Sophie's new school term began today. She is glad that it is still a bit chilly because she hates her summer uniform with a passion. It is a rather sweet little blue gingham dress, but she has taken against it because she says "it goes in at the knees". Not sure what she means by that but she certainly feels strongly about it. I hope she gets over it by the time the warmer weather arrives.

Emily and Stephen go back to school tomorrow, and I go back on Monday. So I get two school days all to myself. I'm quite excited about that.

Ems spent today at Chessington World of Adventures with some of her friends, and Stephen spent today trying to cram three weeks' worth of revision for his forthcoming exams into 12 hours. He swears he has everything under control and says he will do fantastically well in the exams; I have my doubts. I just don't think he's putting in enough effort. He's a bright kid and I think he's become accustomed to doing well without doing much work - but I really don't think that strategy is going to work for these exams (The exams are his GCSEs - a big set of standardised exams that kids here do at 16 before either going on to some kind of vocational training, or doing A levels and then going to university. The exam results determine which track you go down). We shall see; maybe I am wrong. I hope so.