Houses of Parliament

Alexander went with Constance this morning when she met our M.P., Derek Conway, to hand in a petition against the Government's plans for home educators. Mr Conway was very pleasant and helpful and gave them a tour of the Houses of Parliament.

These photos were taken by his assistant, and emailed to Constance a few hours later.

Thursday 26th November

We are busy with various home school projects on the First Thanksgiving, and Lucy is cooking dinner - turkey, corn, sweet potatoes, green beans and pumpkin pie. I doubt our table will look as good as this:

but we still hope to enjoy it! We also have a lot to be thankful for.

Pizza Hut pics

My parents take the children to Pizza Hut on the last day of their visit, which this year co-incided with Henry's 10th birthday. We took some photos.

Henry, with Max - having had toooooo much ice cream!

JuJu
Lucy, Anni, Seb, Mom, Henry



Group pic

Anne, my sister, left London at 1600 hoping to get home at 2100; but a landslip at Preston meant that her train was very much delayed.

Mom and dad travelled overnight, and thankfully, their sleeper train got through from London to Inverness, only a little delayed.

Given the news reports of terrible weather, we have so much to be thankful for. It is sad to read about the police officer who lost his life while helping people caught up in the flooding.

Travel disruption is one thing, but loss of life is quite another.

Parents' visit

My parents are in Kent for their (annual, almost) visit to see the grandchildren. They haven't been down since March 08, so there is a real difference in the size of some of the children.

They arrived this morning and came to see us this afternoon. We hope to see them a couple more times, God willing. Anne is also with them, and it was good to see her again too. Jeremy took most of the photos today. Julius, Anne, Max, Henry, and Alex; below Alex and my dad

Anni, mom and dad

Mom, dad, Alex

Anne

Dad, Alex, me

Jem, Seb, Anni and mom; below; dad.

Seb, RJ, Mom

Clothes

I've been sorting through some children's clothes recently and if anyone can use boys' "dress" winter coats (only used for church) ages 2, 3 and 5; or girl's dress woollen jackets ages 5/6 7/8 (all ex John Lewis) do let me know via comments (I won't publish comments so feel free to leave your address).

More Remembrance

More pictures - poor quality, need to fix my camera issues. We've done some studies based round WWI, Armistice Day and the Poppy. I took the younger six to our local War Memorial where they left their poppies.

Joseph and Henry reading the inscription which read:

"Dedicated the memory of all those from Sidcup and District who passed out of the sight of men in the Path of Duty"

Remembrance Day

Yesterday was Remembrance Day. We will do some study on the history of Remembrance Day this week, and last week bought poppies for everyone to wear. Hopefully we'll visit our local war memorial. We don't know anyone directly involved in the British Military; but we are thankful for them and the sacrifices that they and their families make for us and for our freedom.

I know there are debates about whether UK troops should be in Iraq or Afghanistan, but whatever the political decisions, it is good that there are soldiers who are willing to risk their lives to fight.

I recently met (only briefly) a couple whose 25 year old son had been injured in Afgahistan in the last few months. He is still in hospital, recovering (in as much as one does recover) from having lost both his legs in a land mine incident. Meeting real people who are personally affected by the wars, does bring it more home to us.

Freedom is not free.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Fireworks again

More pics - but poor quality, camera was low on battery, and it is hard to get pics in the dark without an SLR. Mhairi and Leonidis.

Lucy, Jemima and JoE
Children entranced

Ann and Jonathan

Alexander and Roarke

These are tapers, not cigarettes :-)

Alexander and Max on the bus: my oldest and my youngest children, sharing a moment. . .

Fireworks pics

At the bus stop: Seb, Anni and Henry; with Luce behind them.

JoE at the bus stop


And a close up, at the bus stop - Conni, Luce, Henry and Seb - with Buzz in the background, and JP behind Henry.

Fireworks

We had a great time tonight, went to a home educators' (home-schoolers') get-together, with food, friendship and fireworks.

The kids really enjoyed it, esp the littler ones who prob don't get out to quite as many social things as the older ones. (You know the principle, "you can't home school if you are never home"?)

