Thursday photo #236

It seems that Christmas creeps earlier every year. We’ve got to a point already where we drive around in the evenings and the girls spot Christmas lights. They’ve asked several times whether we can put our Christmas tree up now and I’m not even close to being ready. This week I published a Christmas gift guide for mums who run. This is my second gift guide, in addition to my What’s on West Midlands Christmas post. So, it may appear on the face of it that I’m ready for Christmas. But I’m far from ready.

A quiet weekend

After hot footing it around most of the country during half term, we were all ready for a rest last weekend. I headed off for a sunrise swim in the river, before meeting my sister for lunch. We went to a rather late fireworks display that took place on Saturday 10th November. Which, in hindsight, may be the reason I don’t feel ready for Christmas just yet.

I’m not a fan of fireworks on the whole. I don’t like the fact they frighten animals, particularly with the media reports this year of animals dying. That said, I think organised fireworks displays are the way forward so I’m happy to support them. The display we went to was excellent with fairground rides, a bonfire and a live band as well as the fireworks themselves.

The school play

As a child, I was never particularly into drama. I took part in school plays at primary school, but that was enough for me. Libby on the other hand, loves it. When she’s not at a drama class, dancing, music or singing class, she’s being a drama queen at home. So, the announcement about which part she got in the school pay was highly anticipated.

When she was told she was Angel number 4 with one line, she was probably as disappointed as I’ve ever seen her. And much as I was disappointed for her, it was also a relief. Because Libby is a very privileged child. That’s not to say that she has a lot of material things, she doesn’t really. But what she does have a lot of is opportunities.

Whether it’s working with Disney on a video, indoor skydiving, horse riding or drama lessons, she almost always has the chance to take part. So, the disappointment of being told that she hadn’t got a main part in the play was the opportunity she didn’t know she needed. Because when she’s a teenager and things don’t go her way, she’ll be better equipped to deal with it than if she’d never suffered disappointment as a child. And for me, that part of the school play is as important as giving children the confidence to go on stage.

Thursday photo #236

An unusually quiet week meant minimal photo opportunities. I probably should have tried to take some photos at the fireworks display, but we were too busy enjoying it. So instead, I grabbed a photo after dinner yesterday, complete with the remnants of dinner spread liberally around their faces.