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Bikes, Kites, & A Bathtime Tsunami

Blog: Norfolk Single Dad
Posted by: Eddie2sox Tuesday 27th March 2007, 8:30pm
Last edited 27/03/2007 8:30pm by Eddie2sox

Picked Sam up from nursery today, and we had one of the best afternoons we've ever had!

Cleaning today was hard work, the boss lady asked if I could clean "A room" at another site after the normal Tuesday place - no problem, but I was meeting a mate in town for a coffee later. Turned out she wanted THREE rooms doing, hell's bells, I did what I could in the time then left a note saying I'd do the rest tomorrow (I am in that place tomorrow as it happens). Dashed off to Costa Coffee to meet my friend K who's been having a really rough time of it - the fact they were in town at all is great, they've not wanted to leave the house for a few months. We had a good chat and K is feeling somewhat more positive about life this week, which is wonderful to hear. It's a helpless feeling seeing someone you think a lot of going through such a crappy time....

Anyway......time came to collect Sam, the sun was shining and the weather was lovely....got home and I asked Sam if he wanted to ride his bike to the (admittedly decimated) park, go on the big swings, and have a game of football. YESSSSS! On the way past the Walks Sam spotted someone flying a kite, so we decided to take Sam's kite with us too......Sam is now getting more confident, and therefore faster, on his bike, which means daddy is getting more worried, but also having to move faster lol. Got held up by the level crossing, Sam waited patiently with his front wheel "just so" on the white line, then we bumped our way across. We zoomed into the park, and just as we did the big red dumper truck was coming out of the temporary builders yard, with the big yellow one right behind.

We stopped on the grass to let them past, both drivers waved at Sam (thanks chaps!), then when they were past Sam said "Let's race them Daddy" and set off at (what seemed to me) approaching 100 miles per hour. Caught him up, and with a hand on his handlebars to cut out the speed wobble that he can't yet control, we were off in pursuit of the dumpers! We were gaining too, but by this time Sam had his feet up off the pedals and I was pulling the bike along ("faster daddy"....."puff pant, yeah right....."). Fortunately, JUST at that point we reached the swings and Sam said "The swings Daddy!". God, I bloody loved the swings at that moment. I opened the gate into the park expecting Sam to tootle gingerly down the steep, muddy, tree-root infested slope and through....no chance. As soon as the gate was open a blue blur fizzed past me, laughing its head off. They really do have no fear when they're little do they.....Anyway, Sam sat sideways for a start on the big swings, then turned round, and we didn't go very high for fear of launching Sam into space.

After a while Sam wanted to go and try the kite, so we whizzed into the main large field, fixed the kite, and before I could say "Sam, run off in that direction with the handle", Sam was off and running in that direction with the kite's handle. Now, we tried and tried and tried, Sam covered at least 3 miles running this way, that way, forward and back, but alas the wind was not quite strong enough. We did attract quite a few cooing admirers though, but who can blame them, Sam is 100% cute and his daddy is....well, Sam is 100% cute! Home time!

Sam rode his bike home uneventfully, but when we got into the flats he pedalled at max chat straight into the front door of our flat. I was really shocked as his back wheel lifted off the ground upon impact, but luckily he landed safely, and I told him to remember to use his brakes. The shock of his "crash" plus his daddy's reaction must have scared Sam a bit as he burst into tears......but we got inside, helped ourselves to some juice and a banana each, and I explained that I wasn't cross just worried that he might hurt himself. By now (i.e. 2 minutes later) Sam had calmed down and agreed about the brakes, so it turned out to be a good practical lesson.

So......"Shall we have a timing race Daddy?" GREAT idea! (The pic is the cars at the finish area!). We set up another obstacle course for the four cars to do battle against each other and the clock again. Course being Small Purple Tunnel, Red Hole, Big Golf Club, Twice Around The Football, Three Golf Jump (green, orange, blue), Small Golf Club, Ferrari Team Lorry, Finish. First up was Blue & White, who set the base time of 53.19 seconds, next came Blue & Yellow (42.83, fast!), and then disaster! Sam spotted a fire at the finish area, so Fireman Sam had to be deployed in his fire engine Pegasus to deal with the incident. Third car today was Red, who stormed home in 36.20, so it was down to Black & Silver....who jumped the start! I ordered a "10 second stop and go penalty", which brought a similar reaction from Sam as it does from Ross Braun, Frank Willians et al...."Awwwww, that's not fair....." Not fair Sam, but it's what they do in proper car racing. Sam was dubious but accepted the ref's decision, and he is gonna be SO amazed when he hears the phrase "10 second stop and go penalty" on the Grand Prix this year! In the event, Black & Silver romped home in 28.91, BUT with the 10 second penalty his time became 38.91, meaning Red won again! Two on the trot. This was fantastic news for Captain Farty-Pants (Daaa-Daaa-Daaaaaaah)....

Hearing from Captain FP meant it must be bath-time! Sam was a little reluctant as we were having so much fun. But, when I said "shall we take the football in to clean it" he sooned came round to the idea. Bear in mind, the football is a sponge football...it's important! Bath went good, Sam is now washing himself, in a fashion, and I just have to finish the bits he misses. The Matey Men dived in, Captain Cow announced his name change and that he would never ever say anything else but "Moooo"......what a weirdo! We filled and emptied and filled and emptied the old bottles...and then....why the hell did I do it.....I suggested we see how much of a splash the football would make! Sam agreed, I squeezed all the air out of the ball (which was now, therefore, a football-sized ball of water entrapped in sponge), Sam stood back, the ball soared almost up to the ceiling......and then EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE was soaked. Sam got a full frontal drenching, including his face which he hates, but was laughing so much he forgot to be upset. Daddy's clothes were at least 50% dripping wet. The floor within 6 feet of the bath was seriously flooded. SUCCESS! Wow, we had to try THAT again! Which we did, four or five more times, with similar results each time. Sam insisted on launching it himself a few times too, one of which landed outside the bath, and one landed on top of his head. In between gasping for breath while laughing we agreed to get out and get dry to watch The Simpsons.

Sam had ham sandwiches before bath, so he had a yoghurt and a Penguin biscuit while we watched Bart and Lisa scupper Sideshow Bob's attempt to become mayor of Springfield. And then it was time to go back to mummy's. Sam had to have a different t-shirt, his first was a victim of the bathtime tsunami!

Good little chat with Sam's mummy, about timings for the Easter holidays. Cleaning boss lady said I couldn't change the times (grrrrrr), so hopefully me and Sarah can work round it. Sarah's really positive about the whole her/me/Sam situation, we both agree Sam needs both parents as much as possible. I am a very lucky Daddy in that respect. Main event of the Easter holidays will be The Wacky Races banger racing on Easter Monday. We went last year, that was our first visit - Sam loved it. This year again there will be lots of "normal" bangers plus a Robin Reliant race (hilarious) plus a caravan demolition derby. Give it a go. Or come with me and Sam!

Great afternoon with my amazing little friend. I bet you're gonna be asleep well tonight Sam xxx see you tomorrow......

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