Route 4 update

It worked!

I am pleased to report that my time short cut will now become a fixture.

It is amazing how frustrated you can get knowing how slow and idiotic drivers can cause avoidable delays. Just by exploring a bit further afield you can, and I have, managed to cut out some of the frustration facing me on a daily basis.

The flip side to that, is when you arrive early, and it is too early to take them to the playground, they have to be kept amused in the back of the car. Today, luckily for me, they played nicely and it was a nice end to the week.

Route no.4

Well I have been threatening it and lo and behold today I was forced to divert and try and new part of my route by a nasty looking traffic jam on the way in.

Things seemed ominous as I approached the round-about in question and as the traffic snaked back to the top I thought ok let's do it!

And was I rewarded!

A much smoother middle section, no traffic at all and we got to school early. And best of all - I avoided a particularly nasty interchange involving a pointless width restriction! Ha!

I'll try it again tomorrow to make sure it wasn't just beginners' luck!

Oh crumbs........

It had occurred to me that in the morning your car is effectively your office.

That office too from time to time needs cleaning - and especially when your passengers have a habit of making a lots of crumbs from the biscuits, cereal, cakes etc that get consumed in the back on an almost daily basis.

I have a good old manual brush and pan that despite falling apart has served me well. I am thinking though that I need to use one of those giant vacuum cleaners to really do a good job. When I have the time, which is rare, I plan to do that.

I also plan to wash the car soon and am planning to invest in a pressure washer - that should be fun!

Those little extras

Like I have said before the morning school run is more than just the run part.

Today like other days before it, I have had to enter the school office itself to enquire about something.

I needed to check on an item of uniform to purchase for next week - thankfully in stock and very reasonably priced.

I will be back in the office next week for this reason.

Crossing the road

I should say that the school run is not just about driving.

Once the car is parked the children must be taken to their relevant playground.

Before this point, the children have to learn about road safety too. It is hard sometimes to keep their attention but they realise when I say stop they must stop. We then wait for all the cars to pass and safely cross the road.

I suspect the school will at some point teach them about the Green Cross Code (remember that?!) but I think the earlier we expose them to the dangers of crossing the road and how to cross safely the better.

My passengers are well behaved (most of the time) but it is nice to know that they are happy to (and must) hold my hands when crossing the road.

Silence is golden

There can often be a debate as to which music should be played in the car in the morning and whose turn it is to choose it.

Today, regardless of whose turn it was, I decided I wanted silence (not from talking but from music).

It was a good choice as I enjoyed the absence of pre-school songs and it was fun to listen to my passengers talk and argue amongst themselves.

Room in the back

Wow this morning was an experience.

I have a big car but I have never filled it with children. Today, I had not two but four children to take.

I wasn't sure how it would go. I have taken three before but never four.

The children, whilst a little noisy at times (and who can blame them - and there were three girls!) were very well behaved throughout the whole journey. All talkative and fun.

We even had to contend with a serious accident on route which meant we got to school late. That had no effect on them at all and they continued to behave well all the way to class.

Well done to those who take many children every day - it was fun but I am not sure I would want more than two all the time.

Back to normal tomorrow.

Breakfast

It is always a rush in the mornings. No matter how early you get up there will be a million things to do and not enough time to do them.

So much so that on occasion, like this morning, breakfast was extended to the back seat.

I know it is not the best way to eat your morning meal but the important thing is to eat. Thankfully that was accomplished this morning and with minimal crumbs.

That will be my task at the weekend - making sure the remnants of this week's breakfasts are no more!

A real boost

Morning

It is amazing how many things you need to think of in preparation for, during and after the school run.

Today it was all about tissues (due to a rather bad cold) and arrangements to pick up and collect a booster car seat.

It is quite a challenge to ensure tissues are passed safely, noses are blown correctly and tissues then disposed of quickly whilst driving. I think I might need a resident tissue box present going forward.....

The booster situation was less complicated but thankfully it was where it was left and seating arrangements will return to normal tomorrow.

People think that if you take your child to school it is just that. It is not. It is an all round care package until they walk through the classroom door.

Missing......

It seems strange to write this while I am on "holiday."

My car you will be pleased to hear is fine. New spark plugs and an ignition coil fitted - now it is as good as new and ready to recommence the run from next week.

Even though my journey times this week have actually halved (and by at least 2 hours a day) I miss being in the car in the morning and even more so at night once I finish work. You can't quite compare the comfort of your own car to the wonder that is public transport. I also miss that quality time I get to spend with my son each morning.

At least I am not quite so tired now at the end of the day........

I have a few more days off to enjoy during half term - see you next week!