Dec 1: Only Three Careful Owners
George really suits his hand-me-down cardigan (as did Matt and Andy) but these days, he just about squeezes into it.
With his big brothers playing round their mates’ houses, George was free to join Mo and I for lunch at The Rocks – at which he we was very good company, and very well behaved. Top lad.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment on yesterday’s blip – it was really fantastic. Things like that make blip what it is.
Dec 2: Beating Kelso
Took the lads and Matt’s pal down to Kelso to play rugby.
The last time they played them, they were shocked to find Kelso played full contact rugby – so instead of playing their usual game of tag, they were being tackled and hurled to the ground. “These are the guys that really walloped us last time, Matthew,” Fraser kept saying.
This is probably why, when we arrived, Andy wouldn’t get out of the car: he was convinced “one of the Kelsos is going to thump me.” However, this time, they’d been told they had to stick to touch rugby – and Dunbar won both their games.
Hooray for non-violent victory!
Dec 3: Floating
I was down in Hartlepool today for the funeral of my aunty, who’d died suddenly last week. In spite of the sad circumstances, it was good to spend some time with cousins, aunts and uncles I see much too little of.
On the way home, I stopped to take s picture of the Penshaw Monument. At night, I always think it looks like it’s floating in the air, rather than sitting on top of a hill.
Dec 4: Christmas Hell
Wandering around Ocean Terminal at lunchtime, I have to say they were being remarkably honest about the diabolical nature of the festive season.
Dec 5: As Long As You’ve Got Your Elf, Santa
Back to the pit of hell today to confront Satan himself. Actually, Old Nick turned out to be a nice enough feller, happy to pose and have his picture taken – and he seemed quite friendly towards his demonic underlings. Though I probably shouldn’t have signed away my soul, on reflection.
I’d actually set out to get a better shot of the very ugly cruise ship that I’d seen yesterday – but unfortunately, it had sailed: I guess tourists can only handle so much of Leith’s heady charms.
A reminder to always seize the blip.
Dec 6: Past its sell-by date?
Hiraeth, I know you’re kind of busy right now.
But I was just looking for something in your in-tray, and found this. Are you wanting to keep this apple/potato/biological experiment?
Now I know why the cleaners were giving me funny looks.
Dec 7: Britannia Nice
Went out for lunch with a bunch of people from the Business Centre today. It was very, very tasty indeed, and I’m sure that in a few short hours I’ll be able to move again.
Dec 8: I’ve Got My Giant Hits Discotheque Album
This morning, George was grooving round the kitchen to the sound of the Clash’s Lost In The Supermarket, which Wossy was playing on his wadio show.
I was explaining to him that it was the demo version, released as a bonus CD on the 25th Anniversary London Calling reissue (it’s never too early to be a music nerd) but he just seemed to be enjoying the tune.
“When you first heard that,” said Mo, “I bet you never imagined that one day you’d be taking pictures of your two-year-old son dancing to it, dressed as Spider Man.” I have to say, she had a point.
The big lads have just got their karate blue belts, and we’re about to head off and pick a Christmas tree. Hooray – and indeed – hooray.
Dec 9: Christmas Traditions
It’s become a tradition that the boys and I decorate the tree every Christmas. It’s also traditional that I discover that we do need an extra set of lights, that I will try very hard not to swear, and that I will break something.
Unfortunately, today it was this glass bauble – which we’d bought years ago to mark one of the kids’ first Christmas. Bloody traditions, eh.
Dec 10: Angelic?
Went to see Andy’s Christmas Play today: Whoopsy-Daisy Angel it was called, and everyone – parents and kids – seemed to really enjoy it. Andy, being a complete ham, gave it everything he had.
Beforehand, one of the teachers stood up. They pointed out that, because some parents had said they weren’t happy with pictures being taken of their kids, we would only be able to take photos of our own kids at the end of the show. Judging by the reaction of the people around me, it wasn’t a popular policy.
Still, the show was great fun. And afterwards of course, George had to get in on the act.
Dec 11: I’m The Alloy Master, Twisted Alloy Master
I recognise most of the words on the back of this van, but as to what they mean, I can’t be sure. Do I want my rim polished, for instance? It’s not something you’d want to enter into lightly.
