Back to Chesham

Today we picked Jack up from Gymnastics and drove straight back to Chesham to some friends for lunch. I can't believe how much socialisation I've had this week. Blimey! Homeschooling isn't so bad for me after all!

We used to live in this town but after being away for 2 1/2 years I don't miss it really. It's just too close to London and too expensive and busy for me now.

The friends we went to see are in the middle of a big life-change. J is training at Oak Hill Theological College for the ministry and they will leave Chesham with the children next summer for a curacy in the Church of England. I just know they are going to be a fantastic blessing to the CofE.

M cooked a fabulous meal. He dad was there too as was J's brother. We had interesting chats and most of them went for a walk in the park after lunch in the brilliant autumn sunshine. I have a painful heel crack and M's 87 year old dad didn't feel like the hike either so we stayed back at the house and talked about the Anglican church (he was a member of Synod for years) and about the area of London he lives in. He's a lovely, humble, godly man, eager to communicate with others and a real old-fashioned gentleman. Would there were more men like him in this world.

We got back home just around twilight and got the cat in just in time before the fireworks start going off all around us. Guy Fawkes Night is tomorrow and the fireworks started a few nights ago. The town's BIG Bonfire and fireworks party is tonight. We aren't going this year but expect to see them anyway from our house later!
http://www.guy-fawkes.com/

As soon as we got back Grace dashed upstairs to continue writing a story she has on the go at the moment and Jack to practice the latest guitar riff he's learning. It's great to see them engaged in their individual pursuits like this but I'm still grumpy with Jack about the loss of his coat. It's missing and we don't know where he left it. This is not the first time he's lost an item of clothing and he needs some realistic consequences. He suggested paying for a new one, but he doesn't have the cash (and neither, frankly, do we at the moment. Our budget is VERY tight.) So we decided he would have to work in the garden doing odd jobs for us for money and gradually he will have earned enough from us to replace the coat. Let's hope we can scrape up the cash out of next month's pay. Grrr...I have to let this anger go... I still lose things too. And he's only12.

We had such a good meal at lunchtime we don't need dinner tonight but the kids are snacking on plantain chips (new to us) and watching Strictly Come Dancing. They LOVE it! Weird, huh?