Holiday Number 2: Staffordshire

LA and 1 have 5 holidays this summer. All small and cheap, but totalling 5.
Last week was number 2. We went camping in Staffordshire and spent 2 days at Alton Towers. If you haven't guessed yet, we like theme parks....
Here's some photos:

LA learns to drive...or not...

LA learns to fly.

Kate (she'll kill me for this...)

and this one, because...well...it's me and it's a decent photo - not many of those in the world. I don't look 40 do I? (insert threat here...)

A good time was had by all, and James enjoyed himself at home alone (with beer...and probably not so alone judging by the random socks we keep finding).

Next week - we are off to Sussex.

eeeekkkk....

My little baby boy James has passed his driving test. He passed first time (cos he's really clever).
He's just taken my other little baby Kate out in my car and I'm left at home...

It's a very strange feeling, watching him drive away from the house.
I wonder, with a feeling of dread, how bad the day he leaves home will be. I am very aware that I had already flown the nest when I was his age. On a more positive note, it's absolutely wonderful to watch him transform into an independent adult.

It just doesn't get any easier...

Oh yeah...the blog...

We've been far too busy to keep a blog...it's summertime you know!

Anyways, here's what we've been up to:

On Sunday 22nd June (yes its been that long...) My Mum and Bill came up to see us. They brought us loads of flowers that I still haven't planted in the garden and a video recorder. In return we gave them our old computer. Mum is still getting used to it, but intends to get on the Internet, I better behave here now, just in case.

So here is a picture of my Mum...just so she knows that I can use this blog for evil as well as good...

(Hi Mum!)

Then on Friday 27th June Rich, LA and I went down to Legoland. We managed a little better than our usual travelodge.

We spent Saturday at Legoland:

Then on Sunday we drove back up to Birmingham to see CBeebies at the theatre.

A very good weekend.

I've updated my website

especially the Home Ed part.
Please take a look.
www.wiselittleacorn.co.uk

Pee-d off...

Tanker drivers get a 14% pay rise, because they held us all to ransom. News.
Nurses get 8% over 3 years...because they don't. That's less than 3% a year...

Whats more with the increase in the cost of petrol, this community nurse finds that she's paying for the fuel to go and visit her patients as expenses no longer cover it.

I never expected to be well paid - but this really is taking the p.

Religion...

Religion - it's a funny old thing isn't it?

I consider myself to be religious, although I know a lot of people disagree with me, claiming that my beliefs are not part of a religion. But to me, that's just word games, it has nothing to do with the fact that I have beliefs that I feel are religious.

My beliefs are Pagan, I believe that I am a child of Planet Earth, the great Mother. I believe that I am part of the whole, not a separate entity and that my life is equal to and as important as any other life on Earth. I believe that as part of this, I should be more involved than modern life likes us to be. So I try to keep in touch with the seasons, I look to nature for guidance and inspiration and I maintain a lifestyle which is as "green" as I can make it.

I also very strongly believe that when I die, I will rot. I will return to the Earth that gave me life and the circle will be complete. I do not believe my spirit will live on.

I work with a Pentecostal Christian, who yesterday decided for the umpteenth time to try to steer me clear of my controller - the devil. I know his intentions were good, but they were very misguided. I had 5 hours of Christianity and anti-paganism (aka Devil worshipping apparently) as I was stuck in a car. So today, I feel I really need to have a good spiritual wash.

My beliefs are harsh, I know that. I would truly rather believe that there was a Heaven than nothing - but don't believe that. I am envious of those that do, but it doesn't alter the fact that I cannot change what I believe. I don't think it is even possible to change your beliefs unless there is an educated argument that teaches you something you were previously lacking. I haven't heard an argument like that for Christianity in many years, but I have been questioning myself.

I find it hard that people can be so dismissive and derogatory towards my beliefs, while I remain respectful and understanding of theirs even through it is alien to me.
I also remember with real sadness the distress that a supply teacher inflicted upon James when he was 7. He told him that unless his Mummy and Daddy rejected the Devil and returned to God they would "burn alive in the fires of hell forever".

Princess at the Castle

Last week LA decided that Castles were her thing. So being good parents we fished out all our books on Castles, fetched some more from the library and set off to Ashby de la Zouch to see the Castle.