I like the way it looks like the person who wrote it lost heart, reduced to simply listing random-looking single words.
Dec 12: Fort to Fort
As I left the office today, the Fort flats across the street looked almost attractive in the late afternoon sun. Which was more than can be said for Fort Kinnaird, where I was heading to get some Christmas bits and pieces.
Fort Kinnaird – it’s a desperate place.
As for the sign in Boots – well, it’s a funny photo, but it’s not that funny.
Dec 13: Wired
Funny how the whole world – from blip to Bank of Scotland, transformers.com to Tesco – goes in and out of our house through these tiny little wires.
Seems most improbable, really.
Dec 14: Narrator 13 (and fan)
Matt had his nativity play this morning, in which he was Narrator 13.
His teacher had asked him to play the part of Herod, but it seems he wasn’t keen on being one of the baddies. While I have some sympathy with his moral stance, I have to say that it doesn’t bode well for a career in the acting profession.
When it came to saying his lines though, he said them confidently, clearly and with conviction. He said them perfectly. And yeah, I know I would say that, but he did.
Dec 15: I Might As Well Jump
Went to East Links Family Park for the afternoon, where the lads bounced and somersaulted themselves silly on the trampolines.
It’s a brilliant place, with loads of stuff for kids (animals, go karts, a narrow-gauge train, that kind of thing) and at the moment they’ve got a Santa’s grotto, which the kids thought was great. There was even a free cup of mulled wine for the grown-ups, so I thought it was great too.
Dec 16: Flat out
George has such a big personality that it’s easy to forget he isn’t even two-and-a-half years old. But when he’s asleep, you can see he’s still just a llittle’un.
While he was napping, I took Matt and Andy swimming. Afterwards, we went for a frozen stroll round the harbour, looking at not-from-round-here boats and a curious seal.
Got frozen stiff, then headed home for a roast chicken dinner. Yum.
Dec 17: Northern (and Brooksie) Lights
How could I turn down a request from two fellow blippers? So when Northern and Brooksie – both ex-residents of Dunbar – asked me to blip the town’s Christmas lights, it had to be done.
For a small town, Dunbar puts on a big display – with a lot of the lights sponsored by local businesses (you could be mistaken for thinking they were big classified ads done in coloured lights).
Unfortunately, this picture doesn’t do them justice: some of them had been turned off as it was getting near to midnight – and the fact that tomorrow is bin day didn’t really help.
Dec 18: Millennium
Took the train down to Newcastle today, to spend the day with an old mate.
Had a stroll across the Millennium Bridge, took a look at the Baltic and admired the view from the Sage. After so many new things, it was time to repair to a few pubs for a reassuring pint and some top chat.
A grand day out – and I even found a pub named after me!
Dec 19: Patient Dog
Took Molly to the vet this morning, to get her leg x-rayed. She’s still limping quite badly, but hopefully they’ll tell us she’s on the mend. A fine, stoical animal she is.
After dropping her off. driving through the East Lothian countryside, Darlene Love’s Marshmallow World came on the radio and I suddenly felt, for the first time this year, very Christmassy.
Dec 20: Lost and found
Turning up at the office without my office keys this morning was a real “d’oh” moment. But at least it gave me an excuse to wander round in the bright morning sunshine.
Lost: one key. Found: two stars in the street.
Dec 21: Just a few more steps now
I imagine that, for most people trudging up the stairs at Waverley Station this morning, this was the final commute before Christmas. You could feel the “almost there” atmosphere hanging over our slumped shoulders and shuffling feet.
Early blip, off to lunch, crispy duck, foaming ale, talking crap, more foaming ale, train home, family arriving, good cheer all round. What’s not to like?
Have a top festive Friday.
Dec 22: Lightsabers in a Winter Wonderland
We all went into Edinburgh in the afternoon to experience the freezing-cold fun of the Christmas Fair. On the big wheel, I felt as if my hands were about to fall off (which would have come as a relief, I think).
Matt and Andy, and their cousins Jack and Adam, each got a cheapie lightsaber at one of the market stalls. This was the result when one of them walked past me, twirling their lethal Jedi weapon.
