time with Granny and Gramps is more important.  He was shattered by bedtime.

Tuesday 23rd May – Day 143

Project 365 2017 Week 21

I woke up to hear of the terrible events in Manchester and hugged this one just that little bit tighter when I dropped him off at school.  Day 2 of SATS and apparently he had a good day according to his teacher.

I caught up with some work before I shut off for the holidays, but it was a struggle to be honest.  The thought of those poor families and to hear that an 8 year old was amongst the dead – heartbreaking.

Wednesday 24th May – Day 144

Project 365 2017 Week 21

A glorious sunny day, sandals back in use at last!  After Monkey went to bed I cracked on with my cross stitch as I won’t get the time to do any over the next couple of weeks.

Thursday 25th May – Day 145

Project 365 2017 Week 21

Time for a haircut and we tried clippers at the barbers for the first time and settled on a number 7.  Neither of us were brave enough to go shorter this time around.

Monkey had a Rainforest Day at school this afternoon, where the parents could go into class and see what the children had created for their projects.  They also sang to us, and Monkey actually joined in.

Friday 26th May – Day 146

Project 365 2017 Week 21

The day has finally arrived for my parents to come over from Spain.  One very excited Monkey was walked to school this morning.  I headed off to the airport, not realising the flight had been held on the tarmac in Malaga for an hour. The delay meant we weren’t back in time to meet Monkey from school but he was the first out the front door to greet us when we got home.

He was so excited to show Gramps his butterflies and to release them together.  It was going to be the start of a week he won’t forget in a hurry.  Half term has begun.

Saturday 27th May – Day 147

Project 365 2017 Week 21

Everyone was tired and in need of a fairly chilled day. We headed into town to sort out a new phone for my parents and then Monkey got to show them his Hornby train set.  Daddy P finished work for the week in the evening and we prepared for a bust few days ahead.

Sunday 28th May – Day 148

Project 365 2017 Week 22

We were heading to Birmingham to meet up with my brother and his family as my niece is doing her finals at University.  I’d organised lunch out for us and we were going to celebrate Mum and Dad’s Golden Wedding Anniversary a couple of weeks early.  They’d asked for photos of the family and especially of their grandchildren for their present, so my brother and I had our cameras out taking shots all day.  I took a few before we left home and Monkey was a total star.  He normally hates ‘structured’ shots and refuses to look at the camera.  He did really well today.

We had a nice meal, the weather held out for some lovely group shots and we took the scenic route home.

Monday 29th May – Day 149

Project 365 2017 Week 22

The sun had deserted us and rain threatened all day.  But rain macs at the ready we headed off to Greys Court for the day.  We’d missed the wisteria which was a shame, but there was still plenty to see and Monkey loved showing his grandparents around, being our tour guide for the day.  A highlight was newt spotting in the pond.  It took me right back to my own childhood as Gramps pointed out the water boatmen, pond skaters and water snails.  The newts were fab too.  Monkey was enthralled.  We took a walk around the parkland before heading back to explore the house for the first time.

Later in the day we headed to Nuffield Place for afternoon tea.  Sadly they’d actually run out of everything other than chocolate cake before it was even 3pm.  So it didn’t go quite to plan.  We got back to the car, as the heavens opened.  Time to head home.

Tuesday 30th May – Day 150

Project 365 2017 Week 22

We popped over to Banbury to show my parents how much it’s changed since their last visit 5 years ago.  So many empty shops, it’s a shadow of the town I grew up in.  We had lunch out at a pub I used to frequent as a teenager before heading to the village of Wroxton, with its thatched cottages and duck pond.  We saw so many ducklings, these are just a few of them.  There were loads!

Wednesday 31st May – Day 151

Project 365 2017 Week 22

The day of the epic road trip as we tried to fit in meeting up with as many people as possible.  First stop Tunbridge Wells as we met up with old family friends and got to meet the most adorable 7 month old twins.  Everyone just chatted away as if we’d only been apart for a few weeks.  Lovely.

Then we headed over towards Sevenoaks to meet up with Mum’s brother and sister for lunch.  My Uncle visits Spain a couple of times a year but my Auntie hadn’t seen my parents since Monkey’s Christening in 2010, so lots of catching up was needed.

The last stop of the day saw us popping in to see my amazing Great Auntie.  She’s only a few years off of 100 now, but as funny as ever.  The loveliest end to the day.  Then we hit the M25 again, that wasn’t so pleasant, but better to come to a grinding halt as we headed home, than earlier in the day.  We were all shattered by the time we got to our beds.

Thursday 1st June – Day 152

Project 365 2017 Week 22

Mum’s foot had swollen up yesterday, and ice packs hadn’t made much difference.  I took her round to the pharmacy for some advice and she recommended a trip to the doctors.  Managed to get her set up with temporary registration with my GP and an appointment confirmed that she had a rather bad attack of gout.  Medication, and a lot of fluids required.  She’s not a drinker so hopefully pumping her full of water will help.

It meant our plans for the rest of the week had to change, Monkey wouldn’t get to show Gramps where Gramp’s insects are on display in the museum in Oxford.  Another trip will be needed in the future.  I realised at bedtime I’d not taken a photo all day, so snapped a couple of the tulips in my vase.