I thought it was a really good home ed occasion, everyone mixed and I didn't see any anti-social behaviour or anyone being upset/angry/diffficult etc, they all just mixed and mingled and had fun. Children and young people from 18 down to 4 months; a few dads, and young moms, older moms and at least one grandma.

My camera battery was dying so my pics are pretty rubbish, but I'll add a few in here. Have put more on Facebook; it is easier to add pics on FB than on Blogger.

I talked a little to a lady with two children (3 and 1?) who made me feel a bit of a fake cos I have 12 dc and she thinks I am superwoman, when in reality, like I tried to say to her, once you are a parent, it is a 24 hr job, no matter how many children you have.

I'm not a greater or better parent because I have more children. Maybe a busier parent, but not a better one. The lady was asking very directly about home ed and exams etc - I usually try to avoid these questions, since those who need to know already do, and those who ask usually don't really want (or need) to know.

Pics to follow.

More Photos

Buckingham Palace

On our way to lunch

St Paul's

Buckingham Palace

Boudica, Queen of the Iceni, who rebelled against the Romans

London Aquarium; housed beneath the old County Hall building

Cleopatra's Needle - the oldest momument in London, c. 3000 yrs old, gifted to London by Egypt to mark the victory of Lord Nelson at the Battle of the Nile.

Tower of London, below

Big Bus Company

Big Ben and below the London Eye

HMS Belfast - which could shoot a 100 pound shell fourteen miles in 40 seconds. Wow!

A replica of Shakespeare's Rose Theatre.

The Tower of London

The offices of the London Mayor (very near where Julian and Alexander work)

On Saturday we took American friends on a Big Bus Company ­Big Bus Company tour of London. It is a good way of briefly seeing most of the famous sights. Although the day started off rather dull, the sun finally came out and Julian got some good photos.

We also had a river cruise as part of the trip; and had we had time, could have gone on several walking tours as well.

MiniBeasts

I'm just back from the library - should have taken my camera. Jemima, Joseph, Henry, Anni and Seb went to a MiniBeast Session. They got to see/handle a terrapin, a toad, a corn snake, giant snails, and hermit crab.

Then I came in towards the end of the session with Max and Julius (who were too young to be there the whole time), and they got to see and handle a giant millipede, some stick insects and some very big stick insects.

Then the man running the session brought out a tarantula. I couldn't look at it at all; but managed to hold on to Max's hand while he stroked it. The library staff were amused at my determination to fix my gaze on the carpet at the other side of the room. Anni was a bit worried that I was worried, and Julius was none too keen on the creepy crawlies either, but the others were fascinated.

It's great to live so near such a great educational resource.

Photos

Conni and LJ en route to London, below, and in the West End above.

Conni with Juilan the night before her birthday.

Boys at the library - you can see the dark shadow on Julius's right eye from his skull fracture.

Playing times tables snap - Julius was more interested in the laptop in the background, I think he was playing Education City.

Monday again

I really don't do catchy post titles, do I?

Anyway, back to Monday. We only remembered late on Sat night (I know, we are a bit out of touch) that the clocks went back, and therefore we had an extra hour in bed. Grateful to Facebook (and Ann!) for the nudge.

Last week was very very busy.

Among other things; on Wednesday some of the children had a Chatterbox session at the library; and on Thursday the younger children also had an art/reading session there.

Julian had to go to a work meeting/dinner on Thursday, which meant he wasn't home till late, and on Friday Conni turned 17, so I took her and LJ into the West End of London, for a trip round Harrods, just general tourist-type sight-seeing. Great fun, but next time, don't wear high heels :-)

Six of the children had a football class with home ed friends; while LJ spent a couple of hours helping out at another home ed friend's house.

Plus there were swimming lessons; body combat class at the gym; Alexander was at the House of Lords, and several children were at gym tennis.

And it was my mom's birthday. As well as the birthday of a good friend, Carolyn. The postal strike has wreaked havoc with our card-sending plans, but cards are on their way.

And on Saturday Conni was helping out at an evening event with the older ladies who run the charity shop she helps out in, and the disabled adults (who are cared for by the charity) and their carers). (And she was helping out on Sat at the charity shop).

There were prob other things going on too. . .but I've prob forgotten, it has been so busy.

Photos to follow.