Support on Sports Day

This week we participated to the most British of those school traditions in England – Sports Day. I was slightly dreading it beforehand, since Number One Son has not reached the level where he can comfortably skip or do things with a hula-hoop. He is also easily distracted and becomes bored, so I was wondering, how it will turn out.

I should not have been worried. His group started with the things he was stronger at and he did try every single event. Even if he is not very good in throwing ball, he tried a cricket type activity that was not a great success. However, throwing bean bag was OK and he hit inside a hula-hoop ring every single time. It was only the nearest one, but he is only on the reception class. Their team seem to have reached the highest score in that activity.

He was as good as the other children of his age with the hockey stick, and he really did like to manoeuvre with a football. The groups were mixed and he was clearly twinned with the tallest, very gentle six-grader, who was cheering him up, high-fiving and helping when he started to linger off. Similarly, the teaching assistants and teachers were helping him to concentrate, and supported and guided him, when his concentration lapsed.

It was a joy to follow such team work. The atmosphere was lovely and the sun was shining almost all the time, so I and Archaeologist Husband were completely red on our faces at the end of the day. The activities finished with a picnic, so we three had sandwiches and fruit outside and then headed for a play date.

Midsummer sunshine

How can one feel guilty of Midsummer celebrations that do not really involve alcohol and happen in the middle of the day on Midsummer afternoon, not in the rowdier evening of the Midsummer Eve? The reason is the hot sunshine and real barbecue weather in Midlands in comparison with the rain and hail and almost freezing temperatures in Finland. It just felt so unfair that the Finnish family party in England was basking in sunshine. Nevertheless, the half-term week had been so dismal that we deserve some sunny weather.

The barbecue celebration allowed a visit to Eestimaja, the Estonian cultural club, that I had not visited before. A long time ago I and other Finns did frequent the Polish Club in Bristol, but this was a new experience. Sadly, I was driving and attending the party with Number One Son, so any Viru Valge was beyond the limits. Any way, 70 % version could have been lethal. I stuck in their lovely little bar to my standard Tonic Water with ice and lemon...

Father has to make his own cake – with Son

For this Father’s Day Archaeologist Husband got his card two weeks early. Luckily, I had noticed the Father’s’ Day’s cards in the supermarket, so I could pick up a suitable one that included a ‘Best Dad’ pin or similar. The card lauded the qualities of the father in comparison to million bucks/quids. Considering how marvellous job his does meticulously when I am working away, he deserves all the praise I can offer.

Not The Cake, but with Ganache - as the one baked (thanks, wikipedia)

It was heart-warming to hear that the school Number One Son goes to, had a similar Daddies’ event day as it had for Mummies. Archaeologist Husband had forgotten to tell me about the latter, since he felt sidelined when a special invitation letter had come from the school to the mothers: he did not remember it was before the Mother’s Day... Now he got his turn!

All the usual suspects where there: South African Dad, Congolese Dad, Carpenter Dad, Business Dad and others one has seen in different birthday parties and children’s events in the village. One feels for the kids who do not have father who comes around: some fathers just do not wish to have anything to do with their off-spring. However, even the best of mothers and fathers have to work, so you cannot have everybody there any way.

Somehow it is uplifting and sad that Number One Son and Archaeologist Husband were baking a cake yesterday. Uplifting, since it is an activity they both enjoy and like. Sad, since it is basically Archaeologist Husband’s Father’s Day cake. Although on one level he may be lucky and make a close escape, since I am not famous for my baking skills. In addition, Archaeologist Husbands chocolate and walnut cakes have been a success among the other mothers. Hmm, wait a minute – should I be a little bit worried...?

Princess Leonore and Number One Son

Today Princess of Leonore of Sweden was christened. This effected my life when I caught a glimpse of soldiers on horses in the city centre in Stockholm. I also reminded my mother that the christening took place today, so she could watch it on TV in Finland. There were also lovely photos of the little baby girl in the Finnish papers I glimpsed online today. A little girl reminds one that one is a mother to a son and will never live through the pink fluff that seems to fill little girls' life these days. It is shameful to admit that I sometimes I walk through a department store and look at the little cute party dresses for girls and think that it would be nice to buy those for my own daughter. But would I have? I have only managed to buy "lovely, but functional" dresses to my niece. The biggest nod to the "pinkification of girls' lives" was when I bought some princess items for Number One Son's Number One Cousin and a birthday present to Number One Friend.

Cousins, princesses Leonore and Estelle of Sweden

More than anything the new princess who actually lives in New York with her mother, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, and his father, reminds me of distance. However, our life is slightly more extreme than the life of a princess who is separated from his grandparents: Number One Son is in one country today and I am in the other. Nevertheless, we could Skype together, so we both have a contact. These are moments one wishes that the distance "kissing machine" Horowitz tried in the Big Bang Theory becomes a reality. Not to mention the improvements to the long-distance marrige...

Half-term together!

I know what the weather will be like in late July. It will be overcast, rainy and chillier than the week before or after. The only day the weather was good during this half-term was the last day, Sunday, when I was going to fly back to Sweden for two and half weeks of teaching and the preparations for teaching before the next spurt of holiday in late June across the Midsummer. Then Number One Son will be at school so it will be bound to be sunny.

Tuesday: climbing

This half-term was all about ordinary things cut by some more half-termy activities. We did take bus to the city centre on Bank Holiday Monday when Archaeologist Husband had to go to work in Birmingham. We went to check the Disney shop and had a McDonalds chicken nugget treat. Sadly, I had to drag Number One Son through some clothes shops, since I do need some new clothes for field school – for the hot Italy in August. When I will miss trips to southern England with Archaeologist Husband and Number One Son. Sigh!

The river Cam at Lammas Land

Tuesday was all about normal weekly food shop and a fair amount of running and climbing in the park, whereas Wednesday saw the less successful swimming trip. Our safety conscious son does not like to go to the water that is deeper than his thighs. I think a career in Health & Safety will be looming... If not in paleontology. On Thursday I and Number One Son headed to Cambridge, where the short walking distances across many pedestrian lanes, free museums, river, tourists in the punts and swans along the river, an old times’ sweet shop and a cheap lunch in The Regal guarantee a successful treat away. When it comes to the dinosaurs, normally the bigger the better, but this time ammonites proved to be a success as well.

Ammonites

On Friday we had a family day in the garden centre and revisited a pub where we have not been for a couple of years due to the declining quality of food. Well, it had improved – but not much. Now we can wait a couple of years again. Saturday was the lazy day in the garden whereas Sunday morning saw a play date in the sunny park. A full week of togetherness.