Almost There Dear

Greetings

Another work one, this.  Always makes me nervous, but I'm in a bloggy mood, so here we go!

I am missing all my people. My lovely wife and youngest son, are enjoying their second night at her mum's, whilst I work my last night.   I will see them tomorrow and that makes me happy.  My other four children seem so very very far away, and it's making me sad.

They stayed with us last weekend and I really enjoyed the time we had together. We even managed to have an extra bonus day, which was lovely.  After they'd gone, I was in the playroom, and I found Charlotte's (youngest daughter) calendar.  She writes all sorts of stuff on it, about friend's she's going to see, or TV shows that she wants to watch.  On the 1st October, the entry said "I miss my dad".  It felt like she'd reached into my chest and pulled my heart right out.  I won't lie - my eyes welled up. 

This morning, towards the end of my nigth shift, Abbey appeared online and started talking to me.  It was lovely to have 40 mins chatting away about insignificant things with her.  Then this evening, Robert did the same.  He told me he broke his nose yesterday by falling over in the living room and hitting a TV stand.  I never know if they really have suffered bad injuries, knowing how their mum likes to exagerate and dramatise situations.  Either way - I hope he feels better soon.

I am going to try and get the painting of the dining room finished during my 48 hours off work that I have this weekend.  There's a lot to do, but I reckon if left to it, i'll be reet.

I spent a while "chatting" with a girl called Claire during the night.  She writes a blog called "A Little Piece Of Me".  I've followed it for the last year or so and it celebrates it's third birthday today.  She's a fellow scouser and a fellow blue, too!  Her blog has been an inspiration to me, and I heartily recommend taking 10 mins to read through it.  http://crpitt.blogspot.com/

I spent a while during the week, flattening my laptop and installing Ubuntu (again).  I gave it more time this time. Still, I'm going back to Windows yet again.  Ubuntu is so so so close to being perfect, but the complete lack of decent iTunes support and synchronisation left me wanting.  There IS iTunes support, but it's basic.  I spent bloody ages creating an "on the go" playlist on my ipod.  In iTunes, when I next synced the pod to the laptop, the on the go playlist would sync back onto the laptop.  Using Songbird (the best of the bunch of media players with itunes support), it just lost the list completely.  I've said before, In this age of technology, I shouldn't have to make sacrifices, and that is what I'll end up doing if I stay with Ubuntu. 

Sorry Mr Gates - please can I come back in?

Too Much Too Little Too Late

Greetings one and all.

It's been too long since I last posted, I recognise that and can only offer my most sincere apologies.

We have 3 of my 4 children who live in Wales with us this weekend. My now thirteen year old eldest looked a tad unwell on Friday, so decided she was staying at home with her mum. I do miss her.

Today has been a good day. Well - mostly a good day. In bed last night, my lovely wife thought that something was amiss regarding the IVF injections that I've been giving her for the last "ages!". This morning, she contacted the clinic who confirmed that for the last week, we should have been having 2 lots of injections instead of one. We "rushed" into Manchester, where they gave her a different injection and another to take home for me to stab her with later today.

When I say we rushed into Manchester, that much is true. However, once we arrived in the City of the funny accent, traffic ground to a halt. Who decided it was ok to a) have a rugby league final, b) close the A57(M) Mancunian Way, and c) have a shit load of (probably) racist protesters in the city, along with another shit load of protesters protesting against the first lot of protesters - ALL on the same frigging day! A total piss-take is what Manchester was today.

Eventually, we landed back home where we had a bite to eat and a nice relax before setting off for Blackpool. We only saw half the lights last time, so tonight was the night to see the rest. Also, my eldest son celebrated his birthday last weekend, so I wanted to treat him to a trip round the Dr Who exhibition. We got to Blackpool and paid a quick visit to our good friends Paul and Joanne (and their children). I was then taxi'd into Blackpool where Rob, Matthew, Luke and myself disembarked and went Dr Who'ing! Following that, we had a bit of a mooch round the town - laughing at the drunk people and commenting on the incredible number of scantily clad fluorescent hen parties that were circulating.

Back to Paul and Jo's after that, where Jo had made some pizza's for us. Paul and I visited their local chippy and got about 5lb of chips for the bargain price of £1.80. Seriously, I've never ever seen a bag of chips like that before. Awesome. Well done Mr Chang. Or was it Ying?

We left our friends at about 10 and took a quick poll of children as to weather or not we'd do the lights. YES was the answer, so off we went. By the time we'd reached Bispham, Luke and Charlotte had adjourned to sleep-ville. When we arrived back home at 23:55, only Robert was still awake. Will they lie in until 10am tomorrow? Not a cat in hell's chance.

I haven't had a drink of alcohol in earnest for some time now. I had two glasses of wine last night (and the last can of beer in the fridge), and woke up with a bit of a headachey thing this morning. Weather or not it's a phase, I don't know, but I really don't feel like having a drink of late. Maybe I've got used to not having any. Not sure. I'm sure there will be times when I want to drink, but right now - I'll pass thanks.

