It’s a new beginning

The passage of time is never ending and unforgiving. However, it does not stop and nor do I.

It’s been around four years since I posted here. There are many factors and many reasons for this. Some are specific to me and some are global. Nevertheless, I have returned!

I’ve come back to my blog here but the title no longer makes sense. I will change it in the days/weeks to come, but it is no longer relevant. When I started this blog, it was to mark life as a new dad to my second child, hence ‘That Makes Two’. But now, that simply isn’t enough!

I have been through a divorce, many job changes and am now mainly happy and settled in my life. My other half betters me in many ways, I won’t gush here though, and there is now four kids between us. As I say, two is not enough!

The purpose of this blog now is for me. My sanity mainly. There’s a lot of stress in the world and everybody deserves their say, myself included, and I want to use this as a platform for me to say what I want. If nobody reads this, fair enough, but it will give me a place to get things off my chest.

Chest – that’s another one of my topics. I’ve spent the last year working from home, never moving from my desk for nigh on eight hours a day and have put on so much weight, it’s haunting. So in another attempt to give myself a ‘kick’, if I put it out there, I can’t hide from what I need to do. If you do read this and have some encouraging words or tips and tricks for a middle-aged man to lose weight, I’m all ears!

I will of course, like many others, witter on about other things as well, so please bear with me. It’s been a while since I’ve done anything like this and it does seem a little daunting. Oh look, I’ve lost my confidence as well…..!

Ahem, did you say Champions!?

Ok, while I’ve been away a lot has happened in the world. I’ll probably get.on to that later on at some point but right now I want to address the sphere of football. Do you remember my obsession from way back when? No?? Really?? Shocking… does this help??
 

Yep. That’s my team. And do you know what happened a couple of weeks ago?! That’s right, we were crowned EFL League 2 Champions!!! Yeah baby!!
You may not be a football fan but you can at least be happy for me and the city of Portsmouth! It caps a four year battle to get out of the bottom league of the EFL. It’s lucky I don’t have hair otherwise I would have been tearing it out!!
After dropping from the Premier League to League two in a space of 4/5 years, falling faster than a fat bloke on a bouncy castle…
It seems like things are on the up… we have an ex-CEO of Disney looking to buy us out and insert some cash into the club. Whilst it sounds like you’d snap their hand off for cash, we’ve done such a good job as a fan owned, and saved, club, it’s hard to trust any potential buyer without a strong sense of trepidation. We’ll see what happens there, I think voting has just closed…
Anyway, this may be a sign of the future… I may end up writing more about football, but hopefully I won’t bore you too much!
I hope you can join me in the celebrations that I’ll be having over the summer in pompey’s honour!
Play Up Pompey, Pompey Play Up!!

Still Here…

Right, well it all went wrong, didn’t it?!

I promised to do this properly and post regularly.  Have I?  No.
I started a photo challenge.  Did I carry it on?  No.

Yeah, I know, pretty rubbish.  I do have some excuses lined up though, if you want to hear them?

You do?  Great…. there’s hope you still like me….

There’s not really loads of excuses but one major one that’s kinda kept me busy.
Cast your mind back, remember those posts where I explained my job situation?  As in the fact I didn’t have one?  Well, things have progressed……..

Sort of.

I still don’t have a job.  Technically.  Scandalous isn’t it?!  It’s been about nine months now and they still haven’t sorted it out.  However, as I said, there has been movement.  I have been turfed out of my old department and am now claiming squatters rights.

I am currently in a position that doesn’t exist, yet, carrying out a job I actually want.  It’s similar to parts of my old job so I’m happy with that, but it’s a more specified subject, which I find interesting.  I’m not going to tell you what it is though, keep my air of mystery!

Basically, I am waiting for funding.  This being the Civil Service it takes a decade for someone to make a decision and pay for anything.  The money’s there, the idea has been approved, just noone will put their name to the decision.  Typical.  That really helps me….

The difference is, this is a job I actually want, and the people in this department actually want me too.  There’s a novelty!  There’s a real sense of team spirit and pride here, and I like it.  Plus, I’ve already got my own office for the first time in about ten years, and it’s a comfortable atmosphere.  I get to play my music when I want!

