23 - 29 July 2012

Simon, forgetting that he was currently enjoying the luxury of grandparents on tap, couldn't envisage any problems with the suggestion that Justine worked from November until June at Dartington, 3 weeks on, one week off, covering the Creative Producer's maternity leave, while he was in Austria with the children.

16 - 22 July 2012

This week, 10 days later than planned, we set off to England for two weeks of sunny weather, possibly the only two sunny weeks in the entire English summer. Elizabeth hopes that in England's teeming metropolises we will get the items on her Christmas wish list - sellotape, paper and dental floss.

9 - 15 July 2012

Immediately following Justine's recorder pupils' end of term concert Justine was hospitalised. Despite the concert, the problem turned out to be appendicitis.

2 - 8 July 2012

Since Elizabeth was grounded this week having gone awol on the afternoon of her accordion lesson, it was important for Justine and Simon to be at home when she came back from school to enforce her imprisonment. On Wednesday, after an early start, they managed a 10k walk, a bike ride, 3 geocaches and a swim, and were home when school finished at 11.15. House arrest was the perfect punishment for Elizabeth,who would move permanently into her friends' houses given the option. Having had a lovely day of cooking and board games, Mary is looking forward to Elizabeth misbehaving again.

25 June - 1 July 2012

Simon spent this week enjoying the simple life with the Taize Community in France, a monastic order with a strong devotion to peace and justice through prayer and meditation, along with 2000 17 to 30 year olds from all over the world. Not qualifying as a 17 - 30 year old he went as a helper with 40 local young people and a few teachers. At the start of the week his verdict was 'rehab but with singing', by the end it was a remarkable and unforgettable experience.