Fun Times

This weekend was quite good, Friday I worked from home a little as it was my son's first school play (he's in pre school) and I also had to get my car windscreen replaced.

So Friday morning I woke up and set everything up to work from home and started doing a couple of bits when my son joins me and he is asking for me to play with him as he was bored downstairs, as I had the day the whole day off I didn't pay much attention to my PC that was switched on. I did get a couple of bits done that needed to be though.

So we start playing lego for a bit and watching TV etc, I then made a cup of tea for me and the exgf as she is still in bed and bring them upstairs and after faffing some more I give up on trying to do anymore work and end up taking my son downstairs to get dressed so he can go out.

The exgf gets up and does whats she needs to do, I'm still waiting for the windscreen man at 11.30 when they walk out of the door to go trampolining. I'm just closing the door when I see the van go past, 2 mins later the man is at the door and my son and ex are waiting for me, so i fill in the paper work quickly and we make our way to the sports centre. It don't get to see my son trampoline often as normally I'm at work so its good to see how he has progressed and he enjoys it. After this it was time to make our way to the school for his play, now the exgf hasn't known for her forward planning and will just go with the flow then wonder why it hasn't all worked out, so as we are making our way I speed up a bit and she tell us we have plenty of time and I ask her what about him getting ready and she tells me that the doors don't open till 1.15pm, now doors open to me means that is when the parents have time to find a seat, get comfortable and the children are ready to, no to the exgf it means when we all arrive so that all the children have to get ready and the parents just sit down. So I head of in a hurry, luckily we get there 5-10 mins before doors open so I get my son in and he is off to get changed.

When doors open me and the exgf make our way and find a seat and as this is a pre School I really should have sat at the back as the chairs we had to sit on where the children's chairs and my are they tiny which makes it hard for me (being a short arse) to see much. So next year I will be standing at the back where I can get a better view (but thinking about this he will be in primary school (now that's a scary thought)). My son was a robot and I was having a hard time in thinking why they would have robots in a Christmas play, but then went with it. What it turns out was that each song they sang began with a letter from the word Christmas.

When they all walked in it was amazing, all dressed in their different costumes and all the children looking for their parents, my son was doing the same but because we were tucked out the way he couldn't see us, just before he had to get up for his song, he spotted us and smiled. When he started singing as they were all shy it was a bit quiet but the teacher got them to do it again and they did alot better and i couldn't stop smiling. He then did another song with some friends and he was the only one i could here, when they were finished I couldn't help but keep smiling.

We went home after that he went for a snooze as he was so tired and I did some pottering around, early evening the exgf went shopping with a friend to the local outlet centre. Whilst she was out I got a text to see if I was out that night, I wasn't sure if I was going to but after dinner decided that I would go out, so jumped in the shower and sorted my clothes out and went after putting my son to bed and reading him a story.

So once out we went to a couple of pubs and couple of bars, the last bar we were is was a great atmosphere and having a good laugh, whilst outside having a smoke a fight broke out between some drunk kids and some chap, it lasted about 5 mins with no injuries, well didn't look like it anyway and they dispersed. After that we went to one of the local clubs (it was pants) and ended up leaving about half 2ish.

Saturday and Sunday was spent feeling poorly as i caught a bug from being out which I have almost gotten over now, it had me coughing like no tomorrow and it gave me such a headache, it also affected my breathing, it was like someone had shrunk my windpipe as it was difficult to breathe Saturday and Sunday night but Monday morning I was 70% better so off to work it was for me.

Gratitude

I have to admit that when it comes to home life I probably don't thank the exgf enough when she does stuff around the house yet I expect it when I do things.

I'm not sure why I don't, it may be the male chauvinist in me thinks that because she is a stay at home mum (working a few hours here and there) and that these things should be done so I take it for granted. Last night she came up to me and I had ironed my sons and my clothes earlier in the day and she made a comment that she might have to re iron them as she doesn't like the way I do it and also asked where I had put them, so I told her on the draws, to which she started moaning at me as to why I hadn't put them away etc. I then moaned that she could have said thanks before she moaned and criticised me. Exgf then blew up at me saying that I never thank her for dinner unless prompted and other bits.

So today is another learning day for me and making sure i thank her when she has done something like the washing up and cooking dinner. I'll try and not do it in a patronising way but sometimes I just can't help it.

I just fell really down right now, yesterday I felt like a broken man, when I woke I just thought "ok, she's won, I'll do anything she wants" and the cheery me went out of the door, he still isn't back at the mo, but I hope he'll be back soon.

I just feel like I have to do all the changing and the exgf won't do anything, I have given her the Sex Starved Marriage book that I brought, I read quite a bit of it and tried to take some of the advice on board but got uninterested in the book when the exgf wasn't willing to try anything to fix the situation we were in. I don't think she has started to read it yet so I may take it back and read it myself all the way through again. With the problem that we are experiencing in the bedroom I thought it would be a great opportunity to mention it to the doctor on Thursday as we took my son in as he hadn't been well for a couple of weeks, but was fine on the day we did. When I mentioned about talking to the doctor about it she got all defensive and said if I didn't stop going on about it there would be no us to sort out.

The Titanic

Its been a while but Monday night I looked in the fridge and realised we had a small problem in closing the door.

The problem was the large iceberg that had built up in the ice tray. I'm sure this would have had an effect on the titanic.



This is the offending item

It took about an hour in the end to remove this, I was using hot water to melt some of it away, which I think only helped to add more ice to it, I was hammering away at it and getting covered in ice without it budging. After looking at it for 5 mins i just used brute force and beat it in to submission, which included nearly pulling the fridge on me. The sense of satisfaction afterwards though was great, I can now see the two bottles of vodka I had out in there about 3 months ago again.

On a different not, I was in town shopping with my son and exgf Friday when we were in Woolies and I came across this. Does someone not like Cars the Movie?

I personally have never come across a pull back ass, I've seen some I would pull away from or run away from.

Inspired

I have been searching through blogs via comment and links on people sights and came across this one from Miss U's site

http://emmahardy.blogspot.com/

Its a good read and she has had some hard times but she has either created or is passing on this link


http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/stabvests/

It is to issue all paramedics and ambulance staff stab vests.

