Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas


Well, I’ve finished work for a couple of weeks to spend some time with my family over the festive period and I will be coupling with this some ‘down time’ from the Internet too.

So this is me signing off until the New Year.

It’s a Christmas of firsts: my daughter’s first Christmas, the first Christmas since my wife became the legal parent of my son and our first Christmas married. So tomorrow will be an exciting day. We’re having both mine and Chloe’s families at our house for dinner so the preparation is well underway already.

Then between Christmas and New Year is my son’s 8th birthday before we celebrate a family New Year.

It will be a busy one and I cannot wait.

To all of you, I wish a very, very Merry Christmas and an incredibly Happy New Year with friends, family and loved ones.

Here’s to a 2012 filled with joy and smiles.

I’ll speak to you all in the New Year :)

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Simple Things


The things that make me the happiest are the simple ones. Yes, we all love to go on holidays to the Caribbean and we all enjoy indulgence and certain materialisms. But what really makes me happiest is the stuff that some people might consider boring.

I like coming home from a long day at the office and sitting down to dinner. I like helping out my son with his homework and talking to my wife about the day we’ve had. Some people think sitting in front of a movie is dull. But for me, family movie time is some of the most precious there is.

I know of nothing more beautiful than those quiet moments in the evening as Chloe rests her head on my chest on the sofa, as my son sits on the other side of me and we all hold our little baby girl between us. I know of nothing more beautiful than that.

I crave nothing more than the smell of Chloe’s hair first thing in the morning. I love nothing more than the sound of my son’s footsteps coming towards our bedroom on a Sunday morning and there’s no sweeter sound than that of a tiny baby girl giggling to herself from her cot. Could there be anything better?

I think not.

The simple things might not be to everyone’s tastes, but for me they are the most perfect of things in the most perfect of times and I feel as grateful as I have ever felt for anything.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Connections


I believe we only ever truly connect with a handful of people in our lifetimes. We can have close friends, lovers, confidantes… but I believe those we have a real connection with are few and far between.

What I mean by a real connection is one such that you know when they’re down, even if they’re not with you, even if you haven’t spoken to them that day… you just know. You can’t explain how but you just feel it.

You also know when they’re happy. You know when something is going well for them. You feel happy too even if they haven’t shared it.

You say the same things at the same times. You know when they’re thinking about you… You have an intrinsic understanding of how what you say or do will impact them.

When you have a connection like that with someone, you’re at your most vulnerable to them and they to you. You give yourself (whether by choice or not) and you just have to hope they will cherish what you give.

I’ve experienced such a connection but a handful of times.

Fortunately for me, though, one such connection became my wife and the Mother of my beautiful daughter and NOW also the legal parent of my son.

Yes, the legal adoption process for Chloe to become recognised as my son’s parent is now complete. Success!

He’s as happy as she is… and what great timing.

Merry Christmas :)

Thursday, November 24, 2011

For Mothers


For my wife, my sister and for all the other Mothers I have the pleasure of knowing.

You are beautiful.

                        Inside and out.

The selfless sacrifices you make for your children never cease to amaze me. You give up your body to them, your heart to them, your soul to them. They become a part of you.

You make decisions not for yourselves solely, but based on what the children need and what the children want.

You inspire me.

You instinctively know when something isn’t right. And what’s more… you know what to say to make it better. You also know when there is nothing you can say to make it better and have mastered the perfect hug to fit these occasions. It’s a hug that says,

‘I wish I could take your pain away.’

But you can’t. You can’t always fix the problem but it doesn’t matter, because even when the damage is irreparable you, yes YOU, make it hurt less.

You turn bleeding knees and bruised elbows into nothing with a simple magic kiss. You pull the silver lining from colds and tummy bugs with sofa based-under-duvet cuddles accompanied by day time TV that make illnesses worthwhile.

You make the best dinners. Even if dinner is just beans on toast, you guys know how to make it best. And even if someone else (Dad included, it pains me to say) tried to make your speciality, even if it is done the same way and using the same ingredients from the same brands, it does not taste the same. It’s missing something – YOUR magic touch!

Mothers, you are wonderful. You’re selfless, inspiring and utterly incredible.

Life in a Day


I watched the Life in a Day film on Youtube this morning. The entire 1 hour and 34 minutes of it. I wasn’t planning to, but from the moment it began I knew I wouldn’t be able to switch it off.

