A quick update
Frankie wins his spurs for learning to pedal. Nothing can stop him now, not even hills. He loves it. The next Chris Boardman I reckon. He's also started swimming lessons, and soon he'll be doing dancing lessons and gymnastics. go frank go.
Patrick meanwhile is moving on up to cubs, he went catching crabs tonight down the sea front.
And also he had his first guitar lesson at school this evening and is quickly mastering the main vocal line to "twinkle twinkle".
The Strawberrys are begnning to redden and the courgettes are almost as big as my fingers, I can hardly wait till they is full grown and sitting in my tum.
So you can imagine how excited we all are. We had a trip to the theatre for seussical the musical t'other week . That was grand. Both boys enjoyed it - especially the half time ice creams and the little binoculars. All singing all dancing and all fun. Frankie is starting to learn to write his name as well, whilst Patrick got his school report rating him as hot shit in teh brains department but peraps a lttle lazy. averaging an ability of a 9 year old, with the reading age of 11. good work. It'll be 11 plus soon though so we cant rest on our laurels. Meanwhile Frankie is preparing for his first year at pre school in September so we gotta get teaching him his abc and 123. He can count upto 20 at a push but cant tell the difference between a 1 and a G. Still, i reckon he's pretty bright and he can certainley handle lifes little challenges, albeit with a ratehr brash temprement.
Anyways, i'll leave yous to digest all that info. if anyone still reds this thing.
tra
PS must get some of you chaps over soon, i might post an invite on the face, since that seems to be where its at these days.
out
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Knowsley hall music festival
Mud and who. that was last weekends treat. And boy was it. First up, Patricks summer fayre as he was doing the doopsy do and other trad-dance moves. bought into some crazy golf and almost an inflateable climbing frame until some joker slashed it. Still, bigger and better things were on the horizon and the rain was holding off.
Met Hellie at Lime street after some dazzlign footwork from young master thelwell and we was off. frank stayed at his nans so no worries about tired littl eyes.
AFter the most ridiculous queing and verification system this side of dover customs, we got in. We had to first of all queue for almost an hour to park the car, then take our walletts, knives bombs and belt buckles off and put them in a plastic bag. then on to check out 2 where we had to down the vodka cunningky disguised as water and dispense with the empty bottles and also remove all the food, in case it was a bomb or a knife i presume. I used the parent wild card to perusade the fool on the till that kids need crisps and sweets. He wasnt fooled by Jans mums cleverly putting them in a paper pescription bag. He let me off and I didnt mention to him the two bottles of juice tucked away in between all the coats. Next stop the metal detector where we had to show the man our plastic bag with weapons in whilst he strip searched our cavities with a probe. Then it was a 15 minute hike round the perimeter fencing till we got to the next gate where we gave in our tickets and then raced in like the bell for first break just went.
Unforftunatley the tehre were no security chaps on the fence so all the drug dealers and undesirbales just hopped over the fence. perhaps they should have put the ticket collectors on teh first gate...
Musically it was a bit patchy till the coral but we had dodgems to keep us entertained til then. Also i must mention the maybes who pretty darn rockin. and 2 hour beer queues and a ridiculously english queue for the toilets. in fact it was queues everywhere. the beer queues were soon beaten by everyone forking ot 100s of squids on crates and crates of booze so the pace was full of paraletic scousers on drugs. a great laugh when you dont have a 7 year old kid wondering why a full grown man was struggling to keep the ice cream away from his forehead and chin.
It was a laugh though, apart from half way through the coral when the copz went berserk and ploughed through the crowd on quad bikes - lights and sirens blazing, stompong over the picnic blankets and drug addled comatosees laying strewen around. so everyone chucked their bottles at em. leading to injuries to passers by. Worse was to come when some chap collapsed right in front of us. pretty scary for the young patrick so we moved round the other side.
The who did us proud, despite the torrential downpour that greeted them on stage.
Eventually we had to go, traipsing back through the mud, struggled to find the car and then home.
a cracking day out.
ill tell you about seusical the musical laters
Met Hellie at Lime street after some dazzlign footwork from young master thelwell and we was off. frank stayed at his nans so no worries about tired littl eyes.
AFter the most ridiculous queing and verification system this side of dover customs, we got in. We had to first of all queue for almost an hour to park the car, then take our walletts, knives bombs and belt buckles off and put them in a plastic bag. then on to check out 2 where we had to down the vodka cunningky disguised as water and dispense with the empty bottles and also remove all the food, in case it was a bomb or a knife i presume. I used the parent wild card to perusade the fool on the till that kids need crisps and sweets. He wasnt fooled by Jans mums cleverly putting them in a paper pescription bag. He let me off and I didnt mention to him the two bottles of juice tucked away in between all the coats. Next stop the metal detector where we had to show the man our plastic bag with weapons in whilst he strip searched our cavities with a probe. Then it was a 15 minute hike round the perimeter fencing till we got to the next gate where we gave in our tickets and then raced in like the bell for first break just went.
Unforftunatley the tehre were no security chaps on the fence so all the drug dealers and undesirbales just hopped over the fence. perhaps they should have put the ticket collectors on teh first gate...
Musically it was a bit patchy till the coral but we had dodgems to keep us entertained til then. Also i must mention the maybes who pretty darn rockin. and 2 hour beer queues and a ridiculously english queue for the toilets. in fact it was queues everywhere. the beer queues were soon beaten by everyone forking ot 100s of squids on crates and crates of booze so the pace was full of paraletic scousers on drugs. a great laugh when you dont have a 7 year old kid wondering why a full grown man was struggling to keep the ice cream away from his forehead and chin.
It was a laugh though, apart from half way through the coral when the copz went berserk and ploughed through the crowd on quad bikes - lights and sirens blazing, stompong over the picnic blankets and drug addled comatosees laying strewen around. so everyone chucked their bottles at em. leading to injuries to passers by. Worse was to come when some chap collapsed right in front of us. pretty scary for the young patrick so we moved round the other side.
The who did us proud, despite the torrential downpour that greeted them on stage.
Eventually we had to go, traipsing back through the mud, struggled to find the car and then home.
a cracking day out.
ill tell you about seusical the musical laters
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Olympic bids and filthy logos
I havent read the red tops today, so I dont know if i'm the only one to notice - but the London Olympics Logo is terribly rude. It seems to me to be a covert political message, with little man London giving Old MOther Olympics a right good rogerin, right in her golden ring.
On other news, the frogs are still in the shed - I dont think theyre dead. will keep you posted.
Whatcha all think to me new tunes on me myspace too? i need to some back slapping people - come on make my fucking day.
Moolakii Club Recordings
Jack The Money
Tra my darlings
xx
On other news, the frogs are still in the shed - I dont think theyre dead. will keep you posted.
Whatcha all think to me new tunes on me myspace too? i need to some back slapping people - come on make my fucking day.
Moolakii Club Recordings
Jack The Money
Tra my darlings
xx
Monday, June 04, 2007
Jim
Yeah you erd. Gymnasia for unkle bozzley. strutted in wearing just me wangers - beat them dudes at their own game. "Induct me, you meaty fucker" I instructed the instructioneer. And he fucking did. So i rowed and rode and then strutted back out, pants soaked through to me clegs and muscles rippling like the river don on a summers day. every monday and thursday till this body is beautiful. when ive got a tan and gonna workout in the nud. thats the only way these boys will rispek my temple.
ooh, im gonna ache in the morrow.
oh eye, and theres a family of frogs in the shed.
more on them laters,
out
ooh, im gonna ache in the morrow.
oh eye, and theres a family of frogs in the shed.
more on them laters,
out
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Lazy bastards unite
So after being pestered by all my legions of adoring fans I have entered the world wide web again.
Lifes been pretty constant with stuff happening here and there juxtaposed with not much happening in the inbetween parts. Memory fails due in part i expect to the massive amount of dust particles that have enveloped my brain after years living in squalor. But I can rememebr going camping at the weekend. twas fandabidozi too. Rhosneiger was our field of choice and we fuckin had it. not put off by our partners in camp dropping out at teh last night, submitting "weather" as their excuse for being soft ninnys, we traveled over friday afternoon. sunshine and wales, not a combination oft seen but we struck lucky this once. I single handedly erected our castle (well i got most of the main poles put together but had to slope off for help from a friendly group of mancs to show me the rest) Its one of them old 70's jobs with the plastic window and nu-deco patterinng under the hood. you know the types, them that creak if you blow on em and whisks you off like something out of the wizard of oz when a gust gets under the guide ropes.
