Drawing a line under the debt. Take two.

Drawingaline

So, went to London. Saw witness for the prosecution which was brilliant, we had amazing seats, booked through kids week. Fantastic play with a twist, had us guessing to the end, then discussing it over dinner! Then we went to see Come from away, a musical about the planes grounded in newfoundland after 9/11. I went prepared for it to be emotional, and omg it was :eek: truly an amazing show, but not sure it is one I will revisit soon. If it is still running next summer I may go again then. It was just so affecting and I think time is needed to process it.

Friday I took all the kids to Oxford, visited the botanic Gardens, I love it there and the girl wished she had taken her big camera as the tropical greenhouse wasn't as humid as the eden project so it wouldn't be steamed the lens. Then lunch at cosmos, everyone enjoyed that, even the smallest had a slice of pizza and some cake. Then last stop was the natural history museum and the pitt rivers museum. I adore the pitt rivers museum, its one of the most bonkers place I have seen. Then long walk back to the stsiion, te smallest held it together, but was struggling by then.

Saturday back to London with the boy and the smallest to see braniac live. The boy thought it was amazing, the smallest loved it until we wasn't chosen to go up on stage so at the end he was crying and upset. But no huge meltdown so taking that as a win. Didn't take the weird one as not sure he would have enjoyed it but wi ear defenders he would have loved it. Just enough silliness for him, will keep an eye out for any more tours. Paid £14 each for front row of the dress circle in the ticketmaster sale and it was a fab view.

Today has been a quiet one. Money wise I am pretty much out. Nothing left in the summer fund, but kids all kitted out, an went stationary hoppigg with the boy today. He is going into yr10 so got some bits for revision, he really needs to start some serious work.

This month I have a trip to see a play the girl is studying for her gcse, and need to sort stuff for my course which starts beginning of Oct. But other than that it is going to be lots of free things filling the weekends.

Drawingaline

A quick top up shop this morning so I had things or breakfast as attempting to get diet back on track. Then four jobs with the boy, absolutely whacked after a week off :eek: then a tenancy clean with the boss this evening, a pretty brutal one at that.

Anyway, two jobs tomorrow, then an afternoon with the kids somewhere local and free for them to run off some energy.

And the girl had finally done a whole chunk of her homework :rotfl: she is going into year 11 and is generally pretty good at getting work done, but she puts things off to the last minute, so glad she got stuck in. Maybe it was because I told her to tidy her room though? :rotfl:

Drawingaline

Weather was a bit grim yesterday so took the small ones into town for haircuts. Went to the library and ran into my sister. Haven't seen her for a month as we have both been so busy :eek: had a quick catch up.

Today, two jobs, then the weather was nice so escaped. Went to a local English heritage free site. Roman remains etc. Had a lovely walk around the area, will be revisiting I think.

All ready for to school tomorrow. The weird ones behaviour hs been awful these past few days, loads of attitude, and a lot of time spent on the trampoline, a sign he is stressed. Hopefully once he is back he will settle down a bit more. The smallest just seems resigned to going back. Breaks my heart, but know he will love seeing everyone again. The head sent a postcard through the post saying how much she was looking forward to seeing him. A lovely touch :T

All back tomorrow, three jobs for me. Going to be work getting back into the morning routine for everyone!

Drawingaline

School is back :j te smallest has not a great start, he is so stressed ad has reverted to a lot of his behaviours that he had stopped, but te jump to year 3 seems to have knocked him back. Not convinced the teacher will be the right one for him too. I didn't like her when she taught the boy, but she was actually fantastic for the wierd one last year so who knows? She is just a litlle more formal (and ks2 so to be expected) and I think the smallest is really missing his yr2 teacher. His one to ones have gone up with him, so I am sure after an adjustment period he will settle.

The wierd one has gone into yr6 :eek: have to apply for secondary next month. And college for the girl who went I to yr11! And the boy is now yr10, not sure where the years go :rotfl:

Financially not looking great atm. Really have to have a month with much less spending. However I have increased the food budget and am feeling happier not having to panic towards the end of the four weeks as I have no money and always missing some vital ingredient! I did a meal plan last week and it has worked well, will try and carry this on and then hopefully the food budget can start to drop again.