I started reading a book today that I loaned from my brother in law last year sometime. I'd really like to read it and get it back to him - it's playing on my mind now. Might start taking it to work with me and reading it in the lulls that happen every now and again.

Oh - we have new doors and furniture in our house. I am very very happy with them all. All expertly delivered / installed / fitted. Well done Safestyle and DFS.

It's late, and I'm hungry. Gonna down a piece or two of toast along with a lovely glass of... milk!!

Until next time....
MOOOOOOOOOO

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I have just got back from a quick trip into Wigan to get my lovely wife's glasses repaired. She left them on a table within reach of our son, and he "modified" them. Specsavers appear to have got them back into a shape that resembles a pair of spectacles, so we shall wait and see how long they last.

Whilst in Wigan, I saw an old lady. I say old, she was at best late 50's, more like early 60's. She had a very sheer blouse on, which, wrongly, i know, drew my attention to it. Furthermore, her bra was also equally sheer, and inside it, I could see a big dark nipple. Normally, this sort of event would be cause for celebration, but today, I just feel dirty and upset by what I saw.

I need to have a shave, but my neck still hasn't recovered from the last shave I had. More often than not my neck goes a little red after a shave, but this time, it has become most upset. I'll see how it is tomorrow.

I have gone a bit twitter crazy of late. I signed up at the end of last year, and as each day passes, I'm becoming more and more addicted to it. It shouldn't be so addictive, but somehow - it is. Come folla me now at www.twitter.com/adum . I recently started following Lily Rose Allen. Well happy with that. I've also had brief "conversations" (if you can call them that on twitter) with Mike Toolan (a local radio DJ from Manchesterville), and Geoff Lloyd (a national radio dj from Mattlesfield). Whilst both of these things are entirely irrelevant, they both made me feel good. (Such a tit). It's almost like it's because I see that they both have elevated positions in society, and I have somehow talked them into taking a few seconds out of their lives to type at me.

My god Mr Tumble gets on my tits. He is so bloody patronising towards children. Grrrr.

Right, last night in work, we were watching VH1 Classic. FANtastic music tv channel, BUT - half way through the amazing work that is West End Girls, by the Pet Shop Boys, it chopped it. We had a few seconds of a black screen, and then Eagle Eye bloody Cheery came on. Furious doesn't come close to it.

As I type, my son is sat next to me (watching mr pissing tumble), and stroking my face. It is beautiful. He just put his finger inside my ear. I take it back.

My other children are coming to stay with us tomorrow night until Saturday. I am very much looking forward to this as I miss them blummin loads.

Man United are on TV tonight, so that ties in well with my desire to have a beer. I'm sure my lovely wife will be up for that, too. She is creating a pork stir fry thing for us tonight. I was left instructions to begin the marinade process at 4pm exactly. It was 4:03 when I did it. Hope I haven't ruined the meal.

Ooohh - I just discovered (by accident) that my middle mouse scrolly button thing scrolls through the open tabs in my browser. I like that a lot! (in a sad wankery way).

Now - I must go and attempt to re-discover my living room floor. I know its underneath these toys and books somewhere.....

Routine Routine Routine

For the last three nights, we have introduced a new bedtime routine for my youngest son.

You see, he's always been a bit of an arse when it comes to the whole going to bed thing, but, hopefully - things will now change. We have seen an improvement, so hopefully it will continue.

I went to see my doctor yesterday to get the results of some blood tests that I had done. I'd be lying if i said i wasn't nervous. Unless you had complete faith in the health of your body, I think most people would be a tad worried. In particular, I was worried about my cholesterol, and diabetes. Cholesterol because I mostly eat shite, and diabetes because my dad had it. As it goes - all was well.

I do, however, need to exercise. Not exactly earth shattering news, but I'm glad he said it because it will (has) given me the kick start I need. Time to recharge the batteries on the Wii ! Joking aside, Yesterday, I went out and bought foods to assist me eat more healthily, as well as going for a walk for a few miles around my old haunts in Skelmersdale.

Today for the first time in years I have had a bowl of cereal for breakfast, instead of a great many pieces of toast.

Regarding the walk, I had my eldest and youngest sons with me, and it was lovely. I enjoyed pointing out things of relative interest such as a number of houses built in the 1600's, and the bizarre bunker like structure at Elmers Green. Take a look at the google map of things we saw, if you want?

I've really enjoyed having the children stay for the last couple of nights. On the first night, my eldest daughter didn't want to stay. As per usual, it was a half-arsed excuse, but it was her decision and that is ok. They are all such a good help around the house, especially with my youngest son.

Who still has milk delivered? 56p a pint in some places - it's just absolutely mental. People need to go out and buy it themselves, and the milkmen (and women) need to get a different job where mugging people in their own homes isn't involved.

Tonight sees us head to Middlewich to visit one of my wife's childhood friends and her family. I am very much looking forward to it indeedy!

I expect tomorrow will be about returning home, ironing, relaxing, and maybe watching the Clint Eastwood movie, Gran Torino. I managed to watch 20 minutes of it a few nights back, and it really had me captured.

Until next time...