Monday, 19 August 2013

Yes, really

I think I should post a blog entry. It has been rather a while.

What to say? Most importantly the announcement of Miller's arrival into this world. Though there is a chance this may have been mentioned elsewhere. Delighted to be an uncle again, and can't wait to meet him in person at Christmas.

Abduction to Inverurie could be a very real possibility if he has that "baby smell". Which, being a baby is a distinct possibility.

I still smell Luca's hair sometimes, in the hope that delightful calming smell will return. Unfortunately hopes remain forlorn as that smell disappeared around about the time he stopped needing afternoon sleeps. Or "The End Of The World" as my exhausted wife and myself considered it to be at the time. We loved it when he napped. Loved it.

We've just had Mike and Val (nee Grandad Mike and Ninny Nanna) up staying for the last week. And I think Luca nearly ended them. As the summer holidays have progressed he's become ever more of a handful, more excitable and unruly by the day. I think every parent would agree that the summer break is far too long, and kids really miss the structure of school and the mental and physical exertion it brings. Quite why such a lengthy holiday remains in an era where most families include both parents working full time is rather beyond me.

Incidentally, another summer has passed without a trip abroad for us. Indeed, our last sojourn from these shores was the mass Tenerife accompaniment of a few years ago. Costs, time and opportunity seem so short these days. We've even (only today coincidentally) turned down a trip to Italy for a friends wedding. Being 2-3 flights away and expensive, we barely considered it. Or am I making excuses? We quite enjoy our routines here, the horse, running, football, movies, local expeditions with Luca. Lack of opportunity or set in our routines? Perhaps a combination of both.

We have a busy few weeks coming up, with a number of riding events and road races upcoming. I'm actually feeling a little dissatisfied tonight, having discovered I missed a race in Fraserburgh at the weekend where the race winners finish time was 3 minutes slower than a time I'm consistently capable of. Yes, I missed my first (and possibly) last ever opportunity of a winners medal.

My last event was a new experience, a relay race (a 3 x 4km sprint). Obviously a shorter distance than I'm used to these days, it was nevertheless enjoyable to stretch my legs and rid myself of a few cobwebs. We came 5th out of 22 teams too in a high level field, so were naturally quite content with this.

As I remain resolutely the only person on Earth without a Facebook page (the last leather farmer in remotest Ethiopia having finally relented), I'm confident this will be old news but.......Harvey lives. The apparent return of the lesions appears to have abated, and a couple of days off drugs he still remains clear. For how long? Who knows. We accept existing in the here and now. And hey, we live in a world of constant life, death...... and taxes.

With so much more to report, I'm having difficulty deciding on the most relevant. So, as indecisive as I am I'll avoid such consternation tonight and, in future, be a much (MUCH, MUCH) more reliably regular blog contributor.

G'night all. Enjoy the beach pictures below of the Stewart clans now 2nd youngest member.







**Useless fact of the day - Adults have 206 bones. Babies are born with 300 (which fuse during the ageing process)**

No comments: