Another Sunday morning sliding around in the mud...

At the risk of boring any reader senseless, Anna had another cracking game this morning rolling around heroically in the mud and rain, making countless saves some of which were spectacular and breathtaking at times! It's becoming the norm for the opposing coach to try and steal her for their team each week. This is such a compliment as to how far she is progressing in her goalkeeping progression. Despite a heavy loss today, when the team were one player down and with no substitutes, she and her friends worked hard and kept going. Id love to support her to transfer the courage she displays on a football pitch into other aspects of her life, where she is more reserved and timid, worrying about things. Today she pulled off several double saves, caught a ball and boot in the face and still stood up and kept going. Remarkable and tenacious indeed. Another proud dad moment to enjoy on a very damp Sunday morning xx

Becoming a woman before my eyes...

I simply can't keep up with the pace of how quickly Lucy is growing up. With her fifteenth birthday looming, day by day I notice the changes in her. She often speaks differently with more adult understanding and context, if she is not being blatantly sarcastic or using some interesting language! 😝When we debate things she looks at a much wider picture and taking additionally bits of information in when decision making or coming up with an opinion. She is becoming very passionate and curious about the debate and issues in the world are starting carry importance fo her, shining through in her argument and discussion. She is doing Ethics for her GCSE's and I think she will excel in this, I really do. Really proud of Lucy as she has quietly got up and running well in a new school year, where she faces challenges that are quite unusual. You can already see her benefiting from a more structured day once again. I will continue to marvel in the wonder of watching her grow and seeing my beautiful girl slowly make her own way in the world in the coming years. This is of course, if she comes out of her bedroom enough and actually spends time with us all!! Keep it up sloth like child, you could go a long way xxx

Take a bow Anna Hammond!

I can probably and often be accused of parental bias when it comes to Anna's goalkeeping exploits, but in today's game there is no shying away from the fact she put in a monumental effort in the face of adversity and produced some wonderful saves. The team collectively did not have their best of days and these are the games when under pressure, with her back against the wall, that Anna shines. Some of the stops were nothing short of remarkable and I really do admire her courage and fearless nature on a football field. She's not afraid to get hurt and this is a quality I hope will stand her in good stead in later life. In the last two games I have seen some real progress in her goalkeeping. Granted she has a natural athleticism and a taste for the heroic stop, but she is maturing and improving in all aspects of the position in her distribution, coming for crosses and becoming more vocal with her defenders. Another really memorable morning in these strange times to put in the parental memory banks. I have loved watching her again after lockdown measures were reduced. I'm desperate to continue to have this time with my girl; it has done me so much good to have this important thing back in my life again, and pray every day that the current situation, which is escalating with a continuous rise in infections again will not be taken away from us again in the coming weeks. I am sadly not hopeful. Thanks Wiggle for bringing your dad some Sunday morning joy xx

Just got to keep taking it one day at a time....

The school holidays are nearly over. If honest we have not really been confident or feeling safe enough to go and do things as a family yet. The infection rate is slowly rising again in the country and everything seems a bit of a blur to me. The Hammond family are still quite content to stay in our 'bubble' and slowly continue to ease ourselves back into 'normal' life. Mrs Hammond started back at work today, mine is slowly rebuilding and the girls face the challenge next Tuesday of finally returning to school for the first time since March. Incredulous when you say it like that! I think they are a bit nervous, with new rules and guidelines to follow, but I really do think it is important to get some structure back in their lives and build on that. Fortress Pond House has been a god send in allowing us to be safe in these times, but time to start fleeing the nest again a bit more!. Our meal out was a huge success last Saturday, great company, good food (well my salad was a bit dire, but you can't have everything) and such a positive experience. One I will repeat again to build my confidence. A lovely moment last night and an impromptu game of Uno with the girls gave me real heart. A simple thing, but an important one never the less. I write this and can say that I am not good, I am struggling with all of this. I worry about the girls, Amy and Joan. I see the country sliding into critical recession and I am just trying to keep a roof over our heads and help the girls rebuild their lives and build a future. This year has been full of challenges I never imagined and my own battle with my health has compounded this. I am winning though. I am feeling healthier and lost so much weight. Hopefully I can continue to try to be a good dad, husband and stay strong.  Sunday would have been Auntie Joan's ninetieth birthday. Every day I have a chat to her, as my parent and wonder what she would have made of all of this. Ask for her advice. My focus remains the same, honor her life, continue her legacy of kindness and caring in everything I do if I can and help people who need it. I hope she would be proud of me. I would have loved to have a call and a visit this Sunday with her, like nothing else and help her celebrate such a landmark birthday. It is not to be and life, all be it somewhat confusing and challenging goes on. Next step get my feral kids back to school and the run up to October birthday week! 

