Daddys Blog

You know, when he or she arrives, your heart is going to grow in ways you can’t imagine. You’ll look at her and your capacity for love will become infinite. That is the present she will give to you and she won’t even know she has done it.

That’s why being a parent is such a joyful thing. No matter what happens, you always have that gift that they gave you. An endless capacity for love is an amazing thing folks- that is why being a parent is easy to be honest. Whatever happens, you owe them for that gift.

Every time you kiss her or hug her. Every time you pick her up when she falls over and gets up with a scratched knee. Every time you hold her hand when she is scared of something. Every time you hold her when some mean boy has upset her. All you’re doing is paying her back for the gift she gave you the very first time she drew breath, blinked, opened her eyes and looked into your face.

That’s a fantastic way to spend your life I think, don’t you? Anyway, that’s all I wanted to say.

Ruby on the phone to Nanna

Ruby got up on her birthday (Monday 4th April) and complained that her arm
hurt. We didn’t until later on that she wasn’t using it at all. Cue a trip to
Oldham A&E. She was seen really quickly and had lots of x-rays. Thankfully it wasn’t broken but she still says it hurts a bit.

She certainly know how to stress her dad!

Daddy x

Cute George the wonder tortoise has climbed the beach and travelled where no tortoise dares to go. My little friend has died. I took him to the vets in Worsley who confirmed it.

Me and Sam dug a grave for him this morning and buried him. We’re all very sad.

Let there be lettuce as big as a house and peeled cucumber a mile long. A bright light to sit under and happy smiling folk to pick him up and stroke his little head.

RIP George the wonder-tortoise. A tortoise with attitude.

March is such a fine month. Having four days leave left to take I wondered… should I take the lot in one go or take a day off a week? If you’ve read the title, you’ll tell which day I chose.

I really recommend it - it breaks the week up very well. So far Boo and I have done a lot of dull cleaning but we’ve had some ace days out. All local to Greenfield because I’ve been picking TomTom up from school at 3:15pm too. No after school club for him!

On another note, it’s my Boo’s *third* birthday on Monday. If you’ve read this blog from the start, you’ll know how strongly she holds my heart and you’ll appreciate and indulge me if I go on a bit.

My Boo xxx

Daddy x

Here he is. This is Harry the Hamster. He’s a contrary little bugger but terribly cute. A friend of Amanda’s accidentally let her boy and girl hamsters “socialise” and Harry and his siblings were the result.

Boo thinks that Harry is the greatest thing ever (it’s put George the tortoises nose out of joint I tell you). she insists on taking everyone who comes round to see him. She’ll say ‘Hello. Got new pet! Come see’ then take your hand and show you. Ask her who it is and she’ll tell you.

“Hawwy the hamster”

(She’s struggling with the R’s, S’s and th- sounds)

TTFN
Chris (daddy to 3 kids and a menagerie)

What a big girl! She has had a potty for some time; a fancy thing that looks like a toilet. She has never used it though….. until today! I heard cheering coming from upstairs so I dashed up, only to find her sat there on the big toilet (on the seat I bought) with a big smile on get face. Mummy was cheering wildly! Ruby got off and then said “Do more on potty”

Off she jumped and sat on the potty. She peed enough to make it play music.

What a great start to the weekend!

One proud daddy x

Here it is. I’ve decided less is more. It is called Grind.

Harsh beats pulse
I ingest
I twitch
Involuntarily start to move
Hard bass shaking the air
Stale sweat lingers
Teeth start to grind
I raise my arms
And flow
Make wild shapes
Eyes tightly closed
Bright light scatter on my face
With a noise like thunder
Unified
We roar
And in my small space
Encapsulated by my ferocious attitude
I rule.

Thomas had a karate grading yesterday. He was fairly nervy (but denied it!). He had to do a full class, practicing kicks and punches and sparring.

Then he had to run through his kata which he *sort* of did ok. It looked like the main guy was going to ask for more at one point but they ran out of time.

Cue great relief!

He did pretty well and dad had the foresight to video the next kata he needs to learn.

I took many many snaps and embarrassed the bejesus out of him; kissing him and telling him I was proud.

The thing is, Tom can be a little lacking in confidence sometimes and it worries
me because I think he’s the greatest and he doesn’t necessarily see it.

Hi-yah!
Dad xx

Hello World. Tom has written a poem for a competition at school. He was given the first line and had to write the rest. He asked if I’d like a go too - so I wrote one for him.

Toms Boat

My single bed was sometimes a wooden boat,
My open window in the summer
Gusted in my curtain; my billowing sail.
My grey and tattered one eyed bear, my captain.
‘Onwards boy’, he roars and points
At the furious sea - my faded rug
Advancing on we laugh
As the spray spatters our salt-rimed faces,
An adventure every night.
A broken branch my silver sword
As I prepare to repel all boarders.
Our cargo is my pillow; a handsome bag of swag
That all pirates crave
My good ship Dreamer and my captain
We fear no villains nor sea monsters.
From the gap behind the bed head
Where all things fall and don’t return
Where all my toys will end up
A terrible kraken roars and rises
We tremble and raise anchor
Afraid of what may come
A thudding draws nearer and
Shaking we huddle down
A blinding light burns our eyes
An angry voice bids us sleep
And obediently I lay down
The turbulent sea becomes a carpet
My battle-scarred captain just a tattered bear
My fine ship Dreamer just a bed once more.
But I am happy.
I am happy.

That’s it. just remember: Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Cheers,
Daddy x

a long while! In the intervening months since my last post, much has happened. I’m now an uncle to Sylvie Rose (that’s her daddy Mark on the photo).

We’re currently in Marmaris, Turkey. It’s our last day today. We’re here with Mark, Holly, Sylvie, Auntie Mary, mum, Amanda, Sam, Tom and Ruby-Loo.

It’s rained a couple of days and been cooler at night but over all it has been good.

I’ve not seen a computer nor a wireless network any where. It is end of season (our hotel shuts up tomorrow) so I have been incommunicado. It’s been a welcome rest to be honest.

Adios,
Chris.