Things have got a lot more dangerous for them now and why should they have to worry each time they are out helping people.

Please click and Sign up, I think it is a great cause.

Yearly Trip

It was that time of year again where we take the journey to Germany.

Now there are two drivers two cars, the drivers don't have family in Germany, this is me and the exgf's step dad. Its not the best journey but I know i have done a lot worse (the M25 for a start). We take the exgf my son and her brothers and mum over so that they can see their mum/nan and great nan.

I was asked a few days before/told that we would be leaving about half 1, which I thought was a bit late in the day as it tends to be a 5/6hr trip, but I just agreed to keep the peace, but next year i won't be doing this, we got stuck in Antwerp with all the rush hour traffic and only missed other jams by minutes. We got to Germany at around 9pm their time.

Normally we stay at exgf's cousins but as my son is still being trained not to wet the bed she decided we would stay in a hotel, now the hotel we picked wasn't the cheapest but it was a great place and only 5 mins from her nans.

The hotel was very nice (even though a bit expensive for meals and things) and i would love to use it again but with my son using his own bed instead of me having the little single bed and those two having the kings size bed to themselves.

Unfortunately my son was ill for most of the weekend, he caught the bug that is going round so had runny nose then coughing fits and also a bout a sickness which he had once in the car on the way there, most of Friday night then during the day Sunday. Saturday he spent being very weak and not being able to do much so luckily we didn't spend long in the city of Cologne.

But all in all it was a good weekend.

I know i am rambling but not much else has really happened, me and the exgf are still getting on not as close as I want so I am just giving her space. I do hope we can sort through things though as i am worried that I might get distracted by other women, I just have to be strong willed.

To old friends

Its been a few weeks since i last posted and things at home aren't going to bad.

Me and the ex are gettingon and i have been going to the gym (took today off as i have a lot on this week.)

I'm not sure if I will be posting again to soon as I have a lot going on at home at the moment.

I have been checking through finances etc and have come to the conclusion that I can't afford to pay all my bills.

The problem arose when things went wrong for my dad who was paying for the loans (I got them out for him) and he can no longer pay for them. I thought I could manage but after going through sums etc I cannot afford to keep going like this.

I have got advice from a very good website (www.fool.co.uk). by the looks of it a DMP (Debt management program) IVA will not be any good for me as I will still be left short. The only option is Bankruptcy. It's not the way I won't to go but is really my only option.

I don't hold it against my dad as crap happens but I am dissapointed it went this way.

I told the ex Friday and she took it better than I thought and so did my mum when I told her last night, I just feel though I have left them both down.

Please visit www.fool.co.uk and go to the following pages if you need help or just want advice with stuff.

Managing Your Finances
http://boards.fool.co.uk/Boards.asp?fid=5008

Living Below your Means (loads of tips on stuff you could cut down on etc)
http://boards.fool.co.uk/Messages.asp?bid=50074

Fireworks

So as I mentioned in an earlier post we went to a couple of firework events, these are the pics from Saturday.

Small clip of the end

Halloween

Well I know its a little late but here ar ethe pics i took of my son and the houses etc on Halloween when we went trick or treating.

One house joing in the spirit of things (get it, do ya?)

And another

And another The Terrible Twosome

The carved Halloween by the gf

Day 2 at the Gym

Today went quite well.
I upped my weights a bit and I did struggle a bit but still managed to do the 8 reps on each machien so will up the weights again on Friday.

I have bene brave and have taken a before shot of me.

Be aware they are scary, so please avert your eyes. to the below

As you can see i cam carrying a bit of a barrel in front of me so i can't wait and hope that this work out will at least reduce the size or get rid of it for good.

I will put pics up every four weeks (I hope your stomachs can take it) of my progress.

Gym Day 1

Today was day one of the gym and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

I did the list of week one exercises as best I could with the limited equipment that was on offer but have no been given a list of different equipment that I can use top do the same exercises, so swapping machines for dumbbells etc.

I did 8 reps on each machine with a 5 min warm up and down on the bike. As i did the 8 reps they advise you to change the weight, so on Wednesday I will be upping it by 1 and see how that goes, if I do the 8 reps again then I will up by one again.

Tonight I will get my stats, height and weight and if feeling brave enough will take a below the head shot of my body for the before pic.

Be gentle on me.

So we have had a couple of festive days, with Halloween and Guy Fawkes.

For Halloween I took my soon trick or treating and he got loads of goodies (a lot of them I like to), he was dressed as Count Dracula and his friend who we took along to, was dressed as a skeleton pirate. I have some pics which I will get up here shortly.

We went to a fireworks display Saturday which I managed to get a few shots, which I will get posted here to. My son still doesn't really like them but he did really well to last as long as he did watching them and for that he got a burger afterwards. He is so cute when watching fireworks though, as long as they aren't to loud, he will watch the colours and the explosions but with his hands over his ears so he can't hear the explosions. Sunday was spent at the ex's mums with me chosen as the coordinator and lighter of the fireworks (I was not part of the discussion when this went on). We had4 boxes of fireworks which took about 45mins to get rid of as well as the extra rockets. The neighbours also came round and brought 5 large display rockets, which I am sure are supposed to be for professional displays, but what the hell. When all of those were gone one of the neighbours popped back to there house to light their last one, this was a box and it was huge, just one firework and it lasted for about 5mins, it had a total of 175 shots in which would go in the sir with pretty colours then exploded in to more. The final shot was great and gave the silver rain effect.

Roll on tonight when i can look out my window and see tonight's, which in theory should be the end off it, hopefully my son will come and watch with me or I may take a drive in to the hills and watch from there.

Changes

Isn't it amazing what changes our bodies go through from birth through to the end.

Alot of changes are just natural like changing from baby to toddler. Child to Teen. Then adult hood. Our bodies will experience many many changes from not being able to do much just lying on our backs cooing then running as fast as we can playing football or running from the neighbours door after playing knock down ginger (who named this anyway?). As adults our bodies have then been through most of the changes, thank god puberty is over, never knowing if the voice you started out in the morning would hold out through the day or suddenly you sound like chewbacca. One thing our bodies will do though is slow down, now more eating what we want or drinking everyday as what happens your body can no longer get rid of the excess which leads me to my point.

