Splat

I've been finding it really hard to write anything about our lives lately.  The constant stress that we are living under is really taking it's toll; on me, on Steve and even on the boys in an indirect way, as we are trying to keep the seriousness of our situation from them.  It's eating into our relationships with each other and our family dynamics.  I can't really talk about Steve's emotional state and in fact I'm not even sure I can describe what is going on in me!  I'm very, very tired.  No matter how much sleep I get, I feel shattered most of the time.  My hair is falling out, my nails are peeling and I'm getting some seriously bad headaches.  I'm a physical wreck!!!

There is some good news.  The job that I interviewed for, and didn't get, got in touch a few weeks ago and offered me a part time position.  Which is great, and I am really excited about it, but it makes little to no difference to our financial situation.  The Splat Centre  (http://www.splatcentre.co.uk/) opens on Saturday the 5th of May and I will be working 10 - 20 hours a week.  I am hoping that it will be more hours rather than less, but only time will tell.  I am really looking forward to being back in the workplace after a long 8 years, even though the job itself is nothing particularly challenging.  And it's recent work experience on my CV.  So, yay!

(thats me ending on a positive note...)

Sam Card, Renaissance Man

Sam has had a very busy time of it during the last school term, with most weeks having only 2 days when there was nothing on.


Monday - Homework
Tuesday - Glee Club straight after school till 4:30 then Beavers from 6:15 to 7:15
Wednesday - Dance Club with Climbing lessons replacing Dance on 2 of the days
Thursday - Football Club
Friday - Homework
Saturday - Swimming lesson
Sunday - Rugby


Plus having to do homework on many other days as well, and in addition having extra dance and singing practise to get everybody ready for special events.  It has been a very long (and emotional!) term, but there have been a number of events that have made it all worthwhile for my boy.


First off there was the North Tyneside Festival of Dance - the boys and girls worked so hard, and were so enthusiastic that their teacher had them choreograph their own routine. 



Showing me his moves!

 Sam was one of just two boys in the Year 3 group, and he loved it!  They were all well behaved, well presented and danced their little hearts out - my heart was in my mouth and my palms were sweaty, but I grinned the whole way through it.

The next occasion was the Northumberland Rugby Union County Cup for under 8s.  It was held at Rockcliffe Rugby Club and Sam played for one of the two Percy Park teams.  His team did pretty well, making it through to the final of the Shield, where they were defeated.  Sam had a great day and was over the moon because everybody who took part got a medal.

Medal ceremony

  Shortly after that we had the North Tyneside Festival of Song, which was held at the Whitley Bay Playhouse.  There were a combination of Middle, Primary and First Schools taking part and each school had two songs of opposing styles prepared.  Steve was away in Belgium so his Mum and Dad came up, and John stayed home and looked after Tom while Ev and I went to the performance.  Now, I know I am biased, but man!  Our kids were the best!  They looked so smart, and their singing was awesome and their movements were so coordinated, not a child out of step.  They sang Katy Perry's Firework and Adele's Make you Feel My Love.  It was so good - they practised very hard, especially in the few weeks building up to the performance, and it really paid off. 



My boy loves the stage!

 But despite feeling very proud of him, and so thrilled that he had grabbed hold of different opportunities that were offered to him - I am looking forward to the new school term when we will get some days during the week back. It will make the pace of the week just that little bit less frenetic!