We ate like kings, well - kings who live off spaggehtti bolocksnaise cooked in a wok over a candle. And slept like babys. again i could amuse your stitches with a wittycism but i'll leave you make up your own, involving teh aforementioned creakingoples and airbeds.
Saturday, fry up then beach. disapointed at the shuttness of the local chipperia. but not as disapointed as Patrick afetr his first venture out onto the surf, having donned wetsuit and body board. the waves were too small and the wet suit too loose. we made up for it with toasties, burgers and milkshakes in a quaint little caf on the prom. Then back for tea (corned beef hash). Sunday howling gales and rain reminded us that wales is indeed wet and windy (interject joke involving leaks if you will) and so we scarpered after 2 hours trying to get the mountain of bags and shit back in the car.
Other than that, its been pretty much same old - ive been to london wiv work for a conference. very ho hum - got slightly drunk and possibly made a fool of myself but nobody has told me i did so i cant have got my arse out or owt.
Oh, and Patrick didnt get the part in the panto - better luck next time.
Update on Frankie - he can do buttons up, and undo them. to be fair hes better at undoing them at the mo but hes practising bless im. Trying to teach him his numbers and letters but hes a bit reluctant. Same with peddaling but put him on a climbing frame and hes off like a little orangutang. good boy.
Well, thats it, im off
tra
Bozzle
x
Lifes been pretty constant with stuff happening here and there juxtaposed with not much happening in the inbetween parts. Memory fails due in part i expect to the massive amount of dust particles that have enveloped my brain after years living in squalor. But I can rememebr going camping at the weekend. twas fandabidozi too. Rhosneiger was our field of choice and we fuckin had it. not put off by our partners in camp dropping out at teh last night, submitting "weather" as their excuse for being soft ninnys, we traveled over friday afternoon. sunshine and wales, not a combination oft seen but we struck lucky this once. I single handedly erected our castle (well i got most of the main poles put together but had to slope off for help from a friendly group of mancs to show me the rest) Its one of them old 70's jobs with the plastic window and nu-deco patterinng under the hood. you know the types, them that creak if you blow on em and whisks you off like something out of the wizard of oz when a gust gets under the guide ropes.
We ate like kings, well - kings who live off spaggehtti bolocksnaise cooked in a wok over a candle. And slept like babys. again i could amuse your stitches with a wittycism but i'll leave you make up your own, involving teh aforementioned creakingoples and airbeds.
Saturday, fry up then beach. disapointed at the shuttness of the local chipperia. but not as disapointed as Patrick afetr his first venture out onto the surf, having donned wetsuit and body board. the waves were too small and the wet suit too loose. we made up for it with toasties, burgers and milkshakes in a quaint little caf on the prom. Then back for tea (corned beef hash). Sunday howling gales and rain reminded us that wales is indeed wet and windy (interject joke involving leaks if you will) and so we scarpered after 2 hours trying to get the mountain of bags and shit back in the car.
Other than that, its been pretty much same old - ive been to london wiv work for a conference. very ho hum - got slightly drunk and possibly made a fool of myself but nobody has told me i did so i cant have got my arse out or owt.
Oh, and Patrick didnt get the part in the panto - better luck next time.
Update on Frankie - he can do buttons up, and undo them. to be fair hes better at undoing them at the mo but hes practising bless im. Trying to teach him his numbers and letters but hes a bit reluctant. Same with peddaling but put him on a climbing frame and hes off like a little orangutang. good boy.
Well, thats it, im off
tra
Bozzle
x
Monday, April 30, 2007
my life in bits
Well, plenty has happened over the past two weeks.
Ive payed footy. twice (dads vs lads). i ached for a good 5 days after the first game, a recovery period of just 1 day for the second. Looking forward to another bash on saturday.
Patricks got an audition for a part in the produciton of beauty and the beast at liverpool empire which is all very exciting.
I took him off to Gulivers world on sunday with the beavers. luckily plenty of other parents went so i didnt have to keep control over 10 screaming boys on a hot sunday afternoon covered in sticky donuts and roller-coaster pink vomit. it all went pretty much according to plan, no lost kids and plenty of fun packed thrills.
the non-blogging culture at me new place of work has meant very sparce attempts at telling you abot my life. i cant now remember of anything much more that happened.
oh, we went ot see gruff rhys at liverpool philamonic last wednesday. it was pretty darn good too. plenty of surreal welsh humour and cardboard cut outs. I got the obligatory momentus mug and two programmed so the kids can cut out and make their very own candylions.
when i remember to do it
Ive payed footy. twice (dads vs lads). i ached for a good 5 days after the first game, a recovery period of just 1 day for the second. Looking forward to another bash on saturday.
Patricks got an audition for a part in the produciton of beauty and the beast at liverpool empire which is all very exciting.
I took him off to Gulivers world on sunday with the beavers. luckily plenty of other parents went so i didnt have to keep control over 10 screaming boys on a hot sunday afternoon covered in sticky donuts and roller-coaster pink vomit. it all went pretty much according to plan, no lost kids and plenty of fun packed thrills.
the non-blogging culture at me new place of work has meant very sparce attempts at telling you abot my life. i cant now remember of anything much more that happened.
oh, we went ot see gruff rhys at liverpool philamonic last wednesday. it was pretty darn good too. plenty of surreal welsh humour and cardboard cut outs. I got the obligatory momentus mug and two programmed so the kids can cut out and make their very own candylions.
when i remember to do it
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
E-police avoidance scheme
1 week into the new job and i am under constant surveillance. restriction of internet, emails without foul language. now i know how john mccarthy and nelson mandela felt. im a political prisoner in the some 1984 hell hole. what have i done.
At least the poeple are nice, but maybe thats the drugs in the tea.
Had a right old weekend, putting shelves up in the shed, going for a barbecue at our friends and then getting all sorts of rogered by merseyrail in a vain attempt to get to Huddersfield before lights out. terrible failure - apologies pete. hope you got pissed and then the bumps.
Sunday we went swimming at Europa pools. they have a wave machine and palm trees. all good fun. I went on a couple of water slides for the first time in my life (ive been a non swimer with exceptional aptitude for avoiding most expanses of water larger then a sink for the bets part of 29 years). killer? pah. no fear here my dear.
Now, if anyone is thinking of organising a barn on 4th August, factor in my prebooked caravaning wekeend in deepest cornwall. i expect you to rearrange all plands on my account.
Oh and creegan, sort your fducking webshit out, im fed up of reading about apache indian.
At least the poeple are nice, but maybe thats the drugs in the tea.
Had a right old weekend, putting shelves up in the shed, going for a barbecue at our friends and then getting all sorts of rogered by merseyrail in a vain attempt to get to Huddersfield before lights out. terrible failure - apologies pete. hope you got pissed and then the bumps.
Sunday we went swimming at Europa pools. they have a wave machine and palm trees. all good fun. I went on a couple of water slides for the first time in my life (ive been a non swimer with exceptional aptitude for avoiding most expanses of water larger then a sink for the bets part of 29 years). killer? pah. no fear here my dear.
Now, if anyone is thinking of organising a barn on 4th August, factor in my prebooked caravaning wekeend in deepest cornwall. i expect you to rearrange all plands on my account.
Oh and creegan, sort your fducking webshit out, im fed up of reading about apache indian.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
new job
Started my new job yesterday and so far so good. plenty of perks, lovely people, relaxed atmosphere and sunshine. Perfick. we had tea outside tonight too, and all is swell.
