Written by: paul

All the kids were asleep when I left this morning. That hasn’t happened for… well – some considerable time. Peaceful & stress free.
You kinda miss them though.

Yesterday Eve was completely & utterly tired out. She was ready for dropping off to sleep before 7, but then the fireworks started & it was at least an our later before she could keep her eyes open no longer & flopped down from the bedroom window & was willing to be carried over to her bed. Just a few seconds before she fell asleep then. Jack stayed at the window watching the fireworks around the town for another half hour or so before he was wrenched from the window & dropped into the bath. It took him quite a bit of reading before he would calm down enough to slip into sleep.

I tried to get a haircut again yesterday & failed miserably – annoying that. Queue to big at the barbers in Manchester (I could well have missed the train I need to get – so off home to try the 2 others. Tuesdays one closes (I’m sure I managed to get a cut there on a Tuesday before…) & the other one has a notice declaring that it’s closed – just for today. Petty frustrations…. Ah, talking of which; my other petty frustration – my Apple CD of 9.2.2. still has not arrived. [Summary:] I got my OSX install CD the week before last & realised that I could not do a straight upgrade, because OS 9.0.4 on my machine would not be compatible for use in OSX’s ‘Classic’ environment (allowing usage of the current apps I have). No OS 9 upgrade CD is packaged with the latest version of OSX – thus I have to send off to apple with monies for P+P & ‘handling’. Done 25/26 of last month.. & I’m being very good… I’m being adult & not installing OSX & then sorting out the problems later -!
I’m just waiting – I’m BEING PATIENT! gah! Most unlike me & ‘new toys’. Excuse me while I just go & sulk in the corner for 5 minutes…

Heh… While Jack was on holiday the other week it was ‘photo’ time at playgroup. Someone comes around to take those ‘your child (nearly) smiling photos’ like the ones they take in schools. All the brood went to have their picture taken. Louise was a bit worried how the photo would turn out, as Eve was a bit nervous of it all. It has turned out very well! We have an adorable photo of the three of them sitting in a row – smiling (well – Jude is more quizzical & Eve’s smile is not carefree – but Jack is on full ‘charm offensive’).

Oh, my brother & Jess are hopefully dropping by this weekend – it will be good to see them – it would also be good if I could get in touch with him to figure out what his plans are… but those are just details.
We’ll then have Caroline coming to visit in a few weeks as well if things work out. We are a bit ‘socially booked’ at weekends at the moment… weird.

Power cut this morning – I feel grecky as the hot water although gas, is dependent on electricity. Bah. Still – it was a novelty of sorts.
Got me new glasses yesterday! I can see everything crystal clear. My eyes were not enjoying it that much yesterday & my head & eyes feel a little dull this morning; that’s probably through sleep drought.
Giving up typing this morning for the more passive activity of sleeping. I feel I need to.

Hah – this machine would hardly work this morning (the eMate on which I type) as I’d filled it so with all my waffling. I deleted a stack (to free up the memory stack). I’ll concede I need to look at deleting some apps I don’t really need either.

On Friday last week they came to fit the new windows in our house. They took just the one day to do it. They did rather a good job. It’s all rather gratifying. I was sceptical about moving to PVC double glazing, but it has made quite a difference to the aspect of the rooms – they seem much more light & airy without the heavy coloured wood of the previous windows. The Kitchen door is rather pleasant as well. We have not done the windows in there as we are looking to change the room round before we do that – but the door is such an improvement. We decided to have a big window on the door to let in more light & it works a treat.

