Archives: party

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.

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…

A pleasant weekend, all in all. Out & about on Saturday. We had money things to sort out & Louise managed to get an appointment with the opticians in Bradford. She also likes the glasses I’ve been thinking I want. We went to a toy shop as Jack had a party to go to on Sunday & we ended up getting presents for Jack & Eve as well (how can you escape such in a toy shop?). Eve got a small dolly which had a tiny bottle & dummy etc. She sat in the pushchair & played with it a lot. Kept her quite happy all afternoon. Jack got a bit of technics lego – a ‘drome racer’ which flies apart when it hits something. He was a little frustrated that he could not have it until he was home – but we had to be sensible with it really. Thinking about it he was a little easily frustrated this weekend. This could be an indication that he’s not really well. Retaliated at Eve a couple of times. Oh, & there was Hamish; he upset Jack. Jack wanted to show Hamish the neat technics/bioniclish car that he had & Hamish brushed him off. Seems Hamish was being busy being a ‘big boy’ & didn’t want to bother. Jack came back in tears. Amber came round a little later to play with Eve – but they didn’t really cotton on to this neat car & bionicles thing. He tried, but she just left in the end – which she (& Hamish for that matter) have a habit of doing.
Jack enjoyed his party over at Tom’s a lot. He was a little worried as I took him that I might not hang around, (I didn’t) but as soon as he was there he was happy & last seen dashing off with pals up the stairs. When I came to get him later he was full on giddy. He charged out of the door at me happy as anything. Crashed into me, as he likes to do. I bent down for a hug & got a real good slap on the head for my trouble. Diane, Tom’s mum was really good & gave us a party bag for all of our brood which included hair grips for Eve & a rattle for Jude – uncommonly generous! Jack had a couple of his party bag sweets on the way home & Louise said he was completely bug eyed when we arrived back. He danced through the door & announced to Louise – happy as anything – that he’s had, “too many sweets” – which was, by & large, patently obvious. He remained in a happy & convivial mood all afternoon/evening. Played well with Eve – ate his tea – gadded about – played with Junkbot on the lego site & did not worry when I was not there to assist. Actually – he played quite happily on his own – completing the puzzled to complete the levels quite well. OK then, all in all Jack has been abundantly loving this weekend. It’s true what Louise says – when he’s in a good mood everything goes smoothly.
I stayed up a little late last night watching most of ‘A Clockwork Orange’. I gave up in the end as I realised that I needed sleep more than I needed to know what happens in the end. I’ll watch it again sometime, & I’ll be able to play proper attention. Sleep will nag at me now this week – I must remember to get to bed on time to make up the deficit.

Back to the routine after last week’s disruption. Sigh.
The moon was high & bright at 5:30 when I woke up. Jude again seems to have taken this as the arrival of the day, but unlike yesterday I was up, & Louise didn’t really manage to get him off to sleep again. We had reports from other parents that the full moon aglow has fooled other kiddies as well. I guess it depends which was their windows point. Fortunately Jack & Eve’s room looks the other way.

We got the re-mortgage sorted now – all the bits & bobs came through on Saturday morning. It makes little difference in terms of outgoings excepting that I am now covered on life insurance & all that stuff; that’s a novelty. We can plan a trip to Ikea & start getting the rest of the things organised that we need to do with this money. It ain’t a vast amount & I’m sure it’ll be gobbled up quick – but shelves & a back door & replacement windows & a new bath might come to pass.

We had a few details to tie up with the bank on the Saturday morning, so we trooped off there before we set off to Hebden Bridge for a scout about. Louise brought back reports that Bionicles were on sale there – so this had to be checked. Sure enough they were & we bought one for Jack. I have some in standby that I’ve managed to get off ebay – so there were limits to what we could buy. I told Andy of these reports as well as their lad Hamish likes them too. Shot myself in the foot rather though as the ebay bionicles were also for Hamish’s forthcoming birthday present. Regroup – rethink. Silly me.

We had 2 birthday parties for Jack to attend this weekend. One was more for Eve, but we were all invited. I wonder when, demographically, most birthdays occur?

Jack is on holiday now. It did not feel right at all this morning going off to work. It had been a pleasant weekend & should well have carried on all week without me having to go to work. I should be at home with family… bah!
Didn’t do much typing while travelling last week as – well – I was reading & I was tired.
Jack was not sleeping well to the end of last week. He got a fever & was distinctly under the weather on Saturday. We were going to go to Bradford, but we scaled down to Halifax, & then opted to just stay in town & go the The Bear (veggie restaurant in town & highly recommended). Jack went in the pushchair, & just flopped when he arrived. Didn’t really touch his food & fell asleep on either me or Louise (in that order). Eve was happy – she is certainly back on form. There may be something going about & thus it was not just teething last week. Amber a couple of doors down had a temperature & was ill for a couple of days last week & her oldest brother was also (very odd for him) laid up in bed on Sunday.
Still – Jack was better again Sunday & we were able to pootle off to a party to which he’s been invited by his classmate Thomas. Quite good fun, although it was just enough distance away to leave me stranded there without anything to do. I was initially quite put out by this, as I forgot to take anything to keep me amused, like pen & paper for drawing, writing – or me eMate for typing. Bah.
Drank a pint of beer, let me head swim a little with the novelty of alcohol. Popped out of the building to check for public transport timetables home, & walked about a bit in a desperate attempt to see if there was something interesting in the locale… well – maybe a shop really – that might sell pen & paper. No joy. Resigned myself to going back & sat with a couple of other parents who I felt uncomfortable with. I then let myself get lured into throwing the balls back into the ball room playground adventure thing while Jack & pals through them out at me. What the hell – it was a laff. That passed the time very well until it was time for the party tea.
I think Jack enjoyed having me all to himself for a while – he doesn’t usually get that. When Jessie’s mum offered us a lift home, I left it to Jack to decide, & he wanted to walk home with me. Fortunately by the time we eventually left the hour had gone so far round as to let us catch a train home. Jack would have got tired & I would have been very tired from carrying him.