I'm busy writing some tunes at the minute, though progress is slow. ive stuck a couple of ditties on themoolakiiclubrecordings.myspace.com and you can keep up on their progress as i develop them in to rip roaring beauties. Also nip onto jackthemoney.myspace.com to listen to some older stuff. Busy as a bee at the mo. I spent the weekend building fences. we also went to a farm at queensferry. great time had by all as the kids fed baby lambs, held chicks, ducklings, chinchillas, bearded dragons etc and rode the tractor whilst being chased by hungry porky pigs.
we have dipped our toes in the calm waters of summer and we love it.
I'm busy writing some tunes at the minute, though progress is slow. ive stuck a couple of ditties on themoolakiiclubrecordings.myspace.com and you can keep up on their progress as i develop them in to rip roaring beauties. Also nip onto jackthemoney.myspace.com to listen to some older stuff. Busy as a bee at the mo. I spent the weekend building fences. we also went to a farm at queensferry. great time had by all as the kids fed baby lambs, held chicks, ducklings, chinchillas, bearded dragons etc and rode the tractor whilst being chased by hungry porky pigs.
we have dipped our toes in the calm waters of summer and we love it.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Happy Birthday Frankie
3 today
off for a meal tonight, so hopefully he will behave. but we can offer a lenient view given the importance of the day.
off for a meal tonight, so hopefully he will behave. but we can offer a lenient view given the importance of the day.
Star Wars and boiling blood
2nd installment of the weekends adventures. Sunday, was split into 2 halves.
Morning:
Egg race in the sunshine.
A gorgeous day, so we popped down to the patch of grass by the main road to watch the new brighton to clatterbridge bike eggstravaganza. Basically, everyone who has a motorbike, quadbike, three wheeler, scooter etc drives in a massive (1000's) convay from new brighton to a hospital in clatterbridge where they give the kids eater eggs and toys. fantastic sight and lots of love in the air. But we couldnt stay all day as we had to go to a star wars convention.
yes you heard, well not quite a convention, and it transpired not quite the exhibition being touted either. anyways here is how it went.
Afternoon
Starwars at the space port.
After a quick bite, we went to seacombe ferry terminal to see the star wars exhibiton. it was only on saturday and sunday so we anticipated a queue. it was a queue and then a half a queue aswell. about an hour and a half in total. but we were entertained by stormtrooper, snow troopers (as accuratley explained by Patrick) bounty hunters and some chap dressed like robin hood who took the whole thing far too seriously. I think he saw this as an oppertunity to get spotted for 2nd arresting officer in the bill.
Now, we went to see a doctor who exhibition a few weeks back that was really good, so we were expecting the same. this time the price of £24 for a family ticket want quite justified by the effort made to exhibit starwars. infact, the dressing up parade outside was pretty much the sum total, when inside all there was was r2d2 and some local girl doing a poor impression of princess leigha. adimttedly you could get the autograph from the green cross code man and that dwarf out of willow. but you had to queue for a further hour so frick that. so we complained to the manager. who todl we must have missed some stuff, liek the pod racer simulation and other [quote] "stuff". so we went back in, the pod racer simulation was a generic racing car simulation, which the kids enjoyed but didnt quite fit the starwars bill. and there was no other stuff. decided against further complaints so as to save ruining the kids dayout. oh well. the kids enjoyed it and got some photos of them shooting storm troopers and the like.
and then monday... first barbarque of 2007. a fitting finale for a fantastic weekend.
Morning:
Egg race in the sunshine.
A gorgeous day, so we popped down to the patch of grass by the main road to watch the new brighton to clatterbridge bike eggstravaganza. Basically, everyone who has a motorbike, quadbike, three wheeler, scooter etc drives in a massive (1000's) convay from new brighton to a hospital in clatterbridge where they give the kids eater eggs and toys. fantastic sight and lots of love in the air. But we couldnt stay all day as we had to go to a star wars convention.
yes you heard, well not quite a convention, and it transpired not quite the exhibition being touted either. anyways here is how it went.
Afternoon
Starwars at the space port.
After a quick bite, we went to seacombe ferry terminal to see the star wars exhibiton. it was only on saturday and sunday so we anticipated a queue. it was a queue and then a half a queue aswell. about an hour and a half in total. but we were entertained by stormtrooper, snow troopers (as accuratley explained by Patrick) bounty hunters and some chap dressed like robin hood who took the whole thing far too seriously. I think he saw this as an oppertunity to get spotted for 2nd arresting officer in the bill.
Now, we went to see a doctor who exhibition a few weeks back that was really good, so we were expecting the same. this time the price of £24 for a family ticket want quite justified by the effort made to exhibit starwars. infact, the dressing up parade outside was pretty much the sum total, when inside all there was was r2d2 and some local girl doing a poor impression of princess leigha. adimttedly you could get the autograph from the green cross code man and that dwarf out of willow. but you had to queue for a further hour so frick that. so we complained to the manager. who todl we must have missed some stuff, liek the pod racer simulation and other [quote] "stuff". so we went back in, the pod racer simulation was a generic racing car simulation, which the kids enjoyed but didnt quite fit the starwars bill. and there was no other stuff. decided against further complaints so as to save ruining the kids dayout. oh well. the kids enjoyed it and got some photos of them shooting storm troopers and the like.
and then monday... first barbarque of 2007. a fitting finale for a fantastic weekend.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
patricks dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhmJcMH-2AU
As promised heres Patricks dance.
I put a block on dirty old men so you have to let me know your email address if you want to see it so i can invite you. Ive invited those of you for whom i can remember your email address off the top of my head. not bad to say i forget my way home most days
As promised heres Patricks dance.
I put a block on dirty old men so you have to let me know your email address if you want to see it so i can invite you. Ive invited those of you for whom i can remember your email address off the top of my head. not bad to say i forget my way home most days
Birthday weekend
An absolute corker this weekend.
Friday:
meal at the manor in Greasby with the folks. Me mum, Dad, Gran and Aunty Muriel came over and so did Patricks Nanny Jayne so it was a big bash with people who don't really do eatinout as a rule so fingers were crossed all over the place that it went smooth. And it did. Frank was on tip top behaviour and so was Patrick, both eating up with minimum fuss and lots of fun. So that paved the way for a great birthday weekend.
Saturday:
Up early to get the house sorted and last minute shopping. Created a cucumber snake, carrot and hummous snails, pepper house and cheese hedgehog. finished off with sandwiched, crisps, you know the score. Kids parties can go tits up without adequeate preperation, as Pete will no doubt have learned whilst cracking bricks under hypnosis, fail to prepare - prepare to fail. And we had invited a couple of Franks playmates from his child minder who we didnt know from adam, which could have been a disaster. especially when frank informed us friday night that he didnt really like lewis. dont work with kids or animals. luckily, both kate and lewis were ok. a great time with ice cream clowns, scary monkey cake, pass the parcel and general fun.
The good thing with kids is most of the time they know when theyve had enough and they tell you. so within 2 hours theyd had their fun and gone. No pink spew, not too many tears. celebrate good times come on.
Having Grandparents over is always a wise move, so the washing up was done in effiecent time (didnt have the heart to explain we had a dishwasher) and it was fish chips in front of the telly - harry potter followed by doctor who. Patrick even managed to go to his dance class.
I'll tell you about sunday later - but i'll tease you with omens of starwars and boiling blood.
Friday:
meal at the manor in Greasby with the folks. Me mum, Dad, Gran and Aunty Muriel came over and so did Patricks Nanny Jayne so it was a big bash with people who don't really do eatinout as a rule so fingers were crossed all over the place that it went smooth. And it did. Frank was on tip top behaviour and so was Patrick, both eating up with minimum fuss and lots of fun. So that paved the way for a great birthday weekend.
Saturday:
Up early to get the house sorted and last minute shopping. Created a cucumber snake, carrot and hummous snails, pepper house and cheese hedgehog. finished off with sandwiched, crisps, you know the score. Kids parties can go tits up without adequeate preperation, as Pete will no doubt have learned whilst cracking bricks under hypnosis, fail to prepare - prepare to fail. And we had invited a couple of Franks playmates from his child minder who we didnt know from adam, which could have been a disaster. especially when frank informed us friday night that he didnt really like lewis. dont work with kids or animals. luckily, both kate and lewis were ok. a great time with ice cream clowns, scary monkey cake, pass the parcel and general fun.
