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Home > Blogs > Norfolk Single Dad > Posted in July 2007 Norfolk Single DadPosted in July 2007A slice of English life in all its glory, through the eyes of a 39 year-old single dad and his amazing 4 year-old son.... RIP Phil Drabble
Source: Eddie2sox The well-loved presenter of One Man And His Dog has passed away, aged 93. Phil Drabble, the voice of chilhood favourite One Man And His Dog, has died aged 93.
The Beeb says "Phil Drabble brought the countryside into the homes of BBC viewers and listeners and became one of the BBC's best loved faces and voices. He will be remembered with deep affection and gratitude by millions of viewers and listeners who will mourn his passing."
I am actually surprised how sad I feel about this. OMAHD was a regular show on our family telly, entertaining and completely harmless. I loved it. I was telling Sam about it only a few weeks ago when we watched a sheepdog display at Dinosaur Land. I think Sam would have enjoyed the programme.
Phil Drabble also inspired a regular sketch on my all-time favourite radio show, Radio One's Mark & Lard. They substituted the dogs for frogs, and Phil Drabble became Scoff Cruddle. The female frogs who coralled flocks of tadpoles around ponds were known as bitches. There was even a song....first line...."If I could give you any piece of advice.......get yourself a bitch!"
So long Phil, you're one of my icons. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveShoes Off!
Source: Eddie2sox If You Want Bates Out! Following the success of the shoe waving Iraqi attempts at ousting Saddam, this year's protest at Elland Road is following suit. The picture shows the first "Shoes off, if you want Bates out" protest of the season, in a friendly at Burnley last weekend. Remember where you heard about it first!
We need to Get The Chelsea Out Of Leeds, starting with the ultra-crooked Papa Smurf Ken Bates. There are no players. The ones left haven't been paid. Cresswell's gone to Hull for £300,ooo (quote "I have no choice with administration, I don't want to go to Hull"). Danny Rose to Yids for a million. Healy to Fulham for just over a million. Meanwhile Super Leeds are not allowed to bring players in yet. There is no registered goalkeeper over the age of 19.
So. Altogether now....."Shoes Off If You Want Bates Out!" To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveSalt & Vinegar World Cup
Source: Eddie2sox Ooops, I never managed to post the complete results of this project, sorry crisp lovers.... Salt & Vinegar World Cup 2007 Rules Matches were decided on the basis of comparing: 1 - Crispness 2 - Flavour 3 - Size of crisp 4 - Aroma 5 - Packaging 6 - More-ish-ness (don't think that's a real word) Each scored from 1 to 5 points, highest score savoury snack won. Competitors were collected over a 7 day period prior to the start of the tournament, wherever I found them. If your favourite wasn’t included, send me a sample of 4 packs ready for the next running of the world’s most significant salt & vinegar flavoured potato/maize based snack knockout competition…. Round One The Real McCoys Ridge Cut Salt & Malt Vinegar 20 : 14 Snack A Jacks Salt & Vinegar Walkers Salt & Vinegar 21 : 22 Seabrook Sea Salt & Vinegar Walkers Squares Salt & Vinegar 16 : 21 Pringles Salt & Vinegar Tesco Crunchy Sticks Salt & Vinegar 18 : 17 Walkers Baked Salt & Vinegar Tesco Twirls Salt & Vinegar 11 : 12 Tesco Salt & Vinegar Tesco Finest Sea Salt & West Country Cider Vinegar 14 : 18 Morrisons Salt & Vinegar Byes: Discos Salt & Vinegar, Kettle Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar
Round Two Kettle Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar 21 : 19 Discos Salt & Vinegar Morrisons Salt & Vinegar 17 : 22 Seabrook Sea Salt & Vinegar Pringles Salt & Vinegar 22 : 16 Tesco Crunchy Sticks Salt & Vinegar The Real McCoys Ridge Cut Salt & Malt Vinegar 20 : 14 Tesco Salt & Vinegar Semi-Finals Kettle Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar 20 : 22 The Real McCoys Ridge Cut Salt & Malt Vinegar Seabrook Sea Salt & Vinegar 21 : 19 Pringles Salt & Vinegar
Final The Real McCoys Ridge Cut Salt & Malt Vinegar 19 : 22 Seabrook Sea Salt & Vinegar A poor sample of McCoys handed the title to Seabrook’s finest! A meeting of ridged varieties, seems the IMM staff really do know their onions when it comes to crisps….
