Archives: jack

Guilty of reading the paper in the morning the last couple of days. Such naughtiness – not occupying my time with something vaguely constructive, like, like… typing this stuff.

What have we been up to? Well – yesterday we fell prey to aggressive mortgage marketing & went to the Halifax to have an interview about them taking over out mortgage. Coincides with a desire to get some money for home improvements. All looks as though it will go swimmingly.
Jack was tired & ratty yesterday – he was tired – late to bed & early to rise. He was away for most of the day, the day before in ‘the countryside. Ruth, Hamish & Amber’s mum had taken them out on a trip to Pendle. Louise didn’t really realise it was that far afield. She imagined that they would be going local, as there’s plenty of countryside around here, but there was something missing in the communication. This was seemingly mainly done by Hamish, who is really only a little older than Jack… They didn’t get back to way past teatime, but they had set of later than planned as Louise took them to playgroup as previously planned. The county jaunt was only introduced as an idea that morning & caught her somewhat off balance – but as Jack was keen, she let him go.
There was another trip of some form planned today, but Jack has a dental appointment for that missing tooth he now has to be checked upon. Is there actually another tooth coming up or not?
Personal preoccupation – the pain I have in the nasal cavity. There’s a boil or something right up my nose. Nothing that can be seen, but it’s certainly uncomfortable. Just thought I’d share that.

Journey to work could have been better… I took my wallet out of my pocket when I got home yesterday as it was too hot & was carrying too much. Forgot to put it back until I was half way to the station – so had to turn back… Missed the train & then faced 2 cancels & a very packed train on the way in. Arrived at work an hour later than I usually do… & that was because the train was so packed it took an age to get there.
Hey ho.
It’s a lark
etc

So – we went to Urbis yesterday. The inside of the building looked interesting… what I saw of it… It cost £5 per adult, so we were less than enthusiastic to pay £15 for the 3 of us. There we were thinking that museums were free by law these days… how foolish. Jack was most disappointed. He had been very good that day, but crabbiness due to lack of sleep was probably starting to surface. He coped very well in general though.
We sauntered off to Piccadilly station (taking in a couple of shops on the way) to see Caroline off. Louise got some new shoes – she is pleased about that. Eve fell asleep – so missed Caroline getting on the train. It was good to have her visiting for the weekend. She’s a good guest to have about & the kids really like her. Jack was quite good with it – quite & sad. He only cried as we walked away. We distracted him with the palaver of getting to the trams to get back to Victoria: lift down – across concourse – lift up – across concourse – establish final lift down inoperative – carry pushchair down the stairs against the flow of oncoming commuters.
Home a little late & the kids late to bed again. I hope they managed to sleep in a little today.

Are you calling me dull? dim? vacant?
Well – I concede there’s an element of truth there… I cannot deny it. I should not have stayed up late at the weekend… but hey – we had guests… a guest – Caroline from London.
Been good to have her here. Jack really likes her; Eve has no worries & Jude smiles at everyone.
Louise was saying that by this age Eve was starting to become clingy & not want others to hold her, Jude however is quite happy for anyone friendly to hold him & will smile at everyone. He’s even known to instigate smiling. That’s not to say that he’s one dimensional – he did the most quizzical side look at Eve the other day after she got down from the dinner table to lean forward at him & go “EEEaaaark!” & walk off. It was a definite – ‘what the hell was that about – is she crazy?’ look. He is, on the whole an immensely happy baby tho.
What have we done while Caroline has been with us this weekend?
Well… We were in Manchester after picking her up on Saturday. We are impressed with the refurbishment at Manchester Piccadilly station – Drab modernist to open sweeping ‘glass’ roof – all curves & elegance. We’d rather not have waited quite so long for her train. It was nearly an hour late after mysteriously taking a wrong turn & ending up in Coventry. A train taking a wrong turn? Bizarre. We wandered into a very busy Manchester. Not only was it a Saturday, but the last weekend of the Commonwealth Games. Abuzz, it was. People all over, band playing & all sorts. Quite cosmopolitan (well – it is a city – duh!). Not home too late for the kids, but they could not get a grip on going to bed – so were playing out in the back yard in their pajamas, before we dragged them off to bed.
Sunday – off to Hebden bridge. Jack has gone with Hamish on an earlier train & we get there a bit later by bus. We meet up in the playground & the skies open just as Jack & Hamish get to the paddling pool. I’m impressed by the speed at which the playground empties. There are a few persistent kids getting wet. Jack & Hamish shelter with us, even thought they are already sodden from the pool. Logic does not really come into it. That could have worked better…. Oh well.
In the evening, Louise it’s tired & although she wants to stay up, she can’t cope with watching Monster’s Inc with us all (Jack has had a bath & come back down to watch it.) He is very late to bed – I hope that he sleeps in a while this morning. Louise fell asleep getting Jack to sleep. I just about did as well… but managed to hang on for a bit longer.
Caroline heads back this evening. I’m meeting them after work in Manchester & we’re going to go & visit Urbis… Should be interesting – I’m intrigued how the building will look on the inside.

