Diary of a father
2018
December Nov« »Next year
Early December
And the usual miserable wind and rain makes it cold and wet rather than white and icy. We haul the decorations down from the loft but they stay in their boxes for now. I have a cold (oh how unusual you say) and it is busy at work. I have not started any real Christmas shopping yet but with a course in town just before the great event I plan to leave most of it until then.
I have a trip up north for work but with no presents to deliver yet I cannot kill two birds with one stone so later I will do my Santa impression the Sunday before. The course is hard work as they stuck an exam at the end of it but I did manage that bit of shopping.
Christmas
Yes, I love it, got a lot of the usual presents in the bedside sock and other good stuff. This was the year my son got a love for vinyl and we took to the canal towpath for a daily walk. The vegetable count for the main meal was a very healthy fourteen and excellent fayre. Thankfully I have yet to need to test out my new umbrella but the new jumper has had a try out. Tele-wise I enjoyed watching Delia's 1970's how to cook series on iPlayer; you are never too old to learn how to do something (even if it is a learn over).
Decorations still boxed
November »Next month
Early November
Still dealing with te apples in the garden and replacing the dead lawn. A trip to the local league ground ends in a defeat for team but a nice afternoon out.
Cream tea - what a lovely English thing to do and we enjoyed a fine example this month, lovely.
Late November
We are all busy so thoughts of Christmas are hanging there like a delight just out of touch. Walkers Sprout flavoured crisps not so much.
October Sep« »Next month
Early October
Apples finally make it to the table and the freezer. For weeks, neigh months, the apples have been falling off the trees in the garden. It is then a race between us and the slugs. I wouldn't say either side could claim a victory or even grudging respect but a harvest has started.
The weekend itself started with a nice trip to our favourite Indian and a sweaty session in the dojo. The better half goes for the scabby front lawn with a vengeance; it is going to need returfing. Depressingly it is getting dark all too soon in the evening.
Ouch - hit my head so my weekend didn't go at all to plan. Anyway life goes on and now have a date to work to for my black belt assessment.
Late October
Nice trip to our favourite Indian and then at the weekend Dad pays us a visit - always welcome. We get some turf down, replacing the summer heat wave killed front lawn before the rain arrives. And we hear reports of snow in the county already.
Sometimes a bit of simple invention brings a great delight - merangue, tinned peaches and crumbled ginger nuts - mmm.
Peaches and Ginger
September Aug« »Next month
Early September
Yeah, stage two of painting the young man's walls gets complete. It is less red now and more grey.
Mid September
We have plans to do something with the bathroom to make the temporary shower a more permanent feature. It is getting regular use so a shower curtain is deemed to be unacceptable - we need a shower screen so go to look for such a thing.
End of September
Claire and me walked up and down a few valleys for Meningitis Now. My left knee cries out in pain so we stopped at 17 miles but doesn't seem to have caused any lasting damage. that is just as well because I am trying to get ready for a tilt at the biggie karate wise.
The in-laws pay a visit which is nice.
August July« »Next month
Early August
Training resumes for the major walk next month and once up the hill, we wave at the others back at home. Again I had to wander into the garden to retrieve apples that are falling off the tree. They are still small but are turning more rosy red.
It's a capital start to the month National Gallery, National History Museum and I sneak in a trip to get a match ticket. The temperatures were too much to be comfortable but they didn't stop us doing our stuff. The circle line had A/C - which was nice. Otherwise we have to have a liking for saunas.
Managed some basic plumbing to fix a leak in the shower - it was hairy for a moment but a new washer fixed the day. Who knew a pack of washers I bought twenty years ago would one day save the day?
Saturday 18th
Another warm day and a couple of cancelled trains but I enjoyed a trip to The New Den for ground number eighty eight. The crowd made for a very intense atmosphere.
Saturday 26th
Two go to the sun overseas while the others stayed at home for some British rain. I ferry them to and from the local airport easy enough. The new School term looms large so preparations are underway and the back lawn is looking very lush and green. The front lawn is still showing the signs of when it was ravaged by the blistering sun - itself a distant memory as temperatures now peak at 24. To my mind I far more acceptable heat.
Some Natural History
July June« »Next month
Saturday 29st
They are big when you are up close and personal. Walking with Dinosaurs - The Arena Show was pretty impressive. We enjoyed our day out though the Arena food wasn't brilliant and the motorway was really pants in the morning. Then later we got some real rain and a rescue job for the gazebo, so summer temporarily on hold.
We celebrated the other day (well I did) when the temperature in the kitchen briefly dropped below the temperature outside - but only by a single degree.
Saturday 21st
Some hot and sweaty Karate practice to start the day then strode over to the country fair. Saw some weird Translyvanian Naked Neck chickens and we bought a piece of local photography to put on the wall. With temperatures in the high twenties an hour out in the sun was enough.
