http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/An endeavour in time wasting.en-EUhttp://backend.userland.com/rss092http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/http://data5.blog.de/design/preview/53/68af76924dbfa12548fdad43347b47_160x200.jpg <p>My Father worries about me.<br> It’s ridiculous, but I completely understand.<br> I pretty much spend all my time worrying about everyone I love as well.<br> I worry if I’m a good enough Father.<br> I worry if I’m a good enough son.<br> I worry if I’m a good enough husband.<br> I have lots of failings, but I do try.<br> Hopefully it’ll be enough to keep them all safe.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/11/16/good-enough-7385799/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/11/16/good-enough-7385799/Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:32:38 +0100 <p>My family went on a two-week foreign holiday.<br> My wife, my mum, my dad, my three children and me.<br> It was to be a two-destination holiday starting in Sri Lanka.<br> Although it was a long journey: Mini-cab, aeroplane, aeroplane and mini-bus, it was more than worth it.<br> It took the best part of a day and a night to get there but my parents were great and my youngest two children were amazing.<br> Even my teenage daughter was pretty good.<br> We arrived at the hotel, dazed but happy.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/family-holiday-7336278/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/11/09/family-holiday-7336278/Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:20:22 +0100 <p>I loathe travelling on the London underground during rush hour.<br> It’s not so much the crush or the crowds but rather having to have to deal with the constant rudeness.<br> The two examples from this morning are pretty normal.<br> The first was when getting on a train at my regular interchange; everyone standing was squeezed into the doorway areas. There was plenty of room to move further into the carriage, but a few people were blocking access to it.<br> My requests to ‘Please move down’ where ignored until I was forced to push past them.<br> The second was when trying to get off.<br> Those self same people crowded by the doors stood still as statues despite completely blocking the exit.<br> Why not just step off and then back on again once the way is clear?<br> It’s not just the ignorance that upsets me; it’s the look of outrage that they should do something to make others lives easier.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/11/05/underground-etiquette-7311504/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/11/05/underground-etiquette-7311504/Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:59:04 +0100 <p>My Brother has a built-in SatNav in his head. He can navigate through towns, cities even continents without any worry or doubt.<br> His memory, sense of direction and knowledge of landmarks is phenomenal.<br> My Father’s the same.<br> Me?<br> I get lost turning around.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/16/no-sense-of-direction-7180232/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/16/no-sense-of-direction-7180232/Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:00:47 +0200 <p>I took my six-year-old daughter to yet another child’s birthday party on Sunday.<br> Usually these events are an opportunity for the wealthier families to flaunt their wealth and try to outdo each other.<br> This party was at the other end of the scale.<br> The family were Japanese and perfectly nice people, but they had hired a hall that was having building works carried out.<br> The car park was a mess of mud and broken paving stones.<br> The hall itself was cold with two permanently open exits. Neither of them watched.<br> They had hired an entertainer, and she was OK, but it was just her and about thirty children.<br> They were all given large foam balls and plastic hula-hoops to play with and encouraged to run around.<br> On walking into the shrieking chaos, my daughter turned and begged me not to leave her.<br> I didn’t.<br> I wouldn’t of even if she hadn’t asked me.<br> I watched a dozen children hurt themselves and there were lots of tears and arguments.<br> How many other parents stayed?<br> Two.<br> I wonder what the others were doing that was more important? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/un-happy-birthday-party-7173380/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/15/un-happy-birthday-party-7173380/Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:09:19 +0200 <p>No, not what you’re thinking.<br> I sat down on the train on the way home and somehow the armrest slotted into my front pocket.<br> Annoyingly the distance between the seat, my bottom and the armrest was about an inch too far.<br> Riiiiip!<br> Embarrassing but worse, the material ripped rather than just the seam.<br> One pair of suit trousers ruined and one suit jacket now redundant.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/14/trouser-accident-7166657/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/14/trouser-accident-7166657/Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:48:16 +0200 <p>I’m trying to watch less television nowadays.<br> Just films and programs that catch my interest on the TV pages of the newspaper.<br> I watched a program on the BBC last night about two young soldiers recovering from horrendous injuries.<br> Tom and Andy.<br> Both had lost their legs. One of them had also lost his left arm; the other had been partially blinded.<br> Their heroism left me sad but amazed.<br> I truly hope they both live fulfilling lives.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/13/wounded-7161209/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/13/wounded-7161209/Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:19:14 +0200 <p>I was surprised to find a flock of about thirty geese wandering around a school car-park on Saturday. They were in a closed off section, but people could still wander through.