Expanding fish

General 

Elliott was really good today and positive after losing Soundwave's cannon. His cough has been better today but he did cough a little. So I gave him some more cough medicine before bed time.

Activities

In the morning we had a relaxing time and Elliott checked on the progress of his expanding fish tank he got in his Christmas stocking (he added water yesterday) and did some animating. Later in the morning we went food shopping at Sainsburys where he was very helpful. After we got back he had rolls with luncheon meat for lunch. 

After lunch he watched some Transformer review on the iPad and did some Clarinet practice before we watched the film Mr Holmes. The film was quite slow and character based but Elliott still enjoyed it and was asking questions about it before bed time. After the film we had pasta with Dolmio pepperoni stir in sacue for tea and then he had a bath, brushed his teeth and took some more cough medicine. Before bed time he played more Clarinet and then read more of his Alex Rider "Russian Roulette" school book before going to sleep.

Skateboarding

General 

Elliott was good today. He did get quite upset after I picked him up when he realised he'd lost Soundwave's cannon but he calmed down quicker than in the past and had made himself feel much better after about half an hour. I also bought him some cough mixture for his cough and he had some before bed time.

Activities

In the morning he did some more animating before having breakfast, getting dressed brushing his teeth and getting picked up to go to Aladdin at Reading Hexagon. 

After I picked him up he did half an hour of skateboarding before we went home and he realised he'd lost Soundwave's cannon while he was out and about (we did check my car thoroughly). After he'd been upset he calmed down and instead wrote some more of his comic and opened his new Megatron Transformer that he brought with him. Then he had toast for tea, had a bath, brushed his teeth got ready for bed and read more of his Alex Rider "Russian Roulette" school book before going to sleep.

Aquaman

General 

Elliott was really good today. He did cough a bit towards the end of the day with quite a sore sounding cough but said he felt fine, just has a cough. I gave him some Ibuprofen before bed time.

Activities

In the morning he had a bath and did lots of animating with his new Stikbot animation studio. He experimented with putting different backgrounds on the blue and green screen stage he now has. He also did some Clarinet practice. Then we left for Loddon Valley Leisure Centre where he had some hot chocolate and drew some more of his comic in his new comic book. After Loddon Valley Leisure Centre we went to Braknell Odeon to watch Aquaman where he had a hot dog for lunch. 

We both enjoyed Aquaman and afterwards he posed in front of Bumblebee:

On the way home we went home via Tescos to buy some ingredients for tea and he did some more animating while I made spaghetti bolognese for tea. After tea he brushed his teeth and got ready for bed before reading more of his "Russian Roulette" school book before going to sleep.

Bumblebee

General 

Elliott was very good today.

Activities

After Elliott arrived we opened my birthday presents, he did some Clarinet practice and then headed off to The Crown in Old Basing for lunch with Granny and Grandpa. Elliott had a beefburger and chips for lunch. 

After lunch we went home and Elliott started some animating. Then, after about an hour, we went to Showcase Cinema to watch Bumblebee which we all enjoyed. After the film we went home and Elliott did some more animating before having toast for tea and then getting ready for bed and brushing his teeth. After he that he read more of his "Russian Roulette" school book before going to sleep.

Christmas Day

General 

Elliott was really good today and really enjoyed the day.

Activities

After Elliott woke up at 6.00am he came to wake me up to say that Father Christmas had been. So we went in to his room and he opened his presents. He'd got Soundwave and Hot Rodimus Masterpiece Transformers, The Ice Monster by David Walliams, Bah Humbug! by Michael Rosen, a Marvel Heroes Album, a grow your own fish tank and some chocolate money. After he'd learnt how to transform Soundwave and Hot Rodimus he had Malties for breakfast, got dressed and then we headed off to Salisbury Cathedral for the Christmas Morning Eucharist. We met Granny in Salisbury Cathedral and he was good during the service even though it lasted for over an hour. After the service we headed back home and when we got there Richard, Graham, Harry and Jack Jenkins were all there with their mother Barbara Hewlett, so he immediately started playing with Harry and Jack with some Nerf guns and having fun. After a while Granny and Grandpa arrived and then we all had a big Christmas lunch and Elliott had Turkey, Pigs in Blankets, roast potatoes and broccoli. 

