storbarnsförälder

Why do they like jam on their porridge? I find the very thought repellent. Ah well. We're all fed, and that's what counts.

We have the first ten (of about sixty) Christmas cards addressed and ready to send. I hope today to take a photo of the children for the cards we're sending to their cousins in both countries. And I hope to tidy the front room and decide where the Christmas tree will go. But a first step will be to remove the Hallowe'en decorations, I think...

I have also found that I finally fit back into my favourite jeans again. I hope they don't tear any more; I wore them so much the stylishly pre-faded patches (not my top fave feature) started to have tiny horizontal rips over my thighs. But it's nice to be big enough to wear them again.

Yesterday we spent about 10:30 to 18:00 out of the house running errands. The children were absolute stars. Of course, one reason it took so long is that we did a boring thing and then a nice thing, turn and turn about; check the butcher and the deli for turkey prices and order a turkey, then go for lunch. Buy wellies for Linnea and toothpaste for Emer, then look at the toy department. Check out all the chocolate shops for novelty shaped non-dairy chocolate without buying any chocolate at all today even in the shops which do sell stuff we can eat, then look at a shop full of brightly coloured novelty eggcups and things. The only mistake was misjudging the opening time of the kitchen at the Globe café, so when I planned for us to have a rest and a snack there it was biscuits only, no savoury food, which wasn't ideal.

In Debenhams we had a lovely long chat with a very very bored Santa. He spent ages talking to Linnea and then a bit less talking to Emer, who doesn't really know who he is and hasn't really worked out the acquisition-focussed nature of Christmas. (He also said in an aside to me that he hates the part of the job where he has to say "If you've been good!" because that feels wrong to him). Linnea was enthralled but not shy. Emer was just not shy. What she mainly wants for Christmas is a Christmas tree, it turns out, with something round on it (a bauble).

I need to tidy up and find the Christmas tree stand, and make some decisions, I guess. And go to the post office, before we lose any of the addressed cards.

Thank you, nonhae, for the puberty/sex ed book! It's exactly what Linnea needed and, er, a few of my friends have also asked for a copy, please. Is it available online anywhere?

I must say, I'm shocked by it - there's no way it would have been allowed when I was in the target age, and we'd have got in massive trouble for even having it in our bags at school. I think it's wonderful.