storbarnsförälder

Linnea spent the morning using her new computer screen (no longer hooked up to the high-mounted telly) and doing maze after maze after maze; I assume she's done them all before because she makes very few errors²⁰⁸, but because I can't stand the TV screen for the computer I haven't watched most of her edubuntu use.

Emer did building and reading and getting dressed²⁰⁹.

When they were both finally ready to leave the house at the same time, after I'd done two loads of laundry et cetera et cetera et cetera, we went out and got the train to town. And they were lovely while waiting for the train²¹⁰ and held hands together beautifully walking through the station²¹¹. We stopped off to check out meal deals in Boots and M&S and found that Boots had no non-dairy sandwiches and M&S had just changed the rules of the meal deal and confused their staff terribly. But the children waited beautifully while I got that sorted out²¹².

We brought the food to Eclectic Games and bought a copy of Uno²¹³; Becky wasn't there so we left and ate our lunch on a bench on Broad Street. We could hear the pancake races while we were eating but they were over by the time we had finished.

While we ate we listened to a busker playing a piano accordion, and Linnea ran over to give him all my cash, which was about 38p. She was very pleased with herself²¹⁴.

Then we went to try shoes on, because Linnea's outgrowing her current ones. The queue wasn't very long and there was an interesting thing on the telly while we waited²¹⁵. The assistant was very helpful and we got canvas runners, leather Mary Janes, and wellies, all for less than the cost of Emer's patent leather Mary Janes. Hurrah for waiting until the sales for your feet to grow²¹⁶.

On the way home, Emer and I saw some crocuses²¹⁷, and after we got home Freya delivered a party invitation for the second Sunday in March²¹⁸. Linnea apologised for her frankly hideous behaviour and I apologised for getting cross, so we were friends again²¹⁹. And Emer had a nap²²⁰.

Now we are going to eat a small dinner and then go out for a pancake party. With any luck, tomorrow will be better.