I have grown myself a beer belly and its time to get rid of it. I probably started growing it at the age of 20/21 and it used to stay a steady size as I was normally in an active job or active outside of work, but now at the age of 30 it is time to let the belly go, time for it to move on. I will miss it as it keeps me warm when its cold outside and its a part of me and I have spent lots of money getting it to the size it is, but enough is enough. I have joined the local gym close to my work and have got myself a 12 week training program sorted out (stole it from a website).

I will be starting the programme properly on monday and during this week just getting used to the equipment again as it has been a while since I was last in the gym.

I might post before and after pics, all depending on how comfortable I feel with it. I will of course add a daily post each time I go to the gym (well as long as I can still type afterwards).

Here is a link to the workout programme, just need to scroll down a bit

http://www.mansized.co.uk/talk/thread.phtml/thread575/

This is a link to the pics of the chap that did the plan (I am roughly of the same build except the height).

http://www.mansized.co.uk/talk/thread.phtml/thread575/page22

Pictures from France (back in July)

Here are the pic from France that I took and some I stole from my brother.
I will update with details shortly as I just want to get them up then I know its done.

Outside the Main Gates

Empty Wine bottles in the Cellar (Would Miss U Give them a run for their money?)

Abandoned Cart (Not sure if they just jumped on the horses back and rode out of dodge)

No Idea what this is (answers on a postcard please)

Doorway in the Tower

This is the man made lake where we all went swimming

The Pool being built

The Beeman (getting rid of all the nasty bees) if you click the picture you will see the honey that had been made

Main Entrance to the House

The Pigionaire

The Tower

The Random Cross

Bit more pool building

Over looking the front lawn from the upstairs hallway
The Magic Bedroom

The War in Disneyland

This weekend, well Sunday to Tuesday i will be in Disneyland Paris.

this small break was booked a little while back when me and my partner were still together. We are taking our son to Disneyland as a treat for him and it was supposed to be a family getaway.

My son and ex went last year when I was at the Reading festival, he had a great time and with him being a bit older I am hoping he is going to enjoy it even more. I have never been even though when i was a child my Aunt did promise me when it opened she would take me (Ok that was 15 years ago but i am determined to go one day with her). I am really looking forward to it as I love theme parks and I have always had a space in my heart for disney. I can't wait for the shows and parades, hopefully my son will want to see them to but if not I will be going alone.

Also as it is the 15th Birthday for Eurodisney they have lots on so I can't wait and with it being Halloween they have the theme running through the park.

I will also be able to try out my new camera out and get some photos (good news by the way, I will be getting the pics from my France trip very soon). I am hoping that the days will go well without any fighting with me or the ex. Her friend is also coming with her sister in law so if things do heat up I can just take my son with me and have a father and son time.

Time Ladies and gentlemen

How do you know its time to move on and find someone else.

I live with my ex in the same house but different rooms(yes it does feel strange) would I suggest you try it, probably not as it is a hard thing to do especially if there is still emotions on both sides. It is very hard to let go and also not to try and hurt the other person. When can you move on, this i don't know but need to do something soon, I have been in contact with a friend of a friend who would like us to meet. I explained the situation to her and I can understand why she was a bit edgy about it but she would still like to meet, but am i moving on to soon.

I really would like to meet this girl as I know I need to move on with my own life now but how do I tell the ex this. Do i tell her straight out or do i move out first (not sure where i would go and i like the place I'm in now). Problem is i know that she hasn't really let go of us even though it was her choice that started the ball rolling of us splitting up, (she mentioned it first that's all, the relationship or lack of is what made her decide and she was right to do so) and how do i know this well.

Last week i went to play football as normal but instead of making my way home I ended up in the pub with a friend for a few beers and when they were finished it was closing time, so I walk home and get in, make my way to my room and notice a few of my games were on the floor, my first thought was that my son had been in and playing on the xbox, how wrong was I, when i turned round there were games and DVDs everywhere. She had come in to my room and chuck my DVDs, games, and clothes all over the place, all because I didn't tell her I was staying out, which seeing as she is not my mum, partner or keeper I had to do. So we ended up having a blazing row and I have to admit it was the first time i have ever wanted to lash out, I didn't though, but we were both effing and geffing around the house and i can't remember if my son woke up because of this or is she woke him up but as i was standing there she told him that Daddy won't be living here soon and it will just be mummy and you. I wanted to through her out of the house there and then for that, she had no right. Once that was over with though i went up to bed, when i woke in the morning I had a text from her telling me she was sorry and I made sure she apologised to my son to.

At Last.....Well almost

After finally getting to IKEA as the furniture we wanted from another store wasn't available we have now got a wardrobe each and myself and my son a set of drawers.

This is what my son got

Wardrobe
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/80099163

Draws
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90099153

Little pricey from Ikea but alot better than the £500 pound mark if we were to buy them from another shop. also I liked how funky they were.

The bill was in three figures, maybe a little more than I wanted to pay but not as much as it could have got to.
All the furniture was put together Sunday as Saturday as a day of recovering after seeing Lisa Pin-up Friday night.

So we are now nearly unpacked, just need to get the clothes from the boxes then rid myself of all stuff that I don't need, which i am thinking of doing with the magic of ebay, as I have to admit i am a hoarder.

FFS

I have located the photos that I took on holiday in France with my son. They are on my Dads PC, so sometime this weekend I will be going round to copy them to a CD and uploading to here.

I am off to Ikea on Friday to get some furniture for the house. We had ordered a couple of wardrobes from Argos but they kept delaying the time they would be delivered so I have canceled that order. We had been look for furniture for my son, his mum wanted something specific and could we find it not a hope until we found this little shop and saw exactly what she was looking for, it is basically a mini wardrobe and draws for kids to use but the set would have come to roughly £500 so I decided that no we will not be doing that so his furniture will also be coming from Ikea. The problem for me is that Ikea is quite a few miles away for me and that they don't deliver to my part of Kent at the moment and as the car I drive is a saloon we have no space to fit anything so I have hired a van, which you would think is easy, nope not for me.

