Tag: kids

Hopeful

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Hi, The clocks have gone back, the night’s have drawn in and the trees are the more gorgeous shades of red and yellow. Hello, proper autumn. A time for long walks to take in the warming rays of the sun and to enjoy the light, before Winter throws a cold, dark – and frequently wet – blanket over dear Old Blighty. At least, that’s the vibe around here, out in the sticks near Jones Towers. Not that I mind. I do love a walk in the woods. Much as I like a spot of city shopping or disco dolly moments, in bloke mode, forests, for me, is where it’s at. There’s something mentally refreshing about being out in nature. The […]

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Charging the batteries

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Hi, These last few days have been a bit of a blur. That rushed loop of wake, eat, school run, work, sarnie, work, commute, tea, breath, Netflix and bed. In other times I’d have found that routine stifling, almost a treadmill. Yet, this month, it’s been a familiar comfort. Perhaps, I am drifting, but I tell myself that the want of excitement, distraction or fun is not regular. They’re the occasional peaks and without the mundane, or even the lows, there can be no peaks. With Autumn’s golden colours across the trees, I had a pleasant walk and a talk with Andrea. We don’t work too far apart, so meeting up for a tea and a stroll is one of […]

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“What sorcery is this?”

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Hidey ho, In an effort to avoid the last few weeks of ‘bugger, it’s Friday and I’ve not written anything’, I’m going to strike while the iron is hot. Or, in more modern language, get ma shit together 🙂 BTW, if any of you know anyone who talks like that, get help as there’s a risk of being stuck in 90s Slacker talk. Moving on…. Home-front As I type – or more accurately swipe -this post, I’m currently sat at home on a work day, enjoying the warm sunshine in our newly tidied up conservatory. Thing is, we’ve used it as a bit of a dumping ground come play area and it was, frankly, a mess. Cue a busy weekend […]

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Secrets, Sales and Stealth

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Hi, Ah, hear that? That’s the sound of a long weekend and half-term starting. A whole week with no work! Just me, the Ever Lovely Mrs J and our two lovely nippers. Hopefully, we’ll manage an hour before the squabbling starts… and maybe the kids will manage that too 😉 Opportunities In a spot of bad luck, I managed to pick up a cold, but being less than your typical guy, it means I don’t qualify for man-flu, which is good 😉 Due to the sneezing and coughing, I was kipping downstairs on the sofa, so the Ever Lovely Mrs J – who gets up early for work – could get a good night’s kip. Anyhoo, with the weather warming […]

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The disappeared

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Hi, I’m back from holiday, and a good time was had by all. A good mix of walking, visiting the old (no, not me, you cheeky so-and-so 😉 ), some good food and lots of happy memories. The funny thing about modern holidays, at least for me, is the impact of technology. Most cottages, and certainly hotels, have WiFi nowadays. If not, it can be surprising, at just how many places have decent mobile broadband. Usually, it’s on tap 24/7, until you’re lost or really need to look something up 😉 Anyhoo, with connectivity being so abundant, I can still check in with T friends, while on holiday. In a small way, it’s a bit like taking your support network […]

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The past is another country

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Hi, Three minutes to midnight as I start writing this. One more, and there’s an option of a knowing nod to an old Iron Maiden record. Larks, that dates me. Not the Iron Maiden reference, but I’ve just used the word ‘record’. That, or I’m some too-cool-for-school ageing metal hipster, with a love of record decks…. 🙂 I should point out I’m not. Even back in the 80s, I preferred tape or CDs. Records, well, despite the large album sleeves, which would, on occasion, have brilliant artwork on them, were not for me. Not portable enough and seemingly, too fragile to make the swap between friends. Tapes on the other hand, you could make your own mix and swap tracks […]

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