For those of you who don’t know much about it, essentially, on 24th July 2010, as part of what would become a historic piece of cinematic history, thousands of people videoed parts of their day and answered a few questions. They uploaded these videos to Youtube and then a feature film was produced from the thousand of hours of footage uploaded.

The result is a beautiful snapshot of a single day on planet Earth. It documents our happiness, our fears, our sadness, our hardship, our challenges, our joy, our love…

A particular snippet that resonated with me begins at 1:26:03… the scene in which a man is talking to his wife who is sick with cancer. He says he’s now ‘fearless’ and that way of looking at the difficulty they face is just amazing. If you haven’t yet seen it, you really should.


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Personal Accountability

It never ceases to amaze me how many adults struggle with the concept of personal accountability. 

I was taught to ‘own up’ when I’d done something wrong as a child and while it isn’t always the easiest thing to do, it’s something I think it important.

NONE of us are perfect and that’s just a consequence of being human. We do make mistakes. But I am tired of hearing things (from adults!) like:

  • - Sorry I’m late, it wasn’t my fault. My brother was supposed to wake me up.
  • - I was encouraged by someone else to binge drink!
  • - I only eat crap food because it’s what my boyfriend brings home.
  • - Our breakup was his/her fault.
  • - [Insert anything at all here] was his/her fault.
My son got in trouble at school last week for talking repeatedly during class. 

“You know you’re supposed to listen in class,” I told him. “It’s important.”

“I know,” he responded. “But Kyle kept talking to me.”

“So you’re saying it’s Kyle’s fault? Really?”

He took a moment to think about it.

“No. It was my fault. I talked when I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry.”

“It isn’t me you need to apologise to, is it?”

“No. It’s my teacher.”

And to his credit, I was informed that the next morning he went to his teacher and apologised for interrupting her lesson.

The point is that he is SEVEN and even at that age is able to comprehend the concept of accepting personal accountability for his role in issues or disputes and for the mistakes he makes.

WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES! But I’m tired of supposedly grown adults who are still completely incapable of accepting the part they played, preferring instead to blame everyone and everything around them for everything that happens. It’s incredibly childish.

/Rant over.

Day may continue :)

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

For Thee


For thee, my heart.
It’s stitched in parts,
Imperfect gift,
But it’s yours if
You’re sure
That you will keep it.

For thee, my love.
Unworthy of
Yours in return,
But I have learnt
That nonetheless,
You give it.

For thee, my life,
My stunning wife,
I give to thee forever.

Tis Little Wonder


Tis little wonder
You lie alone
In bed at night
Your lonely home.
For you will push
Them all away.
Even those who
Want to stay.
You will scream
And sulk and shout
And push until
They all walk out.
And then you’ll cry
And blur the truth.
And tell the world
How THEY hurt YOU.

You’ll accept no
Ounce of blame,
Deny, deny
The part you played.

Tis little wonder,
You lie alone,
When you pushed love
Out of your home.
 
Especially for my Sister's former, the 'Father' of my nephew (an undeserved title) and for all those others of similar attitude.


Saturday, November 19, 2011

Home

Home is where I find her
Standing, smiling, holding child
A beautiful reminder…

…that everything is perfect.


I had a wonderfully productive week on business in North America building a very useful business relationship with some companies out there. It was great (but cold!) and I achieved more this week than I anticipated.

But boy am I glad to be home.

As I crept into the house at 5.30am I was expecting dark and silence. Everyone would be asleep, I was sure.

But I was wrong.

The little one had woken for a feed and this had woken up my oldest son who, realising I was due home soon, decided he was staying up. So as I pulled up in the driveway I noticed the living room light on. I walked in to my boy in his PJs, my wife in hers, the fire on and our baby daughter cooing away to herself.

Home.

I was only away 6 days but I missed them all so much. I spent most evenings in a hotel room on Skype talking to them all but it just isn’t the same as being able to cuddle up with them. So I made us all hot chocolate, we cuddled up on the couch and caught up before going back to bed shortly after.

I am tired today but that doesn’t stop me feeling like the luckiest guy on the planet.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Lest We Forget


Lest we forget
The fallen souls
Their brave, courageous
Costly roles.

Lest we forget
The Fathers who
Broke children’s hearts
To fight for you.

Lest we forget
What went before,
The crumbling, humbling
Cost of war.


Today we remember fallen soldiers - people who selflessly gave their lives for our freedom. Courageous, selfless people who valued our liberty above all else.

