Yesterday we spent the afternoon with C&J, friends who live in Hailsham. The weather was awful; it was horribly foggy on the way over, and even worse on the way back. The time we spent there was lovely, it's always relaxed with them. TW has known them since her uni days, which is ~20 years, so half a lifetime. TW & J went off for a bit of charity shopping in town and I had a nap. The children played nicely and I think all in all a good day was had.
We travelled home in the dark and the fog; the weather was so bad that the Brighton game was cancelled, and the Reading game was called off after 50 minutes - I think the whole of the South of England was shrouded in fog and mist.
I did okay with the few bets I made last night, but hope to do better in the next couple of days. We finished watching Tyrant, which was thrilling - it is a shame it's not going to be picked up for a fourth series.
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Saturday 16-12-31 I Skate Park & Star Wars
Thursday saw the girls wanting to go to the Skate Park to try out their new scooters. Unfortunately it was very wet and so the scooters kept slipping out from underneath them - TMO fell over several times and has a nice bruise on her thigh; she was certainly feeling that on the way home. It was a bit of a dreary day to be honest, weather-wise, and without their friends to play with, I don't think the skate park held the same appeal. They went over to the play park after a while, but what with the fog and the damp, the slides and swings were all wet and unusable really. We did bump into G & E who had their kids there, and it was good to see them; I think the last time I saw them was when we were camping.
We'll need to go back when it's a bit drier...
In the afternoon TW & the girls went to Chichester to see Peter Pan. I don't think it was quite a panto, but it was good, according to TW's post-match report. So I took the opportunity to go and see Rogue One, the new Star Wars film. It was brilliant, had all the elements I expected to see. And it was long... No spoilers, since it is quite new, but overall very enjoyable.
We'll need to go back when it's a bit drier...
In the afternoon TW & the girls went to Chichester to see Peter Pan. I don't think it was quite a panto, but it was good, according to TW's post-match report. So I took the opportunity to go and see Rogue One, the new Star Wars film. It was brilliant, had all the elements I expected to see. And it was long... No spoilers, since it is quite new, but overall very enjoyable.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Thursday 16-12-29 Crepe n Cones
Yesterday we finally made it to the destination that all the kids in Worthing have been talking about recently; Crepe n Cones. This place is sugar heaven, and all the kids have either been there or want to go there.
We'd gone into town so that the girls could spend a bit of their Christmas money after a late lunch, and I was u to flag. TW suggested we try Crepe n Cones, and it was full, even at half past three - there was only one table available, and that hadn't been cleared since the previous occupants had left. We sat down and had a look at the menu.
There were two savory items; a cheesy croissant and a cheese-filled crêpe, but the rest was a hymn to sweetness. There were crepes, of course, ice creams, milk shakes, smoothies and jumbo waffles. Of course the girls chose jumbo waffles, covered with a variety of teeth-shattering sucrose; TY went for a chocolate concoction, TMO went for a peanut butter mix, and TE went for strawberries and cream. TY didn't finish hers, but apart from that they did well.
The desserts themselves were nice, but when you added in the drinks it was a touch on the expensive side, and we had to wait for half an hour or so. The girls are good at waiting, so that wasn't an issue, but the hit to the pocket means that it won't be a weekly treat.
Apart from that I think the girls were happy with their purchases. TE bought a pair of high-heeled boots and a pair of rugby boots, which TW & I both thought was a nice contrast. TMO bought a nice wraparound cardigan and TE bought a necklace which she could share with her friend, and some exercise clothing.
In the evening we took it easy and watched a bit more of Tyrant, which leaves us just the season finale to get through. I think though that TW is going out tonight, so we might need to leave that until tomorrow. We should finish it before the end of 2016 though, or at least, I hope so!
We'd gone into town so that the girls could spend a bit of their Christmas money after a late lunch, and I was u to flag. TW suggested we try Crepe n Cones, and it was full, even at half past three - there was only one table available, and that hadn't been cleared since the previous occupants had left. We sat down and had a look at the menu.
