Louise said I was getting more like a bloke last night… Not meant as an insult as such, but certainly as a criticism. I don’t really like that, but I understand what she means. I guess it comes from work. Previously I used to work in a team that mainly comprised of women – now for the past year & three quarters I’ve been working in a laddish environment & it’s bound to have rubbed off at least a little. I have also become more cantankerous of recent. More Irritable. I used to be unphased by most things, but now I find I can get pissed off with things – like for instance I was irrationally mad at the trains Saturday morning for being so… crap. I would not really have worried so much about that previously. But then that was a Saturday, & I do not yet even like the idea of having to go into work yet, let alone being late when I set off early specifically to avoid late. On the way home things were more farcical, but I did not find myself raging against the situation. I did find I was bilious on the coach though. I am not travelling well on buses or coaches at the moment.
Hmmm this may be a little projection on Louise’s part as she does concede that she is doing her best to remain calm at the moment.
We set off for Leeds yesterday morning. We need a few things, so a ‘big town’ jaunt is the thing. We had a struggle getting ready as is so often, because Jack does not like getting dressed. He does not like changing clothes at all come to that. He kicked up a fuss about wanting to go on the Internet as well, but we needed to be away. Out into the rain for a dash to the station – Jack on my shoulders & Louise forging ahead with Eve in the pushchair. We did not make the train. It was (shock) on time – & as there is only the one per hour on the Sunday we gave it up for a bad job & went home . Got thoroughly soaked in another downpour on the way home – & there was a stinging cold wind as well (yuk).
We’ve got some old wallpaper on the beams in the attic that needs stripping. Jack was keen to do ‘some work’ in the attic, & that seemed a good option. It was a little difficult for him to help as it was so high up, but Louise held onto him as he stood on a stool & he got a peaked hat to try to prevent everything falling into his eyes. He did quite well. I took the kids out shopping while Louise stayed at home (which was a novelty). The kids seemed to enjoy it & as I was pushing Eve, Jack was quite happy to walk (realising that I would not be up for ‘shoulders’ routine).
Jack watched the ‘walking with beasts’ weekly repeat in the afternoon, & was rapt by giant whales & so forth & seemed quite convinced that they were real. A animal was injured at some point & he thought that God would make it better. Well – he does go to a CofE school – but I somehow don’t think that they are explaining things well to them. I am at best agnostic, but I certainly don’t think that they should be planting the idea that ol’ whitebeard would be interventionist. There lies easy disillusion…
Hmmm that reminds me – he was dreaming of giant ants the other day when he woke up in the night (previous week’s beasts). How very ‘Dali’.
He then played on the Internet. for a bit. Eve had a go as well, but she really does not understand it. She had a great time randomly swishing the mouse about & clicking on everything she could. She also refused any assistance with a wail of despair that it would all be snatched from her… so we (Jack & I) just let her get on with it. She was over tired really – but she enjoyed waving the mouse about for a good while before getting bored. Jack was good & let her do this for much longer than I thought he would tolerate. Eve went off for bath & bed. Jack was still playing on the net. Eve was very narky at having to put clothes on again protested somewhat. Once she’s calmed down enough she was off to sleep really quickly. Jack, on the other hand was less keen on bed, did not have a shower & took a long time to convince into sleep. He did sleep the night through though – something he does not really do that often.