Fakenham

So to Fakenham for Jim's first experience of camping, and my first trip since Namibia in 2001. Having spent most of Thursday evening cramming every last cubic inch of the smax's considerable boot with assorted tents, chimineas, sleeping bags etc etc, it was with a certain amount of tension that we headed off on Friday evening. I had had a relatively stressful week at work, starting a new role after they ditched my smart grid team, and had been flirting with the idea of moving to a different company, so I perhaps wasn't as relaxed as I might have been. Still, we picked up the Jimster and the girls and got there in good time. Children very excited, and I don't think we got them to bed until about 10:30. All very chilled with Martin and Jerry, but of course I didn't make the most of it due to being in an unfamiliar environment with Jim, pitching tents etc. The boy was in his element, by contrast...

Went to bed not long after the boy and failed to sleep properly. Sleeping bag was annoying, tent was annoying and cold, inflatable mattress was annoying. I got airline-quality sleep before being woken by boy at 6, which was at least later than I had feared. Was inevitably exhausted and not on particularly good form, but C played rounders with the chillen while I crawled back into the tent and had an extra sleep. Felt a bit better by the time we headed for the beach at Wells.

I confess that I might have had a little sleep on the beach too. Wells beach is lovely but it was very windy which meant that if you sat in one place for very long you'd develop your own little sand dune. Kids were happy - Jim fascinated by jellyfish sighting, and we were... ok :-) We were lucky with the weather considering the general awfulness of the summer - one excitingly heavy shower in the morning that involved taking shelter in tents and then a brief smattering on the beach. After ice cream at Wells we went back to the camp site, showered, and went to the club house for pub food in lovely sun.

A much better night on Saturday, due to everyone being very tired (but children still happy and well-behaved) Was tucked up by 10:45 and Jim didn't wake until 8:15! Had a bad moment at 5 (in full daylight of course) when he woke up complaining of being cold, but I gave him an extra blanket and he went straight back to sleep. Excellent boy.

I should say of course that it has been a lovely new experience to share a tent with Jim, and he kept saying things like "daddy, camping is really fun!"

Next morning we packed up and went. There was a small incident with a head bump in the neighbouring wood. It was no more than 50 yards away, I had been in with them the first time, and there were loads of adults and children around that we knew, but I still felt guilty for letting him go with Amy and not accompanying. It would likely have made no difference had I been there - he slipped off a log while clambering over it, but still, what is the right thing to do? I felt it was a safe opportunity to let him off the leash a little, but I don't suppose his mother would agree... Anyway, the headbump was cured with judicious application of lollipop.

Easy journey home, then a relaxed afternoon, during which Min and Jim produced cute pictures of us all camping, at the beach etc.

 

 

Pant-related silliness

 

Wet summer garden

 

Town & country & tents

This was a two child weekend, as Amy was off in Aylmerton on some kind of school trip typothing. Amy is by no means the noisiest of them - quite the opposite in fact - but it somehow seemed quieter without her. Jim and Min played relatively amiably with the Lego all Saturday morning, and after cheese on toast we all trooped off down Mill Road to the town and country fair on Parker's Piece. Reflected that a year ago we'd have had all sorts of hassle with making them walk that far, especially from Minnie, but now not the slightest murmur of dissent. I was also struck by how much Jim remembers - he recalled getting inflatable balls last year for ringing the bell with the hammer and going down the helter-skelter which was just there. I suppose these are significant events in his little life, but how much will he remember long-term? Today Celia's Hannah was practicing her French at the table before her dad picked her up and Jim remembered he had had French lessons at nursery, and could say "vert" and "bonjour". That must have been well over a year ago. Strange how it works.

It was windy, and the kids loved the big hamster balls and the inflatable boats. Ice cream and, in my case, half a cider, was had.

Jim had turned up on Friday with a father's day card saying "Dad I love you because you have lots of Playstation games" and a key fob which he had chosen himself, but this morning there was lots of furtive goings-on upstairs and requests for sellotape etc. He eventually emerged with a tiny wrapped present, which turned out to be a carefully-crafted cube of blu-tack, the tube from the centre of the wrapping paper, upon which he had written "daddaddaddaddaddad" and an envelope containing a big piece of paper saying, in his own fair hand "dad I [heart] you. You are the besd dad in the werld". Aww, bless. I should say at this point that earlier in the week I had got a present from Amy and Minnie for father's day, which was a t-shirt saying "keep calm and get the beers in". It was Amy's idea and I was incredibly touched that they had thought of me.

On Sunday we had a fairly lazy morning, but then Min went off to have lunch with her dad. In the meantime Jim and I put up my/our new tent, in which he and I are going to suffer in Fakenham in two weeks' time. He really likes it. When C had returned we went to the Pear Tree in Hildersham for my fathers day treat. Nice lunch, and Jim was spectacularly good without third-party distractions. He liked his fish and chips, and ate his own weight in ice cream.

Quick sojourn in Scotsdales to look at the fish then to pick up Min from Eddie's party. Jim had a bit of a temper tantrum about something to do with water pistols. Ok afterwards though.

Amy returned on Monday tired but happy, and having "not missed anyone at all". She brought rock for Jim and Min.

 

St Ives walk

Free weekend so we decided, amongst other trivia, to go for a walk around St. Ives. It was lovely, and we were very lucky with the weather. It also included a couple of good pubs and a Thorntons ice cream shop, so we thought it would be a good one to take the grandparents and/or children on.

 

Jubilee weekend

A four day weekend, thanks to our hereditary overlords yay! In brief, kids arrived Friday, Saturday was Min's party at the Funky Fun House, Sunday we drove to CC to Mum and Dad's, Monday was mostly taken up by a visit to Warwick Castle and then back to Cambridge on Tuesday. Jim was troublesome on Saturday, and on Sunday a bit too. He was having a great deal of trouble with it being Minnie's birthday and her being the centre of attention, and was disruptive at her party, was grumpy when her cake was brought out etc. There was a certain amount of indulgence going on, which doesn't make it any easier for him, but still, it was difficult for C in particular. Minnie doesn't notice, as far as I can tell. Jim needs correcting on this, but it has to be done with sensitivity, given his situation. He was fine by Monday though.

 

Warwick Castle was packed on Jubilee Monday, but we all enjoyed it. Jim loved the jousting, and we saw the trebuchet being fired. Some trauma because of not being able to get into either the Merlin Tower or the dungeon due to them being booked out. The latter caused Amy to go off in a strop and we had to put out an APB for her. Momentarily worrying, but she's old enough to look after herself now so not as worrying as it might have been. 

 

It was good to see the folks as always, and the kids seem quite at home there now. We watched the rainy Thames procession on Sunday and the concert the next day. Min woken up by next door's fireworks, but Jim slept straight through. I've always said he'd sleep through a war.

 

Home again on tues, and the girls went back to James at 5. Unusually, Jim stayed an extra night, and I sadly took him back Wednesday morning. Quite nice to have him on his own for a change. He is different - obviously less distracted and generally more amenable. I suppose that would be the same for any of them.

 Min's sheep hat

Jim v impressed with Warwick peacocks.

 The Black Knight!