After lunch we opened the rest of the presents and Elliott got some spinning plates and £60.00 towards his Ypres trip from me and Andrea, a Titans Return Voyager Megatron Transformer, The Wizards Of Once by Cressida Cowell and chocolate selection box from Granny and Grandpa, some juggling balls and space putty from Uncle Jim, some hockey gloves from Kate and Anthony, a selfie stick for his animating from Richard Jenkins and a Stikbot Animation Stuido from Graham, Harry and Jack Jenkins and Barbara Hewlett. After opening the final presents Elliott spent the rest of the day playing with Jack and Harry Jenkins with various Lego toys that Jack had received, table football and some Fortnite on devices. They also had snacks (crisps mainly) and did a lot of running around. He also played everyone "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" on his Clarinet. At around 9.00pm everyone left to go home and Elliott brushed his teeth and got ready for bed before reading more of his "Russian Roulette" school book before going to sleep.

Christmas Eve

General 

Elliott was really good tonight and excited about Christmas.

Activities

After I picked Elliott up we went to Sainsburys to get some ale to leave out for Father Christmas before bed time. Then we went home and we watched Blue Peter while he had chIcken nuggets for tea. After tea he had a bath, got ready for bed and brushed his teeth before we had a Reading Club together (he read more of “Russian Roulette”.) Just before bed time he left out ale and cookies for Father Christmas and a carrot and milk for the Reindeer.

End of term swimming lesson

General 

Elliott was really good after school today.

Activities

After school we went home and Elliott got ready for swimming before eating some ham sandwiches and watching the final Lego Masters. Then we went to his swimming lesson which was a fun one for the end of term. After swimming he had a shower and then we came home and he practiced high notes on his Clarinet. Then he played a few games of Fortnite before brushing his teeth and reading more of his Alex Rider "Russian Roulette" school book.

Russian Roulette

General 

Elliott was good after school today. He'd spoken to Mr Butler-Willis about being told off and Mr Butler-Willis had said to avoid the girls involved. He seemed much happier. He also gave Mr Butler-Willis his Christmas present (a Doctor Who novel about the new Doctor) and Mr Butler-Willis had read the Star Wars story he's been writing and gave him some good advice (to describe some action as well as using speech).

Activities

After school we went home and Elliott played a few games of Fortnite before making more Doctor Who stories on his comic creator application. Then we watched more Lego Masters while he had ham sandwiches for tea. After tea he had a bath, brushed his teeth, got ready for bed and read some of a new Alex Rider school book he's chosen "Russian Roulette".

Christmas hockey training

General 

Elliott was really good today.

Activities

After breakfast Elliott used his Doctor Who comic creator application to create a new Doctor Who comic and then it was off to Cantley Park for the Christmas hockey session. This year the Under 12 boys were joined by the Under 12 girls, Under 14 boys and Under 14 girls and split in to mixed teams. They then had a series of races and exercises before playing games. Elliott played in midfield for his team and did really well. After hockey we headed home, Elliott had a shower and then we had pasta with Dolmio stir in pepperoni sauce for lunch. 

After lunch Elliott practiced his Clarinet, played some games of Fortnite and then carried on creating his online Doctor Who comic. Then we had to go to Westcall with Andrea as she had to see the Doctor after reacting badly to some insect bites. Elliott brought his Darren Shan book him and it did take an hour or so but he was very patient. After Andrea had seen the Doctor we picked up a prescription on the way home and then Elliott had toast for tea. After tea Elliott brushed his teeth, got ready for bed and then read more of his Darren Shan school book before going to sleep.

Nandos

General 

Elliott was very good today. Towards the end of the day he became upset as he'd been told off at school on Friday for things that he said he hadn't done but some girls had told Miss Woods. We talked about what had happened and whether he had done anything to upset the girls and how to try and avoid them and put space between him and then (and ask Mr Butler-Willis for help). He was especially upset as Mrs Woods had said they might have to review him being House Captain if the problems continue which is why I suggested talking to Mr Bulter-Willis to say "I really don't want that to happen and am trying really hard to be a good House Captain, how can you help me".

