... geesh... has it really been a week?
Tomorrow that mob of lunatic, unruly, completely bonkers individuals who keep calling me mum will return to school... and boy do I need some time off.
So I will celebrate the long awaited event with a yarn shopping trip with my mum who's been helping me herding the tribe this week. Mr M has requested some hand-knitted socks and given the extra-ordinarity of the request... (he doesn't 'do' knitted garments) I feel obliged to knit him a pair to prove him that I am - once again - right and knitted socks rocks. Although there is NO WAY I'm going to knit a pair of black socks. Absolutely no way. Only someone who has never (and never will) knit could ask for plain black socks. Yawn.
So what's been happening ...
My sister in law had her birthday, and a handmade present was required
and a handmade felt/beads necklace was made
then my parents came over to visit and brought some awful weather from Italy with them. Grey skies, cold wind... No 2, always the charmer, wanted to buy flowers for 'nonna's room'.

Yellow is his favourite colour
and although I argued (yes I argue with 5 year olds all the time... why, don't you?) that these were more orange than yellow...
we agreed they would have looked lovely against the pink walls (which in this photo look lilac...)

No 1 is studying the Tudors at school and wanted to see Hampton Court Palace so we braved the weather and visited the grand house.

Good old Henry VIII. He liked the ladies, he did. Married 6 times. Chopped a few heads. And he liked a good party. The kitchen had to cater for banquets of up to 800 guests.
This palace was only one of the many (he got 50 built during his reigns) he stayed in and it's been extended many times in different periods. Very very interesting. No 2 wants a bed with canopy now, and was very disappointed he didn't see any 'real' knights. No 1 was very taken with the maze in the garden. No 3 managed to elude my watchful eyes and sit on a throne setting all manners of alarm going.
The formal gardens were splendid (and very formal)
the 'daffs' out in multitudes
And we all agreed this gargoyle looked a little like Lilli

Wings and scales aside of course.
But it hasn't been all parties and day outs. Oh no. There has been some knitting - mum wanted to know how to knit socks from the toe up, and it would have been awfully rude of my to let her do that by herself.
And I attended the most fantastic felting course.
Stay tuned for part two.