Moments of Clarity

Posted by Paul on August 24, 2010

I should probably be recovering from a stag do today. But I’m not. And it has made me thankful. (This image is just representative of how I think it may have looked – spot the groom).

It’s probably best not to go over the lies and lack of understanding that led to things going so bad that I went from Best Man to not being invited to the wedding, let’s just say that I’m still waiting to find out what I did wrong, rather than what I am supposed to have done.

But as I played with Max yesterday morning, and he continued to amaze and amuse me, I felt very glad that I was there. I was there over the weekend as he learnt how to kick a ball and grinned like a mad man, I was with him as he got over his dislike of strawberries and gobbled them down. I was there yesterday after he fell and cut his lip which bled for a good few minutes and caused tears for a few more.

“I was there” with my son is infinitely better than “I was there” when so-and-so slipped into a drunken stupor.

So much to do, so little time!

Posted by Paul on March 14, 2010

My oh my it has been such a long time since I’ve been here – and I am sure I can say the same for you!

My excuses are numerous, but are generally focused on the fact that if I get a bit of time then I am trying to use it to work to earn money before the debt collectors come a-knocking!

And what a lot I have to do, and what a lot has changed over the past few months with me and my little boy. But more of that another time – I need to reduce those numbers in my list of things to-do!!

This Time Next Year

Posted by Paul on December 17, 2009

One of the so-called benefits of BT Vision is that you can get a load of TV shows on demand. And of course in the run-up to Christmas they have lined up a load of Christmas specials from over the years. The first bundle is 17 episodes of Only Fools and Horses.

Now I am a sucker for comedy, and this is a chance to re-evaluate the series that was such a huge hit but ended with a few dodgy episodes that have soured most peoples memories.

As they play in the background they evoke memories of childhood when the show and its specials were a thing to be anticipated and cherished. I distinctly remember watching the two part 1991 special when the family went to Miami at a schoolfriends house, there must have been a big video scheduling issue at our house, with two older brothers there was always a fight over something!

Of course the great beauty of John Sullivan’s sitcom, and the secret of most great British sitcoms, is the bringing to life of the dreamer who never succeeds but always keeps on trying. Del-boy’s “this time next year, we’ll be millionaires” was the basis of his dreams, when he succeeded the story should have ended.

As my son has just dribbled and wiggled past his first 5 months, this old sit-com has gotten me thinking. Now I have so much more responsibility, and so many more dreams, what do I want to be “this time next year”. Maybe it’s time for the sitcom to come to an end.

Luvvly Jubbly.

Christmas Cash Blues

Posted by Paul on December 16, 2009

Let’s get it out of the way now – I am a sentimental kind of guy. Especially at Christmas. I get excited about the release of the Christmas edition of the Radio Times for goodness sake – it brings back memories of my younger self walking our first dog down the road to buy the Christmas Radio Times and the TV Times. No I didn’t just like to buy a number of magazines, those were the days when the RT only listed BBC stuff, and TT had the other channels – I am that old!

And this year I was able to make that purchase while out for a walk with my 4-month old – child not dog.

So the Dad part of CreditCrunchDad is all good, and this Christmas season will, I am sure, bring about it’s own new special memories.

However the CreditCrunch bit isn’t so heart-warming. Money is not just “too tight to mention”, it is under investigation after reports of suffocation!

All told money isn’t as important as many other aspects of life, but when it is absent it does make its lack of presence felt.

Wow

Posted by Paul on December 14, 2009

After complaining about the sleep issue – we get nearly 6 hours! And it was on my watch as well! Even after then he went back to sleep quite quickly and was only really brought around at about 8 when his cough got the better of him.

I saw the BabyCentre top 100 baby names of 2009 and Max is number 15 – so we are popular but not too common. Well done us!

Now time to get on with some work!