The good thing with kids is most of the time they know when theyve had enough and they tell you. so within 2 hours theyd had their fun and gone. No pink spew, not too many tears. celebrate good times come on.
Having Grandparents over is always a wise move, so the washing up was done in effiecent time (didnt have the heart to explain we had a dishwasher) and it was fish chips in front of the telly - harry potter followed by doctor who. Patrick even managed to go to his dance class.
I'll tell you about sunday later - but i'll tease you with omens of starwars and boiling blood.
Friday, March 30, 2007
party build up
Finished painting the bathrooom.
Finished baking the cake.
Iced the fucker.
Realised this morning it looks pretty frickin scary.
No time to change though so scary, LSD infected monkey it is.
Going out for a meal with the folks tonight to the manor in greasby, fingers crossed frank behaves himself. then back home to tidy and clean and generally prepare for the big one tomorrow. it'll be a blast.
Finished baking the cake.
Iced the fucker.
Realised this morning it looks pretty frickin scary.
No time to change though so scary, LSD infected monkey it is.
Going out for a meal with the folks tonight to the manor in greasby, fingers crossed frank behaves himself. then back home to tidy and clean and generally prepare for the big one tomorrow. it'll be a blast.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Dancing, painting, baking. life dont get much better.
To satisfy James' curiosity, I bought Pi (the film id seen and think is pretty good), The god effect (a book about quantum mechanics which so far is very interesting) and what the bleep do we know which is fucking shite. i should have read the reviews before buying. oh well.
Saturday was Patricks dancing show at the floral pavilion new brighton. It was a full house and we had front(ish) row seats. we took jans mum to0. Patricks dance class was third on the bill and he pulled it off with aplomb. A few signs of nerves but no major embarrsements, he even got a little placque o prove he was in it. I'll try and email out the video at some point over then next decade. And Owen, I'll pop some pic over for you too. anyone else want to see how the clan is growing, come and see me.
Sunday, I filled the cracks in the bathroom wall and glossed the woodwork (sunset yellow, a littel darker than i anticipated but it looks ok). Monday night I painted the undercoat on the walls and tonight i'll finish the job. I fancy getting black tiles on the floor to set off the yellow, but although i drink spirits (polished off thelast of the monkey shoulder last night - really into that one) im not rich so the blue mockney stones will have to suffice. Tomorrow night I'll be baking the birthday cake for Frankies party on saturday. Last minute preperations are underway. 3 years old. crikey me. it wont be long before he's in school.
And it wont be long before Patricks a teenager. bloomin eck.
Saturday was Patricks dancing show at the floral pavilion new brighton. It was a full house and we had front(ish) row seats. we took jans mum to0. Patricks dance class was third on the bill and he pulled it off with aplomb. A few signs of nerves but no major embarrsements, he even got a little placque o prove he was in it. I'll try and email out the video at some point over then next decade. And Owen, I'll pop some pic over for you too. anyone else want to see how the clan is growing, come and see me.
Sunday, I filled the cracks in the bathroom wall and glossed the woodwork (sunset yellow, a littel darker than i anticipated but it looks ok). Monday night I painted the undercoat on the walls and tonight i'll finish the job. I fancy getting black tiles on the floor to set off the yellow, but although i drink spirits (polished off thelast of the monkey shoulder last night - really into that one) im not rich so the blue mockney stones will have to suffice. Tomorrow night I'll be baking the birthday cake for Frankies party on saturday. Last minute preperations are underway. 3 years old. crikey me. it wont be long before he's in school.
And it wont be long before Patricks a teenager. bloomin eck.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
who wants to be a millionaire
Ah new labour, striving to keep the rich / poor divide intact.
If you earn less than about 18000 your worse off. on the other hand, if you have a holiday home in spain owned by your company, you're laughing. or if you drink spirits. or if you earn more than 43000 per year. or if you have barrels of money in savings. or if you're an MP. or rich.
At least my book and films came in the post this week. Unfortunatley one film is terrible. i turned it off after 5 minutes. The books good though, very interesting.
Other than that, nothing of note has happened in my life.
If you earn less than about 18000 your worse off. on the other hand, if you have a holiday home in spain owned by your company, you're laughing. or if you drink spirits. or if you earn more than 43000 per year. or if you have barrels of money in savings. or if you're an MP. or rich.
At least my book and films came in the post this week. Unfortunatley one film is terrible. i turned it off after 5 minutes. The books good though, very interesting.
Other than that, nothing of note has happened in my life.
Friday, March 16, 2007
knowledge is power
I've been getting into quantum physics for the past couple of days.
Its all very mind expanding. It reminds me of these philosophy books i used to read as a young teenager. They were all about buddhisty stuff where things only exist when you need them too and all sorts of stories about rabbits and their record collections.
I never knew anything about the waves/particles thing though, which i feel i should have done. http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/home/John_Gribbin/quantum.htm
Fascinating stuff, i'm sure you'll agree. thats why i bought a book about it. and a film.
the obsessive side to my character often gets carried away with impulsive purchases.
i bought pi too, cos its a good film. and i needed to spend more than 15 quid to get free delivery.
To make sure my life doesnt disappear up my own behind we watched borat last night to readjust my geekipitence hormones. tres bien baron cohen.
Its all very mind expanding. It reminds me of these philosophy books i used to read as a young teenager. They were all about buddhisty stuff where things only exist when you need them too and all sorts of stories about rabbits and their record collections.
I never knew anything about the waves/particles thing though, which i feel i should have done. http://www.lifesci.sussex.ac.uk/home/John_Gribbin/quantum.htm
Fascinating stuff, i'm sure you'll agree. thats why i bought a book about it. and a film.
the obsessive side to my character often gets carried away with impulsive purchases.
i bought pi too, cos its a good film. and i needed to spend more than 15 quid to get free delivery.
To make sure my life doesnt disappear up my own behind we watched borat last night to readjust my geekipitence hormones. tres bien baron cohen.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
meat or veg
Not mentioned food for a while so i'll fill you in on last nights shenanigans.
Jan wants to eat more vegatables. I'm somewhat apprehensive as that would leave less room on the plate for meat. But, in the interests of democracy i let her have her way - and she takes a mile.
So last night, after cooking tea (a stir fry with only one chicken piece instead of two i might add) I began work on tonights tea - vegetable curry. no meat in sight. I feel like a muslim attending mass. But this morning it definatley smelt good, albeit quite veggie. basically it has so far got chillies, garlic, onions, carrots, butternut squash, sweet potato and tomoatoes. spicings are coriander seeds and cardamom pods (both hand ground i might add) with turmeric and feungreek (the actual recipe demanded curry leaves but meols isnt bombay so i gambled ont he fenugreek, dont tell jan though, she'll have my ass). tonight i will add the chick peas, greek yogurht, mushrooms and coriander leaves. i will then serve on a bed of rice and it will be the fucking money.
i was tempted to ruin it to stop jans vegetable fixation but i didnt have the gumption.
Monday, March 12, 2007
kids, jobs and blowjobs
to save Dunc crying over being the last to fnd out anything i gave him the big scoop on friday afternoon. Yes thats right, after being told i'd have to wait til tuesday, Mr Rathbone decided that I am fucking great after all and offered my the job. so 1 month notice starting today and im gone.
So that set my weekend off to a tee. Friday saw our friday night sing-along become tradition after three on the trot, although this week was cut short due to tired kids screeming. still, got a couple of throws of the SFA fire in my heart out before Frank became uncontrollable.
Saturday saw Lewis department store sale in Liverpool which left me to look after Frank (Patrick plays footy on a saturday morning these days with a mate from school) Saturday evening we took in some wildlife programmes. Me and Jan tried to turn over when the lions began ripping the cute baby hippo apart whilst you could hear it crying for its mum. but Frank wanted to watch it. He did seem to understand the whole affair, animals have to eat. i'm not sure he is totally aware that he eats baby pigs regularly though, and that they taste great. when he finds out there may be tears.
