One of the reasons that I haven’t been writing much is that we’re really busy. Claudia is so similar to Simon - one of the most sociable people you will ever meet - she adores everything & wants to try everything. Its fun & I’m glad that I’ve got a pretty well adjusted & enthusiastic child, but it is tiring (and expensive).

Mondays start with Jelly Legs. Or they should do. I’m actually going to move to the Thursday session, I do all the laundry on Monday & it works better if we’re around more most of the day. She enjoys it but I mainly send her to avoid guilt and doing very little craft at home - the house is improving (slowly but surely) but I just can’t bear any extra mess. Claudie also has her swimming lesson on Monday (Level 1) - it goes without saying that she loves it

Tuesdays we haven’t got anything arranged - I’m intending to carry on last year’s plan of one trip or visit a month, we will try and use Tuesdays for visits.

Wednesday is ice-skating; a local HE event this is a complete bargain. We went briefly last year but Claudie wasn’t very sure footed on the ice; this time Violet has taught her well. I’m saving up to get her some skates of her own.

On alternate Thursdays we have our HE sports club - we have a brilliant coach and the children do football, touch rugby, basket ball & cricket. Claudie adores cricket and is trying to get the coach to teach them golf . There’s also crafty things for the kids do to.

We’ve just started going to a new HE group on Friday. I’d been reluctant to go initially as many of the kids are much older than C, I needn’t have worried she doesn’t have any trouble holding her own! The group has great facilities, a soft play area, quiet room & art room, there is also a great outside playground. It is pretty cheap & enjoy talking to parents with older children as well - makes a break from talking about learning to read

Ballet, tap & dance are still on Saturday (much too early), she’s still getting on really well & is perparing for a medal in gymnastic dance (she was highly commended in her ballet medal exam & is pretty proud of that).

We fit in some ‘work’ (in fits and starts, C is an all or nothing personality) too. Today C has indulged her love of Bear & Penguin (Big Maths Adventure) and completed the Intermediate level in a couple for hours. She’s also spent 3 hours with Study Dog (level 2), she really enjoyed the contractions questions. She played some Zoombinis and watched George of the Jungle twice. I’ve just finished reading The Lion, The Witch & the Wardrobe, which she enjoyed (I didn’t really, I’ll leave the rest to Simon) and lots of Edward Lear! I’m not sure what we will read next.