Beatrix pottering: A Carnaval Caterpillar

Last day before half term, and last weekday before Carnaval! Which, it turns out, is celebrated enthusiastically on this Catholic island, before the strictures of Lent begin. And Jemima's school were marking it with a Carnaval parade, each class in a differently-themed costume.

Reception 2 were to be mini-beasts; so I was accompanied on the school run by a scooting caterpillar, Jemima's costume choice (brought from the UK by Granny). This was great fun - we see the same people most mornings, and they all thought it was hilarious. Then I dropped Jemima off in a room full of excited three and a half foot-high bugs (many butterflies among the girls, Guy was a very cute bee, and two boys had come as mosquitos - they were my favourite).

At 9am Kevin arrived for the parade, and all the parents gathered on the playground. Mr McCormick MC'd, calling out the classes individually and asking the children (each by their name, no mean feat for the entire school) what they'd come as. Reception 0, ie the 2 year olds, came as animals, and my heart was won by one tiny boy who proudly announced "I am a cow!".

The themes were varied: Roald Dahl for one class; Romans and Celts, or Alice in Wonderland for others (lots of Mad Hatters); and I think Aesop's Fables was the hardest. The grand finale was the Superheroes, which was fun - my top prize to a great Luke Skywalker. Reception 2 did very well parading behind butterfly Miss Oliver, Jemima announcing her caterpillar-ness very clearly into the microphone.

And then, parade over, it was performance time. Teacher Mr Munar in an impressive John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever costume led the whole Primary School in a hilarious/brilliant group dance to "Can't stop the feeling!" by Justin Timberlake (I could hear Jemima singing along at full volume above everyone). And then the parents got to join in for the encore! I was in heaven. What a fun way to start the day. Hurrah for Carnaval!

As we left, me still singing, the heavens opened; so Kevin and I hustled to Chameli's for a late breakfast; then did a few jobs around the village, postponing our return home - Friday is run day, but neither of us were that keen to brave the freezing rain. But eventually we did, and of course felt better for it. A few more jobs before school pick up; and then we collected a tired but happy Jemima from a highly-sugared class following their Carnaval party. And - much excitement - we were given the class toy, Owlie, to look after for half term. Jemima couldn't believe it.

I was still hankering for an Indian, so we scooted straight to the marina and the Mahal Tandoori's set menu. (It was still pretty empty, but at 4.30pm that was unsurprising.) The starters were good, the mains pretty average, and the side dishes delicious; but once again, the major advantage of the marina restaurants is that Jemima can disappear outside to scoot in safety once she gets bored. A final race home (Jemima running full pelt next to a scooting Daddy), and into bed with Owlie. A great start to half term, and lots more fun to come.