Archives: paul

The shouty drunk leaves the train when it’s pointed out to him that this is the train to Manchester, not the train to Bradford. He railed for a while at the bald bearded suit who may work for Manchester council as an accountant, so I looked round & watched him, & he railed at me a little while, then when he realisd that I was not particularly bother by this he railed at the door behind me (surely he meant the door all along). The shrewy blond business lady noted him muttering about Bradford & when we pulled into Rochdale negotiated him off the train & pointed him in the right direction. He dropped his crusty woolly hat, so amazed that he was being helped, I guess, so I darted to pick it up for him. He ambled off the train & we left him there. Cooo an ‘incident’ in the train.

Missed yesterday typing, as it was one of those crappy trains without tables. It is again this morning, but I thought I’d try to dodge travel sickness & type on my knee. Now I can’t even remember much of the weekend. Ah – I remember… It was not that much of a weekend as I was working on Saturday. I did manage to sort out a lot of the diary pages though. Over a month behind, I was. It’s still not completely up to date. Pictures & that sort of malarkey still needs to be done, but on the whole, It’s now actually as up to date as it gets.
Jack was digging his hole agian yesterday evening. He has started to dig at the bottom of the garden by the front gate. It’s a spot where there’s nothing really growing. I worry he will hit the rose roots, but as he has not yet, I don’t really see it happening to any great extent now. It’s not, by any means a big hole (well – it might be to him) & there’s no a lot of scope for making it larger. But he’s happy in his pursuit. I remember my brother having similar ambitions & digging what seemed an enormous hole. I know there’s a photo somewhere of him digging it, & for the young boy he was, it was truly huge. He’s standing in the hole in his photo, which is up to his waist. He has room to swing his spade in it as well.

I got Jack home from school quite quickly yesterday. William was there (his friend who moved to Spain). Don’t know if he had been there for the day, but I think Jack was pleased he was there. It’s always so difficult to judge Jack’s mood as he leaves school with how his day went, as he’s onto the next angle already – how to get me to pick him up & carry him, or something like that. Anyway – I told him that I had already taken the stabalisers off his bike. That got him home in a good mood. He was off as soon as he got home. The street full of kids : Hamish & Amber, Jill’s Tara & Maraid. & Kristen – who had just had stabalisers taken off her bike by looks of things. Hamish got his bike out as well – he’s been off stabalisers for a good while, but his transition was a little shakey. I think because Jack has got so adept with the scooter he’s got good balance & he made the transition quite easily really. Pedaling along with ease after a while.

Have proper bags under my eyes again this morning. Up to late doing a spot of decorating with Louise.
Well – Jude does not have a cough in his chest – although he sounds wheezy, it’s all ‘in the head’. Eve does not have a heart murmur, but there is no diagnosis as yet as to why she seems to go a little blue-lipped occasionally. The Dr commented that she had dark rings on her eyes – which is something we hadn’t really noticed. She wants to give her a blood test, but being new to the practice (apparently) she wants to check with the health visitor & a pediatrician 1st (I think that’s what Louise said). She took Louise seriously, which was good – Louise did not feel that she was facing skepticism over what we were saying, perhaps because the Health Visitor had assured the Dr that we were not wastrels? We’ve also been given direction if Eve seems to do the same again. All in all a positive step forward.
Everyone was in the park when I got home – which was a bit weird. I didn’t know where anyone was, but I suspected, & went looking. When we got back Jack pestered & pestered to have the stabalisers taken off his bike. I wonder what put it in his head? I was not willing to start with as the brake is in an awful position for him to be able to effectively use it. Andy – our good neighbour adjusted it for us (so now I know how to). Now all I need is a spanner that fits that bolt. Jack woke before I left for work again this morning. The 1st thing he asked was whether I would take the stabalisers off today…