Today we remember that these people are real heroes... not celebrities, cartoon heroes or cult icons. These soldiers, the ones who fell in battle, those are heroes.

I told my son all about WW1 and WW2 last year. He loves to learn and is moved each Armistice Day to tears. He's in school today where he will by now have marked the day with a 2 minute silence, just as I did and just as so many millions of others did too.

Lest we forget. Lest we allow our children to forget. For while the memory is fresh and painful, so is the fear of this ever happening again prominent.

As it should be.

Rest, now, men. The battle's done.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Sharing a Home


Chloe and I are very proud of the home we’ve built for our children. There’s a stable environment where the kids will always feel safe. It’s not and never will be about physical possessions. It’s not just about having both parents around either – I have always been a true believer that single parent families can thrive just as dual parent families do. What makes a house a home for kids is a feeling of security and, most importantly, LOVE.

“Your children are so, so lucky,” said a friend of mine last night. This friend was in foster care as a child and is working hard himself to build the sort of home he never had for his wife and child too.

“Thanks,” I responded. “Yours too.”

“I’m thinking I want to foster,” he told me. “I want to give something back. I understand these kids and I think I can be a positive influence.”

And so ensued a conversation last night between he, myself and Chloe about fostering and by the end of it, Chloe was absolutely sold on the idea of her and I applying to become foster parents too.

We’ve always said we want a big family. We have our eldest boy, who is 7, and our baby daughter who is 2 and a half months. We plan another one or two as well (being a Dad is my favourite thing in the world). But what she really wants to do is to provide a safe environment specifically for children who have never, ever had the benefit of such an environment themselves.

Being in short term foster care can be unnerving for children. These are often kids who have never benefitted from any stability and the environment they find themselves in during their stints in foster care can have a huge impact on their lives, on who they become and on their attitude to life.

Chloe feels passionately that we could make a difference to many children’s lives by applying ourselves to become Foster parents.

And I couldn’t agree more.


So I’ve been printing reams and reams of information on what’s involved, the process, how to apply. We want to wait until our youngest is 6 months old or so before applying but we’re both incredibly excited about the prospect of being able to share our home with children who most need a stable and loving environment.


Can’t wait :=)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Silence and Happy Sounds


Silence is hugely underrated. Sitting there and just breathing, watching your surrounding or thinking without distraction is, perhaps, one of life’s greatest gifts.

I’ve managed to clear out some old junk recently, in metaphoric terms… clearing out some of the people who make the most unwelcome, unconstructively critical, irrational and stirring-the-pot-at-every-opportunity type noise (both people who had been surrounding me and/or Chloe) and my wife and I are feeling much the better for it.

It occurred to me this morning that I wasn’t stressed. I wasn’t wondering who was going to be causing trouble by email, phone or text. It occurred to me that the only people in my life now are people who are happy for my happiness. People who are genuinely pleased to see me and my little family together.

So for those friends and family members both near and far…. Cheers :=)

I was once advised that friendships ending does not necessarily mean that either party is just bad… just that their time together as friends was done and they were incompatible in some ways. I’m inclined to agree, perhaps with the only exception being for the type of people who seem to be losing friends every other day… I think in those cases people need to take a look closer to home. But on the whole, I agree that the end of friendships is a natural part of life, a road forking and two individuals having to separate to head their own different ways. When people have different destinations, it does not make sense for their whole journey to be together.

And what is left is the group of friends who are aiming for the same destination, all encouraging one another to get there.

I like sound. Not noise. I like the sound of friends, laughter and encouragement, constructive criticism and the sound of a hand patting your back. I have decided to no longer include in my life people whose sounds are unhappy.

Silence and happy sounds only permitted from here on in :)

Monday, November 7, 2011

Feeling Beautiful


“You know what?” Chloe asked me, wrapping her arms around my waist from behind as I made breakfast this morning.

“What?”

“I feel sexy again… I feel beautiful.”

“You’ve always been beautiful…” I told her honestly.

“But having a baby, well… It made me feel a little out of shape and, I don’t know, just not as on form as previously.”

I kissed her.

“You make me feel beautiful,” she continued. “You really do.”

And that there is perhaps the most wonderful compliment I’ve been given.