Been quite a good weekend. Jack’s was a bit cocky on Saturday, but we put that down to the fact that he refused to have any breakfast. By the time we were going out he’d got himself cranky (& was demanding food – but we were going out!). Got present for Leila’s birthday party – forgot most things – back home & off to the party in the pouring rain. We arrived half an hour late, but it was the best we could manage & it was to little ill effect. Jack was not keen to join in musical bumps & other party games. Whether this was because we were late or because… it’s not what he likes (not a great one for competition sometimes – he comes over shy all of a sudden) I don’t know. He was happy enough to join in hide & seek & run around like a mad thing though. I wheezed about the place a bit as i had forgotten to bring my inhaler. I’ve been more reliant on it the last week after hardly using it for ages. I have a cough. Got soaked on the way home as the rain was even worse. Paced quite well as not to get too out of breath though.

Took Jack swimming on Sunday morning. He’s starting to have lessons – this being the second now. He really, really likes going swimming. He enjoys himself to the extent where he doesn’t really listen to the instructor sometimes. I have to strain my ears to listen to what she is saying. Did backstroke & practiced getting legs straight & kicking well – which Jack managed fine. I seem to recall that I was happier swimming on my back to start with. I never was that coordinated & it’s nice & simple on yer back. That breast stroke… eesh – all those odd arm & leg movements.

Off to Leeds for the afternoon – & pottered about very easily. Pleasant bit of consumerism & then home. Yeah – that went well.

Blurg boogle bliuh nurgah.
brabinb no want work.

Jack came home happy from Thomas’ last night. Eve was already asleep – she was worn out after a happy day. Jude was still going strong. He’s still an early riser… He was awake (just) before I was due to rise this morning & did not settle down. Still actively torturing Louise when I went to rouse her half an hour or so later. Bad morning – confused – & the milk I had put on mine was off – which is bizarre. Took a couple of sour mouthfuls for me to realise. I then went to redo my breakfast but ended up putting milk on Louise’s cereal instead… She noticed it was soggy when she came to eat it… duh. At least Eve is sleeping better in the night – & the last 2 mornings, although she has woken too early – she has not howled about it; slightly confused upset, but not howling.
Louise is suffering from lack of sleep more than I am.
Party tonight – Hamish’s birthday – so we are off to ‘Pockets’ – where Jack had his do. Halloween themed & all that. Hamish, turned up on the doorstep last night ‘trick or treat’ing. Bit early, but I guess that they can hardly do it tonight. Amber the skeleton was dribbling through her mask. I guess it added to the effect…

Cut short typing yesterday as I had to surrender my adjacent seat to a fellow traveller & I do not want to type sat next to someone…. Not that I believe I could think of anything else to say.

Oh – Happy Birthday to my brother. I got him a present I hope he’ll enjoy – as this text is unlikely to reach public view before … well… a long time… I can say that it’s the collected 1st Volume of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (a comic that is undergoing filming at this very moment). More ‘mainstream’ than anything I’ve bought him, comic wise, in the past few years… so I think he’ll like it. He better not have it already!
Jack got a drawing from a girl in his class yesterday & an invite from another lad to come to tea. So, the picture is on the wall & we are having tea without him tonight. Good for him.
Jack & Eve … well – I’m not sure quite what happened as neither of us were in the room when the incident occurred, but I think they came to blows (He hit me/she pulled my hair). They were both suddenly crying fiercely. I went into the room & thought, “uh-oh” with Eve & asked her to go into the kitchen, & tried to see what was wrong with Jack. He can at least speak when he’s in this state. Eve duly threw up on the kitchen floor – so that was a good tea lost. Louise got mad as this happens all too often. I cleared up & Jack was offended that Louise thought that it was all his fault. Egads! All calmed down soon enough though. Eve right as rain after puking, as usual… which is annoying of her, as it all seems a bit of ‘a demonstration’ – like she feels it’s something she should do. Hey ho – family life. At least she did as I asked rather than puking on the carpet. That’s… sort of an improvement.
Gave Louise her birthday present early last night – new EBTG dvd. Put it on again this morning as I left the house.

