#ulog9 Day 12 school holiday in England

Hi, hope you're good and the summer is warm and kind and not bipolar like this British one is! Having said that; it has been banging hot this year, with heavy rain the rest of the time... No need for a holiday in the med for us Brits, except very few of us have air con, a beach nearby, or deckchairs.* Sigh.

However, today has been another cookie kinda day with the kids, at home, generally finding stuff to do that didn't involve spending heaps of cash, which always feels good knowing that the family budget is still firmly intact and not blown out of the water on over-priced [usually crap] holiday entertainment, or dining out too frequently, which is my favourite budget-busting habit. Damn that Carluccio's, Giraffe, Zizzis, Frankie & Benny's and Pizza Express!! :p

Instead, we baked... #OatmealCreamPies nom+nom+NOM!! A recipe found on my son's phone app.

We did organic ones, but failed with the cream for the centres as it contained some evil marshmallow stuff, an American product found on our local supermarket shelves. There is an American aisle in Sainsbury's supermarket, which I never understood... Possibly to do with FDA regulations because I thought high fructose corn syrup was banned in the UK? But who cares, as they were awesome despite being probably very bad for you, but it's not everyday we bake these beauts, thank gawd! I'd be attending weight watchers otherwise and probably shopping in blobby over-stretched lycra at ASDA ~ the UK arm of Walmart.

(I did my daughter's pink barnet earlier too, using her fabulous and never-ending bottle of PINKISSIMO hair product. A holiday treat as I normally do a more subtle and less 'full head' during term time, not that they'd care anyway, as it's quite a relaxed State School).

Sifting skillz. (Aged 5yrs old).

Folding flour skillz. (The patience required for this is still a work in progress for her, beliiiiieeeeve).

These pics make it look like some angelic domestic bliss, but rest-assured there was a fair share of refereeing necessary so both peskies got to weigh, mix and taste the mixture! No-one was hurt in the course of making this video and photoshoot, but sibling spats did happen and distraction tactics saved the day, mostly.

My essential morning country run helped me to reach the much needed battery power to keep mum duty energy level fairly constant throughout the day, before DEAD TO THE WORLD MODE kicked-in at 9pm-ish. A universal feeling of utter exhaustion mixed with a craving for alcohol on occasions. I swear that early nights and exercise are the secret to semi-decent parenting, along with a few other wisened necessities of course.

Fresh outta the oven. Two parts to one biscuit, so ten biscuits and one extra part "to be sure, to be sure" as the leprechaun said.

The finished result. So, so tasty good, but a meal on their own calorie-wise. More grated carrot bread replacement for me tomorrow – and the jogging escape early-doors before the kids are up. Sacrosanct me-sanity-time, I know you understand what I'm saying here. :) Enabled because my partner works from home some days.

Day 13 of school hol tomorrow and downtown swimming baths it is. Bags packed already, so just breakfast to negotiate, this can be done lol.

On that sweet note, I'm off to bed. Good night and God bless.

x