It has been a busy couple of weeks again for us, sadly mainly due to work for me, but we have managed to squeeze in a couple of days out here and there.
Sunday 11th August
One of our favourite summer days out is the Sunflower Trail in Dorchester and this year I promised Mum that I would take her along.
It has grown since our last visit and there is more to see and do for the kids. Sebby especially liked finding all the answers to the questions along the trail, whilst Lilah tried to find the biggest sunflower she could find.
It is only open for a couple of weeks a year, so if you want to visit you had better be on it, as the sunflowers will be starting to wilt soon.
Monday 12th August
An early start for me at work and I tried (and failed) to take a picture of the sunrise glinting through the trees.
I have a charity bookshelf at work and last month we raised money for a local kids football team. They arrived in store in their kits to collect their money and were over the moon with what we raised.
Isaac and Eliza started their Musical Theatre summer school and have been learning songs from Everybody’s Talking about Jamie.
Tuesday 13th August
Sebby has been struggling with hay fever / allergies this year and is undergoing tests to see what is causing it. We have an air purifier that we have been using which helps, although the kids find it far more fun to blow the air up their t-shirts.
Day two of the Musical Theatre course and today’s songs were from Mean Girls, much to Eliza’s delight.
Wednesday 14th August
Another day of singing for the kids and this time they were learning songs from Wicked.
Sebby was also off, but this time to his new school for some team building sessions to meet some new friends. He came home disappointed that football had been cancelled due to the rain, but he made shortbread instead.
In the evening I went out for a celebratory meal for my friend’s 50th birthday at Renoufs, a local cheese and wine venue. The food doesn’t look much but was amazing!!
Thursday 15th August
The final day of learning new songs and today’s musical was Damn Yankee’s.
Another day out for me. My friend bought me a gin distilling workshop for my birthday, so we headed to the New Forest to Wyrd Gin to create our very own flavours of gin.
I am the first to admit that I am not the most creative of people, but I really enjoyed sampling flavours and turning my hand to making my own gin. I have to admit, it tastes amazing and I am very proud of my handy work.
Friday 16th August
Isaac and Eliza’s final day of prep before their show on Saturday and both were excited to have solo’s.
It was also Sebby’s last day at his summer school, where he has made some new friends ahead of starting school. He also managed to win a couple of the challenges and was chosen as a team leader for his team – probably as he knows his way around the school already thanks to his brother and sister.
Saturday 17th August
A busy day for me as I had work, Sebby had a hospital appointment for a blood test and Show day for the other two!!
Sebby was really brave and they were so good with his blood test that he didn’t even realise they were doing it. We went to Smiths after where he chose a new Deddy bear as a reward.
From there it was back into Poole to watch Isaac and Eliza in their show.
Everyone was amazing and it was incredible what they managed to put together in less than a week. My favourite routine was from Damn Yankees as it was fun and the kids looked like they were having a blast.
Even more proud of Eliza who won a scholarship to next years summer school, for stepping in as an understudy at the last minute and knowing all the words and routine to Mean Girls. I won’t tell them its been on repeat in my car for about 6 months LOL.
Sunday 18th August
A work day for me and thankfully, despite the nice weather, we weren’t too busy.
It feels like we he haven’t had many barbecue’s this summer, so as the weather was nice, I picked up sausages and burgers after work so we make the most of it before the weather turns.
Monday 19th August
An early day at work again for me and was busy as we had workmen in store moving our scanner wall overnight and they left a bit of a mess.
In the evening, we were lucky enough to be invited to review Sister Act the Musical Tour at Bournemouth Pavilion, which was even better than I remembered.
Tuesday 20th August
Kian’s 24th birthday!
Sadly I had to work and he lives in Bristol, so we didn’t get to see him.
In the evening we headed back to the Pavilion as Eliza was off to see Sister Act with her friend, whilst we stayed in town and played crazy golf at Mr Mulligans, where I re-took my crown as champion.
Wednesday 21st August
My last work day for a week and I am looking forward to some time off.
My only picture from today is of Willow, who was enjoying some time romping around the lounge.
Thursday 22nd August
GCSE results day!
We are so proud of Isaac who passed all his exams with a mix of 7’s, 6’s and 5’s and a BTECH Merit (I still prefer A, B, C’s). He is staying at his school for sixth form and will be studying performing arts, music and maths.
Isaac and his group of friends have always gathered in the same spot before starting school and we joked that they needed a blue plaque for the wall, so I had one made for their final photo.
We then headed to Bristol to see Kian, where we celebrated his birthday with a visit to Wake the Tiger, an out-of-this-world experience, where the kids could explore, complete challenges and in Eliza’s case, find her ideal bedroom.
Friday 23rd August
The kids are always jealous that my husband and I go out for breakfast when they are at school, so instead of a GCSE celebration evening meal, we went out for breakfast instead.
The day got more expensive from here as we bought Eliza and Sebby school shoes and Isaac his new suit for sixth form. Thank goodness for M&S sales!!
Saturday 24th August
The weather is rubbish again, so we spent the day indoors watching Inside Out 2 – Eliza did venture out to buy popcorn with Dad and ended up bringing a pineapple home?????
How was your week?
The sunflower trial looks like a great day out.
It sounds like the kids had fun with the musical theatre summer school and put on a great show.
Poor Sebby, I have really suffered with hay fever this year. I hope you get to the bottom of what it is with him.
What a great gift to make your own gin.
Happy birthday to Kian and well done to Isaac with his GCSE’s. The blue plaque did make me chuckle, what a fun idea. x
Sounds like it’s been a busy but fun few weeks. Love the idea of summer school to meet up for new kids although I don’t think I’d have got N there during holidays if his school did one. I’m not a big gin drinker, but I like the thought of making my own flavour gin. That’s a good gift. Well done Eliza for her scholarship and Isaac on his results.
The sunflower trail sounds like a lovely day out. The musical theatre summer school sounds like it was fun as does making your own gin. Glad it turned out so well. Well done to Sebby on coping well with his blood test, and to Isaac and Eliza on their summer school show – especially Eliza with winning a scholarship for next year. Hope Kian had a nice birthday. Well done to Isaac on his GCSE results – lots of things to be proud of for you this week! #project365
Well done with the fund raising for the football kit. Hope the air purifier works for Sebby and the Gin making session sounds a lot of fun. Well done to Isaac with his GCSE’s and a Happy Birthday to Kian. What on earth possessed the purchased of a pineapple?