Project 365 – Week 29

Sunday 12th July. We went to Shrek’s Adventure on the South Bank, which was fun – though we were shattered so made the most of our Merlin passes and sat on the London Eye for 30 minutes afterwards. You can guarantee you’ll get a seat there, you see. We’re over half way through having our passes and I’m wondering if we’ll renew next year – we’ve definitely got our money’s worth.

A photo posted by Jo Brooks (@mumfriendlyjo) on

Monday 13th July. The last Rainbows of term, I get my Mondays back! H made a medal, and got ANOTHER badge which has been sewn onto her uniform so I don’t lose it between now and September. Phew!

H rainbows badges

Tuesday 15th July. And a swimming badge too – her 15m! We thought she’d got her Stage 3, but her teacher says they’re not quite there yet, so I guess that might come around Christmas time if she keeps up the hard work. I’m hoping for a break with all this sewing…

H 15 M

Wednesday 16th July. Received a big box of Dora and Friends goodies – more to blog about and very soon. You might spot the little pictures over on my sidebar. I had to carry it home on the train and fortunately didn’t drop anything. The box is also large enough to hold all H’s schoolwork from the last two years! (which we received on Friday)

dora and friends

Thursday 17th July. Knitting! My feeble attempts at crochet have created this. While I’m just not good enough to join in the squares we’re doing for the cushion for our local pub, for the former bar manager who died recently, I’m good enough to make a hat for a half of Guinness. Fine by me.

A photo posted by Jo Brooks (@mumfriendlyjo) on

Friday 18th July. So I won a £20 Nickelodeon Store voucher, went to buy myself something nice (like say, an early Rugrats DVD as the first few series were awesome), and ended up buying H some Spongebob pyjamas instead. Can’t complain, as she does love the great spongey one, and it looks much better on her than me too! Anyway, the original pyjamas were too small, so Shaun swapped them for these today and advises the Nickelodeon Store on Leicester Square is much nicer to visit (read: quieter) on a weekday.

spongebob pyjamas

Saturday 19th July. Football again, H has decided which name she wants on her birthday England shirt – she wants 15 – Stoney. So I’ve ordered from Sports Direct who have England shirts for £22 at the moment, with additional letters. Sorted. Phew. Anyway, my favourite bit of football is the fact H runs, runs, runs and walks just a little bit. It has to be the most exercise she gets every week (about an hour and a half of doing stuff) and she doesn’t complain. Well, she does complain about stuff, but not about running around for that long. I love that she gets to play with Shaun at the very start too, having a little kickaround before it all starts. I watch from the side and occasionally scare the girls when I decide to join in (well, it makes them scream anyway). We’re thinking about going to watch Crystal Palace Ladies play this Sunday.

saturday football

Stage 2 ASA Swimming Award r Us!

H has had swimming lessons since she was a baby. She has been awarded various badges in the last four and a half years, starting from the Duckling Award scheme ; she has Duckling 1-5, as well as Stage 1. Tonight H got her certificate for Stage 2, which also means moving up to the Yellow Hat classes, into the big pool for lessons.

stage 2

Stage 2 is a jump up from the lower levels. We’re lucky, as H’s teacher takes her class into the main pool for a jump and swim at the end of their lesson each week which got them used to the difference in pools. H had a trial earlier in the year but panicked when she got in, as the big pool is colder and deeper. I knew she had the skills, we just needed to work on her confidence. She can swim on her back fine (you don’t have to think about breathing then!) and just needs to work on her front, which seems to be what Stage 3 is about anyway – getting the correct breathing techniques in place.

ASA swimming awards

I’m so proud of my little girl and her swimming achievements – Stage 2 is something she’s achieved on her own through hard work and confidence. Swimming lessons are a good thing too – they teach a child to listen and learn – something they’re going to have to do at school anyway, so may as well get those skills started as early as possible. Mind, she still doesn’t listen to me..!

So, what does ASA Stage 3 bring? She’ll learn to…

1. Jump in from poolside and submerge (min depth 0.9m)
2. Sink, push away from wall on side and maintain a streamlined position
3. Push and glide on the front with arms extended and log roll onto the back
4. Push and glide on the back with arms extended and log roll onto the front
5. Travel on the front, tuck to rotate around the horizontal axis to return on the back.
6. Fully submerge to pick up an object
7. Answer correctly three questions on the Water Safety Code
8. Travel 10 metres on the back
9. Travel 10 metres on the front

ASA swimming hats

and to be honest, she’s probably done a few of these already. Bring it on! Next week can’t come soon enough!!