Tuesday 29 July 2014

Typing, building, biking and a fig

We've been out and about quite a bit so far in the holidays, but when we're at home, the children have been inside far more than usual.  I think they're just finding it too hot to be playing football or tennis at full throttle in the garden.  

The littlest boy has started to learn to type.  It's something that the bigger two started doing a while ago, and something that I think will probably be quite useful in the future, unless of course the computers of the future can directly access our thoughts and upload them into cyberspace without so much as a single keystroke.  We've been using this BBC Schools programme.  Nicely child friendly with what I think is a (talking) goat that sounds a lot like Lily Savage.  What's not to like?


The children have become suddenly obsessed with building card houses.  I don't know where it's come from, but coincidentally we've been watching House of Cards on DVD (grown ups, not children).  We watch it last thing in the evening, when we're tired, and I knit at the same time, so I'm not always watching the screen.  Consequently we're not entirely sure what's going on.  We sit around saying things like, "Now why is the dopey girl that was with that chap that was killed agreeing to be hidden away somewhere by that short bloke?"  And sometimes I fall asleep a bit as well.  When I wake up I shout, "What did I miss, what did I miss?"   He's not always sure.  I was thinking about something Scandinavian next, but if I can't even follow an English programme, Norwegian might be a bit of a stretch.  Especially if I'm only looking at the screen a quarter of the time (I'm not one of those people who can knit without looking).  Any DVD suggestions will be happily received.  

The littlest boy has spent happy hours making his card houses.  He said to me the other evening, "I'm going to spend all morning tomorrow making a card house".  We're a little obsessive around here.


The biggest boy of course got all competitive and came up with this.


It's made of Top Trumps, apparently they are straighter and stiffer.  It had to stay up for ages, so that my friend and her daughter could admire it when they visited.  He built it directly in the pathway into the living room, so we spent an entire day tiptoeing round it.

Loom bands have also entered the house.  The middle boy's teacher gave him a pack as an end of year gift.  They were briefly popular, but they've waned now although the littlest boy does like to wear his (you will recall that he is all about the accessories).


We've made a few trips to the allotment, including the annual barbecue which was fun.  The garlic and onions have been harvested and are safely stored in the garage.



We went on a short bike ride around our quiet streets today.  There was a bit of falling off, a bit of shouting and I may have been heard to shriek, "And that is why we will NEVER be doing this again", but everyone got home safely which in the end was enough.

In other news, I ate a fig.  Not just any fig, but a fresh one from the garden that I grew myself.  I've had fig trees in pots for ages, but this year is the first time I've any full-sized fruit.  I wasn't expecting much, but honestly, it was exquisite.  I've always loved fig foliage, but now that I've tasted an actual fig, I can't think of any plant I'd rather have in the garden.  

32 comments:

  1. Building card houses? Haha well that is quite unique! They look pretty good! I've never eaten a real fig before, only a fig newton bar. I heard that they are full of bugs or something weird?

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  2. Loom bands have just arrived in our house! Im hoping the smallest doesnt find them too tasty! Wow a fig you grew yourself! Yum!! Sounds a great few days :-)

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  3. Oh my, my guilty admission is that I find it hard to follow the plot of anything on TV, partly my eyesight but mainly because I am always knitting, or surfing on phone, or both and my brain is rubbish at remembering the plot anyway. My OH is extremely good at following plots so he is not at all sympathetic. I am glad I am not the only one who has always lost the plot. Loved your Cirencester post too, I lived 10 miles away until last year, miss it a lot!

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  4. It looks like you've been having a wonderful time. I have tried so hard to watch House of Cards but I can't follow it. I'm usually crocheting, yes, but I feel like they talk too fast. And say weird, disjointed things. I don't know, maybe I'm not sophisticated enough for this show. That card house your son built is incredible! Wow, I think you have a budding architect on your hands there. :)

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  5. YAY for the fig friend! I have had them stuffed and wrapped with bacon...yum!! And your boys are rockstars with their card towers! Just awesome! My nieces do those loom bands too! Stay cool you and have fun enjoying your holiday!! Nicole xo

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  6. Anything grown is so much better tasting than store bought.

    Your son's house of cards is quite impressive!

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  7. I had to read your description of watching a tv show with your hubby. I am always either crocheting or fooling around on the laptop while watching and we have a very similar interchange! The card houses show a lot of creativity!! My GD is really into the band looms.. love it. Good job on the harvest and hanging it up! We have a fig tree but never any figs. Hmm. Have a super week. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. Very impressive card house - we must get out the Top Trumps. We too have a fig tree but they are never as nice as the fig we scrumped from a tree overhanging the path in Rhodes years ago; that really was heavenly. Looking back though, maybe it just seemed so much nicer as it was eaten in the sunshine, overlooking some stunning Greek scenery!

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  9. Soujnds like a perfect summer holiday. I do love how you usually add a bit of reality to your posts as well though Like shouting you wouldn't be doing the cycling ever again - I could just see it all and feel for you!

