Prepared for the weather ... Wednesday 30th Oct

For some reason I have yet to fathom, it has now become a daily ritual for me to watch the BBC weather at 7.45am each morning. I put the TV on whilst washing up the breakfast dishes, (sausage sandwiches for the teenagers today,) then go through when I’m done. I rewind the news programme and watch Carol, well it’s usually Carol on the BBC, with the forecast. My concern for the weather is mostly a mixture of, whether the kids need coats for school, whether there is any point in hanging out the washing to dry, and whether I’m going to get wet walking to the library, or delivering the papers. I know weather forecasting is not an exact science. It is a forecast after all, but its funny how as a house husband at this time of year I’m more concerned about it. In the summer, by and large the kids don’t need a coat, whereas in winter they do. But autumn and spring are the, your guess is as good as mine months, when it comes to the weather. At the moment I’m just relying on the fact that Carol’s guess is better than mine.

Today I manage to get the papers done ahead of the forecast rain, and even the washing got dried outside. So a big win for this morning’s forecast. I even get the ironing done late afternoon.  For tea we’d been invited to the outlaws and very nice it was too. Homemade steak pie followed by homemade apple pie, you really can taste the difference when someone has made the effort and done it themselves. It even got me out of tidying up afterwards. All in all, quite a successful day.

Yours riding the forecast.

Jay

Style over Substance ... Tuesday 29th Oct

You know how some days you get to the end of them and you wonder “what did I actually do today?” Well today was one of those for me. I hadn’t been bored, or looking for anything to pass the time, but at the same time nothing memorable had happened. A bit of ironing, made breakfast and tea, tidied up, the usual in other words. Well one thing did happen, now I come to think of it, but that was more the eldest than me.

I spent the morning down at the library, during which I popped out to the shops. Well actually to only one shop, the cobblers. To see the man who repairs our shoes. The eldest’s heel had fallen off her school shoe, but being flats she has no idea it had gone missing. Apparently, the replacements come in two’s, and as the other one looks to be on the way off as well, both needed replacing. That’s another £7.50 we weren’t expecting to spend. To be fair the shoes were from Clark’s, and so you would hope they’d last, but no. The cobblers comment was, “poorly manufactured.” This was disappointing as you would expect better, but the eldest’s footwear is a continuous drain on our resources. Being a teenage girl they have to look right first. Functionality is someway down the priority list. If it was up to me she’d wear Dr Marten shoes, at least I know they’d last a school year. The youngest on the other hand doesn’t really care what he wears on his feet, and he treats them that way as well!

The good thing that happened today was the eldest got her first university offer, with which she was very pleased. Someone wants her, which is always nice. We await the rest.

Yours lamenting teenage footwear.

Jay

 

 

Forward planning ... Monday 28th Oct

The teenagers are back to school today and being Monday it means Mrs P and I are off to the supermarket. Because we’re in early it means we get around quite quickly, we also pop into the cheaper supermarkets next door for a couple of staples. It seems to reflect the changing face of shopping. Where once we got everything in the same place which was convenient, now with the family budget being squeezed we shop around, and strategically the lower cost supermarkets have opened up next door to the traditional brands. It’s still convenient shopping, but it’s also slightly cheaper.

After helping Mrs P with the housework, we take the opportunity in the afternoon to go out for a coffee. We decide to try somewhere new and end up in a pub-cum-restaurant down by the side of the river. The drinks are good. Whilst the view where we can see the river is nice, unfortunately in this case our view is mostly of a derelict yard undergoing demolition. Coming out of the house gives Mrs P and me a chance to talk to each other without distractions. Today’s topics are the eldest’s 18^th birthday and Christmas, the two coming right next to each other. I am very much of the kick Christmas back into December frame of mind, but Mrs P likes to plan well in advance, and so that is what we do.

In the evening I have my weekly football run out. I know I should be getting better at it, but I’m not. Still at least I show willing, and it could be argued its exercise for me. Something that is probably useful at my age.

Yours not forward planning.

Jay

Loving those leaves ... Friday 25th Oct

A quiet day at home today as the teenagers seem happy to be in. To be fair the weather isn’t great, and they both get on with some homework which is to be encouraged. In an effort to be useful I decide to clear the garden. Whilst I enjoyed walking through the leaves in the woods yesterday, I’m not quite as keen when the leaves are all around the house and on the lawn.

