Archives: mum&dad

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.

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.

We got to my parents at about 1 or 2 in the morning (I forget). We’ve never been to this house before as they moved last year. When we went in, dad said that our bedroom was to the back. It’s one of these houses that keep going back, & so it gave a good impression of space going to the back bedroom. We got the kids into bed OK. Jack was on the top bunk of a bunk bed. He was up the latest, so he was hardly disturbed by being transported in. Eve woke up & was quite pleased to be put into bed. She had been laying sideways on the back seat & thus pushing into Jack & kicking at Louise. She lay there for quite a while, probably wondering what the heck was gong on, & seemingly quite pleased to have the top bunk above her for some reason.

Up early the next day as usual. Jack claimed he got up in the night to go to the toilet – which is most likely true. He did well; in that case, as he would not have been aware he was in a “bunker bed” (as he called it) or where on earth the toilet might be in a strange new house. He did know that he would be at grandma & grandpa’s tho – so he could not have been unduly worried. Heck he would have let us know if he was worried.

UM… I will continue in less detailed mode about the holiday. Two reasons really; it would take too long, & my brain gets blury about such things anyway.

Arriva Trains Northern strike morning, so the ‘turnaround’ run by First Northwestern is here. No table to type on, so I am doing a little typing on my lap before we start to move – whence I will just have to read. I don’t wanna be feeling rubbish through typing on my lap on the move.

Holidays. Yes – they were very good holidays.
My parents have a new house.
We set off Monday night in the car & Jude & Eve were already out for the count. Placed in the car already in slumber. Jack on the other hand was rather excited. After all – Grandpa was here & we were going on holiday & we were going in the car & we were going on the motorway. How glamorous!
He sat upright in the car for a good long while. He was behind dad who was driving, & managed to position himself eventually to a point where he was looking over dad’s shoulder. It was a pleasant sunset & the light lingered on the horizon long after the sun had gone, showing us where the small clouds were stranded in the sky. Stars eventually came out, & Jack eventually gave up trying to look at everything at about 10, or was it 11:50?
Oh well – this train starts to move.

Holiday starts today! I’m still going to work; mind. It was supposed to start tomorrow (& I would still have been working) but my dad, who is giving us a lift down to Somerset (for it is with my parents we are staying) opted for today. Uh, OK then.
Had a good ‘clear out’ day yesterday. I gave the council a big list of the junk with which time has encumbered us & they are going to come & collect it. I guess if we had a car I would have been rid of most of it already – but we don’t – so we have to get them to come & collect it occasionally. Has to be strictly ‘household’ though – so the 2 bit of chipboard & a bag of plaster that got left behind when they did the attic will have to stay… I don’t quite get the ‘chipboard’ denial… hey – we used it as… um… why the hell did we have that chipboard anyway?!
I got all the lugging of junk done while Jack was off playing with Hamish. They were apparently drawing animals together; I got as a passing report from Hamish’s dad – Andy. He had taken Jack off that morning to a big aquarium shop quite a few miles away. I think they’ve bought a new fish tank. I was junking a couple of very redundant PCs & mentioned that I’d whipped the hard drive out. Andy had recently replaced a wonky hard drive for someone, so he had the faulty model. He came over, & like a couple of wee kids we opened it up. Nice shiny platter therein. One of the computers I was junking had a very old hard drive in, so we whipped that out & pried that one open too. It was a full bay size hard drive with an inspection date from 1989. Cor antique! Nicely brutish in it’s internal mechanics compared to a modern day one

Missing a couple of days again. Easy to do – why? Trains without tables & an inclination to read, not write. What’s been going on? …I forget as usual.
My parents (my dad) has a mobile phone!! Of all things?! They are more ‘techno’ than I! It seems it might be my brother’s old one, so at least they didn’t have to fight their way through the sales fog of a shop to get one. If I were to get a mobile, it would have to be one that I cannot afford, so really – there’s very little point.
So, anyway – we’d gone to bed on Thursday night & I get up & it’s me dad on his mobile… He’s telling me that he’s coming to pick me up on the Monday, not the Tuesday… & that he’s thinking he’ll get here in the evening & we’ll set off back for Somerset at 03:00. The kids should sleep through that. Me having just been falling asleep upstairs before the call can’t really muster the thought to disagree. It seems an insane fait accompli. When I totter back to bed Louise also agrees that this is barmy. We eventually decide that we have little choice but to catch the train Tuesday evening. The expense of the train & the expense of having to buy stuff (nappies, soap powder etc) will have to be burdened. I call & leave a message at the restaurant the next day.
Louise & I talk it over again after I get home from work & well…. we conclude that barmy as it is, we will have to go by the car (we can’t really afford the train & the carrying & the etc etc etc. I call dad again in the evening, & that plan he outlined the other day was only a suggestion really. Ah. Cool. Still – Monday is the day & I need to negotiate another day off work.
Jude had his 1st ‘solids’ last night. Some ‘baby rice’. He was fine with it. Ate from the spoon without any trouble & had no trouble with the whole thing.
Jack fell off his bike yesterday. He tore his trousers really badly, but it seems he had not hurt his leg (relief) but he hit his face on the floor. Bashed his lip & grazed his chin – & that’s what was hurting him. Poor lad. We were not watching for him at the time & a couple of the older boys escorted him home. A few more minutes & we were going to collect him, as it was bath time.

