A time for catching up

Photos above - MC with the girls (yes she is a dwarf) - and Philips with Becca - troughing as normal - Becca that is ...

Well it seems a life time ago that I was just about to swear at the misses for continually phoning me whilst I was at work (although my mobile is set on "stun", it is still potentially a "donutable offence" for your phone to go of in the Control Room). When I finally got out to the back office to answer a call, I held back long enough to recognise the voice as being that of Marie-Clare (MC), who as far as I knew was still in California with Kev (Philips - named after the company he was working for at the time of initial interactions!). MC was spared my, "which bit of, "I'll phone you back when I get a chance" dont you understand" spiel and instead I went for the, "I'll be back as soon as I can as long as no-one pegs it in the next half hour or so" routine instead.
On arrival, the kids were happily playing with MC and Philips, the girls had (presumably) done sufficient non-stop chin wagging to placate themsleves by the time I arrived and it was great to catch up. In fairness they hadn't come over to see us (as if!) but had planned to come over for a wedding of one of Philip's friends, who in true style (having assured everyone it would be going ahead) had been kicked out of home and an engagement ring shoved where the sun doesn't shine. Just to add insult to injury, this "mate" had decided to go away to Spain or somewhere else hot in order to escape (not sure if it was to escape Philips or the devil woman). Who needs friends eh?

We managed to catch up with MC again before she left, thanks guys (is that American enough for you?) for coming to see us.

On Saturday just gone (14th July) we headed down to Plymouth to see my old mate Noel, (who continues to argue that the yobs down his end of things just don't like to be thrown around like they do in Dorset) his good lady Sarah and their ever growing son Teddy/Ted/Edward - depending on how much trouble he is in. Apart from Rebecca being a complete mare for all but the last 20 minutes of the trip (both ways)- and being an hour or so late setting off (no kidding Tamisa was involved!) it was a great day and a much needed catching up opportunity.

After a much needed tea and food opportunity (ies) we headed off to the National Marine Aquarium in the heart of Plymouth to see some bloody great fish in some bloody great tanks, followed by the all important ice cream (now an established part of Alanna's diet). Then back for a lads (and children I conceed) trip to the play park on the grounds that Becca needed some more sleep. after a swift return to get pizza and the kids sorted it was time to head home to the hazy sound of the radio and Becca's screams ... nice. Oh, by the way Noel, well done on getting through the Sergeants boards, I told you Devon and Cornwall could perform miracles.

We had been offered ... and considered an overnighter to allow for copious amounts of alcohol to be consumed (including champers for impending promotion/recent promotion), but boring old me decided to head home on the grounds that I had a TaeKwonDo grading on Sunday morning (yes I've taken it up again). Despite a lack of sleep due to several things, notably a decent film on the box for a change, I went and did my best, spending quite a while stretching my hamstrings to avoid any of them snapping again. It must have gone quite well as the head poncho called me back and said I could jump a few grades if I could do the patterns. I would have taken things more seriously if the instructor hadn't come out a few minutes prior, shouting about keeping the noise down as Master Bate wanted the gradings to be completed in silence ... funny how the child in you is always there when things get serious! My extra stretchy hamstrings are not behaving today and even complained when I tried to put my socks on ... they said I should wear shorter ones.

Anyway, thats about it for now ... I am on leave (again), looking forward to Tamisa doing a catch up on shifts, what to do with the kids on a wet July day?

Forgot to tell you the good news ... the six chickens are now living in harmony and a fifth egg appeared in the nest box this morning ... only one to go in the pot then!

Fathers day

Pictures above - Alex (with his heels on), Taya, Gem, Iain (also with heels on) and Chris at Taya's naming ceremony
Muggins with Alanna and Rebecca at the worlds biggest spelling centre

The best thing about being a dad is fathers day, I don't know if it has "roots" or was invented by Hallmark to increase sales, but having presents bought by your wife on behalf of the kids with your own money is great, especially great this year as I somehow managed to wangle quite a few pressies, including a Go-cart session at the Clay Pigeon circuit (15 minutes away - and on the national carting circuit) a clay pigeon shooting lesson (yes you've guessed it, at the Clay Pigeon (Southern Counties) shooting ground next door, and a copy of "Hot Fuzz", which for those of you across the pond is a British Police related comedy film, although good, it didn't quite match up to the hype and contained words I will never understand for the swear box!
The other good thing about fathers day is that you get to share it (to a greater or lesser degree) with other fathers, and this year was particularly special as Gemma and Iain had their daughter's (Taya) naming ceremony on fathers day (still came out of it called Taya). Tamisa was embarrassed when Gem presented her with a bunch of flowers as a thank you for her help and friendship ... and the several thousand ruppee's worth of clothes we have handed down over the last few months. Good news for me, I could take the ones I had bouhgt back to Tesco! After the food (post event), it was back to theirs for a BBQ under hastily erected Gazebos, and to while away a few hours chasing after the kids... and eating ... and having the odd beer ... and eating again, and waiting for the rain to arrive (which it did of course).
Outside of fathers day, life has been fairly mundane. Two new chickens have arrived and have been bullied ever since, if it carries on I'll pluck them and give them tattoo's to make them look as tough as they would taste! Life is hard here on the farm, but I finally gave in and have sectioned off part of the run for them to use for a couple of weeks until they can look after themselves ... women eh!

Work has been OK, Operation Knee Jerk Reaction/Over Reaction is in full swing at the moment following the recent bomb issues in London and Glasgow (in a country called Scotland for those of you not from round these parts!). As Controller at the time of instigation, I quickly responded to the heightened security state by, erm, closing the HQ gates. Thats about it. Needless to say HQ over the weekend was full of bosses and Special Branch ("you haven't seen me, alright!) and I have more armed officers at my indirect disposal than ever before (yes its even more than 6 for the county - or less than one shift on a detachment at any individual station in Canada or the US I suppose). Lets hope you aren't unfortunate enough to crash and your car catch fire on your way home from the hardware shop with the BBQ gas cannister in the back! Given the success rate of the terrorists over the last week, I'm beginning to wonder whether the new breed of Irish are involved.

Thats about it for now ... too many early turns and chicken issues are catching up on me. Take it easy!