Why Aspire To Be Average?

There comes a time for every wee one to show their personality and as it takes shape so they start to communicate to you, Some start with baby talk progressing onto a word here or there building into sentences as they grow more confident, while others are just wee chatter boxes from the word go.
And of course this leads to all sorts of situations when you are out and about especially if they have picked up a wee naughty word that you hear for the first time at the checkout of your local shop, Yep we have all been there.
The one I have to deal with is being called daddy where ever we go as she has not mastered granddad yet- this is not a huge problem when we are out on our own as there are a large number of older parents now-however when the wee ones mum is in our company well you can imagine some of the looks it draws and as you try and ignore it the more vocal the wee one gets ensuring no one in the particular venue you are in has missed it, sliding down the seat is not an option so you engage the smile and remind her that it is granddad now you might think problem solved but you would be surprised how many people are still judging my daughters choice of men!!!
As I said we have the normal progressions of communication and that is just a wee example of where the wee one conforms to the 'Norm'.
After that however  the wee one does not follow any of these examples and indeed as with most things she does she has become very accomplished at letting you know what she wants and where she stands on every issue of the house day.
This is done by a mixture of words and sign language- The sign langue even matches some of the accepted signs used by the deaf! Where did it come from and how has she become so good at using it you would swear she was being tutored in it.
As a parent or grandparent you have a built in worry system about all things your wee one should achieve and added to that you now have timescales set out based on average to contend with, making sure that if your worry system was not stretched enough the average timescale is there just to crank it up to overdrive!
The pressure to conform on parents is huge and for those that go with instinct it can be a lonely field to plough as the support networks from the NHS are not built to recognise any other system.
However being an individual with your own wee personality and doing things at your own pace is just what I will encourage as their is a lifetime ahead of conforming during their adult years and they have very little freedom or time these days to be just wee individuals with no pressure-aye children.
And Finally
Papa bear the eighty something of the household has come out of his winter hibernation and is out tackling the garden and getting things in shape for the months to come. As happy as that makes me there is always a nervousness as to what he may get up to, you see papa bear likes to bash on without anyone else knowing what he may be planning and right now the measuring tape has been found in 'his shed' and something is being pegged out, the last time this happened I came home from work to discover my driveway had disappeared! I will be keeping watch this time and will let you know when he decides its time to share or I take on the role as site foreman in an attempt to get information!!

Are We There Yet?

As you go through life the long dark winter nights seem to add a few weeks to themselves compared to the winters we used to know and aye even loved especially if it snowed and sledging was on the go, however nowadays if it snows it is met with a certain growl and a lot of distain with a smidgen of worry and that is just the wee one.
Most of us long for the weather to change and for the season to get itself into spring mode with the wee bit relief it gives us from being stuck in the house and of course people moods improve or at least that is the hope.
So Now we are getting to the other side of those long dark nights a lot of us harbour thoughts of the perfect family holiday in the sun where no wrong can happen and memories are built that last a life time and as if by magic even the telly companies know this and trot out the usual holiday programmes where the presenters have a ball at our expense-the lucky sods!
I am no different and armed with my laptop I peruse all that is glittering and stunning from the four corners to see where we will not be going this year. There are several factors to us not going to these wonderful places-family dynamics being one, as I look at the hotel pictures with the swimming pool and the all important bar right in the middle my practical mind returns to the logistics involved in getting there and keeping everyone entertained and happy, for one papa is eighty something with failing eyesight he might see the bar and miss the pool which might make it on to you've been framed but would not enhance his holiday experience, then there is my 18 year old who still thinks that he banks with the bank of mum and dad and therefore should be included on the tickets, Then there is the wife that thinks we live in a hot climate if the sun sneaks out and finally there is the wee one who would just love to lounge about all day on a sun bed ordering orange juice cocktails from the waiters like every other wee one out there.....
I did say finally but I did not include myself and the reason for that is very simple I have a small fear of flying, when I say small I mean when I see a sign for an airport I break out in a cold sweat and to tell the honest truth even when I am collecting family and friends from an airport I stay outside in the car park.
So even if we get over all of that there is the final wee problem-Have you seen the cost-I was only looking for a wee break I was not intending to pay off that particular Country's national debt!!
So I looked harder at the web knowing someone somewhere would have the answer and sure enough the suggestions came flooding in with one idea being extremely popular The Holiday At Home- ah that sounds like fun to a stay at home granddad I thought just carry on as normal and not a penny spent could this really be a solution that people were being enthusiastic about with one suggesting you go out and buy holiday clothes and wear them instead of my usual rags. Then there was the house swapping idea, That did tickle me for a minute the whole idea of cleaning someone else's house for a week well they do say a change is as good as a rest!
No there had to be another answer and sure enough it came through my mother in a moment of huge generosity- who has booked a holiday home for the entire extended family for a week of rest and play. A week of midges and walking ten miles to the nearest shop and fifteen miles to the only pub- better not get barred-yes you guessed it in the middle of Highland nowhere and all that will be heard on the four hour car journey is are we there yet. That holiday at home idea may not be as bad as it first sounded throw in a trip to the swimming pool and I could probably get a wee cocktail in one of the local pubs and then I could truthfully answer Aye we are there!

