Steve from England

I have been a dad four times now, that's quite a few times by average statistics which, I believe, gives me some authority to comment on the subject of parenting and, for the purpose of this blog entry, the last month before the baby is born. OK, so we've got over the shock of discovering the pregnancy and for several weeks, not a lot happens. Actually, it's fair to say that for those few weeks we sometimes doubt there is any baby at all until it say 'hello' on the ultrasound scan. Once we know it is really and is going to happen we do the gooey stuff, the potential name choosing, we will go through several before the birth. We'll then be deciding where the baby is going to sleep, doing the usual jokes about who is now going to be called what, all the more fun for first time grandparents as they realise they are about to step up a generation. There is a period of 'not a lot' when there may be the occasional midwife appointment, possibly an antenatal appo...

I have been a dad four times now, that's quite a few times by average statistics which, I believe, gives me some authority to comment on the subject of parenting and, for the purpose of this blog entry, the last month before the baby is born. OK, so we've got over the shock of discovering the pregnancy and for several weeks, not a lot happens. Actually, it's fair to say that for those few weeks we sometimes doubt there is any baby at all until it say 'hello' on the ultrasound scan. Once we know it is really and is going to happen we do the gooey stuff, the potential name choosing, we will go through several before the birth. We'll then be deciding where the baby is going to sleep, doing the usual jokes about who is now going to be called what, all the more fun for first time grandparents as they realise they are about to step up a generation. There is a period of 'not a lot' when there may be the occasional midwife appointment, possibly an antenatal appo...

Was just on Facebook (no, I don't live there). Someone commented about the passing of a friend and then, as people do, added the letters: RIP. It got me to thinking, do I, would I want to? It's like we have eternity to exist somewhere (if we believe such things) so, would we really want to be resting in peace or would we, perhaps, want to be a little outrageous occasionally?. I almost said "live it up" but, given the circumstances, that would be inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, those very rare moments in my life (I can count them) when I have totally rested and been peaceful have been truly amazing. I am not talented enough with words to even start to describe my feelings at the time but, thankfully, I can feel them right now whilst writing this so at least 'I know' even if I cannot hope to convey it to you. So, I know the feeling but ... would they be special moments if they lasted an eternity? Just that thought for a bit there did seem somewhere appea...

Was just on Facebook (no, I don't live there). Someone commented about the passing of a friend and then, as people do, added the letters: RIP. It got me to thinking, do I, would I want to? It's like we have eternity to exist somewhere (if we believe such things) so, would we really want to be resting in peace or would we, perhaps, want to be a little outrageous occasionally?. I almost said "live it up" but, given the circumstances, that would be inappropriate. Don't get me wrong, those very rare moments in my life (I can count them) when I have totally rested and been peaceful have been truly amazing. I am not talented enough with words to even start to describe my feelings at the time but, thankfully, I can feel them right now whilst writing this so at least 'I know' even if I cannot hope to convey it to you. So, I know the feeling but ... would they be special moments if they lasted an eternity? Just that thought for a bit there did seem somewhere appea...

Damn, has it finished? Two o my favourite TV programmes right now are Casualty and Holby City. I enjoy the dramatic escapism they offer. Unlike ' Eastenders ' or other soaps, with those I am not sitting there thinking to myself ... "I so know how that feels ... and they've got it easy!" You see, with my life, were it the script of a soap it would be rejected by the producers as 'too implausible '. Being surrounded by so many 16-17 year olds right now gets me thinking back to when I was that age, what was it really like? Yes, it is true, everything was in black and white and it was tough having to manage until electricity had been invented but we didn't have long to wait and then there was the telephone and cars, yes, things were really happening when I was a mid-teen! But seriously, I am 'only' 46. If you, dear reader, are 60+ then you will know that 30 years ago is a blink of the eye. If, as is probably the case, you are under 20, then you ...

Damn, has it finished? Two o my favourite TV programmes right now are Casualty and Holby City. I enjoy the dramatic escapism they offer. Unlike ' Eastenders ' or other soaps, with those I am not sitting there thinking to myself ... "I so know how that feels ... and they've got it easy!" You see, with my life, were it the script of a soap it would be rejected by the producers as 'too implausible '. Being surrounded by so many 16-17 year olds right now gets me thinking back to when I was that age, what was it really like? Yes, it is true, everything was in black and white and it was tough having to manage until electricity had been invented but we didn't have long to wait and then there was the telephone and cars, yes, things were really happening when I was a mid-teen! But seriously, I am 'only' 46. If you, dear reader, are 60+ then you will know that 30 years ago is a blink of the eye. If, as is probably the case, you are under 20, then you ...

OK, in the UK we have a 5 bedroom house, in the US we had a 4 bedroom house. Take a look at the pictures, I rest my case. In the US it was 28°C at it#s lowest point, in the UK, it is 23°C at it's hottest point (12°C at the coldest), yes. my case is rested there. In the UK we went out earlier, bought a few drinks, it cost a small fortune ... in the US we went out, bought a few drinks, it was reasonable and we had unlimited refils. Hmm, case rested there. When in the US the staff in stores always greet customers as they walk in and ask if there is anything they need, in the UK earlier, I went in several stores and was totally ignored whilst they continued their private chats., Case decided there on the grounds of retail customer service. In the US they wait in stores for customers to enter and seem like they welcome customers ... over here they stand in the doorway having a smoke ... another case lost for the UK on retail. In the US, the stores have space to walk around (true, they h...

OK, in the UK we have a 5 bedroom house, in the US we had a 4 bedroom house. Take a look at the pictures, I rest my case. In the US it was 28°C at it#s lowest point, in the UK, it is 23°C at it's hottest point (12°C at the coldest), yes. my case is rested there. In the UK we went out earlier, bought a few drinks, it cost a small fortune ... in the US we went out, bought a few drinks, it was reasonable and we had unlimited refils. Hmm, case rested there. When in the US the staff in stores always greet customers as they walk in and ask if there is anything they need, in the UK earlier, I went in several stores and was totally ignored whilst they continued their private chats., Case decided there on the grounds of retail customer service. In the US they wait in stores for customers to enter and seem like they welcome customers ... over here they stand in the doorway having a smoke ... another case lost for the UK on retail. In the US, the stores have space to walk around (true, they h...

Got back around 10am Weds ... is now Sunday and I am still on US time on my head and it's making me feel like crap. My body is begging me to go to bed but my mind is still telling me there is loads of day left. Never had jet lag like this before and it's so annoying. Trying to make this coming week into a more 'normal' week and shall be attempting to get to work on Tuesday, family pressures permitting. Starting to get used to the new car now, it's still weird but am getting there. Thought I may depress the throttle fully yesterday, it was reasonably effective considering it's a real boring MPV. Tons of pictures and video to edit, am not, as yet, ready to set my mind to anything like that which can just wait. New lawnmower yesterday, entire lawn cut in 15 minutes ... mega result! Really miss Freddie :-(

Got back around 10am Weds ... is now Sunday and I am still on US time on my head and it's making me feel like crap. My body is begging me to go to bed but my mind is still telling me there is loads of day left. Never had jet lag like this before and it's so annoying. Trying to make this coming week into a more 'normal' week and shall be attempting to get to work on Tuesday, family pressures permitting. Starting to get used to the new car now, it's still weird but am getting there. Thought I may depress the throttle fully yesterday, it was reasonably effective considering it's a real boring MPV. Tons of pictures and video to edit, am not, as yet, ready to set my mind to anything like that which can just wait. New lawnmower yesterday, entire lawn cut in 15 minutes ... mega result! Really miss Freddie :-(