'What does Santa do with his reindeer when he goes on holiday?'

'He scoops them up, chops them up and eats them.'

Emma, aged 31 months.

Other peoples' children and your own

The rain is pattering on the windows, I can hear the wind and the waves outside. D is frollicking in the bath right now and X is enjoying his favourite show on the TV. It's a calm ten (?) minutes in which I can update you.

Funny thing is, when it's raining by the sea your enthusiasm to be outdoors is undiminished. Maybe that's just me though, in a candid moment X described me as being 'like a dog' so maybe that's something canine inside, howling to get out.  Anyway, my new charges at work are a mixed bunch, aged 2 to school age they've greeted my with interest and warm affection in some cases.

On my first day, I introduced myself to some of the older kids. Unbeknownst to me, the first one was a four year old girl (lets call her 'A') who spoke only in Hungarian! She proceeded to speak very quickly in her native tongue for three minutes seemingly without taking in a breath. At times like this you try not to look alarmed and nod encouragingly! We also have a kid named Tony at our setting (I haven't meet a child named Tony for about 30 years), he has the tenacity and the expression of a mob boss in the Sopranos.

My two at home have settled alright with the move. The big one is thrilled with the trampoline installed in the garden and seems to consider all trips out of the house (for whatever reason) as breaks between trampoline time. The little one grows apace, she is chattier, smarter and more demanding every single day. X and D's relationship meanwhile is like the weather, at times sunny and at times squally with stormy outbreaks. D is a shrieker when she doesn't get her own way, so a lot of the time my life revolves around keeping her quiet. You don't taunt an angry bear (unless you really have to) and our two and a half year old cub is no exception. She has that toddler fickleness in spades right now, 'No. I don't want that' apparently doesn't mean 'No I don't want that' as I've learnt to my cost on several lunchtime occasions. I eat the food she says she doesn't want and when it's finished.. she shrieks that she does.. 

Meanwhile X starts year 5 in September. He needs a bit of routine in his life as August feels like an extended holiday as far as can tell. His scout troop is chock full of Minecraft fans so he should have some kindred spirits there. I hope X's transition to small town life is free of stress, he is a unique boy and sadly some people can take offence at that sometimes. We'll see anyway...

I better stop there. D is out of the bath, I should wrangle some clothes onto her.. and something with minimal sugar into X's stomach. Life with kids is a delicate balance of negotiating and putting your foot down very carefully at times. The iron rule of parental authority would be a lot simpler, but I don't think the kids would respond well to it. As parents, we try not to **** up our children in the long term... and that's quite a challenge I can tell you...

A.

Crazy Golf, Ventnor Carnival and some light reading - August 8-15

Dizzy gets into the party spirit

Dunno which Roman Legion this guy comes from! 

Gorilla in Spaceman outfit takes pride of place in the parade

Diz waiting patiently for breakfast

Diz joins in with crazy golf on Shanklin beach. 

Shanklin Beach: Little D and X at play

We hit the beach as it was a particularly sunny,  I have sunburn on my ankles as a momento of the day. Do the locals ever get tired of proper summer weather? I feel particularly spoilt this August.

A.

We've arrived!!!

Boxes unpacked (mostly).  Order restored (tentatively). Internet ready (sporadically). I write this from our clifftop bedroom overlooking the sea. A few thin wisps of cloud overhead and a welcoming view of the channel below.

..It's truly lovely here...

There are differences I've noticed already between here and the mainland which give the place a sense of unreality in the most delightful sense:

1. In the week we've been here the warm sunshine has been almost constant. I have a tan which throws my mahogany forearms and pasty white upper body into even starker contrast.
2. You hear crickets instead of police sirens or mopeds outside at night.
3. When an insect flies in through your window during the daytime, it's as likely to be a butterfly as a bluebottle or a wasp. 

 I started work at my new place on Monday and it has been a joy. 10 minute commute and Sandown beach a few minutes down the hill. I've had to forgo the £4 lunchtime frappucinos (which were getting addictive) but now have the seaside to go paddling in during my working week. My bank account will be weightier (hopefully), whilst my soul should be that much lighter.

Anyway, this is just a marker. Consider it day 6 (out of ???) of our new life. More adventures to come in the weeks, months and years to come.

A.