Back to nursery

It was Mark's first day back at nursery today. He's doing Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings now that he's four. Funny to think in England he'd be going to school full-time. I'm sure he'd love it but I quite like that he gets another year of hanging out with us and the Wallaces, and going to an absolutely lovely nursery with the nicest teachers I know.

When I talked to him after nursery he told me he'd had a great time and he was going to have a rest now ;-)

The girls were back at school last week. Hannah enjoyed it; Ellie said she was tired and could she please have Friday off please?

Luckily for Ellie it was Labor Day on Monday, so we had a three day weekend.

Saturday we had a busy day. We visited Range Pond for the first time. It was a bit of a scorcher, and the children swam and dug holes in the sand. Then we had lunch at Eggcetera in Poland - I do like that place. Lunch for five people for $32. Then instead of driving the usual route home through Gray, we went cross country then south through New Gloucester and past Pineland. Hadn't been that way before - I'd imagined New Gloucester would be bigger, not just a pretty little 'blink and you'll miss it' town.

Hannah and Ellie went for a play with Max and Maddie, then we had Ellen over with Odin and Piper, for a barbeque. Ellen and I ended up sitting on the swing in the garden eating chips and watching five children on the trampoline. Fabulous.

After all that we were tired on Sunday so we had the laziest day imaginable. I would describe what we did, but it really was nothing.

Labor Day, or Picnic Day as Ellie calls it, the kids spent with the Wallaces, at the York Magic Animal Kingdom. It has animals and funfair rides - what child could ask for more?! They had a wonderful day. Hannah rode an elephant. Everyone went on rides. Mark drove Bumper Boats. They all fed goats. And much more... Then they had pizza on the way home, and arrived here shattered at about 8.30pm.

Meanwhile Mike and I went to... you'll never guess...






...Home Depot.

Mike was so happy. Then we had lunch at Panera, then wandered round the Old Port, and I was happy too. Finally we went to the Dry Dock, and sat on a very cold deck overlooking Casco Bay, and I had a Lemon Drop, and I was really really happy.

This week's been much better at work. I still have the most endless meetings to sit through. Four hours per morning, plus whatever else I'm scheduled for in the afternoon. But the people I'm working with are great, and it's almost interesting making configuration decisions about a new system. Almost...

Car keys and sunsets

First of all a confession. If you were behind me on I295 this morning I apologise for the fact that a set of carkeys shot off the roof of my car and onto the freeway right in front of you.

Subaru say a new key and blipblip will be $70...

I just had a horrendous week back at work. I was signed up to conference calls 9am to 1pm every single day. I did the first three meetings at my desk with a headset on, thinking I'd be able to catch up with some other work while I was there, but I just ended up with a headache. So the last couple of days I went to the Darling Avenue office and sat in a civilised room with several other very nice people. Anyway, next week should be much better.

It was 80F today. On the way from work to the beach I picked up a big order from Panera, then lay on the headland at Kettle Cove waiting for my posse to arrive.

It was a beautiful evening. An amazing sunset, then an amazing full moon rising. The Wallaces joined us, and the children - who are turning into 'proper' Mainers - all swam in the sea.