BASKETTCASE

Christmas is approaching rapidly, and we have so much to do.  All our own fault of course, although we had a couple of difficult weeks when Gryff was ill.  We left him at the vet's after major surgery while we were in Stone, and he just didn't get better.  Several visits to the vet later, we had a very traumatic Monday afternoon when we had to accept defeat and let the vet put him down.  It was hard to concentrate while all this was going on.  Dave had no heart to finish the playhouse and I kept getting e-mails telling me how urgent it was that I start preparing for my appraisal and re-validation.

Anyway, we are more or less back on track now, although normal people wouldn't look at our house and see that we are doing anything to get ready for everyone joining us for Christmas.  I have been painting a very ambitious mural on the blue-room wall, which just sort of took me over.  I have loved doing it, and Dave has been endlessly supportive and tolerant of my one-track mind.  I ditched the idea of the boys' beds being boats, and looking out across the water to the beach, because it was too difficult and in the end I thought it might give them drowning nightmares.  I have photographed my efforts today, although they are not completely finished, and written a story to go with them, because Mary-Ann is still thinking the change of room might upset Joe.  I think James will be in the jungle room in the cot-bed this time, as they do tend to disturb each other when they are together.

I can't work out how to attach a Word document, so I'll paste it in, and try to link to an album of photos, although I am having trouble accessing my photos on Picasa.  Here goes:

Let’s take a walk round the bedroom wall.


Grandma has painted the seaside on the wall so you can tell yourself a story when you are in bed.

Oh look! There’s Sally and Joe and George. Sally is taking a picture of Joe and Joe is taking a picture of Sally taking a picture of him. How silly!



There are three boats. The orange one is an inflatable. It is full of air, like a balloon, but it won’t go bang because it is very strong. When the tide comes in and there is plenty of deep water, we could sail away in a boat.



A boy is having a ride on a donkey. He thinks he might fall off, but it is a very gentle donkey. The little girl is making sure he doesn’t run away. Shall we ask the man for a ride?

Can you see a man catching fish? He has a big umbrella because sometimes it rains when he is fishing, but today it is shading him from the sun.



Would you like an ice cream? The girl is waiting for a strawberry ice-cream with a chocolate wafer. The little boy is licking his already. Mr Softee will have to move his van before the tide comes in, or he might get stuck.



The tall lighthouse on the cliff has a bright light at the top. It flashes a special signal at night, to warn the sailors and fishermen not to hit the rocks. They don’t want to make a hole in their boats to let the water come in.

The sailing club has a race today. All the little sailing boats are being blown along by the wind. I wonder who will get the prize for getting back first.



It is fun playing on the beach. The big boy and girl have made a sand-castle with their bucket and spades. When the tide comes in it will be washed away, but they can make another one tomorrow.

Some children are swimming in the water. Their mother is watching them to make sure they don’t go too deep. The baby can’t swim yet, but it is fun to sit in the foam.



When the tide is out there is plenty of sand for picnics and playing games and sitting in the sun. The people look very small because they are a long way away. Even the houses look small, but if we walk to the end of the beach we will see that they are really big.



Sometimes people just want to be peaceful on the beach. They can bring a picnic and some deck-chairs and read their books or have a little sleep. I hope they don’t get hit by a ball.



How exciting! A little train to take us for a ride round the gardens. It is a steam train like Thomas, puffing and whistling. Shall we buy a ticket and go for a ride. We will have to go through a dark tunnel, but we will be able to see the sunshine at the other end.



We saw some flowers and bridges and a playground and some picnic places when we were in the train. Shall we go for a walk now and perhaps we can play on the swings and slides. We mustn’t walk on the railway line, but we can stand on the bridge and watch the other people having a train-ride.



What a lovely time we have had at the sea-side, but now it’s time to go to sleep. Sweet dreams. We’ll have more fun in the morning.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/daveandannebasketts/Mural#

I forgot to say the train will be on a wall-hanging which will be the curtain for the small window, with a light-proof backing because the boys are used to complete blackout.  No more towels hanging over the curtain rail!
 
The other thing I have been wasting time with is Booksmart.  The info came through with HP e-mails and although Joe tells me it isn't the best one to use, I have uploaded and ordered a book about the playhouse for the boys, using water-colours.  It is apparently on its way, so we shall see what sort of a job they make of reproducing water-colours.
 
Dave has just come in and said: "Have you been there all morning."  I do feel guilty, as its now half past ten, but too late to undo my morning now.  One of the big problems is that Picasa didn't pick up any of my photos from the hard drive, only those already on the internet.  Any ideas, anyone?
 
Must close now.  Hope someone reads it!