Holiday spirit

It really feels like the holidays have already begun. Today our teachers were off training, so the kids have an extra day off. Of course this interferes a bit with plans already made (we were only told about it last week) so we had two of Katherine's friends over here while their parents were at work. This meant we pretty much didn't see our kids today - the girls all played out at the teepee all day and Conor, when he was bored playing house with them, headed off to play beyblades loudly on our front step with an increasing gang of small boys (I think a few other day-off-refugees had gathered). Meanwhile, Mr B and I got more of the finishing done in the guest room (cornice, picture rail, skirting).

The kids were very impressed with lunch out by the teepee (oeufs en cocotte and chips - a classy combination I'm sure you'll agree) and I knocked up some viennese fingers for afternoon tea.

Once all the children were returned to their parents, we had our delayed birthday fizz on the terrace. Tomorrow the kids will be at school for their last day before the Easter holidays, and we will press on with work in the hope of getting most of the tedious work in the guest room done before our Easter trip begins next Wednesday.

Katherine spent the evening making herb 'teabags' (she made the perforations with a nail) for 'sale' in the school shops they hold in their lunch break. I'm not sure her friends are going to be too impressed with that labeling...