Activities

After I picked Elliott up we went home and he designed a Doctor Who comic and played a few rounds of Fortnite. Then we watched some Lego Masters and had ham sandwiches for lunch. 

After lunch we Christmas shopping in Bracknell with Andrea. Although it was wet he was good and focused on choosing presents. After we'd finished shopping we went to Nandos for tea and Elliott had a chicken burger with chips and garlic bread. Then we went home and that's when he told me about what had happened at school and became quite upset. However by the end of our chat he seemed a lot more positive and less worried. Then he had his bath before reading some of his Darren Shan school book and going to sleep.

Darren Shan

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. He said he'd had a headache again towards the end of his Christmas Party but that he'd enjoyed the party. He also picked up a few scrapes and bruises during the day.

Activities

After school we went straight to swimming and it was a lesson where Elliott wore his pyjamas and a sweatshirt. He did well and said he'd now passed the clothes element of the stage. After swimming he had a shower and then some toast when we got home. Then he brushed his teeth, read some of his school book "Darren Shan Cirque Du Freak" and went to sleep.

Swimming

General 

Elliott was good after school today. 

Activities

After school we went to Sainsburys for tea and Elliott had a ham and cheese toastie. Then we headed off to swimming and Elliott enjoyed his lesson before having a shower and heading home. After we got home he did some animating and practiced his Clarinet before brushing his teeth, getting ready for bed, reading more of his school book "Boudicat" and going to sleep.

Whistling Woodwind

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. 

Activities

After school we went home and he had some extra English homework to do as well as his Music Theory homework. Then he had peanut butter sandwiches for tea and we watched Doctor Who from last night. Then it was time for Whistling Woodwind which he enjoyed. Next we went home and he had a bath, brushed is teeth and got ready for bed before reading more of his "Boudicat" school book and going to sleep.

Hockey tournament

General 

Elliott was really good today. 

Activities

After breakfast Elliott practiced his Clarinet before we left for the Hockey tournament. I thought he was really excellent in the trounament today, the best I've seen him play, really getting stuck in and always looking to pass when he had the ball. He was really pleased after the tournament too, though in his normal modest way, but I could tell he felt very pleased. After the hockey we went home and had pasta with stir in pepperoni and tomato sauce for lunch. 

After lunch he had a bath and then we visited Dave, Jo, Alice and Phoebe Read where he showed Phoebe a racing game on a tablet while I watched the football with Dave. After the fooltball we drove home and he had peanut butter sandwiches for tea before playing his Clarinet again, playing a few games of Fortnite and then he brushed his teeth and got ready for bed. He read more of his school book "Boudicat" before going to sleep.

Boudicat

General 

Elliott was very good today. 

Activities

After breakfast Elliott did his English homework before playing Fortnite on the iPad. Then he played with a new magnetic toy I'd bought him in Hong Kong and he had some toast before leaving to go to the Reading verses Stoke City game. 

After he got back from the football he practiced his Clarinet (playing Christmas Carols) and watched Strictly Come Dancing before getting ready for bed and brushing his teeth. He read some more of "Boudicat" before he went to sleep.

Christmas Fayre

General 

Elliott was very good after school today. 

Activities

After school we went home and Elliott got changed before we drove back to Hawkedon for the Christmas Fayre. Elliott was running a stall in the Year 6 area, really enjoyed himself and his stall made about £45:

After the Fayre we drove home and Elliott brushed his teeth and got ready for bed without having a bath as it was late. Then he read some of his school book "Boudicat" before it was time to go to sleep.

Tommy Black's trampolining birthday party

General 

Elliott was good today. He did get a upset on the way home from the party because he couldn't see his Rubix Cube in the car because it was dark but I think it might have been over tiredness after having had so much fun.

Activities

After breakfast we left to go to Enfield for Tommy Black's birthday party. When we got there Al and Lucas Dawson were also there. We went straight to the trampolining and met some of Tommy's school friends there and evereyone had a really good time:

When we got back to Henry and Petra's house after the trampolining we had a buffet lunch with sausages, chicken, peas and bread. 

