Wednesday

We had earned our 100 marbles class treat again, so it was bring your gadgets and wear your pyjama party in the afternoon.  I took my phone and decided against my laptop.

It was proper hot today, so once Ned was done at quadkids we headed for the outdoor pool with a picnic, brilliant.

There were a few people there, one of which was a man from mum's work who's son has just joined the same football team as Ned.  They had a great time leaving me with mum and dad all to myself which was really nice.  We dived and played ball, with the ball more often than not causing a menace in the serious swimmers lane......

We stayed until it closed at 7pm:

Thursday

We had a school trip the Faccombe Estate today, a farming place.  It was cool because we got to wear our own clothes (apparently white jeans are not a good idea?) but it was certainly not cool as I didn't really like it.  I understand that the animals are their products to sell and make money on, but I can't not see them as cute pets really.  The doggies were really lovely though.

Friday

Mufti day at school....another serious fashion decision to make!  Its a good job I've had a birthday recently and got plenty of good stuff to choose from!

Once school was done for the week we had an important mission on....Party shopping!

With just one day until my party we obviously hadn't left everything until the last minute.....not quite everything anyway.....haha.

We hit town, picked up the last of supplies we needed (including our very own chocolate fountain) and then sent Dad off on a solo errand so we could buy him some fathers day cards (all a bit of a panic after getting badly let down by an online retailer).

Once we were home we put the finishing touches to our home made limbo set....it was looking good!

We played up at the park while Ned did football training again, Dad and I did our best to maim ourselves on the exercise equipment while mum tried to take it easy in the sunshine.

Saturday

Party day was upon us.  How exciting.  I got Dad to work early doors making a massive batch of cupcakes, then put Ned to work with his nice new icing bag set I got him for his birthday decorating them....cakes done!

Meanwhile mum and I were blowing up balloons and the first inflatable guitars and microphones we had bought.  Next up we had to pack all the food and drink provisions, make sure we had the ipad with the music, the back up ipad with the music (thanks Ned) and about another three thousand bits and bobs we thought we might need.

We nipped out to the school summer fete for a bit, that was a bit of an oversight on our part in regards to party planning.  It was pretty good, as usual I was only interested in the lucky dip, oh, and the bouncy castle slide thing.

It was a scorching hot day, the ideal thing to do on an afternoon was surely to have a disco!

We had hired a place called Ace Space down in town, a couple of Ned's friends had parties there in the past.

It was surprisingly cool in there actually, and nice a and dark for maximum disco lights impact.

The man showed us around and we get set up, all four of us got busy and we soon ready to get going,  the DJ was raring to go:

My friends arrived in dribs and drabs and we got stuck in.

Our limbo set went down a storm, as did the balloons and the inflatable instruments.  

It as pretty warm so after all that activity and warm chocolate fountain action the ice lollies were a lovely  chill out session:

Before Ned's party bangers selection kicked off, he filled the floor, even the adults got involved (there were quite a few in attendance and I think some of them might have had a cheeky drink).

All too soon it was over, and everyone was getting picked up, hot and sweaty and squinting into the sunshine outside.

Nate hung on until the end which was cool:

I had an absolute blast, it was so much fun and went really well.  I'd like to thank everyone for coming, it was lovely to see all of you, I really do appreciate a get together!  We should do it more often.

I also got some great gifts too, thanks a lot everyone.  Special mention to my friend Jess for the custard Creams!

Ned had been feeling a little bit under the weather so had battled bravely on all day so we dropped him off at home to watch Iron Man 2 while the rest of us went to McDonalds for supper.....quarter pounder with cheese for me.

Sunday

Fathers day, we let him have a lie in, well Ned didn't surface for ages anyway.

We gave him some very insulting cards which we found hilarious.  We'd got him a longboard as a present as he's constantly badgering Ned to have a go on his.....and I can use it too!

We'd arranged a trip to Hollycoombe with Alan, Hayley, Nate and Joel.  Shame it was a steam fair on the hottest day of the year.......