Pay Day?

For as long as I can remember pay day was a source of great joy in my household be it weekly on a Thursday-Remember that and you are going back a few years or as it is now more commonly on a Friday 4 weekly.
Ah simple days when I went out and earned the coin that kept the house going- along with the wife of course because as legend has it she kept the house going and my wages were bonus money- The cost of bread was well actually I do not know what the cost of bread was as I was too busy working.... or as the case me be being a male who did not realise that you did not just open the fridge and by the fairies there was food and beer!
So to present day, as regular readers will know I am the stay at home granddad with the 'job' of looking after the wee one- a role reversal if not also a generational reversal.
Pay day still brings joy but in a different way, I spend it while the wife earns it, What fun and joy free money over someone else's sweet and toile
Well no actually it is not that way. Sure the cost of living has exploded and indeed our ancestors from what ever age would be wondering how the hell we all manage and not only that I operate a no credit household-No loans,no credit cards,no catalogue's and no man collecting at the door.
The pay day joy is now paying the rent, The gas man and getting a food shopping that will sustain the family for the next four weeks or at least that was the case until very very recently.
Now not only are pay days not on a Thursday but at my wife's work they are not even whole-Let me explain my wife gets paid four weekly that is her salary, however any overtime she has put blood, sweet and tears into gets paid at the end of the month. Now it would be wrong to say the company is acting in a manner which is contrary to the laws of the land however it is a very strange way to do business!
Not only is it a strange way to do business but it knocks the hell out of the budget process that I have worked hard to build up.
The wee one loves it of course because we have always said if you are good you will get a treat on pay day- she has now worked out that should be two treats a month as there are two pays a simple logic that I cannot argue with.
And then there is the scenario that says we must not grumble because if pay day does bring joy and happiness then this house is experiencing this twice a month instead of just the once.
So back to the point of happiness I would when I was the one earning the coin with the wife's back up of course dish out wee treats that I would class as brownie points for my next misdemeanour what ever that maybe-so what now- Do I get wee treats now that the roles are reversed? Well actually no I run the budget which means it is still the wee one, the big ones and the wife that gets the pay day treats- Oh for a box of chocolate's and flowers.

Rusted Springs or Spring Ready?

As is usual the weekend came and went in a flash of time never to return unless Dr Who is true and someone somewhere has a time machine, oh the possibilities!
The normal weekend activities were taken on by those around me the wife worked, the son played rugby, papa and the dog slept leaving the wee one and I to our own devices, pretty much the way we like it until it comes to kick off time for the football or rugby then we have our parting of the ways and not in a harmonious way either. Like all wee ones she is very strongly of the opinion that we are there purely as a tall person to access the items they cannot yet reach and as a servant/  playmate as required.
So as I said a pretty mundane run of the mill weekend.
Now for me a Monday is a bad day as it signals all sorts of catch ups-Housework ,messages and any other task you want to add that you look at over the weekend and say sod it I will do it later and of course later is Monday.
The trouble with this particular Monday is that the weekend has spilled right into it with no thought about the consequences to the housework or any or job in the miscellaneous list.
My son had to be taken to AE with a rugby injury that had given him a thumb twice its normal size, no big deal I thought 30 mins in and out, well you probably have guessed already this was one of my many underestimates that seem to surround my time keeping these days-4 hours later and a referral to another hospital had my day in a tail spin and would mean having to have a little luck if I was going to get back on schedule with my catch up duties!
Catching up with a normal Monday was going to be tough however over the course of the weekend during the brighter parts of the day my mind had started to think about getting the wee ones garden toys ready making sure they were safe and still in good working order and were ready to play with because we all know the great look of disappointment when we get a bike or whatever from the shed and then have to say no you can't play with it until I fix it for you and again we all know that our little people are extremely patient and will wait quietly for an hour or so until you have it sorted--Aye right!!
The day not being as nice as the weekend did not deter me from undertaking the task and as I finished with the outside toys it occurred to me that taking things like the bikes and scooters into the kitchen was not a bad idea nice and warm and a good big light. What did not compute at this point is that the wee one would see these toys and remember what fun she had just a few months ago with them in the garden and wow here they were but for house use- Grandad was just great as she danced around the lot looking for her first opportunity to get stuck into some high speed manoeuvring around the house.
So like the weekend when it comes to kick off time we had a parting of the way and again it was far from harmonious.
So lesson learned never put off the jobs at the weekend and for heaven's sake stop thinking of extra stuff that needs doing because come Monday it will all end in tears!--Yours!!