Anyway, it's Friday, going to enjoy te weekend.ay drive to a courtesy park tomorrow, would only be petrol ad parking costs. :T

savingholmes

Love all the theatre trips you've done. You sound like you are juggling your challenges well too.

Drawingaline

Thanks. Sometimes I don't feel like I am, feels like I am sinking.

However. Not doing a country park, hubby mentioned a local woods we used to visit a lot and we haven't for ages, it's only a 5min drive and no parking costs. And less time for the smaller to be away from home too.

Need to meal plan and do an online shop, change beds, tackle the washing mountain, and sort the house in general. Also need to do a big list/timetable for me and the kids. The boys needs to include homework/revision stuff alongside the chores too. Needs to be visual for the smallest two as well so no arguments about what needs doing when.

Drawingaline

Manage to get out. Diet went well and then had cider and ice cream. Oh well, all pointed, just not a lot of slack left points wise.

Foodshop ordered, all in budget, meal plan done for next two weeks, only a few fresh bits needed, lists in planner already. Goal to get kids eating more fruit is working, but has had an inpact on the food budget.

Anyway, clients Ironing done, will do ours tomorrow as still about three loads of washing to get through. Need to sit down with the kids and do a chore chart add revision planning for the boy.

Roast tonight, and may pop over to my mums this afternoon. However I don't sleep well ad the smallest had a nightmare and came into our bed at 3am. Normally he does 10mins then goes back OK, last night he decided to stay, so I had broken sleep as can't relax fully when he is with us. Been a lonf time since he has done this, going back to school has really affected him. So may just have a relaxing afternoon on the sofa instead.

savingholmes

Kids can be a challenge whatever their age. Transitions are often uncomfortable too. Hope you managed to chillax today.

Drawingaline

Didn't get to mums. Couldn't face it tbh, I have to have a lot of mental energy available to deal with her and I just didn't have the reserves.

Today should have been a nsd, unfortunately todaytix had a flash sale for Jamie the musical, my daughters absolute favourite stall seats £25 rather than £65 :eek: it was a flash sale so had to kind of jump on board. Have told her this is the last time I am buying tickets for it, any further viewings are at her own cost :rotfl: but having seen it twice in the g/c, both times quite restricted, decided I would treat her. Going 4th Oct after school, she has her first gcse exam on the 7th Oct, so will be a treat after all the revision.

Revision/homework timetable in place for the boy. Already moans. But I am staying strong. He does the bare minimum to get by, and atm his predicted grades are shocking. I don't care about him achieving high grades but I don't think he will scrape by with a pass with the attitude he has towards it atm. It's a worry. He has two years so will see how he goes.

On the other hand the girl has sorted out her own revision timetable for her first exam next month, very focused and very capable of getting high grades. They are chalk and cheese with school. Which is fine, academic work is not everyone's strong point, but life is easier if you pass first time.

Anyway he has a RE test next week so will have to add that in on top of the other subjects. It's not actually a lot of work, I just need him to get used to doing a small amount a day to make it a habit and his life easier in the long run.

Drawingaline

Omg, I am exhausted I have only sat down to eat today, been on the go since 6.30. Dropped husband at the station, unfortunately he got to his change point and no trains were running on the line he gets. If he was going into london he could have use the other London line, but he goes to one of the stops on the way and it just gets far too complicated. Anyway he got the train home and I couldn't get him as the girl and boy had left for school anno way the smalls will leave the house until the clock says exactly 8.30 :rotfl: we have a very very strict morning routine in order for everything to work, so husband getting back 10mins before we left did not go down well :eek:

Anyway the smallest a fab day at school, hoping it carries on with the other teacher for the rest of the week.

Work was fine, just draining. Boss called and askeme to help her out on Friday, really don't want to, but extra money and have no excuse not to really. And I need £1500 for the work being done to the house next month, so anything extra is being put aside for that atm.

Anyway, early night I think. The girl and boy completed their chores from the chore chart no problem, in fact the boy seemed keen, but I think he was using it to delay doing any work :rotfl: he is now doing some RE study so hopefully it will all continue.