After lunch the boys played on Tommy's Playstation and had a lot of fun playing together. At about 5pm we left and went home and Elliott had some toast for tea after getting a bit upset in the car (but he did cheer up quite quickly). Then he got ready for bed and brushed his teeth before reading more of The Vampire's Revenge before going to sleep.

The Vampire's Revenge

General 

Elliott was good after school today. 

Activities

After school we went to Wokingham and bought a birthday present (Rubix Cube) and card for Tommy Black's birthday party tomorrow. Then he had a ham and cheese toastie for tea in Costa Coffee in Tescos and he bought a new Stikbot figure for animating with his pocket money. Then we dropped in to Wokingham Majestic Wine for a wine tasting event (Elliott didn't taste any wine) before going home and he had a bath and did his English homework and Music Theory homework. Then he brushed his teeth before reading his new school book "The Vampire's Revenge" before it was time to go to sleep.

Swimming

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. 

Activities

After hockey club we went home and Elliott had some sandwiches for tea and got ready for his swimming lesson. He enjoyed his swimming lesson and afterwards had a shower. After we got home again Elliott did some animating before brushing his teeth, getting ready for bed and then reading some of his new Spy Dog school book before it was time to go to sleep.

Grade 1 Theory exam

General 

Elliott was very good after school today. He had really enjoyed the first day of the Bikeability course.

Activities

After school I picked him up and we went to the Rustic Cafe in Maiden Earley Place for tea before his Grade 1 Theory exam. he had a bacon baguette. Then it was time for his exam. After his exam he said he thought he'd done well and we went home where he did some animating. Then it was time for his bath before he brushed his teeth and read more of Spy Dog before it was time to go to bed.

Arborfield Village Hall

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. He had a good day but Tawfiq had been physically rough with so he'd talked to Mr Butler-Willis which I told him was a very sensible thing to do. He says Mr Butler-Willis will now keep an eye on the situation.

Activities

After school we went home and Elliott had some toast. Then we had to go to Arborfield Village Hall for a Doctor's appointment I had. After the appointment we went home and he did some animating before it was time for Whistling Woodwind. After Whistling Woodwind we came back home and he had bath, brushed his teeth and read some of Spy Dog before it was time to go to sleep.

Thames Valley Minis Tournament

General 

Elliott was good today. There were a couple of times where I asked him not to do something (eg wave the iPad about) and he did the same thing again not long after, but we talked about remembering what he's being asked to do. 

Activities

After breakfast we went to Reading Hockey Club for the Thames Valley Minis Tournament. he played mostly in defence for this and did well. However he was quite tired towards the end. But the team won 3 and lost 1 and they only let goals in during the match they lost:

After the hockey we stopped off in Woodley for lunch and Elliott had a ham and cheese baguette.  

After lunch we went home and Elliott finished his homework (another practice Grade 1 music theory paper and English grammer) and had a bath. Then he played a few games of Fortnite before practicing his Clarinet. After that we went to Graham Jenkin's house to see Harry Jenkins and Jack Jackins and he had lots of fun playing with them. This included forming an impromtu band:

After a few hours we went home and he had Macaroni Cheese for tea while we watched Doctor Who. Then he got ready for bed and brushed his teeth before reading more of Spy Dog and going to sleep.

Teen Titans Go

General 

Elliott was really good today. 

Activities

After breakfast we went to Bracknell Odeon to watch Teen Titans Go, which we both thought was funny. After the cinema we went back via the Bracknell tip and when we got home Elliott had cheese on toast for lunch. 

After lunch Elliott did a practice Grade 1 music theory paper and his English comprehesion homework. Then we watched Ghostrider before we had pasta with tomato and bacon sauce for tea. After tea he practiced his Clarinet and played a few games of Fortnite before he had a bath, brushed his teeth and got ready for bed. He read some more of Spy Dog and then went to sleep.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

General 

Elliott was very good after school today. He had won Star of the Week this week for his excellent descriptive English work and for playing his Clarinet in front of the school in assembly.

Activities

After school we went to Halfords where we bought a bicycle lock for his new bike before going shopping at Sainsburys. After we got home he had toast for tea and then we watched Spider-Man: Homecoming. After the film he had a bath, brushed his teeth and read more of his school book Spy Dog before going to sleep.