Norfolk Single Dad - Fearlessly Addressing Essential Consumer Issues Since, Errrm, February.... To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveIMM Bloggers FC
Source: Eddie2sox I threatened that I was going to start an online Sunday league football team, and did. They're doing well so far.... IMM Bloggers were 13th in the league when I took over, and now stand in 4th, catching up quick on the teams above. Our last game was a 10-3 victory over Little Creek Town, with goals from Munch, Roxy and Letty (who was Man Of The Match too). The Official report read thus: "IMM Bloggers were on blazing form as they torched Little Creek Town 10 - 3. Munch is top scorer so far this season with 28 goals in 16 games, followed by Roxy (24 in 15) and Letty (24 in 13). A certain N Single-Dad has set up most goals (15 in 14 games), then it's IMM's Matt (11 in 15) and Joe Rudd (11 in 14). We've had NO dismissals so far (well done team) but F. Businessman has 3 bookings already. We're 8 points behind the league leaders with 14 games to play. And there are 10 places left in the team for players to be named, come on down! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveDaddy & Sam's Sunday
Source: Eddie2sox Bangers, crabs, chicken.... Sam was crying at quarter to five, so I went to bring him into Daddy’s bed. I had a BLOODY awful night’s sleep, I always do when Sam’s here as I am always wondering if he’s OK. Of course he is, but my mind won’t accept that. Up with a jump and we played with the Lego banger track we made yesterday - pits included! Sam insisted on looking on the Internet at gymnastics - seems like his time at Lynnsport yesterday made a real impression. I looked up gymnastics stuff and they run proper courses for children from 4 to 15 years old. When I mentioned it later to Sam’s mummy she agreed. Anyway, Sam was amazed at what some of the “proper” gymnasts can do, and ran round the flat doing his impression of their moves for a while. The weather looked bright from indoors, so we decided to make progress with our home-made Ferrari. Took it all outside and it was windy with massive dewfall. We went round the corner and were sheltered from the breeze and the sun had dried the grass, so me and Sam sprayed some more parts scarlet - until we ran out of paint, DOH! Still, we have made progress, which our sponsors (in chief, Woodmans) will be pleased about. We came inside and Sam finished off his slice of Kaci’s birthday cake…..and then it was time to go. Four hours had gone already. The time just bloody flies past. I had prepared my walking stuff including stinky, cow-pooh boots, so we loaded the car and headed off. On the way Sam said he would miss me, which really tugs at the heart strings, but I know it’s not long until we’re together again. Love you Sampants. Straight from dropping Sam off I drove into the Norfolk countryside for a nice weekend ramble. This time I headed to Morston, which is the place that me and Sam sailed off to see the seals from last year. The walk was great, advertised as 5 miles but actually nearer 6. There were a couple of small stretches along roads, but they were minor distractions. At one point I walked across the end of the runway of the long-defunct RAF Langham, which was both a fighter and bomber station in World War 2. As I walked down the dusty, cracked perry track towards the village of Cockthorpe I looked back and sat down for a few minutes. What a contrast that this remote concrete track, today looking and feeling warm, welcoming, just downright comforting in some ways, during the war would see truckloads of aircrew driven up the very same concrete track, feeling scared, lonely and wondering if they would even see this sight ever again, as they prepared to take off into war. Humbling stuff. I eventually shook myself out of daydreaming and strolled through Cockthorpe, then took a right turn to follow a stream towards the sea. The path weaved through a nice water meadow, including a cliff! That’s right, a 10 metre cliff in Norfolk, and inland too. During this final part of the walk there were several times that small bunches of geese flapped and squawked around, which reminded me again of RAF Langham and the people who fought a war from there. Heavy, loud, seeming to defy physics to get airborne, these big geese and the old aircraft seem have a lot in common. Back to the car park and I took a picture of the same boat I snapped as I was setting out. An hour and 55 minutes for the 6 miles. Also worried to notice a Pay & Display sign, which I hadn’t noticed before I set out, thankfully no ticket or clamp, phew. MORSTON QUAY IS PAY AND DISPLAY! From there I set out to Cromer to buy my mum and dad a dressed crab each (they‘d argue over one!), but instead found The Blakeney Crab Shed, a garden shed down a long path, that sells lovely crab - I know, I’ve just eaten mine and considered eating theirs as well…..so short-cut back to the road homeward, and an hour later I was back. Time to roast a chicken! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveDaddy & Sam's Saturday
