Fundraising for my sons' school got off to a slow start, mainly because the school was slow in sharing the online fundraiser with the school-to-parents messaging app, and then when they did share it they forgot to attach the link to make it clickable. As soon as they made it clickable and shared it again we got £190 in donations in one day. I’ve asked the school to keep sharing as “every day you share the school gets £200!”

My boy got his picture taken for the local council propaganda rag when they opened the school street this week.

Robin having a bath in the rainwater captured by the cover of the kids' sandpit.

Big kid can breathe again.

Plan to ban smart phones in schools scrapped by MP: bbc.com

Big kid brought home a June 1983 copy of National Geographic from the school library today (I said it needs an update!).

Auto-generated description: A National Geographic cover from June 1983 features an image of space with the Horsehead Nebula and list of articles inside.

Some things never change.

A comment and a response discuss perceptions of bias in a National Geographic article on the Beirut destruction in February 1983, with differing views on anti-Semitism.

Big kid has got a place at our first choice high school for September. His best friends are all going to different schools - some by choice, others who didn’t get their first (or second) choice.

Hopefully I can get some grant funding for youth work at the local church, so they can all meet up there after school and maintain their friendships.

I’m raising money for my sons' school’s Parent Teacher Association to give to the school to help cover the cost of a lovely 70th Anniversary mural and a new look library.

If you’d like to donate and can afford to do so, you can do that here.

A wall display featuring a historical timeline sits alongside bookshelves filled with children's books and games.

First time I stopped and really noticed this at my kids' school.

Auto-generated description: A colorful illustration features one person holding a sign that says Stop for a moment while another, holding a flower, says Really notice things. Auto-generated description: A person stands in a colorful, abstract landscape holding a sign that reads Accept what is happening under a bright sun. Auto-generated description: A drawing features two figures under a cloud and blue sky, with one holding a question mark and speech bubble saying Be curious, while the other holds a sign stating Be Kind. Auto-generated description: A colorful mural featuring cartoon figures is displayed on a school wall surrounded by various outdoor furnishings and play equipment.

Bloody hell! Porridge Radio are calling it a day.

Relaxing morning with the kids.

I’m sucking on stray lumps of Red Leicester while stirring the rest of the grated cheese into thickened white sauce, monitoring the macaroni simmering in the other pan (for big kid and me), and checking on sausages in the oven (for little kid).

Big kid is playing Minecraft with a friend and little kid is exploring space on his tablet.

Wife is having her morning nap.