Phew-ee – babies are hard work, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Ben has been having trial days at nursery, and so picked up the expected cold, so has a very runny nose. His upper central and lateral incisors are also coming through, which has turned him into a total grump for the last few days. He either wakes up in the middle of night because he’s rolled over on to his front, and can’t do anything about it, or wakes up an hour or so early crying, presumably because of his teeth. I thought we’d got past the sleep deprivation stage, but oh no.
Still, Calpol works wonders, and between times he’s his usual happy chatty stuff (and very close to saying “dada” now, although I think he’s just trying to get on my good side).
On a different note, we’ve been trying to continue our habit of a weekend stroll – nothing too heavy, just an hour’s toddle or so. We’ve done Swinsty and Fewston reservoirs, Bolton Abbey (although I’d almost broken my toe that morning, so it was a curtailed walk), and yesterday was the “seven bridges” at Fountain’s Abbey (there are, in fact, 6 – but for some reason the walk is titled with seven.) The revelation for me was getting a GPS receiver, which I can program up with the walk in advance, and then watch our progress round as we go. I still find it amazing that, with a small hand-held device, I can pin-point my location to within about 10m anywhere in the world. That’s better than I can do with a map on most scales. I know it makes me a saddo, but if it motivates me to actually get out and walk (and enjoy it) then it can’t be too bad in my reckoning!
Oh yes, saw Lost in Translation too over the weekend. What a strange film, in a vaugely endearing way. Thing that most surprised me was how un-glamorous Scarlett Johansson is in it. I’ve not seen her in anything else, so have no baseline comparison, but her looks weren’t really what I was expecting. Will consider my position after after I’ve seen Girl with a Pearl Earing.
Had a very exciting weekend, when I was stung (twice) by a wasp. I know that this normally wouldn’t classify as exciting, but I’ve never been stung by a wasp before! My mum has anaphylaxis to wasp stings, and I’ve always been worried the same thing might happen to me.. It’s not meant to be heriditary, but I have the same reaction to the tetanus jab, so it’s been a concern of mine for all my life. Well, up until now anyway. Didn’t stop me swatting the begger either. 🙂
Actually it was a lot less painful then I’d anticipated – no worse than a bad nettle sting I’d say. Although a few days on it is very itchy, especially in bed.
On a happier note, weight is going the right direction again – back down to 80kg last night. A reckons my target of 70kg is probably a bit too low, so I might take stock at 75kg (assuming I ever get there). Chocolate drop sponge cakes don’t particularly help, although it was very tasty.
Also, for those that are interested, getting a replacement mirror made by Knaresborough Glass, who seem like a really good organisation – they do made to measure with a 24hr turn-around, and were dead friendly on the phone. Half the price the original one from Wickes too! I guess I should reserve judgement until I see the actual mirror this evening…
Phew – got into work, couple of minutes to catch my breath before the day starts in earnest.
Had a big shock last night – our bathroom mirror fell off the wall, and (sort of) shattered on the floor. It’s a substational affair – 60x80cm, so made quite a crash! Actually it had some amazingly strong plastic backing, which kept all the shards together, apart from some small fragments which had flown off. Fortunately we were all in bed at the time, but it took a chuck out of the loo seat on it’s way down, and ended up just where we put Ben on the floor when he’s getting ready for a bath. Doesn’t bear thinking about. Probably the most extraordinary thing about it was that Ben didn’t even stir!! When that’s boy’s asleep, wow, he can sleep (bit like his father, I guess).
Depressingly my weight is going the wrong way – up to 82kg yesterday evening, although we had just had a huge meal.
Quickie – found out that the next Star Wars film is titled Revenge of the Sith. It is my opinion that the titles of the three prequels have failed to inspire, but I haven’t really thought about coming up with anything better, so I guess I shouldn’t say too much. Anyway, May next year (2005) is still the magic date.
Well, it’s official – I am now Dr Handley. Got my bit of paper on Friday morning, and got to dress up in a fancy gown and hat! I know it’s all a very serious matter and all that, but it is a bit silly – doffing hats left right and centre, processing up the aisle following girls holding big wooden spoons with holes drilled in them!
Still, it’s no worse than church, I guess, with men in frocks wandering around. I went to the installation of a Canon at Ripon catherdral (yes, that’s just 1 ‘n’ in the middle – it’s a person, not a projectile weapon!), which was plain bizarre. At times the servive was deeply moving, full of rich symbolism and beautiful music, in a beautiful setting.. but at other times it was like “what is going on?” Poor chap was lead around by the hand, until finally being deposited in the stall with his name on it. Not to mention the person in full legal dress, including powdered wig, making sure it was all being done properly.
Still, I suppose it’s no more bizarre than spending hundreds of pounds to watch 22 men run around on a pitch (especially if you dress up like you’re a player!), or to being glued to people hurtle themselves round race-tracks in precision engineering rockets on wheels.
Very speedy update – our Ben got home from Cornwall with his Mum yesterday, and he’s really grown! Got himself 2 teeth too (although he already had 1 nearly out when he went down.
Also had another thought about speeding, which was one further reason for a speed limit is, of course, environmental in that the faster you go the more fuel you consume per mile (and hence the more pollution you create with current cars). Guess if we all ran on hydrogren it wouldn’t be a problem – but cars with strapped on hydrogren tanks??
I’m turning into an old cynic – two reviews on the trot where I haven’t raved about a film. But I’m getting ahead of myself… I found Signs to be quite a disappointment. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but I was sort of waiting for the shocks, the chills, and the gasp at the twist at the end – none of which came, and the film was over almost as soon as it began. M. Night Shyamalan did an amazing job on Sixth Sense, a fair job on Unbreakable, but Signs – pretty average, I’d say. Not that there was anything that much wrong with it – the acting was fine, special effects (such as they were) were fine – but somehow it didn’t hit the spot for me. I don’t think I jumped or got freaked out once, and the scenes that were either pitch black or just focussed on a flashlight seemed entirely for effect and just dragged on. Maybe it’s because I was sitting in front of the fire (Summer? yeah right!) with daylight outside (long days at least), munching pizza, but the bits that you could tell were meant to be scary and suspenseful plain weren’t. As I say, not a bad film – quite watchable, believeable characters, but nothing special either.
