Like a Grindstone Cowboy

I'm amazed that we're already a fortnight into 2018. I don't really know what I've done with the past two weeks. It's been a bit of a blur of getting back into the usual routine and busying myself in order to see out January with as much enjoyment as possible. 

Playgroup resumed this week after a bit of a mad dash of member payments and frantic emails and messages back and forward. For all its just a wee group of mums, I have to admit that it is nice to be responsible for organising something again. 

I also got back into some kitchen experimentation. I bought some pre-mixed bread mix waaaaaaay back when we moved into the house and it's sat in the cupboard for months. I'm making an effort to use up everything in our cupboard and see what's good and what's not. So I gave the bread a go. Slightly more complex (i.e. kneeding required) compared to the stuff I used to buy in NZ, but my word, having a built in proving function in our oven is awesome! Here is my experiment in photo journalism format:

Complete with buttery toast and a cup of tea! 

It was really good and, on balance, worth the effort of baking it. I also think that it will be much more cost effective to bake my own, rather than buy the expensive Schär loaves from the supermarkets. I think, however, that it has spurred me on to buy an electric hand mixer, with dough hooks. The rock and roll life that I now lead. ;-) 

Gymnastics also started back on Wednesday, much to William's delight. He went hard for the first fifteen minutes, tired himself out and had a bit of a meltdown. Much like the rest of us returning to the grindstone after the Christmas and New Year madness. 

Post match, French style. 

Volleyball also started back this week which is definitely my biggest extra-curricular commitment at the moment. We trained from 8.45pm - 10.30pm on Monday night but Thursday is game night and my word, the Frenchies really take the recreational aspect seriously! We met at 8.30pm for an 8.45pm warm up and first ball was about 9.15pm. As we went to four sets, it was about 11.30pm by the time we finished (we lost 3-1) and then everyone showered and the host team laid on a late supper for us all which consisted of beer, wine, baguettes, cheese, meat and cakes. Amazing. And they were happy just to blether into the small hours despite it being a school night. I was the first to leave at quarter to one and I was absolutely shattered all day on the Friday. God knows how they all manage at their work on a Friday!