Christmas reflections

I haven't posted for a while, and for a number of reasons.
The first, simply practical- our computer died again! Whilst we still had Internet access for emails and online activities, trying to 'write' on a phone or notebook just doesn't work for me!
The second, was adjusting to JK being at school, and Madi and I finding new ways of working.
The third was just how busy it gets in December!

So what have we been doing since my last post?

Madi made her promise and was invested as a Brownie. She is very proud to be in the Kelpie six, the same as I was all those many, many moons ago! I showed her my badge on my camp blanket, and we both had a good giggle at how simplistic and old-fashioned it is compared with hers!

At Chesterfield group we made Christmas tree decorations out of FIMO- thank you Andrea

After much waiting, Madi had her first clarinet lesson. She has enjoyed her piano lessons very much, and has a lovely teacher, but since watching Orchestra United together, she has been desperate to take up the clarinet. After our experiences of her waiting a year to take up archery but still being very committed I was less hesitant this time, but unfortunately we still had to wait for her front teeth to come through! They aren't quite there, but long enough to manage, and I am very proud of how hard she is trying. It is a lot harder to get a note out of a clarinet than a piano, but she is setting herself difficult targets, and working hard to achieve them.

Also new in December was the climbing wall. Organised by friends in the Nottingham HE community, Madi was a little unsure when we arrived, but after trying it out definitely wants to go again!

We also enjoyed a visit to Tuxford Mill with other HE families from North Nottinghamshire. After finding out how the windmill worked, we brought home some wholemeal self-raising flour which we used to make cheese scones. Absolutely delicious!

Flic and Jem bought plain flour to make soda bread, so we are going to swap later!

The end of November and beginning of December brought snow, and many regular activities and special events were cancelled. We were particularly disappointed to miss out on tree planting, the dance school presentation, and a carol service with Sunday Club, but we did have lots of fun in the snow, and the big District Brownie party still went ahead!

So did the RYSC performance.

Madi needed to have ringlets for the show, which was definitely a struggle! With grateful thanks to Lesley, we had tried hot irons and curlers but after no success went back in time and tied her hair up with rags, which was not a popular option, but, after all, one must suffer for one's art!

We'd all been asked to bring sweet items to add to the after-show buffet, and Madi was quite determined that we should make something vegan. We went with gingerbread biscuits, and had a lot of fun icing them.

The venue was packed, and the show was excellent, but it was a very long day and we were both very tired as we caught the bus back out of Nottingham.

Only to go back the following day when we walked around the Christmas market and talked about the foods from different countries available, including tasting Wurst and Paella. We also found an 'old-fashioned' sweet shop and talked about the differences (and similarities) between the sweets I used to have, and those Madi picks. We also chose some for Grandad for Christmas.

We then joined up with HE families across the East Midlands for the panto! It was fantastic to watch, but even more fantastic to see Madi and her friend A singing and dancing along!

JK's birthday was a fairly quiet affair this year. He would have been on a Scout sleepover but unfortunately it was cancelled because of the bad weather, and he didn't want to make any alternative arrangements.

That same week, Madi went to a fantastic birthday party for her friend L from drama, and also with Flic and Jem to see the new Narnia film- Voyage of the Dawntreader. We also managed to get to Game On, a group we used to attend regularly but clashes with RYSC.

On 'Christmas Eve Eve' as Madi describes it, we traditionally meet up with two other families. This year we made Christmas tree biscuits, played table tennis and computer games, had a delicious shared lunch, and created a lovely 'Get Well Soon' card for the poorly girl that couldn't join us.

Sadly my car didn't return from that visit!