And just like that half term is over. The PE kit is packed and by the door, the dinner money is in an envelope and the children have been neatly put away. It's been a good weekend. A tenth birthday for the middle boy with indoor climbing (fantastic) and a meal out and then an ice-cream cake at home. The ice-cream cake was a triumph. Nigella's recipe; vanilla ice-cream, smooshed up with a Crunchie, chocolate chips, lightly crushed bourbon biscuits and honey roasted peanuts. And hot chocolate sauce made from dark chocolate, cream, Camp coffee essence and a spoon of golden syrup. As you know, I am all sophistication over here. We were feeling a bit tired after a long week of scampering about, but somehow that perked us all right up. In fact some of us had to be scraped down from the ceiling.
This evening I am having a little sit down after cleaning more football and walking boots than you could shake a stick at. If you listen carefully you can hear the washing machine sobbing quietly as it works its way through football kit, clothes and a pile of coats. This morning there was this season's most thrilling football match (a hard fought, well deserved victory). The other side's coach was a bit mouthy and I felt quite a lot like yelling something childish at him when we won. I think I was a bit over-excited by the drama of it all.
I took the boys for a last walk this afternoon at Sand Point above the Severn Estuary. Ironically there are pebbles, mud and salty grass but no sand at all that I saw. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place. Or maybe there is some intriguing story behind the name. A local official with lofty aspirations perhaps. Or a resident with ideas above their station. We love it there anyway, sand or no sand. As I've said before, that mud is teeming with life.
It was pretty fresh up there, it made me think I really must invest in a hat. We scrambled down to the beach and found a sheltered spot to make a driftwood fire. We could have done with something to toast. Next time I shall be more prepared.
For those of you who are just starting half term, I hear the weather is set fair, and I hope you have a good week with a happy adventure or two.
Your boys have had an excellent break I think, great stuff CJ. Sand point looks intriguing, a finger of land sticking out into the British Channel. Is it Lundy you can see on the horizon in photo five? Your boys would love it there. Camping, rock climbing, bird watching, snorkelling, fishing, kayaking - no traffic, one food shop and I'm sure no wifi. Hope you have a good week.
ReplyDeleteIt's a tiny island called Flat Holm, maybe half a mile long. I'd love to go there one day, it's a nature reserve and SSSI. There's another island close by called Steep Holm (it's steeper than Flat Holm...) and that is also a nature reserve and SSSI. All places I'd love to visit, Lundy too, it sounds fantastic. Islands are wonderful aren't they. CJ xx
DeleteThey really are CJ. I hope you sail over to those islands one day, they sound very special. And Lundy, of course, is in the Bristol Channel - blogging without my glasses, again!
DeleteSounds like you had a pretty wonderful school break. Hope the boys have a wonderful spring session at school.
ReplyDeleteI hope the return to school and routine is uneventful. It sounds like you had a good break. Your ice cream cake sounds incredible. I have to admit I just buy my ice cream cakes ready-made at Dairy Queen. They're good, but yours must have been fabulous.
ReplyDeleteohhh, CJ, what a lovely post for me to come back to you with - what beautiful pictures. I love the grand sense of solitude you have captured. thank you!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a wonderful break. Now back to the grind tomorrow. We don't have a half term - but we have President's Day off tomorrow. We had a good day, our older son brought his boys out to ride their their motorized dirt bikes around our field. I think they had a lot of fun even though it was raining a bit - they made lots of mud. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful half term - thrilling football matches, driftwood fires and an amazing sounding ice cream cake (I've never made one but must give it a whirl). Half term for us this week but, sadly, no exciting adventures planned - E has coursework and looming mocks and I have a bit of decorating on the cards. Enjoy your week and I hope your washing machine recovers! xx
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great week. Mine are on half term this week and I'm still in university with today being my full day. Hoping we can fit in some walks too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun half term and that ice cream cake sounds divine. Our half term is this week and I am looking forward to getting out and about, just hope the weather plays ball. xx
ReplyDeleteThe ice-cream birthday cake would go down a treat with my lot. I lack sophistication in this department and only make plain sponges :-) James started playing football with the school team and I shall soon experience the weekly washing of football kit and the scraping of indescribable mud from boots. Half term here is this week, until Wednesday only. I am working, the big kids are still in bed and the little ones are on an adventure camping trip with dad. I am glad you had a great half term break. Wishing you a smooth week. x
ReplyDeleteOoo! I love the idea of a driftwood fire on the beach. It sounds like something out of 'Swallows and Amazons'- but all that washing not such fun. Glad you had a good half term :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a had a lovely break & yes the weather is looking good for half term here thanks. Wow ice cream cake sounds good, I still like camp coffee made with hot milk. Reminds me of being young xx
ReplyDeleteI'm just beginning half term :) It'll go too quickly as always! I'm actually working on three days (I do school hol wildplay with the Wildlife Trust) and the others days will be mostly cleaning and reading days!
ReplyDeleteYou took some lovely photos at the beach and it sounds like you've had a good half term :)
I always love it that you walk and birdwatch with your boys and have a little fire while you are out. They will have so many happy memories of those days. They have grown so much. Kids have the week off here this week and I don't have much planned aside from eye appointments for my boys. I better think of something more fun than that :)
ReplyDeleteI think your half-term sounds like loads of fun and a bit of work too. The last thing you needed to clean up after all the football and hikes is sand, so maybe we should be happy Sand Point has no sand.
