since we got back

Can't believe it's a week already. But it clearly is.
OK what have we done then?

Park - been over to park a few times, including today. Nice to hang out for a bit but it was very windy so nobody was staying long.
Grandma Joy came on Tuesday for a visit, which was lovely. F had plenty of grandma time and thoroughly enjoyed it. She has phoned mum a few times since.
Started working out what to do for F's upcoming birthday in place of last year's (mid-heatwave) outdoor pool and park picnic and have finally decided on soft play and local farm park on different days to accommodate both home-ed and schoolie friends. Might still do the outdoor pool in August...
Took F to (indoor) swimming pool where she made more progress in confidence and pushed herself a bit, although also relying on every buoyancy aid she could grab. She had a good go at breast stroke, finding that doggy paddle didn't do what she wanted, yet. I was really pleased with her arm movements - she managed to be almost completely symmetrical with them, to my amazement! Right leg was less cooperative in kicking but she managed it with a bit of practise, off and on. Also she got used to jumping in (with armbands plus rubber ring!!) without me holding her hands or being there to catch her. She still doesn't like getting water in her eyes though (neither do I). I didn't swim this time, just stayed close to her and focused on her progress, pulled her around with a float and that kind of thing - she got the hang of stretching out in the water, making your body lie on it, rather than tensing up. In the changing cubicle, F asked me about why girl's swimming costumes cover their tops and this led onto a long conversation about sex differences, pregnancy and lactation, breastfeeding, etc. On the way back F told me about how she imagined Arcadia, a world with unicorns, magic kittens and pegasuses (pegasii). We walked there and back (30 mins each way) so we both slept well that night (only 5 hours for me though as I had a deadline).

F has put on several 'shows' in which Dozy Mog, Fuzzy Mog, Sparky, Sparkle and Qqw (an aardvark from Africa Alive) act out a version of 'Sparky's New Clothes'. It cracks me up because the show is just as much about the cast's behind-the-scenes strops - Dozy Mog, in particular, gets in a right old hissy fit if anyone tries to upstage him, and insists on directing from the stage. It's like some kind of soap opera set in a rep theatre. Fuzzy Mog has catchphrases and makes the show her own. Sparkle always saves the day and does a lot of audience asides. Sparky hasn't a clue what he's supposed to be doing. Qqw directs apparently, but I'm unconvinced, maybe he's just very hands-off. Dozy Mog takes the Naarky role, somewhat oddly, given that there is an aardvark in the group - probably doesn't want to be typecast.

Also F has designated a new 'den' in the garden, which she has called 'Peony' (Fairytopia reference) and apparently the small tree/bush there is her 'other mummy' (!), because it keeps her safe and shelters her (aaah).
She designed a 'ride' using foam stickers which was apparently based on Star Wars, featuring 'Luke's desert' planet, going through an asteroid field and down the Milky Way.
She also drew pictures of Sparky and Sparkle at some point which were going to be the start of a book, but it didn't happen.

On a more obviously educational note, more moves towards reading are happening here, F did ask for some help with learning to read the other day (while we were at Kessingland she confirmed that she wanted this, actually, and J and I both had time with her in the static, with rain drumming on the roof, going through some basics). She is really starting to see it - she read the first bit of the name 'Zoe' the other day, almost without thinking, actually saying 'zo' straightaway instead of 'zer, oh'. It does seem almost as if thinking gets in the way at times, or thinking in a certain way does. I dunno, funny old business. J has also gone through the days of the week with her, as that seemed useful stuff to know.
Other stuff - been working, plenty of work around and I'm grabbing it. House process continues rumblingly arcane and snail-like as various specialists all take their share. So that's where all the middlemen are.
It hasn't rained here today for first time in ages. Feels strange. Forecasts have retreated a bit from apocalyptic walls of water to the vaguer 'cloudy' for next few days.