<br> I was lucky as I was on my way to a children's party with my boy and we happened to have some bread with us.<br> The geese were quite bold and gratefully took the small pieces of bread from our hands. My boy did shriek a bit when the birds got a little too aggressive, but overall he was pretty brave.<br> We spent about a quarter of an hour feeding them.<br> Would it be weird to say that it was my favourite part of my weekend?</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/12/canada-geese-7151783/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/12/canada-geese-7151783/Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:15:44 +0200 <p>My children travel to three different schools every morning.<br> My eldest walks herself to her coach stop.<br> My youngest gets driven by my wife.<br> My middle child gets the bus with me.<br> Initially we considered getting a second car but I was against it.<br> It would just necessitate me driving back home after dropping her off and I'd be even later for work than I currently am.<br> The added bonus is that we get to chat and play while waiting for and riding on the bus.<br> The small walk at either end isn't problem as she gets to run and walk along walls.<br> Most parents seem to forget how precious this time is.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/09/on-the-busses-7131466/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/09/on-the-busses-7131466/Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:20:10 +0200 <p>I walked my daughter to school today.<br> We met up with one of her friends, her Mum and her dog.<br> The laughed together and whizzed along on their scooters.<br> Everything was fine until about two minutes from the school.<br> The other little girl tripped and fell off onto her hands and knees.<br> She picked herself up, wobbled and then collapsed.<br> I ran and gathered her up before giving her to her Mum.<br> ‘Stay with me.’ She commanded her six-year-old daughter.<br> I stood uselessly holding both scooters, my daughter and their dog.<br> After about three minutes the little girl recovered with no sign of confusion or injury.<br> Her Mum told me that it happened whenever she injured herself and sent her through the school gates.<br> If it had been any one of my children, I would have taken them straight to the hospital!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/08/little-faint-7123705/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/08/little-faint-7123705/Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:59:01 +0200 <p>I was arguing with a friend the other day about who had the worst memory.<br> I contested that mine was worse due to all the blows to the head I’d received in my life.<br> He insisted his was poorer due to all the alcohol and drugs he’d consumed.<br> We argued for ages.<br> I can’t remember who won though.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/07/memory-7116328/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/07/memory-7116328/Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:00:56 +0200 <p>Diabetes is a problem in my family.<br> I recently found myself talking about my health and diet in that regard.<br> It’s not too bad.<br> I used to have a sweet tooth when I was younger, but I suspect that it was one of the ones I lost in idiot fights or accidents.<br> Before that though, my Mum used to treat me with Sugar sandwiches.<br> Yes they were exactly what they sound like:<br> Soft white bread, loads of margarine and about half and inch thick with white sugar.<br> The sugar used to pour out if you didn't keep it level as you ate.<br> My teeth are aching at the memory.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/06/sugar-sandwiches-7111090/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/06/sugar-sandwiches-7111090/Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:43:24 +0200 <p>About two months ago I visited my local GP because the inside of my cheek had been bleeding.<br> The bleeding had stopped but an obvious lump had formed.<br> I suppose everyone thinks the same thing when lumps appear.<br> The Doctor referred me to the Maxillofacial dept. in the nearest hospital.<br> I went this morning, after dropping my daughter at school and got there just in time for my 9.20am appointment.<br> I was seen quite quickly and sent down to the x-ray dept.<br> The girl doing the x-rays asked me to remove all metal from around my head and neck area. I told her about the metal posts in four of my teeth but she said that they’d be fine.<br> After the x-ray I was sent back to the Maxillofacial dept. for a physical examination.<br> It’s very weird to have someone feeling around the inside of your mouth.<br> Weirder when the Dr called in his supervisor and she did the same thing.<br> They were pleased to announce that I’d simply developed a calcium stone in one of my salivary glands.<br> The bleeding was caused when the stone had torn through the saliva duct and the lump was simply the subsequent scarring.<br> They couldn't cut it away without damaging the still functioning saliva duct and gland.<br> It’s not very noticeable and I’m sure I’ll stop feeling it over time.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/05/stones-in-my-mouth-7102718/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/05/stones-in-my-mouth-7102718/Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:32:50 +0200 <p>My fifteen-year-old daughter’s got a boyfriend.<br> Not one of her ‘I really like him, he’s so dreamy’ boyfriends but a real one.<br> They’ve been seeing each other for several months now and they are obviously serious about each other.<br> A year ago I would have hated it.<br> Now… Not so much.<br> I’m just grateful that he seems like a nice boy.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/02/bobby-7084084/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/02/bobby-7084084/Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:41:43 +0200 <p>My eldest is nearly 16 and as you’d expect a teenage girl to be nowadays.