Alright I’m gushing slightly, it just makes a change to have enjoyment at work.  The only downside, my God, how busy?!  I’ve even started to work late and at weekends!  That’s a shock to the system.

Anyway, that’s the reason I’ve been away predominantly.  There are other matters like the children….. who are just always a nightmare!  I’ll update later about the kids, but I just wanted to say, I’m still here!!

I will make more of an effort too, I promise.

Still with me?

Hey there people.

As you can see, I have started strong with the Photo Challenge but you may also notice that the posting of pictures has not exactly been consistent.  I apologise.

I’ve still got a heck of a lot of things going on over here, still trying to sort out a job for a start(!), so please bear with me.  I intend to stick with this challenge so photos will be posted, I promise, just maybe not on the actual day…….

I know most of them are of the kids, which is one of the goals I set out with, but hopefully I will start giving you more of a variation, with more random things! 

So I guess what I’m asking is that you stick with me on this.  I will get better, I just haven’t sorted out my routine as of yet!

Thank you people, I hope you are all well….

Toddle Off!

People, people!! 

We are through the looking glass here people!

‘El Destructo’ has now become a vastly improved machine of devastation.  Yes, you got it, the boy is now officially walking!

Ok, I suppose it’s more toddling, but we have since disposed of the need for furniture and people to walk around the room.  Yep, now nothing is safe…

I must admit, we were wondering how long it would actually take him to make the transition from cruising on the furniture to full on walking, it does appear that he very much works to his own timescale.  He was the same with the whole rolling over, crawling, etc.  He just seems to want to be independent, which is dangerous in a child that isn’t even one yet…

Anyway, he has found his feet and is already terrorising the household.  He can already be found wandering around with that ‘what can I destroy next’ look on his face, the cats already know to hide and his sister has been warned.  Let the joy begin!

I think it is safe to say that ‘baby’ has definitely now been replaced with a ‘person’.

Christ, that was quick….

(Photo a bit blurred, rubbish phone, but he wouldn’t stay still.  He thinks I wanted the sock that was in his mouth.  Yes, dear readers, a sock… *shakes head*)

That time already!?!

13 days and counting……

That is how long I have left to prepare for the boys’ birthday. 

Can you believe that the little so and so is going to be one already!?  Yes, one.

It’s unbelievable to think how quickly the past year has gone and disappeared.  I can actually still remember the night he was born and the events preceding, which is astonishing in itself when you take into account how useless my memory is, as if it were only a few weeks ago.

I know it’s all down here from here, but I think we were extremely lucky, yet again, to get such a happy and contented child.  We haven’t really had any problems with him as yet (knock on all wood please) but he still seems a happy chappy.  Must be in the genes….

The daughter was a contented child, until she learnt to talk and think for herself, now every day is full of back chat and the use of the word ‘no’.  That doesn’t particularly go down well…

Anyway, the birthday is fast approaching.  The gifts are being organised by the wife, but I’ve been trying to maybe make my own decorations for the front room.  Only problem is, albeit I’m not completely creative when it comes to making things, what the hell does a one year old like??  I mean, he watches the tv with his sister of a morning when daddy is still waking up, but I couldn’t tell you his favourite.  He watches everything.  Does that mean I have artistic freedom in creating decorations?  I can mix Fireman Sam with Bubble Guppies?  Octonauts with Granny Murray?  Tikkabilla with Postman Pat?

I suppose that would make it easier.  Bit odd mind.

Luckily I believe that it will only be the family attending the house so it won’t matter too much, but still.

___________________________________________________

Oh yeah, forgot to mention, I reckon by the time we get to his first birthday, he should be walking.  He’s pretty much nailed the standing alone unaided bit, and he’s getting pretty quick at walking short distances.  Obviously when he’s tired, he spends more time on the floor than anywhere else, but he’s getting there!!

That’s my boy.

Decision time…

Right, today’s the day.

You may have noticed me mention that I don’t currently have a permanent job?  Well, as part of the whole process, I have to submit a form today, where I chose some vacancies from a list that I would like to put my name down for.

Obviously it’s not that simple, wish that it were.  No, I give my preferences, they record it, other information gets assessed and then interviews can commence.  Then wait.

