Edinburgh!

With little time for conjecture or indeed pleasantries, I'll instead dive straight into my account of our "Edinburgh Adventure" last week. With Luca on school holidays I took a week off myself, not realising what I was letting myself in for.........

 

 

This is Stonehaven Train Station at 0730am in the morning. An appallingly early hour to begin our travels, but begin in earnest it did nonetheless.

On the train now. Locomotive travel is a genuine treat for our easily pleased 5 year old.

In Edinburgh now, at the "Butterfly and Inspect World". Thankfully I quickly convinced him that the object of the centre was to view the creepy crawlies and not stamp on them. Though it was a close call.......

Now at Edinburgh's Discovery Centre, a scientific education for the young chap.

It rained A LOT during our visit.

Edinburgh Zoo now, and for Luca the real deal. This is what he'd been anxiously anticipating for weeks, and he almost exploded with excitement as we walked through the gates. I think these are pelicans. I really should have paid greater attention. Let's call them "big birds" just to be safe.

Panda's! We had to queue for nearly half an hour to see the panda's. Rather underwhelmed to be perfectly frank.

For Mum, Dad and Lucy's benefit (Kelly being perhaps a little young to recall), above is our first picture taken in Balerno, where we lived between 1979 and 1983. Or in literal terms 27 years "BL" (Before Luca).

Outside our old house in Cherry Tree Loan now. Luca actually hugged the house! "It grew you Dad!"

Of course he found a poor animal to attach himself to. It's a gift.

Luca atop "Big Rock", where Lucy and I spent many hours, days, years playing. We were easily amused in those days.

Luca took this picture. He's a better photographer than me already.......

In Edinburgh City Centre now. We have many such pictures, as Luca took every opportunity to climb and pose.

Edinburgh Castle now (this is becoming exhausting now). The drop behind this small wall is around 100ft. With my fear of heights I found it almost unbearable every time Luca peered over the edge.

Action pose below the gun turrets!

Crazy mirrors and a hilarity infected child make easy bed fellows.

Edinburgh Museum. 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5.............

And finally the journey home, exhausted. The one and only time during the entire trip he stopped talking. I'm honestly not joking. I wish I was.

**Useless fact of the day - JK Rowling, author of the famous Harry Potter books, wrote her first novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' in a café in Edinburgh**

I commonly look for alternative angles from which to approach each blog post, but more frequently the entries are becoming more formulaic. Granted, part of the fault lies with my ever diminishing grey matter (what's my name again?) but Luca's preferences are also a cause. Why? Because his fascination with Scotland's national sport has reached fever pitch.

Is he improving however? Slowly. He suffers from the same unfortunate lack of balance as his Dad, and hasn't grown much of late either - he's now one of the smaller boys in his year at school. However, at least now he is one of the elder members of his current Saturday coaching sessions which is proving beneficial to his confidence.

He does still often compete against older boys however. I've been taking a number of holiday days lately (I'm utterly determined to use my entire years allowance for once) which has allowed me to collect him from school very often. As gratifying as this is, a permanent bruise has now formed on my thigh from his "greetings" - he rather overenthusiastically sprints from the school door to his waiting Dad, and hasn't quite perfected the stopping part yet. His concrete-esque skull seems unaffected by it's contact with my upper leg, but I'm having to work hard to stay on my feet and suppress my "Oooofff" noise as he pummels into me. He may still be small, but is becoming more powerful by the day.

I digressed again didn't I? The point I was going to make was that on each day I pick him up he begs for a game of football in the park before we go anywhere else. No problem there, but as my appearances in the schoolyard become more common, as has the begging of other boys from various years to their parents/guardians to follow us to the park and join in our footy related shenanigans.

Luca, of course, prefers the rare occasions when it's just he and I, but has shown diligence when playing against boys 2/3/4 years older than him, and (so far) has only flounced off in frustration once. He's very quick which is to his advantage, but we're still working on the bravery. Will that come? I have my doubts (he is the worlds most "careful" child) but hope springs eternal.

