Monthly Archives: December 2002

Big Empty train (strike day – limited service). Hey – my brain is the same!
It would rather be sleeping, but that could not be the case even without work to attend, as Eve was awake before I left this morning.

I shall attempt to recount a little of the holidays again. If Boxing Day was Thursday (I think it was) then Neil & Jess arrived in the afternoon. This pleased Jack no end, as he really likes them. They all had a good time. Eve tuckered out again & so did Jude (later), but Jack kept going. He would have kept on & on. He was starting to tire, even with his buoyant mood & excitement he was getting clumsy, so rather than he be upset by upsetting someone, we upset him; by taking him to bed. He howled & protested for a while, but calmed down with the reading of a new book; Ivor (the Engine) & The Foxes – which has a mounting sense of excitement as Mrs Fox gets chased.

The next day we went to this open farm. The really good thing that the kids enjoy is the barn which has one of those inside play areas – all slides & climbing & …well- adventuring for the young ‘uns.
They stayed there a good while & bounced on the trampolines & Eve had a go on the tractors (push along & pedal). Was not so mild that day tho – so the adults (Louise & I, me mum & Neil & Jess) did a lot of standing/sitting around being cold. Jack befriended some other boys in one of the climbing frames & then went off to play on the slides. The boys all then started shouting, “Jack! ….Jack! JACK!” etc. Like he gets an instant cult… weird.

Saturday was pottering around & packing. Not so interesting for the kids, but Jack & Eve did get a little walk on the beach with Neil & Jess.

Traveled back that night & home. Only Eve worried us on the journey. After we left the motorway & were ‘on the final straight’ metaphorically, she stirred & was upset. She cried & was almost to the ‘distressed enough to be sick’ point. She did one of those magnificent pre puke belches she does – forced out by a cough… but she managed to keep it together.

Jack awoke the next morning & announced to Louise, “That was the best holiday I’ve ever had” (as already mentioned).
They’ve settled down quite well. Jack still has a slightly frantic edge, but nothing compared to pre Xmas.

We have Caroline from London visiting now – so I was up far too late last night. My body has not yet adjusted to the early morning wake up that I have to do to get to work – so I was already a bit of a wreck by the time I was coming home. Actually – I’ve been clumsy as well – which is more than tired… Aha! I can happily blame this cold, then.

This being New Years Eve, it looks a lot like I will be up late again tonight. Bonus point is that I do not have to go to work tomorrow – yeay!

After an all too quick holiday I’m back on this train to work. As suspected, I had no time to sit down & type – but that is not a bad thing, as far as I’m concerned. I had a pleasant time – thoroughly pleasant.
Jack said as he woke on the 1st day back at home, “That was the best holiday I ever had”.

I think the madness of anticipation had calmed down in Jack once we got there & he settled more to his usual self. He was really good & loving. The journey down (my dad drove us) nearly went to plan. If we had not hit a traffic jam for 2 hours on the M5 down from Manchester to Birmingham it was likely that the kids would have stayed asleep better. As it was, they all awoke at some stage here. Eve managed to get back to sleep. Jude was asleep & awake, much as his sleeping pattern had been the past few days, & Jack just stayed awake. We got in late & Jack was buzzing with the fact that we were there at Grandma & Grandma’s house. All this meant that he was frighteningly late to bed. Louise said that I was reading to him past 12:00 (or was it 01:00). He was keen as mustard to get to the beach on the 1st day, but we didn’t make it. I can’t really recall why, but probably because Louise & I were still in a state of chaos. We managed to get out to the shops to get some supplies & essentials, but that was about it.

Christmas Eve, Jack was keen to be off to bed early. It was the ‘early to bed so the morning comes earlier’ thing. Again – not sure if the evening bedtime went more to usual time or not… I suspect that it did, as I seem to recall reading to him.

Up on Christmas day not too early – which was nice. When I was young, I could hardly sleep for the excitement of it all, but ours did well. Presents a plenty – & the kids were jolly happy. Jude did not get much, but then – he’s not really at an age to appreciate much of what’s going on. Christmas day mum & dad had the restaurant open. I’m sure we’ve done this scenario before, but when it was starting to get late – past 5? & the kids were starting to flag, it seemed a bit odd to have not seen much of them. We had been down to the beach during the day & they had a massive walk (in their terms) down to the lighthouse. The weather was unseasonably mild; it was pleasantly sunny. We were asked for buckets & spades, but we didn’t bring them, as we didn’t think that it would be this nice. Still, Jack & Eve had fun & they prodded the sand, jumped about splashed, climbed in the sand dunes. They were starting to get worn out by the final stretch home, but the promise of ice creams from the garage shop (next door to the parental abode) got them there. All that took rather a long time. The kids, Eve especially, were flagging badly by evening & it was starting to look like bed time was on the cards. Eve had some boiled egg for tea. She was starting to look like she was going to just drop asleep there & then, when…. Mum & Dad returned! Much bustle. A Christmas dinner suddenly appears & we are all around to table. After dinner is our traditional ‘presents from the family’ time. Eve said that she would only open 2 & then go to bed. She then proceeded, with Jack, to joyfully rip open the multitude of presents. Much excitement (all over again!). So many toys! Can’t recall when bedtime came, but it was very late again. They were happy.

