Diary of a father
2012
December prev« »2013
The Christmas Jigsaw - 70s toys!
Saturday 29th
Ferried my daugter back up north and dropped in on the in-laws again to break up the journey. Once back home I went down with the dreaded lurgy everyone is getting this winter and carried it into the new year.
Wednesday 26th
We didn't manage to get to any football today - many cancelled matches and otherwise derby matches making tickets difficult to come by so instead, at the in-laws, we watched BBC's web coverage of a feisty encounter between Grimsby and Lincoln. I also started a thousand piece jigsaw my wife had got me for Christmas. With some of the travellers still under the influence of a horribe cold we left early evening. We won't mention the reds effort - I was just thankful I hadn't listened to it on the way back home (9 out of 12 points isn't bad though! for a Christmas haul).
Christmas Day
An early start, about half seven, and we were quickly opening presents from our Christmas socks. Then down to see if anything had been left beneath the tree! Later wife's dinner was a brilliant effort and she managed to smuggle ten vegetables into our feast: green cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, roast parsnip, cauliflower, leek, broccoli, onion, and swede. (Oh and, of course, sprouts to make eleven but they are hidden behind the brocolli in the photo!) We also pulled a very large red cracker before the meal but the contents were underwhelming - still it was was large (okay about 3 foot long)!
Saturday 22nd
My dad comes down and we enjoy a lovely meal.
Early December
Rain, rain go away come back another day - if only! To say this was a wet month would be to under estimate the downpour. Thankfully we didn't get flooded but local roads suffered and I didn't use my motorbike once this month. I did however manage to get my shopping done early without resorting to the internet. I was making a determined effort to support local businesses and avoid the tax dodgers.
November prev« »next
Saturday 24th
Talk of through the wind and the rain (old LFC Fanzine) - what about the weather this month? Our road had problems twice this week causing significant traffic problems. The local A road had numerous significant pools slowing traffic down and no doubt scaring the unconfident drivers out there. Others maybe haunted by their memories of the floods of 2007 .
Saturday 3rd
So University life for my daughter so we went up to see her digs then out for a pleasant meal in Ormskirk at the Fat Olive - very pleasant. Lovely to see my daughter settling in well :-)
Kidnapped for benevolent purposes! My dear wife executed a wonderful surprise for my most recent significant birthday and we spent a day enjoying the delights of Liverpool - nice! very nice!
After a night in a local hotel we trekked under the mersey via the older Queensway tunnel and then went up to Meols Parade to look out over the Irish Sea and head back through the newer Kingsway tunnel.
Parked up we went into Anfield after a bit of fun in the special kids area to enjoy the hospitality of the Reds Bar under the Centenary Stand. The Anthem singing before the match raised hairs on the back of my neck as usual. The football was entertaining if not quite leading to the correct result - you cannot have everything - apparently.
October prev« »next
Saturday 20th
Today David was mascot for our local conference side, the mighty Forest Green Rovers. His mum had organised the family and some of his friends to enjoy a box and the excellent hospitality of the staff. The food was great (no red meat but still enjoyed by all comers). A tour of the ground and hot drinks at half time; great experience.
Sunday 7th
Yesterday we went along for a third time to the Great Western Lego Show and enjoyed a few hours. I managed to tip my tea over my leg and David bought some Lego. Some lovely Thunderbird models including a giant Thunderbird 3 and a few Olympic themed models.
Last month ended in much the same way as this month started with blustery winds and rains. The young man is too old now for kids parties so we had a family meal and granddad came down one weekend and others the weekend after.
September prev« »next
Saturday 15th
I take my son to see his first football match at the nearest professional game: Forest Green Rovers. He enjoyed the event despite a late minute penalty depriving Rovers of victory.
Sunday 9th
Well folks are back at school. This time of year also brings the festivals to our local town. We went down to the Stroud Nature festival in our local park. Some great exhibits and it looked mostly supported by volunteer effort. It even attracted iSpot as well as more local affairs.
August prev« »next
Somehow August seemed to disappear on me. Having holidayed early meant a few weeks of work for those of us not at school and the start of the football season. Towards the end we enjoyed a day down in Torquay. A Dinosaur exhibition, a Sci-Fi museum exhibition, some food, some crabbing and, for me, some football in the rain. Also visited Rotherham the previous weekend which was a nice way to open the season visiting a brand new stadium - the Miller's New York stadium.
Sunday 12th
Back from hols in Devon staying in a lodge in the trees and keeping busy. Okay, there was some lazing around, movie watching and even jigsaw doing. A 500 piece classic of Exeter Cathedral - enjoy the challenge ;-) And, of course, there was visiting, walking, swimming, horse riding and eating out.
We visited the National Aquarium in Plymouth, where we also enjoyed a lovely Italian. A day in Torquay and a lengthy evening drive around Newton Abbot plus some walking on Dartmoor. I think we might go back - okay its already planned.
