The morning started with vigorous exercise lead by Munchkin Sport. I couldn’t get the iPad to work, so Genevieve worked out in front of my laptop on top of the dishwasher. Not ideal but it got the job done! And Genevieve was very excited as she got a shout out for suggesting the morning’s opening song, “Giant” by Rag’n’Bone Man.
While the workout was mid-flow, I attempted to multitask and make porridge. A few days earlier Megan had asked me for the right quantities to ensure it didn’t overflow in the microwave. Despite providing detailed instruction she ended up with porridge spilling over the bowl. So this was my opportunity to show her that, of course, she’d done something wrong and that the measurements were fine. However, I quickly found out that hubris is often short-lived as my attempt virtually crawled out of the bowl and went everywhere. Clearly my measurements need some fine-tuning!
We did have a cooking success later in the day though. Megan and the kids worked together to make one of the finest bread puddings I’ve ever eaten. What was most impressive was Megan bodging together a very serviceable (and delicious) mixed spice mix from the hodgepodge array of spices we have in the larder. The resulting pudding was too delicious to keep to ourselves so Megan packed up a few slices and made a couple of doorstep deliveries to Emily and Gemma. Both were exceedingly grateful and asked Megan to confirm that the three slices they’d each received actually counted as just one serving.
James received some Hot Wheels cars and track for his birthday. I have fond memories of just running cars down long bits of track at my grandparents’ house so, to bolster the fun, I’d ordered a lot of additional track and today was the day to crack it open. There was a lot of excitement and joyful squealing from both kids and car after car whizzed down the track, did a small jump and then crashed in to the previous cars. Simple pleasures are often the best!
When James wasn’t busy crashing the cars he did some brilliant counting with them. A much more wholesome use of cars compared to what his uncle Chris used to do with them (smash them up with a sledge hammer!).
For lunch Megan thought the kids would enjoy a change of scenery. She quickly lashed together four wooden staves in the garden and covered them with a groundsheet to create the ultimate lunchtime picnic teepee. Not only did the children enjoy their lunch in their makeshift den, but they also opened their first “lockdown letter” from Grandma Lindsey and Grandpa Lawrie.
Genevieve and James wrote in the cards they’d made for Grandma and Grandpa and scooted them around to the nearby postbox. A great bit of much needed fresh air and exercise. I also managed to get out for cheeky run in the evening. To maintain social distancing I spent a lot more time running in the road than I normally would, but it was still great to get out to stretch my legs.
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