Gore, gravy, water and mud

Nice weekend -
Friday Jack visited and we had a Chinese takeaway and red wine and watched a gory horror film that had us all yelling 'don't go in there' etc. and turning away but then sneaking our eyes back to check that it really was that unpleasant.
Saturday was a quiet day, can't remember much about it, but I know I had a long soak with a bath bomb and a book.
Sunday we went over to Brighton and met up with Mr B and family for a pub lunch, which was delicious (nut roast, roast veg, gravy, etc.). Then we all went over to Queen's Park and the kids (Rick, 8, Emily, 6 and F) played for ages, requiring very little adult input at all, so that we actually got to chat, really chat, properly for what felt like the first time since they had their first baby! So I guess all it takes is for the youngest child in any group to get to the age of 5 and you get the chance to talk again without interruptions! We saw them for the odd cuddle, shoe-returning and snack/drink trip but they were largely out in the park, enjoying themselves hugely, clambering and exploring. And Q's park is a glorious one and it was a beautiful day. Ms C has just started teaching (year 1), so much to discuss there. And generally a feeling of wellbeing with old friends in the sunshine.
Monday was dominated for me by a leaking kitchen ceiling (slow drip) and complete loss of internet connection (unrelated). Leaking kitchen ceiling was eventually stopped by landlord in early evening, about the time the net came back. Apparently the seal on the connection of cistern to toilet had been faulty for ages and a slow drip there had filled up the kitchen ceiling eventually leading to a slow drip there. It's all drying out nicely now - landlord repaired the seal - since I do sometimes accuse him of bodgery I ought to state here that he seems to have done a good job, despite the fact that originally he was going to leave it till Thursday!
So for me in some ways a non-day - couldn't do various things I needed to, due to internet being down and being stuck in house with drip.
F had a great time though - she decided to make a surf-ride for 2 of her imaginary friends (Jack and Mary the mice from Disney Cinderella) so she was in and out with a jar full of water, throwing it down the slide (she had set up 2 nice wide flat leaves for their surf boards and down they went). She then progressed to exploring the mud this created at the bottom of the slide and generally had a fine wet muddy happy time out there while I was stressing indoors.
Things we've also done recently that I've forgotten to mention elsewhere:
watched Zathura - we all really enjoyed the film
played lots of XBox marble blast ultra - mainly J and F
spent lots of time at the park, especially at after-school time
made a thank you M card and given it to neighbour's girl who gave us her Barbies
read some of My Secret Unicorn books again