Trick or treat

Sean was desperately excited about Hallowe'en. It's probably a combination of the clocks going back, the proximity of his birthday, the chance to go out in the dark with his friends but, most importantly, the prospect of a load of sweets that really winds him up. He has a devilishly sweet tooth that boy. Sharon did the needful, in terms of getting them dressed up and made up. To quote her: I may not have daughters but boys can certainly display diva tendencies! Bloody costumes and face painting for trick or treating! I am not nor ever have been a make-up artist, but that fact is lost on my Divas! And I heard Rowan say to Finn "... And that will complete the look"!!! All good fun though! Finn was dressed as a vampire and said he was going to go round the houses saying "No blood please, I'm vegetarian!" Typical of Finn's sense humour. Sean said his black "ninja" face paint wasn't "intense" enough. Rowan changed his mind and his outfit 20 times, and it was Angus' first time trick or treating - the poor lamb burst into tears and wanted to go home. Ro was unimpressed as he realised this would restrict his sweetie haul!

Sharon took the wee two round a few houses in the street, Angus, dressed as a spider, hiding in her skirts and being shy while the bold Rowan took the lead. Sean went out with friends around Swanston and Finn likewise did a tour of the houses with his school mates, seeing many other Pentland faces in disguise on the way. The rains of earlier in the day had cleared so it was a fair enough evening for them to be out. All seemed to enjoy themselves and, more importantly, were delighted with their bounty. The sweet ration card will need to be played over the next few weeks.

Sean has been continuing with his gymanstics and was part of a Lothian Gymnastics Club display at Ladywood Leisure Centre last Saturday. He's at the point he seems to get to with all his activities where he starts swithering about whether he wants to continue. Dedication and ambition don't seem high on his list at his age. His natural ability gets him so far but he doesn't maybe appreciate the effort that goes into learning the basics to the point that they become automatic. He gets very enthusiastic for a while but that starts to wane as something else catches his eye (for example, baking). Rowan has joined him at a lunchtime gym class at the school and seems to be enjoying it. He would have the ideal wiry build and explosive energy for gymnastics but getting him to hold a pose or stretch might be a challenge. He was enthusiastically telling us about a visit to the school from Shauna Mullin, who was part of Team GB's beach volleyball pair at this year's Olympics. Rowan said he was asking a lot of questions, which I could well believe!

Finn has given up swimming lessons, as he can swim well enough to satisfy us and is probably a better swimmer than Sean if they go head to head. But don't tell Sean that.

The Barnes were up north for an extended mid term break and we had the pleasure of their company on Sunday. It was good to see the Wallace boys and the Barnes girls getting on. Angus admitted that Innes was his girlfriend. Sharon was laid up, however, with a very sore knee, exact cause unknown. She had felt it getting sore the day before at the Pampered Chef Autumn Rally and we were out at a wedding at the Mansion House at the Zoo on the Saturday night, at which she had a wee jig, so she may have damaged some ligaments. It has slowly improved as the week has gone on but I wouldn't trust her to survive doing the twist.

October break

As previously noted, Sean has been inspired by the Great British bake-Off (GBBO) and even Angus has been demanding "I wanna watch the Bake-Off". So, we put Sean's birthday money from Nana and Papa towards three days' attendance at the Edinburgh Cook School out at Kirkliston. It was just as well as the weather was filthy for most of the school holiday week. Phoebe and Ross were there too and Sean had a great time. He made soups, did baking, made rolls, Thai fish cakes, burgers, pizza; all sorts of things. We only got to sample a few items as most were consumed on the premises, but he did very well and certainly enjoyed himself. He has chosen to do baking as a hobby as part of working for his JAS award (a sort of extra-curricular pre-Duke of Edinburgh type scheme) and has had a litter of cookbooks scattered around his bedroom. Perhaps we'll see more of a return on this investment than on the golf coaching!

There was a Saturday gymnastics taster session at Ladywood that Finn went along to, as well as Sean, but Finn wasn't too enthused. I'd say Finn is more adept at picking up things that require skill rather than out and out athleticism and any sort of class where he has to wait around for his turn doesn't seem to engage him. He's started his skiing lessons with his P4 classmates but we need to get him doing a bit more, physically.

I took the Friday off and we went into town and walked along to the Royal Academy. The boys were funny at the Ross Theatre in the Gardens, with Rowan stomping on to the stage and declaring a tap dancing show. The rest then followed up by cavorting around on the boards. There was no audience save for Sharon and myself. The art gallery was interesting but not necessarily the best place for four boys under ten, the stuffy atmosphere rather matching the overly religious and traditional artwork on display. The boys did enjoy a mythical beasts exhibition however, and it inspired them, once home, to draw their own mythical beast.

On the Sunday we found ourselves in another gallery, the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), as the culmination of a trip through to Glasgow. Sharon went with Sean and Rowan to see the North European Gymnastics championship in the new Emirates Arena in Parkhead while I drove in and around the city centre with the other two, eventually parking at Queen St station and heading for lunch in Zizzi's in Princes Sq. Finn and Angus had a great time playing on the escalators! The others really enjoyed the gymnastics, Rowan having room to roam and Sean picking up a few tips. We met up again at GOMA and enjoyed a drawing session. Having just spent some time in an art shop across the road, it was good to do something arty, not to be good at it, but just to express. I did a nice little sketch of Finn, though the boy himself and Rowan dismissed it. Harsh critics!

We had a family swim at Bonnyrigg to round off the holiday, Sean most upset that Wester Hailes was closed. When will they learn that throwing tantrums when we have no control over the situation is a waste of everyone's energy? Instead we had a good time at Bonnyrigg in the two pools. Angus was a demon once the water slide opened, demanding Sharon and I accompany him down. Rowan and Finn had a great time in the deeper pool, swimming through the "waterfall".