Perhaps, however, the beatings he's receiving at school will toughen him up. Yes, he's had a couple so far. A common "game" that seems to be becoming more frequent is play fights, where his "gang" take on other gangs. Worryingly, it seems to be older kids they're taking on, and Luca has been sent to the headmaster once so far for walloping one of them. Because of his lack of size it appears he ends on the ground more often than most, yet keeps coming back for more.

I am suspecting this aspect of his personality originated more from his Mother than his Father.

On the subject of gangs, one of his closest friends is Sky, who you may recall has been his girlfriend for years. This, however, is now past tense. Luca was dumped a couple of weeks ago. Sky is now Tyler's girlfriend. You may also recall Tyler's name - he's Luca's best friend. It was actually quite sad when he told me on the way to school one morning. I stopped the car to give him my attention, and at the end he muttered "I don't know what to do" and lent his head against my own. One day they'll write an opera based on his tragic story.

Some pictures would be good now wouldn't they?

Chocolate ice cream. I'm quite unsure as to how he's procured this without the intervention of a hungry Dad (perhaps my absence from this trip played a part). Carole emailed this to me on the insistence I add it to the blog simply to make Liz jealous that the chocolatey goodness was being consumed by her grandson rather than herself. There's a look of torment on his face in this picture too, so perhaps he was already aware of the pictures future teasing purpose.

"Luca, who's your favourite - Mummy or Daddy?" "Yoda!!!" His love for that poor little dog really does grow by the day.

The finish line of my recent 10K. More amusing would have been a picture taken once I'd stopped. I was so dehydrated by the boiling hot day (combined with the fact I had never ran that distance in my entire life - not even on a training run!) that I contradictorily couldn't find a way to get any fluid down my throat. I've rarely been that knackered in my whole life, but it's a wholly satisfactory experience. I returned to a shorter race on Saturday (a 5K) in which I finished 10th out of around 200 runners which was highly surprising to say the least. The standard of the runners that day was poor and the race was slow, but I do admit to feeling a little proud of myself for that one. Next up is another upcoming 10K, followed by a 3K competitive sprint against a "friend", who is an extremely quick and experienced runner. My dodgy knee (as you'll see in the picture above is strapped up as always) is already gulping in fear.

This is better, back to Luca again, albeit accompanied by a horses a*se (no obvious jokes please). He's really enjoying his farm visits with his Mum, and with there being other children his age commonly in attendance the benefits are clear. Mum and son really, really stink on their returns however. I almost wish Carole would take up smoking again to mask the smells somewhat. Almost.

Almost as large as Harvey is the latest love of his life, big Lion. Purchased by friends for Luca online for (allegedly) a mere £4. Pound for pound you won't find better value than that - other than the cheap, raggedy Tessy Bear he's had since the day he was born and still carries everywhere in the house. It's now so worn that it can't have more than a few more months before it finally disintegrates. It will be a genuinely downbeat day when the inevitable occurs.

**Useless fact of the day - On top of the physical challenges during Lucy/Scott/Kelly/Chris' visit next Christmas there will now also be an event day at Lochters - see link for the events (http://www.lochter.co.uk/page.cfm?main_ID=2), and may the the most competitive Scot/Englishwoman/American/Aussie win!**

If it tastes good don't eat it

A brief entry tonight, as my legs continue their recovery from their first 10K run on Saturday. I say run, but it was more of an amble. And I say recover, but I'm actually completely fine. I like to pretend I need time to recover as it gives me the excuse to sit on my backside, watch TV and eat Smarties Ice Cream. Self delusion, where would we be without it.

