![\"bristol](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/bristol-balloons.jpg?resize=800%2C602\")
<\/p>\nTuesday 17th <\/sup><\/strong>was the last day we would be starting with any kind of school run until September as the teen had his last half day. I had thought about checking out the new LEGOLAND in Birmingham whilst it might be quiet – but actually it looks to be the same as Manchester and it was quite a bit for the three of us to go up on the train for what it was (even with a Friends and Family Railcard). Instead I decided to head off in the other direction to Bristol; which cost just a third of the price.\u00a0On the train the boys also read books. I accidentally picked up Pride and Prejudice for the 10 year old and he read 3 chapters, picking up a lot of new vocabulary.<\/p>\n Once there we headed for the Children\u2019s Hospital where I knew there was a shop which would have the Gromit Unleashed 2 trail maps (with a suggested donation of 50p). We had a lovely time hunting down all the different Wallace, Gromits and Feathers McGraw statues. It was great for so many reasons such as doing something for charity, exercise, orienteering, and communication. We discovered a really nice noodle place and the boys used chop sticks! Plus we stopped for a Krispy Kreme! It was that evening that I heard the news that a wonderful fellow blogger Kate Sutton had passed away. She was so kind to me when we were in Devon and I was really struggling with the teen. Her death really echoed that of my own mother\u2019s (who was called Kate by some of her friends). Both only 48 years old, both with red hair and leaving behind two children, including a 14 year old son.<\/p>\n Lucky for me it was a fun session at running club – which meant running up and down a hill in teams before planking!<\/p>\n Wednesday 18th<\/sup><\/strong> was the day of the homeedinsight picnic. A local one had been arranged for those of us who couldn\u2019t, or felt it was too far, to go to London. The 10 year old started the day by making jam tarts for the occasion. It was nice that the boys already knew so many children. That actually the ones they didn\u2019t know were actually much younger than them. All the children played together so nicely – climbing trees, making a dam playing football, face painting and generally sharing food. The only problem was the 10 year old completely ripped his shorts on the zip wire! He eventually solved the problem by wearing his t-shirt inside out around his waist – a bit like a skirt to cover his modesty (he doesn\u2019t like going around in just his pants). We then bought him some new clothes before heading to Explore Learning for The Sensory Seeker\u2019s session. I took the 10 year old to Costa where we both had cake in honour of Kate. The 10 year old worked through a Spanish workbook. He then returned to Explore after dinner for his 11+ session.<\/p>\n Thursday 19th<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n We had a morning of academic work with the 10 year old completing things on SAM Learning and The Sensory Seeker started his English 6-7 years workbook. They then had some chill time (which included Fortnite) before going to Explore Learning. On the way back there was a lorry fire so the motorway was bad, and later a car accident which meant the lady who runs youth club was half an hour late. I waited until she came and then the boys had a party. I have since learned that some of the kids are nasty about our son\u2019s hair there too, but he doesn\u2019t care he wants to see his friends. My husband suggested we quickly pop to the pub whilst they were there.<\/p>\n Friday 20th<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n We tried the home education group we went to on the very first week. A sports day had been arranged and it was nice to see the children joining in. The Sensory Seeker did really well with the egg and spoon! At the end of the session one of the children made sure I had his mom on messenger so that it could be arranged to meet up. The 10 year old had a workshop at Explore so his brother did a normal session. We went to check out the new children\u2019s menu at The Bottle of Sauce<\/a>, before I went for a sober night out with my friends (who were not sober).<\/p>\n Saturday 21st<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n I woke up to realise that the alarm wasn\u2019t on and that I had just enough time to get myself to Parkrun<\/a>. It was really hot and I walked quite a bit but still managed to do it just over half an hour. The 10 year old went for a sleepover at his friends and went on a pedalo and went fishing.<\/p>\n Sunday 22nd<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n Our oldest needed to move out of the house he was living in and can\u2019t move into his new place until September. It really isn\u2019t practical for him to come back here as there isn\u2019t a room for him and he tends to sleep in the living room. With the 10 year old needing to focus on his upcoming test I didn\u2019t think this was very practical. But as it turns out he was able to rent halls of residence for the month. So my husband drove down with The Sensory Seeker to help him with his temporary move. In the meantime I went shopping for things we needed (and didn\u2019t really need) for camping. The 10 year old came back from his friends and they went to the park, and then the pub (where a girl in his old class lives and they had a water fight).<\/p>\n![\"wallace](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/bristol-childrens-hospital-gromit-unleashed-2-trail.jpg?resize=800%2C601\")
<\/p>\n![\"boy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/chopsticks.jpg?resize=800%2C600\")
<\/p>\n![\"home](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/home-made-jam-tarts.jpg?resize=800%2C600\")
<\/p>\n![\"boy](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/egg-and-spoon-race.jpg?resize=800%2C944\")
<\/p>\n![\"Country](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.coombemill.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/th_Country_Kids_badge_transparent.png?w=225\" "\\"Country"){kind=icon}
<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"