Sunday, off to Chester to get Franks birthday pressie. a nice new trike. and being the new age father that i am i let him have it early. on the way back i narrowly averted another explanation of rude words and phrases when i rhymed hairy back with hairy crack. Not quite a patch on the time Jan left an episode of shameless in the video so when the kids got up bright and early they were confronted with some trampy bloke getting a blowjob of a tart. Obviously they ran upstairs to ask me what the funny thing on the tele was. I tried my best at diverting them away to other things whilst praying neither of them reenact any of this stuff when they go to school / nursery.
Oh, and Sunday evening so the first mow of the new year. always cause for a celebratry glass of red. and a tot of the old monkey shoulder, cheers mr james.
So that set my weekend off to a tee. Friday saw our friday night sing-along become tradition after three on the trot, although this week was cut short due to tired kids screeming. still, got a couple of throws of the SFA fire in my heart out before Frank became uncontrollable.
Saturday saw Lewis department store sale in Liverpool which left me to look after Frank (Patrick plays footy on a saturday morning these days with a mate from school) Saturday evening we took in some wildlife programmes. Me and Jan tried to turn over when the lions began ripping the cute baby hippo apart whilst you could hear it crying for its mum. but Frank wanted to watch it. He did seem to understand the whole affair, animals have to eat. i'm not sure he is totally aware that he eats baby pigs regularly though, and that they taste great. when he finds out there may be tears.
Sunday, off to Chester to get Franks birthday pressie. a nice new trike. and being the new age father that i am i let him have it early. on the way back i narrowly averted another explanation of rude words and phrases when i rhymed hairy back with hairy crack. Not quite a patch on the time Jan left an episode of shameless in the video so when the kids got up bright and early they were confronted with some trampy bloke getting a blowjob of a tart. Obviously they ran upstairs to ask me what the funny thing on the tele was. I tried my best at diverting them away to other things whilst praying neither of them reenact any of this stuff when they go to school / nursery.
Oh, and Sunday evening so the first mow of the new year. always cause for a celebratry glass of red. and a tot of the old monkey shoulder, cheers mr james.
Friday, March 09, 2007
sun shine and to-dos
Well, after rejecitng me, the company i went for an interview with a couple of weeks ago saw the error of their ways and have invited me back for a second crack at the whip. There are pros and cons to every tale, the cons being that if i leave here, I cant roll in late very day, do frick all, mess about on the interweb and then go home.
Pros - money, as ever.
what a to-do.
luckily jan got on the wine-wagon this week so hopefully a casket of boutellies are on their way to the celtic road projects as we speak. And since i've nearly polished that bottle of monkey booze you bought me James, I'll be needing you to return to the motherland to get me some more. i didnt drink the scots-piss til then but that little bitch has changed my pallete.
There were a couple of news items that tickled my fancy this week but instead of 'bloggin' them whilst fresh in my mind i forgot them. I might remember later. fingers crossed, eh.
Pros - money, as ever.
what a to-do.
luckily jan got on the wine-wagon this week so hopefully a casket of boutellies are on their way to the celtic road projects as we speak. And since i've nearly polished that bottle of monkey booze you bought me James, I'll be needing you to return to the motherland to get me some more. i didnt drink the scots-piss til then but that little bitch has changed my pallete.
There were a couple of news items that tickled my fancy this week but instead of 'bloggin' them whilst fresh in my mind i forgot them. I might remember later. fingers crossed, eh.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Sunny Days and Reggae by the Sea
Woke up on Saturday morning to the sound of the sun melting the polar ice caps. first blazer of 2007, so all you long haul fliers can look back and feel proud of the work your high altitude carbon emmisons of done. Of course if it was up to me there would have been the aroma of burning charcoals in the back yard, but Jan gets first dibs round here so instead of chargrilled burgers and prime steak fillets smoking away the afternon it was a white wash hanging up to dry. Still, not one to let such a day go by without fuss I took Frank on a trip to the tip. The perfect weather to bang on some tunes, windows down and dump the old christmas tree / pram / assorted bits and jobs that wotn fit in a standard sized wheelie bin.
Frank fell asleep after about 10 minutes so I was left to do the dirty work all by myself.
On the way back from the second trip, I spotted Mr Whippy himself setting up stall on the promenade. So foot to the floor, get Franks dinner down him and back out for ice creams. Unfortunatley the greasy wop (no offence Owen, I'm sure there are some decent italians out there. somewhere) had legged it by the time we got there so had to take the long haul back up to the shop to get a bog standard walls cornetto.
Now, I half expected Patrick to be in on the Ice cream parlour games, but his computer addiction is fast swallowing him up. too busy playing star wars to get an ice cream? Now, i had my moments on champo i admit, although i have to say i have kicked that habit into touch now, but i never gave up ice creams for computers. At least i dont think i did. Anyways, I am now on a a parental soap box, judge jury and executioner of computer games. terrible things, destroy young peoples lives with there false sense of control blah blah.
Sunday spent taking stock as the rains fall and old mother cold wraps her unwelcome fingers round my frail frame.
Sunny day, it was nice whilst it lasted. Maybe we'll meet up next saturday eh?
Frank fell asleep after about 10 minutes so I was left to do the dirty work all by myself.
On the way back from the second trip, I spotted Mr Whippy himself setting up stall on the promenade. So foot to the floor, get Franks dinner down him and back out for ice creams. Unfortunatley the greasy wop (no offence Owen, I'm sure there are some decent italians out there. somewhere) had legged it by the time we got there so had to take the long haul back up to the shop to get a bog standard walls cornetto.
Now, I half expected Patrick to be in on the Ice cream parlour games, but his computer addiction is fast swallowing him up. too busy playing star wars to get an ice cream? Now, i had my moments on champo i admit, although i have to say i have kicked that habit into touch now, but i never gave up ice creams for computers. At least i dont think i did. Anyways, I am now on a a parental soap box, judge jury and executioner of computer games. terrible things, destroy young peoples lives with there false sense of control blah blah.
Sunday spent taking stock as the rains fall and old mother cold wraps her unwelcome fingers round my frail frame.
Sunny day, it was nice whilst it lasted. Maybe we'll meet up next saturday eh?
Friday, March 02, 2007
the bitter taste of defeat.
Well, we packed young Patrick off to school yesterday decked out in his am-dram paraphanalia. Viking helmet, version 1.2 - version 1.1 failed to make it past the drying out stage before flaking away like a 2-flush shit. Frankies survived and he painted his a nice muddy purple colour on wednesday afternoon. However i had to hurridley make a new one for patrick out of cardbaord, came out smashing. Finished the woolly jacket and it looked great. finished the dragon which also looked great.
I found out late last night the awful truth, 1 vote from his fellow classmates. the class fancy dress contest was won by a girl dressed as a wardrobe. which gives you some idea of the competition we were up against. still, the old adage about taking part stood patrick in good stead and no tears flowed. well done my lad, i'm proud of you.
I on the other hand wept like a baby girl.
I found out late last night the awful truth, 1 vote from his fellow classmates. the class fancy dress contest was won by a girl dressed as a wardrobe. which gives you some idea of the competition we were up against. still, the old adage about taking part stood patrick in good stead and no tears flowed. well done my lad, i'm proud of you.
I on the other hand wept like a baby girl.
Monday, February 26, 2007
scandalous
By the way, has anyone else heard that they are selling the radio frequencies used by microphones? they reckon it'll be the end of stadium shows forever cos they wont be able to use radios mikes at all. crazyness. cant find any articles on it but its true. and if anyone doubts me, i was once doubted on the accuracy of my research into Micheal Barrymore fisting someone to death. that was true too. no doubt there'll be a petition on tony Blairs website but i cant be bothered to look.
anyway, just thought i'd let you know. and it will affect the 2012 olympic games and probably our hope of staging 2018 world cup.
anyway, just thought i'd let you know. and it will affect the 2012 olympic games and probably our hope of staging 2018 world cup.
Dragons coming out of my ears
Quite the busy weekend, involving boozey late nights and sunday fun.
