New faces and the spectacles to see them with

My fingernail is about to fall off. I trapped it in a magnetised door some weeks ago and despite various treatments it's now black, gnarly and resembles the onset of a zombie plague.

Luca's fingers seem strong nonetheless, and he's pictured above on the roller coaster at Aberdeen Funfair. A typically Scottish fairground scene, wrapped in seventeen coats and assorted head wear, pretending to enjoy the fun parks wares while secretly wishing the tips of your toes would register any sensation, simply to prove they're still there and that frostbite hasn't taken over.

He's getting too big for the little kids rides isn't he?

The waltzers next. I thought it was a great idea to take photo's mid spin. Of course, I also once thought it a good idea to shave my feet. My socks itched at me for months.

Here's Ben and Elle, our recent visitors for a weeks holiday, both resplendently soaked after the log flume ride. 20 and 19 respectively they may be, but both attacked the funfair with more gusto than little 5 year old Luca. Oh to be young.

Another ride. I was, admittedly, losing the will by this juncture.

The opticians. Luca's first ever eye test, most notable not for the fact that Luca was demonstrated to have slightly short sight (-0.5) but for the fact he is remarkably incapable of sitting still longer than a single flap of a bats wing. The optician is to be commended for his patience, particularly during the period where Luca decided to judder his entire body while his eyes were inspected, for no other reason than "it makes me feel funny".

And above with his first pair of glasses. These are a free set, as it was explained to me that at his age carefulness doesn't tend to be paramount while diving across sofa's, bottom bumping down stairs or playing bullfights with their friends. To be honest I don't see them getting a great deal of wear due to the very minor imperfection in his vision, but his next inspection (in 12 months time) will tell much.

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What of his parents? Carole is currently enjoying the purchases of her "Clarice Cliff" crockery. I'm unsure, however, whether it's the designs she most appreciates, or the instantaneous shade of white her husband turns every time she tells him the price paid.

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She's also handed her gym notice in too, in a surprising turn of events. Bannatynes has been a refuge for her since returning following Luca's birth, both for exercise and social reasons. However, such is the current social schedule that managing time is becoming ever more of a challenge. The exercise aspect will be replaced however - she's joining a running club in Inverurie instead. I may have to watch my back on our next charity run.

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However, a conundrum, as one of life's many obstacles has stuck two fingers up at me. It turns out the date of our next race (13th May) coincides with the "Firhill Fun Day", where again I'm due to play 11 a side football on Partick Thistle's (in)famous pitch. What to do?

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For anyone keen to hear of more of Luca's goalscoring exploits, you'll be left temporarily disappointed. The football training is currently on an Easter related hiatus, and even the Dad and Son kick abouts have been rare, primarily due to Inverurie's weather reverting to norm. The God's have obviously decided the 3 days worth of sun we received recently will suffice for several more decades, to be replaced by the joyously driving rain again. Happy days.

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**Useless fact of the day - In Far Eastern countries such as Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, 90 per cent of young people are short-sighted, compared with 15 to 30 per cent in Europe and the US**