There were two savory items; a cheesy croissant and a cheese-filled crêpe, but the rest was a hymn to sweetness. There were crepes, of course, ice creams, milk shakes, smoothies and jumbo waffles. Of course the girls chose jumbo waffles, covered with a variety of teeth-shattering sucrose; TY went for a chocolate concoction, TMO went for a peanut butter mix, and TE went for strawberries and cream. TY didn't finish hers, but apart from that they did well.
The desserts themselves were nice, but when you added in the drinks it was a touch on the expensive side, and we had to wait for half an hour or so. The girls are good at waiting, so that wasn't an issue, but the hit to the pocket means that it won't be a weekly treat.
Apart from that I think the girls were happy with their purchases. TE bought a pair of high-heeled boots and a pair of rugby boots, which TW & I both thought was a nice contrast. TMO bought a nice wraparound cardigan and TE bought a necklace which she could share with her friend, and some exercise clothing.
In the evening we took it easy and watched a bit more of Tyrant, which leaves us just the season finale to get through. I think though that TW is going out tonight, so we might need to leave that until tomorrow. We should finish it before the end of 2016 though, or at least, I hope so!
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Wednesday 16-12-28 Runaway
Yesterday TMO ran away. We were round visiting friends and the girls kept on about having a sleepover. We were fairly clear that it wasn't going to happen but the kids were winding each other up and eventually TMO blew, shouted "I hate you all" and stormed out of the house on her scooter, not wearing much else. She had a t-shirt on but no jumper or coat. I thought that she would be hiding around the corner, but no luck. TW & I went in different directions looking for her, but she was long gone. It had just occurred to me to call M&P when my phone rang and it was Mum. "We've got your missing TMO here", she said, "she's very upset." I called TW and she went to collect her, and Mum had given her a hot chocolate.
To be fair, I think TMO scared herself with her actions, and when she met up with me she apologised very sheepishly. I wasn't too worried, to be honest, she's not silly, and I think she showed that by going to the only nearby place she knew. She will lose her rights to use electronic devices for the next few days; she'll have to learn that she can't behave like that ever again.
Up until that point (it was about seven pm) we'd had a lovely day with H&I, eating lasagne & sipping prosecco and champagne, and sampling raspberry vodka, as well as chatting about poor old George Michael and all the other recent celebrity deaths. Before we left, we heard the news that Carrie Fisher had died, which was a shame. I thought she may have got away with the heart attack, but it seems that Fate had other ideas...
To be fair, I think TMO scared herself with her actions, and when she met up with me she apologised very sheepishly. I wasn't too worried, to be honest, she's not silly, and I think she showed that by going to the only nearby place she knew. She will lose her rights to use electronic devices for the next few days; she'll have to learn that she can't behave like that ever again.
Up until that point (it was about seven pm) we'd had a lovely day with H&I, eating lasagne & sipping prosecco and champagne, and sampling raspberry vodka, as well as chatting about poor old George Michael and all the other recent celebrity deaths. Before we left, we heard the news that Carrie Fisher had died, which was a shame. I thought she may have got away with the heart attack, but it seems that Fate had other ideas...
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Tuesday 16-12-27 Christmas
Well, that was a busy few days, and it was even busier for TW. We had our annual Christmas Eve drinks, an open house where friends and family were invited to relax and start the festive celebrations, and we also had family staying over and more family visiting on Christmas Day. We went for a walk along the seafront on Boxing Day, yesterday, as a family group (13 of us) and then we had the parents back to ours for the afternoon and a cold supper of leftovers, before collapsing into bed at ten last night.
TW had it all planned; she had been feeling a little anxious about the whole thing. It's not straightforward to have an open house for about a hundred guests on the Saturday afternoon and then cook Christmas dinner for 14 on the Sunday. So she took the opportunity while she was babysitting the Friday before Christmas week to write a whole load of lists - what shopping needed to be bought, when the meat needed to be collected, what needed to be done around the house, and once she had those she felt much better. Unfortunately I had a cold so I wasn't much help in the couple of days before Christmas, but she got there, and it was very much all TW's doing. The open house went without a hitch and we headed off to Christingle, where I tickled TE during the hymns until she complained to TW that I was drunk and they swapped places.