EDIT:
I thought it looked interesting as a mirrored image, too.
Dec 23: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
Had a brilliant pre-Christmas lunch with the family today. Because of various work commitments, they can’t be here on Christmas Day itself – so we had a blow-out here today, and we’ll head down to see everyone at my dad’s on Boxing Day.
With all the to-ing and fro-ing, I’m starting to get confused about what day it is: so when I point out that it’s two sleeps till Santa, it’s mostly myself I’m reminding.
Dec 24: One More Sleep
Unless we’ve forgotten something (too late to worry about that now) our Christmas preparations seem to have been remarkably efficient this year.
So, as we only had to get a couple of last-minute things today, we headed out to North Berwick. A spot of lunch at the “old school” Italian restaurant, then a wander about as the sun went down: top stuff.
Called in to see some friends on the way back to exchange gifts, and among other things, there was a bottle of port for me, and Battleships for Matt. So now I can spend my Christmas teaching him how to play, while giving myself gout in a most delightful way.
Have a good one tomorrow: I hope Santa fills your stockings.
Dec 25: “I am Optimus Prime!”
In fact, at this moment Andy was shouting “thank you Santa!” but he soon got into the Optimus Prime groove (which I think confused my dad when he spoke to him on the phone).
A great day with just Mo, the boys and me. Had to wake them up, amazingly. Present-opening frenzy, Beyblade-assembly nightmare, huge lunch, bracing walk on the beach, then a cracking Doctor Who before chucking the boys into bed.
Merry Christmas everybody (as Noddy Holder would say). Hope you’ve had – and are having – a good’un.
Dec 26: Boxing, Dipping, Potting
Travelled down to Hartlepool to visit the family, hoping to see my niecestaking part in the traditional Boxing Day Dip. We missed the moment when hundreds of people plunged into the cold grey North Sea, but we saw the shivering aftermath. I’ve agreed to do it next year, if my brother will. What was I thinking?
The event takes place at Seaton Carew, which is where (as UK blippers will know) this man faked his own death. It seems that, long before he owned the house where he was hiding out, I used to go to parties there! It really was a complete rabbit warren of a place.
In the afternoon, there was time for a couple of games of snooker and a pint or two at my dad’s club, before a frenzy of exchanging presents. Later, I stayed up to watch The Big Lebowski for the first time (I’ve been meaning to see it for ages). What a brilliant film.
Dec 27: Old News
When my dad asked me to nip out to get some milk for him this morning, I took George with me to the local shops, where the only one open was the newsagent.
It always feels a bit strange going in there. When I was a kid, I used to be a paper-boy for them – and while the woman who runs it now (the daughter of the owners then) sort of half-recognises me, we don’t really have much to say to each other.
There are four shops in this block, and they once all had the same Vitrolite signs: BUTCHER, BAKER and GROCER. At one point, it must have seemed like everything anyone could possibly need. Now, I think the NEWSAGENT sign is the only one left.
Dec 28: Yes, Our Name is Igglepiggle
I think it’s fair to say that George has done rather well for In The Night Garden toys this Christmas.
Isn’t that a pip?
Dec 29: Spiky
Met up with our friends and their teenage sons for lunch at Vittoria’s on Leith Walk and a visit to the Winter Wonderland. It’s become a bit of a Christmas tradition, and a fine one at that.
Matt and Andy love the company of the big lads, and in honour of the occasion, Andy demanded that he have his hair gelled into spikes. He also insisted that I take his photo, and put on his best “are you lookin’ at me?” expression.
Had an ace meal, took a wander round the funfair and then watched the torchlight procession make its way down Princes Street. Top stuff.
Dec 30: Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
According to t’internet, the lads are zooming around on a flying fox or zip line – but when I was a kid, I think we called it a commando rope. Or maybe not: it was a long time ago.
Took the boys out to Lauderdale Park, where they pretty much had the place to themselves.
Our friends Chris and Joanne are arriving later to stay for New Year – let the party begin!
Dec 31: Crossing Over
We all went for a refreshing walk on the beach at Belhaven bay this afternoon – a fine way to blow away the old year.
Funny to think that next time we cross this bridge, it’ll be 2008.
Happy new year, everyone!
Our Daily Red 