Walking and talking

K is currently mid-way through making a cardboard cut-out model of an Icelandic glacier with something that we picked up from the British Geological Survery's Open Day.  Today over lunch, A explained glaciers.  Handily he did geography beyond age 13, as I would have had to say let's look it up and we were in the middle of a meal at the time!

This afternoon we went on a walk that some neighbours of ours organise a couple of times a year.  This time last year, although the girls enjoyed the walk they did struggle with the distance (A estimated it was about 5 miles) and A had to take M on a short cut.  This year K & M lead the way, setting a cracking pace and although M had a bit of a moan towards the end, they managed easily.

On the way in the car, we drove past a 'Drive Thru', which prompted K to ask how you spell 'through', as she'd recognised that it wasn't right, but wasn't sure how it should be spelled.  This lead to a conversation about how 'ough' has so many different ways it can be pronounced and is a brilliant example of what makes English such a tricky language!  K & M also reminded us that punctuation is important and can make a big difference to the meaning of a word or phrase, coming up with the examples of she'll  and shell and 'Let's eat, Grandma!' and 'Let's eat Grandma!'.

K leading the way (M hid because she didn't want to be in the photo!)

K up close with the wildlife - a greenfly!

On the way round we saw two different uses for ex-telephone boxes.  The first housed a defibrillator, which was paid for and maintained by the village council.  So we talked about how if someone in a rural area were to have a heart attack, sometimes it can take too long for an ambulance to arrive to save them.  I explained about first responders and how they're trained to use these defibrillator and look after the person until the ambulance arrives.  We also talked about how a heart attack doesn't mean that someone's heart just stops, but that it doesn't beat properly and that the defibrillator gives an electric shock that can help it to get back to beating regularly.

The second alternative telephone box.

B & J the neighbours who arrange the walks always plan it well so that it starts and ends somewhere with tasty treats.  A pub with good food for the New Year's Day walk and a good cafe or tea shop for the summer one.

K enjoying a hot chocolate and scone with cream & jam.

Over our scones K & I talked about how when I was her age there were no mobile phones and so the phone boxes were rather useful then!  We also got back to talking about the first responders and about paramedics, nurses and doctors.  From there we went to the prefix 'para' and what it means, and along with some of the others who'd been on the walk, decided that it meant 'alongside'.

A duck with her rather large brood - we counted 12!

Then once back home, we had time for a few rounds of Pit and a chapter of second Charlie Bone book before it was time for bed.