Friday

Mr Bat worked from home, so a lot of the morning was spent repeating “No, Daddy’s NOT HERE, he’s at work, please don’t go in there…” Went to Katy’s around lunchtime for crafty, then home via the real estate agent to put in an offer on the house. Rewarded the kids for their patience spending an hour waiting for us in the car by buying ice creams all round. Home and cooked quiche and salad for the picnic tomorrow.

Saturday

Frantically cleaned the house in the morning. B was very helpful, altho sulking and rebellious when not lavishly thanked for it. K was moderately helpful. It was damp and grey and freezing cold, perfect weather for swimming (crazy people!). Finally we managed to head out the door for our picnic at the Hastings Thermal Pool. Katy was just getting in when we arrived, so the girls went in the pool with her, and K was extremely grumpy at having to get out again when Katy’s smalls had had enough. After I had winkled her out of the pool and dressed her again, we had lunch, then Is and Karl and Ny showed up with their smalls and got in the pools. K EXTREMELY grumpy that I wouldn’t let her get back in with them! Instead, the girls and I walked around the Hot Springs Loop track and saw some of the hot springs bubbling up into pools. Saw a couple of points where the hot water was joining with the cold mountain streams. K saw an eel from one of the discovery platforms. Looked at fungus and marvelled at the general atmosphere of damp and decrepitude.

Sunday

Smalls had a bath to help keep them out of the way while the rest of us frantically cleaned and tidied before landlord arrived. B had meltdowns because her laundry wasn’t done and she had nothing to wear (except for the stuff which she could have worn if it wasn’t unsuitable for this particular occasion, of course). K dictated a report about the trip yesterday, for her portfolio. I did laundry. K and H drew pictures and played in the garden and I attempted to keep enough clothes on H to avert galloping pneumonia.

Then B and I went out just after 1, returned some DVDs in Huonville and borrowed some more (which required me joining up), then headed off to Cygnet for the Spooky Men’s Chorale concert. We paid for our tickets nice and early and went two doors up to the Lotus Eaters cafe and had a late lunch. Finished around 3 and went back to find seats. It was a fabulous show, we loved the support act, Kate Rowe, and adored the Spooky Men. Really fabulous onstage chemistry and silliness. Got home after 6, having stopped off in Huonville again to buy dinner.

Mr Bat was beating his head against his irritating project, so I read The Long Winter to K and B tried to keep H amused with library books. Eventually I gave up and put H to bed in my room. Mr Bat came out and put K to bed too. An hour or two later and I am trying to convince Elder Daughter of Ditziness to Go. To. Bed. as she is exhausted and increasingly run down, but what do I know?