Since the last post, my son has been bought a bicycle, one which he should grow into. So last week, we rode it. He was a bit nervous as he has had issues when riding his bike before and I understand his concerns, but he was great. And he noted that there was a difference compared to his old bike, a big difference. He loved the speed that he could now reach. His previous bike was perfect for his needs, but sadly, he has grown out of it, and was nervous when using it as he was concerned that he would knee himself. This was in part, my fault, as I did not raise his seat as much as I could have, but he was never going to get to go as fast as he now can. In fact, he is now looking forwards to his next bike ride.
My daughter today rode her bike. She had ridden with me to my work before, and did so today while my son went to work with my wife. And she had improved compared to before and on the way back, thanks to her determination, rode up part of a hill she had failed to do so before. Needless to say, I was very proud. And instead of heading straight home, we took a little diversion, which I think that she liked. That involved some cycling down a dirt path, and when we came to a dip, and the climb afterwards she gave it all. And I think she loved the speed. While I took a picture of her first challenge, I should have taken one of the hill of fun.
It has been a while since the last post when we went out for a meal. Since then we have had a few things happen. Last weekend we travelled to London to see our (that is my and my wife's) parents though due to an accident on the A406, it was a very tiring day. In addition to this we have had a learning conference (or as I used to call it when I was younger, a parents evening) were my daughter was told that she is amazing, and my son was told that he needs to show everyone how amazing he is more often. And it was his birthday. That was great as we had a gaming party where my wife had arranged for someone (a very nice lady) to come round with two projection screens and she connected them up to some PlayStation's and also brought two virtual reality headsets. Being boys, the kids absolutely loved it, and being a boy, I did as well. It all went well for him and I have to compliment my wife once again on her amazing abilities at organisation and with the cake, cooking.
Today, while my son was at two birthdays I was in London for a course. When walking back to my car (which was parked where I did not have to pay), I got to eat at Maltby Street, indulging in a very nice (and posh) hot dog as well as some amazing dumplings. The picture does not do the flavour of the dumplings any justice as they were amazing. And unlike many other places to eat in Maltby Street market, there was no queue. After eating the dumplings, and then eating more, I felt sorry for those who walked past them. I know that when I have my next course in that area, I am going to try to find an excuse to travel to Maltby Street so that I can eat before I return home. The downside of driving home from there though is that I do not get to have any of the beer I saw being drunk there.
And on getting home, I got to listen to the Arsenal game. The midweek demolition was demoralising to say the least and a friend of mine commented that Lincoln would be looking forwards to this game. And considering that they nearly made it to half time with no goals being scored, you could not fault that statement. But we won and appeared to do so with ease as Lincoln tired in the second half. And it has taken away a little bit of the hurt that I have suffered as a fan, but I suspect it will return soon.
Anyway, my wife is in bed, unwell with a poorly knee which means that she was not able to go out tonight has planned, but instead has had to stay in bed watching Gilmore Girls while I watched the Voice with the kids (who vanished before the end) and a mug of wine (it saves on washing a glass later in the day when I am tipsy, an issue as my daughter broke our last habitat goblet).
After the disaster of the Copeland by-election, Labour have been looking at the causes for the defeat. From looking at Twitter, some blame the leader, others blame Tony Blair and those who support him. But, it is because of this, that Labour have to continue to back Corbyn. And that is even though the last time that a party in power gained a seat in a by-election was in 1982, this before the Conservative landslide of 1983. The May local elections are to come. They will provide an indication of how Labour will do in the next General Election, which may come sooner than 2020. And, those who fear Corbyn will bring about a Conservative victory in that election (me included) need to back him, so that those who back him can not blame any defeat in the local elections on them. And if the argument that a party united behind Corbn can win is right, then the party must unite behind him. Either way, Labour have to sink, or swim with Corbyn. Even if it means replicating the results of the elections in 1983.
I spent a few hours in work today before coming home. During the week, someone was talking about Il Padrino a restaurant in Colchester, so today, I booked it for lunch. My wife was not too keen on leaving to walk into town for lunch as we needed to do a lot at home, but agreed. It was nice walking into town today, no arguments, and overall, a great time for all the family. And when in the restaurant, both kids fell in love with the menu. The service was great, and the food matched. I even had two glasses of wine! Walking back was nice as well. While my wife went into a shop, I took my son on a walk to run up some miles for his Pokémon account. Once back at home, it was some time to relax before getting back to the work at home and then watching The Voice. My son had to go to sleep before then end, but hopefully he will get to watch some of the acts tomorrow morning. Some of the acts were truly amazing. I like this much more than the X factor, though I do miss it being on the BBC as they had no adverts.
On Thursday my son goes to Cubs. I leave work to collect him at the end of my day which can be rushed at times, but today he came home with some pancakes for us.
Really it was bits of pancakes, and on collecting him I was too tired to appreciate it. My wife and daughter loved eating it, and I did not get to eat it until after I had massaged his eczema with cream before he went to bed. But I really liked it. I am now looking forwards to him cooking more on Tuesday...
While today has been exhausting for me, it has only been because I have not been feeling well. My job on a Wednesday involves me having to cycle around five miles. I am getting better at it, and while others would laugh that I struggle to make this distance, I do. But as I was not feeling well, I knew that I would not be able to make it if I tried to cycle to work. So sadly, instead, this meant that I walked the kids to school and returned home to rest, and then passed out. I did wake before my wife rang to see how I was, and then I rested so that I would get the energy to walk to school to collect them. When I got back, I was able to do a few things around the house, before I crashed again. But my amazing wife went and got food on the way back from work, which considering some of my symptoms, was a better idea compared to me cooking and assuming that I had the energy levels not to make a disaster of it, stopping me from spreading my illness as well.
But once at home, my son had to prepare his homework. He had done work on this before, and this had involved research on the internet, but now he had to work out what the words meant. To his credit, while he had been too slow at first, he sped up and asked about the words he did not know. His sister meanwhile got out of learning more maths from me by learning about chess instead. And likewise, she did well and was rewarded with being allowed to watch one of her favourite television shows, the House of Anubis. I had been told by her earlier today that I am not meant to talk to, or talk around her friends as this causes her embarrassment. But they are back at school and enjoying it. And both are brushing their teeth, something my daughter did not do during the whole of half term! I have promised them both, that if they have issues of concern with their dentist when they next see them, I will be brushing their teeth!
It is the end of the holidays! Thanks to my mother coming up, the kids have been okay as childcare would have been an issue otherwise. But this weekend was cursed with, once again, illness. Nothing too major, but aches and lethargy for my wife and me. Which meant that I did not go cycling to work like I normally do, or take the kids out for a bike ride or a long walk. I did get to go for a little walk with my daughter after lunch in Brightlingsea. We also practised throwing and catching later in the day, something my son did not appreciate, but he did improve. He had got better over the summer holidays, but not doing this meant that he had slipped back to his old habits. If we ever do decide to get him to play cricket, this is something that will need to improve. And later, we all watched The Voice. Today was mostly a quiet day, the kids doing things for school. My son was preparing homework, my daughter making a design for a t-shirt for book day later in the year.
Anyway, they are in bed now, so here are some sons and artists from yesterday.
