This year has been super-weird for all of us - not least for the kids at school. Ewan and Faye were home schooling - Ewan ended up going two days a week and Faye once a week. Ridiculous times. Ewan didn't have the standard school leaving party, this time it was a drive-thru event, which ended up being quite emotional.
New versions of Windows 10 - as installed on my new HP Pavilion, don't come pre-loaded with the very handy basic Windows movie-maker app, so I had to find another video editing programme. I ended up with the NCH Software video editing thing because I use their software for transcription purposes, I thought it would be easy as pee to use but I haven't figured it out yet. So sorry, this is very basic. Ewan said wanted to make a tutorial video today, after watching the BBC's Art Ninja programme ...
Well it's the Queen's 90th birthday today - we might go down to South Norfolk Council grounds this evening for their special birthday bash celebrations - always good for a laugh. Ewan had a special message for her this morning but I doubt she'll ever see it!
I took these candid shots of him on Tuesday after school, when he asked to go and play in the park by himself (his sister was at school doing extra-mural activities). He's got a few friends now and has started venturing out on his own to play with them. I only took photos of him not the other kiddies.
I made myself this midi-length kaftan type top for summer today - it's from lovely material I bought in Norwich about two years ago!
Good luck in your new home!
David and Mags will be moving into their new house soon. For those that don't know, the address is:
41 Kruin Street, Klopper Park, 1610, Gauteng, South Africa.
Get well soon!
My auntie Barbara had another knee op this week, I understand she's doing okay and I hope to speak to her soon when she's back home.
Another Get well soon!
Leigh went into hospital yesterday with suspected contractions - she's still in hospital on a drip and antibiotics as I type this - so hope everything is going well.
Last of the X-massy stuff, here are the videos of the big day.
2014's epic 50 minutes must have been a joy for everyone to watch. This year, to make it easier for youngster of today who are used to instant gratification, I have broken it up into smaller chunks.
In order of shooting - apart from the "thanks".
Important things first - Thanks...
Next up Xmas eve tomfoolery and dinner...
And then to Kiddies presents opening. First up is the presents they wanted to open on Xmas eve...
If you want to jump to specific spots (this is in the hh:mm:ss format).: Aunty Ally to Faye and Ewan (00:01:00), Faye to Ewan (00:02:33), Aunty Jean to Faye (00:03:18); Nana to Faye and Ewan (00:04:33).
More family presents on X-mas day...
Granny and Grandpa to Faye and Ewan (00:00:47), Oma to Faye and Ewan (00:01:55), Aunty Sharon and Uncle David to Faye and Ewan (00:02:55), Kevin and Hayzel to Faye and Ewan (00:03:52), Aunty Jean to Ewan (00:04:34), Ewan to Faye (00:05:40) and the Harrisons and Staraks to Faye and Ewan (00:06:00).
And finally, presents from Santa!
Faye and Ewan opened presents from Uncle Andrew, Aunty Leigh, Daniel, Peanut and Granddad on the afternoon of 24th while we were Skyping...
A drawing and colouring set for his comics he writes.
Remember to click on the YouTube logo on the video to watch them in YouTube on a bigger screen rather than the tiny screen on the blog.
Keep an eye out for the best (and fastest shepherd around). Sorry about the sound but 6 and 7 year olds just don't project when performing on stage).
Look for the prettiest African dancer in Faye's Christmas play.
Yip, that was a big disappointment.
For your December cat lols - the bug eating cat (sorry about the poo but the weather had been bad and Faye hadn't been out to pick it up for a few days).
Letters from Santa again this year...
Have you seen this monkey? Wanted for being the cutest monkey around.
As promised, a blast from the past - Santa's Holiday in South Africa...
Ewan has a favourite 'reader' and enjoys this one a lot. It's interesting watching him sound out the words phonetically and then say it perfectly.
And here's some pics of Daniel playing with his balls (er ... maybe I should rephrase that)
We are now going to be walking to school every morning (weather permitting), so that Nana can get rid of a bit of flab (well a lot of flab but let's not go into that here). Today, Faye rode her bike some of the way and when we got to her school, Ewan decided to sit down and do a bit of drawing. After Faye went into school, Ewan and I walked up the road to his classroom and then I walked home. It's a round trip of about an hour - so I should see some results after a month hey? :) God, I hope so.
Faye is doing cycle proficiency lessons at school every Thursday and at the end of it she does a test and then she's road legal.
Ewan starts football practice tomorrow after school (every Thursday) - his dad and mum went out and bought him some kit, including a Fifa World Cup soccer ball and shin guards this past weekend. It's going to be fun watching him play soccer. (You can't call it soccer in front of him, he insists that he's going to be doing 'football'). He wanted real football boots but that's not going to happen until he's been doing it for a while and is interested to keep at it.
There were lots of kiddies in the Birthday assembly today - 'scuse the sound and video clarity, it's difficult taking movies at the schools because parents get all hot and bothered that you might be taking a photo of their precious.
Ewan didn't know that he was going to be in the Birthday Assembly and also didn't know that I was going to be there. He seemed very shy today.
I used bubble wrap to make sausage curlers, rolled Faye's hair onto them yesterday afternoon and this morning took all the curlers out ..... voila, ringlets.
Whoever said the weather is crap in the UK was talking rubbish. I've just stood for an hour and a half in the blazing sun watching little kiddies do egg and spoon races and what not. It's definitely NOT cold here in Blightey ... we have a bit of cloud coming across now, which is a relief actually ... but the day has been gorgeous so far. Ewan had a lot of fun, even though he started the day off not wanting to do sports because he was terrified of 'cheating' in the egg and spoon race ... so sweet the way these little ones stress out about bugger all hey? Anycase, here are a few foties and little video - 'scuse my voice, I sound like a croaky frog ... because basically I have a croaking frog taking up lodgings in my throat.
