Day 202. Thursday It took me ages to get off to sleep last night and then I was awake just before six. I opened my bedroom door so that I could hear the children getting ready for school. They padded backwards and forwards to the bathroom, Indi keeping them motivated to get themselves washed and dressed. My blinds were down so it was still pitch black in my room and they were unaware that I was watching them from my bed. I was hoping for a cuddle from them but in the end I had to open my blinds before someone noticed. Cherry was the first and came in to have a cuddle followed by Flora. That was what I wanted..
I got up and got dressed and followed them downstairs for breakfast. At 7.30am Chris took Flora to Kindergarten and Indigo to her Montessori school which is next door while I went with Helyn and Cherry to a different school for her German speaking lessons. It was nice to see the atmosphere of this large state school. Kids were coming in on their bikes, scooters. I don’t know? Everyday life just seems much more of a real experience here with the children getting lots of exercise and play. We met Caroline’s children being dropped off and they were surprised to see Cherry. I had a quick look at the empty classroom and it definitely got the thumbs up from me. There was so much on the walls, evidence of some very good work going on.
Helyn and I continued to the serene lake with George. A beautiful white mountain dog came running up and they had a mad half hour together racing through the woods. It was really beautiful down there and peaceful, a slight chill in the air and thin mist. The only ripple on the lake was a couple of ducks taking off. The white dog jumped the soft fence a couple of times and went to the water for a drink while George looked on. The last time the white dog wasn’t able to take a run to get back. I wondered what he would do now? He began to run sideways a little, I thought he would retrace his steps but then he turned around, ran back along the narrow space and jumped over the fence at a sideways angle. Wow. I was really impressed with the intelligence. Helyn and I then went away from the lake and took a path into the woods and we went to look at the buffalo but sadly the new baby wasn’t there so I didn’t get to see it. We did get to see two wild deer though which Helyn unbelievably managed to spot. We also managed to “spot” Chris! He had come to join us as we had to take him to the garage to have his winter wheels changed and it was still only about 8.30am.
Finally we were back home to a very silent house, Carol was waiting for us. Chris started work and I sewed Helyn’s skirt, George had torn all the lace. My early start was making me feel sleepy and I wondered how I was going to keep awake all day. Eventually we three girls headed out to Westpark for a coffee break. This was really nice to have Helyn sat down without anything to do and with her full attention. A rare moment. We collected Flora and Cherry. They were both outside in the garden playing on the brilliant wooded fort. Children were running up and down the hills and playing on the climbing frames. When the girls came off Cherry did a somersault on one of the climbing frames and my heart jumped. Flora not to be outdone asked, “Shall I slip through?” My heart was in my mouth but she did it. I say the same thing every time I visit the garden, this is wonderful for the children and why don’t we have it in England. There was no one in the sandpit today but it’s fabulous, even has a stream in the summer. They also have a small football pitch.
While we waited for Indigo we all played tig around this school garden and we were laughing so much as the girls chased us and we chased them up and down, in and out. There was even time for a game of table football and we had to be careful not to laugh too loudly. Finally Indigo came down the stairs from her classroom and it was home for a delicious meat pie with a pot bird holding the pastry up. Of course there was no actual meat in it! We had a nice calm afternoon and the sun finally came out. Helyn had gone with Cherry to music and we had some cuddling time after Indi had finished her homework. They seemed to have been gone for such a long time we could have walked to the zoo if we had realise. When they did arrive back it was out with the cream game. The girls were dying to get me as I had escaped the last time. The cream was placed on the hand, my chin went on the stand, the dice was spun and I had four turns of the wheel. I had only turned it twice and up came the hand and splattered me with the cream, right across the nose and eye. They laughed and laughed and of course laughed every time someone got caught. There was an awful lot of cream licking. Then it was time for tea.
We had a dipping tea which they love. Lots of crusty bread, one with walnuts in it, beautiful olive oil and the truffle oil that I had brought them. Cheeses and meats (vegetarian of course) and rocket and tomatoes and cucumber. Everyone was just dip, dip, dip. It was like a picnic. Carol and I decided that wine was a necessary requirement so we got even more giddy with the children. After tea the three girls gave us a little concert, all three of them now singing German songs with actions. Even George joined in as he likes to sing, or howl. That was good to see, all three girls are growing up fast. Indigo is 9, Cherry almost 6 and Flora 4years of age. Round about 6pm it was time to get ready for bed but we still had time for story. Indi read to me an then I read to her, a Famous Five adventure and Carol read to the younger ones. We received lots of lovely kisses and hugs and at 7.00pm it was lights out. (They may not have gone to sleep!)
Carol and I had a different evening. We took ourselves off into the snug to watch TV. The only thing we could manage to get on was an old Sweeny episode. How old fashioned it looks now with everyone smoking and drinking. Chris helped us to put on “The good fight” an American drama and spin off from The Good Wife which Carol recommended. We managed to watch and thoroughly enjoy two episodes. The first episode wasn’t available to us. I love a good drama with excellent language that you have to listen to. I used to love ER. Helyn and Chris had taken themselves off to bed. Almost forgot. We also had to put up with George’s antics, fighting him off me slippers, leave me jumper alone, stop nibbling Carol, put that blanket down, stop nipping me. It’s a mad house. Perfect.
Maria Brooks Holy Shaman - Mary Magdalene: School Of Intensified Light 