A quick update for the few hardy souls who check my blog with any degree of regularity.
I haven't been hit by a bus, i'm just very busy.
I've got a 2500 word assignment to finish for my business studies course, been on a two-day project management course, mum's birthday, redecorating the bathroom, european cup final, kids, etc.
Will post more fully at the weekend.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
What's that smell?
Over lunch the other day we were discussing whether or not to go back for a pudding. One of the dishes was banoffee pie.
I said, "I like toffee but not the smell of it. Cold foods with toffee in are OK but hot foods smell too much."
"What's wrong with the smell?" asked Matt.
"It reminds me of vomit, especially when it's on someone's breath. Like when you're in a car with someone who's eating toffee, it's really strong then. Those hot chocolate drinks with toffee in smell so bad they make me gag," I replied
Matt laughing, "Parmesan smells of sick but I don't think toffees do."
"Yeah, they do when warm. Oh and it's not just Parmesan, most dairy foods smell of puke to some degree. Fromage frais, sweaty Cheddar. Some of those leaky French cheeses reek of used nappies," I commented.
"Oh yeah, some of them are really bad," he agreed.
"Those live bio-yoghurt drinks that are supposed to help compliment your digestive system smell too. Not surprising when you think of what they are for, they're effectively simulated sick. No wonder it's called YAK-ult."
We had the chocolate orange mousse in the end.
I said, "I like toffee but not the smell of it. Cold foods with toffee in are OK but hot foods smell too much."
"What's wrong with the smell?" asked Matt.
"It reminds me of vomit, especially when it's on someone's breath. Like when you're in a car with someone who's eating toffee, it's really strong then. Those hot chocolate drinks with toffee in smell so bad they make me gag," I replied
Matt laughing, "Parmesan smells of sick but I don't think toffees do."
"Yeah, they do when warm. Oh and it's not just Parmesan, most dairy foods smell of puke to some degree. Fromage frais, sweaty Cheddar. Some of those leaky French cheeses reek of used nappies," I commented.
"Oh yeah, some of them are really bad," he agreed.
"Those live bio-yoghurt drinks that are supposed to help compliment your digestive system smell too. Not surprising when you think of what they are for, they're effectively simulated sick. No wonder it's called YAK-ult."
We had the chocolate orange mousse in the end.
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Why there's a God
My daughter is going through that 'Why?' phase. Anyone who's spent any time with a three or four year old will know it well.
"Why is it raining, Dad?"
"So the trees can have a drink."
"Why do the trees need a drink?"
"So they can grow."
"Why do they need to grow?"
Think it's cute? Try it out on your friends for several hours a day...
... every day...
... week after week...
... wear a kevlar vest.
Sometimes she tries a variation.
"Dad, you know when a bird is in an egg and gets out and then flies away?"
"Yes."
"Why does that happen?"
But, let's get back to the trees.
"Why do trees need to grow?"
"So they can be a house for the birds."
"Why are there birds?"
At this point I usually answer, "Because that's the way it is."
Some parents opt for the rather more imperial, "Because I said so."
Neither of these really satisfy the curiosity of a three year old though. This is were some genius several millenia ago came up with the classic answer that invented religion:
"Because God made it that way."
"Why is it raining, Dad?"
"So the trees can have a drink."
"Why do the trees need a drink?"
"So they can grow."
"Why do they need to grow?"
Think it's cute? Try it out on your friends for several hours a day...
... every day...
... week after week...
... wear a kevlar vest.
Sometimes she tries a variation.
"Dad, you know when a bird is in an egg and gets out and then flies away?"
"Yes."
"Why does that happen?"
But, let's get back to the trees.
"Why do trees need to grow?"
"So they can be a house for the birds."
"Why are there birds?"
At this point I usually answer, "Because that's the way it is."
Some parents opt for the rather more imperial, "Because I said so."
Neither of these really satisfy the curiosity of a three year old though. This is were some genius several millenia ago came up with the classic answer that invented religion:
"Because God made it that way."
Race for life
My wife and her friend did a local 'Race for Life' 5k on Sunday. There are a ton of these events up and down the country to raise money for cancer research. They are women-only events specifically aimed at breast cancer funding.
They took our 3yr-old daughter with them and she was very pleased to be in a race wearing a number like Daddy does. My wife had to carry her up some of the hills but, she was beaming when she finished and proudly showed off her medal at nursery yesterday.
