Diary of a father
2016
December Nov« »Next year
It comes upon us like a thunderball and all too soon we have only a few days to buy those last few important presents. Been a quiet one this year as my leave has been oversahdowed by the need to complete some coursework for early January.
Early December
A week away at University for module seven of eight. Culminating in a day long exercise so back home early Saturday. Not a good time to be away from home or work; there are preparations to get underway. And this year that included some painting so we will have to cope with an eighty percent job.
The 25th
What is family life without the traditions and the thing about tradition is keeping them. Some require a little effort but the joy is in the repeating. There is an excellent article on tradition over at the art of manliness website.
First up - to the socks! What would Christmas morning be without that chocolate orange or those peanuts and satsumas? Then to the tree and the big ones! Before finally settling down to some background TV and enjoying the new stuff. And later, maybe after the Queen, the stuffing...
A bounty of vegetable but more importantly some excellent food, a little champagne and a good cracker joke. Well maybe just a usual Christmas pun or two and the company of family.
"Merry Christmas to one and all".
Christmas dinner - cheers!
November Oct« »Next month
A month that brought some real freezing temperatures. Some locals have recorded temperatures down to -11oC at month end.
Saturday 5th
Another excuse for a meal out and we went down one of the valleys to The Pavillon for a very pleasant little Indian Restaurant. We like to spread our love around!
Saturday 12th
Yesterday the plasterer came to address our little issues following the water leak. And we also have some new lino. Next the decorating, when the plaster has dried, so a brief respite for now. The autumn bugs knock us down a bit and I for one do little useful this weekend.
Saturday 19th
The things you suffer for the love of football and ticking off another ground - Stoke City. Not a place someone with loved ones who support the Vale one should be seen but it had to be done - enough said. Okay, I will say it isn't the worst ground in the Premier League.
Monday 21st
Back at college for a module giving me an introduction to the Law. As usual it had some new and interesting little gems amongst the obvious and mundane.
Sunday 27th
After a good karate session the afternoon brought some more painting. We now have no visible plaster which is nice; of course the decorating is far from done. It will be ready for Christmas - so I'm told (I have my instructions).
October Sep« »Next month
A month of extremely strong winds and, a little sun and rain.
Sunday 4th
The apples this year are bounteous. This year I was determined not to let so many spoil. I picked out about a dozen of the best for straight eating and froze maybe a couple of dozen. Three dozen have gone to a work colleague for cider making maybe more scrumpy. None from the cooking apple tree though. Must check the blue berries - keep forgetting.
Wednesday 19th
We visited our local Indian which wasn't on top form but the food was fine just not fantastic. We were there to celebrate a birthday and had been joined early in the week by Claire so it was a lovely occasion. A nice walk back through the park afterwards. An all round nice affair.
Saturday 29th
A whole two and a half hours on Kata and Kumite - wowser. Our local council has us onto a new waste/recycling regime. They are now collecting food waste and less general waste - not a bad thing me thinks. I think I missed the blue berries.
Sunday 30th
On the way back from karate I came across a council van parked on the pavement, double yellow lines and a dangerous bend. - no concern for the poor pedestrian forced to walk either in the busy road or on someone's lawn. Of course the driver is just sat in the cab, oblivious, and engine running. To better things, it was Blue Belt month where we did our bit to raise money for and support mental health awareness. So I have a lovely bright blue belt to add to the others and a change from the brown I have been sporting for a couple of years.
Oh good, the poppadoms are here!
September Aug« »Next month
A month of sun, rain and wind as folk return to study.
Sunday 18th
Never get your blending and mashing mixed up when it comes to potato - still I do love my wife's sunday dinners. Training was sweaty this morning but it is amazing what you can still learn when you are just doing the basics - nice.
Tuesday 20th
Sadness - a work colleague loses his life on the roads. Added to a cough I'm struggling to get rid of it makes for little productive effort against my job list. The dehumidifier is still chugging away in the utility room and we await with bated breath over any sign of a plasterer. I may have to give it a go myself.
Saturday 24th
After a couple of days off work I finally start to feel near normal while the other man of the house also suffers with the cough going around. Illness is such a time waster.
August Jul« »Next month
New York City
Rockefeller concourse is the height of some ambitions, I keep my feet firmly on solid ground while others head for the Top of the Rock. A day at Niagra Falls, both Canada and USA, does not dampen our fun. Broadway shows us some fine entertainment, first a play, then a musical which has us singing our way through Times Square. The Ellis Island Immigration Museum is a more sober affair. Central Park is busy as we wander and Madison Avenue has many fine goods but not quite a fit for our purses, ...this time.
The Tall of New York
You seam to get cheese with everything and healthy eating is a challenge. The heat meant we were forever carrying water around. Plenty to do and see but I'll be glad to have a decent cuppa!
Saturday 20th
The Hunterian Museum - who knew people collected so many medical specimens so long ago. We started our day in Lincoln Fields with nice food in the gardens before heading into see the various bodily exhibits. Interesting view of the history of medical progress through examination of dead bodies but I think once is enough.
The Cartoon Museum was a smaller, more cosy affair and we wished for more. A fun little place.
Unfortunately the great British railway lets us down a bit by cancelling our return train so we have another evening wait on route and a packed two coach journey up to home.
Thursday 25th
We celebrate a family occasion by visiting our favourite local Indian Restaurant via a walk into town.
London Cartoon Museum
July Jun« »Next month
Saturday 2nd
School Speech day but the bad weather got in the way of the usual picnic.
Friday 22nd
The last minute preparations start in earnest for the trip - excited!