The Lazy Morning

As many of you out there will know you no longer need an alarm clock when you have a wee one in the house, that's not to say they go cock a doodle do at 0630 but more that you never see your duvet much past 08.30.
So just to make one or two out there a wee bit jealous I awoke today at around lunchtime in the pleasant knowledge that my wife had tended to the morning duties with the wee one and all was well with the house.
So up and refreshed ready to take on the day and all it may have to throw at me no challenge to big and all that, was to become very short lived, now to say I should have had Weetabix for my lunch is a bit of understatement. As if by some magical power the wee one has sussed I should be up for anything after a smashing long sleep!
The game of the afternoon has been chase me-the version that involves going up and down the stairs several hundred times or at least that is the number my legs are shouting. This game has been swiftly followed by dress up and leave clothes for granddad to find and an indoor water fight-a fight that started off as dishwashing but has now led to the kitchen floor washing game a solo game played only by granddad.
As we speak we are now opening up our kitchen restaurant for all dolls and teddy's that are brave enough to face the play dough delights on offer with of course cold tap tea which I have to say is growing on me but to others is very much an acquired taste.
As all of this is taking place I can see her eyes focusing on the painting and arts cupboard with more than a passing interest being registered.
The result of all that is going on is all the benefits of a nice sleepy morning drift from memory faster than the blade runner can escape from court on bail.
The wee one who normally has a quiet hour in the day has been non stop which leaves me to wonder if she has that quiet hour to re charge her batteries or has she simply worked out that granddad needs a rest on normal days but he had a big rest this morning and to be frank should be keeping up!
So a quick show of hands who is still jealous?

Routine Or Not?

I was never one for the school of thought that routine was vital in bringing up children and when out in company I would scoff silently at those who championed it.
I never looked on anything that I did with my two as routine it was sort of made up on the go to combat whatever situation we would find ourselves in. Or so I thought and have believed for years that this was the case making me a trendy parent who laughed at convention, and not only that I would think my two turned out not too bad all things considered.
Bring on the wee one like everything else I thought I had learned and knew backwards from the first time round she pokes fun at it and proves to me that the old dog has got to learn new tricks everyday just to keep up.
It seems I have become a provider of routine over the past year or so without even knowing it was happening!! Take for example bath and bed time the other night I quietly went up the stairs to prepare the wee ones bath as announcing it causes all sorts of excitement and carry on, I had just about finished running the said bath when the wee one appeared around the corner carrying her PJ's, a towel, nappy and talc all the things I was yet to gather together before calling on her, as quick as a flash she was stripped off and ready to get in the bath-but not before sticking her pinkie in to test the water temp, a quick turn of the cold tap and it was just right! Nothing hugely world beating but what followed next got me to thinking-after the bath she went into her room put on the night light, turned down the duvet and got teddy ready and put a drink of juice on her bedside cabinet. All this done said good bye to me and went into her Papa's room for her 30 minute visit before bedtime-no prompting no instruction and she was sorted.
As I said it got me to thinking and as I analysed what we got up to day by day week by week it struck me like a bolt of lightening that I was the provider of routine the thing that I had sneered at all my life and what's worse is looking back things did not just happen by chance it looks like my wife tricked me and she had the kids in a routine from the start.
Further to this shocking revelation in my life it turns out that I have got excellent routines on the go according to my peers.
So back to the original argument are routines necessary or are they what adults call ruts? I can only now conclude that the wee one has shown me the way that routines are vital for children and may even be necessary for adults however we should not forget treats and days out that break routine as they are just as important not just for our wee ones but for the big ones to.
And Finally.
Over the last few weeks I have been letting you know how our toilet training has been going and just as a wee update no pun intended the wee one has worked out that the same place she does her pee pee is the place for a no2 or a yuck as she calls it, so it is on to stage two of the process a process I have never undertaken before because that trickster of a wife did all this the first time round making me think it was just by chance.