After a fairly standard saturday, we decided to get terribly drunk and thats pretty much what i can remember. gave Pat in London a ring for what seemed like a 10 minute chat but ws probably about an hour of me repeating myself like a drunken baffoon. still, nice to have a chat. I'll plug his record that has been released this month - check it out on http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=86574316
Nice.
then Sunday came at me thick nad fast. after dodging the swimimng question we went for bowling at new brighton. good fun, particularly chasing after frank every five minutes. for a 2 year old, postman pat vans are a little more exciting than waiting for your turn to throw a ball at some sticks. still, he came joint second with an impressive 91. Of course I was hailed victor with a wopping 100 andsomething and celebrated by awarding us all a trip to the fairground next door. A bout of dodgems and various rides ensued, Patrick and Jan taking on the Dragon ride whilst me and Frank rode the catterpiller. Rain, schmain, the rides have it.
Every year I do various fancy dress costumes for the boys. So last night I continued on this years task of making Patricks Horrendous Haddock III costume for the school "dress up as a character from a book day" on Thursday. Am in the process of creating a wooly waistcoat by sewing lots of strips of brown and black material to an old shirt. Making a viking hat from paper mache (and one for Frank too) we were sat upto our arses in wallpaper paste and mewspaper til 6:45 last night. Then My piece de resistance, a baby dragon. Once again I will create a masterpiece to leave the young lad the talk of the town. Its pretty fucking impressive. Once done I might attempt to throw a photo on the site.
And so got drunk again last night and stayed up til 1 sewing. leaving me disshevelled and knackered. no time for early nights though, as I must make sure the costumes are ready for action. A mans work is never done.
After a fairly standard saturday, we decided to get terribly drunk and thats pretty much what i can remember. gave Pat in London a ring for what seemed like a 10 minute chat but ws probably about an hour of me repeating myself like a drunken baffoon. still, nice to have a chat. I'll plug his record that has been released this month - check it out on http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=86574316
Nice.
then Sunday came at me thick nad fast. after dodging the swimimng question we went for bowling at new brighton. good fun, particularly chasing after frank every five minutes. for a 2 year old, postman pat vans are a little more exciting than waiting for your turn to throw a ball at some sticks. still, he came joint second with an impressive 91. Of course I was hailed victor with a wopping 100 andsomething and celebrated by awarding us all a trip to the fairground next door. A bout of dodgems and various rides ensued, Patrick and Jan taking on the Dragon ride whilst me and Frank rode the catterpiller. Rain, schmain, the rides have it.
Every year I do various fancy dress costumes for the boys. So last night I continued on this years task of making Patricks Horrendous Haddock III costume for the school "dress up as a character from a book day" on Thursday. Am in the process of creating a wooly waistcoat by sewing lots of strips of brown and black material to an old shirt. Making a viking hat from paper mache (and one for Frank too) we were sat upto our arses in wallpaper paste and mewspaper til 6:45 last night. Then My piece de resistance, a baby dragon. Once again I will create a masterpiece to leave the young lad the talk of the town. Its pretty fucking impressive. Once done I might attempt to throw a photo on the site.
And so got drunk again last night and stayed up til 1 sewing. leaving me disshevelled and knackered. no time for early nights though, as I must make sure the costumes are ready for action. A mans work is never done.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
sunday blogger yeah
Almost forgot about this lark. too busy doing not much.
I took a long weekend off work last friday and monday to use up holidays and spend a bit of time with the kids. its february half term this week.
Friday, i was going to decorate but Frank was ill so looked after him. then we had a good old sing roudn the guitar in the evening. singing some Guillemots tuens with Frank and Patrick on percussion / guitar / harmonica / vocals. good times.
Went to see the folks on Saturday / Sunday and ended up in an impromptu family gathering. all good fun, had a delicious chinese on saturday eve to celebrate the new year. a day early but i'm not a practicing chinaslamic so dont get all traditional on my ax. Was thinking of you, briefly, mister james as i tucked into some spare ribs and seaweed. of course, over here its not really seaweed. I know because i made some myself tother week and its toasted pak-choi tossed about with sugar and salt. it was lovely.
The boys stayed up late and we enjoyed ourselves until they refused to go to bed. kids, tsk.
Sunday, relaxed as my family entertained the brothers slim. Patrick had a push up and down on me dads old motorbike whilst frank did soem birdwatching with some 'noculars and seranaded us with one of his little ditties on a mandolin.
Monday spent in a secret interview with a company in Liverpool.
Tuesday spent catching up on 2 days missed at work.
Wednesday had a thai curry at dinner time for a lady at works leaving do in the Sawasdee just roudn the corner. lovely place - all orchids and lanterns. very tasty too.
then found out that we had no food at all in the house except a quiche and quarter of a smoked sausage. played right into my hands and so finished off with a curry and wine. We tried a new one out, Chicken Acharia or summat, really tastey with dahl, bindi and chana palak. We havent had a curry for a while and it tastes better and better for the abstinance.
it doesnt get much better. hang on, buzzcocks. perfect. Much more taking the monkeywizz out of silly old preston and lots of laughs.
So that pretty much brings us bang up to date. Franks learnt to get dressed / undressed all by himself so that takes a little bit of stress out of mornings and nights. He's also learning to play guitar and often is to be founs in the front room twanging away and crooning some tune he's just written. brilliant my son. keep it up.
I took a long weekend off work last friday and monday to use up holidays and spend a bit of time with the kids. its february half term this week.
Friday, i was going to decorate but Frank was ill so looked after him. then we had a good old sing roudn the guitar in the evening. singing some Guillemots tuens with Frank and Patrick on percussion / guitar / harmonica / vocals. good times.
Went to see the folks on Saturday / Sunday and ended up in an impromptu family gathering. all good fun, had a delicious chinese on saturday eve to celebrate the new year. a day early but i'm not a practicing chinaslamic so dont get all traditional on my ax. Was thinking of you, briefly, mister james as i tucked into some spare ribs and seaweed. of course, over here its not really seaweed. I know because i made some myself tother week and its toasted pak-choi tossed about with sugar and salt. it was lovely.
The boys stayed up late and we enjoyed ourselves until they refused to go to bed. kids, tsk.
Sunday, relaxed as my family entertained the brothers slim. Patrick had a push up and down on me dads old motorbike whilst frank did soem birdwatching with some 'noculars and seranaded us with one of his little ditties on a mandolin.
Monday spent in a secret interview with a company in Liverpool.
Tuesday spent catching up on 2 days missed at work.
Wednesday had a thai curry at dinner time for a lady at works leaving do in the Sawasdee just roudn the corner. lovely place - all orchids and lanterns. very tasty too.
then found out that we had no food at all in the house except a quiche and quarter of a smoked sausage. played right into my hands and so finished off with a curry and wine. We tried a new one out, Chicken Acharia or summat, really tastey with dahl, bindi and chana palak. We havent had a curry for a while and it tastes better and better for the abstinance.
it doesnt get much better. hang on, buzzcocks. perfect. Much more taking the monkeywizz out of silly old preston and lots of laughs.
So that pretty much brings us bang up to date. Franks learnt to get dressed / undressed all by himself so that takes a little bit of stress out of mornings and nights. He's also learning to play guitar and often is to be founs in the front room twanging away and crooning some tune he's just written. brilliant my son. keep it up.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
the clams before the storm
The clams were a success, cooked to perfection in a noilly pratt, garlic and parsley liquor with linguine. The biggest clams janets ever seen by all accounts. I, never having seen clams before must trust her word that they were big.
Then followed Prestons little strop in the now infamous storming off of Never Mind The Buzzcocks. good boy Prenton, that'll show em that you're not a prick in real life.
Janet was all a flummox, not only did Guillemots (her flava of the month) get nominated for best live act at the brits, fyfe dangerfield was on buzzcocks too. and he seems alright.
So they we have it, clams 1 preston 0.
Then followed Prestons little strop in the now infamous storming off of Never Mind The Buzzcocks. good boy Prenton, that'll show em that you're not a prick in real life.
Janet was all a flummox, not only did Guillemots (her flava of the month) get nominated for best live act at the brits, fyfe dangerfield was on buzzcocks too. and he seems alright.