I do love the Christingle service, and the energy involved. This year they tried to make sense of the story and relate it to the real world, so for instance they said that Mary at nine months pregnant wouldn't have ridden on a donkey but she may have been in a cart pulled by a donkey. They pulled away at the elements of the Nativity like peeling an onion, and they finished with the assertion that, however it happened, the one essential part of the story is that a child was born to a virgin. I turned to TW when I heard that, and pointed out that is the one part of the story which is scientifically disprovable. Then we sang some more hymns and came home for Christmas Eve.
We had TW's sister and family to stay for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so TW had spent most of the previous week blitzing the house into a new level of cleanliness. It certainly worked, it was lovely. M&P and the MiL stayed with us for dinner on Christmas Eve, and they went at about 9pm I think (...?). My cold was just easing off and the prosecco I had been drinking all day was drying it out as well. We headed to bed and looked forward to Christmas Day.
The childers woke us up at just after 05:30, and so we told them to go back to sleep. I didn't sleep, and so when they stirred again at 06:00, we let them get up. It was about 07:00 when they started opening their stockings because we had to wait for the cousins and S & A. TW was happy with her haul, and the girls were happy with their stuff. The cousins liked their presents, and then we had the first tidy-up of the day, getting rid of all the paper etc.
Breakfast consisted of bagels with salmon and cream cheese, followed by croissants with butter and apricot jam, and fresh orange juice and coffee. Then M&P arrived, while the MiL had set off to collect the GiL, who was also spending the day. It was a standard Christmas day, there was lots of presents opened and wine drunk, and laughter had. It was very enjoyable and very tiring. Unfortunately I didn't get to Skype with my sister, it would have been nice for the children to have wished each other a Merry Christmas but they'll catch up soon, I am sure.
The GiL went back to hers at about 18:00 I think, she did say that she wanted to stay but since we had all beds occupied, that would have been impractical, and she would have found it difficult to get up the stairs to the toilet unaided I think, so the choice was taken to ferry her home.
I was happy with my presents; I got a new hoodie, which I had seen online and liked the look of, and it didn't disappoint in real life. I also got Mainlander by Will Smith, Head Carrier by Pixies, and the obligatory pants and socks. TW and her sister did most of the prep in the kitchen and enjoyed a few Aperol spritzes, and all in all it was a very enjoyable day.
TW had it all planned; she had been feeling a little anxious about the whole thing. It's not straightforward to have an open house for about a hundred guests on the Saturday afternoon and then cook Christmas dinner for 14 on the Sunday. So she took the opportunity while she was babysitting the Friday before Christmas week to write a whole load of lists - what shopping needed to be bought, when the meat needed to be collected, what needed to be done around the house, and once she had those she felt much better. Unfortunately I had a cold so I wasn't much help in the couple of days before Christmas, but she got there, and it was very much all TW's doing. The open house went without a hitch and we headed off to Christingle, where I tickled TE during the hymns until she complained to TW that I was drunk and they swapped places.
I do love the Christingle service, and the energy involved. This year they tried to make sense of the story and relate it to the real world, so for instance they said that Mary at nine months pregnant wouldn't have ridden on a donkey but she may have been in a cart pulled by a donkey. They pulled away at the elements of the Nativity like peeling an onion, and they finished with the assertion that, however it happened, the one essential part of the story is that a child was born to a virgin. I turned to TW when I heard that, and pointed out that is the one part of the story which is scientifically disprovable. Then we sang some more hymns and came home for Christmas Eve.
We had TW's sister and family to stay for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so TW had spent most of the previous week blitzing the house into a new level of cleanliness. It certainly worked, it was lovely. M&P and the MiL stayed with us for dinner on Christmas Eve, and they went at about 9pm I think (...?). My cold was just easing off and the prosecco I had been drinking all day was drying it out as well. We headed to bed and looked forward to Christmas Day.