No typing yesterday as I was too wet – I was dripping & the keyboard is not waterproof. Was dipping today as well – but I seem to have stopped dripping now.
Back into the attic last night – hopefully the start of a better routine. Paint stripping again – the nasty layers of white gloss off the beams – but there are a few jobs that need doing. I have to concentrate & focus better. Louise said last night that she feels I’m more positive at the moment – hinting that I might have been in a rut of recent… Perhaps I have? Jack did not sleep so well – kept calling out when he roused for someone to visit him. Staggered off a couple of times in a very sleepy fashion, but did not get in his bed – which is what I suspect he wanted. I blame this for my grogginess this morning.
Interestingly on Wednesday night he was in the bath on his own for a good while – I was reading to Eve while Louise fed Jude, & then Louise & I were chatting… Jack was chuntering away to himself & I eventually investigated. He was acting out a little tableau with lego brick & cars as characters (they are imported unofficial bath toys). He was telling tales of woe – a sombre voice describing how ‘they all died – there was no food, only drink’ & things like that – then a few sobs & so forth. The sobs are what might have got my attention in the 1st place as I checked on him – he smiled sweetly & said that he was not really sad. When he came to get out of the bath & Louise had gone downstairs he burst into despairing tears. Louise came up & we had quite a performance – although it was pretty obvious he was ‘enlarging’ his emotions… hmmm….

Bit of a funny evening… It’s very hot at the moment & Jack has considerable trouble getting comfortable, & settling own to sleep. I eventually fell asleep with him. When Louise roused me it was half nine. I doddered off downstairs & put the kettle on, while Louise stayed upstairs for the moment. Jude woke up, so I stumbled back upstairs & took him to Louise, lay down on the bed a moment & promptly fell asleep again. Could see it coming & should have got up, but couldn’t be bothered. Woke at eleven thirty & thought… Ah! Better turn out the light & lock up the house. Putting the cover on the sandpit woke up Eve (as it’s below their bedroom window & it’s hot, so it’s open… Back upstairs & she wants her mum. Louise staggers over having woken up & I pootle off to lock doors & turn lights out again. Back to bed; back to sleep. Not very productive, but I do feel a little fresher this morning… I guess.

Jack has a guilty secret at the moment that I don’t think he realises I know about. Jack & Eve were play fighting the other day (Eve is usually the more antagonistic in these situations) & Jack bit Eve on the side. He drew blood. Eve was very distressed. It’s all getting better now healing already. I think Jack, from what Louise says, was very shocked that he had hurt Eve so, & asked Louise not to tell me. The big plaster was difficult to miss.
When I got home yesterday everyone was wilting from the heat. Our neighbour Caroline then turned up with a paddling pool for the kids! Wow! Much huffing & puffing & water carrying later the kids were wet & happy. Jack had his water pistol & Caroline had her watering can & they had a little duel. I would say that the watering can is more effective. Heh. She’s too good to us is Caroline