So they we have it, clams 1 preston 0.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
planning the summer of fun
Not content with a summer holiday spent in a caravan in cornwall, I went and bought tickets to knowsley park to see the Who, the Coral and the View amongst others. June 23rd. Another big red ring on the calendar. We've decided to take patrick along too, to advance his musical and cultural education. I was on my soapbox to give frank a go, but we agreed in the end that maybes hes a bit young for such excitement. I, for one, cannot bloody wait. although drinking shenanigans maybe slightly subdued as it could be a driving day... but maybe not. we just have to wait and see. if anyone else fnacies it then get your tickets, theyre selling like hotcakes. only a little bit more expensive - about £45 for the day. (its a 2 dayer with no camping, but we just doing the saturday).
And if that wasnt enough, the Charlatans are playing Delamere forest park the weekend before (15th June). but i'm just not sure we are that crazy. Delamere is a great place though, have been for nice days out. infact one of our "lets just do it" days out was at a small bit of delamere that weve never found again, snowstorms and strange goings on with slate grey skys behind tall trees on an exposed hillock. all very awe inspiring and memorable stuff, especially for the kids.
Looking forward to tucking into another bean salad as I am blummin starving.
Also, planning the valentines meal for tomorrow. currently eyeing up some clams / pheasent or if not then lamb. it all depends on the availability of the produce from our locally sourced outlets (fishmonger / butcher to any iceland mum amongst us). I might even finish with a chocolate pudding, but no champagne due to financial restrictions (them tickets to knowsley put paid to my plans for a bottle of pol roger to kick the evening off)
one week 'til pancake day too, the year is coming straight at us, thick and fast.
And if that wasnt enough, the Charlatans are playing Delamere forest park the weekend before (15th June). but i'm just not sure we are that crazy. Delamere is a great place though, have been for nice days out. infact one of our "lets just do it" days out was at a small bit of delamere that weve never found again, snowstorms and strange goings on with slate grey skys behind tall trees on an exposed hillock. all very awe inspiring and memorable stuff, especially for the kids.
Looking forward to tucking into another bean salad as I am blummin starving.
Also, planning the valentines meal for tomorrow. currently eyeing up some clams / pheasent or if not then lamb. it all depends on the availability of the produce from our locally sourced outlets (fishmonger / butcher to any iceland mum amongst us). I might even finish with a chocolate pudding, but no champagne due to financial restrictions (them tickets to knowsley put paid to my plans for a bottle of pol roger to kick the evening off)
one week 'til pancake day too, the year is coming straight at us, thick and fast.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saturday noon at the movies
After filling our selves full of live entertainment we picked the kids from nan and grandads and took them for a suprise trip to the flicks on saturday morning.
Charlottes web was our choice, and proved to be a success. I was blubbling like a school girl before the title credits had rolled. We had read it to Patrick "I'm too hard to cry" when he was not too hard to cry and so he enjoyed it. And Frank sat through it and understood the basic themes of "the spider isnt coming back" and cried for a short while in all the right places. no mental scarring that we can discern though that may appear a few years down the line when he is out kidnapping and torturing young farm hands.
Less said about the choice of Frankie and Bennies for dinner the better, its always terrible service, I dont know why we go, probably because its closest. its pretty much a scene out of some sci-fi film - possibly startrek i would imagine - a strange universe of opposites where italian-americans are the least family/child friendly social group on earth with no desire to be warm or welcoming.
so we went home after telling the waitress she was nice but her manager was an arse.
I spent the journey on a rant about the letter i was going to write the minute i got home. Needless to say it is still very much in its formative stage.
Sunday: B&Q followed by unblocking drains, scrubbing the mould off the bathroom walls, cleaning a multitude of makeups and girlie creams off franks face. twice. and hunting high and low in vain for patricks school bag. And a trip to the off-license for a bottle of vin rouge.
Charlottes web was our choice, and proved to be a success. I was blubbling like a school girl before the title credits had rolled. We had read it to Patrick "I'm too hard to cry" when he was not too hard to cry and so he enjoyed it. And Frank sat through it and understood the basic themes of "the spider isnt coming back" and cried for a short while in all the right places. no mental scarring that we can discern though that may appear a few years down the line when he is out kidnapping and torturing young farm hands.
Less said about the choice of Frankie and Bennies for dinner the better, its always terrible service, I dont know why we go, probably because its closest. its pretty much a scene out of some sci-fi film - possibly startrek i would imagine - a strange universe of opposites where italian-americans are the least family/child friendly social group on earth with no desire to be warm or welcoming.
so we went home after telling the waitress she was nice but her manager was an arse.
I spent the journey on a rant about the letter i was going to write the minute i got home. Needless to say it is still very much in its formative stage.
Sunday: B&Q followed by unblocking drains, scrubbing the mould off the bathroom walls, cleaning a multitude of makeups and girlie creams off franks face. twice. and hunting high and low in vain for patricks school bag. And a trip to the off-license for a bottle of vin rouge.
Guillemots and a Danish fish platter
After recovering from a spot of flu, I took the good lady to see Guillemots at Manchester Academy on Friday (9th feb for any chance of a google). And after navigating our way to Oxford Road in good time, found our selves a handy parking slot round the back of jabez, we were ready to go. First, a stroll down to Kro 2 for a bite to eat - Danish fish platter with Home made Rye bread. Not sur a bout the rye bread, but the platter was good enough for me. and you cant beat fat chips with cracked pepper.
Missed the special guest. we caught the back end of her finale which left me in no doubt that we hadnt missed much. i thought she might have been the sound check, but she cant have been, because...
...She was followed by the worlds longest sound check. fair enough, there was an enormous array of equipment, props and unlikley sources of musical accompniament on stage but i'm not sure of the need to test each and every article at least 3 times. it last approximatley 20 minutes and add to that a never ending backing track of 20's mississippi blues and youve got a proper warm up act.
Guillemots were very good. all very soundscaped and a little quirky with a hint of am-dram. The guitarist gave good theatrics with his combined use of guitar, bits and bobs (i think isaw a typewriter at one point) and a theramim. He almost made Johnny Greenwood look like a conservative guitar player with no interest in mucking about with his ax. but not quite. very energetic though.
not sure why the singer placed his keyboard so he had his back to the bass player all night, i assume she dismissed his advances earlier in the dressing room.
Good job all in all, quality up lifting tunes with more than a whiff of art-house whackery.
no encore, which i dont mind - theyd played there four best tunes by the end so you knew it wasnt coming, unless they had a secret bobby dazzler hidden up their dressing gown sleeves. they didnt, so we went home.
Missed the special guest. we caught the back end of her finale which left me in no doubt that we hadnt missed much. i thought she might have been the sound check, but she cant have been, because...
...She was followed by the worlds longest sound check. fair enough, there was an enormous array of equipment, props and unlikley sources of musical accompniament on stage but i'm not sure of the need to test each and every article at least 3 times. it last approximatley 20 minutes and add to that a never ending backing track of 20's mississippi blues and youve got a proper warm up act.
Guillemots were very good. all very soundscaped and a little quirky with a hint of am-dram. The guitarist gave good theatrics with his combined use of guitar, bits and bobs (i think isaw a typewriter at one point) and a theramim. He almost made Johnny Greenwood look like a conservative guitar player with no interest in mucking about with his ax. but not quite. very energetic though.
not sure why the singer placed his keyboard so he had his back to the bass player all night, i assume she dismissed his advances earlier in the dressing room.
Good job all in all, quality up lifting tunes with more than a whiff of art-house whackery.
no encore, which i dont mind - theyd played there four best tunes by the end so you knew it wasnt coming, unless they had a secret bobby dazzler hidden up their dressing gown sleeves. they didnt, so we went home.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Clogging up the information highway
Dinner time at last, not that theres much difference between work time and non work time at the minute. On track to enter a post a day, it keeps me happy and away from the public toilets.
Watched smatterings of footy last night between washing pots, and wondering why our proud nation can't produce even a half decent performance for spells greater than 2 minutes in length.
Of course, it was only a friendly and half the squad were sat at home with the fire on having a good old laugh at the expense of the reserve teams attempts to force their way into the managers plans. The Times diagramatics of average player positions showed that only Phil Neville played beyond the left side of the centre circle. I imagine the rest of the lads figured that since hes got two left feet he should be able to perform the roles of both left back and left midfield. Everyone else seemed to be headed towards the right side corner flag, either to get closer to Shawn to make sure his passes reached them, stay away from Phil or to look at the fit spanish bird in the crowd with no bra under her tight top. Theres always one.