My parents came down for the day to cheer them on and my wife's friend's husband also popped over. The weather was nice and sunny too so all in all it was a good day.
As expected at these charity runs, you do see some strange entrants. There was a women running in a bra, feather boa and the tightest, smallest hot pants I've seen outside of the Aussie gay mardi-gras. As no men were supposed to be running there was one guy in drag, mini-skirt, stocking, stilletoes and a wig. He must have walked the whole course on tip-toe to stop sinking the heels into the grass.
They took our 3yr-old daughter with them and she was very pleased to be in a race wearing a number like Daddy does. My wife had to carry her up some of the hills but, she was beaming when she finished and proudly showed off her medal at nursery yesterday.
My parents came down for the day to cheer them on and my wife's friend's husband also popped over. The weather was nice and sunny too so all in all it was a good day.
As expected at these charity runs, you do see some strange entrants. There was a women running in a bra, feather boa and the tightest, smallest hot pants I've seen outside of the Aussie gay mardi-gras. As no men were supposed to be running there was one guy in drag, mini-skirt, stocking, stilletoes and a wig. He must have walked the whole course on tip-toe to stop sinking the heels into the grass.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Cast away
Our little boy had his cast removed today. His wrist seems fine now but, we've got a check up in three weeks to make sure.
I dropped my 3yr-old daughter off at nursery before driving up to get my mother-in-law then we went to the hospital.
My wife got a lift to work from the bosses daughter. Today's the day she handed in her notice. Her manager knows that 'Angela' is a least partly to blame.
In the evening my father-in-law, a carpenter/handyman/godsend, went with my wife to price up a kitchen fitting for a friend of her's. He'd been help out his brother-in-law, Reggie, all day laying a laminate floor. Reggie is a disaster area but, I'll write some posts about him another time.
I dropped my 3yr-old daughter off at nursery before driving up to get my mother-in-law then we went to the hospital.
My wife got a lift to work from the bosses daughter. Today's the day she handed in her notice. Her manager knows that 'Angela' is a least partly to blame.
In the evening my father-in-law, a carpenter/handyman/godsend, went with my wife to price up a kitchen fitting for a friend of her's. He'd been help out his brother-in-law, Reggie, all day laying a laminate floor. Reggie is a disaster area but, I'll write some posts about him another time.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Tell me the problem, not your solution
My job revolves around giving customers what they need, NOT what they ask for. Most of them are f**kwits that can barely think without setting off the smoke alarms. How the hell they get employed is beyond me.
Typically, I'll get a request to procure/test/install a new piece of software. Upwards of 90% of the time this kit is not needed. It's something they've seen on the TV, in a magazine or a friend's recommendation and they've invented a reason to get it. Often this thing has been written by a tiny software house, support is non-existent and there's no comeback when it won't interface with the rest of the organisation's portfolio.
So now I have to waste my time trying to convince them that they're pet piece of crap IS a piece of crap. They get defensive and put up barriers to common-sense: "My brother uses this all the time and he's never had any problems."
"Yeah? Well, your brother's IT experience was picked up during a summer job in PC World. I've been doing this for over a decade. My experience is based on years of multi-site, multi-office linkages spread over numerous separate domains encompassing the problems of security, load balancing and redundancy. I've installed and supported literally hundreds of different pieces of software and thousands of PCs and servers.
Your brother setup a home network of three PCs using wifi and was hacked within 30 minutes."
Of course, I can't offload on the customer like this. I have to let them learn for themselves.
"Hi, look I've found this great package that will save me a LOT of time. I must have it before the end of the week. It can fly backwards and whistle Dixie whilst earning a fortune on the stock market. I've ordered it and it only cost £5000, what a bargain." Blah, blah, f**ing blah.
"Ok. So what is it you want to achieve with this thing?" Yawn.
"I need to ensure all my Word documents have the company logo at the top of every page." I'm too important to turn up for my training.
"Oh well you can already do that with Word. Let me show you how, it'll take 30 seconds. How much did you say that software was?" As Frank Grimes said to Homer Simpson: If this were any other country, you'd have starved to death long ago.
Typically, I'll get a request to procure/test/install a new piece of software. Upwards of 90% of the time this kit is not needed. It's something they've seen on the TV, in a magazine or a friend's recommendation and they've invented a reason to get it. Often this thing has been written by a tiny software house, support is non-existent and there's no comeback when it won't interface with the rest of the organisation's portfolio.
