Half term has come and gone and despite the weather’s best attempts we did manage to carry out some activities. We visited Southend in fairly windy conditions but this did not deter the children from the rides! The highlight for them was carving pumpkins. Thanks to the supermarkets selling them fairly cheaply we were able to purchase one each for the children. Designs were made on paper first and then drawn on to the pumpkin. The messy and smelly job of removing the innards was everyones least favourite part of the job. The carving on the smaller pumpkins wasn’t too bad and Hpops produced a brilliant witch. Imp and myself did traditional jack o lantern designs and Pixie carved out shapes. On the night of Halloween we lit them using Halloween scented candles which smelt of candy and were quite enticing. We didn’t have many trick or treaters, although the kids were happy as that meant there was more Haribo left over for them!
We tried apple bobbing which proved to be amusing and difficult, none of us managed to get an apple out despite numerous attempts. The dogs on the other hand were able to get them out as quickly as anything as they simply got on with it! The kids went back to school happy after a great fireworks party. They got to eat pizza, watch fireworks, play with sparklers (gloves on both hands of course) and Hpops was engrossed in a Harry Potter quiz which demonstrated that she had read the books.
Now we are nearly a week into the new half term and I am sure the road to Christmas will be a busy one and I get to start a new job on Monday as a librarian, 15 hours a week that on the whole fit around the kids which leave me plenty of time for writing. Talking of which I have discovered that setting myself challenging writing targets works as I have been taking part in NaNoWriMo, (National Novel Writing Month), so far since the 1st November I have written at least 2000 words a day and having the target imposed means I have ensured that I have been hitting the targets as a result I think I will do this most of the time and I might even get the book I have been planning for years finished! Wish me luck.
