Just about surviving ...

... the school holidays. Crikey, it's hard work with a 5 year old boy, an only child in a small village with no other kids. He's just a bit too young yet to cycle down to the next village and play with his friends on his own. Either I have to go with him, or more likely, I have to play/entertain him at home. He's very good at playing on his own and I love to see him totally engrossed in his own 'play' world, but as it's been raining constantly for 4 weeks now (except today - at last), it's been quite a challenge to keep the ideas and activities flowing.

Last week we had a week at Centerparcs. O.M.G. NEVER AGAIN. I could give you a very, very long list of the things I didn't like about it, but I wont. I think we just chose the wrong holiday for us - although, thankfully, the boy did enjoy it - it's just that his parents didn't!

Anyhow, today I'm chambermaiding between visitors. Rushing round with the hoover and stuffing the washing machine full. Have had absolutely no time for anything creative so far these hols, so I'm sort of feeling a bit strange really. My creative mojo has temporarily taken a holiday, me thinks. there is just no time in the day for my activities and by the evenings I'm too knackered. Oh, woe is me! Still, only 3 more weeks to go ...

New life

These are just a few of the new arrivals over Easter ...

ickle lamb,

ickle chicks,

and ickle piggies!

Mildred, the sow, gave birth to 20 - yes, TWENTY! - piglets over Easter! Well done Mildred (and also well done George!) Poor old sow, her teets are hanging on the ground! Actually, 3 were still born and 5 were sadly squashed by her - but nature has her way - she only has 12 teets and 12 survived.

And this is a rather funny sign we came across yesterday on our walk - talk about a sign of the times - see the quad bike?!

Not much in the way of creativity over the Easter I'm afraid, due to our soujourn to see the family. I did manage to get 2 out of the 3 girls knitting though, which was a good result. However, the french knitting bobbins for the younger ones were no good - far to tricky for little fingers to master. I lost count of the amount of times I was asked to sort them out - with no stitches left on the pins!

School is back tomorrow, so hopefully I shall return to my usual activities this week. Let's hope the sun keeps shining, eh?