Technology and kids

The other day as regular readers know I was at the zoo with the family and had a cracking day out. So at night time looking over some of the photos it got my mind to thinking about the two wee boys aged about 4 and 5 who spoke to us at the monkey enclosure and enthusing in the fine photos they had taken.....on their ipads!
Now I know I am a granddad and some of you are already thinking a grumpy old one that probably listens to vinyl records from the first time round.
The answer to that is maybe because now I am no longer sure.
The wee one in this house is not afraid of technology nor is she afraid of some of the old school methods of entertainment-you know the ones painting, reading, dress up and generally playing. All these activities of course take some kind of supervision to ensure not only are the wee ones safe but the house and all the family pets are safe as well. However give a kid an ipad and you can walk away leaving them to their silence with their new best friend.
Now the wee boys at the zoo showed me that they still knew how to communicate and were a couple of real credits to their family, however I worry about the next generation in spite of the wee boys, as parents seem hell bent on keeping up with consumerism, I even had one parent tell me they had to give up eating at teatime for a wee while to get their child a tablet- informing  me that it was worth it as that is all she plays with now and even takes it to bed bless.
So am I taking a stand against kids keeping up with technology-absolutely not! I am however taking a stand against those that think getting their wee one a tablet should be a point of pride and celebration with a feeling of job done. If our children are to grow up into the adult's we hope them to be then they need balance and an understanding that technology is useful and can help you but it should never replace your ability to think imaginatively and it should never replace the good old fashioned wee pal that is prepared to get into the spirit of the dress up game or the sand pit.
So in answer to being grumpy and old I plead not guilty to the charge-my defence is simple I had a magic selection of LP'S that are now on tape...I mean CD'S.
To the second charge of being anti technology for kids that is again a plea of not guilty -my defence, the wee one plays with a tablet and uses her uncles phone.
However the wee one will only get her own one when the school tells me it is essential to her education and not a toy or an amusing camera that costs as much as some people pay for a family holiday........
And finally new words are entering the wee ones repertoire every day so its time to have the soap ready to wash out granddads mouth should she say a swear word!!!!!!

Night And Day

So last night the wee one stayed at her mothers, now many parents and grandparents out there might well be thinking you lucky sod a whole night to yourself! Do what you want stay up late throw a party. Me and the missus though could only sigh with boredom and listen to the un-ending silence that was our morgue I mean house-Because with no wee one around it was very very quiet!
Even the elder of the house eighty something Papa could be heard sighing from down the road.
Again some might think what a fantastic opportunity to get a whole nights sleep for the first time in ages, well not this granddad who tossed and turned all night with a number of awakenings thinking I could hear the wee one shouting for me- alas no all it was, was a complete and eerie silence.
So the morning arrived and I stumbled out of bed to the bathroom feeling like I had been partying all night and then been hit by a train, my eyes did not recognise the poor looking sod that stared back from the mirror and the brain was struggling to gear up to get me ready for the day ahead.
However one thought for the day kick started my body engine and put my brain into a gear that would drive me forward.
The wee one was on her way home and we were going to the zoo meeting up with the wee ones brother mum and her pal.
We set off at 10 sharpish well nearly twenty past if truth be told and made our way to Edinburgh Zoo where the weather was so good that many of the animals could not be bothered to move and simply wanted to sunbathe.
Edinburgh Zoo for those that don't know it is built on a hill a big bloody hill as I was about to be reminded or was it the last time I was there was a few stones ago and several years of cigarettes.
Anyway off we went undaunted by the climb before us looking forward to seeing as many different animals as possible.
As we went up the hill looking at the different animals the wee one decided that she would like to see the cats and indicated this by making cat sounds, thinking it was going to be a bit of a shock when she seen the size of them I had an inward chuckle, a chuckle that was short lived when you could see in her eyes she had just found the ideal pet. That look lasted until we got to the monkeys where she had discovered her ideal pet and so the day went making it a thoroughly enjoyable day as you seen surprise and delight at nearly every turn and corner, this was only surpassed when she entered her Aladdin's cave of the zoo- the souvenir shop selling every animal in the take home form of cuddly!
A basket full later and a narrow it down manoeuvre by granddad we were in the car on our way home, we hit the bypass and the wee one hit the hay the lucky wee devil!
Back home I have got my feet up and according to my wife I have had forty winks-no chance that can be true I am sure I only blinked!
Now the wee one is full of beans again at least I can keep up with her after my power blink I thought.