We started off with the hottest picnic of the year, then on to the rides:

It was lovely to take Nate around and go on the stuff with him, we even took him through the ghost house!

The little railway was running for the first time ever as well:

We loved the big wheel, even if it was accompanied by 'I wish it could be Christmas everyday' how seasonal!!!

I wasn't allowed to drive home though....

I started on one of my birthday craft kits when we got home.....it didn't quite go to plan as I ended up with glue all over my face and in my eye?  This caused mild panic it has to be said.  Mum sorted it out soon enough though with no lasting ill effects.

Monday

Still scorchio....badgered Dad to get the paddling pool out.....result!!

Loved splashing about in it....cant wait until tomorrow as it was a bit too cold fresh from the tap!

Tuesday
Gymnastics badge week has seemingly been a long time coming round again? Woth the wait though as I have now gained the Silver Apparatus award.  I nearly lost it again as soon as we left the gym though as the wind my certificate clean out of my hands and blew it up the road.  I managed to bring it's escape bid to a halt by trapping it against a tree.....made it a bit dimply.

Wednesday
We did PE today, athletics stuff and then afterwards when back in class looked into the science behind our athletic actions.  Friction, wind resistance and all that sort of thing, I loved it.
While Ned was at Team Kennet I went for a bike ride around the Common, trying out the new cycle helmet I had for my birthday.

Thursday
We had a taster day visit to Park House school.  It was great fun, we did soem archery, made some tissue paper flowers and as it was a Japanese themed day we also did some yoga, meditation and learned to count to ten and beyond in Japanese using sign language too!

Friday
My trip down the park after school with my friends was cut short as we had to go and pick the car up from the garage so that was rubbish.  Ned is still doing his football club after tea, we discovered a whole load of that outdoor gym equipment stuff when we went to pick him up a bit early.  We had a right old laugh trying that out.

Saturday

The thing I very much wanted the most for my birthday was my ears pierced.....well, second most wanted thing, but i'm realistic enough to accept that there won't be a puppy anytime soon.  Mum rang the jewellers on Saturday morning and the lady said they had a slot available at 11 o'clock.  So we had to get our skates on and get down the town.  I was so excited to finally get it done.  I had to choose my first set of earrings form a reasonably small selection....so after a small amount of deliberation I obviously picked the largest, blingiest pair of studs on offer.

Then it was time to get in the chair and decide exactly where the holes were going to go.....this was decided by committee with me giving the final nod of approval from looking where the pen dots were positioned in a mirror....

So, we were all set, earrings chosen, position chosen......all that was left was the act itself.  The lady was very nice and asked if I wanted a countdown or whether she should just go for it....I told her I didn't want a countdown so she she just got on with it.

One then quickly the other and it was all done.  It did hurt, I won't lie, but it really wasn't that bad at all.  So that was it, all done a d a trip to the chemist to get some cleaning clobber and some micropore tape to cover them up for sport and I was all set,

Dad reckoned it would gurt like hell later......

We checked out an upgrade for Andy on the way home:

But apparently he's on the mend and out of his boot and off the crutches too!

We went out for a bike ride inthe afternoon, to explore a route for Mum to get to work along the canal.  We rode along the footpath taking in the sights, it was really quite lovely actually.. I loved exploring the locks and using them as bridges and scrabbling accross them.  We did find a route to Mum's work too in the end so it was a successful mission.  There was also a world war 2 pill box by the canal with a nice little gap over to a bridge that loved jumping across, Dad took some slo-mo video that i'm sure will surface here at some point in the future.

We started the ride home and things went a bit awry when I got my bike hooked up in a rut, fell off it and got the end of the handlebars shoved firmly into my lower stomach as I lurched forwrd and the front wheel rapidly swung to the side. Mit really, really hurt.....way more than the ear piercing! It was a bot of a slow and steady ride home afyer i'd picked myself up and dusted myself down

With all the usual Saturday night shows finished we ended up watching the film Iron Man, which at forst I wasn't overly keen on the idea of.  It was however brilliant and I loved it.

