Saturday 30 September 2017

Things are a changing...

I can't keep up. My Lucy is growing so much emotionally, socially and physically every day, breathe and you can easily miss something. What a wonderful young lady she is becoming. Her confidence is soaring, she is working so hard at school and is piling up the merits. I love her focus and the targets she sets herself. First up the Bronze award (set amount of merits and she is not far off) and her determination is so admirable. Her social wit and positive outlook just flow every day and I can never say enough how proud of her I am. I love her pre-teenage look she is developing, it is really her own thing (although I do think this hat looks a bit like Benny from Crossroads - showing my age!) I am so conscious now to ensure I give her as much personal space as she needs, as her body changes and she starts to become a young woman. Not long now till another birthday rolls by! Anna told me today, she did 'not want her sister to grow up as she loved her as she was'. I did explain she'll still be Lucy, she always be her sarcastic, loving and generous big sister. I think Anna feels she is being left a bit behind as Lucy is starting to do different things such as go into town with her mates, lots of time on her phone and hanging out in her bedroom chilling and listening to music. We can't stop time Wiggle and we already see so many changes in you as well developing. My girls are close and have a strong relationship, but it is a pleasure to also see them forge their own paths as well. Football update - Anna and the boys secured their first league win today. Boom - oh she bossed it! Scoring and running herself into the ground. At one point my heart was in my mouth as she ran head to head with a lad for a loose ball and they clattered into each other. She was everywhere!  A good day to be a Hammond...

Monday 18 September 2017

I get a great feeling...

One of the perks of being a parent and an area that I really get a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment about being a dad is providing for my family and being appreciated for it. Anna has the smallest bedroom in the house and for a good couple of years she has struggled to make it spacious enough to enjoy, her furniture was not in a good state and all her stuff was literally on top of her!. For the last three weekends I have grafted (and perhaps overdone it) to redecorate and create her a bedroom that has all the right storage, looks great and is space she can truly call her own. With much swearing and considerable help from Mrs Hammond (we made a great team!) this weekend in putting up, breaking, fixing and manipulating large amounts of Ikea furniture, Anna finally has a room to be proud of, that meets her needs and to enjoy. If I am honest, it gives me great pride to be able to do this and give the girls a firm base to grow and provide them with a home. I have tackled practical demons and conquered them, for now at least! Anna is delighted and it was a pleasure to see her settle in last night and this more than made up for the levels of tiredness I felt today! Anna calling it her lady den! With my judgement clouded by exhaustion, I have promised Lucy that we will make a start on hers in a few weeks, which is definitely in need of attention, redecoration and decluttering. I must be mad as Lucy's room is going to be quite a challenge as she is a hoarder. I know a home comes from more than just the building and the way it looks; I know a home is founded upon love, trust, security and helping each other - but it also good if it looks nice and feels right. We have definitely created this in Anna's room (and nobody will ever see the drill holes where I could not get the mirror up as they are now behind it or the mark on the back of the door covered by a Dobby postcard where the nail I used was too long from the other side!)

Friday 8 September 2017

On the brink of new horizons....

The summer holidays have finished and team Hammond is back to the grind. None of us are really seeing it as a negative as we all really do benefit from the routine and the structure, as much as we resist it. The girls really do love school, learning and spending time with her friends. Lucy, looking sparkling in her new uniform, headed off to her first day at the academy. I was gutted I was away and not able to send her off and wish her well. It doesn't feel quite the same sending a text message. I am so proud of her and she had a great day. She has timetables, structure and all the things that excite Lucy, that would not float my boat but it does her. Anna, sporting her new haircut and a bit nervous about other peoples perception of her  also had a cracking first day back. She is anxious as she is in a different school to her sister, but all seems to have gone well. Mrs Hammond has had the week of her life. I cannot say enough how proud of her I am, I have been like an excited child and wanted to sing this from the rooftops. One piece of good news and success I cannot reveal yet and on top of this, she has only gone and passed her Masters! Keep this going Amy and you will have a long list of letters after your name, makes me look quite insignificant. Richly deserved after all her hard work. Sometimes lacking in confidence, I hope this week has shown her how much she is worth and how good she really is at what she does, this is before we talk about how amazing a parent she is. There is reason for all the Hammonds to be confident, we all work hard and put the effort in. Surely good things, success and reward come from this. Keep up the graft team Hammond..