To bed betimes

I was very flattered this afternoon to learn that my young friend E5N1 had asked specifically to come and visit me.  I suspect he was rather more interested in checking what toys we had out than in having meaningful conversations with his hostess, but even so.  It was nice to see him, and Exile #2.

And otherwise today - more Fair Trade things, including work on a new website.  Also some household jobs, the sort that matter but don't make a big visual impact, like laundry and cleaning out the u-bend of a bathroom sink.

Tonight I babysat all the younger Exiles.  They're very good - all quiet and in bed by 7:30pm.  Not for the first time, shooing my own two up the stairs more than a couple of hours later, I'm asking myself where did we go wrong?

Too far from home

I'm rather liking the longer time we have before the kids set off to school these days.  They don't have to bolt their breakfasts, they are awake enough to have proper conversations and we even manage to read together and other such activities.   Of course, actually getting to school on time is a different matter, following the age-old principle that the closer you live to the school, the more likely you are to arrive late.

My day has involved errands and some time well spent on the Fair Trade Town campaign, working out how best to persuade our local politicians to support us.

I also skyped with my parents, and they gave me the sad news that a family member has died too young after a long illness.  Our thoughts tonight are with all who are missing him.  We wish we weren't so far away.

Fall filling

It was perfect weather for a walk at Five Rivers this morning - bright and sunny, but comfortable and with a bit of an autumn breeze.  But many of my fellow volunteer instructors there (we were out on a training session today) were wishing for rain.  It's true, we have had an incredibly dry few months, and lawns and gardens are suffering.

I was at the kids' new school this evening, checking out what goes on at the PTA.  There was a huge turnout, but I gather that's not usually case during the rest of the year.  There are plenty of opportunities to sign up for this and that - fundraising, hospitality etc - and no doubt I shall soon be getting involved with various events. 

Between school happenings and Fair Trade events and Five Rivers - and the local ice rink reopening, hooray! - the weeks ahead look likely to be full.

Spark of imagination

The Man writes...even if you know you're pretty safe in a car in a thunderstorm, it's still shocking to see someone standing happily in an oversized bird cage getting zapped by artificial lightning.  

Our visit to the Museum of Science in Boston was so good no-one wanted to leave when closing time came. Although determined not to "learn anything on a weekend", the Boy and Girl could not help but be enthralled and entertained by room after room of hands-on, imaginative and insidiously educational exhibits.

Incidentally, spot the cool dude in the dark glasses?

The future looks Fair

I hadn't planned to take a couple of days off from blogging - technical difficulties (due to being away from home and forgetting to pack any power supplies).

We've all been in Boston, the Man and kids coming along for the ride while I attended the Fair Trade Futures Conference.  It's the largest gathering in the USA of FT producers, wholesalers, retailers and advocates, and takes place only once every five years.  I was very excited to have the chance to be there.

There were numerous discussions, debates and seminars to attend, with opportunities for informal networking between-times.  I think everyone enjoyed being around others with a shared sense of purpose concerning Fair Trade.  Though the movement faces some complex challenges, the underlying spirit is positive.  My local FT Town campaign has been flagging of late, but I've come home with renewed energy and determination to push on.

And what of the rest of the family while I was busy mingling with all the very lovely (and, no getting away from it, they are all very lovely) FT people?   Lots of fun things by the sounds of it - I'll let the Man fill you in on that another day.

Only a day away...

So after a mere two and a half hours of school this session, the kids had their first official full day off today.  It's like the vacation has refused to die.    There are so many things I've been saving up to work on "in September when the kids have gone back" - and we're already nearly halfway through the month!  Even the Girl had to admit that she's been on holiday long enough now and would quite like school to get going properly.  Amen to that.

I tried to get on and pretend my lovely offspring weren't - still! - at home, but couldn't get ten minutes to myself without someone calling "Mu-um?" - needing food or wanting to know where something was ("Where you left it!") or sometimes (the Boy admitted with a grin) just for the sake of it.

Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow...

Back to school (well, sort of)

A new chapter began for the kids today as they started at their new school.   It's very much closer to home than the school they attended for our first three years here, so no early start or long bus ride today, just a brisk scoot round the corner and we were there in under five minutes.

For the Girl, up for this new challenge, it all looks set to be a feast of fun and social possibilities.  The Boy, not a fan of change, will take longer to adjust.  He barely had time to begin the process this morning, with early dismissal at 11:45am, and tomorrow is a day off for Rosh Hashannah (Jewish New Year).  They'll have a full day on Friday, but then we're straight into the weekend.   So, frustratingly, we've a few days to go yet before we can begin to settle into anything like a routine. 

Best wishes to all the kids we know who have also just started back at school, wherever you happen to be.  Learn lots and have a great year!