Tuesday 15 – Friday 18 September
Next up
—
15 September · Luna dances tonight
Nothing for you to do. Your day starts at pickup.
This is new for 2026. Year 1 now come out of their own classroom doors at the back of the school, and they're usually out before everyone else.
Any bother, ring the office on 01624 822529.
Take a snack for the walk. If they're hungry they'll push for the shop, and that's twenty minutes gone. Their dance clothes will be out ready and they can both get themselves changed once you're in.
Car to Douglas for this one. Luna only tonight, with Linzi — 07624 479307 if you need her. It's nearly two hours, so worth deciding beforehand what you and Elijah do.
Parking notes are in the section below — worth a read before you set off.
Later than normal because of dancing. Don't worry about it.
16 September · Both dancing, pizza after
Doors open at 08:50, front entrance. Leaving at 08:35 gets you there about five minutes before the doors — any earlier and you've got them loose in the playground, which is hard work.
Same as yesterday — round the back for Elijah, then front for Luna. Straight home to get changed, as they're both dancing tonight.
Car to Douglas. Short one tonight and they're both in, with Linzi. Only 45 minutes, so not worth going home.
Good night for it. It's a takeaway but you can sit in. If you walk down from dancing, you can nip into the Palace for the toilet on the way — we always do.
17 September · No clubs
I'll confirm before we go. If it is, they'll want tidy uniform and hair doing. I'll leave a note if so.
Doors 08:50, front entrance.
Round the back for Elijah, then front for Luna.
No clubs tonight, so a proper easy evening. Chicken nuggets will go down very well and nobody will complain.
18 September · We're home
Doors 08:50, front entrance. Last one.
Round the back for Elijah, then front for Luna.
Home not long after that. You'll probably still be doing pickup when we land, so you won't have them for long.
Morning. Walk, leaving the house at 08:35. Doors open 08:50 via the front entrance. Don't set off earlier — five minutes on the playground is about right, more than that and it's a job keeping hold of them.
Afternoon. They walk home too. Only time you need the car is the drive to Douglas for dancing.
Pickup, 15:20–15:25. Elijah is in Year 1 now and it's changed this year. Year 1 come straight out of their own classroom doors at the back of the school, and they're normally out before the rest.
If anything's confusing on the day, the office will sort you out — 01624 822529. They're used to grandparents doing pickup.
They each need a small snack pot and a drink every day.
Cucumber, some fruit, maybe crisps. Whatever you think, honestly. School like it to be healthy but they've never once said anything — I've put biscuits in plenty of times.
Park on the prom, outside Promenade T-Shirts, and walk up. It's about a three-minute walk up the hill.
Driving up and trying to park nearer is a nightmare some nights and you'll spend longer at it than the walk takes.
Luna and Elijah both know the way from the parking spot, so let them lead.
Open parking spot in MapsFor your information more than anything — up to you whether you tell them, and you may well end up doing a packed lunch instead.
They'll both have a jacket potato given the choice, which covers Tuesday and Thursday.
| Day | Options |
|---|---|
| Tue | Manx meatballs in tomato sauce, pasta and mixed veg or Manx jacket potato with a choice of fillings |
| Wed | Manx beef cottage pie with diced carrots or mac and cheese with diced carrots |
| Thu | Manx roast ham, Manx gravy, roast potatoes and cauliflower or Manx jacket potato with a choice of fillings |
| Fri | Chicken chow mein with peppers, onion and noodles or Quorn burger in a Manx bap with baked beans |
Wednesday and Friday are the wildcards — no jacket potato on either. They might go for the chicken chow mein on the Friday, but if you'd rather not gamble, a packed lunch on those two days is the safe bet.
We're in Amsterdam. It's one hour ahead of the Isle of Man — so if it's 8pm with you, it's 9pm with us. Ring any time, we'll pick up.
Clayton Hotel Amsterdam American
Leidsekade 97, Amsterdam
+31 20 556 3000 — they can always get a message to us.
The only times we won't answer are when we're actually in the air. All times below are Isle of Man time:
| When | Flight |
|---|---|
| Tue 12:15–13:05 | Ronaldsway to Dublin · EI3213 |
| Tue 18:20–20:00 | Dublin to Amsterdam · EI610 lands 21:00 Dutch time |
| Fri 12:20–14:00 | Amsterdam to Dublin · EI605 leaves 13:20 Dutch time |
| Fri 16:00–16:50 | Dublin to Ronaldsway · EI3216 |
Tuesday evening we'll be at the hotel by about 21:15 your time. Friday we're home not long after we land.
School office — 01624 822529
Linzi, Unity Dance — 07624 479307
Luna is in Year 4 — her teacher is Miss Quillium.
Elijah is in Year 1.
Hotel — Clayton Amsterdam American, +31 20 556 3000. Flight times are in the section above.
Where we are: Amsterdam — see the section above for flight times and the hotel.