Summer Holiday Theme Parks

A bit late for this blog post but once we got back from holiday Tina booked a trip to Chessington World of Adventures for her, Holly, Brandon and Maia. Joshua didn't want to go and I was back to work and thus as the numbers were reduced we bought the fast pass thingy again to make sure the kids could go on all the rides they wanted too (and multiple times). 

Brandon pretty much blitzed the theme parks during the summer holidays as he had this trip to Chessington, then he also went to Alton Towers and Thorpe Park with his Maia and her parents. So he kind of covered the bog three in a matter of 2 weeks!  Anyway I won't write much else about this trip or label all the pictures as I wasn't there due to work and can't really comment. Certainly looks like they all had a good day though and picked a great day weather wise.

6th Form Casual Wear

Finally managed to get a picture of Brandon all ready for a day at 6th form. Like I said earlier it is unusual seeing him head off to school not wearing school uniform. He has spent an absolute fortune on smart clothes to wear in 6th form the result of which means it takes him ages to get ready of a morning and will change clothes multiple times asking Tina to keep ironing bits for him!!!! Anyway touch wood so far the 6th form is going well and he is enjoying it. Next is to try and sneak a picture of Joshua heading off to college for his BTEC L2 Engineering.

Smart and smiling. Something must be going right this morning.

Holly's Day 1 at Beauchamps

And just like that the summer holidays are over and Holly has had her first day at Beauchamp's secondary school yesterday. She looked so grown up and very smart in her blazer and tie. Come to think of it, I think this is the first time she had ever worn a tie. Anyway she seems to have enjoyed her first day and settled in as good as you can hope. Tina walked her to and from school yesterday and then today she met up with a friend called Jessie to make their way to school and then walked herself home.

Brandon has also had his first day back as a 6th former - no pictures of him though. It does seem weird seeing him go to school in casual clothes instead of the school uniform. 

Joshua has his first day back at Chelmsford College tomorrow for his Level 2 BTEC in Engineering. After tomorrow we will have a better idea of his timetable for the next year, but now that he has the Fiesta to drive it shouldn't really impact us much.

First day at secondary school and it is all smiles.

How grown up and smart she looks in her new uniform.

Joshua's First Car

With Joshua starting college again this week we had to make a decision regarding whether he continues using the bus/train like last year, or whether to sort out a car given that he has now passed his driving test. It didn't make sense to put him on our insurance on the Fiesta as the premium was too high and it would have meant he doesn't accumulate any no claims discount.

So that left us with two options. Option 1 was to give him an advance to buy a car of his own and then him to pay us back when he gets his trust fund on his 18th birthday. Option 2 was similar only instead of buying another car we sell him the Fiesta (at a discounted parent rate) and put me and Tina on as named drivers so that on the off occasion when we need two cars - we can still drive the Fiesta.

I was completely sold on either option but I couldn't put by finger on why it didn't feel right. So after several discussions we decided on Option 2 and the Fiesta has now been transferred to Joshua's ownership and is thus his first official car. Oddly enough by adding me and Tina as named drivers on his policy seemed to reduce his premium. At least with option 2 we know he has a very good, very reliable, low mileage car that if he takes care of, should last him several years.

In the first few days having the car was very much a novelty and Joshua was off out driving here, there and everywhere. Meeting his mates, driving out to get breakfast etc.etc. It has been weird seeing him drive himself off to rugby training as for many, many years that has always been my job to run the kids to after school clubs. Anyway at least he has a car now and will be able to drive to Chelmsford college which also means I do not have to be late for work in order to drop him off at the station.

You would think he would look a bit happier as we have just sold him a very good car at almost half market price!

Very odd feeling seeing him drive himself off to rugby!