Joy – bank holidays! A little extra time at home.
We (Louise & I) made progress in the attic Sunday night. We both did some painting. I’m getting on quite well with the skirting boards & she did a little wall painting where the underside of the arch where the chimney flues meet. Can’t really continue on that wall now, as we have to wait for the plaster to dry out. On the plus side – it does – very gradually – seem to be drying out. We had some bad rain last week & there seems to be no darkening in tone of the plaster – so we rather hope that leaks have been sealed. As Louise has had a taste of painting now, I think that she’ll be more up for helping me on an evening. Having said that we did no work. I wanted to got to bed early as I was irritable at some points yesterday, which is a sure sign that I’m fraying my edges too much.
We went to Leeds on Sunday & bought some clothes for the kids & Louise got some wool & I got some comics (our ‘habits’ satiated). We then discovered that we did not have as much money in the bank as anticipated… bum… Wishing our ‘habits’ were still craving. I got a whole bunch of small press comics to remind myself how badly I am progressing with ZUM!. Very nice to see a comic shop bothering to stock them though. I also got James Kochalka’s ‘comic book diary #2. Delightful & trying not to read it too fast.

Train home. Train strike day – so not the usual trains. But pleasantly surprised to have a table seat – woo! Typing in comfort.
Feeling relaxed, but then I have not been thrashing myself to get things done. Underlying guilt, but no underlying stress.
Still nothing on whether I can have a holiday at the end of the month – so that I can attend that comics convention – but at least I remembered to chase up about it today.
Voted yesterday. It’s a shame that the Tories aren’t withering away & dying, but then the that would be the only glimmer of joy in the cynical, but grimly determined view I have of all this. I feared Maggie Thatcher might die before these (or any) election as it might bring out sympathy vote – terrifying thought.
Eve seems to be losing the whinging streak she had a bit – which is quite a relief for such a loud lass, & we have avoided mentioning that we are not going to Elaine & Kyle’s tomorrow to Jack – so he might still think we are going. We cannot – due to the train strike.
Jude most certainly seem to be teething. He tries to stuff his fist into his mouth to chew it. 3 months seems a little early, but then Jack cut his 1st teeth at 4 months. It does seem to drive him to distraction sometimes & he has chomped on my finger with such vigor he’s managed to hurt me a couple if times. Oh – & he drools a lot – but then babies do that.

Not really feeling much of anything this morning. Minds a bit of a blank to be honest. Haven’t solved the ‘not enough sleep’ problem as didn’t even try to compensate for it. Jack slept well thru the night (until 4 anyway). This, considering all the children have the same cough as me (or do I have the same as them?). Louise has no cough – tender tum tho. While we’re on she subject of ailment… Louise has booked Eve in to see the Dr’s next Wednesday. As I was muttering last month (at least I think I was – I never read this too clearly) we do have some concerns on her general health – she seems to drink a great deal of fluids & is sometimes quite pallid. Her lips can sometimes go blue as well – which is a little alarming. When her lips do that, she is not usually showing any other indication of discomfort or anything… so… well, I dunno, but it’s best to bring these things up if we have concerns, however nebulous. Everyone Louise discusses it with says, “Oooh -she could be diabetic” which is not exactly comforting.
Been staring out of the window watching a couple of stations pass. I take it I have nothing more to say this morning.

Shagged this morning, but that really is nothing new. Cold a bit of a stuffed nose & cough, but again, that’s nothing really new. I have children, I travel on public transport – I’m likely to catch such things.
Scenes leaving school yesterday. I was picking up Jack & was a smidgeon late – in that he was out of the class as I came across the playground. He was happy to see me & ran forward to us (Eve was on my shoulders). He got his library book out to show me; a quite impressive edition of Wind in the Willows. The text is abridged & there are a lot of illustrations reminiscent of a 30’s/40’s illustrative style; very nice. Then he said that his leg was stiff. Then he wanted a pick up. Then I said no & then he started to cry & get mad at me. I had Eve on my shoulders; I was not going to pick him up. Battle of wills ensues; he crying & shouting at me & me resolutely refusing to pick him up. He stands on my feet, so that I can do the walking for him, but I need my hands free for that trick. We make progress though – a few yards. He gets more frustrated & upset. I’m accused of upsetting him because I, “You’re not doing what I tell you to do!”. Hmmm… I inch slowly out of the school & past the school gates. It all takes a long time. I have time. Eventually after a lot of hugging & querying he remembers that he is mad because I won’t carry him, so I concede to carry him as far as I can with one arm. We get as far as the level crossing down the road a bit, & he is OK to walk now, & cheers up a little.
We are both stubborn, but I don’t like being told what to do by adults – let alone my 4-year-old son. He does have the advantage of me loving him loads, though. He needs to learn the limits of possibility & not to act up that he has a gammy leg, when he patently doesn’t & I need to learn to concede a little easier.

