Will Dig Life

When we started the new 'school year' in September, one of my plans was to try and use Wednesdays for full day's outings. It hasn't worked out for every Wednesday, and I think that would be a bit much anyway, but we've enjoyed a number of fun days out this autumn so far. Time to dump some photos! Went went to the zoo near us... If you couldn't tell, D(9) is a fierce wolf here The technical museum... As well as to some historical sites in Wales - Chepstow Castle and Tintern Abbey so far, but we're definitely going back for more in the new year! Castle in the background! Cattle Country was OK, it was our first time there and we found it's really geared to littler kids than these two. But it still made for an enjoyable day out - just not one we'll repeat, probably. One Wednesday we just went into town and explored - randomly coming across the 'church in the wall', built into the city wall, and finding that it was staffed with a volunteer who had...

This is the third part (of many, I expect, but far apart and slowly accumulating) in my Home Ed Questions series - here's Part 1: What about socialisation ? and Part 2: How will they ever learn to read and write? N(then 9) reads to D(then 8) This entire blog is about thinking out loud, giving the reader a bit of an insight on what's going on in my mind. So this is going to be an open, vulnerable post as I think through my doubts and fears. Do I ever doubt my choices? You bet I do. Going against what the vast majority of people are doing, and are deeming necessary, is not easy and I'm not a Lone Ranger by nature. I have always craved community, people to walk alongside me. And luckily, there is a great community of home educators where I live - many of whom I have little in common with besides our choice of education, but because it's a large enough community, I do find there are a few that I can walk with closely. Of course there's online as well, the 'global vi...

Rest has been on my mind a lot lately - for several years now, I have been having occasional episodes of being simply unable to sleep; not to fall asleep initially, but I find myself waking up in the middle of the night and then unable to drop off again, for many hours. This has been occasional and manageable, but it feels like it's happening more often.  The cause for my waking isn't always internal - often it's the dog, or a noise, someone going to the toilet during the night - but once I'm awake on those occasions, I'm awake. I purposely don't look at my phone at those times, and I have a bedside clock with a red display (which is supposed to not interfere with the sleep hormones) so that's all I check, and I'll try to drop off again. I think, I pray, I try to empty my mind... but the dropping off just doesn't happen. I've looked into reasons for this, and what keeps coming up is chronic stress - cortisol. But the thing is, I'm not stresse...

I think in some parts of the UK, school has already started at the end of last week. On my radar was that it starts this coming week, but I think the timings are different in different places... but anyhow, we feel like we've only just really 'landed' back home. After Vienna, we were back home for just under a week before we went away again, camping in Wales with a national Christian home education group. 140 families! It was busy, it was wet (Wales...), we barely saw the kids the entire time as they were having a fantastic time with fellow home ed kids.  Mr. did manage to take D(9) up a 'mountain' nearby, as that had been an ambition of D's for a while. And I was so blessed to watch N(10) take part in an acoustic worship session with her guitar, the first time she played in front of others. River Wye Lego in the tent with a friend In worship  The issue of trying new things  One of the great things about home education is that each child can really explore their...

Here's a final photo dump of our last few days in Vienna - we tried to make the most of it, though we were all really looking forward to going home again! As every year, after six weeks we all can't wait to be home again and resume regular life... reconnect with our dog, friends, neighbours... and just generally dive in to the next 'school year'. But, here's what we did towards the end of our time in Vienna! Weather wasn't the best, but we figured the time's nearly up so we better fit the obligatory zoo visit in while we could.  The next day we went to the hot spring spa - no pictures of N(10) as she was mainly on the slide or doing her own thing! On our last day we enjoyed a morning at the butterfly house... coming to the conclusion that the one in Benalmadena (Spain) is bigger and better! That afternoon, sister took them bowling while Mr. and I cleaned up the flat and packed our belongings after six great weeks... And finally, we went to Church and had ano...