Yesterday was World (or Middle Class as I like to call it) Book Day, and we sorted out costumes rather well in the end.
Littlest, who wanted to be Bunny Foo Foo, then James Bond (so he could kiss his favorite girls) and finally settled on Willy Wonka had a rather fetching top hat, although not from the Poundshop- there's an idea for next year guys). It was from a Fancy Dress store in Windsor.
On the morning, he didn't want to be Willy Wonka afterall, but Spiderman. Threatening him with wearing his school uniform worked in the end though and he did as he was told. It wasn't too cold yesterday, but I did change the costume slightly at the end. Instead of wearing the purple trousers (which came with the purple velvet top as it was really a Joker costume), which were very thin, I persuaded Littlest to wear his cream jeans.
You have to love Youtube at times like this. He was very unhappy at wearing the jeans until I proved that Gene Wilder wore cream trousers in the film (neglecting to show him the Johnny Depp version).
Mini was happy until we got to school and everyone of her age thought she was Red Riding Hood and not "70's Film Version" Verruca Salt. That soon past when everyone over the age of 30 knew exactly who she was. Her lovely teacher (dressed as Matilda) knew straight off who she was, remarking that only her hair wasn't a carbon copy of the costume from the film.
Lots of the teachers turned up in costume to add to the excitement, we had an Ommpah Lumpah, a Jessie from Toy Story, a Cruella Devile and a Where's Wally amongst others. With the kids, there were lots of Gruffalos, Wallys, Princesses and Super heroes of varying degrees.
And, before you read this you may wish to sit down- Mini only went and won her class costume prize. I know right? Which ended up causing much hilarity on Facebook and suggestions of "d'you think they've read your blog again?" (which did cross my mind).
I walked up to grab them from school, the weather seems to be doing well now (hooray) and so its nice to meander home.
Only problem was, I was laden with some shopping, my handbag, Littlest's hat and PE kit, and Mini's reading folder, so I asked Mini to put Littlest's reading folder which had a mere 3 think books inside and weighed next to nothing on her shoulder. Her one doesn't have a strap but his does.
Except, she decided at some point on the 5 minute stroll downhill, to hide it behind a wall in someones garden. Or drop it completely.
She has no clue why or where she left it. She could've just asked me to bloody hold it. We didn't realise until we'd been in half hour, and by the time we drove back up the road it was gone.
Which will cost me at least £24 to replace the school books and folder, and meant Littlest was upset as his free book token was in the bag. I was so cross with her, she's not a baby, it wasn't heavy. I don't honestly know what on earth has gotten into her recently, one minute she is so good and helpful, next minute she reverts back to babyhood.
As I said, definite attack of the costly Dolly Daydreams.
So, a win, a massive fail, and a Book Day all in one.
They're off to the local Building site next week- which fills me with horror as Mini has enough trouble walking round a flat, even, dry surface indoors without causing a disaster, so goodness knows what she'll be like at a building site.
How did your Book Days go?
Its that time of year again, no not Christmas. Or Easter. Or Sports Day. No, it's World Book Day. On Thursday to be precise. (yes, Thursday for all those sitting thinking- World Book Day? Shit!).
Another day added to the never ending excuse to bankrupt parents both morally and physically in the wallet. Last time, it was Wear Your Pyjamas to School for Children in Need. Before that it was Princess Day(!) and there was Jubilee day, and of course, last years World Book Day.
Usually, I leave all that crap to the last minute and end up, the day before, at Asda buying whatever costume I can find that will fit the Brat it is intended for. Last year, Mini went as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and Littlest went as Harry and His Bucket of Dinosaurs.
This was for practical reasons.
The problem with Littlest is that he cannot merrily stroll around in definitely cold, possibly snowy, or damp conditions wearing next to nothing. He is also still of an age where wearing a costume that undoes at the back is a stupid, doomed to toilet related failure. (And why do these costumes have back fastenings? Why not front or side?). Hence why last year he wore jeans and a hoodie, just like Harry.
This year, I decided to stop being a lazy bitch and get the costumes sorted. Mini currently loves Roald Dahl, and has been reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at school and at home, so she is going as Verruca Salt, in a costume not so much bought as copied from the Gene Wilder film. She already had a red dress, and black shoes, white tights and a white, puffy sleeve blouse. All I got her was a Golden Wonka Ticket from eBay.
Littlest is more difficult, as I say, he has to be warm. I had thought about his knight costume, as he likes Horrid Histories, but he owned up to putting it in his "give to charity pre-Christmas clear out", so whilst he has a sword and shield, he has no costume. Instead, I found his Joker from Batman costume, which also kind of looks like Willy Wonka. Sorted.
Feeling smug, I relaxed safe in the knowledge that it was done, and dusted.
Until they got in the sodding car on Friday.
"Mummy, have you bought my costume, instead of making it?" asked Mini.
I said, well kind of, but you already had most of the bits so don't worry.
"No, Mummy", said Littlest "you're not allowed to buy them. You have to make them, and sew them, from scraps in the house. Ms H said so in 'sembley".
It's true. They don't want you to buy something. They want you to make one.
And, to make it more fun, they will be awarding prizes to the best costumes on the day. Smashing.
Not.
The thing is, I am:
a) not Mary sodding Poppins, or Maria from Sound of Sodding Music. I don't have scraps of material lying round for costume emergencies, nor can I take down curtains and run one up either (we have blinds. Not curtains). I also don't have a magical bag like Mary that is a bottomless pit of costumes.
b) I am shit at sewing by hand and my sewing machine is buggered
The last time I actually made an effort, on the Jubilee, I wasted 5 days of my life I will never get back took 5 days to make not one but two costumes using little more than wonder web, elastic, and two poundshop flags (not to mention blood, sweat and actual real tears) and did anyone else bother?
Nope.
And did either of the Brats win the sodding Best Costume award?
No. One of the same kids who wins bloody everything, wearing a Next Flag dress, just like 85% of the rest of the girls (the others, bar Mini having the George at Asda version) won. You know, cos their Mum made such an effort, driving to town and parting with £24.99.
I hate, actually despise, the whole competition element, and the way they use the kids to pressure you into making the best costume. Plus the upset it causes when they don't win, because, of course, then its your fault for making a crap costume.
Why the bloody hell can't they just say "hey kids, the government thinks you're not reading enough, as you spend every waking non school moment stuffing your faces with crap food, playing video games and having no actual imagination or interest in books unless they are on a Kindle or iPad, so we're going to make you dress up for the day to remind you of actual words and not Text Speak and give you a £1 voucher which you will lose down the back of the sofa or trade in to a swotty kid for cash to buy more sweets or pointless games like Flappy Bird".
And where has the World element come from? I don't know many kids abroad, but I have a feeling this is done mainly in upper middle class schools where Boden is the parent uniform of choice, and not throughout the UK, let alone the bloody world. It does sound like yet another American thing which, due to our need to suck up and not get blown up by bigger countries, we have joined in with.
What is wrong with saying, wear what you like, if you have no life you want to make it, if not, buy one, and at the end of the day, everyone gets a sticker or a packet of Haribo for joining in?
I say, this "everything must be a competition where only the same five bloody kids win and everyone else goes home disappointed, wondering why they bothered" must stop.
Now, I'm off to find a Willy Wonka top hat. I wonder if the Pound Shop sells them..........?