Source: Eddie2sox We had a good time, yet it still seemed to short! Well, it’s been pretty good so far, this weekend I mean. First, the bad stuff. Overnight on Friday night I acquired a cold. And the immersion stopped working, so there’s been no hot water. The fact that these minor setbacks have not sent me into a downward self-pitying grump is quite cool I feel. The cold was nearly gone by this morning, despite waking up all blocked-up, and I actually managed to get the hot water working too, all me own work! So, the good stuff. I picked Sam up a bit late, about twenty past eight, mainly due to the immersion and the “hard to get going” factor of having a cold. This week I had Sam with me from Saturday until Sunday, reason being that Sam’s mummy was going to a wedding on the Saturday, and could stay out late if Sam was with daddy. Suits me! So, back to the flats, and we had a game plan for the day, on a (fairly) tight schedule. Well, not such a tough schedule really, our first task was “playtime”. We nipped into town to find a birthday present for Sam’s friend Kaci (read a bout the party later), Sam chose both the present and card, we bought a bike lock for Sam’s bike so he can pedal into town in future, dropped off a large bagful of clothes at a charity shop, and acquired some stickers for the grid (again, see later). Zoomed home, had ten minutes as promised to Sam, on the swings at the park, singing Sam’s own version of “This way, that way, forward and back, over the Irish Sea!” We also had a nose into the bowls club and watched the chaps playing a couple of games for about ten minutes. Back home, out come the stickers…..earlier on we had decided to make a “starting grid” for our banger races, with grid spaces for 12 cars. We drew around a Lego brick to make the half-rectangle shapes that you see on a Formula One grid, then stuck stickers on to show which was position 1, position 2, etc etc. See the aerial view in the pic! We “were” going to have a game of ice hockey too, but time was short so we loaded the gear in the car and set off for Sleaford. It’s been a while since we went to see Nana and Grandad, so we put that right yesterday. It had also been FIVE weeks since we went to MacDonald’s, so we did that too! MacD at Holdingham roundabout near Sleaford was absolutely packed, so we chose to do a drive-through and take our booty elsewhere to scoff. We ended up eating in the car park across the road from Nana and Grandad’s house, and it was a nice treat. We surprised Sam’s grand-parents as we hadn’t told them we were coming! Didi the dog went crackers and Sam was the centre of attention. Sam was straight off outside with Didi so I had a chat with Dad - he is now over 7 stone in weight again, great stuff. Also looking healthier which is wonderful. As usual Sam did very well for presents, a belated birthday piggy bank from Auntie Lou was tops, Grandad gave Sam some new toy cars (well, a bulldozer, 2 buses and a limo!) and Nana came up with a fridge magnet in the shape of bagpipes that plays a Scots ditty when you press it. Me and Sam headed outside where Sam spotted The Wheelbarrow - the vehicle of doom that propels Sam at Warp Factor 6 around the garden as he screams and grimly hangs on to the sides. We went round the garden a few times with Didi, always ending up chasing Didi back into the back yard at - well it seemed to me who was pushing - about 85 miles an hour. Next we had our game of ice hockey - using the ELC golf clubs and ball. I showed Sam how ice hockey games start, and he loved it, running round the yard whacking the ball (when he could get it off Daddy, ha!), and Grandad had a go as well! I managed to get a photo of Grandad and Sam playing “ice hockey”, which looks good. We took Sam's scrapbook to show the grandparents, and they were really impressed with it, and wished they had the chance to do that kind of thing when they were young parents. All too soon it was time we headed back to King’s Lynn for Kaci’s birthday party, but as usual we stayed 40 minutes longer than we planned, it’s too hard to just leave. Sam hates leaving. And so, back on the road, we “bip-bip-bee-bip-bipped” as we drove over the railway bridge to say bye-bye, and set off back down the A17. Stuck The Enemy CD on to cheer us up, Sam asked for “number one-oh”. This is a song called “This Song”, The Enemy’s slowest tune, but it seems Sam loves it. What a great ear he’s developing. The drive back seemed to take for ages, the Sunday drivers were out in force a day early, and we had to head straight to the party instead of going home for 15 minutes as planned. Kaci’s Party! This was the first party we have been to at Lynnsport, and it was fan-bloody-tastic. The first hour was playtime (only 50 minutes for Sam, sorry little dude) and was in the gymnastics training gym. LOADS of stuff to play on, bounce on, run along, swing on, jump off, you name it! The Daddies were going for it as much as the children. The Mummies wanted to, but didn’t want to look un-cool. I personally loved it, leaping into huge pools of foam blocks is a rare treat when you’re an old giffer. Sam had fun with Sophie - the two of them “squished” me with a huge soft roller - this led to similar “squishings” for Sophie, Poppy, and I am SURE we squished Sam too, but he denies it. Sam was, in general, amazed with the place, and LOVED all the gymnastics equipment. Soon it was time for tea, so everyone adjourned to the food room. I think this, for you blog-readers, was the room in which Dewdrop does her spinning classes. Huge, which means that the acoustics are perfect for screaming children. The kids had a great time, the parents’ ears were shredded. Sam had great fun with an untied balloon, which I had to blow up, then he would let go and chase around. This must have been a great game if you’re 4 or less, as before long there was a group of 5 kids taking turns to chase. One of which was Ryan. Ryan is a bit of a bully, very selfish, and quite aggressive. The best news I heard all day was that his family are emigrating to New Zealand - our gain, Kiwi’s loss, see ya! We eventually headed home. Sam posed in Tom Sharp’s brick bus statue in the Lynnsport car park, then we came home. Bedtime went smoothly, thanks to a new Charlie And Lola bedtime book and the fact that Sam was knackered. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveWind Power & Flood Bias
Source: Eddie2sox For a change I'm going to have a rant! Wind Power
Right now some villagers in Norfolk are opposing the construction of wind turbines near their homes. The government should get tough and build these green sources of power wherever they want. Stick one RIGHT outside my bedroom if you like, I think they look pretty cool. NIMBY idiots get stuffed!
