Who let the dogs out

Well that was an exhausting Christmas!

On Christmas Eve, I was working late so missed out on drinks at a friends, as well as the trip to the church.  I came home to my wife wrapping the presents for the children (I am of the view that they should only have one each) and allegedly passed out while she was doing so.

My son woke us up on Christmas Day, excited about opening his presents and we went through the Christmas stockings.  After breakfast I drove down to collect my mother from London with my daughter while my son and wife prepared Christmas Lunch.  When I got back, I helped a bit, but did nothing compared to the effort my wife put into the meal.  Some friends came round for drinks later and we chatted till late while the kids played Monopoly.

In morning we prepared for the visit of my youngest brother and his lovely partner.  They came with two dogs, Cassie and Pixie whom they had adopted recently and my kids loved taking them on a walk.  The kids have wanted a dog, and this trip proved that they were not ready, the evidence being when my son refused to pick up the dog poo left behind by Pixie, who he was walking.

After lunch and another much shorter walk, my brother left, taking my mother with him.  A game of Trivial Pursuit followed and then bed.

But I felt so tired this morning and I am certain that I would have got more rest if I had been working!

RIP Ron

Our hamster died today. He has been around for some time since we adopted him and was getting old.  We knew it was going to be soon, but it was still a shock to the kids when it happened.  The plan is to bury him tomorrow and we may consider getting a replacement after Christmas.

If voting changed anything they'd abolish it

The midterm elections were last month in the USA.  While some consider this to have been a Blue Wave, considering the gains that the GOP made, while they had losses, if anything it was a ripple for the democrats. Trump was right when he said that the GOP did well considering the losses that Obama faced in his mid terms in both 2010 and 2014, something that those who expected more need to note for any reelection campaign (jail not withstanding) by Trump in 2020, or anyone from the GOP.

Those results though may have been different if people had not been prevented from voting.  It is interesting to see how electoral boundaries have been drawn up, and in places where the Democratic Party have won elections to become governor, how the powers of the governor of that state have been taken away.

The election rules were not bent as much what happens in Russia, but a nation that takes pride in democracy really should provide a better example to the rest of the world.

The school carol service

It was my sons last carol concert at his junior school yesterday. I have missed watching many of his performances due to my work, but my wife and I had planned to go to it together. Sadly she was not feeling too well, and had to miss it.  It did mean that my son and I got to walk there together.  The service had a dual theme, being based on the First World War and the Christmas truce on 1914 as well as the story of Jesus.  There were traditional carols as well as some that I do not recollect hearing before.  It was a special night but sad as well because my wife did not get to watch it.

Wrath

Anger has been an issue this week.  But not all the time.  Some of it is related to fatigue, some appears to be related to device time, but some has no relation to anything that we can determine.

I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)

Last week my son had his learning conference.  His teacher thinks that he is smart, but sadly he is not doing the work that he is capable of.  But the fact that his teacher recognises that is a good thing, he has in the past had a teacher who has given up on him.  So my wife and I have resolved to help him get into the habit of completing his work in time, and that means timed homework.  We know how capable he is, it is just about making him show others that he can reach his potential rather than coasting and resting on his laurels.

A huge obstacle that we face is his motivation.  It is easier to fail than to try.  And my son is very good at finding reasons to fail.  

And today was an example. Leaving school he and I were catching Pokémon and I caught a shiny Evee.  When in Madeira we had caught quite a few, well, he did.  I did not, but despite that he wants mine as it will complete his collection.  Needless to say, I want it, but it is a game and he is my son.  When he said that he would do anything I wanted, I gave him a task, to pass the questions we give him, scoring 100% every day for a week.  Needless to say, he felt it was too strict and since being at home with my wife, we have settled on him getting 85% for 14 consecutive days.  And I do think that he can do it.

PokémonGO & Cyndaquil community day

Today was busy we had a drive in the morning to get and deliver presents, breakfast and then a drive back.  My daughter had an appointment to meet some friends and my son and I were keen to play PokémonGO. It was another community day and while my son and I missed a lot of it, we did get to meet up with Matthew, a friend of his and his mother.  The kids had fun catching Pokémon and then had some fun in the playground.

After Matthew left with his mother to go to a birthday party, my son and I left Castle Park and went into town for lunch.  I had promised that after this, if he was good that we would go to Kaspa's and as he had been brilliant, he got to have the rest of his lunch there.

We met up with my daughter in the library where my son got a book out and walked back.  She had enjoyed the afternoon with two friends, though she will not tell me why she was kicked out of McDonalds.  The kids did snap a bit at each other, but overall have been great today. Anyway, we are watching Harry Potter & the order of the Phoenix and are soon to go to bed.