It's the thought that counts...

... though I do ask myself what this person was thinking

My wife received this today for her Birthday later this month. I told her it would be back luck if she opened a gift early - and it was as this has to be one of the most hideous things I have ever seen!

Happy Birthday Son

An early start again today. My son is six years old and another stack of presents were waiting for him in the lounge this morning. I love to see him excited. He reminds me so much of myself when I was his age.

Twin rotor heavy-lift helicopter with drive on/drive off tail

Police Station with prison cells, dog kennel, garages and offices

This year he has received a lot of Lego and my wife and I have just finished building a police station and twin rotor helicopter. I'm just hoping he manages to keep it all in one piece! In an ever changing world, Lego remains one of the few constants where its quality can be guaranteed. It seems there is nothing that cannot be modelled or replicated by Lego and I am in awe as to how the creators manage to produce such easy to follow instructions and intricate facsimiles of the things around us.

The huge number of cards he has received is testament to how much he is loved and adored by his family, Godparents and relatives. My sister has once again produced some unique and inspirational cards, all of which would be the envy of Hallmark and other greetings industry favorites. His nanny and granddad on my wife's side called in again earlier today to wish him a Happy Birthday and to see his many presents and cards, which was nice. His aunt and uncle are due to visit this evening

It is difficult to believe that my son is already six years old. It seems like only yesterday that we were at QE Hospital in Kings Lynn, both exhausted following a 48 hour labour. He has grown up so fast since then and I'm constantly amazed at the speed at which he is developing.
His chicken pox doesn't seem to be affecting him too much though he has started to itch a little in places. I suppose it's just as well he's caught it now and hopefully it will be gone in a few more days.

There was a little excitement earlier today when my colleague called me to say that she'd had an accident on the way to a meeting of our group. It happened as she neared the river in Spalding and from what she has described to me, it seems she may have blacked-out and hit a parked car, causing he car to turn on its side. Thankfully she is OK apart from some scratches and bruises and very lucky. I've yet to speak with her at any length and I expect she is still very shaken from the ordeal, but I will call tomorrow to see how she is.
I am reminded that I need to complete the record of our members' contact details, in case of events such as this. It is very important to be able to contact people in emergencies particularly if we have to postpone or cancel meetings.

My wife's return to work tomorrow reminds me that this is a all but a temporary period of fun and relaxation. There are many who despite the break still need their hair maintaining and styled. New Year parties will produce a final surge in demand over the coming days and my wife and her colleagues will frantically try to squeeze in as many perms, blue rinses and highlights as they can on New Year's Eve.
My 'return to normal' will occur New Year's Day, where we have a group meeting for a couple of hours in the morning. It will be nice to see everyone once more and hear how Christmas was for them.

I did manage to contact the people responsible for paying my volunteer expenses and I informed them I had been overpaid. They praised my honesty and pointed out that I should have been paid more than the amount I was expecting, which was nice. They have asked me to pay back the overpayment which of course I will do... in due course.

Dark Mornings, Dark Evenings

Winter is well and truly on its way. The mornings are darker and the sun disappears beneath the horizon earlier by the day. There's a chill in the air. I wore my winter coat today. It made me look huge, well bigger than I already am.
It won't be long before we begin buying wood for the fire. We need to have the chimney swept first. We use a local chap, Peter Warrick who is well known in the area. He kindly attended our wedding with his son, dressed in classic Victorian chimney sweeps' attire. They looked great. I'll never forget them.

My son sang a song this evening. As he sang, it felt familiar to me and I realised it was a song I used to sing at primary school many years ago. I remembered the chorus and sang with him 'So we musn't forget, no we mustn't forget to say a great big thank you, we mustn't forget'. How marvellous that my son was able to jog my memory this way.

It was Mum's Birthday today. She is 69. We visited this afternoon after we'd collected our son from school. She had prepared a small buffet which was nice and the lounge was warm and cosy. The log burner was lit and glowed in the hearth. Mum never makes a fuss of her Birthdays but she always makes sure everyone is looked after and has plenty to eat and drink. My Nan was very much like that, always giving. We stayed for a couple of hours.

We have some new curtains. I know this isn't front page news, but it's significant as the previous set had been up for 9 years. It's strange how you get used to things and never give them a second thought. But when they are gone, you really notice it. The new curtains are very nice. My wife has impecable taste when it somes to home furnishings. They match the furniture perfectly and I actually find myself admiring them.

In the news today there is criticism of the government who have met today with energy industry leaders to discuss ways of helping consumers in the current economic climate who are struggling to afford crippling bills. Apparently they have managed to achieve absolutely nothing except to remind us (as if we're idiots) to make sure we compare prices and switch suppliers(!) Are these people really in charge of the country?
I fear for us all...