So now I have to waste my time trying to convince them that they're pet piece of crap IS a piece of crap. They get defensive and put up barriers to common-sense: "My brother uses this all the time and he's never had any problems."
"Yeah? Well, your brother's IT experience was picked up during a summer job in PC World. I've been doing this for over a decade. My experience is based on years of multi-site, multi-office linkages spread over numerous separate domains encompassing the problems of security, load balancing and redundancy. I've installed and supported literally hundreds of different pieces of software and thousands of PCs and servers.
Your brother setup a home network of three PCs using wifi and was hacked within 30 minutes."
Of course, I can't offload on the customer like this. I have to let them learn for themselves.
"Hi, look I've found this great package that will save me a LOT of time. I must have it before the end of the week. It can fly backwards and whistle Dixie whilst earning a fortune on the stock market. I've ordered it and it only cost £5000, what a bargain." Blah, blah, f**ing blah.
"Ok. So what is it you want to achieve with this thing?" Yawn.
"I need to ensure all my Word documents have the company logo at the top of every page." I'm too important to turn up for my training.
"Oh well you can already do that with Word. Let me show you how, it'll take 30 seconds. How much did you say that software was?" As Frank Grimes said to Homer Simpson: If this were any other country, you'd have starved to death long ago.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Take this job and...
My wife currently works three days a week in a small office in the next village. As with most jobs, the work is fine but there are always some people who are a pain in the arse.
There are three full-timers and herself. The manager is due for retirement and one of the full-timers is trying to position herself to take over. This woman, let's call her 'Angela', causes all the grief. She doesn't appear to be very bright and can't see her mistakes.
Example 1: Angela takes a day off and goes for an interview with a competitor only 30 yards from the place she works now. When she gets found out she claims it was a 'market research' exercise.
Example 2: On another leave day Angela goes back into the same competitor, asks for the manager and tells him "I'm your competition. We need to talk." What the hell are you doing woman? You're not a manager, you haven't been tasked to do this and you've gained nothing at all except the derison of your colleagues and superiors. Plus, you've pissed off the competition that may have given you a job when you get sacked.
Example 3: Yet another leave day, she can't have much of a life. Angela arrives at head office unannounced and invites herself to the weekly office staff meeting. People are seriously begining to question her sanity now.
Example 4: A potential client shows up and wants some details. All fairly normal stuff. Now what do you think a good sales negotiator should do? Offer some coffee and biscuits? Go through some figures? Not our Angela, she decides that because the woman is wearing a business suit that she must be a spy from a competitor and throws her out.
Example 5: She makes a cock-up on a sale for one her clients. They come into the office to confront her about it. Does she apologise and offer to remedy it? Why bother with the truth when you can point, yes I did say point, at a colleague not ten feet away and loudly blame them.
So my wife applied for another job, had an interview last Friday and got a job offer last night. It'll mean a five-day week and more money but all the money will be eaten by child care costs. It'll get easier once the kids start school though.
She's going to accept the offer and can't wait to cite that bitch Angela's behaviour as the main reason for her decision to quit.
There are three full-timers and herself. The manager is due for retirement and one of the full-timers is trying to position herself to take over. This woman, let's call her 'Angela', causes all the grief. She doesn't appear to be very bright and can't see her mistakes.
Example 1: Angela takes a day off and goes for an interview with a competitor only 30 yards from the place she works now. When she gets found out she claims it was a 'market research' exercise.
Example 2: On another leave day Angela goes back into the same competitor, asks for the manager and tells him "I'm your competition. We need to talk." What the hell are you doing woman? You're not a manager, you haven't been tasked to do this and you've gained nothing at all except the derison of your colleagues and superiors. Plus, you've pissed off the competition that may have given you a job when you get sacked.
Example 3: Yet another leave day, she can't have much of a life. Angela arrives at head office unannounced and invites herself to the weekly office staff meeting. People are seriously begining to question her sanity now.
Example 4: A potential client shows up and wants some details. All fairly normal stuff. Now what do you think a good sales negotiator should do? Offer some coffee and biscuits? Go through some figures? Not our Angela, she decides that because the woman is wearing a business suit that she must be a spy from a competitor and throws her out.
Example 5: She makes a cock-up on a sale for one her clients. They come into the office to confront her about it. Does she apologise and offer to remedy it? Why bother with the truth when you can point, yes I did say point, at a colleague not ten feet away and loudly blame them.
