Tidying one room.. Before and after

The tasks that we have as Helpxers vary from placement to placement. Penny has a large home which has housed a few different residents over the year, all leaving things behind or storing things with her.

This is  room full of one guys stuff - who now wants it back - so we need to basically sort it and pack it ready for the movers to come and grab it.

Its a bit aof a harder job when you don't have packing boxes to put things into, but I worked with what I had and tidied up as much as I could.

The kids helped heaps as there were so many tiny bits to do - tapes and videos to sort out and pack and boxes of shit  good stuff to sort and pack.

It has taken me two days to get this room ( before photo).. into a sort of organised and manageable set up ( after photo)

Cooking with the Kids

One of the things I have rediscovered is my passion for cooking. I have always loved preparing meals and treats, but I guess the last year or so really sucked every bit of creative energy I had out, and I just hated it.  Even Christmas, the one time I really go all out with trimmings and everything, last year, I did the bare minimum and just didn't care.

At our current HelpX, I prepare lunch and dinner for all of us - Penny and JD - the other helpxer- which needs to be vegetarian.. not a prob.. lots of experience doing that.  I have also started doing some morning and afternoon tea/ treats.. and am getting the kids to help out too with this.

Its good for their maths and for functional English, but also that they are helping out in all aspects of our job here.

Funicular!!

There are two prominent hills along Hastings. Unbelievably, someone with no imagination called them... the West Hill and the other the East Hill.

At one point they were powered by water, but now both rely on electrics to push and pull the carriages up and down the tunnels.  They are nearly a funicular... but not quite.

We took it up to the lookout and to Hastings Castle. The kids were pretty impressed as they are beginning to appreciate the engineering feats the Victorians were capable of, and of the ingenuity of mankind.

I love the little app on my phone which allows me to take panoramic shots. This is the view across to the other hill and of the beachfront along Hastings.

And yes - there is a strange burning ball in the sky - along with this blue stuff.. Its all a bit weird for the UK, but I have been assured that it will go away swiftly and not to get too used to seeing it.