Out For Dinner

Well as I have said before where the hell did the weekend go-The difference this time I know where it went. This weekend was about celebrating Birthday's being celebrated this month by the family.
So it was off to Vitoria's on Saturday to start the celebrations at a large family meal. This of course means a chance for the lady's to get dressed up and for the men ,well lets face it the men will go out no matter what.
Two hours of getting ready and the lady's are nearly ready on the other side of the sexual divide the men have watched the football leaving fifteen minutes to get themselves sorted leaving time over for a quick beer.
Off we went in our posh gear the wee one chuffed to bits as she just loves dressing up and going to the pub-any place that serves food and beer is called this according to the wee one, this of course can bring some startled looks of disapproval as she says it out loud in unfamiliar company as they size up me as a granddad that does regular trips to a pub with the wee one.
With that off we went to the 'pub' and had a decent meal with a beer and a few laughs and then onto my sisters house for Birthday cake and champagne and some more laughs with the wee one being the centre of entertainment and attention.
Sadly these nights have to come to an end I say sadly because it is not often the whole family gets together these days and no arguments take place even well intentioned ones.
So as it ended there was the usual noises that we must do it again soon, the wee one shouted with delight that we were going back to the pub- sadly this was not the case and I for one will make sure the family is indeed together soon for a happy occasion of any excuse!

It's Cold Out There

What a cracking day with a lovely winter sun and blue sky it could be a summers day if you just had to look at it, however put a toe in the water so to speak and that could be a summers day feeling quickly disappears with a gasp of bloody hell its cold.
The Wee one though can only see sunshine and a play area and sandbox with her name on it and no amount of explaining how cold it is was going to get her to waver from her mission to get out there and get stuck into some serious playing.
You then have to get suited and booted, grin and bear it getting out there hoping she will realise what you were saying about the cold was true and she would beat a retreat back to the cosy sitting room.
That hope fades quickly as you see the wee one feels no cold because playing with sand makes you immune from all the element's around you and the fact she is having fun breaking up an ice float in the water section just confirms we are out for the long haul.
So sand played with, swings been given a good going over, bubbles been put to outer space and a general inspection carried out round the garden with the snails being her no1 find followed by anything that dared to move, there was not much left unexplored and still you could see the determination etched on the wee ones face that said she was not giving up just yet.
The cold by this time was cutting through my bones like a chain saw and my teeth were speaking chatter language to the rest of my body, Finally a bit of luck came my way-being a winter sun the light starts to fade as darkness sets in-now the wee one is up for most things but like all humans she is not so keen of the dark.
Announcing she would like an ice lolly she makes for the warmth of the house, the ice lolly I suspect was her way of letting me know it will be daylight again and the garden will be there so get some thermals and keep up.
So it only leaves me to get thawed out and get ready for the house round two of playing ,teatime,bath and finally bed for both of us!
And finally just as a wee up date on the toilet training the wee one is now waking up from her sleep wanting to use the toilet-proud but knackered!!

People On The Doorstep

In days gone by Social workers, Health visitors or the like coming to your house in hours of daylight was met with shame. The people on your doorstep were herded in quickly and quietly as not to arose neighbour suspicion or indeed give the neighbours time to decide who the caller was or was not.
This is a scenario I grew up with My Nana used to say if we were bad she would get the people to us- so it has taken me a long time-3 years to get used to the idea of these professional people coming to visit outside the cover of darkness!
I first had to deal with Social work for the first time in my life a few years ago when the Wee one came on the scene and to start with all my notions of them were well justified in my mind-they were debating the future of the wee one like you and I could argue over a recipe for Scones. At least that is how it seamed at the time. I was in a position of trying to defend my Family whilst making sure a new member of the family was also taken care of. Difficult times with difficult discussions and some truths outed that sometimes a father does not want to hear.
However as we sit now having played a game of find the phone that the wee one has taken great delight in hiding I can now see the job that these people have to do and wonder why I was ever hostile to them?
My Health Visitor is brilliant and full of excellent advise but she is also ready just to listen as I spout off, without her input I might not still be sane or indeed on the right road with some of my missions for the wee one.
Social work have been equally as brilliant in giving impartial advice and looking at the wellbeing of the wee one and the effects on whole family.
So today I give a vote of thanks to the people on the doorstep for all the good work they do, that so much of the time goes unnoticed or simply not appreciated. How's that for a change in life attitudes- who says you cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Toy Box Tidy