 

Of course, not all types of kidology are delusional. For example, where would we be without the wide eyed excitement of a 5-year-old? Pictured above, Luca adoringly hangs onto the arm of a robot at one of the science exhibitions held in Aberdeen this past weekend. This Robbie-The-Robot-alike was functional and intriguingly operated by remote control by a chap in Yorkshire. The latter information remains a mystery to young Luca however, who is convinced he conversed and played with a real life robot. I will never quash his glorious fantasy.

The (very young) staff were all REALLY good, incredibly lively and helpful, completely dispelling the myth of sulky teenagers. The Daily Mails reactionary stance has a lot to answer for. That, and it's innumerable typo's. Honestly. Pick it up in the newsagent tomorrow and have a flick through. It's almost like they're trying to make mistakes.

A rubbish picture granted, but a millisecond before this Luca was encased inside a giant bubble. So if I'd been quicker off the mark you'd be looking at a rubbish picture with the addition of a bit of washing up liquid.

A better image is that of Luca lying exhausted on the grass outside after his football training on Saturday, during which he won "King of the Ring" for the first time. This competition, entirely unrelated to a similarly named game commonly played in Manchester's Canal Street, involves every player (usually 12-14 of them) entering a circled enclosure in the sports hall. Each player is given a ball and has to dribble, defend and shield his ball while simultaneously kicking his opponents out of the enclosure. An excitable Luca then took the confidence gained from this victory into the actual match at the end of the training session, and produced his most dominant performance in some time. A clever dribble and goal by our scruffy rapscallion won the game for his team (1-0), and he almost topped it with a rasping shot just before the final whistle too. "I'm so getting a bag of sweeties now Dad, aren't I?" was his chortled question as we walked out together at the sessions end.

To finish tonight we have more pictures of Luca atop Harvey. There will be many more of these to come I feel. Until he falls off. Then Yoda will regain her position as favourite pet.

**Useless fact of the day - The common horses ancestor was called a Hyracothrium. Curiously, it had toes**

Luca's retirement party

Referring to the title of the post, it may well be closer than jested if I don't publish this latest entry soon. I don't know why I've struggled so much in my attempts to keep this web log updated over past 6 months. The old work/life balance is a struggle, granted, but when is it not? I'll mark my own report card "Must Do Better"

 

 

 

Yesterday, at Duthie Park, Aberdeen. He'd never set foot in a boat until now, having previously only eyed everything from canoes to full blown vessels with fascination and awe - from afar. I'm not sure what bolstered his courage, but quickly removed the fiver from my wallet (£5! Bah humbug) and sat our be-helmeted hero at the boats bow. "Faster Dad!" he squealed as I sweatily powered the oars through the lake, through circuit after circuit after circuit. Little *******.

 

Of course, no weekend would be complete without me being called into the office. Our on-call facility is seemingly determined not to let me reduce this stress knot in my neck. Luca, however, loves the experience curiously, and sees is as a treat to visit Dad's office. I took him into our warehouse before he left which left him even more giddy. X-Ray machines and forklift trucks - what more does a 5 year old boy want?

 

Before work called we'd also visited the cinema (Tintin - not bad) and the Maritime Museum too. amongst the many naval/oil wares Luca somehow located a pirate hat. Photo opportunity ahoy indeed.

Thankfully my hangover from 2 days previously had pretty much dissipated before the "Luca And Dad Day of Chaos". I'd enjoyed one of my ever more rare excursions into Aberdeen for a Friday night out with a couple of chums, primarily to see The Charlatans play the Music Hall. However, the evening turned into such a hoot we ended up turning up late for the gig. So late in fact the final song of the encore was already underway! Best value ever. No regrets.

Forest walks have been the activity of choice for our intrepid shorts-wearer over the summer months. Squint and you'll see Luca, Isis and Yoda scarper ahead. Every time I took out the camera he took off.

 

The Scottish Road Runner. You could hear his squeals for miles after I took off after him, Wile-E-Coyote style, seconds after this picture was taken.

 

Another weekend, enjoying a healthy lunch. I haven't told him what's in a hot dog yet. I'm not sure I should.

