Basketball awards

It was a cooler night as there was more of a breeze though at one point it was 29 degrees in the shade.

I iced the cake for #1’s memory tea which we’ll have tomorrow with the children after the ceilidh.

We picked up Ella and #3 daughter to go to Dame Allen’s where the Gosforth basketball awards were held. Mr C dropped us then went to do a shop. The shelves were bare - and for some weeks now we’ve not been able to get tahini or pomegranate molasses. The organiser for the up to 16 age groups has done a wonderful motivational job. In Ella’s under 14 group there are 5 teams. They all play in leagues at the Eagles premises.

There was a very handsome young Frenchman making crepes. Ella and her friends seemed to need to practice their French a few times. Another friend’s sister is trying to raise £4500 in 2 years to go on some challenge thing. She was selling tablet made by her Scottish granny. I’m a bit ambivalent about such schemes. No doubt good to find ways to earn money but it Seems like a lot of middle class kids go to developing countries to volunteer for a couple of weeks then have a holiday. I’d rather give the money to a charity. They get an insight into how poverty impacts on young people - but there’s other ways of learning that. Maybe there’s more good to it than I know. And no doubt if Ella wants to do it I’ll be a granny making tablet for her to sell.

Anyway it was a lovely occasion and hopefully Ella won’t get a stone in her heart when she hears Nathaniel will be having a day filming on her favourite TV show. The fact he didn’t do as well in his SATS as either she or Thomas might also stop the jealousy. Nathaniel was surprised his friends all did better than him. But he didn’t do any practice papers. He’s too laid back so hopefully this will spur him on to do more work when it matters for GCSE etc. To be fair he was also at Goodnight Mister Tom rehearsals most evenings for the time prior to the tests as well as going to his grandad Peter’s funeral.

They are coming here to stay the night after his performing arts last day of term. I’m going to make courgette fritters and salad for tea. We’ll have to eat outside in the shade as the house is too hot.