ReplyDeleteBoys do make the biggest messes,
Hugs,
Meredith
A lovely post and good pictures. That ice-cream cake sounds delicious.
ReplyDeleteHave a good week. Flighty xx
A lovely post with great photos, such a beautiful place by the sea.
ReplyDeleteHappy week dear C.J.
xoxoxo ♡
Glad you had a good half term and that it was ended with a great birthday! Sounds wonderful fun and the cake sounds delicious!!! xx
ReplyDeleteAh CJ, what a fabulously written post. I do love coming here and reading such brilliant sentences as "the washing machine sobbing quietly..."
ReplyDeleteWe're just about to enter half term, though the kids will still be in at their Montessori nursery two days a week, as usual, so it just means that I have two whole days off without college and without children, wooohooo. (Though, with a fair bit of homework, booo.)
i've given up sweets for Lent and just reading about that birthday cake makes me feel like I've cheated. *slurp* it sounds divine!
ReplyDeletewhat glorious places to go walking...i'm dead jelly. xoxo
Time seems to vanish like a puff of smoke, but you have beautifully captured some of your time through this post, CJ. Thanks for sharing... xx
ReplyDeleteWhen we had football matches when I was teaching it was the parents who were really mouthy. They shouted some awful things about the referee and what their children are to do to the other side which really wasn't the right thing for children's much. Not great examples of sporting behaviour.
ReplyDeletehope back to school went smoothly. we've just started half term, but with one child in rehearsals most days and the other up to eye brows in school work it's not feeling very restful yet.... I think some baking might help x
ReplyDeleteIndoor climbing walls are brilliant for parties (or just climbing), aren't they? And an ice-cream cake – what could be better. Hope it's not too bad being back to normal this week. My lot are enjoying unsupervised lolling about today as I have a book to finish proof-reading. My daughter is baking, so I'm avoiding the kitchen... Sam x
ReplyDeleteWhat is it with washing? We get through loads and we aren't scrupulous about new clothes every day. I have no idea how we generate so much :o( I've got the PE kit to go through tomorrow....wish me luck! Your half term sounded lovely. It does rush past so fast though, doesn't it? XX
ReplyDeleteI'm very impressed by this small fire and always by your surroundings, words and photos. Congrats on the victory in football and happy, happy birthday to the middle boy!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a terrific outing CJ - great views, water, and fire - what more could boys ask for?
ReplyDeleteSand Point looks an interesting place - sand or no sand! Yes, sausages on sticks I guess would go down nicely with your boys next time. It's amazing how football matches can get very 'dramatic' at times - even in ladies matches!
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
Sounds like a great half term and the ice cream cake sounds amazing. Have a good week xx
ReplyDeleteWish a great time for the children as they get back to school. Our kids actually were happy to go back to school. Now a days my youngest is in Law School and not too excited about being there. It is too much work he tells me. It sounds like this was a great walk in a beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see your green there...it's all snow and ice where I am right now :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely time !
Looks like a lovely walk out with the boys. Your commentary about the last exciting match made me laugh. I have been grateful as they get older the pitch gets bigger and The Kid can't hear my crazy when it slips out on the sidelines. I try not to enjoy the game and not get weird, but sometimes not even on the behalf of my own child, but seeing some "foul" play out there, can bring out the righteous, ha! That ice cream cake sounds dreamy! What a lovely birthday!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see your green there...it's all snow and ice where I am right now :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely time !
Forget sophistication, that ice cream cake sounds amazing! Oh the memories of muddy football kits - I'm not sorry those days are gone.
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteWe've never made a driftwood fire. I think Olly would love it. And the cake sounds like my kind of perfection. I had a coffee ice cream topped with caramelized pecans yesterday. That, my friend, was awesome! Happy birthday to middle boy. Two boys in double figures. Hold on tight!
Leanne xx
Oh wow! that looks like a fantastic walk, I bet your boys were delighted especially with a fire too. Oh some adults do behave shockingly at children's sport matches, they set an awful example. I hope this week, the first one back to reality, was ok! Have a lovely weekend xx
ReplyDeleteThat icecream cake sounds delicious the easy recipes are always the best! Sand Point looks a wonderful spot and it must have been such fun sitting by the drift wood fire! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such an informative information.
ReplyDeleteI just love the way you write about and sum up your half term days with your boys. A mixture of love, amusement, exhilaration and pure exhaustion too. That cake sounds beyond good. My lot would love that, most especially John. I will look through my (extensive) Nigella collection for the recipe. xx
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and I'm have a strange moment reading this entry! Last weekend we made that same cake and on the same day my middle boy (of three boys) had a football match where the referee was loud and cursed and he was bothered about it all day (he's only 7). Funny coincidence. Love the blog. Sarah
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and I'm have a strange moment reading this entry! Last weekend we made that same cake and on the same day my middle boy (of three boys) had a football match where the referee was loud and cursed and he was bothered about it all day (he's only 7). Funny coincidence. Love the blog. Sarah
ReplyDelete