At least Buzzcocks cheered me up
They should have televised QPR vs China, apparently after half an hour it dissolved into a fight off between queensburys rules and kung fu. 2 chinese concussion victims and a hospitalisation later and the game is abandoned and Chelseas (the match organisers) vain attempts at biting a chunk of the Asian market go down in a blaze of glory.
Then on to this mornings weather report:
SNOW.
AGAIN.
but proper powdery stuff this time, non of your rubbish frozen ice-snow. still coming down now.
I'm hoping it clears up before tomorrow evening though as we off to Manchester and if I have to drive I'll be the old woman in front of you struggling to control my nerves/car at speeds in recess of 15mph. Beep all you like boyracer, I dont give two hoots. You might die fast and live young, but I'll die slow and live that little bit longer as they struggle to remove the shards of saefty barrier from my broken body.
Luckily we are owt of booze and so a weekend of sobriety looms. the trouble with wine clubs is, you have a great time getting plastered for a week and a half followed by much stress whilst you deciede whether to get more or save money / morning stress of getting the kids ready whilst you nurse your self inflictions. If saturday upholds the prohibition, a good Sunday roast usually brings the beer train back on track.
So there we go, time to get stuck into the Butternut Squash soup kindly prepared by the strife last night. with thick crusty white bread to dip and a mars bar to cancel any beneficial health effects. Dont get me wrong, I'm on no diet (although Jan keeps trying to convince the world and his wife that I have a double chin. !) but making food at home is cheaper than buying and results in healthy options by default.
Time to chow down.
Watched smatterings of footy last night between washing pots, and wondering why our proud nation can't produce even a half decent performance for spells greater than 2 minutes in length.
Of course, it was only a friendly and half the squad were sat at home with the fire on having a good old laugh at the expense of the reserve teams attempts to force their way into the managers plans. The Times diagramatics of average player positions showed that only Phil Neville played beyond the left side of the centre circle. I imagine the rest of the lads figured that since hes got two left feet he should be able to perform the roles of both left back and left midfield. Everyone else seemed to be headed towards the right side corner flag, either to get closer to Shawn to make sure his passes reached them, stay away from Phil or to look at the fit spanish bird in the crowd with no bra under her tight top. Theres always one.
At least Buzzcocks cheered me up
They should have televised QPR vs China, apparently after half an hour it dissolved into a fight off between queensburys rules and kung fu. 2 chinese concussion victims and a hospitalisation later and the game is abandoned and Chelseas (the match organisers) vain attempts at biting a chunk of the Asian market go down in a blaze of glory.
Then on to this mornings weather report:
SNOW.
AGAIN.
but proper powdery stuff this time, non of your rubbish frozen ice-snow. still coming down now.
I'm hoping it clears up before tomorrow evening though as we off to Manchester and if I have to drive I'll be the old woman in front of you struggling to control my nerves/car at speeds in recess of 15mph. Beep all you like boyracer, I dont give two hoots. You might die fast and live young, but I'll die slow and live that little bit longer as they struggle to remove the shards of saefty barrier from my broken body.
Luckily we are owt of booze and so a weekend of sobriety looms. the trouble with wine clubs is, you have a great time getting plastered for a week and a half followed by much stress whilst you deciede whether to get more or save money / morning stress of getting the kids ready whilst you nurse your self inflictions. If saturday upholds the prohibition, a good Sunday roast usually brings the beer train back on track.
So there we go, time to get stuck into the Butternut Squash soup kindly prepared by the strife last night. with thick crusty white bread to dip and a mars bar to cancel any beneficial health effects. Dont get me wrong, I'm on no diet (although Jan keeps trying to convince the world and his wife that I have a double chin. !) but making food at home is cheaper than buying and results in healthy options by default.
Time to chow down.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Meols smells
Not sure this thing works properly, but it gives me something to do to take my mind of the intense cold. Otherwise I'd be putting hot potatoes in my pockets to warm my hands til dinner time.
Well, Jans mum was right. Meols smells. Quite pungent last night. There was a stench meandering around Birkenhead on my way home, but I thought nothing of it at the time. It was only when I got home that I noticed it had grown into an adult hum quite the likes of which I hadnt encountered since the last time United Utilities forgot to close the doors on the shithouse.
Almost as bad as Donny market place in the summertime with the abbatoir at full pelt, only this is in the hallway of my house. don't know what I'm grumbling about though, your senses grow accustomed to it after a few hours.
Other than that, its all pretty much hum drum.
Weather? Cold, but no snow.
Dinner? Baked potato with beans and coldslaw.
Anything else of note? No, not really.
Well, Jans mum was right. Meols smells. Quite pungent last night. There was a stench meandering around Birkenhead on my way home, but I thought nothing of it at the time. It was only when I got home that I noticed it had grown into an adult hum quite the likes of which I hadnt encountered since the last time United Utilities forgot to close the doors on the shithouse.
Almost as bad as Donny market place in the summertime with the abbatoir at full pelt, only this is in the hallway of my house. don't know what I'm grumbling about though, your senses grow accustomed to it after a few hours.
Other than that, its all pretty much hum drum.
Weather? Cold, but no snow.
Dinner? Baked potato with beans and coldslaw.
Anything else of note? No, not really.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Genesis
Dinner break in the office. bored with looking at the bbc website. the result is this.
I spend the odd few minutes here and there catching up on ever other blokes life in the far reaches of the world and so whilst I have a few more spare minutes on my hands I figured I might declare my own comings and goings to the world.
First things on my new web diary are the items weather and dinner.
Weather - woke up this morning, lethargic as usual and somewhat chilled. a smattering of snow in the night has had the predictable effect of grinding us all to a halt. A train frozen to the tracks at Moreton results in some Rev Awdry scene of grumpy engines and fat controllers waving top hats. Luckily the country also invested in Buses as a means of transport. Unfortunatley they didnt invest in many, so all the local commuters have to stand in the freezing cold whilst they send over one double decker every half an hour. At least I remembered to adorn 66% of my most vulnerable parts with scarf and gloves. My hat, on the other hand, is relaxing in the relative warmth of my house. So 45 minutes late, but at least today I had a reasonable excuse.
Dinner - whilst in ignorant bliss of the debarcle awaiting me at the train station this morning, I mixed up some mixed salad beans, last nights boiled rice, some chopped up cucumber, red pepper and a handful of chopped fresh mint leaves with a dressing of olive oil, chinese rice vinegar, salt & pepper and lemon juice.
Once again, my progression from frozen veg and boiled potatoes results in satisfactory satiation.
Well, thats all for now as the little hand nears double top.
If anyone ever reads this, come back tomorrow for more of the same.
I spend the odd few minutes here and there catching up on ever other blokes life in the far reaches of the world and so whilst I have a few more spare minutes on my hands I figured I might declare my own comings and goings to the world.
First things on my new web diary are the items weather and dinner.
Weather - woke up this morning, lethargic as usual and somewhat chilled. a smattering of snow in the night has had the predictable effect of grinding us all to a halt. A train frozen to the tracks at Moreton results in some Rev Awdry scene of grumpy engines and fat controllers waving top hats. Luckily the country also invested in Buses as a means of transport. Unfortunatley they didnt invest in many, so all the local commuters have to stand in the freezing cold whilst they send over one double decker every half an hour. At least I remembered to adorn 66% of my most vulnerable parts with scarf and gloves. My hat, on the other hand, is relaxing in the relative warmth of my house. So 45 minutes late, but at least today I had a reasonable excuse.
Dinner - whilst in ignorant bliss of the debarcle awaiting me at the train station this morning, I mixed up some mixed salad beans, last nights boiled rice, some chopped up cucumber, red pepper and a handful of chopped fresh mint leaves with a dressing of olive oil, chinese rice vinegar, salt & pepper and lemon juice.
Once again, my progression from frozen veg and boiled potatoes results in satisfactory satiation.
Well, thats all for now as the little hand nears double top.
If anyone ever reads this, come back tomorrow for more of the same.
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