Thanks heavens for the abscess on my butt!!

It has been a cracking Easter weekend with beautiful weather where I have been able to scare the local community with my legs for the first time this year! We have sun worshipped, eaten a barbecue feast (I might have the meat sweats as we speak!), spent lovely time with friends and I even prevailed in the 'children v's old gits' footy match against Anna and her friend with an 8-7 victory. The biggest challenge of the weekend was a visit to 'Go Ape' tree climbing as a family. Hindered by me fear of heights when having nothing firm under my feet and the horrible newly emerged 'middle age' problem of an abscess on my butt. I manager to avoid this and fulfil the valuable role of 'bag holder' and official photographer instead of scaring the living daylights out of myself. So proud of Lucy, who really struggled and got a credible half way round. I am not sure she wants to go back though!. Amy soldiered on, despite her fears too and successfully completed the course. Makes me a bit of a wuss really, but my heart rate did not reach the dizzy heights of that of Mrs Hammond and I continue to wind down and feel very relaxed this weekend. I needed this time with family and friends and it was a great day out, followed by a sleep over too. Easter Sunday started with a cooked breakfast under the newly decorated family outside shack, dog walking, more delicious food at Libby's, Meg's first dip in a river and an espresso in the Hammock! I have not eaten a scrap of chocolate. The weekend also had some unprecedented footballing exhilaration, on my Friday date night with Looby Chick and an amazing ninety-seven minute equalising goal. Great stuff, pure joy and really enjoyed this time with my girl! Happy Easter Hammonds! xx

Should I evoke my parental right to embarass a teenager?

The girls, especially Lucy are becoming much more self sufficient and there most definitely is a wish to spend less time with their embarrassing parents! This got me thinking; if, in the mind of a teenager, I am the embarrassing father, then why don't I earn this reputation rather than gaining it by default. It would be good sport. After all I get huffed and puffed at every time I ask my eldest daughter to do a simple task. So I will put my mind to a few ideas to get things going. Drama number one is most definitely having her picture taken by her dad. Despite the fact in her Instagram life she takes hoards of selfies!?! Drama number two I am quite enjoying, in the 'come on, you wanted another dog - lets go for a walk'! Oh the pain, the hilarious and very real pain that I had asked daughter number one to take some exercise, get some fresh air and move away from the digital world! It really is quite fun. As I start to gently mock the girl whose sarcasm levels often move up to level five or above, it becomes very clear she can dish it out, but not necessarily take it!! I think I may just think on this for a few more days and take that complex decision as to whether I evoke that secret parental article in unwritten law of 'the right embarrass your teenager'. It could be just a little fun! Watch out Looby Chick...

Let the holidays begin and boy does everybody need it!!!

With reflection and real honesty, this term has been so very hard to get through for us as a family, with loosing Grandma and then having to move so quickly into a space of getting back into normal life, it has been tough. Everybody is ready for a break, some time to recharge their batteries. Amy and I are run down, full of cold and a bit battered! Anna, if you look at the picture seems to have completely lost herself! Although she's never been quite right! I am not prepared to post a picture of myself, as the bags under the bags under my eyes are not that endearing! Lucy is so very resilient and quite remarkable. Her end of term parents evening was astonishing and she is doing so very well at school, despite all the significant changes in her life in recent months. Quite amazing really, she truly is very stoic and just keeps going. Very proud of her indeed. So the family Hammond enters a period of lie ins, chilling out, resting, long walks with Meg (who arrives today), catching up with friends and a couple of weeks of rebuilding. All accept me sadly ,as I need to keep going with work projects until Easter, but give me another week and a half and I will be in the hammock in the Easter sunshine! Fingers crossed...