Comings and goings

Grace is away at Army Camp for a few nights. She packed the biggest imaginable suitcase for three night's camping in the woods and has been mercilessly teased ever since. Apparently she and the other cadets took too long unpacking last night and so were woken up and marched to extra lessons at 10.30 pm, followed by a 6.00 am reveille. She sent me a text this morning saying 'It's so so so good here.' Funny, strange creature. 

According to the teachers who take them, the behaviour of kids on these mini Army camps is always impeccable. They keep their dorms tidy, their kit organised and their uniforms smart, they help the teachers, are engaged in the activities and totally switched on. There's something about putting on all that army gear, having clear boundaries set by Army rules and the expectation of hard work, teamwork and commitment. The children thrive on it. Interesting .... Interesting also that putting on school uniform doesn't seem to have the same effect.

On Sunday morning Tom leaves for three nights up north, abseiling, potholing and caving, as well as a day at a Theme Park. And on Monday, Sally goes sailing for a week. All with the school. 

It's funny how each child leaving changes the normal order in a million tiny ways. Grace's bedroom door is open. It's never open. It feels so alien that I couldn't sleep with it open last night and had to get up and shut it. Despite repeatedly asking her, when she's here, to keep it open!

And amidst the children's comings and goings, we have family coming, staying, popping in and out and bringing fresh news, warm hugs, energy and life. We had a great evening catching up with our Sussex niece and Kiwi nephew. They always were lovely kids, but they're exceptionally warm, easy-going, kind and decent adults. It was a pleasure to spend time with them. They're staying over so I hope to Blip 'em in the morning. Bed and breakfast in return for a Blip seems a fair exchange to me.