Flood Bias
I am really appalled at the bias in the UK's media when it comes to the current flooding. A month ago huge areas of Yorkshire were flooded, and apart from a footnote in the press, nothing was reported. Now that flooding is affecting or threatening these journo's comfy M4 corridor homes, it is ALL OVER the news, all the time. I live in East Anglia so I'm speaking from an unbiased point of view. Who says there's no north/south divide in England?
Rant over, normal trivial crap will be back tomorrow. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveQuick Meal
Source: Eddie2sox I had this for tea on Thursday night, very quick and tasty.... If you like Greek food try this quick and super-easy meal that I made up yesterday!
You'll need haloumi, tomatoes, cucumber, olives, Greek yoghurt and if you like, garlic sausage or ham. Slice the haloumi, cook it quickly on a griddle-type pan. While that's cooking chop up the tomatoes and cucumber, mix them together with some olive oil and a little bit of balsamic vinegar.
Arrange the slices of haloumi, and between them place tomato and cucmber, and a couple of pieces of meat. Keep repeating that until you finish the "pile" with the last piece of haloumi. Spread any remaining cucmber/tomato around, add a few olives if you like them, and top the whole lot off with some fat free Greek yoghurt.
Lovely!
p.s. not sure what this should be called, "haloumi, tomato and cucumber slightly wonky pile with Greek yoghurt" isn't very catchy is it! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveGreat Thursday
Source: Eddie2sox Two good days on the bounce..... Fab day yesterday.
I did quite a lot of work in the flat early on, then headed off to a place called Foulsham for a stroll in the countryside. The weather could have been a bit better, with intermittent drizzle and a gusty breeze, but that is just a minor detail. The very first cow field I had to cross was MUCH wetter than I anticipated, and I had a sinking feeling as one leg disappeared up to the knee in the most foul ordure imaginable. Other leg went in, above the top of my boot. Yuk. So I bounced across the field using the biggest tufts of grass I could, and hoping that none of them would give way. Disgusting things, them cows. The rest of the walk was much drier underfoot, and although not particularly scenic it wasn't unattractive either. One small stream even found enough momentum to have developed a bed of wild cress (pic). Got back to the car after 70 minutes and 4 miles, and had a nice little pickernicker (after carefully removing my crud-encrusted boots). The boots are now in quarantine in the kitchen.
So homeward bound to start a voluntary shift at 2, through to 6. It was a busy afternoon too, but in between calls we managed to answer two emails as well, look at our haloes shining! I spoke to Sam just after 6 and he told me about the open day at RAF Marham that he'd been to, which sounded WET! I told him about the cow pooh/boots/jeans incident which he found hilariously funny. Sam's mummy later sent me some pics of the day, including one of the bloke she left me for. Well, that sure brightened my day up further, the guy still has his crazy bouffant hair-do and REALLY non-existant dress sense. Weird how she preferred him to stylish, caring, funny, cool old me, but there you go, life eh! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveBawsey Lakes, Meatloaf, And Flippin' Captain Farty Pants!
Source: Eddie2sox Picked Sam up at half twelve, and a good (but soggy) time was had by all.... I loaded the boot with outdoor stuff for our excursion to Bawsey Lakes, about 3 miles outside KL on the way to Gayton. As usual we missed the turn and drove round the countryside admiring the view for a while. Eventually got parked - and there was no ice cream van DAMMIT! We wandered off in search of the lake, and discovered that Bawsey Lakes is actually a pretty good place. The paths, for a start, are sand. Seaside sand, like at the seaside. Weird. And the seaside sand comes in a variety of colours and shades. Filed away in the memory bank is the fact that there are LOADS of decent slopes, which will be perfect for us to go skidding down on the Kidskid if and when it ever snows again.
Sam announced he needed a wee so we dashed into the bushes and "watered" a tree, much to Sam's amusement. Then we hiked up another hillock and there was The Lake, and it looked reet gorgeous. It has a BEACH! A proper, sandy beach (which explains the paths I suppose), and we moaned about the weather not being warm enough to use the beach in the way that Mother Nature intended - ice creams, paddling, sandcastles, and crabs. Well, maybe the crabs is just a Daddy experience so far. Well, we took a few pics with the trusty phone camera, and agreed we would DEFFO be back on a day when the weather is a bit more amenable to summer frolics.
At this point the heavens opened so we beat a hasty retreat back to the car, and then home. Bawsey Lakes - like it - one for the future.