Friday 2nd June – Day 153

Project 365 2017 Week 22

The plan had been to go to Silverstone for the Williams Racing 40th Anniversary celebrations, but Mum wasn’t able to get a shoe on her foot, let alone walk any distance.  So we had a quiet morning at home before dropping my parents over with my brother for the afternoon.  We headed home for some play time and general silliness.

Saturday 3rd June – Day 154

Project 365 2017 Week 22

The day my parents flew back to Spain.  I’d ordered Monkey a What on Earth? history book which arrived this morning.  It was lovely to watch Monkey listening to Gramps as he talked him through the British History timeline. We drove them to the airport in plenty of time and said our goodbyes.  I suck at saying goodbye and when Monkey started crying in the back of the car on the way home, that was me done.  But we’d made some lovely memories and he had so much fun seeing his grandparents.  Daddy P was still off work for a couple of days, extra bonus.

Sunday 4th June – Day 155

Project 365 2017 Week 23

We’d had such a busy week today was all about chilling out for Monkey.  Daddy P and I got on with some jobs around the house and Monkey had fun with his toys.  Dinosaurs were the theme of the day.

Monday 5th June – Day 156

Project 365 2017 Week 23

Inset day.  I had thought about a trip to Legoland, but the weather forecast was grim, and actually I could tell Monkey just needed to be at home.  He decided to make the day a pjs day.  We had a few craft kits in the cupboard, so he set about making a kaleidoscope and a solar system.  He was totally absorbed and my help was not required!

Tuesday 6th June – Day 157

Project 365 2017 Week 23

Back to school and to say Monkey didn’t want to go would be an understatement.  But I got him there in the end. The weather threw everything at us, but after dinner we headed out for a nature walk around our estate, did a bit of bird watching and walked back with numerous sticks to add to the doorstep pile.

Wednesday 7th June – Day 158

Project 365 2017 Week 23

I caught up with some shopping that needed sorting after walking Monkey to school.  I sorted through his wardrobe, as he’s had another growth spurt and wanted to wash his winter coat.  Luckily I checked through the pockets before I put it in the washing machine!

Monkey’s been so tired this week, he’s gone to bed a bit earlier and then slept right through until I’ve woken him up at 7.30 the next morning.  He went out like a light again tonight and I finally got to catch up on qualifying and the race for both the Spanish and Monaco Grand Prix. Ferrari aren’t looking too bad at all this year.  Maybe I’ll get a red win at Silverstone next month.

Thursday 8th June – Day 159

Project 365 2017 Week 23

General Election day, and I wish I could feel more positive about the likely result. Another morning where I needed to wake Monkey up. I stood and watched him sleeping, wondering what the world will be like for him in the years to come.  We owe his generation more than we will be leaving them with I think.

Friday 9th June – Day 160

Project 365 2017 Week 21-23

Woke up to the mess that is the election result.  Fun times ahead I fear.  Dropped Monkey off at school early for his one to one session and headed over to Crocodiles of the World for our photography class. It’s been a couple of years since my visit with Monkey and I’d forgotten what a gem of a place it is.  I took my longer lens and got a few decent shots, but not as many as I’d have liked really.

I had a meeting with Monkey’s teacher after school to discuss his progress and talk through the plan for his transition to Year Three.  He’s come so far this year considering how far behind his peers he was. I’ll be gutted to say goodbye to his teacher, she really has him sussed and has supported him so much.  She has some plans already in place to make the changes easier for him and hopefully I’ll also get to meet his new teacher once the classes have been totally finalised too.

Saturday 10th June – Day 161

Project 365 2017 Week 21-23

Mum and Dad’s 50th Wedding Anniversary and the day Monkey turns 7 and half.  We had absolutely no plans for today and Monkey decided he just wanted to be at home playing with his toys.  So that’s what we’ve done.  We did get his My Maths homework out-of-the-way.  I cannot for the life of me understand the point of computerised homework where the teacher doesn’t actually see how you arrived at the answer …… but I’m a dinosaur so maybe I’m totally missing the point.

After a morning spent playing indoors with trains, planes and diggers whilst I did some gardening, I persuaded Monkey outside with the bubble machine.  Cue lots of laughter and a mad dash to burst the bubbles.

Project 365 2017 Week 23



10 thoughts on “Project 365 2017 Week 21-23

  1. i love the photo of you and your son and his attitude to the SATS, a good approach to take. You all look like you’re having a great time with your parents visiting and getting out to see other family members

  2. What an amazing time with your parents! It’s a shame your mum’s foot was bad, but is sounds like you all had a lovely time. You can see from the pictures that Monkey has grown – he looks very tall and grown up! Here’s hoping his year 3 teacher is as good as his year 2 teacher.

  3. Wow! You have had a busy time….It sounds like the SATs went well.
    How lovely to have your parents visiting. It sound like you had some fun times.
    Fab photos x

  4. Very smart new hair Monkey! The photo with him and your folks is just beautiful. And oh my days the train table! My boy would be so excited. Heck so would I! #365

  5. Love the Friday photo of you both, one for a frame 🙂 Bless him, taking all the SATs in his stride. I hope they go well and it sounds like they did. We have some phonics screening thing next week!

  6. Lots of lovely family time, amazing how some at nearly 100 can seem much younger, good for her. Sounds like you all enjoyed the time together.
    Never to old to chase and pop bubbles.

I'd love to hear from you and try to reply to all comments