July prev« »next
Saturday 21st
Tried to get the beast running but ended up dropping it :-(
Friday 20th
Me and the little man go see The Dark Knight Rises - great film. The bike is incredible. A bit long as my companion complained he was tired part way through during a bit with little action but more story advancement but I liked it.
Earlier I had taken an oldish TV and CRT monitor to the recycle centre. These were big old heavy units that worked but no-one wants them. The monitor was such a heavy sharp cornered lump I bruised my arm lifting it out of the car - the things you do for the environment ;-)
Sunday 1st
Doors wide open at Karate this morning but still sweated profusely.
June prev« »next
Tuesday 26th
Today I bid farewell to an old tooth, a molar that had cracked and then infected below the gum line. The extraction was fine it is just three hours later that the pain kicks in :-(
Sunday 17th
I joined the others for one of the Cheltenham Science Festival events, namely, the Overly Ambitious Experiment Contest. It was duly won by my favourite a fellow burning through a steel tray with a few peperami sausages, some oxygen and a flame. Good family fun I thought.
Sunday 3rd
Two hours we stood in line waiting for US Border Agency to let us in! Anyway, I was there for a conference while the others just to have fun. We stayed 5 nights and by the end of the week the rain was in with a vengeance but it was still warm. I did manage some fun after the excitement of numerous technical presentations by joining them at Epcot. It was interesting but theme parks aren't really my thing and we didn't have time to get to Cape Canaveral and see the real rockets.
May prev« »next
Saturday 19th
More injury as the little man twists his knee on a day of water sports. Signs are going up around here about the impending Olympic Torch being paraded through our locality. Roads will be closed and schools shut early. It is a once in a lifetime activity - what fun!
Saturday 12th
Hints of summer today as we walk in sunshine to the little man's swimming lesson at our local pool.
April prev« »next
Sunday 29th
So David's school was chosen to take part in the portrait projections onto the front of Buckingham Palace - they used his same portraits previously shown in our local museum. Meanwhile his breath holding is up to the full minute now; that Saturday swimming is clearly having some positive effects.
April showers isn't in it - I just managed to get into the garden to replant the pear tree I was gifted last year and sow some more grass seed where I had patches but it is too wet for Elizabeth planting her vegetable patch.
Monday 23rd
My Granddad's funeral today, we arrived in Burton early and went down to the gardens next to the river where the swans seem to be lords and masters. The flowers were lovely and even the Ferry bridge was looking good. Nice to see the old place looking good and the funeral went off well. Nice to see the wider family just a pity it was for that reason.
Friday 5th
Yesterday we visited the Bristol Museum and then had a lovely meal in the Goldbrick House - a very pleasant day. They were showing some of da Vinci's drawings in the museum - inspirational stuff.
Today however, started with the sad news of my Grandfather's passing. A great gardener and man of tales - we will miss him.
March prev« »next
Sunday March 24th
As we officially enter spring the local weather has a marked feel of summer with temperatures into the 20s (it is still Britain after all). Yesterday we visited my granddad after enjoying an award winning outdoor attraction called Conkers and Derby County's match before hand.
Whilst in the area we had our evening meal at the fabulous Stanton Road, Fish and Chip Shop, Happy Chef. Fantastic portions but more important sublime fish and lovely accompaniments. It was all the better for eating in too ;-)
Today David held his breath for a personal best of 50 seconds! Up from his previous of 39 seconds. Though earlier we had enjoyed a walk to our local museum where some of the young man's pictures were on display and an interesting exhibit - Cloud Nylon.
Saturday March 4th
After a mammoth sort out by mother and son there are DVDs to move out and we walk into town to swap them. We try to move out old stuff so new (to us) stuff can come in. The town centre is very busy but we still enjoy a wander around. Then the onset of rain persuades us to head home while the sun fights back. We were too late for some lovely french bread from the local market - which is a shame as the food there is usually great and the market has won awards (we can see why!).
Wednesday March 1st
Cold heavy fog descends as World Book Day arrives. David goes in dressed as the "Wimpy Kid" with his diary.
February prev« »next
3-D gogggles with style!
And now snow! Red for danger as my chief sensei says! Every time I grade upwards I am reminded how much I still have to learn (in life and) in Karate. The young man goes on another Cub Scout weekend camp, off into the frozen woodland in the Cotswolds - what fun! Back indoors the little man is back on the trail for Mario Cart gold. In a dozen attempts I manage one race victory over him.
And after several years of drought - some silverware for the Pool, nice!
David and I also enjoy a 3-D movie; my first with two functioning eyes!
January previous« »next
So the new year is blow in, literally - very windy around here.
And then it gets frosty just before they have a go at my cataract. I can see clearly now the rain has gone! Actually I still need glasses to read :-(.
Now its getting colder again and I am still not back to full health yet.