Somebody turned the heating off!

The month of August has decided to behave like November and with howling wind, rain and quite chilly temperatures, the girls summer holidays have become the indoor equivalent of a winter break. Anna had locked down in her room and is playing endless 'Fortnight' with the expressed purpose of working her way through enough levels to gain the 'Groot' skin. One very excited young lady! I have to agree with her and have quite a soft spot for Marvel's Groot! Lucy is hunkered down under her duvet fully dressed trying to warm up with the occasional teenage grunt of conversation coming distantly through the door. Why we expected anything less for the upcoming bank holiday weekend I do not know, with another storm and weather warning in place! 😩There were calls in the Hammond house last night to put the heating on. Being the tight bastard I am, I asked that hoodies and extra blankets were used! We continue our rehabilitation back into the big wide world tomorrow with our first family meal out in a restaurant since February and lock down began. Really excited. A little bit of 'normal' on the horizon 😊 It is a simple thing, going out to eat with your family and one we have taken for granted up to now. Life has truly changed..

Beauty and personal grooming are a necessity in a pandemic!

Definitely needed as the world returns slowly back to normal. Order of the day in the Hammond house is some much needed personal grooming! Anna and I headed to the barbers, Mrs Hammond to get her nails done and Lucy got to have the next piercing she had been craving for months. It looks great even if my old fashioned self screams out inside 'no - that's my daughter!!!' It's really important for us as parents to start reintroducing these kinds of things into our children's lives. I know in the grand scheme of things they are not important, but to the well being of my children who have been through so much in recent months, they are at the top of the list and would always embrace that. Today marks the last day of my break and holidays. I do feel a bit rested and it has been nice not to work, but it has not been the time off I needed and tomorrow I'm back to the grind. In introducing slowly things back into the lives of our family, the days out I had hoped for have not come. We are not quite ready and Mrs Hammond is still struggling with her knee 😟 Consultants appointment on Tuesday, so fingers crossed. Although she has admirably ditched the crutches! One day, one week and one month at a time and we can change family life slowly back to where it needs to be. In the meantime, I will put on my big boys pants, knuckle down and that proper break and holiday will come next year. Cornwall anybody?!?

Missing a bit of birthday swagger....

And then I think I might have found it. Plagued by my usual insomnia I woke up on my birthday and rose before 5am. I have to say I was not feeling the birthday love. Somehow after these last couple of years these kinds of days do not quite feel the same without Grandma. I pulled myself together, wiped away a few tears and remembered what I have in my life and how grateful I am for those people here with me today and sharing life's journey. I have spent the last few weeks feeling completely sorry for myself, struggling and feeling isolated and alone in terms of a wider family. Kicking myself in the early hours of the morning I focused solely on Amy and the girls and realise how lucky I was. My birthday has been one of simplicity and family joy, coupled with friendship that warms my heart. We have had a stunning Norfolk day today, delicious food cooked by Amy, visitors in my oldest friend Kate, recovering from a surprising stroke, well and truly kicking everyone's arse at croquet, lovely messages from so many people and time with my girls. The duplicate card to an 'old fossil' I got made me titter! I have more than made the best of a day I was not looking forward to if I am honest, made the best by Amy's efforts and being with the ones I love. It's pretty much all I need really. The sugar free cake that Amy made me drew me to tears. I can't tell you what it meant to me. Love the masks Kate, going to scare a few people in the community moving forwards with those doing the shopping!!!! Forty six years old. I wonder what this year will bring. I am hoping more simplicity, less complication and challenges please!!!! Bring it on!!!