School trip to the panto today, and as Mum was coming along as a parent helper Dad and Ned were spared having to go at all this year. Now the rest of the school is a three class year group we were too big to go to the corn exchange en-masse so this year it was off to the Hexagon in Reading. Mr Tumble starring in Peter Pan was a very different prospect to my previous visit here to see Frank Turner.
The show was the usual fun and games but being an experienced Panto attendee I could pre-empt most of the on stage action before it took place (like the tarpaulins coming out before the custard pie scenes).
Shame we didn't have some tarpaulins on the coach home as one of the girls was quite messily sick.
We were home way later than published as usual of course, but I think Mum enjoyed herself.
Thursday 14th
It was our school visit for the church carol service today, nothing much to report from that one.
I was finally getting my haircut today....i was terrified they would cut too much off. They did. Apparently I had to have that much removed to get it in good condition or something.
While Mum and I sat in the hairdressers sipping nice hot drinks, Ned and Dad went off christmas shopping. They came back very pleased with themselves too.
Next up, Christmas tree shopping. Both Mum and I were already feeling very hard done by having to wait this long for a tree. We were the only people over at Yattendon, well it was quite late and even icy in places. We picked a tree and agreed very quickly between us that it was the one, now all we had to do was get it to the bagging station, it was a monster!
Friday 15th
Nate and Joel sitting tonght while Alan took Hayley out for her birthday.
Nate was on top form tonight.....well top form or borderline frantic depending on your outlook. He was great fun, so full of energy and a real laugh:
Saturday 16th
Tree up day today.
I helpded Dad wrestle the beast into the house from the garage and get it in the pot ready to decorate.
We had ro trim the top a bit before operation empty the decorations box began.
There were no shortages of places to hang stuff thats for sure.
Then the most tricky operation, getting the cherub on top...our first attempt couldnt get me close enough:
But a bit of clever thinking on my part to use Neds backscratcher was a inspired idea:
And much safer:
Even Ned got involved:
Emmas and Dean had a pre-christmas party, so a good chance for a bit of a get together with Leo and Max (now with a proper job and taking driving lessons) and Finlay and Millie. We had a great time larking about and chilling out in their new camper van. It has to be said though, this handsome chap made my night:
Sunday 17th
Football, last one of the year and Dad and I were quite looking forward to it for once. It was on Henwick sports field where we still havent sampled the new pump track. Sadly it was a wash out, persistant heavy rain meant the track was a no go. We dropped Ned off and made a visit to the tropical fish shop which was a decent enough distraction.
It was a top of the table clash at the football, then end result, 3-3.
We did get a quick go on the exercise equipment though:
Monday 18th
Into our last week at school and a visit to Elsa's house after school, for gingerbread baking, tea, make up and hair styling.
Wednesday 20th
Last day of term today, last day at school this year! A few of our classmates had been tasked with organising the party and had gathered opinions on the activities we'd have. It worked out pretty badly though, too many opinions if you ask me....it wasnt the best event. Still, we were done, and it was time for christmas....
Thursday 21st
.......In another 4 sleeps anyway.
Mum had also broken up too so we had a nice day at home, interspersed with a trip out to get our nails done. I went for a nice blue shade and Mum went for black with gold sparkle over the top.
Friday 22nd
Dad's last day at work and he was involved in an ill advised bike pub crawl once they were finished.
So we were forced to go to McDonalds for tea......shame.
Saturday 23rd
It's amazing how quickly we slip into lazy morning mode during the holidays. There was an appetite amongst us all to do something worthwhile though. After some tense negotiations we settled on my suggestion of swimming over Neds suggestion of the cinema. So off to the Coral Reef we went for our first visit since their extensive and very long refit. It was worth the wait, although he pool itself hadn't changed the slides certainly had. They were amazing, four of them you could go down in a two person raft and the other two were slide alone on your bum types. I paired up with Mum and we screamed our way down each and every one of them. Once the adults had enough I paired up with Ned in a most out of character display of sibling unity.
My only homework for the holidays was a list of hings to do before our trip to Rhos. These ranged from the mundane (making beds, emptying rubbish sacks) through a load of stuff we had already done before and then a few things we hadn't. Like going out for a torchlit walk in the woods. Armed with a dazzling array of torches, headtorches and high powered bike lights we went for a wander around Snelsmore in the dark, and without the lights it was seriously dark.
We found a couple of cool new swings to try:
Sunday 24th
Christams Eve was finally here, so it was last day for the advent calendars and chocolates. I wasn't disappointed with my very large and thick chocolate santa from my calendar which I had long been hoping for.
We did some last minute baking (most importantly, my meringues) and I had to help Ned wrap some presents as he was struggling with the whole thing.
In keeping with tradition, the grown ups sat in the Craven Arms:
Hopefully next year Joel will be big enough to come out with us lot for a bit:
During the present exchange I somehow got put in the boot of the car!