The childers woke us up at just after 05:30, and so we told them to go back to sleep. I didn't sleep, and so when they stirred again at 06:00, we let them get up. It was about 07:00 when they started opening their stockings because we had to wait for the cousins and S & A. TW was happy with her haul, and the girls were happy with their stuff. The cousins liked their presents, and then we had the first tidy-up of the day, getting rid of all the paper etc.
Breakfast consisted of bagels with salmon and cream cheese, followed by croissants with butter and apricot jam, and fresh orange juice and coffee. Then M&P arrived, while the MiL had set off to collect the GiL, who was also spending the day. It was a standard Christmas day, there was lots of presents opened and wine drunk, and laughter had. It was very enjoyable and very tiring. Unfortunately I didn't get to Skype with my sister, it would have been nice for the children to have wished each other a Merry Christmas but they'll catch up soon, I am sure.
The GiL went back to hers at about 18:00 I think, she did say that she wanted to stay but since we had all beds occupied, that would have been impractical, and she would have found it difficult to get up the stairs to the toilet unaided I think, so the choice was taken to ferry her home.
I was happy with my presents; I got a new hoodie, which I had seen online and liked the look of, and it didn't disappoint in real life. I also got Mainlander by Will Smith, Head Carrier by Pixies, and the obligatory pants and socks. TW and her sister did most of the prep in the kitchen and enjoyed a few Aperol spritzes, and all in all it was a very enjoyable day.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Wednesday 16-12-14 Comics
So I've finished reading Wolf, it was quite good, if a bit weird and supernatural. Just as I thought I was getting a grip on it, it would twist away from me. It was well-written though, it was like a detective story, where we were empathising with the detective. There were things we didn't know, and had to piece together. It was engaging, and the characterisation was interesting.
Now I've finished it though, so all nine issues are for sale on eBay here, until they are gone.
I've moved on now to Postal, which is supposed to be quite good, and I am liking the artwork and the slow reveal of what's going on. It must have been well-received, because it led to Eden's Fall, which I have yet to read...
Now I've finished it though, so all nine issues are for sale on eBay here, until they are gone.
I've moved on now to Postal, which is supposed to be quite good, and I am liking the artwork and the slow reveal of what's going on. It must have been well-received, because it led to Eden's Fall, which I have yet to read...
Saturday, December 03, 2016
Saturday 16-12-03 Radio
TW and I were lying in bed this morning, listening to a bit of Radio 4. That was my choice, I like to catch up with the day's agenda and news before getting on with it. I announced I was going to get up and TW asked me to turn it over. So I switched it to Radio 6Music. "What did you do that for?", she asked. I did it because she didn't specify which station to tune it to, and she was still lying in bed, while I was halfway downstairs. I know that her preferred station would have been Radio 1, but she didn't ask me to switch it to Radio 1, she simply asked me to turn it over. And besides, she was still in bed and within reach of the radio, so if she didn't like my choice in response to her unspecific request, she could always turn it to R1 herself...
Speaking of 6Music, they had a great piece of programming yesterday, in that they played music from 1989 all day. I wasn't really sure why, I think it linked in with Our Generation, the BBC4 strand of programming that's been going on for a while. They played some great tunes, and the stand-out ones for me were "Lions" by New FADs, "Hallelujah" by Happy Mondays, and "Fascination Street" by The Cure.There were loads of other songs which brought back memories, but I didn't hear any Stuffies or Cud, which would have probably made my week.
Speaking of 6Music, they had a great piece of programming yesterday, in that they played music from 1989 all day. I wasn't really sure why, I think it linked in with Our Generation, the BBC4 strand of programming that's been going on for a while. They played some great tunes, and the stand-out ones for me were "Lions" by New FADs, "Hallelujah" by Happy Mondays, and "Fascination Street" by The Cure.There were loads of other songs which brought back memories, but I didn't hear any Stuffies or Cud, which would have probably made my week.
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