Boxing day – Mum & dad nipped off for Golf in the morning.

To those I missed – Happy Xmas!

Hmmm… Could well be my last bit of ‘regular diary’ this year. Holidays start tomorrow & we’re off down to Somerset to spend Xmas with my mum & dad. Are we ready? Are we hell as like! At least, I think we’ve got all those present things now.

Jude hasn’t really got anything much in the way of presents, but he’s not 1 yet (actually… it’s not that long until he is!) so I’m sure he’ll get by on wrapping paper & such like. Must remember to pack a few of the things he likes to play with. I can predict that Louise & I will be spending a considerable amount of time going up & down the stairs with him. The stairs at maw & paws are nice, straight, wide, not too deep & ‘a good run’ up. I wonder about ornaments & alike, as he’s well into climbing up the furniture…. We will see.

Went to church last night. The whole family. How…. odd. There was a ‘Christingle service’. It was CofE – I was brought up CofE & I’ve never seen one of these before. Louise was busy making tea & Jack asked if he could go. Um… Ok, Louise said – so cheese on toast is rolled out at the dozen & we’re tidied up & off! We even make it there on time. On entering the church we were given an orange with a red ribbon 4 cocktail sticks with sweets & a candle stuck in it; all very significant details. We sat upstairs in the upper pews. Nice view of the wooden beams. Interesting church – can’t place it in a ‘traditional architectural’ era. Suspect not all of it is not that old, but has airs to look that way. Service went well & the bizarre totem was explained. Eve needed a wee just at the end – so had to take her outside with her ‘portable potty’ & try to get back in while everyone else was leaving. Jack consumed the sweets on the sticks stating something like, “I like sweets, I do”.

I think I’ve got the majority of my Xmas cards sorted out this year. I would send many more cards if I was assured of correct addresses & actually had taken note of people’s addresses properly. I am poor at such details; bad paul. The most amazing thing I find about this is the fact that I managed to get organised this year. It’s been a dreadful month for getting anything done.

Train home.

Cut short on typing yesterday due to the crowded train & this morning I had someone hogging the table with an enormous laptop. Blimey them things are big – I’m glad for this little eMate.

Anyway – to cut the chase – (continuing from yesterday) Jude’s rash got a whole lot worse. Worse than anything the health visitor had seen when we popped in on Wednesday, but it did not bother him & it got better. You’d not know it had been there now.

Jack has been a shepherd in the school nativity – which has meant going to school the last couple of evenings to perform. We took him Monday – the whole brood, but we didn’t get to see the play itself, as there were no tickets. We also had Eve & Jude – so it really was not that practical to stand at the back. We stayed in the classroom & both kiddies enjoyed roaming around a while before the classes filed back in. Louise’s mum took him last night. Eve konked out asleep in bed just before they got in the house. She was tired. Louise’s mum got to see the play by sneaking in at the back – but didn’t really say that much about it all. The ‘inkeeper’ was a comic role as he kept having to get out of bed & they sang a lot. Well – they would sing. Jack enjoys his singing & often sings his latest hymns to us at home. A favourite with Jack & Eve at the moment is ‘Jingle Bells’ – which through Jacks reading goes, “On that farm it is to ride on a one horse oaken sleigh, HEY!, Jingle bells etc…”
Got all of Jack’s Xmas cards done. Have to do all of Eve’s yet & our cards… welll… I’ve done one or 2… I used to do LOADS. Time time time time.

Don’t half feel better.
I had to give up the thought of going to work last Friday as I was feeling right horrid. My tongue was starting to swell up a bit as well. It was painful to move it too much, so it was very difficult to eat – to the point where I judged it better not to. I managed to get an early doctor’s appointment & as suspected, it was a salivary gland infection of some form. I said that I thought it was rather like what Louise had, & he agreed, & gave me the same treatment – a course of antibiotics. Homeward bound was hard work – cold & wearing. Got in – took tablets, fall onto the bed determined to get more sleep. Louise woke me later returning with Jude. Chatted, Jude fell asleep & I was left to fall asleep with him while Louise went to get Eve from playgroup. Ah whatever – with Eve in the house that was my last snooze for the day. I’m sure I must have been starting to improve as by Saturday I was OK enough to go on a much needed expedition to the shops (Xmas is coming after all).

