Pottery Projects and Riverside Walks

This morning J and S settled down to work on their pottery project. We are visiting a local potter in a couple of weeks, where the children are going to have a 2 hr lesson and the chance to design a tile. Their project involves researching ideas and patterns, setting out what they hope to achieve with their design, and then drawing up 4 patterns to select from.

J took his inspiration from several books and came up with a complex picture, S drew a vibrant, colourful pattern using fireworks as his inspiration.

Dh managed to get onto a long-awaiting DIY job, by replacing our sink taps. For nearly 2 yrs we've only had a hot water tap in the upstairs bathroom sink. My parents kindly bought us a new set of taps a number of months back, and today he got them fitted.

I tried out a new recipe today for a gf loaf, and I was pretty pleased wtih the first attempt. At least it was edible, and actually quite enjoyable. S (no surprise here) decided to have the bread with jam for his lunch, rather than crispbreads - even though it meant waiting an hour after everyone had had their lunch!

In the afternoon, we went over to a park on the edge of the River Medway. The boys had fun, and we persuaded them to let us go for a walk along the riverside. Then the sun went it - and oh my word it was cold! It is due to go down to -4 here tonight but the wind chill was making it feel colder than that at 4pm by the side of the river!

At dinner time, I decided I couldn't cope wtih not visiting Dad. I knew he had visitors all day up till 5pm, and no one due after that. So I helped get dinner underway then drove up to see him (about 40/45 miles). He was so touched to see me, and so low in himself, that I was very glad I'd gone. I left him at around 7.30pm so that I could get back in time to put the boys to bed - which I'm off to do now.