Category: Kids
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You Winchester, you lose some
I was chatting to one of the other parents at school yesterday morning and mentioned how little kid is totally obsessed with space, all day and every day. It’s literally the first thing he talks about when he wakes up, and he falls asleep watching Brian Cox videos. They had a special space day at school yesterday, too.
She helpfully suggested visiting the planetarium at Winchester, about an hour’s drive away.
I hadn’t thought about going anywhere outside of London.
Later yesterday afternoon I picked up my guitar for the first time in months, wiped all the dust off it, and strummed the chords to one of my old band’s songs, written by the singer who, coincidentally, hails from Winchester.
By evening, I’d forgotten all about school mums, planetariums and old mates, and I was more concerned about finishing my book and finding out whodunnit?
On page 306 of my book, right in the middle it said (in all CAPS and bold):
WINCHESTER
I checked out the planetarium and ordered four tickets for a nice family outing during half-term .
This morning I told little kid about it and he said he didn’t want to go.
Cleaning up
Big kid has been on lunch monitor duty at school for the past couple weeks. He enjoys making sure his little bro is all right, and, it turns out, cleaning up all the mess the little kids make. So much so that the headteacher commended him for his efforts.
Yesterday, on the drive to somewhere near enough to school for them to scoot in from, big kid announced:
“Dad, when I’m older, I’m going to clean up this town!”
I said it’s a big job and suggested he might want to think about starting now, and starting with the streets around the school with some of his friends. Fortunately, there’s a local group who already do just that.
It would be good to get started when the school street starts next month.
Too good to be true
This week at school my proud Digital Leader presented a school assembly on the dangers of the internet, and in particular too-good-too-be true offers.
Last night I got a notification that he’d spent £8.99 on his Kobo, using his £2 a week pocket money account. Which was odd as I could have sworn he was in bed with his kid brother watching space videos at that moment.
A quick investigation found that last month he’d subscribed to a free trial of “READ EVERYTHING YOU WANT!!!” Kobo Plus, and his trial has ended.
We had a little talk and, suitably humbled, I reimbursed his £8.99.
Kids are enjoying scooting into school in the mornings.
I’m like some retired secret service security detail chasing after them shouting “SLOW DOWN!” and “IT’S NOT A RACE!” and (to the big one) “LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER BEFORE YOU CROSS THE ROAD!” and “NOT THAT SHOULDER!” and (to the little one) “MIND THAT OLD LADY!” and “USE YOUR BRAKE!” and (to myself) “AAARRRGGGHHH!!!”
All in a day's housework
Busy day so far.
New school street comes into effect next month, so to prepare this morning we parked away from the school and the kids scooted in with me chasing after them on my flat feet.
Need to teach little kid how to use his brake.
Had to pop into the school office to ask for a parents' evening form.
Went to Tesco to buy the items that Waitrose couldn’t deliver later.
No time for breakfast, instead peeled, chopped and boiled spuds, chopped and fried onions with lentils, prepared carrots and leeks for honey-roasting, cut broccoli florets for steaming, mashed potatoes and spooned on to onions and lentils mixed with gravy and HP sauce in a baking dish, grated Red Leicester to go on top.
Emptied our general waste bin, wet and dry recycling bins, and the food bin.
Unblocked the kitchen sink with the plunger.
Put my laundry away.
Washed up.
Put the groceries away.
Time for a late brunch.
Little kid, arising from his potty:
“Dad, take the wee in the potty and put it in the toilet.”
Talk about taking the pee!
Wife beefed about the beef (“too salty”) and the horseradish (“tastes like jalapeno flavoured toothpaste”), but otherwise enjoyed the “perfect” roast potatoes and the veggies.
Kid A said he would try the tiniest piece of beef along with some cabbage, but ate neither.
Kid B said, “Maybe yesterday”.
