I must be getting old!

There was a time many moons ago when I was a lad, that I was a fantastic gamer. I am part of the Tomb Raider generation, and we were very skilled indeed. Now I am into my forties, my crown seems to have been usurped by a young lady called Wiggle as she well and truly whipped my backside at 'Star Wars Battle Front'  on the Xbox this weekend. Now I could use every excuse under the sun such as I grew up with a PlayStation and the controllers are different, I was in pain as I thought I had broken my toe doing the cleaning in the morning OR I have never played a split screen game and my eyes could not get used to it. The truth is I am getting old and a ten year old well and truly did for me on this game, she even beat me with an ice cream in her hand whilst using a controller! I accepted defeat graciously and then silently sloped off to heal my wounded pride. A new generation of Hammonds has taken top spot in gaming in our house, it may be a crown I will never recover....

The cat that got the cream!

If ever there was a smile that said a great deal, it's this one that Lucy is sporting to the left. Those eyes tell you a million things!  This was the last day this term wearing school uniform and she is away this week on a school trip. This is not ordinary school trip, it's one she has been excited about and preparing for in her head for some time now. Lucy sets down markers in her journey as school, they are almost rights of passage that she feels she must undertake in order to gain the experience. This week she is doing some amazing things and I have to say I am extremely jealous! Harry Potter world, Legoland, a west end show and even more besides. She is going to be shattered by Thursday when she comes home. Not much communication from her, just the odd non committal almost teenager text. Worries the hell out of me, her being away like this and I really miss her. Most of all the level of sarcasm in my life has significantly reduced! Looking forward to hearing about her adventures with her 'chummies' as she calls her friends.  

Progress in learning for life...

My kids are a pain in the arse, they are argumentative and at times really frustrating, but this is always only centred at their parents. An argumentative culture seems to be part of our household now and I am sure that most parents will say this about their kids too, if they are honest with themselves. I am sure this is learned from me and something I always need to try and temper and set them a good role model. I am, however, so very proud of the grounding we have given them and their attitude to school, hard work and their behaviour in this context. Yesterday,  Lucy received an award at school for progress in 'learning for life', now I am truly not sure what this subject entails but I am a hundred percent sure that she is applying herself very well at school having read her school report and beamed with pride. Her attitude to learning is exceptional and her behaviour exemplary. She works hard, sets herself targets for progression and is really motivated. If only I could motivate her to clean her room! Really proud of you Looby Chick, as I always am for your kindness and care for your friends too. We eagerly await Anna's school report, which I am certain will be equally as positive. In the mean time, gratuitous birthday football shirt shot! Proud of my girls as ever xx

A ten for Wiggle!

I think Amy and I need about three days to recover from Anna's birthday weekend. It was hot and very busy indeed. I find it hard to believe that my baby girl was ten yesterday. She is growing up. I wrote a Facebook post stating that Anna was one of the most bonkers, kind, tenacious, stubborn, complicated and loving people I have in my life. It is a privilege to be her dad and sometimes a bit hard work! I wouldn't change it for anything in the world though. She has been at her emotional and excitable best for the whole weekend, most epitomised by her showboating yesterday with her cousins scoring goals in her new goal in the garden  (great gift Libby). She is full of life and then at times very thoughtful indeed. We celebrated in style watching Harry Potter at the lunar cinema under the stars into the early hours of Saturday. A great fried breakfast in the morning and much time on her new Xbox playing the much demonised 'fortnight', When Anna proudly declared she had three kills, I wasn't quite so sure what to think as a parent at that point! The game is harmless, despite what they say in the press. The difficulty will come with Anna, in trying to reinforce the rules and the limited time she is allowed on the console! Day one and in usual Wiggle style, she already tried to push the boundaries! Best moment of the birthday weekend, was the unveiling of the cake. Amy had deliberately decorated it with pink and all girly, must to Anna's digust! When you cut it open though, it revealed its true colours in Yellow and Green. I would have loved a picture of Anna's face as her mum got her good and proper! Happy birthday Wiggle! Keep being yourself as you are much loved xx

She might just struggle to pay her bill!

A definite issue has emerged in the last couple of months with Anna and one that I intend to address to try and check. Whenever we go out for a meal (I must confess this is probably too often but we either can't be arsed after a long day to cook and we just love doing it), Anna never eats what she has ordered. It is a source of much frustration to me as the bill payer. I have spoken with her in the past, as she is a grazer and an eater of the wrong things, to be honest and talk things through, rather than order what she does not want. It is a waste of money and a waste of somebody's time in putting the food together! Will she listen to me - no! So, on Sunday, Amy and I have put in place a new tactic and one I fully intend to follow through. Anna will, from this day forth accumulate a bill for all the food she does not eat when we are out, that I have paid for and commencing January 2019, this will be deducted from her pocket money for the year. Sounds really harsh, but I need her to reflect on something and change her behaviour accordingly, just for once! So, Wiggle at the moment you owe us £6.95! I want to drag this one on for a long time and keep discussing this with her and reminding her. If she fails to listen, then the outcome could be quite significant and she could owe us quite a bit of dosh. Our girls are extremely privileged and sometimes do not show the appreciation they should for their positon of fortune. I have in the past, not always followed through on my parental strategies, but Anna takes time sometimes to learn lessons and I think this may instruct her down the right path. Let the battle commence Wiggle!

A posh new haircut and the debate about the fringe!

I am sitting up early on Father's day, with a very quiet house and none of my family awake as yet and I was thinking about Lucy's new haircut and how fabulous she looked. Amy has a new haircut too (looking great and dynamic Mrs Hammond). Anna received countless compliments about her hair and heroic saves at a football tournament yesterday. One parent asking her what her hair product was as she has been diving around all morning and it hadn't moved a centimetre! I bowed to family pressure and went to the same hairdressers as the rest of my crew yesterday. I have resisted this for many months and there have been several attempts to get me to go. I am a loyal person and creature of habit and have been going to the same place for nearly twenty years. However, of late they have failed to cope with my awkward hair - I have no real style and it simply needs a tidy up - how hard can it be! I moved to another and that has not worked out. So I relented and I was suitably impressed. Trying to gain recognition for my great haircut (everybody likes a compliment) and feeling smart and handsome, I asked the girls what they thought. I got the stark reply that 'it looked like it always does!' Charming! A bit disconsolate, I decided I was ok with this having witnessed Amy and Lucy bickering and niggling all week about what to do with her fringe! Who needs complicated hair and the pressure to look great. I am what I am and not really going to be able to change that after forty three years on the planet! Lucy does look great though and on Father's day I can beam with pride at my beautiful girl, who on the day of her birth, triggered my amazing journey as a parent over twelve years ago....

Could the time of the hat be making a reappearance?

I normally don't make much of an appearance in half terms, trying to save my time off for the holidays and finding that balance of bringing the pennies in. However, this half term with Amy undertaking a project, I needed to step up to the parental plate and entertain the girls and contribute. After all there are three half terms a year and I am often not about! I loved it and spent some really great time with the girls. Anna and I had a date watching the champions league final (where I lost money to her and backed the wrong team) and the new start wars movie. A nightly kick about at the park with both girls was the highlight of the week for me and Lucy really improved, scoring many a goal against her sister! It didn't last and the work thing kicked in, but I look forward to some more time like this with the girls again soon. I also got to see my old friend Kate and her lovely family, a rendezvous which Amy normally manages each half term and I miss out on. One wonderful thing returned which is worthy of note is Anna has purchased a hat for the first time in over a year and it was a delight to see her wearing one again. Happy days in the early summer sunshine! xx