We wished everyone a merry christmas as we made our way off to our Christmas dstinations.
Next up, Pizza Express for a binge of dough balls and pizza:
(Note, no carrot/mince pie/drink left out this year for the first time).
Monday 25th
Christams Day, and as usual the disparity between what time we are getting up. I can understand Ned not wanting to be up too early now he's a working man and all that. We managed to find some common ground without too much trouble though and it was stocking time:
Ned fitted very nicely in the box:
But he struggled to keep it upright:
Silly games, check!
Then Nate, Joel, Hayley and Alan arrived for lunch.
It was lovley to see them and they were full of fun.
Lunch was just a roast but with rubbish turkey instead of chicken, at least there were sprouts though.
Ned got creative with the puddings:
We had a rather quiet evening....
Tuesday 26th
Which was to be the theme of this Christams really. Mum was super poorly and didn't make it out of bed all day.
Ned took Dad on his paper round and then he retreated to his bedroom, leaving me to have a go with my new glue gun for a bit:
Wednesday 27th
Another day of inactivity, despite the early morning snow. By the time I had surfaced it had all but melted. So nothing to report until the evening when we went to Untie Christines.
This years highlight game was the gymnast flip thingy, just look at the concentration:
It was fiendishly addictive:
But the real highlight was the present game, as gloriously random as ever:
I think it's fair to say the standard of prizes was on the whole higher this year, the standard of foil wrapping...not so much.
Thursday 28th
More nothing.
Oh, except ice skating for Dad and I, mum was still laid up and Ned couldn't be removed from his room. We timed it badly, the next skating session was a bit of a wait so we perused Asda, managing to find myself some rather lovely big fluffy warm slippers for Rhos.
Skating was really good, if a bit busy. I was really on it this time, everytime Dad looked round to see where I was I blew him away with a massive turn of speed!
Friday 29th
Nothing.
Room, you tube. That is all.
Guess what? Nothing.
Until the evening when Andy came round to look after us while Mum and Dad went to the theatre (mum's christmas present).
We had a cracking time, i showed him all my cool christmas stuff, we played with water balloons, we made pizza for tea and I stayed up really late.
Sunday 31st
And another day of.....nothing. This is far easier to write when nothing happens......
So that was the last day of 2017, no parties this year, no staying up until midnight either.
Monday 1st
Welcome to 2018!
Our Rhos trip is even closer and I'm ramping up the excitement to previously unimaginable levels.
We finally booked up to see Paddington 2 today, one of our main objectives over the Christmas break. Newbury only had one showing and that was full so it was a trip to the out of town cinema on Basingstoke instead, what a novelty! It was a brilliant film and we all loved it (even Ned, but don't tell anyone).
We went home and watched the final of the Worlds Strongest Man.....excellent.
Tuesday 2nd
So Dad's gone back to work leaving us lot at home still.
Mum still isn't feeling very clever and Ned, well he's in his room of course.
So it was nice to get a call from Auntie Christine to see if I wanted to go to the Panto at the Corn Exchange with her and Darcey and Auntie Trish (Poor old Laura was supposed to be going but she is ill too).
Mum and I spent the evening packing for Rhos....unpacking, re-packing and talking about packing and labelling my stuff.
Last day of the holidays......and it was actually dry and just about light enough for a bit of skateboarding:
First day back at school, I was really excited to go back so we could start talking about our Rhos trip!
Friday 5th
Last at school before...Rhos! We are all so excited and can't wait to go!
Saturday 6th
So we spent the morning doing the final bits of packing for my trip. With only one day to go it's finally almost very nearly here.
We went bowling in the afternoon which was great fun:
We then had a couple of games of pool too, with mixed success and a lot of laughs.
We stopped in at Waitrose on the way home to pick up some packed lunch specialities for tomorrows coach journey (chorizo and satay chicken).
We finally got round to having my reward for my recent good efforts at school so it was Domino's delivery tonight:
Then we watched some proper rubbish Saturday night TV, Catchphrase, Take me out and the Voice.
Sunday 7th
Well the big day was finally here, time to venture off to North Wales for a week! We all met up in the school hall, it was buzzing with excitement.
We handed our party food in, handed our purses in and hung around excitedly until it was time to load the coach up. I seemed to have one of the largest bags, but as Mum told me, looking as good as I do doesn't happen when you pack light!
The bags securely on board, next up it was us, so after a quick cuddle with Mum and Dad we took the stairs to find our seats. I got about halfway down the coach and sat with Sasha.
After a short bit of sitting, head-counting and getting settled we moved off, waving frantically out of the window as we left the Crescent. Heading for adventure and excitement and having to make our own beds and empty our own rubbish!
So that's me signed off for a week of radio silence!
Happy New year everyone.
So that's me signed off for a week of radio silence!
Happy New year everyone.
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