(no subject)
The kids went back to school on Thursday. B was raring to go and M didn't want to go. At all. He did ok in the end and managed to make it through the first (very short) week without getting into trouble. We'll see how that goes.
J is back with the childminder, though to be honest, he did go to her a bit over the summer. Still, my childcare issues are now over - at least until the October half-term break when I'll have to employ my extremely pricey - but efficient - daytime babysitter.
D and I have made the painful decision to move. We've decided that the only way to get B into the right catchment for the secondary school that he wants to go to is to rent a house rather than buy one. There simply isn't time (house purchases in England are painfully drawn out - we spent five months waiting to move into the house we have now). D went to see a house on Thursday and we gave the forms to the estate agent this afternoon. Sob. We've also decided to hold off on selling our house till we get back from study leave (more on that another time) and rent it instead. What we can't move to the new place (it's a tiny bit smaller and there's no loft as it's been converted into a master bedroom) we'll leave in our loft and/or in one of the sheds. We should be in the new place by the beginning of October. The application to secondary school is due at the end of October.
I can't believe we're doing this. As much as I care about B's education, I really love this place and feel so settled. It's so unfair, and yet I know it's the right decision. If only because A's husband teaches there which means that there's an adult that B really trusts if something goes awry. And I think he'll have a tough time no matter where he goes. He's still very awkward socially during any kind of unstructured school time, like during breaks. During actual class time he'll get on well with anyone he's working with because there's a specific goal.
M is also pretty unhappy about the move, partly because he doesn't want to leave the house either and partly because he wants to go to the othe secondary school - the one B doesn't want to go to. Even if we move, M could potentially go there as they always have extra spaces, but I don't think we're inclined to let him make the decision alone. And I can't even think of what this means in terms of getting the kids to school and back every day - for the next nine years! Assuming we stay in that neighborhood, it'll be a 25 minute walk (or a slightly shorter bike ride) in all kinds of whether till J is out of primary school.
Yesterday morning was mostly spent tidying as an estate agent was coming here to look over our house for the purpose of renting it out. Afternoon piano lessons were cancelled due to illness and drinks with L were cancelled due to her period starting - so not a great day. I had an order for two dozen cupcakes to be picked up this morning and did them in the afternoon in anticipation of being out last night.
I had my legs waxed this morning (!!!) which was nice (being Middle Eastern means that leg shaving is pretty much an exercise in futility) and then came home just as the woman was coming to pick up the cupcakes. Took J into town to do a few errands and get a birthday present for the kids to take to a party this afternoon. Home in time for J to eat and sleep, and then off to the party a little while later. We ended up going out for South Indian for dinner which was nice as it's a buffet - keeps J from screaming while waiting for the food. D is off to Paris and then Geneva tomorrow for five days. I have a few things going on this week (more about that for another post) so should be interesting. But I hate sleeping alone and resent the fact that he's going away so soon after the last trip.
J is back with the childminder, though to be honest, he did go to her a bit over the summer. Still, my childcare issues are now over - at least until the October half-term break when I'll have to employ my extremely pricey - but efficient - daytime babysitter.
D and I have made the painful decision to move. We've decided that the only way to get B into the right catchment for the secondary school that he wants to go to is to rent a house rather than buy one. There simply isn't time (house purchases in England are painfully drawn out - we spent five months waiting to move into the house we have now). D went to see a house on Thursday and we gave the forms to the estate agent this afternoon. Sob. We've also decided to hold off on selling our house till we get back from study leave (more on that another time) and rent it instead. What we can't move to the new place (it's a tiny bit smaller and there's no loft as it's been converted into a master bedroom) we'll leave in our loft and/or in one of the sheds. We should be in the new place by the beginning of October. The application to secondary school is due at the end of October.
I can't believe we're doing this. As much as I care about B's education, I really love this place and feel so settled. It's so unfair, and yet I know it's the right decision. If only because A's husband teaches there which means that there's an adult that B really trusts if something goes awry. And I think he'll have a tough time no matter where he goes. He's still very awkward socially during any kind of unstructured school time, like during breaks. During actual class time he'll get on well with anyone he's working with because there's a specific goal.
M is also pretty unhappy about the move, partly because he doesn't want to leave the house either and partly because he wants to go to the othe secondary school - the one B doesn't want to go to. Even if we move, M could potentially go there as they always have extra spaces, but I don't think we're inclined to let him make the decision alone. And I can't even think of what this means in terms of getting the kids to school and back every day - for the next nine years! Assuming we stay in that neighborhood, it'll be a 25 minute walk (or a slightly shorter bike ride) in all kinds of whether till J is out of primary school.
Yesterday morning was mostly spent tidying as an estate agent was coming here to look over our house for the purpose of renting it out. Afternoon piano lessons were cancelled due to illness and drinks with L were cancelled due to her period starting - so not a great day. I had an order for two dozen cupcakes to be picked up this morning and did them in the afternoon in anticipation of being out last night.
I had my legs waxed this morning (!!!) which was nice (being Middle Eastern means that leg shaving is pretty much an exercise in futility) and then came home just as the woman was coming to pick up the cupcakes. Took J into town to do a few errands and get a birthday present for the kids to take to a party this afternoon. Home in time for J to eat and sleep, and then off to the party a little while later. We ended up going out for South Indian for dinner which was nice as it's a buffet - keeps J from screaming while waiting for the food. D is off to Paris and then Geneva tomorrow for five days. I have a few things going on this week (more about that for another post) so should be interesting. But I hate sleeping alone and resent the fact that he's going away so soon after the last trip.