Sunday
We had a project to build a limbo dancing set, using two broom handles, a load of wooden dowels, a drill,a work bench and a hammer.  I decided to leave the bulk of the drilling to Dad while I made myself useful using the hammer to bang the dowels in.  Initial testing went very well and now we just need to work out how to make it stand up nicely.

We spent the whole morning outside just pottering about, it was lovely to be outside and use the picnic bench.

Nate and Joel came round in the afternoon, with my birthday present:

We had a lovely time with them of course, obviously the Nerf guns came out......

On e they had gone I got busy with the Hama beads!!!

Monday
Darcey came round after school for a bit, we played games and had a mini disco to road test some potential tunes for an upcoming event.

We haven't had an earrings picture yet have we?  

There, and despite Dad's continued concerns they still don't hurt!

I got stuck into the Hama beads again, my bedroom door is looking much better as a result!

Half term week was upon us, so it was the usual mix and match approach to childcare.....

Tuesday

A trip to the Cotswold Wildlife park with Auntie Christine, Laura and Darcey.  What a great day out.

We really enjoyed ourselves, the highlight had to be the very new puppy, oh, and entering the competition to name the baby Lemur.  I chose Leo and Darcey chose Lolly, we'll have to wait and see how we do.  We were having such a good day we were too late getting back to go to gymnastics.  Thanks girls!

Wednesday

We looked after Andy for the day, seeing as he's still off work with his leg.  It was a nice morning, we did jigsaw and generally just hung out, chattering and that.

Thursday

Cornwall trip? That sounds like a good idea! We waited until Andy had his hospural check up and took him along with us, only fair as we were lucky enough to get to stay in his caravan.  The traffic was good and we were soon down there, it was a glorious scene, a beach full of people enjoying the sunshine and waves.

We had a nice walk (or shared riding the mobility scooter) and then had a barbecue for tea.

Friday

We had a nice lie in before we finally got up.  A trip to Gary's, then on to St Merryn to grab a cake for tomorrow.......

Afternoon dip in the sea.

We had a drive out in the evening to Fistral beach, the waves were big and there were some really good surfers out which was great to watch.....for a short while.

Saturday

The big day was finally here.....my Tenth Birthday!

We were up a little earlier than yesterday, ahem.

I unwrapped my presents which Mum had wrapped and Dad had managed to shoe horn into the car along with all our other stuff.

It was a decent haul it has to be said.

Pancakes for breakfast....then onto the Go Kart track in an exact copy of Neds birthday a few months ago....it was all my own choice though.  I love karting:

Next up, lunch at the youth hostel:

Thrn back to the van for cake:

I did share it honestly....

Then we got out my present from Ned, Wet Head:

It's like Russian Roulette, you spin a spinner then do as it says....removing straws or missing a go or whatever.  One crucial straw though will cause the water stored I still de to empty.....over your head....and diwn your back.  It was great fun, we can't wait to t to play it again next time we have a get together on a warm day.

We went for a bit of a surf session.  It wasn't my greatest success it has to be said.....I got turned over twice and wasn't over,y happy.

What better way to round the day our than watching the Brirains Got Talent final, with a sweepstake and a £5 prize for the winner....Ned was lucky this time.  Still, cant have it all, even if it is your birthday.

Sunday

The Last day of our short break, another lay in then out in the sunshine for a wander.  

I also got this limited vely new green waterproof jacket from the surf shop.

We of course loved using Andy's scooter.....until it ranout of batteries and we had to push it back up the hill!

The boys went back in the sea while Mum and I sat on the beach, enjoying the sunshine.

Then it was all hands to the pump to get packed up,cleared up and head for home.....

Monday

Back to school....urrgggh.

Once I got home I assembled one of my presents, a dressmakers mannequin:

Then started to get creative:

After tea I got busy designing my party invites on my laptop, with a bit of help from Mum and a lot of help from Ned, who is something of a Word guru rather surprisingly.

Cornwall June 2017 from Part Time on Vimeo.