Friday, August 13, 2010

The Summer's Over....

That's it, the last official day of the school holidays.   There was hollering over haircuts, spanking new school trousers  too small, brand new shoes suddenly too big.   The weather has been rubbish: rain, wind and cold....the cost, a lot; trips to the pictures, pizza, shopping and indoor entertainment-all designed to blow your mind at the minimal cost of £50 per trip, per family....roll up, roll up!  

There have been highlights; having them here has been wonderful, watching new friendships form, clubs being created and books being read.   They've baked cakes and bread and ate them with relish.   Seeing them play in the odd pockets of sunshine has been great, faces held to the sun to catch the rays as they stay out all day, coming back for dinner and juice and then running off again before the fork stops clankering on the table.

They've all grown at least an inch and have a grubby, rosy glow about them.   It seems like not the greatest summer to me, but through their eyes, it's been fantastic and filled with adventure and fun.   That's all that really matters.


Coconut Prawn (Shrimp) Curry with Noodles

Absolutely delicious; light coconut milk is used, making this a low fat but very tasty tea.   Recipe to follow.

Hearthbread pizza

Hearthbread topped with homemade tomato sauce and mozzarella, herbs and a drizzling of olive oil.   Delicious, but for kids (and dad) only right now!

Lettuce boats filled with roasted veg, olives, garlic and cured meats with a low fat dressing and mint

A great alternative to bread...well, not really, but when you're looking to loose a few pounds, then yeah, it works well!   I roasted asparagus and artichokes in a little olive oil, sea salt, mint and black pepper, filled the lettuce boats alongisde a little chopped chorizo and Parma ham.   Thin slices of cooked garlic and olives were added along with a little lemon and honey dressing.   Lovely.

11 comments:

Caution/Lisa said...

I think that the end of summer is pure sadness. Then again, not sad enough to homeschool :)

Helen McGinn said...

Yeah...not that sad! ;O)

gaelikaa said...

Oh! Back to school again. We've been back the last six weeks! Anyway - I always have to say I shouldn't come here hungry....LOL, I'm off for something to eat now...

Laura said...

Wow. Where did the summer go?
The prawn curry looks so good! And I can't wait until Ella is old enough to help with cooking so we can make homemade pizza!

What is the age gap between your first and your twins? Everyone keeps telling me that I must be having twins because my bump is so big (and because who doesn't love it when strangers say you are HUGE). As much as I would LOVE having twins (having been a nanny to twins years ago) I don't know if I could handle it with such a small age gap between them and Ella!

Helen McGinn said...

gaelikaa, that's right, you have different school times to over here. Hope all is well! x

Laura, the age gap is 18 months. It wasn't easy but my eldest got equal attention, being so young and it really helped with her bond with us as parents and the twins. They're great friends. It's not easy though; sharing your time equally between three is...well, lets just say, a lot of the first five years is still a blur.... ;O)

Laura said...

oh wow! I bet it was a blur!
It must have been lovely in the lucid moments. Three wee snuggling bodies all curled up with you and your partner. How fantastic must that have felt?

Sumandebray said...

And we are waiting here for the summer to get over....

Claudya Martinez said...

Those Coconut Prawns are making me want to lick the screen.

Melissa B. said...

That pizza will cure everything, I'll bet, from the weather turned to rubbish to the back-to-school blues!

LisaDay said...

What! Summer over. That doesn't seem right. Even thought I haven't been in school for ... ahem.... many years, once Labour Day comes, I still feel it's the end of summer.

LisaDay

obladi oblada said...

My end of summer will be here in a week and a half....sad, but not all THAT sad:)