After sweeping the leaves up from around the house I rake the rest off the lawn. The problem is as soon as I get finished the wind blows and the next lot come down. At this time of year it’s a vicious circle. I finish outside by completing weeding the flower beds, and I hope that is the garden put to bed until the spring. Apart that is, from sweeping leaves of course.

I take a walk with the eldest in the evening to blow out some more cobwebs. There are no school holidays in November, and so the teenagers will be in school now until Christmas. I think this school year that November and March may be the only two months that there are no holidays. So its eight dark weeks of school to look forward to, with the clocks going back this weekend.

Yours needing some sun.

Jay

A happy dad ... Thursday 24th Oct

Mrs P has gone back to work today which leaves me and the teenagers at home together. We have a slow start to the day - them not me that is - given it’s difficult to get a teenager out of bed in the morning unless they have to be up. To be honest it’s as hard to get them out of bed in the morning as it is to get them to go to bed at night. What Mrs P and I have found for most of this holiday week, is that our light goes out before theirs do every night.

Late morning the weather is brighter and they agree to go out for some fresh air with me. We park down by the river and walk through the local woods down there. Being autumn it’s a riot of colour, though mostly shades of brown and red, as the leaves turn and fall. The crunch and sound of leaves beneath our feet is invigorating as we walk this way and that. Our game of I-Spy is a bit limited, given all we can see are trees and leaves, but we try our best. I’m glad the teenagers are happy and willing to be out with me and that we can enjoy each other’s company.

Yours still a very proud dad.

Jay

Failing to declutter ... Wednesday 23rd Oct

The eldest goes out with a friend for the day, and the youngest goes out with his friends to play football. This leaves Mrs P and me at home. Fortunately Mrs P has a plan, which is that we empty the cupboard under the stairs.

Now to be fair to Mrs P it does need doing, and probably gets done every six months. However, what usually happens is we take everything out. Give the cupboard a dust and a vacuum, and then put everything back. Today I decide we need to be a bit more ruthless, and actually get rid of some of the things that have been in there for years, and have never been used. We have three Thermos Flasks, and so I get rid of one. We have three torches, we keep them all. We have a cocktail shaker - never used in nearly ten years – we keep it. A bag of old wallpaper, off-cuts, we keep them. Kids craft kit, we keep it, and so on.

Eventually I find a cut glass dish/bowl we have never used in nearly twenty years. I think “this we can give to a charity shop”, only to be told be Mrs P that it’s a family heirloom! I never knew we had any, and if we have why are they in the cupboard under the stairs. I give up and put nearly everything back in the cupboard, thinking I can try again in six months time.

Yours just moving dust around.

Jay

Family day out ... Tuesday 22nd Oct

Today has been designated as family day-out day in the Perry household. The teenagers have been told/requested to keep it free from social engagements. The weather is pretty awful at the moment, with wind and rain dominating, but the forecast is for an improvement this afternoon.

So after an early lunch we climb into the car and head off to Tatton Park (Cheshire) for some fresh air and culture. Due I suspect to the earlier weather conditions it is not too busy when we get there, and happily for us it is actually quite warm this afternoon. Tatton Park is run by the National Trust, and we decide look to around the house first. The lack of crowds makes it a lovely experience for us, as we can chat and wander at our own pace. From original paintings to rare books, and exotica collected from around the world it is very impressive. The National Trust volunteers are very knowledgeable and friendly, and one even kindly shows us a hall that is closed today. The last Baron Egerton of Tatton was a fascinating man and we can’t help but be impressed by how widely travelled he was for his time (early to mid 1900’s), and how well respected and liked he was by his estate workers and the community. We even have time to do a family quiz as we go around, taking turns to find the clues.

We sit down for a drink outside in a lovely enclosed courtyard cafe and chat happily together, without the teenagers being on their mobile devices. Then its boots on, and off for a walk through the woods which are stunning in the autumn light. The only danger is the risk of chestnuts falling on your head. The deer in the park are sitting quietly with the stags standing looking imperious with their antlers on show. Despite it being rutting season all is quiet in this idyllic spot today.

On the way home we stop off at a pub for something to eat, not somewhere we’ve been before. It’s busy which is usually a good sign, but the service is prompt, and the food good value, especially with the discount voucher I printed off earlier. They even have a decent pint of bitter on for me. It is dark by the time we get home, which is unusual for the Perry family as our track record at staying out for a long time is not great. But today we have had a good family outing, and all enjoyed ourselves together. Happy days, happy memories.

Yours enjoying family time.

Jay