So my wife applied for another job, had an interview last Friday and got a job offer last night. It'll mean a five-day week and more money but all the money will be eaten by child care costs. It'll get easier once the kids start school though.
She's going to accept the offer and can't wait to cite that bitch Angela's behaviour as the main reason for her decision to quit.
Friday, May 06, 2005
Ouch
Our 2 year old boy, has broken his right wrist. He has a 'back-slab' cast on his arm to restrict movement.
We think he did it on Tuesday when he fell off the ladder to Freya's new bed. He didn't complain much then but was holding his arm very still on Wednesday. We thought it was a sprain until Friday when it hadn't got any better.
So we took him to hospital and sure enough, it's a Salter-Harris type 1 fracture of the wrist. Brave little soldier.
We think he did it on Tuesday when he fell off the ladder to Freya's new bed. He didn't complain much then but was holding his arm very still on Wednesday. We thought it was a sprain until Friday when it hadn't got any better.
So we took him to hospital and sure enough, it's a Salter-Harris type 1 fracture of the wrist. Brave little soldier.
Stop pushing
This door is in the sub-basement at work.
DO NOT PULL. Do not pull what? The handles are on the other side and the door only opens one way.
Labour back for a third term
Tony Blair and the Labour party are back for a third term despite heavy losses and a low majority.
It seems that two main issues drew votes away from Labour, the Iraq war and immigration policies.
Iraq is going to be a bone of contention for many years to come but those who voted against Blair based on just this issue need thier heads examining. This is especially true if they voted Conservative because the Tories would have gone to war as well.
It does appear that the Government were not entirely truthful about Iraq but, when have politicians ever given the entire truth? I'm not sure it is really fair to expect it because many, many people's views are swayed easily by their gut reactions to single issues or small clusters of similar issues. This effect is exacerbated by the media, seeking to create the next moral panic, whipping up concern and selling shedloads of diatribe loaded nonense, filled with personal commentary and only the facts pertinent to a one-sided arguement.
The whole truth about the NHS would expose lots of individudal cases of mis-diagnosis and treatment that the Daily Mail would pounce whilst ignoring the overiding splendid contribution to many peoples lives that the organisation has made.
There are too many other issues battling for attention to cast your vote based on a single issue. Yet this is what the Tory campaign has chiefly focussed on, Iraq and immigration.
Manifestoes and policies come and go but the parties remain. I suppose, when it comes down to it, a sensible voter must look at the ethos behind each of the parties and make their choice accordingly.
Are you comfortably well off, good job, nice house. Do you care mainly about yourself? Vote Tory.
Are you comfortably well off, good job, nice house. Do you want to balance your needs against those of the less fortunate? Vote Lib-Dem.
Do you want to work towards a society where everyone has a right to a good standard of living regardless of their background and status? Vote Labour.
It seems that two main issues drew votes away from Labour, the Iraq war and immigration policies.
Iraq is going to be a bone of contention for many years to come but those who voted against Blair based on just this issue need thier heads examining. This is especially true if they voted Conservative because the Tories would have gone to war as well.
It does appear that the Government were not entirely truthful about Iraq but, when have politicians ever given the entire truth? I'm not sure it is really fair to expect it because many, many people's views are swayed easily by their gut reactions to single issues or small clusters of similar issues. This effect is exacerbated by the media, seeking to create the next moral panic, whipping up concern and selling shedloads of diatribe loaded nonense, filled with personal commentary and only the facts pertinent to a one-sided arguement.
The whole truth about the NHS would expose lots of individudal cases of mis-diagnosis and treatment that the Daily Mail would pounce whilst ignoring the overiding splendid contribution to many peoples lives that the organisation has made.
There are too many other issues battling for attention to cast your vote based on a single issue. Yet this is what the Tory campaign has chiefly focussed on, Iraq and immigration.
Manifestoes and policies come and go but the parties remain. I suppose, when it comes down to it, a sensible voter must look at the ethos behind each of the parties and make their choice accordingly.
Are you comfortably well off, good job, nice house. Do you care mainly about yourself? Vote Tory.
Are you comfortably well off, good job, nice house. Do you want to balance your needs against those of the less fortunate? Vote Lib-Dem.
Do you want to work towards a society where everyone has a right to a good standard of living regardless of their background and status? Vote Labour.
Su-man-nah
I was watching the election coverage on the BBC last night. During the wait for the result to start coming the presenters were trying to fill time with the usual waffle. A bit like sports commentators during a boring game.
