Saturday 26 January 2008

Out and About

January can be so depressing - the weather has been pretty awful and there have been endless wet playtimes at school - so whilst the weather has been drier this week we have taken the chance to get out and about.

Al was home early from work on Wednesday - so we popped up to Victoria Park for Starbucks coffee at the fab cafe - and a chance for M and B to run off steam.



This weekend was the RSPB Big Bird watch - so today we took the Beavers from FMC to the park to go bird spotting.



Sunday 20 January 2008

Jack and the Beanstalk


Friday night - a M, B and myself went to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the Brindley - accompanied by the rest of the FMC Beavers and Cubs. A proper panto - and we had a great (and noisy) time.

Wednesday 16 January 2008

ASD Pathway

It's taken me a couple of days to decide whether to blog this or not - here goes.

Monday afternoon B had an appointment at CAHMS (Child and Adolecent Mental Health Services) - to look into the ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) Pathway - and despite trying to think positively about it I was worried in case it proved to be a waste of time. In the end I was amazed at how productive it was. B saw a lovely nurse, I, who talked to him and had him down pat in 5 minutes. I have another appointment next week to go through a detailed developmental history - and then B will be observed in school, and do assessments in the clinic. And all this will happen within 3 months. Now, even after all this there might not be a definative 'answer' or diagnosis - but I am just so thankful that someone is taking the time to look at B properly. Perhaps the NHS is working after all?

Saturday 12 January 2008

Maritime Museum

A trip to Liverpool and the Maritime Museum.

The dressing up costumes proved a great hit!


Playing at sailors....

....though unsurprisingly enough it turned into a re-enactment of Voyage of the Damned.


Golden Boy

Friday 11th January - and B has his name in the Gold Book at school - for the very first time. He was chosen because he was so good on the pantomime trip the previous day (I am totally amused that he was picked for going to the theatre - he must surely have far more theatre experience than the other boys in his class). But, regardless - he was delighted to be chosen and very excited about being given the responsibilty of ringing the first bell at playtime.
A shamelessly proud mummy moment.

Saturday 5 January 2008

Gauntlet

A often drives past Gauntleton his long trip to work - and he has called in a few times to see the birds there - so he was keen to take the children. We planned to go just before Christmas when we went to Tatton Hall - but were rained off - so when today turned out to be dry we took the chance to go.

A took lots of portrait shots, and also managed to get some flight shots - despite the tricky light (3pm is awfully late in January). M and B loved the show - there were lots of chances to see the birds up close - though M wasn't too impressed when one of the vultures caught her nose with it's wing!







Thursday 3 January 2008

A Christmas Carol - courtesy of M


I had to go back to work today - but Gma and Gpa took M and B on great trip to see A Christmas Carol at the Bolton Octagon. My day was very very boring so I am leaving todays entry to M

"I liked it when they went to Fred's house and a man was being silly playing Blind Man's Bluff. He went into the audience and tapped people. The singing was really cool. B was scared of the skeleton puppets."





To find out more and see a video trailer for the production see here http://octagonbolton.blogspot.com/search/label/A%20Christmas%20Carol

5 today!

My little nieces S and C were 5 on 2nd January - where did those 5 years go? Their party was at the Yellow Sub in Liverpool - a super play area (with a great cafe) that I am sure we will be visiting again! http://www.yellowsub.co.uk/

Little Miss C

Little Miss S

M and B enjoying the party

Tuesday 1 January 2008