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 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 <p>I met a few old friends yesterday. One couldn’t make it and one had to leave early.<br> The remaining four of us enjoyed several beers in a pub before strolling down to China town for some food.<br> Ignoring all peril, we let the waiter choose for us.<br> The food was lovely but expensive.<br> We also had a few more beers.<br> Then we went to an ‘Urban golf’ centre.<br> These are effectively a combination of Golf, a computer game, a squash court and a swanky bar.<br> More beers followed by the golf.<br> Two of our group knew how to play; two of us didn’t.<br> I was soundly beaten but I was pleased that I was even able to hit the ball.<br> The other novice entertained us all with his ability to swish madly and repeatedly. Several times he was driven to picking up the ball and throwing it at the canvas screen.<br> I left my friends at around 11pm when they went on looking for a pub or bar still open.<br> Home by midnight and wife not too disapproving.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/11/urban-golf-6943131/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>http://mendez1.blog.co.uk/2009/09/11/urban-golf-6943131/Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:01:37 +0200