I hate interviews.  I hate applying for jobs in general if I’m honest, but needs must.  There is just one little problem….

Of all the jobs on the list, of which there aren’t many, not one of them takes my fancy.  Not one.  Not blowing my own trumpet but it’s not a case of talent or ability, I could do any job of my grade, but I have to take into account my penchant for getting bored.  I don’t like mundane jobs, routine tasks, I like to have a variety of things to do.  This is why I have lasted in my current, sorry old, job for eight years or so, variety.

I get bored so easily!

Anyway, today is deadline day and I can’t decide what to do.  Do I sit and read about all the details of each position or do I just get my darts out?!  Slightly more fun version than using a pin and a blindfold!

Keep your fingers cross for me!

Dear Baldy…

Now, this is a serious question.

I don’t want any sniggers, derisory laughter or pointing.  Understand?

Right, to all the baldy people (or anybody with an opinion), at which stage of the showering or general bathing procedure, do you admit to not needing shampoo anymore?

……

Look, see, I told you, stop laughing!!  This is a perfectly serious question…….

I can admit that the follicles on my head have all decided to take a permanent holiday and are leaving one by one, but in an attempt to keep them a bit longer, I shave my head so as to delay them.  Like hiding their shoes or chopping their feet off….

Anyway, what is the purpose of shampoo to that of a balding gentleman?  Can I not just switch to using shower gel instead?  Surely that’s the same affect?  I don’t know, hence why I ask.

To all you that chuckled, beware.  Baldness can happen to anybody, it could even affect someone in your family.  It’s perfectly natural and part of growing up.

And besides, it can be fun to slap some people….

Shin Guards On…..

Right, lots been going on.

First off, the big news……  The boy is crawling!!

Yes, that’s right, from out of nowhere we now have a crawling destruction machine.  He’s been crusing along the furniture for a few weeks now, and loves to be on his feet, walking along with Mummy and Daddy.  He did not seem interested in crawling so we assumed that he wouldn’t bother.

My, we were wrong….

He learnt in the space of an hour.  He went from his normal sitting position, leant over for a toy and usual ended up on his tummy.  He did this a few times, until suddenly, he was up on his arms, then the bum come up!  He was on his knees.  A few tentative attempts…

Then he was off!!  And he has not stopped since.  He is deceptively quick and you can’t put anything down anymore, it’s gone.  Toys are no longer out of reach and the daughter now lives in fear.  She isn’t used to being chased around by anyone apart from Daddy, now there’s something going for her ankles!  Bless (he says whilst laughing!)

Anyway, I am a very proud Daddy and am now scared.  Very. 

No, no, no, get away from my TV…………

Secondly, another excuse for my absence, do you remember me saying that my job has been taken away?  Yeah, still is going to be, but in the mean time they are expecting me to run that section of the department on my own again!  Now, the professional in me says fine, I’ve been doing it anyway, but….

The other part of me says……… well, I can’t type it here, but along the lines of why should I bother?  Why would I do it when they’ve taken my job away?

I don’t know, just think they’re taking the ….. wotsit.

200 and still going!

So, here we are, my 200th post! 

Ok, not really a big deal to anybody but me, but I never thought I’d last this long.  yes, I don’t post as regular as I should and it’s not always that interesting, but hey, I’m still here and so are you lovely lot, so I must be doing something right!

Anyway, for this post I thought I’d share the latest milestone.

My boy, the other day, called me Dada.

*sniff*  *wipes tear from eye*

Yep, proud daddy over here.  He’s, what, eight months old and has only just started trying to form words and sentences.  Well guess what world, dada was one of his first noises/grunts!

I completely disregard any other noises that may have come before and may have resembled other words.  No Mummy, this ones mine!

Well done boy, keep rocking out!!

And as an extra offering, the wonderful people WilderSoul have generously pointed me to their free pictures, from their colouring book, for readers to download and enjoy.  There are some really nice pictures to choose from, please stop by when you’ve finished reading!

Thank you, to everybody that has read and even followed my random mutterings.  It’s been a jumbled journey thus far, but I’ve enjoyed doing it and I hope you enjoy at least some of my randomness!

Thank you people.  J.