Turnaround Tuesday.

Tuesday was Forest School, which surprised me as it has more often been on Thursdays before. Just as well I’d checked my calendar an evening or two before, otherwise we’d have missed it completely, and that would have been very annoying.

So I dragged children out of bed early (for them anyway) and chivvied them along so that we’d have time to pop into Tesco for suitable food for cooking on an open fire. Even though they very much enjoy Forest school, neither of them are into the idea of changing state, which makes leaving the house problematic. Achieved it and bought marshmallows, veg hot dogs and hot dog rolls, and headed down to the country park, arriving with time to spare for toilet trips 🙂

As usual, I was fire monitor, and this time the ranger had even brought me safety goggles to keep the smoke out of my eyes. A very thoughtful touch 🙂 We baked charcoal made from willow sticks in a tin on the fire, and then Big made a pencil by hollowing out an elder twig and feeding the charcoal through.

Small made a variety of tree decorations out of clay and saw a newt, which tied in nicely as the previous day’s Great lesson had finished at amphibians. Fire cooked hot dogs were good (although I cremated the second batch, oops), even Small enjoyed one. I enjoyed two 😀 And the ranger had brought tea, which I’d forgotten yet again, so I got a cuppa too.

We didn’t hang around at the end of the session, except to recruit an apprentice fire marshal, who will work with me assuming I manage to struggle into the woods for the next session, and then take over after that. We had to get back as I had my final TMA for MST121 to finish off, and swimming after that.

So did maths, put it into an envelope and then went to queue in the PO on the way to swimming, to be told that there’s a postal strike and it wouldn’t get there in time. Sigh. Wish I’d known that *before* we waited over five minutes while the post office lady arranged her next hair appt with the customer before us. (On the one hand I love that there is that level of community in the town, on the other hand, I’m in a hurry here!)

Took the TMA with us and went to swimming. Small’s group has shrunk again – there are now 6 red hats rather than the threatened 11. That seems to work better for him, and he is definitely making progress, although apparently he uses breaststroke legs when he’s on his back instead of kicking them. Needs to work on that 🙂

Didn’t see any of Big’s lesson – by the time we got out to the viewing area it was packed and we couldn’t get near the edge, and then Small needed the toilet anyway. Apparently she is struggling with breaststroke and needs more practice. Fortunately we arranged a swimming session with Small’s friend P, who has now moved up into the yellow hats group that runs before his red hats, so we only see them on the changeover.

Came home with tired children and fed them pasta (but with broccoli) and then slotted them into bed. Rang my tutor to ask if it was OK to bring the TMA over later, and found out that she was away anyway, so first thing in the morning would be acceptable.

And that was Tuesday. Bit more hectic than I would have liked, but a good day overall.