 

You spot a digger, and Luca will pose.

 

Funfair again. "I bet you're more scared than me Dad!". I bet you're right son.....

 

Lower league football, and a rare weekend away from Luca. This was Forfar Athletic V Partick Thistle. The mighty Jags are currently on an 8 game wining streak. I'm actually giddy.

 

Nottingham, a few weeks ago. Cousin Max and Luca are permanently attached when they're together.

Not a photo the Armstrongs will treasure I feel.......

The best bit of our recent visit to Nottingham/Lincoln. Mike and I visited Nottingham Forests City Ground to watch Mexico and Japan's Olympic football teams square off in a pre-tournament friendly. Mexico went on to win the Olympic gold, while Japan reached the semi's. An inarguably worthwhile trip. The local pub, naturally, wasn't too shabby either.

**Useless fact of the day - Mexico are ranked 18th in FIFA's current ranking system**

I've been reading Duff Mckagan's (erstwhile Guns 'N' Roses guitarist) autobiography of late, and while the opening half of the book was choc-full of so many of the debauched rock n' roll incidents you read such prose for, the latter half has degenerated into the account of his "middle years". No longer is he snorting cocaine off a transvestites ankle atop the Eiffel Tower, in it's place is pages (and pages and pages) of endless details of his family life, and how beautiful his kids are. I think I'm finished with this book now. The irony of this is that with my attention no longer diverted, instead I can devote a little time to regaling you with boring stories of my family. Aren't you lucky? Here we go.

Handwriting - what a fascinating place to start. Tracking Luca's improvement over the space of a week, he began on the right hand side and ended the week on the left. What an improvement. His writing is already more legible than my own. I'm not kidding. Even doctor's can't understand my scribbles.

He's not dancing here, although it's a jaunty pose to be sure. This is at Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen's city centre, taken on one of our sojourn's while his Mum was at Boot Camp. We were playing football surrounded my some of the oddest student's you've ever witnessed. Ripped tights, half shaved heads, jugglers (yes really). Luca, of course, decided to play "passies" with almost every one of them. I wasn't embarrassed at all. Not even slightly, not even when I hid under a tree.

Two seconds after this picture he booted the ball into that group of students. This was when I hid under the tree.

Probably enough Union Terrace football photo's now? We went to a nearby picture shop to buy pictures for the house once we'd finished our game. That wasn't a very interesting story.

Here he is watching cartoon on my Ipad. This blog is getting better and better.

A cute photo at last. Fire up your Laserjet printers, I expect to see this image framed and up on your wall next time I visit.

Having tea with Granny Jo. I took 6 different pictures of this same scene, and on every one either Mum was smiling, or Luca - never both at the same time. I tossed a coin to decide which smile you'd see. It landed on tails.

Luca clearly horrified with the fact it landed on tails

My finger. Remember my manky nail, the one that went black after trapping it in a door? The nail eventually fell off. Apparently it takes at least 6 months for a nail to grow back, so I now have several months with which to gross Carole out. Not that I needed a missing nail to do that.

Car hunting now. As my embarrassment levels can no longer withstand driving an old lady's car (my Yaris) the time has come to trade in and buy a new car. Luca proceeded to poke this Landrover Freelander continually with a stick, purely to show his disdain for it's mundane colour. I let a 5 year old make far too many decisions for me.

THIS is the one you want Dad. I don't think we could get parked at the cinema though. Unfortunately.

Rather a sense of deja vu now.

At the funfair now, this is Luca in the hurricane machine with Julie, my cousin Kieran's partner. I always find it odd calling him my cousin due to the age gap. Even disregarding age, I act old. I don't know why. I'll blame my knees for arguments sake. Luca was a bit wary at first (he'd only ever met them once, they live in the Glasgow area) but was gutted when they left. 

I'm sure Luca's stone moved. Granda, however, has not stood upright since.