Battlecry!

The venue was set, dozens of teams prepared for a historic battle and the final football tournament of the year came sharply into focus this morning. Anna braced herself, armed  with her trusty shin pads, she flexed her defensive muscles for the fight. And what a fight it was too! Now this may not sound right, but the team played seven and lost seven today, but they shone, fought and simply get better and better with several narrow defeats. I was so proud of them all as they worked so hard in the warm and humid July weather and had fun - which is what it is all about. Anna was not the only one doing battle as I had to come to her aid, as a protective mother got quite upset that Anna had scythed down her boy (I would like to place on record no foul was given and it was deemed as a legitimate tackle). The referee declared Anna his 'player of the tournament' with her fearless and die hard defence, her positioning was spot on and she was a good reader of the game.  I purred inside. Lucy was getting really animated, screaming for Anna to get stuck in and keep going. I know football is not her thing, but she really got into the spirit. I loved it when she told her sister she made her proud. Afterwards I rewarded the girls with an slushy or ice cream in sunny Sheringham - hence Anna's blue tongue!  We shopped till we dropped, searching for all things 'Pug' for Lucy in every tacky gift shop possible, eventually deciding on a rather fetching Pug mug! Great day with my girls. They just keep coming and coming...

An unexpected surprise...

Unexpectedly Amy and I found ourselves child free this afternoon and with a few hours of time together as the girls had a play date with friends. Initially, I have to say we looked at each other and thought - what do we do now? This kind of time together is so rare, particularly as the girls go to bed later and later, leaving not much time for us as a couple. Time alone during the day without a club, activity or general family life is even more rare. Our chosen destination of lunch at Holkham Hall and a dog walk around the lake was perfect. Time together chatting, planning, holding hands, taking stock and strolling in the sunshine was simply lovely. We work so hard to and focus all our time into the girls, I did love this surprise couple of hours with my wife. We didn't even spend the whole time talking about the girls as we usually do! Talking of the little ladies in our lives - I have been beaming with pride all this week following two excellent school reports for this term, using words such as hard work, application, enthusiasm and great attitude. Are the teachers sure they are talking about the right children?!? Well done girls. Mummy and I are very proud of you and all your hard work. If we could only transfer your immaculate behaviour over to when you are at home, this would be great too...xx

Strike one!

Normally when teachers or any profession does such a thing as call a one day strike that means my children do not go to school, we loose money and earnings and we need to find a way to ensure they are looked after for the day, this would be the point that I would go into a rant about professionalism, whinging and they don't know they are born; but not today. I decided to embrace the events of the day, go with the flow and take the girls to Pleasurewood Hills for a day of rollercoaster fun. Who would have known that teachers striking could lead to so much fun! Without this, Anna would never have got to blow up a pirate on the toilet with pretend TNT (too complicated to explain!), Lucy would not have taken her thrill ride stock up another level and I would not have spent one the most memorable days I have had with the girls in ages. Poor Amy, enveloped in good values and not striking missed out, not that theme parks are her thing anyway. We ate rubbish and rode rides all day - absolute heaven. This has also risen me temporarily to 'parental god' status. The best part of the day was that the girls were so impeccably behaved, polite to all the staff at the park and only argued for a matter of seconds. More parental bliss. We should skive off more often girls! Until the next time...

The world is not ready for Anna and the need for speed...

Happy birthday to my darling baby girl. Eight years ago today I nervously held you in my arms, if I am honest I was almost immediately struggling with the concept of having two children and how I was wrong. Anna and Lucy are the gift that just keeps giving. I have not seen much of Wiggle on her birthday today as school and work got in the way, but this evening we have celebrated in the only way the Hammonds know and gone out and eaten loads with Granny, Grandpa and Libby at the Thai. Anna has revelled and delighted in her birthday, grinning from ear to ear and declaring 'its the best birthday ever'. A free flow of presents including a go-cart (peddle powered I hasten to add, as the world is not ready for Anna in anything powered by a real engine capable of much speed, its hard enough to keep up with her now!) has come her way. The cash from family and friends has just kept coming, as she has wracked up £75 to spend on anything football or Stars Wars related, which seems to be her given choices at the moment. I always love sharing birthday memories with the girls and their special days and today was no different. Day two tomorrow as we have a house full of very noisy and excitable children for her party - now already affectionately known as the 'Wiggle Olympics'. Not quite as excited by the prospect of this, but I have just got to go with the flow. Once again, Happy Birthday Anna - you light up my life and that of all you come across (when you are not arguing). Special mention for Lucy, who today has dealt with and handled the sibling birthday challenge with grace and decorum. Love Dad xx

Father's day massacre!

The Hammonds got very very competitive this morning and battled at 'Laser quest' in what turned out to be a walk over for Anna and I, as team 'Wiggle' simply buried team Lucy and Amy forcing them into negative points! In short, it was a massacre with Anna alarmingly coming out on top with the most kills and highest hit ratio. This epic (much sarcasm) battle lasted a short twenty minutes and it was the most fun I have had in ages, with Amy wearing a dress that made her a sitting duck in the dark, coming out as a walking neon target, we could not fail to win! It has been a fabulous fathers day, with Pizza and Pasta with Granny and Grandpa as a victory meal for Wiggle and I after, watching the world go by in the big city. I loved my card from my girls. I may not be the best dad in the world, although it  warms my heart that the girls think I am; but I do try my hardest and utmost to always be the best dad I possibly can every day. Not a day will go by in my life where I will not give my girls all I have to create as much opportunity for them as possible. I love you both more than words can say - thank for being my girls and sharing your chocolate Pizza today with your old man! Yes chocolate Pizza! xx

All that hard work paid off....

After months of mismatched games, playing better teams, getting tonked and the misery of constantly picking the ball out of the net, Anna's team really started to gel at the end of the season and become competitive and cohesive as a team. Anna (biased dad) shone through with crunching tackles, last ditch defending on the line and out muscling boys twice as physically strong as her and finally got her reward. At the end of season presentation she picked up the 'Players Player of the Season' award and well deserved if I do say so myself. To say she was pleased would be an understatement. I had tears in my eyes, slightly on the quiet, as I was not sure how those around me would react if they saw me a dribbling wreck! I am really proud of Anna and her determination and resilience to defend her goal at all costs, keep her head held high when loosing and hard work in developing her game and to get recognition from all the other players was fabulous. Well done Wiggle - looking forward to watching you next season x

Coaxing out the sunshine....

After a week of indifferent moods, a stinking cold for me and appalling weather, with my children rediscovering their happy faces, we headed to Wells today to see if we could bring out the sunshine and raise our spirits. In short, it worked and we used every trick in the book to convince ourselves that summer had started. Slight problem as we drove to Wells in fog! We had ice creams and the weather did not change, we shopped and strolled around and the weather thought about it, we went to the arcades and won much swag and the clouds parted, finally hitting the park and boom!! Out came the sunshine to support us in the justification we had all put on shorts for the day. Great company, great manners and my girls back to the lovely girls I know they are capable of. I have been worried about Lucy as she has had several set backs and kicks to her confidence of late with things not quite going her way despite her best efforts. It was great to see her play today and hang out with two of her best friends from school who we found also pottering around in Wells too, comfortable in her own skin.