History, MPs, Sleepovers, Fireworks

Catching up again!

Since coming back from Devon (which seems like months ago now but was only 3 weeks) our days have gone to:

- Mass Lobbying on 16th October as part of a group of 450 home-educating adults and children, as shown here:

F was pleased "finally" to be taking the protest to the Houses of Parliament, as she had been highly unconvinced by both the bubbles and the picnics, on the grounds that, if the MPs are in Parliament then that's where we need to go. And, as so often, she does have a point.
We spoke to Norman Baker, along with 2 other families from his constituency. He wasn't hugely keen but was vaguely positive and supportive. He had signed the EDM.
The Mass Lobby was excellent, huge thanks to Clare and everyone else who helped her in the cat-herdinglike task of organizing it. A great achievement, along with the excellent Right To Reply document which is being given to MPs now. I'm in awe of the commitment and dedication that went into this collaborative work, well done to all concerned.

- to lots of history in various forms: reading about Medieval castles, Inca cities, Lady Godiva, King John and The Wash, the Great Fire of London, the Romans, Stone Age life; watching Horrible Histories a lot; writing down the order of various periods of history; me learning about Cromwell and Charles I and II and passing it on. F wants to make a history book and write things down in it as she finds out about them. I need to buy a decent hardback book for that.

- to various multiplying and dividing activities that have followed on from fractions, so she's fairly comfortable now with things like a third of 24 and that kind of thing, mainly done through conversation and 'fiddling with groups of things';

- the cinema (Up - I cried almost all the way through, thank goodness for black 3D glasses), swimming, opticians, Pizza Express, the dentists (a really bright sunny day and we made shadow shapes on the floor during an overly long wait)

- fairy drawings and a pot painting kit

- to Palula scores - this is a thing that F made up, don't know why it's called palula - you give yourself 1 point for each category: energeticness; logic; writing art; drawing/painting art; socialness; and 2 others I'll have to ask her to remind me of (just did - singing/music art and handiness (fixing)). So each day you give yourself a score out of 7. She hasn't done it for a few days though now, think it's last week's news maybe...

- F doing cooking - helping whichever of us is cooking dinner, recognizing ingredients, chopping veggies, learning about the different herbs and spices, different methods of cooking. It's hard for her doing chopping and peeling but improves with practice, finding her own ways to hold things.

- to reading Mr Gum books, very amused by Chapter Four: Mr Gum has a cup of tea, and also by the secret bonus pages at the end of the first one.

- to Nic's where we had to come away early as the 3 children just could not all settle at once, I said 'well, if blah blah blah then we'll have to go home' and instead of achieving blah blah blah it achieved having to go home :( No prolonged wine and conversation for me and Nic. Never mind. Felt sad for D as he'd tried really hard out of the 3 of them.

- to Nic coming here the following week, which went fine but doesn't include the wine option, but we did get a good chance to chat at least.

- to sleepovers - E came to us one Thursday and F went to E's one Tuesday - much fun was had on both occasions

- to me attending an EO organized event in the Houses of Parliament (again, it was good having been there already and knowing my way around from the previous week), attended by 11 MPs from the main 3 parties, as well as a researcher representing another one, and Lord Lucas. There were 20 or so home-ed people there and we had the chance to talk to some of the MPs informally after the presentation of Ann Newstead's excellent survey

- to a localish drop-in group to try it out - we didn't feel very comfortable there, but it's good that we tried it. F wants to go to more groups, so am working on that...

- to meeting my (half)brother's fiancee (awww she's really lovely and they're going to be very happy together) yesterday and spending time with both of them - a nice walk into town, pizza and chat, and then up to meet C's family and watch the Nevill Juvenile bonfire procession. Thanks for having us all visit, C!
Our group then went on to the actual fire site, which was a bit lairy but OK once we found a safer spot to stand! F was remarkably unbothered about people throwing bangers around, which made me twice as bothered and fairly twitchy.
Fireworks were excellent, very good display this year. Back here we all shared some wine and slightly Christmassy chocolate snacks that they had brought, it was a lovely evening.

- to launching this - please contact me if you're interested