The Square Dealers

I tend to listen to the footie, DAB is kind to me in that way, no hiss, crackle etc. How can I resist today's 'Back to Square One'. It works OK too. The hardest thing is to hear the square numbers called out, its in no way as obtrusive as I imagined it would be. No mock twenties Harry Enfield BBC accents and Bob Wilson is in the commentary box which is cool with me. Not certain about the presence of David Gray. Couldn't they find someone from the Mancs who wasn't working for Sky? (Yes, I know Primrose was there as a trainee, but that hardly counts). Manure start well which is not good. Don't appreciate it, but then I wouldn't. Luckily Arsenal warm up as I type and prepare to slice the veg for tonight's dinner.

Monst's back continues to be a concern, she's really hurt the thing, she's not in work quite sensibly this weekend. Most of the day seems to involve sleep, she ain't got a great appetite, I'm kinda worried.

Cal and I go swimming in the morning, not as big a success as it has been recently. Cal cops well with swimming lengths, sure he likes the reassurance of being close to the edge and the occasional grasp of the wall when he's swimming on his front but he copes and his confidence improves over time. It wasn't helped today when he was told by a lifeguard to swim in the shallow end only. Blew his confidence completely and consigned us to swimming in the congested end of the pool. Still he did the sort of distance he's been swimming recently and received full praise as was his due.

Splash Down

First off Happy Birthday to Sally. Positive vibes her way.

We visit Mattie in Cardonald in the morning, a regular receiver of the mock Cal postcards I scrawl while on holiday. Good to see her and she endures the New Zealand photo experience with good humour and grace. Cal in the meantime merrily beats me up and plays with another flurry of penguins that have come his way courtesy of Burger King yesterday and Mattie today.

Back to Coatbridge and lunch with Kitty. Quick tour of duty in the kitchen washing up and waiting the requisite time before heading to the 'Time Capsule'. Swindon's Oasis has been moved and given a prehistoric makeover with an ice rink surgically attached. Fun had by all and free massage for me courtesy of the waterfall and many a flume for the boy and the girl.

Buy beer not for the journey (that'd be silly) but for the post journey chill out. Summat to do with Merlin and Mary Queen of Scots. I've learnt over the years that no matter how tired I am having driven a reasonable distance, sleep is hard to come by. Not a problem tonight because if it goes completely horrible there is always the cricket to listen to. I do know that I'm likely to be quite uptight by the time I'm home because the weather is foul.

A Splash of Colour

Usual splash down at Garston and Cal swims a coupl of lengths. A bit of a truncated swim ths morning because we've been volunteered to make scones for the ICU at Faz. Not a prob but we're a bit tight on time on the basis that Cal and I plan on seeing 'Flushed Away'. We dash to Morrisons Belle Vale on the way to the pool, cook the first batch of scones on return home having pre-heated the oven while we went away to swim. Then head to the pictures.

The film we enjoy mightily, sharp and witty script and singing slugs, you can't go wrong. One of the best things about having a child about the gaff is the excuse it gives you to watch kids films and TV. Lots of nice pastiche along the way, loved the Bond piss take, loved the Frogs. Anyway the official site is here. Fave line.....

Toad: You find my pain funny?

Le Frog: I find everyone's pain funny but my own. I'm French.

Back home and the second batch of scones goes into the oven, I have an argument with a chicken that ends up with me placing cloves of garlic and some leeks in places it would rather they weren't placed. Monst wakes, chats to Cal, I finish off the news thing and generally try to relax a little. Sort out my copy of Reference Manager.

Asleep in the Deep

Sunday and Monst calls and wakes me beyond the time I'd intended to sleep to which then meant it was a case of out of bed and straight to Faz. The boy is far from impressed at being woken from his slumbers too! Still we do our job and pic Monst up. Feed on porridge, wait for an hour and head for a swim at Garston. Cal don't muck about, straight up the slide they have. He gets a little bored after a while and joins me swimming. His swimming is getting stronger and he does two lengths, the first time I've seen him venture into the deep end of the pool. I'm impressed.

Lunch and chill for the afternoon having added some of the missing link pieces fetched from Morrisons to the marinade for the Moroccan Lamb I am cooking for tonights dinner. Monst wakes and drags Cal off to see Megan and I roast peppers and listen to 6 Music at a volume that I wouldn't if anyone else was in the house. The lamb works well as I slow down the grilling but the cous cous I mess up. Still you live and learn.....

Half an Hour from an Hour Ago

Sunday and it's boys day, Cal and I repair to the swimming pool at Garston where we splash about a bit. Good exercise. Home via B&Q purveyors of fans to the not so gentry. We've been ordered to fetch a fan in anticipation of hot weather. We do so then to Borders where the Charlie George autobiography is purchased somewhat predictably.

Home and scones are the priority as Cal finds himslef scone maker by appointment to Faz ICU. Translates as him doing the weighing and supervisng me cooking!

Run ins over homework. Fetch Monst to work, finish the news, listen to the Rain Parade and sweat. Beer in the fridge beckons.....

Technorati Tags: The Rain Parade, Garston Pool, Swimming, Fan, Heatwave, Scones

Prof. Pat Pending

Off to Garston we trot. Swimming is fun, although as ever the unworthy thought about the percentage of wee in the pool wanders through my head. Three quarters of an hours worth and Cal is getting along fine and even wanders into the large pool. So ends the fun part of the day.

Technorati Tags: Swimming; Fun; Garston