I wanted to pick the van up Saturday go to Ikea and load up, then unload back home and drop the van off, but couldn't do that as the van rental place closes at 12 meaning I would have to have the van for two days at the two day price, which with my calculations meant I should have brought my sons furniture, so I rang another place and they are open all day Saturday but have no vans, dam it, so I asked if I could hire one Friday (I had a look at the ikea site and they close at 10pm) and drop it off first thing Saturday morning, luckily they have a van and yes I can do that but it has to be back before 8am, which it will be as I will drop it off as soon as i unload Friday night.

What a drama just to get furniture.

Best Laid plans....

Yesterday was my 30th Birthday or as I like to say, the ninth anniversary of my 21st.

I was utterly spoilt and had some great gifts but from the way in to work I should have none something was amiss.

When its someones birthday in the office they will normally bring in cakes to celebrate (its the tradition of going to the pub and get drunk, but sensible). I was nearly at work when I remembered that I forgot to get any but i didn't think much of it as I had said to people we will go down the pub for a couple anyway.

That was that bit covered, i then get a text saying my son has been sent home from school as he is ill, I worry about this slightly as this hasn't happened before but his mum has picked him up and taken him home, so throughout the day I get update texts and one of them is that he is being sick, not a good sign.

We got to the pub at lunch and have a couple of pints with people from work and I nip in to CO-Op (other supermarkets are available) and buy some cakes and also 3 Christmas selection packs, I thought this would take the focus from me to that it is Christmas soon (well to far away for me to actually be bothered) get back in to the office and get all the cakes out.

I leave work at half 4 to see my dad as he wants to give me my card and pressie, so whilst sitting there I get a call saying come home ASAP as my son if being sick and bringing up yellow (guess he reached the bile). So I get home and he is not well at all bless him, he seems lively enough so I no its nothing major but every half hour or so he is bringing up what he can. From this we decide that going out for a meal (in the small Italian Restaurant that has great food) is not the best of ideas.

The ex's parents come round and I make coffee for them and I get my pressies from them which includes a bottle of 12 Ouzo this was so smooth as I thought it would be rude not to open and try. Once they leave we put the little man to bed and get a takeaway in and sit and watch TV, it was nice but as both of us were so tired we didn't really do much.

I think I upset the Cake Gods by not bring in the cakes straight away so will not be doing that again. I did get a set of wonderful cuff links though. see below

The small indent in the middle is a finger print of each index finger of my son. When I opened these out I almost cried as it is the sweetest thing ever. As you can see it has my son's name on it with mine and his date of birth.

I need some help.

I have been given some money by my mum for my birthday and have decided to spend £200 on a digital camera, I don't want and SLR as I know I will end up not taking it anywhere. so I am after something that I can slip in my pocket or at least not to bulky. Don't mind what the mega pixel is but would prefer something that I don't have to keep replacing the batteries on, so it has its on battery pack.

I have seen a couple and here are the ones that I am considering.

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/534560/art/canon/digital-ixus-75-in-black.html

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/597340/art/pentax/optio-z10.html

http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/535691/art/sony/cyber-shot-dsc-w90-silver.html

Any advise on the above would be great or any suggetions.

************************************************************************************

UPDATE

I have brought this one http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/597340/art/pentax/optio-z10.html

Fingers crossed that it will be any good otherwise it will be going back

Sorry

I have to admit that I haven't been adding to this for a couple of Weeks now and I am sorry for that but with so much going on I haven't had the time.

There was the Reading festival (which I have started writing up)
The Move (nothing really much happened but will add something in)
Training (when I got back from the week and a bit off I had two days of training which melted my Brain)
What I need to write up about is Reading and the situation with me and the gf/exgf (the same person)

So please bear with me

Reading was Great Day 1

Well I survived another Reading weekend (just). It started well, I had everything prepared except my brother, my plan was to leave around 9am but my brother put paid to that and we ended up leaving at 3pm, now for regular users of the M35 you will know that this is a very bad time and for us it was, it took us three hours to get to the festival site, I dropped off my brother and his friend and found my way to my friends house, who very kindly put us up for the whole weekend.



This was my first year of not camping, the reason for this was the message left at the main reading website say that most of it was underwater and with all the campsites joining each other i couldn't be bothered with the hassle.



The Thursday night me and D and my ex's brother went and met up with the crowd that were there last year, it started with me being slightly stoned as when I had arrived the first thing to do was roll a couple of J's just to get me in to the Reading mood, so we get to the pub and it had been a while since I have smoked so was feeling the effects a little but out came the beer and it started to go down well, very well. We chatted about last year, the developments that have happened and whats going on in the future. Well from last year one of the ladies has been pregnant and had a baby boy, one lady is 3 months pregnant and the mad one from last year still is not having any kids nohow noway. After we finished at the pub we grabbed a takeaway and went home.



Friday Day 1.



We woke in the early hours, well about half 8 and D was just rushing out of the door for work so me and J (the ex's brother) had a cup of tea whilst I rolled up for the morning breather, i then sat on the couch and rolled the days supply as I hate rolling in crowds wind etc. Once we were ready we left the house and made our way to the bus stop.

We get to town and I need to find smell Ally (no this is not where the working girls hang out, but where the fishmongers, butchers etc are) to find the head shop for some new rizzlas. We head off to the festival from here and the queue is massive to get in to the site so we stand and wait and wait and wait. Finally on to site and we have a short wait to get our weekend wrists bands.

we get in to the arena and I start looking for the people that we hooked up with last night at the pub, I walk to where we were roughly last year and can't see them, so I send a text and they tell me where they are and I start looking for them still with no luck so I give them a ring and they tell me that are left hand of the stage so I go that side by the ice cream van when the phone rings and I am told, "sorry I meant to say right but I had my back to the stage" so I go back to where we were originally and find them.

Once settled in, beer was brought and joints smoked and we settled in for a day of entertainment, the music was good and the headline act was so so, razorlight were good but it was all of their slow stuff that they played so didn't really get the crowd bouncing.

I had planned my day out of visiting other stages and had it nicely programmed in to my phone so that an alarm would go off and I did try to visit three different tents and did turn up but always late and couldn't really see them so headed back to the main stage and the group.

Gogol Bordello were excellent and I urge you to have a listen when you can and maximo park were also great.

Just to say

I am off to Reading tomorrow and when I get back am moving house, so will write up my review of it then and also the rest of the trip with my son.

As of yet I still haven't received the photos but these will be uploaded as soon as i get them.