Happy Birthday Mum, love from us all xxx

Three Depressives and a Birthday

Today was special for being one of the days in October which broke our weather record. It has been unseasonably warm and sunny, weather which frankly is far from the norm for this time of year. Tomorrow will be the day things begin to change and I'm told we can start seeing overnight frosts and possibly snow very soon.
It was also my wife's Godson's Birthday party and we were all invited. For a change, I was quite relaxed and rather looking forward to it. It was a very pleasant event. My son was in his element, a little hoarse perhaps from a recent cold, but he joined in with glee squirting water at everyone and generally running around as kids of his age do.
While I was sitting there, it suddenly dawned on me that I was accompanied by two others who have been affected by varying degrees of depression. We have all been affected in different ways for this illness is quite unique to the individual. But to each of us, our experiences were intensly private and whereas three men would normally exchange banter about football, gardening or the weather, this did not happen. Of course we all had a good idea of what we had each been through - and were still going through - but it's simply not the sort of thing you can strike up a conversation over. There was just a very quiet knowing sense among us of the dark places we had all been to, and most probably feared returning to.
For I don't actually think depression is something you can discuss in a 'therapy' kind of way. It's not like being an alcoholic or drug abuser. You don't choose to have depression, it forces itself upon you like some enormous weight, pressing down. I know this.
So amongst all the jovality and the fun, I was so deeply aware of this 'secret pain' that existed hidden from normal view. But it is something all the 'grown ups' are aware of. They understand and are sympathetic, for they all know someone who is affected by it. I felt comforted to know this and a closeness quite unique to 'people like us'...

Senior Moments

It's incredibly warm, warmer than it normally is for this time of year. There isn't a cloud in the sky. I haven't seen one all day. Some call is glorious. Others tell us to make the most of it. Apparently Winter will be here will a vengance and could bring ice and snow within a few weeks from now. Hard to believe when I glance outside and see the bright blue sky and the lush green grass.
I'm finding I'm getting more and more frustrated with my mum. She's in her late mid sixties and admits herself that her memory isn't as good as it was. But I do find that she is becoming increasingly out-of-touch with what's going on around her. A for instance is my son's school intake photograph in the local paper. Now I know my mum has read the paper but has managed to miss the photograph. It wasn't so long ago that she would be calling me to tell me she had seen the photo.
I had a heavy cold at the weekend and I felt really rough. Nevertheless we all popped over for the afternoon as it was my father's 72nd Birthday. We had a great time. I saw my sister and her kids and the whole thing was very pleasant. Everyone commented on how poorly I looked, but I made as much effort as I could. But by yesterday, all this had been forgotten. I coughed and was told 'you sound as if you're going down with a cold'. 'But I've had a streaming cold for a week', I replied. 'Have you?', was the response. 'I haven't noticed'. Err hello... ?
I know I shouldn't get frustrated and I know there's every chance I'll get like this at some point, but it does frustrate. And it is getting worse. I can recall vividly how my nan went down hill fast, dementia eventually taking over her mind convincing her of things that simply weren't there. People, voices and scenery all seemed so real to her that you were forced to go along with whatever scenario was being played out. It is all so sad and you feel so helpless. I keep telling myself my mum won't go the same way but the more and more I witness these 'senior moments', I can't help but worry that history will repeat itself...

Forced to rationalise, job update and other stuff

A few days since my last post and a lot happening in the news. As I type this, the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime seems to be entering its final stage and there is speculation the rebels have him surrounded in Tripoli.

Back down to earth and I've decided to focus my attention on growing herbs, tomatoes, onions, peas and beans. Most of what I've tried to grown in the ground has been eaten and I'm tired of trying to keep my vegetable plot pest free. Everything I'm growing under cover in my conservatory is doing very well including most of what I'm growing in pots on my patio. So these are the methods I'll employ for all my growing. It's so much simpler and more especially, productive.

I will endeavour to grow some vegetables - potatoes and carrots especially, but I'll use grow bags which I know to be a very good method.

Of the herbs I'm currently growing, rocket and coriander are the most popular and abundant. In fact, I've been adding rocket to just about everything I can. It has a mild, peppery flavour.
My tomato plants are beginning to bear fruit, lots of it. They are quite small at the moment but I'm certainly going to have a good crop. I'm keen to get another plant going as soon as I can so I can stagger my tomato production. I'm very fond of tomatoes and I know it won't take me long to eat them!

Still no word from my new employer but I'm hopeful I will hear something in the next few days especially if they want me to start at the beginning of September. I signed-off on Monday last which was a great feeling. I'm no longer slave to the Job Centre!

The TV news (especially from Sky) is getting more exciting by the hour. Their correspondents are really placing themselves in amidst the action and I'd be amazed if awards aren't won. I'd be very surprised if there isn't a major development in the next few hours. The coverage has been excellent and is testament to the continuing developments in technology and the portability of news gathering. Compare this to the techniques used just 10-15 years ago.

Oh, I must mention my wife's Birthday which was yesterday. My wife isn't one for celebration - much like myself - but we did nevertheless have a very pleasant day. We popped along to Hunstanton for the afternoon, one of our favourite seaside locations. My son immediately headed for the land train and we travelled the length of the seafront including the Searle's Holiday Camp. After a few rides at the amusement arcade, we had some fantastic fish and chips, opting to eat them on the grass atop the cliffs. Weather was perfect and it all made for an excellent afternoon.