Heh – took yesterday off work. Jack does not go back to school until today & Louise thought that it would be a very pleasant idea & so it was; a very nice day. We went off to Huddersfield & pottered about shopping. Quite good booty – like some Halloween themed attire for Eve & Jack who are off to Hamish’s Halloween themed party on Thursday. Glow in the dark ink on the decals. They enjoyed those at bedtime – both going off into their bedroom with the lights of & the door closed – Jack with a ghosty & Eve with a half dozen of so bats eyes all aglow; excitement!
Jack & Eve played very well together all throughout the day, really. It was a pleasure to behold. Not fractious, but cooperative.

Beautiful clear light this morning. It pissed it down last night – water thrashing on the roof & velux windows. I have to say, this is one aspect of sleeping in the attic room I really like. I smile to hear the rain beating down & the wind thrashing about.
I forgot to mention earlier in the week – probably Monday, as I didn’t type on Tuesday, that Jude has cut his 1st tooth (at last). Louise ways that he cut it’s neighbour yesterday – so there are 2 bottom teeth. I could not feel it, & have yet to actually see the 1st one – he likes to keep them covered with his tongue when he concedes to open his mouth…
Looked like Louise had to endure a day of mayhem yesterday. Hamish & Amber have returned from a trip to London, & were round to play a lot. The upstairs rooms seem to have been rearranged a little – chairs moved bedclothes everywhere. hmph. I tidied up their front bedroom when I got home as Louise was out with Jude getting shopping (delayed) & her mum was playing with Jack & Eve downstairs. Apparently Jack & Hamish had done a good job of tidying it already as they had scattered lego & bionicles everywhere – which was gone by the time I got to it. Ah – the world of small advances.

Yesterday was a day of crap ‘no table’ trains. Hey ho.
Also Mac OSX arrived at home with a confirmation of suspicions that it does not have an OS9 upgrade with it… & there’s me in OS 9.0.4 limbo (it won’t work in conjunction with X – bah).
Never mind – I’ll just have to be grown up & patient while I await the redemption of the apple fulfilment thing (You have to PAY a little more – which seems somewhat sharp).
Jack has adapted to the holidays very well. The 1st day he was directionless & was causing a bit of a headache for Louise. He settled down though & is now been constructive & helpful (not ‘over helpful’ either – not, “I want to clean the house from top to bottom”). Eve is not quite over throwing up – but she is less delicate in this matter. She lost her tea last night though – but this was because Jack upset her because she was messing with his sums (sticker) book. He’s been very fond of his sums book. It was something that my brother sent for his birthday, but he was not really ready for it at the time (not much in the way of sums at school). He’s now rather keen on sums & the holiday seemed a perfect time for him to have a go with it. It’s also a sticker book – you don’t write the answer – you use stickers – another very big good point in Jack’s eyes.
Oh – I got into an old password protected diary the other day – from when Jack was born & we 1st got a computer. I’m not really sure why I put a password on it, but I cracked it the other day. It was a little odd reading words from Louise & I from that time. Slightly different world. I’m not really sure if I would put any of it up to accompany this stuff as it’s got Louise in it as well, for one thing – & I know she would not appreciate me doing that.

Well – I had my eyes tested. They are not as sharp with these glasses – so I’ve ordered another pair. I feel as if I’ve been suckered a little – as the price was more than I was anticipating… I can’t shake that. Never mind, it’s done now. I will try not to dwell on it all.

…Still dwelling… damn!

It was a shame I did not get home 5 minutes earlier yesterday. Eve had just gone upstairs before I came home & somehow banged her head. This set her off on an unfortunate chain reaction she often falls prey to. Too upset – hysterical – gulping – puking. All over the upstairs landing…. bah. Louise was annoyed with her, as she had plenty of time to get to the bathroom… but then, she is not yet 3 (almost, but not quite) & such sensible thought is beyond her – especially when hysterical. We now have a smelly landing. It’s going to take a couple more cleans, I think.
Returning home starting off so bad made an even more pleasant contrast at teatime, when the kids sat down reasonably well & certainly ate well. Almost civilised.
OK – tired has got me this morning – I’m going to resort to a snooze.