So have a great bank holiday weekend and see you all when i get back and have moved

France Part 2c

After the grand tour and lunch, which was spent eating and sitting outside under the plum tree (alot of time was spent here) we decided what to do and it was time for the beach.

So we packed all of our stuff up and jumped in to the gangster car and head off to the beach.

I didn't know quite what to expect as where my mum is it is pretty land locked and is about two hrs to the coast, so we arrive in this carpark and there are holiday homes dotted around. We get out the car and make our way to the lake, there are quite a few people around some eating picnics others jumping in and oput of the water, so i'm thinking this won't be to bad. So we get out to the lake and find a picnic table to put our stuff on, I get changed in to my trunks and change my son in to his stuff.

A bit if back ground on the lake and surrounding area.

Remember the millennium and our government decided to build a dome that everyone slated and ran over budget etc etc, well where my mum's living they used the money to build 2/3 rugby pitches, outdoor swimming pool, kiddies play area and the lake and put a beach on it and it gets used, it cost us 2 euros 15 cents to use.

So we wander done to the beach and into the lake, now remember when you try and get in to the swimming pool by going down the steps, you always stop saying its to cold but dive in and all is ok, well this is what was needed in the lake but I bottled it, I think it took me about and hour before I had actually submerged myself, my son on the other hand was straight in not a care in the world.

We spent about 1hr there till mum decided that we needed water so she drove off leaving us to mess about more which we did with me enjoying the views of girls in bikini's :o)

Once back with fresh supplies my mum fell asleep with me and my son playing in the kiddies area and bouncing in and out of the water.

Once back in early evening I went and set up the dvd and tv system as my mum and step either hadn't had time or just didn't have a clue what to do. Once setup I left my son relaxing after his busy day, normally he has a snooze in the afternoon just for an hour or so but this was the first of many days without one and in the end it showed. So whilst he was watching that I had a few beers with my mum and chilled out under the plum tree. Once dinner was on I checked on my son and he seemed fine so as we dished up (I cooked that night) I went to get him and he was fast asleep, it was a shame to wake him but it needed to be done but like me he doesn't like being woken so was in a bad mood. After dinner we chatted a bit then went to bed

France Part 2b

As i haven't got any pictures to show you I have drawn a mock up of the house, not to scale and there are some bits missing to, but you will get the idea.


Day two started off with us having breakfast and getting used to the sun, I hadn't seen it for a long time and it was definitely Shorts and t-shirt.

So once we were all fed and watered my mum decided to give us the grand tour which started out side giving us chance to walk the dog at the same time. We walked from the scullery and turned left where straight away we come across the Le pigeonaire, this is a listed building and the only one in the surrounding area it is approx 18th century. (trust my mum to find it).

Now my mum doesn't have any pigeons in there but a barn owl has taken up residence and you can normally here him/her at night screeching away. The view from here was across to the farmers field which was fully planted up with wonderful colours. We then walk round the back of the house and were you can see the tower in all is glory and also what seems to be the remains of a small pond. On the way round we walked past a walled of garden which my mum will be planning on making in to a herb garden.

After that we take a walk through the long grass my son wants be be carried for this bit, which I don't blame him as he would only fall over and get lost in it, as we get through I notice a large barn (just a simple one knocked up with iron girders and the like) and sitting in it is a full blown tractor, my mum had mentioned she needed a new one but I was thinking of the ride on mower not this. As I mentioned it mum was like well we need to cut the grass somehow and I just nodded, you don't realise what 52 acres is till you see a tractor is need to cut the grass. So we got my son on that a took a pic (once i get them it will be uploaded here). We then take a walk to the farm house seeing as no one is in at the moment.

I'm not sure how old this building it but I am guessing this was built round the time the main house was so this will be dating back to the 18th Century to. My son loved running around their garden so I quickly picked him up and got him on my shoulders before he could cause to much havoc. Whilst walking to the back of the house to look at the woods there was an iron cross mounted on a concrete pillar, this to was added at the same time (I think anyway).

We take a small walk in to the woods as if we went to deep I was going to have to carry my son back and already I was sweating from the heat, so we walk back up the bank and I spot some animal trails, we weren't sure what animal they were from but I have a suspicion it was rabbits or something of a similar size.

When we get back we chill out for the mo and sit out by the kitchen under the plum tree which my son loves, he's pulling them off left right and centre eating away. We we are seated and looking at the plan is to the left of the kitchen and we can look in to the dinning room.

After our break we start the tour again but indoors this time. So we have seen the scullery and they have had a one of these large American fridges installed that dispenses ice and ice cold water, these for my son was a new toy and i have never seen him drink so much water.

We go through to the kitchen which is just something they have thrown in from Ikea but in this room there is a large dinning table which I thought was the main one (how wrong I was) there is a large fireplace in here, not sure if this is what they would have used for the main house but I can pretend.

From the kitchen we walk in to the dinning room and wow it is something from a fairy tale. If you have ever seen batman (with Michael Keaton) and he is sitting down to dinner with Kim Basinger she ask him to pass the salt, but he can't hear her and the shot pans out and you can see why, this table is huge and he has to walk round to give it to her, well my mum has a table like this and I was in awe and also glad we weren't using it as I would starve if I had to keep getting up.

From here we go in to the main entrance way which has a extremely high ceiling and we are shown in to the Louis room, I call it this was there is Louis 14th style furniture and this is classed as the adults room, no animals and children allowed (well children are but its nicer to relax in there without).

From here I'm shown the study and bathroom all quite standard, I am then shown the cinema room once again my choice in naming it. As we walk in I noticed that it is all panelled from the floor to quarter the way up. This room is ideal for use as a cinema, the acoustics are great due to the quarry tiled floor (which is through out the house) the shade given by the tress and also the fact that for some reason there is a toilet and sink in there so no treks across the house missing half the film.

Upstairs is very much a mirror of downstairs regrading rooms, all very large, the room I staying with my soon was very bog standard when we walked in, just a double bed and couple of bits from IKEA but then my mum tells me I have a bathroom and a walk in wardrobe, I couldn't see where these were until my mum walked to the back of the room and turned these keys that I hadn't noticed and from no where she opens this door that leads to the toilet and shower room, she walks to the otherside and opens another door which is the wardrobe, now I was impressed.