“Um…” is about all I can think of this morning.
A one-day weekend again – so not much doing. Jack & I cleaned the bathroom. Eve helped as well. Not terribly exciting, I have to concede, but it went surprisingly well considering it was me, & 2 young children & a lot of water. They were remarkably restrained… Actually, I think it was because Jack was good & Eve follows that lead.
Jack’s pals Jessie & Hamish were not about. Hamish is in London & Jessie must have been out for the day. Jack is worried as Jessie’s house is up for sale. He does not want him to go away & is afraid that he will move schools as well. As far as I can discern – they are not leaving the area & Jessie’s older brother & sister go to Jack’s school as well. I may be wrong, but I don’t think that they will be moving schools as well.
Jack takes his friendship very seriously. I’ve seen Jack trying to comfort both friends when upset. Jessie went off in a huff once & Jack was most disturbed, & ran after him asking what was wrong. I think Jessie felt aggrieved at some perceived slight. Hamish is the harder of the 2 as he does not seem to want consoling when upset (hmmm – that’s what Eve’s like). His elder brother had upset him & he went into his front garden to cry & sulk. As we were in our front garden Jack was most concerned & went to see what the matter was. Unfortunately Hamish just cold-shouldered & was probably more upset by the attention. Jack can’t really get his head round this reaction to being upset. When he’s upset he needs comfort from one of us (me or Louise). Big on contact & hugs, is Jack. I guess he expects others to need contact when they are upset. He wants to help.

As the tabloids are fond of saying; “Phew – what a scorcher!”. Bleedin’ hot outside.
Had one of my ‘migranes’ this morning at work. This basically means I have a little visual disturbance & feel a bit groggy afterwards. Something I noticed as odd beforehand was that I was in an annoyingly chirpy mood beforehand… bit like being a little tipsy. Quite pleasant until everything went a bit weird. No idea what causes them. Rare & largely undisruptive.
The party went quite well yesterday. I got there half an hour after the start (by virtue of not getting the earlier train & thus the earlier bus connection etc etc). Had fun – got chased around by the kids a bit & swung Jack around a bit & ate a great many pickled onions… Oh, I’m a sociable fella.
Jack has lost his 1st tooth. Bottom middle right. He’s had a wobbly tooth for over a week & we’ve been telling him not to mess about with it… but it’s been too much for him to resist. He managed to wobble it free yesterday morning. Louise has booked him with the dentist to check it out. It’s difficult to say, but he may well have lost his 1st milk tooth to an adult tooth. It sort of looks like there’s another tooth growing up, but I’m no dentist. I hope there is, as if not he’s going to have a gappy smile for a bit.
He put his tooth under his pillow as he went to bed. I sneaked up later to do the ‘tooth fairy’ bit. I left money, but I could not find the darn tooth. He shouted for me in the night to tell me that the tooth fairy had been – & was rather excited by the whole thing. He eventually went back to sleep.

Train Strike day. Sitting on the ‘turn around’ to Southport – that, of course goes through Manchester. They also seem to have laid on coaches today… That’s a 1st. Surely nothing to do with the Commonwealth Games starting today…? Noooo…

Louise, her mum & the kids went to Hebden Bridge yesterday. I think the plan was to look at a shoe shop there, but it has ‘intermittent’ opening hours – so as nothing has been said on the subject, it may not have been open. Eve is in need of new shoes again. She has a pair that seem too small for her; her 3rd toe has a tendency to hide under the 2nd toe if there’s not ample room.
Back to Hebden again today for Harvey & Flo’s birthday party. Not sure why it’s in Hebden bridge tho – but that’s the way it be, so that be the way it is (they live in Tod, & like us do not have a car). I will be late, & will have to spend longer on a bus that I’d like. The trains back home only get as far as Rochdale today, & thus I get a bus from there all the way to Hebden – bleh!