Archives: hebden

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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!

Eve woke up in a good mood on Sunday; chirpy, smiling. What a difference it makes! She’s been teething of recent, & has been in a sod of a mood; always whingeing & carrying on. It wears you down, grating at the nerves so much it makes you physically tired. Louise copes extraordinarily well with it all. One main tactic was to just get her out of the house, really so that she has distraction other than complaining. She’s got our sense of humour though… Louise says that she was on her shoulders on her way to playgroup when she did a massive burp, “Pardon me” she said. Louise must have chuckled as she repeated with fake burp all the way through the park. Louise burped yesterday as she was relaxing in the house & apparently Eve jumped on her & wanted “Again, again” – thus the game continues.
Sunday was not all good. We had a run in with Jack, or should that be Jack had a run in with us? We were just in the Co Op car park, after doing some shopping. We were going to go back to the park & see what was happening. There looked to be the music event for the end of the Hebden Bridge Arts Festival with a fair attached. This is what it looked & sounded like from the playground anyway. Not too loud… Could be fun. In the car park, Jack noticed a small light bulb. He picked it up, much to my concern – it being rubbish & glass rubbish. I told him to put it down, he did. Whether I remonstrated for lack of care, or whether he just got the idea, he picked it up again & threw it down… He wasn’t successful in breaking it – so he did it again – by which time I was nearly shouting at him. He did break it – to which I exclaimed “JACK!” very loud. Louise had cottoned on to what he was doing & made the swift ‘right – that’s it!’ decision. We were going home NOW! Jack immediately burst into tears. How could it be fair? Well – if he had listened to us & not messed about… He cried & denied that it was his fault most of the way home on the bus. Only getting into town did he calm down. He later even conceded it was his fault for being naughty… but that was only after another smaller incidence (stone kicking, “don’t kick that stone Jack… No… Stop that Jack …JACK!) & punishment (not going to the bike shop for a bike stand) & another flood of tears. It’s hateful to see him so upset & to have caused it, but… but he really does need to listen & have more respect for things. Having said all that – he has been very good since then. He’s come back to more his normal self.
Jude was a ball of energy yesterday evening. Louise says that he hadn’t really had a proper sleep all day. He was asleep when I got home, but I probably disturbed him. He was kicking his legs & waving arms like mad – not in a frustrated way, he was happy & burbling most of the time. Just energetic & happy. He wants to be off & crawling I’m sure… I’m also sure he’ll probably be doing it sooner that we imagine. Not immediate – but soon.

Pleasant weekend.
We did not really do that much, by way of adventuring out, but I’m left with the afterglow of contentment. I would doubt that Jack sees it the same way. He had gone into ‘cocky mode’ to the end of last week, & it was starting to grate. He was not listening, & it all eventually ended in tears. We were having a fine time in Hebden Bridge yesterday. We went to the playground after collecting some sarnies from a cafe, & found that the paddling pool was full of water. Why not? – It was a lovely day after all. Jack & Eve stripped down & played in the water. Jack rushed about & splashed with the others, & Eve kept more to the edges, splashing her feet while sitting on the edge. Enjoying it, but not a boisterously. She eventually decided when she’d had enough & wanted to play on the swings & the rest of the playground. Jack had sunburnt shoulders in the bath that night – “my arms & neck tingle”.

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Nightime – watching telly – there’s a novelty.
Shagged today – up late last night prattling about getting a bit of ZUM! sorted out that no one will look at anyway – but that’s not the point.
Up early as Eve wanted to see me (I had been shuffled out of our bed by the numbers therein, & retired to Jack’s bed. Woke too early to “Want Daddy” shouting down the hall holding Louise’s hand. Really unwilling to rouse, but did. Tried to leave Louise & Eve in Jack’s bed & sneak back to our own, but no, it won’t really do – just a delay – a respite before giving in to waking up.

Started the shower & it broke. The fascia literally broke off in my hand. So, I’m left holding the control cover. ARSE! This is a disaster; it really is – I mean – I rely on my shower for non-committal waking up before breakfast. Let it all run over me. After reporting the catastrophe to Louise she advises my confused morning time brain to have a bath. Oh yes – we do have a bath. We at least have a combi-boiler, so that we can have a bath full, not a piddling puddle from the time when it was in a tank.
Anyway – although Louise & I were both grumpy, we managed to break the cycle of grumpy & get out to Hebden Bridge. Jack & Eve had a good play in the playground & had a picnic & some ice cream. We dragged them away & had a little charity shop trawl. A first – we got videos from a charity shop. Louise found the weddingpresent video collection *punk & I found the ‘Absolutely Vido’ . A bizarre ‘Letterland’ tape measure thing on wheels, a tape & a couple of books for the kids. Ah, charity shop booty…
Jack has been uncommonly good today. He has been helpful & listened to us. Guided Eve as well.
Right – it’s too late again – I’m off to bad. My brain has suffered all day from a lack of sleep. Left hand sinuses ache. I whine when I’m tired.