Chloe is naturally very beautiful, a natural looking girl. She doesn’t colour her hair or slap on tonnes of make up. She’s naturally a pretty girl. She’s not too skinny or gaunt looking. She’s a stunning (UK) size 12/14 (I’m writing this with her consent!). She’s simply gorgeous. Her long brown hair, her big beautiful eyes, her sweet smile… I love it all. She’s absolutely stunning.

I’ve always been a fan of the natural look. Overly made up, three-times-weekly hair dye sessions, gaunt and anorexic looking women have never been my thing. I’m a real fan of everything feminine: curves, long hair… I love it.

And I love her. My beautiful, beautiful wife.

Chloe, I’m so glad you got your confidence back, sweetheart. xx

Friday, November 4, 2011

For Amy


It’s recently been the 1 year anniversary of the passing of one of my closest friends.

Amy.

Even just saying her name makes me smile.

Amy was involved in a car accident, taken too soon from a world that was just starting to make her happy. I believe some people are always just destined for more beautiful things than this world can ever offer them. Those are the people taken too soon. Those are the ones we lose and miss and spend the rest of our days praying for one last moment with.

Amy, Amy, Amy… my sweet, sweet friend. I hope you’re dancing to  90s dance music somewhere beautiful enough to deserve you.

Sleep well, sweetheart

x

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

November, North America and Nanowrimo


An incredibly busy November lies ahead.

I have been building a business relationship with someone on the other side of Atlantic and a trip that should have taken place some 4 months from now has been moved to… THIS MONTH! Talk about sudden but there there’s a great opportunity, I’m in : )

That leaves Chloe holding the babies for a week – hard work with a tiny baby and a 7 year old with big ideas. She’s incredibly supportive of my business progress though and our little family unit allows Chloe and I to do what we're best at... building a comfortable home, a business and happy children.

I also promised to support my son in his bid to do Nanowrimo this month. He’s so juiced. He has a plot, his characters (all planned ahead of the start of November) and has now began putting pen to paper. I’ll be coaching him via webcam in the week I’m on the North American continent of course : )

And as well as that, we have our Christmas preparations underway. We’re having Chloe’s family and my family at our house for dinner. Having the out of down countryside house has been incredible for my son. He loves the space. He loves to explore and we’re in a fortunate position of being able to accommodate everyone for dinner this year. It’s incredibly exciting for us – our first Christmas as a married couple and our baby girl’s first Christmas too. There’s so much happening.

I’m full of smiles. I’m 30 with a business I love, an amazing wife and two beautiful children. The sky seems so much bluer this year and the busy month ahead will be a phenomenal one.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Poorly Baba

What a day.

Long story short: Chloe called me this morning and told me the baby was sick and she was taking her to the Doctor's. Doctor sent baby to hospital, hospital admitted baby.

I'm now home packing up my son's things so he can go to my sister's for the night before I go pitch up at the hospital for the night with Chloe and my little girl.

Poor little baby :(

Get well soon, Princess

xx

Monday, October 24, 2011

Soul Mates and Friends

Let us simply lie together,
Underneath the sky forever,
Stars will whisper lover’s song
This place is where we two belong.

My son asked me a poignant question this morning.

“Was Chloe your friend first or your girlfriend first?”

“Friend,” I told him. “She was one of my best friends, then we were sort of boyfriend and girlfriend for a while and then we were just friends again. And then we met up many years later, became boyfriend and girlfriend again and then got married.”

“So is it better if your girlfriend is your friend first.”

“Absolutely,” I told him. “Much better... Chloe is still my best friend.”

“So now she is your friend and she’s your wife?” he asked.

“Yes. Husbands and wives should always be great friends too.”

“I think so too, Dad. Cos I really like all my friends and we laugh together all the time. When I get married I want to like my wife just as much as I like my friends.”


That had me reminiscing silently, alone as I drove to work. Every relationship I’ve enjoyed  has be born of a fabulous friendship first and foremost. It’s important to remain friends. Sometimes, when you spend so much time with someone, you can take them for granted. I think friendship stops that happening to some degree.

I love the moments I spend with Chloe because the conversation is easy, the laughter is abundant and we never run out of things to say. Even if we have a stressed out few days or an argument or one of us is feeling a little under the weather for a couple of days, it’s never long until we’re laughing in one another’s company and having a good conversation about anything and everything.

That friendship is the foundation of everything.

The love was always there. It was just silent for a time as our hearts fathomed out what they were really looking for. But it was always there.

Friendship is the foundation on which everything good is built. Friendship, love, respect and understanding. We have it and we’re blessed.