Back home I "had" planned to involve Sam in the making of Turkey Meatloaf, but after peeling and finely chopping the onions my eyeballs were in such a state that I postponed the meatloaf to the evening. Sam didn't mind, but asked what meatloaf was. Do you think describing it as "as tasty as a massive sausage, but with more meat in, and as big as a small loaf of bread". Ladies, I'm looking for your opinions on massive meaty sausages. Meatloaf shelved we set about some serious playing all afternoon, which is both tiring and exhilerating at the same time.
So to bathtime. Another race resulted in another win for Roary The Dolphin. Things went to plan, Sam's hair got washed, and then. And then Flipping Captain Farty Pants made his grand entrance. Last night we filled Captain FP with water to make bigger splashes - and we (well....I) forgot to empty him again. Halfway through bathtime the Mateymen tower collapsed, FP had been at the top, and when he hit the water he launched a tidal wave over poor old Daddy. I was very nearly as wet as Sam. We had the usual moment's shocked silence, then the usual uncontrollable laughter, complete with a pretend-distraught Daddy running round the flat yelling "I'm soaked, I'm sooooooaked" in a passable impersonation of Dad's Army's Fraser saying "We're doooomed". Sam liked it anyway.
What a fab day. Productive morning, super afternoon with my son. And cooking meatloaf tonight! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveThese Boots Were Made For Walking
Source: Eddie2sox Great day so far, and I'm picking Sam up at half past twelve, so it could get even better! I've had a productive day so far!
Up at seven (seems like a lie-in) and into the washing up, which is now all done but for one item that I couldn't fit on the draining board. Cleaned the windows, although admittedly we only have about eight - they're all smeary now so they'll need a proper go soon. Cleaned the bathroom top to bottom, except the floor - found I have lost my mop bucket. How do you lose a flipping bucket? Entered a couple of competitions to win tickets in the local rag. Next job is to put the washing away out of the dryer.
At 10 I headed out for a walk for an hour, starting by going to have a look at the allotment site that I am now on the waiting list for. Yup, it's allotments all right! Found the bridge in the picture, how nice is that, tucked so far off the beaten track. From there I went around Loke Road, Columbia, through Discovery Park (I wonder what that place was originally planned to become?) and past Lynnsport, along Swan Lane onto Wootton Road and turned left. Walked away from town as far as Queen Elizabeth Avenue, crossed over using the crossing there then came back home - via Tesco where I obtained another bucket! Left the flat at 9.59, got back at 11.01, so a decent walk in my walking boots.
Oh yes, the walking boots. Well starting tomorrow I intend getting back out into the countryside again, I did it a lot last autumn and winter and it was a winner on all fronts, good exercise, nice scenery, and when the weather was foul, a lovely relief to get back home into the warm again. So, today I dug out the boots to soften them up a bit before heading into the wilds of Norfolk tomorrow (well, Foulsham, it's not THAT wild really). I'll have to be out quite early as I'm doing my second voluntary shift of the day from 2 until 6 pm, so I need to be leaving Foulsham about 1-ish.
This afternoon I pick up Sam at half twelve and we're going off to Bawsey Lakes to have a look round and taking some of Sam's outside games with us. And a football of course! Hopefully when we get back we will be in time to see Skunk-Fu, our new favourite show. It's an easy tea (ham sandwiches) as Sam's mummy is giving him his dinner at their place, so we ought to have loads of time for fun in between bath and food.
So, today's been pretty good so far.......let's hope it keeps that way. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveGreens, Bright Greens And Wee Willie Winkies!
Source: Eddie2sox On allotments, prescriptions, motor racing, shopping and beautiful trees.... A right random assortment of topics this after noon ladies and gentlemen!
Allotments
I am going all Good Life and have my name on the waiting list for an allotment at the Old Gala Field in King's Lynn. I contacted the council about it, and was amazed by the rapid reply - less than three hours! The allotments cost less than £20 a year to rent, and seem to represent great value for money. The site I am interested in is run by it's own little Council Of Gardeners, or some such, and therefore more secure and better maintained than the general council sites. I spoke to the man in charge earlier, Mister Sid Link, and I should have control of a plot before the end of the year, yay! Sid told me that this year's weather hasn't helped the allotmenteers, most of the potato crops have suffered blight, but he has had LOTS of lovely cabbage, peas and onions! I am really looking forward to it. The year before my marriage broke down I started looking after our garden properly, growing flowers and lots of veg, and it was looking lovely and going great. Sadly when it all when pete tong I lost interest and it all went to pot. Never mind, I am hoping the allotment will provide a focus for spare time, lots of healthy exercise and fresh air, and lots of home-grown veg!
Prescriptions
Bimbled into town earlier to pick up two prescriptions. One to help blood pressure, the other to reduce the interest in alcohol. Dropped it in at Boots - "can you give us about 15 minutes please?" - sure I can. I wandered round the corner to The Globe for a pint and a read of the paper. I think this is one of them things where opposite things happen, can't remember what the word is! However, saw Les The Duck, Tony, Tattoo Mark in The Globe, all WELL on their way to FUBAR-ness, and it was noon. Made me feel a lot better about myself anyway.
