We’ve got a couple of gymnastic disciplines for you today. First, Dim will show us some work on the pommel horse!
So, he mounts the horse, and shows us a few tricks!
And now for the dismount… Very neat!
Next, the rings! Gino will show us how it’s done. First, jump up and catch hold of the rings.
Now, he’s going to lift himself up, until he’s right upside down! And then, a perfect dismount.
Ernest wants a go, but he says he doesn’t need the rings, he can just do a snozzle dangle! See him pull himself up, and then an elegant dismount. Well done!
Today, we’re going to make some ‘stained glass’ decorations! We need some squares of paper, a craft knife and some double-sided sticky tape. Oh, and some coloured cellophane wrappers from chocolates. We had to eat the chocolates. The things we do for Art!
First of all, we’re drawing shapes on our paper to cut out. We’re choosing designs that will suit the colours of cellophane we’ve got.
Now we need to make the back of the paper sticky, with the double-sided tape. Before we peel the back off, we’re going to cut out the shapes we’ve drawn.
Then we peel the backing off the tape. What a fiddly job it is! Er, Matilda, are you stuck there?
Now, we put the cellophane on the sticky side, and press it down. And then trim the extra from round the edge.
So here we are! These look nice hung up in a window, where the sun can shine through them. And if you like, you can draw extra details on, like Matilda did with her Father Christmas. Ho ho ho!
Matilda has decided to do some fancy present wrapping today. She’s started with plain silvery paper, because you need an understated base. Then she adds a single piece of fancy fabric ribbon.
Now, Maybe some gold cord to create the classic parcel look.
And a parcel isn’t a parcel without a fancy bow on it!
And it wouldn’t be a Christmas parcel without some curly ribbon!
Hmm. Still needs something else. Time to get the hot glue gun out, and tack on some chocolate coins!
And there’s always room for a snowflake!
Blimey Matilda!, says Dim. Yes, says Matilda, I’m not sure it’s quite festive enough yet! Dim says he’s sure it is, and ooh, are those chocolate coins?
More papercraft today, what are Dim and Matilda up to? Ah! Paper lanterns!
First of all, fold the paper in half, then make cuts in it on the folded edge, leaving a strip on the other side not cut through.
Now, unfold it. Next, it need to be rolled up. Matilda says it would help if they had something to roll it around.
Well, that is very helpful Dim! You’re just the right size too! Just need to tape the edge.
Well Dim, you look very… well, daft, to be honest. But look, if we take it off you, and find a little battery powered tealight, it sits over it very nicely!
Oh Arnold! No, it’s alright, it’s not a real flame. Look how pretty it is. And you can make these lanterns any size!
Dim, Vincent and Ofelia are going to have a go at some Macrame today!
Bernard wonders if that’s a good idea, given the mess they always get in with the Maypole!
But they are sure it’ll be fine. First they tie the strings to the cinnamon stick and lay them out neatly. Ofelia loves cinnamon, she can’t stop sniffing it!
Now they just have to knot the strings in the right order, to make a V shape.
There! It’s a little decoration to hang up! Just needs the strings trimming.
Bernard is quite impressed that no one got tangled up!
We found a tutorial online, so have a look round and see what you could do!
Hello, Matilda and Dim look smart. I wonder if they have a Valentine’s date planned? Matilda is fussing over Dim’s tie being straight, so it must be quite important.
I wonder why she’s taking all that paperwork in her handbag.
Oh! They’ve come to see Bernard at the bank. Matilda’s a bit surprised he’s not in a suit, but he says it’s Dress Down Friday.
So, he’s looking carefully at all the bank statements and things she’s brought.
What’s this, a big form to fill in? Oh my goodness, they’re applying for a mortgage!
It takes ages to fill the form in, and then Bernard has to go over the figures carefully.
He’s delighted to say they are approved! They thank him very much, and now they have to go off to another appointment…
A viewing! The place looks alright from the outside as they wait for the estate agent. Ah, here he is…
It’s Compact and Bijou, according to the agent. They make sure they have a good look around. It’s a bit grubby in places, but they can work on that.
So they whisper between themselves for a bit… and they’ll take it!
So while the agent adjusts the sign, Matilda takes the key. And Dim says he has a perfect keyring for it.
Well, Matilda and the girls went out today for her ‘hen do’. They all went to a country house for a spa day. Matilda made sure they all had sashes, and they got her a veil and an L plate to wear!
First of all, they had a relaxing Yoga session. Well, Esther said she’d pass on that because once she lies down, her shell makes it awkward to get up again. Mary said she didn’t want to take her hat off and Fury said she couldn’t say Om without giggling.
After the Yoga, Peggy wanted to try the Special Botanicals Face Masque. Matilda said it put her in mind of wanting a sandwich.
Then it was time for the sashes to come off for a soak in the Hot Tub! Mary and Esther stayed dry – both claimed to be too ticklish for the bubbles.
All out of the tub and wrapped up in fluffy towels, it was time to open the champers!
Meanwhile, Winston had arranged a stag outing for the lads. We wondered why he’d brought us to a hilly field.
Oh! It’s an off-road driving experience! There’s a quad bike to hire! In fact, there’s all sorts of vehicles to drive about in.
Vincent liked the tractor, and Ernest enjoyed giving Micro and Nano a lift! I liked the quadbike myself.
There was even a motorbike just right for Micro, and Nano had a whale of a time in the digger!
Back at the Spa, Fury said she was sure she could hear a lot of noise, and wanted to check it out.
Oh! We’ve all been at the same place and didn’t know it! Well, Fury’s not going to pass up a go on a quadbike!
Now that we’re all here together, we might as well get together for a little buffet party, eh?
This year, for Valentine’s Day, Dim and Matilda have decided to go for a romantic country walk. Matilda wanted to wear her nice new winter coat. They enjoyed strolling through the woods.
“Oh look!” said Matilda, “Snowdrops! How Pretty!” So they decided that was a good spot to stop for their picnic lunch. Dim had come prepared with a nice hot flask of tea.
After lunch, Matilda asked if she could help pack everything up, but Dim said, no, it was alright, he’d do it.
“Where next?” asked Matilda. Dim said he had a surprise planned, they just had to walk a little further.
Oh, what’s this? A posh Country Club? Dim explained that he’d booked them in for afternoon tea, how lovely!
The head waiter greeted them and offered to take their bags and coats. While Matilda was distracted, Dim whispered something to the waiter.
It’s a lovely cosy room – wood panelling, a roaring log fire, pretty china on the table. They looked at the menus, and opted for the full afternoon tea for two.
Well, look at that! A whole trolley full of tea, and sandwiches and eclairs and scones and cakes! How lovely! Matilda said it was the nicest tea she’d ever had.
They soon polished off the sandwiches and most of the cakes, but Dim seemed a little distracted. Oh, it’s the waiter again, and his trolley seems quite heavy this time!
What’s THAT!
Oh! Oh! A ring! Dim asked Matilda, “Will you marry me?”
Dim looked at Matilda, and Matilda looked at Dim…
She said yes! How lovely! We’re going to have a wedding!
Dim was listening to the radio earlier choosing spooky music for the Halloween party, when Ofelia came in and said she was making pumpkin soup, but she’d run out of cumin, and could he go and fetch some please?