I was moved today by a quote I read by Maya Angelou;

“In all the world, there is no heart for me like yours. In all the world there is no love for you like mine.”

What beautiful words that sum up soul mates so well.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Appreciating Awesome

I've learned something recently: to accept happiness. To not question how long happiness might last or whether there's a catch or who might try to piss all over it. Simply to accept it, to appreciate it and to enjoy it.

I have two spectacularly beautiful and wonderful children. They're so precious to me and I am so, so grateful for them.

I have a wife who understands me on a level nobody ever has before. I don't think I'm the only person to have ever been in love... I'm not trying to brag or boast about it or imply that nobody understands how I feel about it. I'm not the only person to have ever been in love and I know that... but I feel as though I am when I'm with her.

And in the moments I am not with her, my mind wanders to where hers is at during quiet moments of the day just to sit within her thoughts for a moment. She doesn't think I am perfect. But by the same token, she accepts that as much as each of our best character traits complement one another's, so too do our flaws. And that, to me,is what a relationship is all about. It's not about delusions of perfection or flawlessness.It's about two people who love one another's greatest traits but accept one another's flaws and where one's strengths compensate for another's weaknesses.

In previous relationships I've questioned... 'How long can happiness like this last? How long until the novelty wears off?' I've never really just accepted happiness and enjoyed it for what it it. Chloe has taught me to be grateful for what we have and my ability to appreciate the awesome life we've built is making it a happier one for all four of us.

No questions, no querying what the catch is and no worrying that it might end. This happiness, this life, this wonderful family is mine to keep, mine to love and mine to cherish. And I promise you all, my wife, my son and my daughter...  this life is for keeps. These smiles are forever and this love is eternal.

Welcome to happy, folks :) Enjoy the ride!

What a weekend :)


What a weekend! I’ve had an amazing 48 hours – a perfect blend of family and friends time and some alone time with my wife.

Too exhausted for a really long post but thank you to my wife, to my sister, to my children and friends for an absolutely awesome weekend packed full of birthday celebrations.

You lot are amazing.

Friday, October 21, 2011

For My Wife


We’ve taken bricks
And made a home
Where none within
Will feel alone.

We’ve taken time,
Spent it together,
Made memories
We’ll keep forever.

We’ve taken vows,
We’ll hold till end,
My lover, soulmate,
Wife and friend.

Thank you….
                        For everything

xxx

Monday, October 17, 2011

A Party and a Getaway

This week, I'll turn 30. I was hoping it might slip quietly by but there's little chance of that with my son, sister and wife!

I was told this morning (it was an attempted surprise but in order to make it work with my timings/meetings/other plans they had to tell me) that there's a whole weekend of activity planned. Friday night will be a gathering with the whole family and lots of friends. A party, if you will!

I'm surprisingly excited given the list of people I'm advised will be there. My son is really excited too. It will be awesome to see everyone.

And on Saturday myself and Chloe will go away just for a night.

"On Saturday, me and Sophie are going to go stay with Auntie Stacey," my son told me, "So you and Chlo can relax. Stacey said you're going to get mushy. That's disgusting. So I don't want to know about that."

Nice.

But indeed, Chlo has booked us an evening in one of my favourite places and it will be lovely to relax.

No chance of a big birthday passing by silently, it seems.

There'll be cake too, I'm told, though a certain 7 year old was keen to point out, "We won't be able to fit all those candles on but we'll put a few on for you."

Thanks, guys :)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

I HATE Cancer


I told my son this morning that Steve Jobs has passed away after losing his battle with cancer. He knows of Steve Jobs from previous Apple keynotes and, from previous talks we’ve had, knows he was also a big part of Pixar and thus responsible for so many of the wonderful films my son loves.

He was down about it – perhaps more saddened than I was! He was quiet as he got ready for school and on the drive in suddenly piped up with:

“I really hate cancer. I know you said I shouldn’t say I hate anything but I really, really, really, really hate cancer.”

What a profound statement for a seven year old to make.

“That’s ok,” I told him, “I hate cancer too.”

“CANCER, I HATE YOOOOOOU!” he shouted.

I felt compelled to join in and within seconds we were both shouting ‘I hate cancer, cancer I hate you,’ a t the top of our lungs in the car.

It felt bizarrely empowering to express that level of hatred for something that has cost both me and my son our Mothers.