German Grand Prix
I watched another GP yesterday, and it was fan-bloody-tastic! Thanks to the unpredictably rainy weather all the cars and teams were constantly trying to select the right tyres. At the first corner, after a torrential downpour, SIX cars slid off the track inside a minute. Lewis Hamilton (this year's BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, trust me) was one of them, but he kept his engine running and got hoisted back onto the track by a crane. A bloke called Winkelhoff, in a crap car called Go-Kart I think, started the race from the pits BUT on wet weather tyres, and he was pretty soon in the lead as everyone else slithered around - in the wet weather the Formula One cars can't even keep up with the safety car. It was such an entertaining race, I wish they could all be like that.
Shopping
I went to do the weekly shopping today. I had a voucher for £2 off if you spend £20 or more. Well, adding my shopping up in my head, including "guesstimating" the loose fruit and veg, I reached checkout and the total was......£20.34. Damn I'm good! Got food for the rest of the week now, which is quite comforting. One of the things I bought was a pack of Wee Willie Winkies - if you didn't know these are tiny skinless pork sausages, which I have split into 5 sausage bags and chucked into the freezer. Sam loves these, although they're not particularly healthy, HOWEVER! When Sam has WWW's for his tea it is a clever subterfuge by Daddy to make him eat loads of healthy stuff that is piled on his plate alongside the sausages. It's a play-off really, distract him with a small amount of unhealthy, but look on smugly as the good stuff is gobbled up at the same time.
As a side note on the Wee Willie Winkie front, you are supposed to get 20 in a pack - I got 22! So I am about to write a letter to the manufacturer thanking them for their generosity, and playing up how much Sam LOVES their product. Will they give us some free bangers? Watch this space.....
And Finally - Bright Green Tree!
Have a look at the gorgeous colour of the tree in the picture at the top of this blog. We are so lucky to have beautiful sights like this provided for us by Mother Nature. I've been admiring this particular tree, and sometimes stopping and looking for a few minutes, because the colour is absolutely stunning.
Signed, painted picture from Sam for the first person who can tell me exactly where this tree is! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveCrap Parking League XVII
Source: Eddie2sox Thanks to IMM's lovely Dewdrop for sending me this picture! Pesky Minis eh? So tricky to fit inside those ridiculously close-together white lines. Seriously, what possible excuse could this driver have? I guess the Mini on the right is owned by a man, and the orange one belongs to his missus....
Table:
New Shape Mini.....4 Vauxhall Corsa.....3 Honda Civic.....2 VW Bora.....1.5 Vauxhall Vectra.....1.5 Vauxhall Combo van.....1 VW Golf.....1 Peugeot 206.....1 Mystery Rover.....1 Huge Green American Monstrosity.....1 Ford Focus.....1 Original Mini.....1
Send me any pics of bad parking you collect to trix68@hotmail.co.uk
Andwhy not peruse the Net's best bad parking website at: http://www.crap-parking.co.uk/index.php?mode=home To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveCrap Parking League XVI
Source: Eddie2sox This one's a ripper! Take a look at this picture. This Corsa's right side wheels are on a "Don't drive on this bit" area. The left wheels are on the road, directly in front of the main doors of the supermarket. The driver seems to have made no attempt whatsoever to park! Dreadful. The end result is that Corsa is challenging the new shape Mini at the top of the table....
Table:
New Shape Mini.....4 Vauxhall Corsa.....3 Honda Civic.....2 VW Bora.....1.5 Vauxhall Vectra.....1.5 Vauxhall Combo van.....1 VW Golf.....1 Peugeot 206.....1 Mystery Rover.....1 Huge Green American Monstrosity.....1 Ford Focus.....1
Send me any pics of bad parking you collect to trix68@hotmail.co.uk
Andwhy not peruse the Net's best bad parking website at: http://www.crap-parking.co.uk/index.php?mode=home To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveH, D, C, S and V Are The Initials Of Characters Who Die!
Source: Eddie2sox In the new Harry Potter book.....full names at the bottom of the page.... I have to say I am amazed at the ridiculous hype surrounding the Harry Potter book. It's a children's story for goodness sake! And why did parents allow their kids to be up at midnight just to buy a novel?
The writer has set herself up nicely for a whole new series of books, as Harry's kids plus those of Ron and Hermione and Malfoy, go to Hogwarts school. Look out for "James Potter And The Re-Hashed Claptrap" as part one of seven.
My advice is save yourself a few quid, several days reading, and check out the story here.
Good luck to her, I guess it's kept her above the breadline. Mind you, I think claiming that she has worked harder than Charles Dickens is a little on the arrogant side...."Try 17 years Charles"!