Well yesterday was the wee one's birthday and with birthdays comes toys and this particular wee one has a lot of toys-some would say too many.
I decided today would be a good day to look out all her old toys that are never played with and toys that she has or should have by now out grown.
The thinking behind doing this job today was simple, I thought with all the shinny new toys she would be far too pre occupied to notice what I was up to.
As I started this was the case but one slip and a jingle from one of the old toys brought a curious toddler to my side to get a proper look as to why granddad was playing with her stuff.
Now may out there will know there is no good reason to get rid of any toy in a wee one's eyes, it does not matter that it is broken beyond all repair or indeed it has not been used in over two years or it has been replaced by a newer version. No amount of trying to put reason to what you are doing is going to work, you know the usual we are going to give it to a wee boy or girl who has not got any or you never play with it falls on ears of defiance with a look that makes you out to be the monster from the depths.
With this situation you have to rely on being crafty and accepting the 30 minute job that you started on is now going to take at least twice as long. With that in mind I send the wee one on missions- one toy at a time that we know we are keeping and in fact were going to keep all along. As this takes place I scramble what I can into charity bags and hide them under the stairs, for over an hour this went to plan and we had turned an unplayable mess of toys into something that could bring joy without frustration again.
With that job done a cup of coffee beckoned me as a just reward for my efforts and indeed a biscuit or a bit of leftover cake or for those who know me both. I sat feeling suitably smug that my plan had worked and chomped happily on the cake, until that feeling that every parent or in my case grandparent gets of something not quite right-it was far too quiet.
Down with the cake and into the hall and there sits a hugely proud wee one that has discovered a hidden treasure of toys under the stairs-well you know what happens next-the wee one and I have just finished playing with every last one, now as she sits drinking her juice and eating cake looking smug I need a new plan.

Memories LOST ??

Well today is one of those days to be savoured to make sure the camera has a fully charged battery and that no matter what happens you smile and agree and fall out with no one including the dog.
Its the wee ones Birthday it means she moves on from the gruesome twosomes to the all over it threesomes.
Today being Tuesday would normally mark the one day of the week I normally have to myself as the wee ones mum normally takes her out today. However it is a day for family and cake, playing games and having fun. For me that also involves running around keeping the peace and cleaning up areas where cake has been enjoyed. So it got me to thinking it was time for a crafty word in the wee ones ear-Swimming! With that the Birthday treat for the day has been decided and it is the young ones who go swimming for an hour or two.
Brilliant time to review the photos that have been taken and have a look back at the ones taken over Christmas and the last snow fall.
With that thought I go to settle into my favourite chair only to see that one of the presents given to the wee one by her mum-A strawberry coloured nail varnish-was splattered over the leather cushions.
Don't panic was in my head as I frantically tried to clean it off the seat, however the more I tried to clean it the more the colour of the leather changed and so as I finished the job I realised we now had what you can only call a memory etched into my leather couch.
Keeping calm and looking on the bright side of life comes with living with a wee one in the house and I have to say I am now a bit of an expert at it!
So nothing left to do but view the picture memories of today and past weeks-I switched on the camera to view the brilliant photos that I had been taking putting photographers up and down the country to shame. I opened the search option to be met by the message SD card not formatted I was instructed by my camera to therefore format the said card pressed ok and was met by the most horrifying message any machine could ever show me- all images lost.
I sat stunned as I thought of all those fantastic photos that had just been lost in the technology land of no recovery and started to well up-when I looked over at my chair which reminded me memories can never be wiped like an SD card just like nail varnish does not wipe off leather.