Jaunty mood this morning. Checked my email when I got up & my brothers sent me some photos of his wedding in Antigua – look lovely & very sweet.
Eve has certainly discovered a little control over bladder & bowels. She gave numerous demonstrations after her bath yesterday – squeezing out a little wee & rushing to the loo to empty it; back & forth again & again with a tiny bit of wee. There was even a tiny bit of pooh at one point (such must have been the intensity of her endeavor). She was gleeful, but it all ended in tears as she had to get ready for bed & she also managed to spill a load of water onto the floor as she took it on her self to rinse out the potty at one point. Ah well, we should have been watching out for that accident.
Jack did something interesting this morning. As Louise was going to get her shower, he called to her. Loiuse went to see him & she asked him if he wanted to go downstairs, as I was there changing Jude’s nappy. He actually declined & said he would go back to sleep – & did, in fact, go back to sleep! Louise surmises that it was because she didn’t hassle him & say he was up too early – reverse psychology.

When I sit down to write I usually start off with the 1st thing in my head. This morning – as it’s there & nagging, I have a stiff back. Or is it neck? But it’s the right shoulder blade that hurts. Petty, self-interested & personal, but there you go – indicative of this whole shebang.
Jack had some Edam cheese on Sunday & announced to Louise that he really liked it. He also said that although he really likes it he’d rather it wasn’t used in his lunchtime sandwiches (he takes a packed lunch as Louise, & thus he, is vegetarian). It seems even at this age he is prone to peer pressure. Not wanting to have something anomalous for others to note in his lunch. Perhaps one day he will have the confidence to revel in ‘difference’.
Louise was a bit laid up yesterday & I was more in charge of keeping things ticking over. Jack probably spent too much time on the Internet playing games (hell, I probably spend too much time on the internet). We played a couple of games on the Lego site including the new ‘Junkbot’ game. I had to turn that one off to get him to admit it might be bedtime. Eve was in a funny mood. She is usually quite good at playing on her own, but is getting more attention seeking at the moment. We worry that it’s because when Louise’s mum comes all she can do is ‘molly coddle’ her. All attention is focused Eve’s way. She does not get the opportunity to play on her own – she does not get the opportunity to get a nap sometimes either, as if she does drift off she’s been known to be woken up if she just stirs as an excuse for being woken…

Train home

Anyway anyway – she now wants attention; too much attention sometimes & she was forever round my feet. That was the impression, but probably a little exaggerated. She was also antagonising Jack – trying to get him to respond to slaps & so on. Oh, she would not do well if it wasn’t for the fact that Jack is actually patient with her & knows I really disapprove of him doing anything ‘mean’ – even if she is being annoying; “If she’s doing that please tell me Jack”.
I’m an hour late traveling home today. One of those calls at ‘just to the hour’, which lasted an hour. Problem remains unsolved as well – but the guy has steps to take to get on with which might remedy the situation.
I called Louise to report this as I’m not able to pick up Jack (looking at the time – now – as I type this… a bit difficult from a speeding train some distance away). She says that Eve has been getting to know the potty today – which is a 1st – being keen to use it. We wondered when that might start to happen.
Back at the weekend. On Saturday we went to a housewarming party for someone who Louise knows through playgroup. They’ve moved into a very nice terrace that overlooks the town. Nice location (views from the attic room are lovely) & nice sized house (tall ceilings & spacious rooms). It’s sort of a long-term ambition to move to another house on that terrace… but that’s probably a good while hence. Anyway – apart from coveting it was a lovely social day. I thought that getting there in the afternoon might mean that we would be setting off home to have tea & get the kids to bed, but realised that was probably not the plan when I looked at my watch & it was already 6:30! The kids were enjoying themselves playing with their kids toys & roaming about & so on. We were in fact the last to leave in the end – quite late – with a sleeping Jude & Eve. Jack, of course was still wide-eyed, if not fully awake. I think he has my capacity to keep going in the face of sensibility. He recovers better the next day than I do from lack of sleep though. I turn into a gibbering wreck without the requisite, he seems to get along fine – although having said that toward the end of the day he was getting more emotional in is responses. That might last a couple of days if we cannot convince him into a normal sleep pattern.