The characters who turn their toes up are: Hedwig, Dobby, Crabbe, Snape and Voldemort. Who the chuff THEY might be I have no idea! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveIt's A Washout!
Source: Eddie2sox Yesterday Sam and his Daddy set out to enjoy the nearest World Championship to take place to where we live......but it was called off because of the rain.... But more of that later. The "leaver's party" at Sam's nursery was good fun on Friday afternoon, he danced around with his little buddies, then we headed home. Tea was the old favourite "chip butty night", which he hasn't had since June 15th, and he really enjoyed his chips and sausage and two slices of b&b. In the chip shop (Denny's, near Gaywood Tesco) the lady behind the counter was as barking mad as always. She'd run out of lollies though, so she promised to give Sam TWO next time he visited. Sam was looking good sitting on my shoulders, and all the women who came into the shop were ooohing and aaaahing at him. He's a complete ***** magnet, at the age of 4!
Just before the chippy we'd been to the doc's for a routine visit for me, and even in the waiting room there were women admiring my little boy. The doc told me off, gave me repeat prescriptions, and we were off.....
After tea it was bathtime, and we had a new competitor in the Bathtime Swimming Races. We'd popped into Tesco to pick up a new swimmer for the bath, there's a set of about 5 various sea creatures which run on batteries and have a propellor at the back which sends them through the water at various speeds. This week we managed to find a replacement for our eel, the previous version died a death. So, in a close contest between Roary The Dolphin, Maxy The Beaver, and CeeCee The Eel, Roary once again came out on top. Bedtime was nice, Sam was pretty tired after his party exertions, and that was the end of Friday.
Saturday dawned rainy and grey but that never stops us doing anything! Our Saturday morning was quiet but a lot of fun, we did some building, Sam painted a picture for me, and we made the fishcakes that I described in the previous blog. We decided to take a walk into town to get some fresh air, so I kitted Sam out in wellies, coat and rolled up trousers so he could go out and do the stuff little boys should do, involving mud, puddles, sticks etc. We found another long piece of old clay pipe in The Walks and headed home for some sandwiches before we set out on our afternoon adventure....
Which was to see The World Snail Racing Championship at Congham! It didn't take long to get there, but we couldn't find the venue.....not many people and cars around either. We decided to drive around searching for the great event, and spent 40 minutes hunting....Sam occasionally yelled "A-HA!" and pointed at a likely looking bunch of parked cars, all turned out to be false alarms though. We eventually returned to where we started the search and found a few bedraggled people gathered - the snail racing fraternity! Unfortunately, despite the weather being perfect for the snails, it had waterlogged the field where the Championships were to take place. Sam was distraught and there were many tears and "But I WANT to see the snail racing Daddy" outbursts, but I guess that's only to be expected in the circumstances.
We stopped at a shop for ice cream on the way home, and we had a couple of "bonus" hours of play, silver lining! We went out the back of the flats to play football, golf and frisbee, Sam kept scooting up the fire escape to watch passing trains, and we had a LOAD of fun on the soaking grass. Sam caught me a cracker in the testicle department with a golf club, I accidentally hit him with a golf shot too, but it didn't matter. Sam also triped over his wellies and fell face-first into the grass, standing up he looked like he had been spray painted with that fake green grass material you see on market stalls. After spitting out the grass in his mouth he laughed though.
Bathtime was great, Sam had FISHCAKES, and veg for his tea, and all too soon it was time to go back. I'd texted Sam's mummy to warn her NOT to mention the snail racing, and she rang Sam to ask him if he wanted to help make a cake when he got back. So for once we both got our act together to make Sam's Saturday evening much less of a drama. On the way home we played, and sang along with, "Away From Here" by The Enemy, including yelling as loud as we could whenever the live "To stay at home with RICHARD AND JUDY" came around.
And that was that! To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveEasy Salmon Fishcakes
Source: Eddie2sox Sam loves fishcakes from the chippy, but they must have some dodgy e-numbers etc in them? So yesterday we made these fishcakes, the recipe is by Annabel Karmel.... Ingredients
420g can pink salmon 5 tbsp spring onion, finely chopped 5 tbsp tomato ketchup 150g white breadcrumbs salt and ground black pepper 50g plain flour 2 eggs, lightly beaten 4 tbsp vegetable oil
Method
1. Drain the salmon and flake it, checking for and removing any large bones.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the salmon, spring onions, tomato ketchup, one third of the breadcrumbs, and a little bit of salt and pepper.
3. Form the mixture into fishcakes and coat first in flour, then beaten egg and then breadcrumbs.
4. Heat the oil in a frying pan and saute the fishcakes for about 2 minutes each side, or until golden.
The Verdict
Sam initially tried a piece and screwed his face up and said "YUCK"! However, he's done this before and I was convinced it was because it is a new taste, not a nasty one. So I insisted he chewed and swallowed another piece, which he did, and when he'd finished the whole plateful he changed his verdict from "Yuck" to "Yum!" I tasted them myself and I wouldn't have been too disappointed if Sam had rejected them, these fishcakes are delicious!
