Bit busy here to write anything while Clare was away, despite having evenings in to myself.
Friday night we didn't bother with gymnastics in the end, they didn't want to go. We walked to Sandgate instead for ice creams, so some exercise. Friday night I stayed up too late watching two Fleetwood Mac documentaries. Having second thoughts if I'd like them to be a headliner when we go to Glastonbury. I think so, but it is tricky, they are getting on a bit, but they're too big to play the "legends" afternoon slot I think.
Saturday we got the bus into Folkestone with no real plan in mind. Lots of walking and scooting, including the Harbour Arm. We had lunch in Subway and drinks and cake in Planet Earth Kitchen. Then home to make our own pizzas for tea. Not too late to bed, at least that was the plan. They both stalled and faffed and were in bed at exactly the same time as normal. I watched Strictly Come Dancing (can't remember how I have in the sweepstake now, but lots of them looked very good indeed) and went to bed early to read some more of The Book of Dust1 which is very good.
Sunday morning up earlier for junior parkrun! We had to head to Dover, there is not one in Folkestone. They did well, thing one beat his estimated time of twelve minutes for two kilometres, and thing one beat his estimated position of 30th. I ran along with him, though I'm not allowed through the finishing gate nor to count it as a parkrun, gah... The course is twice round a circuit in Kearsney Abbey, so a mix of gentle hills and uneven ground. I think they enjoyed it enough to come again. They both have a time now to aim for. Seems they don't get t-shirts like the adult parkrunners do but after they've run the equivalent of a half marathon they get a wristband and certificate, so just ten more runs each.
The rest of the day we're probably just hanging around the house. Some housework and homework while we wait for Clare to return. We just about shoehorned today's run into one of the homework categories, good work. Looks like we can have "learning to play cribbage" as another easy one too.
UPDATE: at some point this weekend I mowed the lawn and trimmed the hedge and dismantled the broken garden gate. We had no gate when we moved in between the back yard and the steps, but we put one in because we had a toddler. Now we don't have a toddler and we've had a broken rotting gate hanging off for the last couple of years. So now it's gone! Next steps get rid of the brambles at the back, fix the water butt, get rid of the football goal and another of the wood planters. We can double the size of this garden just by tiding it, so then we can half it again by building an extension. And we'll be back where we started!
Paul Clarke's blog - I live in Hythe in Kent. Wed + dad to 2, I am a full stack web engineer, + I do js / Node, some ruby, python, php ect ect. I like pubbing, running, eating, home automation and other diy jiggery-pokery, history, family tree stuff, Television, squirrels, pirates, lego, + TIME TRAVEL.