A day to treasure for the rest of my days....

Every so often you do something that really can be described as a once in a lifetime experience; to be able to share it with one of my girls made it all the more special. On Monday, after a very long and highly excitable build up Anna and I headed off to the Championship Playoff finals at Wembley. I can barley find the words to describe what kind of a day it was, but one that will stay with me for the rest of my days. It was exciting, nerve racking and exhilarating. Made all the better by the result as the boys in yellow triumphed and got us back into the Premier League! It was a long day and Anna was nothing short of a pleasure. She revelled in the excitement, jumped up and down, high fived complete strangers and rode the crest of every emotional wave the day had to offer. I may never share such an experience with her again, although I do think the two of us will have many more footballing adventures in the years to come. Thank you Anna xx

Whatever will be will be, we're going to Wembley!

Excited does not even begin to describe how Anna and I feel as we count down the sleeps to our big day out together next Monday. We have tickets to the play off final to watch my beloved Norwich city and fly the flag for the boys in yellow and green! I love watching football and supporting my team, it has a special place in my heart. Anna is starting to develop excitement and real interest, beyond trying to simply please and appease me and I could not be happier. To share the thrills, ups and downs, excitement, misery and disappointment in the roller coaster ride of watching a football match with her is amazing. To share the experience of watching the biggest game for my team in many a year at Wembley with her is a memory I think I am going to treasure for the rest of my days, regardless of result. Whatever happens I will be watching with Anna and nobody will be able to take that away from me. A real privilege.  Very smug and happy dad! Six more sleeps to go. Not sure which of us is more excited

Blooming marvellous!

I am struggling to keep up with Lucy and the pace she is growing up. She is blooming into a beautiful young lady and is striking out for her independence every day. She makes me proud. She works hard at school, is a well mannered girl and I know family means everything to her. Here she is pictured last night getting ready to go to her school disco, armed with her little Cath Kidson handbag, a purse full of pennies, her make up and lip balm. I walked her over to the school, proudly stood with her and then she kicked me out of the queue and told me to go home. 'Dad - you are embarrassing me!' I probably was smothering her, but just had an overwhelming urge to give her a hug. Very proud dad!

The last time....

I read a wonderful poem posted on Facebook the other day called 'The last time' - written by an anonymous parent who put down on paper how they felt about their children growing up and the wonderful events that gently slip away before we know it.  All us parents, always yearn for the time we had together as a couple before children and the space and freedom we had. We sometimes fail to appreciate that despite all the rows, expense, long days and difficult decisions, parenting is very special. There comes a time when you are not needed to help your kids in the bath, they no longer want to sing the 'wheels on the bus', they are too big to pick up or put on your shoulders or they don't want to hold your hand in front of their friends. This made me really think, especially coming to the fore after Lucy has asked when she and her friends might be allowed into town on their own to go shopping (Not yet!). Those days when she needs me for some things are ebbing away and the balance is slightly turning towards her slowly wishing for independence. Am I ready for this - like hell I am! Not simply because of worry or risk and I don't think she is ready; but because if I am honest I don't want to let go yet. I already desperately miss not being able to walk around with her on my shoulders for example. I always felt at real ease with the world and extremely proud doing this when the girls were small. All I can do is take it one day at a time and make sure before these little things slowly disappear and the girls grow up, I remember, embrace and enjoy these little privileges as a parent....

Anybody for chips and ice cream!

Bank holiday Monday brought a great family day out involving the beautiful Norfolk sunshine, ice cream covered in chocolate, chips, crabbing, a walk on the pier at Cromer, raiding the arcades and fossil hunting on West Runton beach. I do have to say that it was not all plain sailing with the girls exhibiting high levels of whinging, moaning and fighting as they for some reason failed to agree on anything today! Now at home in separate rooms, there is now an air of calm as we prepare to bung them in bed. All this fresh air has worn me out!