Thursday 12th
Had a few days up north, just the men, which was a pleasant little break. We even managed a wander along the sea front and some American Italian food after enjoying a very English lunch at my dad's Golf Club. We also got to see my niece's little girl until a spider made an appearance.
It was somewhat cooler up north but still warm and not much sight of green grass. Even the evening on the promenade was on the hot side. It is very strange to see the usually rain drenched countryside lacking the green fields. This climate change isn't a good thing.
Lunch in garden
June May« »Next month
Mid to Late June
Mostly free time means football and a little bit of work in the garden. But the gardening is losing out to the beautiful game. The usual rain is missing and this strange fiery object persists in the sky going to work and an air conditioned office is welcome.
So scan was fine and even the major tooth reconstruction wasn't too bad so life goes on.
Saturday 9th
Two hours of Karate to start the day then a little admin and some weeding. The World Cup has started and it is looking pretty good. Unfortunately others have school and exams to keep them busy.
Thursday 6th
Got a lovely little present today so I am ready for my bowel scan now. The joys of being the wrong side of fifty I guess. I will be grateful if it actually happens this time. The previous appointment was cancelled due to a plumbing problem - you can't make this stuff up.
From little acorns
May Apr« »Next month
Sunday 27th
After watching Solo earlier this week with my son today it was another film but this time with the daughter in a cute little town cinema and enjoyed with wine gums.
Sunday 20th
Another hot dry day and a lovely summer evening week nicely ends the weekend. Saturday was on the restful side and ended with a distinctly average cup final.
Saturday 5th
Finally a hot dry day and we barbecue! Also some more work on the garden but only in the morning - otherwise too hot. The back garden is having its border extended again. Sunday, and I found a large piece of plastic in the guttering promoting a bit of a garden where it wasn't wanted. A remnant left by the builders me thinks. You would think, after this time, we had already found all their little shortcuts and hidden rubbish - but no, another one.
Summer in garden
April Mar« »Next month
Friday 6th
And spring really isn't sprung.
Sunday 15th
Through the wind and rain has never been truer. Managed a visit to one new ground this month and the delights of Clevethorpe entertains before Grimsby Town do similarly. One thing did surprise. Took ages to find a coffee shop and then just the one Costa revealed itself - not like home where there is one every ten yards in town! They did have a Greggs and numerous Fish and Chip shops so that is more like it.
Easter Sunday meal
March Feb« »Next month
Saturday 31st
Miserable weather though locally not the worst but it is enough to halt ideas of travelling far a field for footy. Earlier I had a trip up north and visited a Pizza Hut. The joys of a salad bar and decent pizza added to a cheery soda - nice.
A couple of courses this month and more colds going around. Then finally an offer of a bowel scan.
Saturday 3rd
The snow of recent days has gone slushy but still enjoyed a decent walk up the hill onto the windy top. One farmer has his cows out. On Thursday thanks to a failure by the train operator to get me all the way home I enjoyed a 10 mile home through the wind and snow. The conditions were actually quite nice and the cold was a pleasant dry cold. The snow was a drier snow than today; easier to walk through.
Some of the house had school snow days others went into work. No major problems as we heed the advice to avoid unnecessary travel. Milkman didn't make it yesterday though, according to the local radio, some in the county did. Our local radio is great in times like this. Useful up to date information and still entertaining in that way local stations are.
Last night me and son watched the latest Thor film from Marvel. I find them only okay. They seem to struggle to decide how serious to take themselves and so to me they end up neither very funny nor quite serious. Still it is only entertainment.
The sheep were mostly hiding from the snow
February Jan« »Next month
Sunday 25th
One day's football is brilliant and the next day the results go against you - ho hum.
It is possible the smell from the painting I did last week end has reached a bearable level but I still think some remedial painting is required - hum ho!
Yesterday enjoyed a free game curtesy of my daughter's employer and a great result to boot. Not sure she will ever go again but it is another cultural first for her and another league ground to my count.
Meanwhile son and me watched the Blade Runner sequel - not bad. I have embarked on a campaign to show him the classics with varying success. The original I seem to remember was well received too. He didn't take to Space Odyssey 2001 though, or Silent Running. You can't win them all and some look more aged than others. "Them" (about radiation turning ants into 6 m giants) was funny but he didn't watch that one either.
Enjoying the football
January 2017« »Next month
Wednesday 3rd
Wow the New Year's fireworks in town were rather spread out over the evening. We had a splendid picnic and game of name that tune (played on a Kazoo). We also had a little boogie.
So far this year I am mainly drinking Lemsip (or non brand equivalents) and resting in an attempt to get rid of this cough.
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