coronavirus

Thoughts on the end of home learning (fingers crossed)

March 6, 2021 By Ellen

Back to school – real, actual, muddy knees, bell going school – next week. I have never been keener for a Monday morning scurry. And neither has Boy Three. At first it was interesting to peep into the classroom through the Zoom window and my theoretical admiration for teachers now has more evidence than any […]

Distractions on the way to the end of the tunnel

November 14, 2020 By Ellen

It’s weird. The past 12 months have seen so many frightening and monumental things – firsts, lasts, and who’d have thoughts – yet, now, less than a week from what I hope to be a finishing line and I’m scared. Our new house is nearly finished and (everything crossed) there are no more obstacles, delays […]

Pictures of recent days

June 14, 2020 By Ellen

The days are merging into each other so I thought I’d mark in photos… There was the day we met a family of geese. There was the day Boy Three decided that what I really needed was an emergency poncho. There was the day I decided to channel Little House on the Prairie hair do. […]

Coronavirus: Questions arising…

May 8, 2020 By Ellen

I’ve lost count of the weeks of this weird stuck time. Outside it’s lush and the air is full of birdsong, which is nice. But ‘nice outside’ is the only thing happening at all – anywhere. If it had rained all week, then ‘nice outside’ would be a celebration. Or if the week was a […]

Lockdown parenting – the real deal isn’t pretty

May 4, 2020 By Ellen

It’s sickening, isn’t it? From Facebook to Instagram and back again, families hand-in-hand on sunlit meadows, tiny hands baking cupcakes, wobbly colourful art, snuggling up on sofas and the results of tie-dye. Where on earth has the tie-dye fascination come from? Up and down the nation, parents are doing their best, and putting the most […]