Sammy Barton Rebera (P.E.E.)

So I'll tell you what we've been doing. Sammy's about to complete his third week at school; no tears, lots of new friends, not a single bag of wet stuff although a faint smell of wee one day. Oh the glamour of being a mummy in Spain !

Sammy has been doing a bit of work on the side this week; last Sunday, not a school day so practically moonlighting. He's establishing himself as a Playground Evaluation Executive and he had his first assignment at Polaris' La Torre, 45 minutes south of us. Paul and I did chaperone him but we didn't force him in to it - we're not pushy parents or anything.

Here's Sammy's Executive Overview:

Sammy's been...

looking through the photos again.


"I love Grandad, I want to see him again."

Runner Beans? My foot !!

2 weeks is all I could manage before my right foot decided it was going to flex its authority. So last Friday, don't know where or how, I damaged my foot whilst running and have been hobbling since. The packet of frozen beans has been in and out of the freezer for 4 days and my foot is healing but I'm really frustrated about it and my super new trainers are probably feeling quite neglected.

When I next go for a run, hopefully in two days time, I'll be keeping you posted on my progress. I can hardly call it 'running' at the moment as there's a fair bit of walking going on but two miles, in the heat, mostly running and lots of heavy breathing is having a positive effect. I may be increasing my stamina and fitness levels but I've also noticed that the scales didn't go up after three packets of butter popcorn, a bottle of champagne and plenty of naughty Birthday nibbles. I wonder how long my metabolism will take to slow back down again?

And thank you for my Birthday wishes...

Virgin Blogger hits the net

Hello all, just checking out how to use this ready for travels to Noel and Roshanee's wedding.

Think I'll manage. As I'm typing Pete is booking accommodation and a hippy van for our travels in New Zealand so I'll definitely send some photos of that.

Thought you'd like to see a photo of Noel leaving for Oz back in August. He looks a strange colour because the setting on the camera was very wrong.

The Wonders Of Exercise

It's George here again. I thought as Helen sent a few emails it might be important to add things to her 'blog'.
Well here it is everybody. Pilates, and the wonders of it to be precise. Its absolutely grreat (trying not to sound like Tony the Tiger). It does wonders for your flexibility and the fantastic thing is that you don't need to buy anything; spending is minimal and you see differences in a few sessions.
Give it a go!
Love George

Fish Paste and Geography

Hello, I'm George for those of you who don't know ( Helen's first cousin). The picture was taken at my college award ceremony with my friends Talia and Sam, or Barbie and Kevin as Helen has christened them.
I was collecting the award for World Citizenship; it isn't as pretentious as it sounds. It goes to a committed geography student and I got it this year because I got 100% in my coursework.
There was a little gathering afterwards but the parents wanted to go home so I passed on the fish paste sandwiches.

New Beginnings

That's one full week at school for Sammy. It's been a slowish week for me - new routine I suppose. I'm sure that in a few short months we'll be looking through University prospectus' !

We are really pleased that on the whole Sammy has done exceptionally well this week.

• Monday and Tuesday were totally uneventful (that's good)
• Wednesday at 1pm (pick-up time) I was greeted with a carrier bag of wet shorts - Rebecca said it was no problem "no pasa nada"
• Thursday there were tears in the playground at 9am not Sammy's at first but then he did succumb to the pressure and had to be coerced to the classroom by Rebecca. Another carrier bag of wet shorts at 1pm.
• Friday, this morning Sammy was a bit clingy but allowed himself to be led to his class and not a damp patch in sight at 1pm. Well done Sammy.
  

We had a sit down chat with Rebecca this week too. She gave us a form to fill in that asked lots of questions about us, family life and Sammy. Rebecca said that Sammy listened well in class, shared really well with other children and we gave her the number of a good optician.

Hi, I'm Natalie.

This is a bit strange writing about myself to lots of people I don't know. I am 13 years old. I am in year 9 and I go to Oaklands School in Southampton. I enjoy going out with my mates and watching TV. I am the youngest daughter of Lucien who is Helen's uncle.

Natalie x

One of Sammy's favourite things is ...

to look through photos on the laptop and so this afternoon I indulged him to my amusement. When he saw this picture he said...

"Two Fatties !"

See - it's that easy...

You've already been invited which means you can register and start 'blogging'

• Your latest news
• Recent pictures
  
• Dates coming up
• whatever you want...
  

Want inspiration? then have a look at these...

• The Gibson family (we don't know them)
• a bit of politics
• and a bit of gawking

"I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand" Confucius

Sammy's first day at school...

Monday morning, 9am and Sammy was in a small queue with his classmates ready to be led into his classroom by his teacher; Rebeca. He was keen to go and so there were no last minute wobbles. They are staggering the youngest ones start days and there were supposed to be 6 starting today but 3 appear to have gone missing already? Not between 9am and 1pm - they just didn't turn up at all!

Paul, Granny and I watched as Sammy was led off down the corridor to his class. He wasn't really paying attention, too busy swaggering with his elbows stuck out and so he briefly joined a queue of 4 year olds waiting to get into their class but Rebeca gathered her ducklings again and off they went together to their new room.

Bless

At 1pm they were waiting in the playground with their balloons. Sammy was a little put out as his balloon had 'SAMUEL' on it and as he rightly said "That's not my name."

His next words were "I want to go to school again." I wonder if the euphoria will last another 16 years.