Loving the rain at the moment......

Because it means that the sewage blockage  at the rear of our property gets washed away by the rain!

It really is rank - we have been promised though, that they will start work on the rotting sewage pipes next week.

Anyway.


We got a new cat

Bettie

There was an add in the local newsagents to say that Bettie needed a new home, so we went to meet her and she took to us immediately, so we bought her home.

Our other cat was a bit annoyed to say the least, but she seems to be getting used to her now.

Amelia

Athletics

D won the Devon School Trials, with a great throw of 32.68, which puts him in the top 20 for his age group in the UK, and No 1 in the South West. He now goes onto the Devon Championships in June.

H.E.
B took her first ever exam - iGCSE English (Specification B).  She thinks she did OK, but as always, its difficult to tell.  She is now having the weekend off before making a start revising for her GCSE Maths exam..

J has been busy, with his new reading books and jigsaws, drawing, playing and baking

Making Jam Tarts

We made the most of the nice weather, making time to go to the allotment, where J has his own patch

Planting Potatoes

Watering

Digging

Also went to the sea-side, where J had a great time in the play area next to the beach

Climbing

On the Swan Pedal Boat with his Dad

Enjoying an ice cream

(its worth mentioning that we didn't get this ice cream from our usual place, because in one of the raging storms during the Winter, the Ice Cream Kiosk we normally visit almost got washed into the sea

To top it off, an old military smoke grenade was then found underneath, which dated back to the Second World War!

I'm off now to prepare for J's birthday tomorrow, B has made him an amazing Sponge Bob Square Pants Cake, which I will post a photo of  when finished!

Autonomy, gardening and Trials (of the sporting kind)

I cannot say that the last four months (since my last blog post) has gone to plan with regards to J's Home Education Plans.

But I think I have given up on that.

So I guess we are completely Autonomous.

We started allotmenting about two months ago, and J has learnt a great deal while there.All different kinds of mini beasts and various plants and we have almost got to the point of digging over most of the allotment, once this is done he will have his own patch to tend to, where he would like to plant pumpkins in time for Halloween and carrots for Rudolph at Christmas.  He also has his own spade and rake, along with garden gloves.  He also spends a lot of the time there playing with his action figures, and hurdling over bamboo sticks!

Plan to print out a few identification sheets for insects before our next visit, and he is always referring to various Characters from James and the Giant Peach, which I think we may start reading again, after I have finished reading him Charlotte's Webb, which I am starting this evening.

J spends a lot of time drawing, sometimes from Tutorials online.  He recently copied this from an online Simpsons Tutorial

We have also been watching Astronomy programmes, and we are currently watching Earth's Extraordinary Jouney on BBC2.

With regards to reading and writing, he going at his own pace, and we are not making him sit and practice his reading and writing every day, that will come when his is ready and willing.  Having watched the other two start learning to read at age 7 without any problems I am not particularly  worried, and am more confident this time around.

So going OK, apart from I really would like to do more Science Experiments with him each week, so must get my act together in that area.

Teens.

B is studying away, ready for her iGCSE English exam which she will take soon, as well as still holding down a part time job.

D is studying, not as intensely as B, as he will take his first two next year.

The Rugby season has now come to an end, D and M have really enjoyed  playing and coaching, but are both in need of a rest now I think.  D has recently been selected for Front Row training by the Devon School of Rugby, and has been asked back for further training in the summer, so about a months break and it will all start again.

In the meantime the Athletics season has started, and D threw in his first Discus Competition of the year yesterday, throwing a PB of 30.03.  Wednesday will see him at the Devon School Trials, which is a great achievement for Home Educators as I had to go through all sorts to get him there. Eventually though it has all been sorted, and he will be taking part will all of the other Devon Schools.

So a busy month ahead, exams, trials and of course J's birthday!!!