<br> There were tears and I hate you’s.<br> In her defence, she had to have a total of four injections: Two in one arm, one in her other arm and one in her bottom.<br> She stormed out of the nurse’s office and went home without the rest of us.<br> She greeted us at the door when we got home and had managed to calm herself down.<br> I wasn’t angry.<br> Injections are horrible.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-eldest-7076689/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-eldest-7076689/Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:46:15 +0200 <p>My six-year-old girl came in to the nurse’s office after her little brother.<br> My wife took the boy and my little girl sat on my still warm lap.<br> “Will it hurt?” she asked me.<br> “A little.” I replied honestly.<br> She buried her face in my chest as the first needle went in.<br> Tears welled up but she didn’t make a noise.<br> The second injection didn’t seem so bad and she even managed a small smile.<br> She’s a much braver soul than me.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-girl-7076682/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-girl-7076682/Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:44:44 +0200 <p>I took my youngest in to the nurse’s office first, while my wife waited outside with the girls.<br> I let him see me have two injections while he sat on my lap and we laughed and joked as I told him I didn’t feel a thing.<br> When his turn came, he continued to sit on my lap. He was brave and smiling and took the first injection bravely.<br> It did hurt.<br> I’d lied to him.<br> He cried.<br> I felt awful.<br> Still, he needed a second injection and although tearful, he took it.<br> I was proud of him.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-boy-7076678/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-boy-7076678/Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:44:14 +0200 <p>Another penalty of foreign holidays is the dreaded inoculations.<br> For some ridiculous reason the various injections had to be carried out over several days.<br> I didn’t organise it very well as I was nervous about the children seeing each other’s reactions.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-a-trilogy-7076676/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/inoculations-a-trilogy-7076676/Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:43:22 +0200 <p>I took my wife out for a meal on Saturday night.<br> There was no particular reason; I just thought we deserved it.<br> My parents looked after our youngest two children and my teenage daughter was allowed a few hours alone in the house with her boyfriend.<br> Regardless of her teenage tantrums, I do love and trust her.<br> It was really nice evening and a much needed treat for my wife.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/dinner-with-my-wife-7076465/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/10/01/dinner-with-my-wife-7076465/Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:59:45 +0200 <p>My youngest daughter was practically bouncing as we walked the short distance to the piano teacher’s house.<br> We were greeted at the door and escorted into the music room.<br> Looking tiny, she sat down at the enormous grand piano.<br> A piano that took up the entire space.<br> The lesson was simple.<br> Timing, rolls and scales.<br> My little girl grinned throughout the entire half an hour. Her eyes as big as I’ve ever seen them.<br> I was allowed to stay and watch and truly enjoyed the end of the lesson where they actually played ‘Fur Elise’ together.<br> My little girl wasn’t the only one bouncing on the walk home.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/30/first-piano-lesson-7067685/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/30/first-piano-lesson-7067685/Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:21:23 +0200 <p>My entire family is going away in about a month for a foreign holiday.<br> The only problem is that it’ll be the first time that our three-year-old dog can’t come with us.<br> My wife’s mother and brother are unable/incapable of looking after her but I’m loath to put her into a kennel.<br> A local woman was recommended to me and I arranged to meet her very early on Saturday morning at the rugby club.<br> She turned up with four dogs but I was surprised to see her limping while we walked.<br> I was privately concerned but she managed an hours walk without complaint.<br> I asked her what had happened to her knee and she simply gestured to the dogs.<br> Apparently a large dog had charged into her, smashing her knee and breaking her other foot.<br> I was quite impressed with the surgeons who’d somehow managed to replace her entire knee joint while retaining her original kneecap.<br> More importantly, she was a woman who obviously loved dogs and had chosen her job to suit her nature.<br> I’ll walk with her a few more times to let my dog get to know her, but as far as I’m concerned, the jobs hers.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/29/jenny-the-dog-walker-7061088/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/29/jenny-the-dog-walker-7061088/Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:46:10 +0200 <p>I made my eldest daughter learn the piano. She wasn’t that interested but I made the classic mistake of forcing my child to do what I regretted not doing.<br> My youngest daughter however really wanted to learn.<br> I suppose it’s because there is a (really dodgy) piano in the house already.<br> She taught herself a few tunes and begged me to take her to lessons.<br> I told her that she could once she reached six.<br> She reached that milestone ten months ago.<br> I had a moment on Sunday afternoon where everyone was feeling ill and I could feel time slipping away from us.<br> Taking my daughter by the hand I walked her to a local piano teachers house.