Wedding Day..or a new anniversary date not to forget!

Weybridge Register Office 27th June

We're back to a semblance of normality today. The presents are opened (your generosity simply humbles me, thank you), E stacks up the surnames on facebook (hopefully she'll stop now at 3!), the washing up left unloved in the sink begs for attention and eyes start turning towards work on Monday. This brings me to a few quick post wedding thoughts:

What a day! Much love and well wishing at the Register Office and the reception after. When the Registrar was doing her thing I could just feel the vibes of positivity coming off those gathered, it was almost tangible. To those who are unmarried, it's a mentally draining gig! I awoke only mildly hungover the morning after but spent the whole day feeling like a conversational vegetable. Heck, a few days on and  I still feel a bit funny.

Today meant a work day so I was hanging out with my kids - they behaved with a decorum I really didn't expect. No outbursts, histrionics, arguments, nothing! Their wedding present to me perhaps, who knows?? I have another week off (operation on Thursday) so hopefully life as usual will return at that point... albeit feeling like a branded bull that is!

Details to come next time,

Alex

Fireman Xand

When our boiler had its' near miss we had a visit from the fire brigade. The smile from X was normally one only the promise of Lego can bring out..

X in the cab

X looking heroic. He may be 13 at heart but a little boy's heart still beats in him

Stretch...fart...scream...

..it's just the way she rolls...

 

We're getting the wedding rings Friday and the guest lists are taking shape. Can't believe there's only two weeks to go. I write this with Diz, she's eating lunch whilst watching Balamory; the home of the lady with the ominous sharp teeth. Aye, you wouldnt want to be bitten by Miss Hoolie. She wouldnt leave much afterwards I can tell you. 

Diz and the wine list

Legoland Windsor, May 2013

Dizzy watching today. She scurries around the place, chittering and yodelling like some happy sounding Gremlin whilst I write this. This is my 'calm' day, away from dozen big kids, looking after one smaller one instead. Well, its calm in short three minute stretches, in between baby bumps and Diz screaming to be entertained. As it's a summery day today, any challenges sent my way will be only a minor obstacle. Mr Tumble is on the telly as we go about our doings ("A grown man shouldn't be a childrens' entertainer" claims my mother who regards him as some sort of child molester). Today we plan to hit the playground, I might get a workout and tidy up the house too. 

I feel like that Greek guy of myth who tries to push that boulder up the hill which keeps rolling back down again. For instance, I'll clear the living room table today, look away for a moment and the lego will be all over it once more. 48 hours and the sink will be full again and the dishwasher will have to be restarted (I'm the dishwasher by the way). We're the original Odd Couple here, just with me as Jack Lemmon with three Walter Matthaus for company!

In other news I plan to take drastic measures to get in shape. On our visit to Legoland the pizza proved just too seductive and I scarfed down a pile. Part of a depressing trend I'm afraid. Food used to be simply fuel during my single years but is now something much more of a pleasure and my middle is starting to betray the evidence. 

Will keep you posted with my plans.

A.

Goodbye Mancave! (for now)..

It hasn't blown away in a Midwestern tornado. It's just I don't get up there any more. My oasis of calm is now computer free (the trusty deskstop has given up the ghost despite my desperate ministrations) and a baby now sleeps at the foot of where the ladder ends up. The mancave lies quiet and unloved, empty save our trips to fetch X's old baby toys. One day soon I'll have to strap Diz to my back and we'll start visiting again.

So, I'm tapping these words looking out the front window listening to part of my battered CD collection. Trouble is most of my music went up in smoke when my PC did too. Thought it would be time to blow the dust of some of the remaining CD boxes and get listening again. 

In other news I've had a profitable evening matched betting with the CL final last night. After throwing a pile of cash at the online bookie offers I found an agreeable amount turned into profit! It tends to dry up a little over the summer as gambling tends to be more of a football fans game than anything else. I plan to draw a few more quid in over the next few months, take Diz on a magical mystery tour of our local bookmakers perhaps?

27th May - 'grrrrr'

Meanwhile, Diz continues with the cuteness. Working part time means we can share quality time and I can see her thrive and grow. The thing that really impresses me is, she's such a happy girl! Are all babies like this!? D seems to have a big grin for everyone which seems to thaw even the coldest of hearts. It's only when she sleeps, do I see her frowny, resting face.. Or when she's eating ice cream, where it's more reminiscent of a lion devouring an antelope (see above). 

Dizzy on a swing at 14 months

When the Prince of Darkness comes to parents evening...

We have an evening with the Mums and Dads on Thursday, so Im getting paperwork sorted whilst writing this.

Most parents are a joy, they are friendly and open, taking pleasure in their kids' daily doings. One however, is a bit more of a... handful. When I see his face at the door I chuckle inwardly; with an adversarial manner and a gimlet stare which has turned others to jelly, Old Nick has made our days a challenge at times. It's funny though as his child is the sweetest child you will ever meet (lets call the little one 'Nicky'). Fortunately little Nicky has taken a real shine to me so I've been spared Dad's snaggy manner of late. Still, when I sit down with Nick Snr and his wife I'll have my wits about me...

...plus a shield if need be.

The Big Day comes ever closer and our invite list takes shape. For me it still seems an age away, but E is thoroughly excited and in full planning mode. I will be stumping up for the wedding rings (this marriage lark is an expensive business)... so another chunk of my matched betting wedge will be spent on other things. Last couple of months have been a pricy time and this summer will be when I need to tighten my belt accordingly.  Come June 1st I'll count my cash and see what's left. 

A.