Monday 25th
Does it have to be this hot! We are put up on the seventh floor with a view over the Washington skyline including the Capitol Building and the Washington Memorial. It has been along day so we walk over the road to the local fast food outlet - not impressed. We turn in early, or late if you look at British time, so we are ready for the new day in the USA.
Washington DC
We visited a couple of museums, then drove up to visit friends and to Hershey Park. The oldies dropped in on York Town then walk around the memorials. After dropping the rental back at the station we eat at a diner - fab! More museums and memorials with the friends as we act tourist again. The weekend brought some rain and we wandered to a local Safeway to buy or lunch (except the young man went for a Subway). Last day we opted for the bus tour in the sweaty heat in their capital.
Part of our Washington Skyline
June May« »Next month
Saturday 4th
The adults have colds - summer huh! Yesterday I raided the local shops to purchase some classic films. I didn't find all I wanted but managed to come back with five top rated sci-fi films from 50p. We did Blade Runner the other day (VHS copy) and I have to say it looked very dated and quite slow. I suspect I only remember the best bits and blank out the other stuff but it still has its moments. Last night the men watched Dr Strangelove which actually seems to have lasted better.
Monday 12th
Yesterday was all about reaching 1st Kyu - enough said; (it was a tiring day).
Sunday 26th
The football reaches the knockout phase and so far only one penalty shoot out. It is nice of them to give us an hour to get some food down us before the last match. Unfortunately to rain got in the way of mowing the lawns but the wild flower garden is looking very colourful now. We are hoping for dryish weather as the little man is away on camp.
May April« »Next month
Monday 2nd
Wedding day for cousin Cheryl - lovely day in Branston! It rained a bit but who noticed? The roads were fine for a bank holiday excepting the miles of roadworks - lacking any workers of course.
The young man had to revise History on the way back; exams tomorrow. We did manage to sneak in a visit to the Happy Chef in Stapenhill because he needs extra feeding - growing lad. And fish is brain food isn't it?
Our neighbour will be happy when he hears the Spurs result - well done Leicester City.
Sunday 10th
Nearly but not quite - another attempt at 1st Kyu. To quote Gloria Pitzer - About the only thing that comes to us without effort is old age.
Thursday 19th
So, disappointed for a second time this season. Oh well, two finals, two defeats but still two finals! Three if I include our local heroes - getting better each season but couldn't do it on the day.
My back ache (done - I don't know how) has still not gone. A few days left before I submit the last essay this year. To quote the Undertones - Here comes Summer! - well in theory, in practice the weather has turned autumnal again.
Sunday 31st
Picnic time is back! And yesterday we enjoyed a Space Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall and a pleasant Italian there too - nice.
Musical Magic
April March« »Next month
Friday 1st
A good Friday - Martian is a hit with the men though potatoes may have lost some appeal. Nice to catch-up on the cinema goodies.
Saturday 2nd
London anyone? Okay let's go. We just make the early train; by that I mean the first after nine o'clock. Stop number one is to drop into Patisse Valerie for a drink and to make arrangements. Then a quick stroll down to Oxford Street in the sun before we shopped until we dropped... into Pizza Hut, for lunch, lovely. I wandered down to Greenwich while they continued before we met up again and came home. A bridge over the dome nice but an equally nice price.
Saturday 16th
Back to London for football and a hurried visit to Asda for another layer of clothing because it is nowhere near as warm as last time. No more Follow the Money what to watch now? I was quite getting into these Nordic dramas.
Sunday 23rd
So Sociology last week - who knew it meant so much talking?
Yesterday was our second awakening... of the forceful kind. We saw stuff on the small screen previously missed on the big one. We both agree it is a decent film and there is more to come, this year too.
Tuesday 26th
Twenty seven years we've had to wait for what for we already knew - an emotional day.
March Feb« »Next month
Saturday 5th
So it is coldish and damp here but no snow - ah! Really bad cold going around colleagues at work and I am just about over it myself. Meanwhile the poor Wife has also been suffering to add to her poorly shoulder and swollen knee. Tiring to say the least. Oh the joys of more life experience! (okay - I mean getting older).
Thursday 10th
The little man is sick now.
Saturday 12th
The grownups walk down the canal to do the food shop, of course accompanied by a pastry and tea, okay the lady has coffee. So we watched the excellent Sherlock Holmes movies in the wrong order but we were late to the party. It still rocked though!
Saturday night with a DVD goodie
Saturday 19th
Another week up north studying. Long days and evenings but nice to see Dad.
February Jan« »Next month
Back from the cold north (frozen pipes and icy roads) to a draining training session; two small injuries but the bugs in the air are more a concern. Meanwhile I have some work to do on my coursework before the deadline.
Saturday 20th
Yeah! coursework in - now I need some sleep.
Saturday 27th
Really bad cold has me having to take some time off work and the current pressure there means I am back there too soon but they pay the bills. I'm coming home and going straight to bed.
The League Cup final - losing on penalties is cruel. I was there when the Reds had to replay at the old Maine Road ground. That was much more acceptable but that maybe down to the result. Souness firing in a sweet winner from the edge of the box.
January 2015« »Next month
Monday 4th
Yeah, more rain and why not says the almighty. We nearly had a frost but 4oC doesn't do it. Back to work and the FA Cup to look forward to. January as one compensation for it's long days (or do I mean nights with so little daylight?).
Thursday 28th
Yeah, penalty joy after our German missed! Wembley - would love to be there but no chance. Even thirty years ago you needed to have been to numerous league matches to get a chance. Hope they put on a decent show. Football is to be enjoyed and Klopp's teams are anything but boring.
Pressies received late but still welcome
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