Just Jo!

….and let’s hope he’ll manage to keep it on for a bit longer this time! Slightly careless to have lost it so quickly in the first place methinks.
Olivia started a new maths workbook this morning….in addition to the two others she’s got on the go. (Algebra and fractions, decimals & percentages.)
I did something around the house, but can’t remember what now….most odd….
We went into town, extravagantly catching the bus. I knew we had a big shopping day ahead and there was no way we’d cope on the bikes.
Rymans was the first stop for more ‘puter ink. The assistant asked if Olivia had the day off school…. “No, she’s home-educated.”
“Oooh! How’s that going then?” Cue a very nice chat about it all while building up a fairly impressive queue behind us. Hurrah!
Next stop was the library. No fines this week. Hurrah!! And another, “Have the school’s broken up already?”
“No, she’s home-educated.”
“Oh wow!” Another nice chat about it all. Hurrah! Mind you, the librarian is tattooed everywhere, so I’m guessing she’s quite open-minded about things.
I’m not a big fan of tattoos, but she looks good. And she lives a few doors down from us, but not actually said “Helloooo!” to her in civvy street yet….
Then the arts centre to book Olivia in for a Saturday morning art club, based around using some of the exhibitions they’ve had as inspiration. We asked if there were any spaces left, yes, just the one! Even more hurrahs!!!
Where next? The museum! Olivia spotted Marcus/Mark as soon as we walked in, so grabbed him before he disappeared to give him some of the cards he needed. The bloke he was with (some official type person), smiled indulgently as the two of them discussed the cards. Both of them impressed with Olivia’s laminated idea, especially as it was the first time either of them had seen the full set of cards together. And Marcus/Mark only needs two to complete his set now, so he’s well chuffed. Olivia is too, because she’s got a bit of a crush on him. But I never said that.
Olivia did the Egyptian worksheet today, so I treated her to an Egyptian necklace in the gift shop. I know we’re supposed to be saving money for all our April trips, but it was only £1.50.

As we were leaving, we remembered why we’d gone to the museum today, ie to look at the portrait of Olaudah Equiano. So we headed back upstairs again. Then found out that although it was first credited as being him, it’s probably not Equiano after all, but Ignatius Sancho. So we’ll have to read all about him now as well.
Olivia wanted a postcard of the portrait, but they’ve sold out and it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting any more reprints done.
We checked out the menu for one of the new restaurants in the fancy new half built shopping centre. The tapas bar. We like tapas. A lot. But I resisted all temptation and paid the phone bill instead.
Food shopping was next, and Olivia now has everything (except pitta bread and cinnamon) for her Biblical feast, which looks like it’ll be on Thursday. Which gives her time to get some kind of a costume ready. She likes loves with a passion getting dressed up for things. I consider myself fortunate that I haven’t been begged to make a costume for over a year now.
While we were in town, we picked up a Hunt the Easter Egg Game from The Works. It’s a really simple idea and I could have very easily made one myself, but for £1.99….what would be the point??! She also got National Geographic Kids, issue 6. Issue 6?? How have we missed this?? How have I missed anything that has Olivia rapt and quiet and speechless and quiet and sitting quietly on the sofa and quiet???!! I think it may be worth investing in a subscription….
Yes, it’s been one of those scrummy kind of days, where things have been nice’n'easy. Maisy got a new flea collar, a glittery gold one, Olivia got a new bell for her bike. Me? I’ve got to wait ’til Friday when Adam gets paid. ‘Cos then he’s getting me the rest of my Mother’s Day pressie, Lush and wine. Notice the priority I place on things? Oh yes….Lush comes first!!!
Dinner now….we’re having Balmoral Pie, from Lucy’s, we’ve got garlic and herb cream cheese to mash into the potatoes….not to ice a parsnip cake with….

(Gnnnhhh! Completely forgot it was Bangladeshi National Day today….I’ve remembered now….at 10:37….too late to get Olivia up to ‘do something’…. )