Whoosh

As yet another evening seems to have disappeared I am lead to wonder if I simply need a better grasp of time or actually of reality in general.

Sleepy

Can anyone explain to me how a childs sleep patterns are dictated by weekdays vs weekends? I had to get up early on Saturday, around 0630hrs. I wasn't fully out of the bedroom when there was my daughter standing in front of me. She was awake and refused to go back to bed. I had to leave her playing on her computer rather than disturb mummy. Fast forward 48 hours. I get up at 0700hrs. I move around, I bang doors, I shout. By 0715 she still hasn't stirred out of her bed. When she does come down she can hardly see her way because her eyes are still closed. I can't get a word out of her because she is so tired. How does that happen? What is it in the air of weekends that make them get up?

Silence Please

We just watched "The Secret of Moonacre". Now, I would not actually recommend that you went and got it unless you have a 7 year old daughter but it had its remarkably perceptive moments. Such as when one character observes "suddenly seems .... very quiet" for another to reply "that would be the absence of the ladies then sir!"

Listen Up

It's no wonder I am not blogging as much, that there is a dearth of information here. For I have been seduced. Now, before you all run around spreading rumours, it is not quite as you may think. You see, I used to be a sensible boy. And every morning driving in to work, every evening returning home, I would listen to Radio 4. I was being educated. I was finding out about the world (well, and the Archers, but the principle holds true). But now, oh dear. Seduced I tell you. As my new car, my wonderful new car - did I tel you I have an Audi A5, oh, I did, OK on with the tale then - my car has a DAB radio. And no more do I listen to Radio 4. No, Absolute Radio has taken over, won a place in my world. I keep meaning to go back. My hand hovers on the dial (well the steering wheel controls anyway) but then something happens and I hesitate. And in the hesitation I am lost once again.

En Garde

I bought Wii Sports Resort the other day. Thought it might be fun. And it is. But the SwordPlay mode is almost addictive. As well as being excellent exercise! I've worked up as much as a sweat as I get in the gym. Three different variations on sword fights. The first is very reminiscent of Gladiators, for those of you who can remember the giant cotton buds that they used to hit each other with. In this case you have a sword and you are trying to push your opponent off the podium in to the sea. Then a variation which is about speed. Objects are dropped in front of you (giant sushi, logs, hard boiled eggs etc) and you ahve to cut them in the direction indicated. Then the final version is you against on-coming hordes and you have to battle your way across the bridge, along the beach etc. And all very samurai with music to suit. Wonderful.

Pedal Power

Part of our new found love of bikes was to start biking to rugby matches. There have been two home matches that we have been able to attend since this decision. Both we biked to. And for both the heavens decided to open and absolutely pour on us. What was probably even more galling today was that at half time it stopped raining. There was even blue sky. And it stayed that way until the final whistle. In fact until we walked out from the stadium. And then it started raining again. Not only raining but winds that could blow you off your bike. Can't say that "A" really enjoyed the ride back. But all credit to her she stuck it out. And I had to feel sorry for her, so cold.

Plus, it was all worth it. The Saints were playing the Saracens. The Saracens had a 100% unbeaten record. Until today that is when we hammered them!

Big Bang Theory

We went to watch some fireworks tonight. As many have. My daughter, all of 7 years old, is quite happy with the loud fireworks. Possibly, like me, she feels the louder the better. And there were some good, loud ones. Then one went off that was pretty, very pretty, but also quiet. And this voice floats up from my daughter, in an inredibly serious tone, "well that was never going to be good in my opinion".

Ball in

Midweek on Radio 4 this morning had Lawrence Dallaglio as a guest. During the trailer earlier in the morning Libby Purves wanted to wrap up the sound bite with a funny comment, as the presenters often do. I wonder if she really thought it through though, when she made a reference to it being a scrum and that she wanted "to be the hooker".

Cheese

I cannot believe that it is Wallace and Gromit 20th anniversary. I feel old all of a sudden.

Take This Sabbath Day

Should you find that the world, and whatever God you believe in, isn't listening to you then remember this parable from The West Wing:

You remind me of the man that lived by the river. He heard a radio report that the river was going to rush up and flood the town, and that the all the residents should evacuate their homes. But the man said, "I'm religious. I pray. God loves me. God will save me." The waters rose up. A guy in a rowboat came along and he shouted, "Hey, hey you, you in there. The town is flooding. Let me take you to safety." But the man shouted back, "I'm religious. I pray. God loves me. God will save me." A helicopter was hovering overhead and a guy with a megaphone shouted, "Hey you, you down there. The town is flooding. Let me drop this ladder and I'll take you to safety." But the man shouted back that he was religious, that he prayed, that God loved him and that God will take him to safety. Well... the man drowned. And standing at the gates of St. Peter he demanded an audience with God. "Lord," he said, "I'm a religious man, I pray, I thought you loved me. Why did this happen?" God said, "I sent you a radio report, a helicopter and a guy in a rowboat. What the hell are you doing here?"