Kaplinsky was wandering around giving us a 'behind-the-scenes' look at what the BBC team do on election night. She was walking among the techies blathering on about how busy they would be. She stopped next to one eager looking young chap who was obviously about to be called on to say a few words, his big moment on national TV.
"Here's Susannah, part of our techincal team, who'll be working hard all night to bring you the results as they happen. There'll be plenty of coffee drunk here tonight."
Susannah? That's a woman? Oh dear.
It was the short hair, manly glasses and very baggy t-shirt that fooled me. Luckily I'm not in the dating game anymore or I could be making some BIG mistakes.
Kaplinsky was wandering around giving us a 'behind-the-scenes' look at what the BBC team do on election night. She was walking among the techies blathering on about how busy they would be. She stopped next to one eager looking young chap who was obviously about to be called on to say a few words, his big moment on national TV.
"Here's Susannah, part of our techincal team, who'll be working hard all night to bring you the results as they happen. There'll be plenty of coffee drunk here tonight."
Susannah? That's a woman? Oh dear.
It was the short hair, manly glasses and very baggy t-shirt that fooled me. Luckily I'm not in the dating game anymore or I could be making some BIG mistakes.
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Song for a Fifth Child
We've got a paraphrased version of the last verse of this poem in our porch. It might be a bit cheesy to some but, it rings true enough for us.
Song for a Fifth Child by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting, and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew...
And out in the yard there's a hullaballoo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.
Song for a Fifth Child by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton
Mother, oh mother, come shake out your cloth!
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking!
Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(Lullaby, lullaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting, and bills are past due
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew...
And out in the yard there's a hullaballoo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo.)
Oh, cleaning and scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby. Babies don't keep.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Wear them out
It was a May Day bank holiday today, the weather forecast was good so we planned to take a trip out to the coast. I was going to run the Whitstable 10k but, forgot to post my application in time. There was a choice to make: spend the day at Whitstable cheering on the runners or head to a quieter town and just laze about.
So we opted for the quiet spot and arranged to meet two of our friends at Hythe. On the way we stopped for petrol and a few nibbles. My wife bought a spicy 'pepparami hot' snack salami, one each for me and her. Our 3yr-old wanted to try it.
"I think it'll be too spicy for you." I said
She tried a bit and her face turned inside out, "I don't like it Daddy. It's got spikes in it."
We arrived about midday and met up with the others before heading to the pebbly beach. The sun was out in full force and we all got slightly burnt but I'm not going to complain about a bit of sunshine.
Fish and chips on the beach, skimming pebbles in the surf and generally having a relaxing day.
It was sunnier than it looks in this photo but thats just my camera phone.
Around 4ish we headed off to the light railway station and took a return up to Dymchurch, about 5 miles. Our youngest daughter had nodded off and missed the outward journey but she was back with us for the return.
There was a small funfair at Dymchurch. Our 3yr-old had a go on the log flume with our friend Miss A and another ride on her own. She also went on a tea cup ride with her little brother and our friend Mr A. Her little sister refused to go on any of the rides.
We stopped at a cafe for ice cream and coffee on the way back to the train.
After we'd said goodbye to our friends we made our way home. It was all going so well but our little gir's nappy leaked and we had to stop to clean crap off the car seat. Why is shit such a big factor in my life? What did I ever do?
So we opted for the quiet spot and arranged to meet two of our friends at Hythe. On the way we stopped for petrol and a few nibbles. My wife bought a spicy 'pepparami hot' snack salami, one each for me and her. Our 3yr-old wanted to try it.
"I think it'll be too spicy for you." I said
She tried a bit and her face turned inside out, "I don't like it Daddy. It's got spikes in it."
We arrived about midday and met up with the others before heading to the pebbly beach. The sun was out in full force and we all got slightly burnt but I'm not going to complain about a bit of sunshine.
Fish and chips on the beach, skimming pebbles in the surf and generally having a relaxing day.
It was sunnier than it looks in this photo but thats just my camera phone.
Around 4ish we headed off to the light railway station and took a return up to Dymchurch, about 5 miles. Our youngest daughter had nodded off and missed the outward journey but she was back with us for the return.
There was a small funfair at Dymchurch. Our 3yr-old had a go on the log flume with our friend Miss A and another ride on her own. She also went on a tea cup ride with her little brother and our friend Mr A. Her little sister refused to go on any of the rides.
