Aruna

A home day today. Recuperating, so I didn't want a load of walking or sitting around in the cold. Got the space playdough out, and the glitter and some red glass pebbles, and Steve and I looked after Nathaniel and Aruna and our two while the others went off in search of an internet café and a launderette.

We played with the playdough, lots, had a snack (a million grapes), played outside a bit, made kite mobiles, and had lunch. All of them were beautifully behaved! Nathaniel had a couple of moments missing his parents and withdrew almost completely, but making the kites took his mind off things and stopped him running off.

All of them were exhausted by the time Chris and Dad turned up. Aruna had almost fallen asleep a couple of times or tried to at least, Nathaniel tried to curl up and go to sleep once, and Ben had been begging for cuddles for ages! He cried when they went back to their cabin, wanted them to stay here, but all the children needed sleep.

Not long after they went, Charley went to sleep on the bed and Ben curled up on me on the sofa and fell asleep as well. Oops. But he did need it.

Cottage pie for tea, and halfway through cooking it Steve left to drive off to see a friend in Bath (after waking Ben up and saying 'bye, thank goodness).

And then Ben was difficult all evening because he couldn't figure out what he wanted, was off his food, thought he didn't feel well (said he had a headache and felt sick) but I think it was mainly just too busy and he didn't have mummy available as a ground for him because I was cooking.

Took ages to get him settled off to sleep. He was tired but not sleepy. Awful awful combination. I was glad to collapse back into bed!