<br> She starts on Friday.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/24/piano-teacher-7030120/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/24/piano-teacher-7030120/Thu, 24 Sep 2009 10:54:09 +0200 <p>I’m not a particularly big man. 6ft tall and just over 12st but I can’t stand seeing food wasted.<br> I’ll hoover up any leftovers on the children’s plates and eat any food that is just past its ‘sell-by-date’.<br> This morning I noticed two packs of sandwich ham and a family pack of Italian salami.<br> They had both expired the previous day.<br> My wife is a vegetarian and won’t feed anything past the package date to my children, so I shared what felt like half a pound of processed meat with my dog for breakfast.<br> My dog was extremely happy but I feel a bit sluggish this morning.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/23/meat-for-breakfast-7023612/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/23/meat-for-breakfast-7023612/Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:56:44 +0200 <p>My wife is ill, as are my youngest two children.<br> My six-year-old daughter pulled the bedcovers over her head and my five-year-old boy didn’t want to go to school.<br> Considering my constant truanting as a boy, my attitude towards them missing school may seem unfair, but I made the boy go to school this morning.<br> “Are you really ill?” I asked.<br> Head down and eyes averted he mumbled back, “A bit.”<br> “Don’t worry then. I’ll drive you to school and I’ll ask your teacher to call home if you do start to feel worse.”<br> “How will Mummy come if she’s sick?”<br> “Mummy will always come for you no matter what.”<br> After dropping him, I got home to my daughter bouncing on the sofa!<br> It’s funny how a day off school can make you feel instantly better.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/22/hypocritic-oath-7016031/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/22/hypocritic-oath-7016031/Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:24:24 +0200 <p>My two smallest children went back to gymnastics after the summer break.<br> My boy does 10am – 11am; my daughter does 12 noon –1pm.<br> It’s annoying that it takes up my entire Saturday morning but the children really enjoy it.<br> More importantly, it keeps them away from the TV.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/gymnastics-vs-tv-7009073/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/21/gymnastics-vs-tv-7009073/Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:07:18 +0200 <p>All three of my children go to amazing schools. My only regret is that they all go to different ones and none of them are an easy walk.<br> My eldest walks about a mile to her coach stop. My wife drives my boy and I take my six-year-old girl on the bus.<br> This seems to work fine, but on Wednesday I decided to walk and let my daughter take her scooter.<br> Although it’s a long way for a small child, it’s mostly downhill and over half of the journey is relatively safe and away from the main roads. Only one section gave me concern.<br> Door to door, it took us about 45 minutes.<br> My daughter didn’t seem to worry though. In fact she loved it.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/18/scooter-6989420/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/18/scooter-6989420/Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:41:42 +0200 <p>My five-year-old son started year 1 this week.<br> He looked very smart in his new school uniform.<br> Grey trousers, grey shirt, grey socks, black shoes, black blazer and…<br> a pink tie!<br> Weird choice for a boys school.<br> Frankly I’d prefer him in jeans and trainers.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/17/big-boy-6982622/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/17/big-boy-6982622/Thu, 17 Sep 2009 10:34:51 +0200 <p>At 10am on Sunday morning, I decide that we should do something as a family.<br> ‘What?’ asks my wife.<br> ‘Why don’t we all go bowling?’ I say.<br> I phone up the nearest bowling alley and book a lane for 11am.<br> We all rush to get ready and are out the door by 10.30am.<br> Even my teenage daughter!<br> We get there in time and everyone looks natty in their bowling shoes.<br> Everyone gets a ball for themselves while I go off to organise a pitcher of coke and bowls of chips for everyone.<br> Interestingly, our personalities where made obvious by our bowling techniques.<br> My wife and eldest daughter both tried their hardest to win.<br> My youngest daughter shrugged off any attempt to help her and did it her way.<br> My little boy insisted on using the ‘ball roller’. This is a device for making bowling easier. (He’s no fool.)<br> And I tried very hard to let my two youngest children beat me. (This was very difficult as the bowling lanes had the child rails up to prevent gutter balls.)<br> My eldest daughter won followed closely by my wife. My little ones came equal third and I came last.</p> <p>Honest!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/16/bowling-6977689/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/16/bowling-6977689/Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:57:29 +0200 <p>I went for a run in the fields behnd my house this morning.<br> I say ‘run’ but it was a staggered affair.<br> I ran the first quarter and staggered the rest.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/15/running-6968280/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/15/running-6968280/Tue, 15 Sep 2009 11:30:13 +0200 <p>I noticed that I now seem to be working on another spare tire.<br> I could live with one but two's ridiculous.<br> So I've given up white bread and started to exercise.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/14/getting-love-handles-under-control-6962014/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/14/getting-love-handles-under-control-6962014/Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:37:32 +0200