Notes
The original recipe says to use red salmon, but the pink salmon is cheaper and worked just as well. If you use the amounts described above you will make 8 fishcakes, but they are suitable for freezing, and Sam now has another six in our freezer ready for another day. Yum! As always, the picture with this recipe is of my own finished version. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveThere's Always Someone Worse Off....
Source: Eddie2sox I did my voluntary shift today. And there are people so much worse off than me right now. And worse off than you too. And you. And you too. And YOU THERE, sneaking out at the back.... I got all emotional after my shift, one caller really made me count my blessings. It's true you know, there is ALWAYS somebody worse off than you.
I had a good day today, cooked a LOAD of pasta sauce for Sam which will last for a couple of months. I got our long-reach stapler off E-Bay, which both me and Sam are looking forward to using to start The Scrapbook. Put in a good shift on the voluntary stuff.
Finishing my day eating pizza and watching Big Brother.....I desperately hate Charley but she has to be kept in cos of the entertainment factor. Plus it will be crueller to kick her out nearer the end.
Tomorrow is the last day Sam will be at nursery. There's a party there from 1 til4 for "the leavers". It's so sad. No more happy hellos from the fantastic staff there. I will really miss Sam's best mate/carer Shellie, she is such a babemungous cute chick, BUT fantastic with my son too. Thanks Shellie. Amy's a hot carer chick too. I'm gonna miss rolling up there with the music blasting and the staff looking out knowing it's Sam's Daddy.
Everyone at Twinkletots, I think I can mention you now Sam is leaving....you are ALL FANTASTIC. Thanks so much for looking after my special little boy so well. And anyone reading, who needs pre-school childcare - TWINKLETOTS, KING'S LYNN. The best nursery in the UK, by a mile. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveDouble Standards
Source: Eddie2sox This picture is a nice summary of how we accommodate people in England these days I hate racism in all forms, so this picture seriously p****s me off. The three "women" (who can tell) are standing metres from a white police officer holding a provocative banner.
I don't have too much of a problem with that. Have a go at the police if you want to. But what if the picture was of three young white men, with short hair, standing near an Asian police officer with a banner saying - for example - MUSLIM POLICE GO TO HELL". I doubt it would be tolerated.
I would like to see equal treatment for everyone. In this case, the women holding the sign should be cautioned. But I am 99% sure they weren't. The three white men would almost certainly be "dealt with" one way or another.
It's not fair is it. To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveIMM Sunday League Football Team
Source: Eddie2sox It's been a while since I made a progress report on my Sunday League footie team Rovers Return Rovers...... .....but they're still going and heading for the play-offs in their division this season. Well, now it's time for us IMM bloggers to get fit - virtually of course.
I'm going to start another team, made up entirely of us lot here at IMM. Team name for a start will be It's My Market Bloggers. If you want to "bagsy" a specific position in the team leave a comment and I'll see what I can do. Me, I'll be claiming a place in the centre of midfield.
This will be a free team with no extra investment (unless IMM cough up a bob or two for us to recruit better players), so we should have two or three super successful seasons before things get tougher and lack of investment starts to hamper our progress.
Remember, let me know where you want to play in the team! The sooner you ask the better your player will be, as I'll name the better players first.... To comment on, or report this post follow the permalink aboveKing's Lynn 0 Norwich 4
Source: Eddie2sox I went out and did something! Well, it was a toss up between staying in to watch Corrie and swig some beer, or go to watch a game of football. The football cost a fiver and I enjoyed it, so that was a fiver well spent. It's a sign I;m not getting younger, one ball came fizzing over the bar, I jumped to whack it and my little finger got bent backwards, OOOOOHYABUGGA! Hopefully it's just badly bruised, if it's the size of Dion Dublin's wedding tackle tomorrow then I'll be off to the QEH. The game itself was amusing, King's Lynn did better than I thought they would, Norwich took advantage when the home team ran out of steam, and scored 3 of their 4 goals in the last 10 minutes. It appears Jack Defty's arse has had a very lazy summer, and has returned for pre-season twice the size it was even in May. Unbelievable I know, but true!
Still generally in "head under the duvet" mode, but having Sam yesterday and today is a real boost, even when the first thing he says is "I'm in rather a grumpy mood today Daddy!"
Tomorrow I am "planning" to be cooking all morning, another biiiiig batch of the hidden veg pasta sauce that Sam devours, and some nice fishcakes that are healthier than shop ones. In the afternoon I'm doing a voluntary shift, then I may stick my head back under the duvet again.
Anyway, rumours of me doing anything stupid are MILES off the mark, I am NOT leaving Sam on his own! |