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  10. I absolutely love your blog and your writing style, it never fails to make me smile :)
    I too have an amazing memory of eating sun warmed figs straight from the tree when I stayed in Majorca a few years ago, it was possibly one of the best breakfasts ever.
    Wishing you a happy summer holiday full of good things xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  11. That is a very impressive card castle!!! I have a similar problem watching the TV and crocheting as I have to watch my crochet, so I just listen to the TV, it is all well and good as long as I stay awake, don't drift off into pondering other things, and as long as they are talking or there is noise on the TV, hubby gets cross if I ask for a running commentary when there is no noise! xx

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  12. Loved reading this, made me smile - the card house looks great and the cycle rides.....once when we out on our bikes my daughter kept cycling right behind me and I kept asking her not to as it was dangerous and sure enough, I had to stop sharply once and she was straight into the back of me!! No doubt I shouted "And that is why I kept saying don't cycle so closely!" And a home grown fig - very impressive
    Caz xx

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  13. We tasted our first ever fig from our little tree the other day.. so sweet and still warm from the tree.. delicious, we have 3 more waiting to be picked.. yummy! :o) xx

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  14. It sounds like a varied programme of activities occupying the holidays so far. How wonderful to have your own figs, I wonder if my little twig will ever grow big enough to supply me with some fruit.

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  15. Your garlic looks great, mine is like a big marble but not larger than that........ I think it was all to wet and warm this winter here in Holland. It's the first year the Fig is in the garden so it has to grow a bit more before I can eat my own figs.

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  16. Does falling asleep watching TV mean the programme is boring or that you are relaxed and the minds is empty. We both do it!

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  17. Hey CJ,
    House Of Cards got on my wick, and I really wanted to like it, 'cause I like Kevin Spacey. But I didn't actually like any of the characters. Not one. All smarmy and up their own arse. I would recommend Homeland. I have just finished watching series 1.
    Leanne xx

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  18. As always an enjoyable post and wonderful pictures. Building card houses takes me back to the dim, distant past!
    Your garlic and onions are looking good. Well done with the fig, I hope there'll be plenty more to enjoy. Flighty xx

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  19. Try Modern Family - perfect for distressing and lots of laughs (and I can crochet while I watch/look down/watch). Thanks for the typing link, as I need my eldest to start learning! Loom bands, don't get me started on the loom bands! Looks like you're in true summer hols mode! Chrissie x

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  20. Ooh, I'm imagining what happens if one of the boys 'accidentally' causes a card house to crumble … there's obviously a fine balance between hours of peace and quiet during the building phase and the aftermath! You're not alone in dozing off during late evening tv watching; my sofa is so comfy that it can sometimes take twice the time needed to watch something as I have to rewind, frequently. Funnily, I don't do that with Inspector Montalbagno as I'm too absorbed in reading the subtitles.
    Gosh I envy you your fig - so delicious when freshly picked! There's a fig tree at the City Farm and I'm sometimes allowed to have some if a friend is working there but that's a rarity. Have another great week, CJ! Caro x

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  21. Those card houses are amazing! Very elaborate! I usually get stuck on certain things for a while, too, and become a bit obsessive until something else strikes my fancy. Sounds like you're having a great holiday! What better way to enjoy the summer than fresh food from your garden? Sounds wonderful!

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  22. Love the card houses! Enjoy your holiday!

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  23. The Houses of Cards just had me laughing; the idea that one had to go That Much Bigger than the other is just so family, isn't it? And I love that you grab the camera and photograph it for posterity. When one of them wins the Stirling prize you can always bring out the blog and wave it in front of them!

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  24. How bizzare, we were having this discussion at my knitting group recently, one ladies husband had suggested 'The Artist'! His thought was she wouldn't need to concentrate LOL...

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  25. Being able to type using all ten fingers is just fantastic - I am so glad I took this most boring course at 6th form college! There has been card house building in our house, too. We used Uno cards. When I was little, we used to spend our holiday in Northern Italy, in my grandfathers family home. There were two fig trees in the garden. There are few fruits that taste better right from the tree and I really want to eat one just now. Cx

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  26. we did some of the bbc typing a few years ago, I shall have to get the children to have another go! love the card houses, E has a friend coming over today, it could be the perfect activity.

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  27. Now I've always fancied growing a fig. It's finding the space for it that's the problem. I think I must try harder.

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  28. How delicious, a fig! My parents in law grow figs they are just so much better than the shop bought ones, i wish you many more! x

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  29. Can I tell you I have shouted that many times in all the years I have been a Mother, glad your boys are happy and you loved your fig.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  30. Your sons are so creative. And your harvest looks so bountiful, all fresh!

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  31. I'm just catching up (well trying to) on old posts and I'd missed this one. I bought hubby a fig tree for his 50th but sadly it was savaged by a football and didn't survive, we must try again. And I've learnt what to do with the onions, mine have grown but I didn't know what to do with them, will have to hang them somewhere; I'm trying garlic next year.

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  32. Love the Houses of Cards :). What is it with children playing in entrances to rooms, mine do it all the time too! Wow, a fresh fig I am envious I remember we used to stay at a big house when I was a chld which had an enormous fig tree in the garden, we only managed to stay there at the right time for them to be ripe once, they were heavenly. Hope you get many more in years to come :)

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