Kids Of All Ages Bring Joy

My wife and I were considered to be very young when we got married and had our children with usual comments of it will never last and when they grow up they will go their separate ways being whispered loudly all around on our wedding day and for sometime thereafter.
That was nearly 25 years ago now-how time flies when it's not going to last.
The result of these years is our children are now adults and starting to carve out their own mistakes in life and making decisions that the wife and I shake our head in disbelief at muttering things like we will see how long this lasts-Talk about history repeating!!
However one of the advantages of having older children making their own way is that they can surprise you and give you moments that you will take to the grave just in the wondrous way a wee one does something for the first time and you beam proudly at how clever they are.
And so it was this weekend, it started with a reconciliation with my daughter putting to bed a rather silly argument-this alone would have made the weekend a more enjoyable event. However it was followed up by my son presenting me with tickets for the Scotland verses Italy Rugby game at Murrayfield.
I have been a football fan all my life and have never been to see a professional Rugby game, so not only was this a first it was to be a truly wonderful day out with my son watching one of the best games with a result to match in many years.
I have to say to anyone that has never been to a Rugby game before GO they know how to entertain you before, during and after a game.
So the weekend reminded me although I am a stay at home granddad with responsibilities to a wee one that keeps me on my toes, the kids I helped to bring up the first time round are still very much in my life and thoughts and can bring you wee gems of joy as well as their washing!

The Next Day

Well in my last post I talked about being wiser as I got older but as I sit here today with the never again hangover I realise that becoming wiser has just not kicked in yet leading me to believe that I must still be too young for this phenomenon to take place, no I will have to wait before I get to join the old and wise club.
That in it's self sparked a wee victory jig-in my head of course as my fragile state would not allow more exercise than absolutely essential to maintain life form-I am not passed it and indeed if it were not for my predicament today I would be showing everyone just that.
So tomorrow they will be seeing a more energetic, positive and upbeat me full of the joys of life and celebrating all things positive and making sure everyone is touched by it! But that is tomorrow as right now a cup of tea a biscuit followed by a nap is what the doctor would order if he was here himself.
Luckily for me I have learned over the years when to go up and down the gears and although not old and wise perhaps I am learning.
And just a wee up date on the wee one we are now 2 weeks nappy free through the day with only one or two wee accidents, looks like the wallet will be out soon for a treat.
Next goal the night nappy!

Happy Birthday To Me?

As life goes on and we try slowing down the clock of old father time as talked about previously- my stance is defeated as if to prove a point.
Today I turn ?? something and therefore must give up all rights to knowledge and any words of wisdom that I may of had-according to my son who has installed himself as head of the family due to my demise and lack of function being aged ??.
Now the wee one has decided that if there are cards and presents to be had then it cannot be my Birthday but most certainly must be hers for at least the presents.
Today however was one of the saddest days of my life as my daughter who has been the apple of my eye and indeed has had my backing when all others had given up on her snubbed my birthday, not even a card!
Now when you think about this it might not be unusual for some, however in my family this is not the done thing.
Thankfully the wee one goes from strength to strength proving some adults should never have left the school playground.
Me well it is another year and obviously I get wiser? well that's what we might think and hope for.

Time for A Nap?

During the long days of being at home in the winter months when the garden is simply to be looked at followed by wishful sighs you would think that any toddler would welcome an afternoon nap after a snack and a morning that has seen the stairs turn into Mount Everest for the big adventure and her fellow climbers the dollies and teddies stranded at the summit without provisions, Her electric quad bike abandoned due to being stuck in the snow duvet.
Yes a nap would be about due-However as I learn every day now the norm is the unusual and you would think by this time I would be ready for it, well you would be wrong as I act with surprise on every occasion as my mind wonders back to what my own kids would have done and you simply cannot help but compare.
So the wee one now wants to be read every book in her bookcase while multi tasking with the TV because curious George is on currently her no 1 show and if I am honest I find myself watching it and laughing with her at it.
Now being the Granddad I was looking forward to the wee one taking a nap so I could get on with er ok having a nap. One thing that I have found out as you get older the stairs become like a mountain as you head up them for the lost count of times in a day and chasing the toddler leaves the legs feeling they have completed the London Marathon.
I have now learned that when this particular toddler decides to have some quiet time without having a nap it is more than wise to join her as this will be the days only chance to get ready for the evening onslaught before bath and bedtime.
AS we head for the weekend thoughts turn to what can we do to make life exciting and entertaining for the wee one and how much will it cost? Perhaps the lesson from the Stairs should be taken more seriously and we should realise that our small people have huge imaginations that don't need expensive days out just a willingness to get involved in their world for a wee while.
So with that the wee one and I are off on an upstairs downstairs safari hope your weekend brings as much adventure and joy.