Well so much for the idea that the new legislation that comedy duo Balls and Badman want to introduce will only be good for home educators, it has done much harm even while it is only proposed legislation, not least in the amount of time it means that we home educated parents have wasted on [Continue]

Jonathan has been very inspired, by a recent trip to Jane and Jonathan’s house for dinner, to make paella “like Jonathan did”.   So we had a go the other evening. First he prepared as much as possible in advance. Here is Jonathan cooking the mushrooms and keeping an eye on the rice. Jonathan has two pots [Continue]

Ruth has been wanting to do some felting for some time and yesterday was the day we made it happen.  She said she wanted to make something “useful”  not just a flat piece of felt, so beads were it. First you choose the colours you want and gently pull off fine bits of wool. Make [Continue]

We have learnt that pretzels are traditionally made during Lent. Apparently some monks used to pray by putting their hands on their shoulders, left hand to right shoulder and vice versa.  They made pretzels to remind them of the shape the arms made and hence to be a reminder to pray more during Lent. You make the [Continue]

Question: If you take one home educating family of 3 children and 2 adults home many home educating children can you expect to pass through the house in the course of a busy Wednesday. Answer: Lots Here goes 5 – 1 =4  (we start with Ruth at a friends having had a sleepover) 4-1 = [Continue]

The girls are definitely turning native, they enjoy countryside pursuits these days, you wouldn’t think they had a Londoner for a mother. When we moved to the isle of Wight we were amused by some of the activities here.  We were very sarcastic about the enjoyment to be had at a Hedge laying competition. Last year we were [Continue]

It’s not often that martin get his photo taken, he is normally the one behind the camera, but since Rebekah started taking pics he is more at risk that he used to be. So here he is enjoying the snow last month in the back garden. [Continue]

Here is Jonathan making banana bread while sporting his Christmas present apron. And here are the finished loaves, jolly nice they were too. [Continue]

Last Sunday we were playing Articulate and trying to work out how to make it fair – given that Martin and I are somewhat older than some of the others playing the game.   We took Jonathan which slowed up our progress a little and then suggested that the girls should be able to skip [Continue]

Right,  so last night something happened that made me so cross I’ve ventured into Martin’s Muttering territory for the first time.  I’m not even sure I’m actually allowed to be here rather than the fluffy bunny areas of the site! Last night Rebekah and three of her friends (aged 12-14) were waiting at the bus stop in [Continue]