But not quite there yet.  Joey was generally in great form all weekend but then at bedtime started on about how unhappy he was at school and how he has no friends.  And how us praising him for behaving well was embarrassing because this was only what other kids did anyway so he shouldn't be praised for it.  He was the same this morning.  V frustrating.  It is almost as if he doesn't want to be happy, or perhaps is afraid of it, of then being disappointed.  So he looks for reasons not to be happy, including being praised for making progress!

Izzy as well was complaining about her new school.  She ha an unfortunate start there but I am confident that it can be turned around quickly, once she is accepted by the other kids.  But, more broadly, she has become much more clinging and shy recently.  Not sure why, but my own view is that it is likely to be because of the issues with Joey, which she is witness to.

Nobody ever said it would be easy.

A good weekend for all.  Anne and I went to a charity ball.  A bit sedate and a lot to pay for a sedate evening but pleasant enough and it was good to get out and meet some people.  I wore my kilt which was a hit.  Always attracts attention and a good conversation starter. 

Spring has arrived, finally, and it has been lovely to get out more.  We have taken the kids to the local playground the last 3-4 days and there has almost always been other kids for both of them to play with.  Astonishing, though, how many kids there are with some sort of learning issue, or something on the autism spectrum. 

The new house we hope to buy has been appraised and at roughly the price we are paying, so that is looking good.  We are still hopeful that the long-drawn out saga with Izzy's adoption will come to an end  shortly and have allowed ourselves to start dreaming of what we might do over the summer.  Fingers crossed.  The future of the Bioeconomy Institute is not looking great - the interested companies are simply not committing themselves to supporting with cash.  But I am putting in some good groundwork with the North American Power project, 

So, all is well in the Juleff household in Hopewell.

Email in from lawyer in Rio. Latest decision was published today, finally.  Baixinho's public defender should be notified within 10 days and they then have 10 days to appeal.  The court is not now looking at the merits of his case, more at the procedural aspects.  Our lawyer is confident that, even if they appeal, it will be considered and dismissed very quickly.  We are very close to the end of the process. 

Can we really be in that position now?  After 4 years?  Back to the ranch this summer?  We are starting to believe that it might be so.

A great day for Joey, according to Mrs H.

Anne had an interesting chat with Joey last night.  She was praising the fact that he is doing so much more by himself, and reacting maturely to setbacks which would have invoked an over-reaction a short time ago,

But he is unhappy because he knows that we should not need to praise what for other kids is usually established behavior.  He is embarrassed by it.  The reality is that Joey still is a bit immature and still struggles with certain scenarios, but he is intelligent enough, and mature enough now, to recognize it.  Which is a great sign.  Still a work in progress, but Joey is getting there.  He is, at heart, a great kid and if he can match his intelligence and talent with maturity and better social awareness and control, he will be fine.  More than fine.

Not such a good day for Izzy, sadly.  She had expressed a little bit of unhappiness yesterday after school at the fact that the other kids in her new school had not been very friendly.  Today she was even more upset and when Anne went to pick her up, she was playing all by herself, whilst all the other kids were running around in groups.  Now, if you know Izzy, you will know that she is a very sociable and likeable kid, one who makes friends very easily, given a chance. 

So we are very disappointed that the school and teacher have seemingly not made the effort to ensure that the other kids make her welcome and include her.  We shall speak to them.  We do not want to be helicopter parents or make a fuss not needed, but this is not really acceptable.

Joey went off to school happily enough.  Helped by having bacon and eggs on toast this morning.  We are slowly introducing eggs back into his diet and see how that goes.  The bread is made of almond flour and eggs, another great result by Anne.  The bacon is pure pork, with no additives.  Very tasty.

Joey's first date today, with Catherine, at her place.  Went very well.  He put on his best clothes and she dragged him up to her bedroom.  They kissed.  when I asked if she liked it, he looked at me in surprise and said 'What do you think?!"
Back at school tomorrow.  Fingers crosesd.