Holidays come to an end

All good things must come to an end. As September drew closer, we began to think about school. Wayne dug out the mountain bike, and made sure it was in good working order. (Yep, able to do wheelies, a vital necessity for a bike ride to school...)


We went and kitted out Annie for High School, buying Jack a new blazer and tie as well. We had a day in Plymouth, having a look around the shops and going to see a film. (Wayne missed "Avatar" the first time around, and the girls wanted to check out "Toy Story 3").


We hadn't taken the train to Looe yet, so gave that a go one day. It is a tiny little thing which follows a beautiful route to the seaside. We enjoyed it, although it was a bit crowded. (An earlier train had been cancelled, and many people wanted to head to the beach on a lovely sunny day.)

We were not going to the beach. We went to Kilminorth woods again, which we had only walked in during winter. It was quite transformed in the late summer. We found this extraordinary bright blue flower in the undergrowth.

For once, we had brought along sandwiches, so we stopped at a convenient bench and ate our lunch in the woods. A nearby sign advised us that oak woods were known for their bird life, particularly tits. We didn't see so much as a single bosom, ho ho... Mind you, the Fosters are not known for their quiet, hobbit-like walking in the great outdoors. Apart from speaking loudly to deaf me (who often cannot see people's faces as they walk), there are the usual raised voices of childish discontent for one reason and another which I will let the parents among you imagine as you will. Anyway, none of it leads to wildlife creeping out in shy wonder towards us, alas.


Here are the gang emerging from the woods at the river side. We walked back to the station, and thence went home.


September arrived, and the first day of school. Here is Annie in her high school gear, with Jack who was now accustomed to it.

And here they are with Eleanor, still in her Hillfort Primary gear. Eleanor forgot to take her holiday homework box in with her on the first day. (It was supposed to be filled with stuff representing the holidays.) Eleanor had filled the box, but forgot it in the panic of the first taxi of the year arriving. She got a demerit mark, which ruined the day for her, and she came home cross - most unusual for her. I did think that the teacher might have given the kids a day's grace to front up with homework given before the summer holidays, but no. Actually, I cannot imagine a teacher fronting up to the class she will have in the following school year and issuing homework - quite remarkable!

They are all settled in now. (This last photo has more accurate colours).