There will be a before and after pic of this once I get the photos through.

In the main hallway upstairs there is a pair of double doors that open to a small balcony which overlooks the front garden and one a nice hot day this looked amazing. (Insert picture)

Political Correctness Gone Mad

I was listening to Scott Mills last night like I normally do on the way home when a track i like came on, the track is I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic at the Disco.



The lyrics are

Oh, well imagine: as I'm pacing the pews in a church corridor,and I can't help but to hear, no I can't help but to hear an exchanging of words:"What a beautiful wedding, what a beautiful wedding!" says the bridesmaid to a waiter."Yes, but what a shame, what a shame, the poor groom's bride is a whore."

I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.

I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of..Oh!Well in fact well I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved! Well this calls for a toast, so pour the champagne!Oh! Well in fact well I'll look at it this way, I mean technically our marriage is saved! Well this calls for a toast, so pour the champagne, pour the champagne!

I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and...rationality (long note)I can't(long note)Again . . . .

I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!no"It's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and rationality.I'd chime in "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!"No, it's much better to face these kinds of things with a sense of poise and...rationality (long note)I can't(long note)Again....................

But they cut some of it out, I understand the line "Yes, but what a shame, what a shame, the poor groom's bride is a whore." and whore being removed but they also removed "I'd chime in with a "Haven't you people ever heard of closing the goddamn door?!" God from the goddam door.



But I have no idea why, can anyone shed light on as to why I would be grateful.

Strange searches

I was having a look at my statcounter as I am interested in how people come across my site and one of the features that it provides is Recent Keyword Activity, there have been some mundane ones.

Why my gf suddenly doesn't want me (Could have been me that googled it)

Weekedend (This found me due to my spelling mistake which has now been amended) but then I saw this one

swingers pink ring what does it mean now I am open minded but was wondering how this could have been linked to my site, so I had a quick search and luckily I am innocent in this one.

If I get any more will let you know.

Part 2a

I will add in part to soon when I get the pictures sent to me.

I went to use my camera and although I could use my camera to view old pics and my camera wouldn't take any new ones, it seems that the iris isn't working properly as through the view finder it was all dark and when I tried to take any new ones they came out black to.

If anyone has an idea of a camera to buy please leave a comment. I would like an SLR but for now would be happy with a just a compact digital camera.

'And Your Back in The Room' (Well the UK) Part 1

Well we have returned from France and what a shame it is to come back i have to say.

The Weather out there was good, the flights fine and the house great.

So my and my son headed off at 2pm Wednesday afternoon to the airport with no problems, except the road was clear and we ended up getting there about 1hr half before before check in opened, so what do you do, well you sit on your bag and read your sons comic with him again and again and wander round seeing nothing but people queuing to get anywhere.

Once check in had opened and we got rid of the suit case we queued with everyone else to get through security, it definitely has got more tedious and when we got to the security screening it was the "Shoes off please" now this is the first time i have been through since they tightened things up and i was wearing my smelly trainers, not a job I would want. So once we were dressed again it was time to get some food and waste two hours till we knew which gate we would be flying from. Now as a smoker I like to have a couple or three cigs before a flight as it helps pass the time and the last time in an airport this wasn't a problem as you could go to the bar, have a beer and a smoke, now you can have the beer, but smoking is out and there is nowhere once past check in you can go to have a smoke.

Once the gate was displayed and we got on the plane (which with easyjet is quite easy as if you have children or have a disability or booked a priority check in ticket you get on first). So we found a seat and I sat my son by the window as it was his first flight and I thought he might like to see whats happening, now when we were walking to the bus stop to get to the airport the planes were flying above us coming in to land and they are very loud which scared my son a little and he covered his ears, so I thought I might have a mission on my hands come take off. Luckily I was wrong, he stared out of the window as we rushed down the tarmac and as we left the ground he was all smiles which in turn made me so proud of him.

There was nothing to the flight really, the drinks trolley came so got myself a JD and coke and OJ for the boy, he watched Transformers the Movie (Cartoon version) on my ipod and I just chilled and also read him Shrek the third that we had brought in the terminal. My son also made a friend on the plane, the boy behind us which was nice and they played a bit (as best you can do when stuck in your seat and shared their crisps. With the landing my son was looking out of the window watching the ground getting closer and closer but with not a worry on his face. Once off the plane and through passport control where my son and his new friend were comparing Passport pics we got through to baggage reclaim and waited for our bags, we had been there about 2mins when my mum turned up with Bothwell her Dalmatian dog, now he is a friendly dog and won't say boo to a goose but he will jump up and try and say hello and with not being a small dog can take the wind out of you and make you unsteady on your feet, which is fine as he calms down after you say hello. Whilst still waiting for the suitcase my son is playing with my friend and mum has started talking to some people who have seen bothwell and want to talk all about dogs etc, so I take a step back and mind my own business. Once our suitcase is collected we head to the car and get in start the drive back to my mums, its about 9pm UK time and about 1hr after what would be my sons bedtime but he is still pumped from the flight and is talking all the way. We get to my mums about 10/half 10 UK time and the house in the dark looks foreboding.

We are given a quick tour which I will put down here next time.

Viva La France

Tomorrow me and my son will be on a plane to France to see my mum.

Its our first time away as just me and him and i can't wait. We will have some proper bonding time and no agro from the ex. This will also be the first time that she has been away from him for a long length of time, i hope she doesn't miss him to much but at least it will give her some well earned quality time to herself. I think she needs this more than i need to see my mum as recently her temper seems quick to fuse.

We seem to have been getting on better since we decided to split, except on Saturday when I made a big boo. This is a story in itself so will get that up when I get back.

I have been texting and emailing my mum and have been told that the weather is better than the UK at the mo and after having a look at weather reports the coldest day should be about 25c and the hottest about 33c, I can't wait.

This will be my sons first trip on a plane and I hope that he doesn't get to scared but at least I will be there to hold his hand an comfort him. I am not enjoying the wait at the airport as there is never much for kids to do but we should be fine.

I will be taking my camera with me (as long as i can find it in time and have charged the batteries for it. I will post what I can up here, even if it does take some time.

I will coming back on the 31st July so will try and update the 1st August.