“Why are there no tablets you can take for cancer, Dad?” he asked.

I explained how difficult it is to cure cancer, how the cells mutate and how it can spread. He followed and understood quite well.

I told him about the charities working to cure cancer – many of which he has come across before.

Before he got out of the car he told me,

“We should make a book and sell it and give all the money to Cancer research so they might find a cure faster.”

“Great idea, kiddo. What will your book be about?”

“I’m going to write a book with poems and stories in about why I hate cancer so much.”

I kissed him.

“We’ll plan it tonight, kiddo.”

And we will. I will encourage him every step of the way, not just because of the actual donations I’m confident he will raise for charity, but because this will empower him. This will make him feel like he can actually do something about cancer – like he is actually doing something against it and that will go really far in enabling him to process his own loss of his Mother.

Today in particular, I am incredibly, incredibly proud of my little man.

Monday, October 3, 2011

See You Later, Matey


Tomorrow, my cousin and best friend, Craig, will leave the UK for a new life on the other side of the world with his lovely (pregnant!) wife.

It’s a big move but one that is most definitely an amazing one for him and his wife.

So, Craigy boy…. This is the nearest you will get to any sentiment from me. I wish you every success in the world in the new job and I’m really frikkin jealous that as we enter winter you will be coming into summer. And it isn’t even like you can enjoy that either, without going bright red within 15 minutes of exposure.

I’ll miss you. I’ll miss your wise words of advice, despite my frequent reluctance to admit that any of it is wise at all. And the kids will miss Uncle Craig so so much. Save me a spot in the sun though, matey. I’ll be there in a few months for a visit to see new arrival and scope out your new place.

Love ya, bud.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Desperately Seeking Approval


I seek approval from dead people.

I’m not a weirdo. I don’t mean that in a freaky kind of 6th sense ‘I see dead people,’ way.

Since my Mother died I cannot count the number of times that I have asked myself what she would have thought of a particular decision I’d made or a way I’d behaved.

I don’t think there is anything necessarily wrong with that. My Mother was a staunch Catholic but one who put my happiness above any religious beliefs. When I told her in my early teens that I do not believe in God she was clearly disappointed. But she didn’t try and change my mind:

“Make your own decisions,” she told me, “I’m confident that you do not need a God to live as a good man. But God will be there waiting for you to find him again.”

We rarely discussed my lack of Faith after that again.

But as my Mother was a woman of very admirable morals, I like to use her as a benchmark.

“What would Mum think?” I asked my sister again over lunch today (I love my lunch hour when it’s spent with my sister and nephew) as we discussed a few current goings on and talked about how our lives have both changed in recent years.

“She’d think you’d given her two of the most beautiful Grandchildren in the world and that you are a good husband and work hard for your family. And she’d tell you she’s proud and remind you again that all she ever wants is to see you happy.”

It would have been easy to dismiss as ‘something nice your sister says’ were it not for the fact that I know she is saying the exact words my Mother would say. I’ve made mistakes in the past. I’m not perfect. But I think I am doing alright and I think she would think I am too.

Any single time I am faced with a decision I ask myself what she would think. Any time I face a complication I ask the same question. I don’t always follow paths that she herself would follow – in the same way I wouldn’t always agree with her if she were here now. But any time I do make a decision, I like to feel that if it is not one she would approve of, that it is one I can in the very least justify and know that she would understand.

I’d say it’s ‘funny’ or ‘odd’ to live life like that. But it’s not. I used to think it was odd – my need to understand what she would think or the need to apologise to her for mistakes when she is no longer here. But really I suppose it is perfectly normal for a man to want to make his Mother proud. And I'm far from ashamed to admit that is something I certainly want to do.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Kids Get ALL the Best Colds


I’m feeling sorry for myself today because I have a horrendous cold. My son was off school today he was feeling so ill with it and my baby girl is getting a bit stuffy nosed as well. Chloe is full of it too (and she had to deal with two suffering children all day lol). Me? Well I went to the office for meetings.

By the time I came home at 6, the three of them (and the two dogs) were all snuggled up on the couch with a duvet and, despite being sick, looked absolutely adorable!!

Veggie soup for dinner with fresh baguettes. Now who needs cold and flu remedies when you have that?

So tonight is about crashing in front of the telly with hot drinks.

It seems at this time of the year my son comes home with a different cold every month. Isn’t it delightful how they just go to school and come home with report cards and viruses to share with the whole family? : )