Sunday, & I was basically feeling fine – feeling better than I have in a long while in fact. I wake with one heck of a (hangover style) headache, but that fades soon enough.

We went swimming (Jack & I). He can do the backstroke (at quite a pace) but not swim unaided on his front as yet. There is one more ‘duckling’ class & then he’s onto a Thursday evening class next year; something a bit more difficult. It would be pointless he repeating what he’s done so far in this class again.

Jude is better – well- he was last week as I was in decline. He’s giggling & smiling more & is the happy soul he usually is. Mind you – he basically was when he was at his spottiest. The spots & blotches are fading well. You’d hardly know that they were there. The doctor I saw asked after him as he was due to see him on the… I think it would have been the Tuesday evening when we thought that he was getting better & called to cancel – then regretted it later when more spots came again.

Not a lot of typing this week as not very well.
Going to work today against common logic.
I believe I have what Louise probably had the other week.
It’s kinda odd to have aches & pains & a fever without the snot of flu, which is a relief in a way though.

Jude gave us a bad scare on Monday night as well. Louise was undressing him for the bath when an alarming rash was revealed. Lots of raised areas with red centres. On the phone to NHS direct. Then on the phone to a local GP service. Many calls later, it was decided that as Jude was not seeming to suffer any ill effect he was probably all right. Keep an eye on him & take him to the doctors the next day. In general he was much more his usual self unlike last week with the rubella like rash; quite chirpy & playful.
I’m not quite sure how the Dr.’s visit went on Tuesday, but the rash was calming down then. The red spots had developed into little purple areas that looked a bit like bruises. The swelling had died down. There were no new ‘welts’. They were explained as an allergic reaction to a virus… Which kinda makes sense… Hives.
Unfortunately by evening he had a fresh crop again. Oh & by this time I was feeling shite as well…
We took him to ‘health clinic’ yesterday (I took the day off work as I had little sleep & a raging temperature). Jude’s ‘hives’ looked most alarming. They are confined on the whole to his legs, bum & elbows… He was happy enough & scurrying off with delight down the corridor of the health centre at every opportunity.
Further explanation is that it’s a way of fighting the virus rather than a fever. They do not itch & they do not seem to disturb him that much… but as said; it all looks rather alarming.

Right – I’m still not ‘good’ but travelling – so I’ll stop this typing & rest – as that’s what I really most want to do.

hmm – ok – I was going to write this morning, but I don’t feel much in the way of what I’m supposed to write. I managed to sleep in all beds last night… sigh.
Eve did well at one point – she got out of bed to go to the toilet. She’d decided she needed to go & was off. No protest about the situation – no fuss no bother… that was nice. Back to bed & asleep… wow.
I scampered back to our own bed – only to go downstairs for some medicine for Jude who was running a temperature. Next thing I know Jack’s crying out – so It’s down to him. He’s had a ‘sad dream’ – which he actually tells me about – that Eve had broken her forearm – right hand side from the way he pointed at his. Drifting off to sleep & then he announces he needs a wee as well. Heck, for some reason does not like the cupboard in the bathroom, & thus does not like to go to the bathroom unaccompanied sometimes. He did go to sleep again with little bother & I retired to the futon in the back room as I noticed by my alarm clock that I only had as much sleep as I could grab in half an hour.
Hmmm – well – I’ve slept better.

Happy birthday to me!

What did I get? I dunno – I ain’t seed no post yet. I have bought myself various bits & bats – glasses OSX & all that – so I can hardly feel neglected. I got Louise a card as it is our anniversary as well.
I failed to get Ralphie’s present off to him. Going around in a daze these past few days has not been conducive to remembering to do anything past responding to what’s in front of me; will try to do that today.

Eve slept better last night – in that she did wake up & she did howl – but she stooped howling & went to sleep. Jack slept through again. Bed time was a little less stressful as although Jack was in a hyper mood again (had an enormous tea – completely into food at the moment – his body is up to something to demand this) he was also in a very sweet mood & he played very well with Eve. His play has changed a lot this year. He is much more into initiating ‘imaginative play’ whereas he used to want you to take the lead, he now takes it with Eve, & Eve is well into it (she’s always been good at pretend play).

Jude is still not well. He is better, but not well & apt to getting a little bit of a temperature still.

Jack was a little disappointed to have only the one chapter of Pinocchio read to him. He is very into this rendition of the story (which is good) as he was really rooting for Pinocchio to be a ‘good boy’ when the ass drawn coach drew up & tempted him to go to Boobyland. He voiced his disappointment at Pinocchio’s decision to jump aboard.