Reason for the move together

I have been trying for ages to get whats in my head down here but it is harder that I thought.

The gf and me are splitting up because what we had is no longer there even though we do try also we have figured out that we are two very different people and it has come to the time where we just can't go on like we are now.

As readers of this blog you will be already aware of the ups and downs we have had and being bias I have probably put more of the bad times down as it has been a release to me. We have had great times but it always seem so much hard work to get there or we have got there through the end of a bad time and have not kept the good time going falling back in to the badness.

On Wednesday night when I tried to cuddle her and she turned round and said "We are splitting up, I can't do this to us anymore" I was first partly upset but then it felt like a burden had been lifted. We briefly discussed moving on etc but it was late so we went to sleep.

The next morning things seemed the same but they weren't and we knew it. We talked on the phone once I was at work and discussed what we should do next. I thought about me getting my place and having my bachelor pad and all the good times were coming, but then I thought deeper. I wanted a place so that my son could have a garden to run around in, I want to see him when ever I wanted but without him having to be passed from post to post. I don't want the ex-gf to have to find a tacky/hovel of a place to live in that she could barely afford, with no garden etc for my son. So I decided that we should all move to the new house, even though it is renting, as this was we all get what we want and need.

We are not splitting up because of anything bad, ie there is no infidelity. We still get along like friends and we get to see our son anytime we want.

The house is three bed roomed, garden, lounge, separate dinning room. So there is plenty of space for us all.

We will share the lounge, dinning room, kitchen, bathroom and my son and ex-gf will have their room each on the first floor and I will have the spare room on the top floor. I know this seems strange and I haven't actually heard of anyone else doing it, but hey why not try something new, it might catch on.

I do have my reservations about this working, like, what happens if we start dating people, do we bring them back or not, will I/she get jealous of the partner. What happens if one of us wants to move out. Will this effect my son in anyway???

I have already mentioned the no strangers rule to the ex-gf and I know they count to be as well, when I mean no strangers I mean no one night stands, I don't need my son to get confused with the comings and goings of strange men and women in the house.

What I do know is that it will be strange to begin with but I think i will be able to cope with it, it means i get more free time to mess around with my games consoles and watch what I want to watch for a change on TV.

Well my fingers are crossed for this to work as if finding a place hasn't been hard enough already

Previous Post

I'm not sure if I have explained the previous post but still not sure how to at the moment.

Well I had a good weekend.

Thursday night was spent at the races as a it was for a friends birthday. It is the first time I have walked away from the races semi sober. I broke roughly even with my bets so we went to the pub afterwards.

Now this is the first time I have been in to a proper pub since the ban and it was strange seeing everyone outside and about three people in, but once the initial shock was over I went out and joined them.

Friday was spent at work then as I had managed to leave a bit earlier i went in to town with my son and his mum. Now my son will run anywhere and everywhere, except roads, but soon as we are in town "Dad my legs are tired" "they weren't when you were chasing the pigeons" "please"
and that's when I give up and plant him on my shoulders which is fine for the first 10 mins but afterwards he starts to get heavy, but will he get down, no way.

Friday evening I spent in doors, after putting the little man to bed I faffed abit then ended up watching with the (now do I put ex, my son's mum, the gf)I got News for you with the guest presenters we had a laugh watching it then went to be afters.

Saturday was spent in town as the was Charivari Day which is the carnival but without the floats, the procession was alive with colour and sounds and I have to admit this is the first time I have ever seen it. Once we watched that we all went down to the beach front (my son, ex-gf, her mum and step dad and the my sons uncle and aunt), we went down to watch the raft race but we missed it, by about 5 hrs, nothing like being on time. My son had a great time though going on the bouncy castles and the spinning tea cups.

We all went back to the ex-gf parents for a barbecue which for some reason I am attracted to like a moth and end up cooking the food, I don't mind as i get the warm spot but the constant, is anything ready yet, whats ready now, drive ms mad, so I tell them it's all ready if you want food poisoning, Silence. Whilst waiting for the bbq to be lit and seeing as we didn't have any firelighters I said I would take a walk to the shop and that I would pop in to the off licence to grab a beer or two, the ex-gf pipes up and has a moan saying now that she won't be able to go out and will have to stay in because I will just get drunk etc, well to me I didn't think she was going out as in the morning she had had a text from her friend saying that she was in bed feeling ill and i had seen the ex-gf on the phone quite a bit so I am guessing she was putting pressure on her friend to go out, so anyway I leave and pop to the shops and when I get back she then moans that I didn't get her anything to which I replied that she hadn't told me what she wanted. So that started a small row. Once we had finished she suddenly says, right I'm off and off she goes to get ready to go out.

Sunday was spent relaxing a bit and doing odds and sods.

I forgot to add.

Last night we had a wonderful lighting storm where we live. It passed over the house around 9pm, it started out over the sea then rolled over head towards the hills, there was no/little thunder, but the way the lightning lit up the sky was amazing.

Looking out from the spare room you could see the clouds being lit up, then a couple of forks would come out of the clouds which looked amazing, then you could see the forks in the clouds darting from one to another. I wish I had a decent camera to have taken some pics of vids, will have to charge up my camcorder of the next time.

The Right Thing?????

Wednesday night we realised that it wasn't going to work between us any more, we know that we still love each other but we have been living together more like friends than a happy couple.



So what we have decided to do is move in to the new house and live as housemates.

There are a number of reasons for this.

1 We still get on with each other and love each other.
2 We get to live in a nice house that has everything we need and for our son.
3 I still get to see my son
4 We are near enough already doing our own thing


There are other reasons which I may come back and add to the list.

I am not sure how this will plan out but why not give it a try

What a Weekend

The week wasn't to bad, just the usual work stuff and home life bits going on but then we get to Friday

Friday started of like any other day, waking up, sorting bits and pieces out then off to work.

Once work was finished it was out team building/interdepartmental sports day.

Basically it is our department versus another department at work and the were various activities to choose from, you didn't have to do it but why not. So I had put myself down for football, the team we were playing haven't been beaten by our department since it started, which I think is about 3/4 years now. So the team started as was a sub (best place to be at the beginning i think) and we played well for the first 15 mins scoring 2 goals but then they scored a fluky one, I was then called on to the team and in the first half I think I got a touch of the ball twice. We then went in to the second half and they tried hard but we managed to hold them back and we managed to win, I even got a small trophy for my hard work.



