Exam season

Today was the first of the exams for my two. D was well-prepared for it, having scored 92%+ in all his practice papers. He came out of it quite unfazed. He said he found a couple of bits slightly difficult but once he'd worked out what it was asking him it was easy enough.

He resat his C1 module from AS maths. He sat it the first time in January 07 and got a C. This was his first AS paper and he didn't do much revision. Yes I nagged but got nowhere so left him to sink or swim. By his standards he sank. Since then he has revised well for each module and done plenty of practice papers.

He needs a grade A overall (AS + A2) to do a Maths and Computing degree. Fingers crossed he does as well as expected in C4 and S1 in the next few weeks. He should, as he is getting 90%+ in practice.

Tomorrow is the dreaded English IGCSE. I'm expecting D to get a B or C. I think K will probably get an E. She can always resit - she is a year younger than her brother so there is no rush and no panic.

Ah well!

I suppose it was too much to hope that my polymorphic light eruption rash would stay gone for the whole year. I thought it might be making an appearance but my skin can be lumpy and bumpy anyway, so I was hoping that's all it was. Alas, this morning's run in wall-to-wall blue skies and hot sunshine has pushed me over the edge.

Now I have to hope that the patch-testing next month (unless the NHS decides to move it again) shows what it is in sunscreen that makes my face react. I don't get much reaction on the rest of me, except when it dries out after an hour or so and makes me itch. My face goes red, itchy, hot, and feels puffy, and if it gets near my eyes they start to run.

When you are doing exercise you absent-mindedly rub your face with your hands so I can't just use any on my hands. Anyway, who wants to have to bath themselves in suncream just to hang the washing out! I think I'll have to search for UV-reflective gloves.

Why I hate hot nights

It's now officially too hot to leave the bedroom windows closed. Unfortunately that means that I get woken up, frequently, by people coming home from the pub/nightclub. I have enough difficulty sleeping in hot weather as it is without being roused from my slumber by shrieks and giggles or one-sided mobile phone conversations.

I'm not ecstatic about hot days either but at least I can take refuge in front of a fan. I need peace and quiet to sleep so have to turn them off at night.

Going off at a tangent - I can't decide if my hands/arms are reacting or not. The skin isn't smooth at the best of times so it isn't always obvious if new spots are UV related or just a coincidence. Fingers crossed it's the latter.

Proud Mum Moment!!!

D has performed a major miracle! For the first time ever he has been given a B for English. He managed to do it for a mock exam paper too. He's playing it down and feeling embarrassed about it - typical teenager. He reckons that no-one else needs to know because then he can't use the excuse that he's bad at English. I reckon the whole world needs to know as he was pretty much written off in that subject when he was at school.

Geography, however, is going to be a skin of the teeth pass - if the wind is in the right direction.

Out of the mouths of babes and children

Yes, that includes my 16 year old son. He's told me to get my own stopwatch as I run too slowly for him! This is the boy who needs coercing out the door to do any exercise in the first place. He says he's not going to log any of the runs he does with me till I get my own watch as it's not a true reflection on his performance.

Kids! Who'd have 'em?!

On a plus point I have more energy. A & I went into Southampton today and I ran up and down some stairs in a shop!

Nothin' doin'

It's a bank holiday weekend and I'm being lazy - apart from getting abuse from the Wii Fit. Life is plodding along without anything noteworthy happening. Hampshire were getting stuffed in the Sunday League last time I looked, A is watching the snooker final - yawn!

Oh, and I've been lured on to Facebook.

Girly Time

A & D are out all day today. I dropped them off at the bowling alley at 7.50 this morning and I'll probably see them again sometime between 10pm and midnight. D is part of a team from here that are entering the Junior National Championships. A is one of the coaches at the club.

I'm not sure how well they'll do as all the team can have their bad days. Fingers crossed it doesn't go totally pear-shaped.