Yeay – my parents came a visiting yesterday. Was very good to see them. Jack was kept in the dark about it & I had just got both he & Eve downstairs & settled in when there was a knock at the door. “Is it Neil & Jess?” he asked. He may have heard Louise & I talking of something going on the day before & maybe was having a good guess… almost right…
Had a very good day. There was no rushing off early this time – they stayed around a nice long while – all day! No stress & so forth. We did not opt to go rushing off to Skipton or anything as, for a start Eve was not that well still (& is still not better this morning). She was a lot perkier, but not 100% & certainly not well enough for a car journey of any distance. Went to Hebden Bridge for lunch & that was about it. It’s a shame… Eve is rarely unwell, but when mum & dad come it seems to coincide. At least her temperature is more under control. We think she has met a quite nasty cold just at the same time as a bit of teething is starting up or the teething is exacerbating the cold – either way one seems to multiply the other & she’s not having a good time of it. Still she manages to be happy most of the time, she’s just rather fragile. Jack seems to be at least hitting the cough/cold side of things this morning (all awake before I left which was too early). I don’t know if Louise is going to manage to get him off to school, but it could prove a bit of a difficult day if not – fragile Eve & Jack being… less accommodating because he is not feeling great & is suffering a lack of sleep. Oh, & not forgetting Jude who is on a ‘feed me’ session at the moment. He was insatiable last evening/night, but then he sleeps mostly through…. Weird. Good, but weird; you don’t expect a 3 week old baby to be so compliant in their sleeping.
I wonder when Jack will master the art of sleeping through? Hey ho, why bother when we don’t really mind?
Took Jack for his first ‘swim’ on Sunday Evening. I was worried Leaving Louise with an upset Eve (& a feeding Jude) but we had said to Jack that he could go if he wanted, & he wanted. It’s been a rather long time since I went swimming, so I was rather nervous as well. Still, we figured out how the changing rooms regime & were ready. Slightly perplexed by the lack of footbath, (…but there’s always a footbath…) but there was a shower thing & then you were at the pool. Goggles on & down the stairs & into the pool. Jack enjoyed it greatly. I was worried that he would not like getting his head submerged, but it didn’t worry him. I don’t think he swallowed that much water as we floundered around for half an hour or so, and he was not unduly upset by water up his nose.

Last day (of the year)
Reluctantly heading to work once more. I really would prefer to stay at home with Louise & the kids, as it’s been a very pleasant low key weekend. Still – I don’t have to go tomorrow.
Heh – quiet train this morning – just the mugs like me.
Having a full moon to watch as the train speeds by is odd as well – give a certain feeling of unreality.
Snowed over the weekend, which excited Jack no end. He was up & dressed & outside as soon as he could be. I got a garden spade out & he had a good old time pushing that about like a snowplough. He had nearly cleared all the back street on Saturday pushing it back & forth. The snow was no good for actually doing anything with though, as it was too icy. There was barely an inch, but at least half of it seemed to have melted slightly & nearly frozen again. It snowed again in the night & Jack was off again in the morning. This time it had left a renewed inch of snow (by the end of Saturday it was starting to be a bit of a dismal layer) but again it was not right for snowmen: too cold & powdery. We scooped up some snow with the spade & made a pile or 2, from which we made a star & a ‘J’. We also made a couple of little snowball sized snowmen, but trying to roll a bigger ball just did not work. Curiously, those piles of snow disappeared off the back street & a squat snow woman appeared in Hamish’s back yard – heh.
When we got back from the afternoon’s supermarket jaunt Jack was straight out into the snow again. It being later in the day, the snow had warmed up a bit, so it stuck a little. Still a bit too cold for rolling, so we compacted it with the spade in his toy wheelbarrow & built a little one. Had stones for eyes & bits of ice for arms sticking out at the side. Louise thinks it looks cuddly.
There seems a lot I want to write of, but I cannot get my brain to properly kick start this morning.

Train home

Neil (my brother) & Jess were going to come over on Saturday, but they didn’t make it. They set off, but they met a pile up on the M6 around stoke on trent (j18?). They did not crash, but someone else crashed into them. They are OK & everything, aside from the loss of the car & everything like that… which I imagine is going to take a while to sort out… what a drag. They’ll hopefully make it up sometime when the new baby is due. Neil called on his mobile sounding really put out by the whole thing.
I called mum in the evening & had a good chat (I don’t actually talk to my folks that much. They are busy enough. They’ve just moved into a new place, so mum had been painting & regrouting the bathroom & dad had been knocking a wall through from the utility room to the pantry (making it bigger for some other use) & filling in another door in the kitchen that is not needed with the leftover bricks. This is a day off; hols from running the restaurant. I wish I could be that industrious & practical sometimes. Mum said that she does not want to travel on the motorways in the daytime again. When they come to visit they will set off at some unearthly hour (as they currently do) & go back at night as well. This is good! We should have a whole day next time we visit.
Mum was a little disappointed that I’d called as she was going to call me in the morning so that she could speak to Jack… so I called her in the morning as well & passed the phone to Jack. They had a nice little chat & then Jack hung up… I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye there <pout>.
Louise & I were chatting last night about how he kids are gearing up to the arrival of the new babe. Louise does not think that Eve is fully aware of what is about to happen yet. She gets told about the fact that there’s a ‘baby in mummy’s tummy’ & she seems just happy that mummy has a tummy… if you know what I mean… no… ah, whatever. She loves her dollies & all that – dolly mad she is sometimes, but a new baby… no she’s not twigged that yet. Jack had when Eve was born. Granted he was fractionally older, but you could converse with him more – he did understand that there was a baby due. He told Louise that he remembered going to hospital with us & Louise having an antenatal scan. In a way you could believe him, as it’s a funny thing to happen – darkened room – mummy on a table, odd telly screen with a baby (?) on it… but it’s difficult to say that he does – he may be confusing it with something else. Still, I would not put it past him – he seems a clued up kid. He remembers stuff better than I do. OK – well try this bit of the telletubies site (for Eve)… “no paul – it doesn’t work”. hmmm how does he know – I think it should work – besides its been well over a year since we were last year…
DOH! Computer crash!