Day 123: Thursday 11th July

Had a lovely day yesterday.

The simple pleasure of coming away from the municipal dumping ground with an empty car and trailer. All the bags of mouldy garden waste (non-compostable), nasty stinky old soil, half a ton of rubble, chipboard offcuts (too small to make into anything) and some sun-degraded sacks that have outlived their useable life. Mr 1957 has a trade waste licence for the tip, so this was a new adventure for me.

This was followed by cups of tea in the sunny garden, and some much-needed quiet time for thoughts, forward planning and bunny-watching.

C2 enjoyed his experience of an archaeological dig - his class visited the town market place, where, prior to redevelopment, the powers that be decided to excavate UNDER to find out 'stuff'. To the disappointment of C2 there were no raptor bones, but there was a lot of broken pottery, glass, metal bits and coins. 

Closely followed by C2 having to retire early due to heatstroke. 12 hours of sleep later, and 2 bottles of water consumed, he is fine.

C1 had a most excellent time at her annual school sports day - a 1st in the long jump, 2nd in 200m, 3rd in 700m, 3rd in tug-of-war, and 4th in the obstacle course. And that's it! Good times for C1.

The children and I are embarking on a new way forward - involving respect, calm and listening. The consequences of not involving these things in our lives  will be swiftly issued, and they know that. All seems good on day 1. Now the challenge for me is to 'keep to the paths'.

The day was completed by a visit from my friend TeenyWeeny, who's other 'arf has a trailer, into which the dismantled bed and wardrobe fitted nicely, to be turned into some raised bed thingys on her allotment. The swap was complete by TeenyWeeny giving me 4 of her very healthy cucumber plants. 

Today is looking good too. Washing being done. Children fed, watered, and off to school in a minute, and a spot of 'craft-drooling' at an old needle factory in a nearby town, and further drooling at a 2nd-hand-furniture emporium in the same town with my buddy H. 

I have to add, also, that this morning I hit the 8 stone off marker. 
Happiness doesn't come close to how it feels.