Boys at the burn

We had a relaxed morning with Thomas. He did 3 laborious sentences for his homework diary straight after breakfast.

He is very keen to earn some coins so we are using it as a way to teach him about money. He stacked the dishwasher for a penny and helped hang the washing out for another. Making his lunch of eggy bread got him 2p. He worked out if he earned another penny he’d have 5, and could swap them for the silvery 5p.

We went swimming and he was a bit surprised it was £2 for him and £4 for Grandad, but I was free as I am a member. So of course not free.

After lunch son-in-law brought Nathaniel who is staying for a sleepover with Thomas. We headed along the street a different way up to the moor where there are rolypoly hillocks to roll down and run on. They were enjoying this till they saw a man and two boys on the hill trying to fly a kite. They wanted a go - in fact Nathaniel wanted to fly. Then we headed higher up on the moor where they ran about in the heather. We headed home after stopping at the cairn for a view of Rothbury so that they could identify different places. Down the hill we walked back through the woods on the path they had lopped yesterday, stopping at the Coplish burn to investigate the insects that looked like they were walking on water, the blip.

Brocolli, fried potatoes and salmon for tea, all eaten up, followed by strawberries and ice cream. Then a lot of hyper-activity till bath and bed. I have never seen Nathaniel so wild - usually he is under Ella’s domination. He was so funny. Thomas read him a dinosaur story and they got their chopped carrots and apply put handy for the midnight feast. I think they are asleep. Sadly we found we were almost out of gin, just when we both really felt like putting our feet up.

Ps I heard no sound at 8.30pm so crept upstairs. Thomas was fast asleep - Nathaniel was sitting up in bed ploughing through his midnight feast. He’d polished off his bit of apple and was munching his carrot. I said he didn’t need to eat it all but he said he wanted to. Oh I hope he’s not too grumpy tomorrow!