We stopped at a cafe for ice cream and coffee on the way back to the train.
After we'd said goodbye to our friends we made our way home. It was all going so well but our little gir's nappy leaked and we had to stop to clean crap off the car seat. Why is shit such a big factor in my life? What did I ever do?
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Beauty and the Beast - Wedding pt 3
Back to the bar and garden whilst the tables were cleared for the dancing.
Party. This was the bit the kids had been looking forward to most of all. I was the only adult up there dancing with the kids, doing the 'okey-kokey' and other similar things. I have no shame when it comes to playing with the kids. I can be dignified when they're grown up, babies don't last forever.
Then our 3yr-old daughter attached herself to a 7yr-old boy, my wife worked for his Dad a few years ago. Our girl would not leave him alone she dragged him all round the garden, the bar and the dance floor. I got some great photos and little video snippets of them dancing.
Our twins were having great fun too. The boy started to wind down about 9ish and we put him in his buggy to sleep. I took our eldest daughter to get changed into her other dress and she carried on until about 10:15 when she asked me to dance with her "Like Belle and the Beast do, Daddy" as soon as I picked her up she put her head on my shoulder and I knew she was ready to go to sleep. Our youngest girl, had nodded off on the Bride's sister's lap.
I took the our eldest girl up to the hotel room and my wife got some help to bring the twins and buggies etc. back up to the room before going down to say her goodbyes.
It was a truly lovely day and we all enjoyed it. What a shame the kids wouldn't stay asleep. Groan.
My wife and I were dog-tired by the morning. We got everyone downstairs for breakfast, said our goodbyes and then got on the road by 10:30am. The kids all went to sleep by 5:30pm and I was tucked up at 8pm. Tired but happy.
Party. This was the bit the kids had been looking forward to most of all. I was the only adult up there dancing with the kids, doing the 'okey-kokey' and other similar things. I have no shame when it comes to playing with the kids. I can be dignified when they're grown up, babies don't last forever.
Then our 3yr-old daughter attached herself to a 7yr-old boy, my wife worked for his Dad a few years ago. Our girl would not leave him alone she dragged him all round the garden, the bar and the dance floor. I got some great photos and little video snippets of them dancing.
Our twins were having great fun too. The boy started to wind down about 9ish and we put him in his buggy to sleep. I took our eldest daughter to get changed into her other dress and she carried on until about 10:15 when she asked me to dance with her "Like Belle and the Beast do, Daddy" as soon as I picked her up she put her head on my shoulder and I knew she was ready to go to sleep. Our youngest girl, had nodded off on the Bride's sister's lap.
I took the our eldest girl up to the hotel room and my wife got some help to bring the twins and buggies etc. back up to the room before going down to say her goodbyes.
It was a truly lovely day and we all enjoyed it. What a shame the kids wouldn't stay asleep. Groan.
My wife and I were dog-tired by the morning. We got everyone downstairs for breakfast, said our goodbyes and then got on the road by 10:30am. The kids all went to sleep by 5:30pm and I was tucked up at 8pm. Tired but happy.
Don't count your chickens - Wedding pt 2
All out into the garden for photos. Lots of too-ing and fro-ing getting everyone in line.
It was a good chance to say hello to lots of people we hadn't seen in a while. My wife used to work with a lot of the Groom's guests and I used to be friends with the Bride's ex-husband so, I know her family already. Her Mum and Dad moved to Ireland a few years back so I hadn't seen them for some time.
Had to keep an eye on the kids though, they were all off running about with the other children. I had to stick to shandies otherwise it would have been lights out far too early plus, I had to drive home in the morning.
The photographer had earned his money so, it was back inside for the dinner. We sat on the second table with the bride's friends Chick and Lynn who were looking after the happy couple's baby son.
During the meal our eldest daughter noticed some little boxes of mint imperials that the adults had. To no one in particular she said:
"What are these?"
"Oh, they're Chick's sweetheart." said Lynn.
She took one out and turned it over in her hand, they looked like tiny eggs so she said: "No. There is no chicks in there."
Lynn thought that was hilarious.
I missed most of the speeches as I was out in the garden looking after the little ones but, apparently the groom's speech included some jokes about my wife and he gave her a big bunch of flowers. She used to work with him and it was through her that he met his wife so the wedding was kind of her fault.
