Sweets and Japanese Horror Movies...

It's been a strange evening.

Papa was away last night - he had to go to a fancy dinner in London with a client whilst the boys and I had a fish and chip supper followed by Easter eggs for dessert. Which was, admittedly, great fun.

Whenever one of us is away the boys just don't seem to settle - and last night was no different.

TJ has begun to horde food - I don't know where that comes from - he eats like a horse, but is now apparently waking up in the middle of the night hungry. What is surprising is that rather than come and wake me or Papa and ask for a piece of toast or some cereal (which we would happily give) instead he sneaks into the kitchen and steals sweets - which he obviously prefers to cereal, and I do restrict the boys sugar intake, so actually maybe its not that surprising at all - where I see a psychological imbalance based on his past experiences there may just be a greedy little boy who wants sweets!

However, last night I caught him in the act of sneaking downstairs... Papa was late home and I was still up when this little figure starts creeping down the stairs and into the kitchen. I stepped behind him as he explored the 'treat' cupboard. 'What do you think you are doing?" I whispered in his ear - he jumped a mile.

"I just needed a drink of water," he said, "I was thirsty."

"Really," I replied, "Is there a tap in that cupboard."

He looked guilty. "No, but there is orange juice." (his juice boxes for lunch are stored there and he wasnt having one of those...)

I gave him a glass of water and took him back to bed.

As we walked up the stairs I heard a commotion in my study. I walked in to find KC, in the pitch black, throwing all my books to the floor and turning the furniture over, literally turning it upside down. I clicked on the light to see that he was fast asleep. I decided not to wake him and just followed him talking quietly and telling him it was time to go to bed. All the while picking up the things he threw behind him. He then walked out on to the landing, had a wander around, then went straight back to bed. It was quite bizarre - like one of those Japanese horror movies where the child has been possessed.

So with the boys back in bed I settled down to finish watching my movie and the house fell silent again.

At that moment Papa stumbled through the door - the dogs went beserk and the children woke up again.

I didn't sleep much last nigh!

Day 7 with no Internet!

The title says everything. Today marks a full week without any connection to the outside world... Well, apart from actually going outside and talking to anyone face to face of course.. Oh and using the mobile phone for its intended use rather than downloading DIY apps... But apart from those we are cut off... We even gave to watch free to air tv! The suffering is palpable!!!!

I thought the children would love being closer to their school but today the novelty had obviously worn off, mainly due to the fact it was pouring with rain. TJ looked at me with disbelief when I told him to do his coat up. "but the car is just outside," he told me, "we won't get very wet walking to it." "but you will get wet walking to school and I am not driving the three minute route to the school gate." he looked at me with an evil eye. His hatred was evident as he simply said under his breath , "then what's the point of having a car?" followed by, "I hate this stupid house, now I have to walk to school." how we make our children suffer. I simply shrugged it off and said with a cheery grin, "come on, the rain will help boost your immune system!" I have to stop watching Super Nanny...

Whilst unpacking yesterday TJ found a tin box of sweet in the shape of a bus. "Daddy," he asked, "Can I have my sweets out of my bus now?" KC was at drama and I was up to my armpits in the movers wrapping paper (3 tiny ornaments in one big box with reams of paper...sigh) " Ok," I said, go and watch some tv and eat your sweets." to be honest I was quite surprised they had lasted, TJ normally consumes any form of sugary treat as soon as it arrives. But off he went sweets in hand and sat in front of  kids tv gorging himself... Super Nanny would not have approved but at least he was quiet!

A little while later KC returned from drama, he rushed into the living room full of beans telling us about his latest endeavour with the impossibly cheerful drama teacher. Then he paused, stopped and screamed, "Who ate all the sweets out of my tin bus." I stared at him, "Your tin bus?... but TJ said..." and the penny dropped. TJ looked at me and grinned a chocolatey smile, "you said it was ok," he told me accusingly. KC promptly burst into tears. "I was saving those for Merlin (his favourite tv show). I looked at TJ with my harshest Dad stare. "Did you know they were KC's sweets?" I asked... There was no reply, just a quiet nod... "and you lied to me when you said they were yours?". ... Again a nod... "And did you take them from KC's room and pretend they were yours?"... A final nod... So TJ now has to buy his brother sweets with this weeks pocket money and is grounded for at least a week!!!!!!