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Half term already!



It's half term already - blimey, that was quick! I'm sure they have hardly been back at school before we are wondering what to do with them for the week again.

The plan for this half term was Abi off to Angie's for the week and Izzy mooching at home. Normally this means dropping off on a Sunday but everyone else was arriving Saturday so despite thinking we would have hardly seen her I agreed to do the same. Come yesterday lunchtime however it didn't go quite to plan. I asked her to go start packing and she didn't move. I asked again, then got frustrated with a "This is your week away, why should I have to make all the effort..." After saying this 4 or 5 times I shouted at her and stomped off (ever the adult when it comes to my own kids) and Abi burst into tears. I got even more frustrated and stomped around a bit more, only then to manage to stop and realise that it wasn't normal for her to be crying and reluctant to pack for a week's riding. I sat her down and we had a cuddle and asked if she wanted to go at all. All I got back was "I'm really tired Mummy, I don't think I want to spend a week getting up at 6:30am to spend all day wading around in muddy fields..." Fair point, can't blame her even if I am a bit miffed that we have paid a lot of money for her to do exactly that! So Sunday evening and she definitely has no desire to go this week. At least it hammers home the fact that a horse is a not a simple undertaking and you have to be prepared to get out and do it regardless of the weather.

Izzy on the other hand, not due to go anywhere, took herself off to Mia's (yes, Abi's classmate Mia) on Friday evening after school and finally cam home this afternoon! She had a lovely time but was clearly in need of a bit of me time when she got back - straight up to her room to slap on some make up (her favourite pastime), jump into bed and catch up on a bit of nail varnish hacks or whatever other rubbish she can find on You Tube.

All this is very different to last weekend where we had a wonderful time in Rome. Despite being a bit sceptical that a weekend focused on the rugby wasn't exactly a treat it was absolutely brilliant. We stayed in a great hotel, saw loads of sights and met up with friends. We walked miles on all 3 days and I absolutely loved it. I'd definitely go back again - I think we hardly scratched the surface of all the history there. It gets a bit overwhelming though - everywhere you look are more 1st century ruins / beautifully ornate Basilicas / world famous sites - its amazing that it was such a thriving city so long ago, only then to be deserted for years before being rediscovered. makes you wonder that such a strong city could fall - lesson for us all there.


The one thing I hope has sorted itself out when they go back to school are the troubles Izzy has been having with one particular 'friend'. One of the girls in her year group is flexing her muscles still and poor Izzy is caught up in it despite trying not to be. The girl in question wants Izzy to be completely loyal to her but Izzy wants to play with others, including Abi and the Year 6 girls. This has resulted in some snide comments, lots of intimidation and poor Izzy being in tears in more than one occasion. We've asked the teachers to keep an eye out and checked a number of times but now they've agreed it needs to be 'escalated', whatever that means. We will wait and see, I'm trying not to come over all Tiger Mother but it's hard when your child is upset.

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