It was a good chance to say hello to lots of people we hadn't seen in a while. My wife used to work with a lot of the Groom's guests and I used to be friends with the Bride's ex-husband so, I know her family already. Her Mum and Dad moved to Ireland a few years back so I hadn't seen them for some time.
Had to keep an eye on the kids though, they were all off running about with the other children. I had to stick to shandies otherwise it would have been lights out far too early plus, I had to drive home in the morning.
The photographer had earned his money so, it was back inside for the dinner. We sat on the second table with the bride's friends Chick and Lynn who were looking after the happy couple's baby son.
During the meal our eldest daughter noticed some little boxes of mint imperials that the adults had. To no one in particular she said:
"What are these?"
"Oh, they're Chick's sweetheart." said Lynn.
She took one out and turned it over in her hand, they looked like tiny eggs so she said: "No. There is no chicks in there."
Lynn thought that was hilarious.
I missed most of the speeches as I was out in the garden looking after the little ones but, apparently the groom's speech included some jokes about my wife and he gave her a big bunch of flowers. She used to work with him and it was through her that he met his wife so the wedding was kind of her fault.
Be quiet and sit still - Wedding pt 1
We had a great time at the wedding.
An early start for a weekend. All the kids up, fed and in the car for 8am then a four hour drive to Dorset.
The hotel staff had assured us the room would be ready for Midday so we could decamp and get dressed ready to take our seats in the wedding hall at 2:45pm. So of course the room was not ready. No big problem though, they soon had it done.
We had adjoining rooms so, the kids could sleep separately to my wife and I without being inaccessible. The hotel is a lovely old building, it has this weird cental 'staircase' that runs parallel to the main one. Each step is only about 6 inches wide and they were used to hold the candles for guests to find their way to the rooms in pre-electric times.
The wedding and reception was not held in the main hotel but in a side hall, this meant we could get some sleep before the party finished.
We got dressed for the event and made our way downstairs to the hall. I went and sat down with the twins whilst my wife stayed outside with our daughter waiting for the Bride and Groom to arrive and pose for some photos with the horse and carriage they arrived in.
Our daughter looked beautiful as a bridesmaid. She was given a basket of rose petals to litter on the floor as the procession made its way through the hall but, she wouldn't do it because she "didn't want to make a mess". The other small bridesmaid was the bride's daughter. The bride's sister, was the last bridesmaid. The ceremony went really well. The bride got a little tearful when making her vows but, that all adds to the atmosphere of a wedding doesn't it?
We were sat in the front row on the Bride's side trying to keep the twins quiet. Fat chance, they wanted to have a wander around so, rather than keep hold of them and have them crying we had to let them go. When the happy couple watch the wedding video they'll see a pair of two year old children behind her. A little girl clutching her dolly and a little boy sitting on the carpet playing with his car. At least he wasn't making 'Brmmm, brmmm' noises.
An early start for a weekend. All the kids up, fed and in the car for 8am then a four hour drive to Dorset.
The hotel staff had assured us the room would be ready for Midday so we could decamp and get dressed ready to take our seats in the wedding hall at 2:45pm. So of course the room was not ready. No big problem though, they soon had it done.
We had adjoining rooms so, the kids could sleep separately to my wife and I without being inaccessible. The hotel is a lovely old building, it has this weird cental 'staircase' that runs parallel to the main one. Each step is only about 6 inches wide and they were used to hold the candles for guests to find their way to the rooms in pre-electric times.
The wedding and reception was not held in the main hotel but in a side hall, this meant we could get some sleep before the party finished.
We got dressed for the event and made our way downstairs to the hall. I went and sat down with the twins whilst my wife stayed outside with our daughter waiting for the Bride and Groom to arrive and pose for some photos with the horse and carriage they arrived in.
Our daughter looked beautiful as a bridesmaid. She was given a basket of rose petals to litter on the floor as the procession made its way through the hall but, she wouldn't do it because she "didn't want to make a mess". The other small bridesmaid was the bride's daughter. The bride's sister, was the last bridesmaid. The ceremony went really well. The bride got a little tearful when making her vows but, that all adds to the atmosphere of a wedding doesn't it?
We were sat in the front row on the Bride's side trying to keep the twins quiet. Fat chance, they wanted to have a wander around so, rather than keep hold of them and have them crying we had to let them go. When the happy couple watch the wedding video they'll see a pair of two year old children behind her. A little girl clutching her dolly and a little boy sitting on the carpet playing with his car. At least he wasn't making 'Brmmm, brmmm' noises.
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