Witchez, Prom, packing and Shaun!

 It was a busy week.

On Monday evening husband and I met with brother to take him out for his Birthday. This meant another trip to Witchez in Brighton. I've mentioned it before, it's a themed restaurant with silent movies projected on the ceilings and other paraphernalia. Which means that it's a bit like eating in a Harry Potter set. The food is also really nice and reasonably priced.

It's probably not the sort of restaurant you'd decide to go to on a 'normal' night out, but it's a great place for a celebration or if you have tired of all the 'small plates' restaurants that are just a tick list of normality.

As ever the food was good and the company was great. Most importantly I was able to spoil my brother for his birthday and take him somewhere he would never normally consider.

Tuesday night was son's prom. It was agreed we'd deliver son to a friends house and he and his friends would travel in via their old 1970's beaten up old range rover. So as soon as work had finished we hopped in the car to get to friends house. No small feat, they live over by Pooh car park - yup it still makes me laugh. Essentially they live in Ashdown Forest about half a mile from Pooh Bridge. Winnie-the-Pooh in case you wonder. Son's friend has a weekend job at Pooh Cafe. Yes all of this makes me laugh.

All in all it was a long trip because the journey home took me back through rush hour traffic. Something I haven't had to contend with for a while because I wfh. A two hour round trip.

Son had a great time, but was bored by the end of it and skipped the after party to come home. At least I assume he chose to skip the after party - maybe he wasn't invited??? I didn't ask and I didn't think it was a conversation he'd appreciate if not. Though to be fair I doubt he'd have wanted to go, I was quite surprised he went to prom. Though very glad he did as he may have regretted it in later years.

Much of the rest of the week was son related too. He and his friends are due to go on holiday to Devon, later today actually!!!!! The planning of this trip has been ridiculous. First they were meeting in Clapham, then Lewes, then Brighton, then Haywards Heath. Then it turned out that the place they'd booked wouldn't allow people under 16 to turn up and two of the trip were under 16. Their cunning plan was to create false ID (because that'll work). Then the mums of the 15 year olds got involved and said their kids couldn't go.

Want to know the most stupid thing. By 1st August they will all be 16 so if they'd waited 5 weeks then it would have been ok. I'M FUMING!!! Right up to the last minute last night it was still unplanned, now I think son is leaving from Lewes, but I am not sure if he's travelling alone or with friends. They'll then join up at some point in Haywards Heath. Given the rest of the chaos I can't pretend I'm not a bit nervous.

Son is extremely capable, but he's not used to travelling alone because he doesn't like to leave the house or to talk to strangers. I know that he'll be fine, but I also know that he'll have a meltdown quickly if plans do not work out. I've said to him that worse case scenario I'll pick him up from some random train station tonight. The only bit that really scares me is that they are travelling through Clapham Station. I know the capacity for chaos here is high.

Obviously I'm nervous about my 'baby' going out on their own for the first time. But there has to be a first time doesn't there. I keep reminding myself that some kids went to war at his age, I'm not sure if that helps or not.

Yesterday he was packing and we tried 3 different rucksacks before we found the right one - it was very goldilocks, too big, too small, just right. I say just right, I had to show him how to roll the clothes up and stuff them down to get them all in. I'm not sure that everything will come home. I told him to leave the towel if he didn't have room on the way home.

This week's photo is dog. She's been struggling with the heat and it's THAT time of year dog owners dread where grass seed gets caught in the dogs coat. So I decided that I'd take her to the poodle parlour for a haircut and nail clip.

When I picked her up I couldn't believe how smart they had made her look. She looks like a completely different dog. Husband hates it, but I love it. I've kinda fallen in love with her again. It's easier to be moody with her when she looks like a tramp.

Anyway, that was the busy week. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well for son. I shall not relax until they are all in their accommodation tonight. As far as coming home again. Goodness only knows how that's going to work they haven't even started to consider that yet. However, by then they'll hopefully have the confidence of a successful journey there behind them........................ hopefully.