After the footie had finished it was time for a beer so we sat in smokers corner away from everyone else and had a couple of beers and some laughs at the girl running away from the wasp. We all left about 3ish and headed home, when I got in I could feel my face burning and when I looked, yup bright red face and red arms, oh well.



Saturday started with looking at a house to rent which I think we are going to go for, it is in a street that I lived in for a few years as a child so I know the area is ok. We then went to town afterwards as we had to sort out a couple of bits before we were out that night. It was another wedding reception and this wasn't the best one that I have been to this year, there was only a DJ no live band, no smoking (yes I know that it has been banned now, but still a shock as this was the first time I have been out since the ban) and the people that I went with including the gf didn't really want to be there which always put dampener on events. We had been out for a meal first which was nice but once again filled the belly up so was feeling a little bloated afterwards.



After the reception had finished I went to one of the nightclubs with one of the chaps that were at the reception, the first shock was getting a wristband because I was a smoker and I could then leave and enter club when I want to smoke. So we were having a few beers and watching the women when I smelt this awful BO smell and I am afraid to stay that it was coming from a girl that had walked past, see this is why smoking shouldn't be banned as it covers all smells. Whilst standing outside having a smoke someone from another club popped down handing out a flyer which was for free entry and a free drink and seeing as we had on our wristbands we made our way to the next club, showed our tickets and wandered up the stairs to the bar and fought back the crowds to get to the bar, ok fight our way is a bit harsh, we strolled to the bar as all the 5 people in the club were on the dance floor. Seeing as there wasn't much to do or see we went back to the first club.

We did decide to move on to another club but by the time we had decided that it was half 1 so we stayed, I did meet a couple of friends from school and they said I hadn't changed a bit and recognized me straight away and did I recognize them, I politely said Yes of course I do, you have hardly changed, then the memory kicked in and they may now have bigger boobs and a bit more of a trunk than before but the faces matched the ones that I knew. So we had a little catch up and then I went wandering again. By the time I had my full of beer, spirits and alcopops I decided to catch a cab, I went to the second taxi in the queue as it is a company I always use but he said I had to take the one in front, so instead of doing that i decided to cut my nose of to spite my face and walked home, it wasn't a bad walk in the end.

Sunday was the best day of the weekend, even with the recovering that was needed as for me it was Metallica Day and I was off to Wembley to see them with the gf's brother (must remember to get the ticket money from him and also next time to see if he can get any of the beers in).

We left about half 12 and normally the journey should take about 2 hours, three hours later and three wrong turns we find the hotel, I am very tired by now and lie down on the bed once checked in but I know that if I close my eyes that will be it, I will either not wake up will Monday morning or I will wake up feeling so grotty and moody I won't enjoy myself, so the only option is to go downstairs and get a beer and it helps a little so I decide a couple more will make me feel even better. It was not getting on a bit and we decided that it would be better to get some food before we go knowing that it would be expensive in the Stadium and crappy so we popped along to the takeaway next door and got a Curry which wasn't bad. All fed and watered we decided to make our way and once again we took the wrong turn, but back on track we got to the concert with about half hour before Metallica came on, we missed the line up bands but that didn't matter. Once in we found our seats and you guessed it, it was time for some more beer. The concert started at 7.45 ish and i had heard about them playing at live earth the day before and some were saying they were not as good as they can be, have they lost it and i also heard that the BBC didn't even show the whole set that they played, pigs. But anyway from the first note to the last note of the evening it was amazing, normally when i see a band live there will be one song I want to hear and I have never been let down and when they played Enter Sandman I got shivers down my spine, the whole crowd joined in and is was the best feeling ever. Metallica loved the crowd and even made me smile with some of the stuff they came out with, this is the second time I have seen them live and I have to say this was better than their first one I saw, why I don't know. Second best concert I have seen live, the first was Pink Floyd.

Monday was spent recovering.

Way back When

After reading a story on a Miss Understood's blog about her mum it brought up a memory about my mum I have hidden away.

The story happens in December when my brother was at primary school and doing his first Nativity play. (This is about 10-12 years ago). We were at home making sure my brother had everything that he needed for his wise man costume (how he ever got a wise part i never know), everyone is rushing about as we don't want to be late and with my mum in charge we normally are. So we all get in the car my dads driving and we make our way to where we have to park and as it was in a little village the local farmer has opened up his yard as a car park and for free, as we are running a bit late my mum decides to quick march ahead of us telling us to hurry up. Being the family that we are we follow behind knowing we had a little time before panic should set in, my mum is in front, followed by me about 10 steps behind then my dad and brother following me, I can see where we are supposed to be going but my mum is veering off to the right telling us to hurry up, I see her turn her head and before I can shout anything she has disappeared, all we hear is this almighty 'SPLASH', in her haste and slight night blindness she has completely taken the wrong direction and headed straight for the farmers pond, she appears back up facing us and there is duck weed in her hair hanging off her jacket and she is just dripping wet. I move forward to grab her and and she safely walks back on to hard group, I try to say something but just can't help laughing, she has this very stern look on her face, which I understand as "Just shut up and don't say a word" but I can't stop nor can my dad and brother behind me, after we have calmed down she takes the keys from my dad and calmly says "I will be back shortly, I'm going to get changed", we are still biting our lips except my dad and in his serious voice "Please use my jacket to sit on on your way back, I don't want a wet seat", she turns in huff and goes to the car.

So we make our way to the church and when we get in there is the hustle and bustle of a primary school play and a couple of the mums come up to my dad and ask where my mum is and us being us look at each other decide that lying in church is not a good idea so we happily tell the truth. I'm not sure whether my mum made it to the play maybe I was still laughing to much on the inside. When the play has finished we go out to find the car and my dad gets in to the seat and his first words were "I thought I told you to put the jacket on the seat", to which my mum replies "Well you can sit on it now can't you", bless if only she realised that the seat will now be wet for a few days now.

After a couple of days my mum when at home mentions that she has spoken to the farmer, on one of her horse rides and he had thought that it had been a fox that had landed in it.

This was the Moon I mentioned

I took the pic using my camera phone