Spy Dog

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. He said he'd had a good day with his friends at school.

Activities

After picking Elliott up from hockey club we went straight home to get ready for swimming. He enjoyed having a swimming lesson again after his break and he had a shower after the lesson. Then we drove home and he had toast for tea before doing some more animation. Finally he brushed his teeth, got ready for bed and read some of his new school book Spy Dog before going to sleep.

Owl-O-Ween

General 

Elliott was really good today. 

Activities

After breakfast Elliott did some animating before he did his Music Theory and English homework. Then he watched some Shaun the Sheep, played some Fortnite and did some more animating. Then it was time for chicken fajitas for lunch. 

After lunch he watched this week's Doctor Who again with Granny before doing some Clarinet practice. Then we left for Owl-O-Ween with Granny at the Hawk Conservancy Trust in Andover. When we got there Elliott made a spooky house:

and then we had a hot dog for tea. The it was time to watch Owl diplays where we heard a spooky story and then saw different kinds of Owls flying around in the moon light which we all enjoyed:

When we got home it was quite late so Elliott had some toast and got ready for bed and brushed his teeth without having a bath. Then he read more of his Alex Ryder school book for a short while.

Visiting the Sladens

General 

Elliott was mainly good today. However he did get distracted from checking his Maths homework by Fortnite and it turned out he'd misunderstood some of the Maths questions so he had to do some of it again. We talked about how playing Fortnite when the time is right was fine but if it's more tempting than doing things he needs to do it will be a problem. 

Activities

After breakfast we went to Salisbury for the morning. Elliott had his hair cut, looked around The Entertainer toy shop (where he bought a new Hot Rod transformer with his pocket money) and bought some new reeds for his Clarinet form the music shop. Then we met Granny and had a Pizza Hut buffet for lunch. 

After lunch we went home and Elliott practiced his Clarinet and played some pieces with Grandpa. The he did his Maths homework but unfortunately didn't check it with Granny when I asked him to and played Fortnite instead. So we had a discussion about this but it was too late for Elliott to redo the questions he needed to as it was time to go and visit Peter, Carla, Poppy, Charlie and Alice Sladen at their house. Elliott had a great time with Charlie and Alice and they played football in the garden:

and played with Nerf guns and some Fortnite as well:

After a few hours we came home for tea and Elliott had sausages and broccoli. Then he redid his Maths homework with Granny's help and started his Music Theory homework. After his homework he watched another episode of Shaun the Sheep before it was time for bath, teeth brushing and getting ready for bed. After he was ready for bed he read more of the end of his Alex Ryder school book.

New mountain bike

General 

Elliott was really good today. 

Activities

After breakfast we packed and got ready to travel to Downton. During the journey we stopped at Hartley Wintney for lunch and Elliott had a ham and cheese roll. 

After we arrived in Downton we unpaked and then went to Halfords with Granny and Grandpa to shop for a new mountain bike as a late birthday present. We soon found a blue one that Elliott liked. Then we headed to Waitrose to do some food shopping and after we'd finished the food shopping Elliott had a quick look around Smyths toy superstore. Then we went home and he had chicken nuggets and chips for tea with a few peas before having his bath. After his bath he brushed his teeth and then played Fortnight before watching an episode of Shaun the Sheep for animation tips. Then it was time for bed and he read more of his Alex Ryder school book which he has now almost finished.

Laurel Remington

General 

Elliott was good today. 

Activities

After breakfast we headed to Wokingham Library where we heard a talk by author Laurel Remington about how to design a story. Elliott enjoyed the talk and said some of the things he'd heard at school but some of the advice was new. After the talk we bought a copy of her latest book "The Polka Dot Shop" and she signed it. Then it was off to hockey practice. After hockey we came home and had cheese on toast for lunch. 

After lunch he had a bath and then we went to Andrea's brother's house to watch the Everton verses Crystal Palace game with David Read. After the game we came home and had pasta with Dolmio pepperoni stir in sauce. Then we watched Doctor Who and he brushed his teeth and got ready for bed. Finally he read some more of his Alex Ryder school book and then went to sleep.