We have had some birthdays in the Todd household recently. JFGP turned 9 and MIGO 7. I could regale you with stories of presents and how wise it is to organise two different parties on Saturday and then Sunday. But I won’t. Instead I’ll let you gaze on two small boys fully decked out in the gear supplied by their Guernsey based relatives. Thanks to Aunty Ju-Ju we have been digging foam darts out of various nooks and crannies around the house for the last couple of weeks.
Removing Things
We’ve had a bit of a milestone this week. JFGP’s second plaster of the year has been removed. He is still on crutches, the doctor says that it will take up to a month to get back to normal. It was a good morning when the cast was removed though, as he had his first bath in a month and a half.
To celebrate even further, and because his Mum insisted, he has also lost some more excess baggage. Yesterday I took him for his first haircut in quite some time. I think the results look quite good and even the subject himself seems to like it. Unlike my suggestion of a buzz cut which wasn’t very welcome at all.
Two Growing Boys – April 2012
We skipped the March 2012 growing boys photo because one of our subjects wasn’t able to stand on the coffee table. I managed to persuade him to pose for this month though so here are two smiling boys in April.
The crutches and plaster are a bit of a giveaway but JFGP broke his leg last month. Ten days after the plaster came off his broken arm. Twice would appear to be the charm. On a happy note SWMBO has been told, and believes to boot, that on the third break we get a visit from DOCS. Here’s hoping that the newly christened clumsiest boy in the street manages to go a bit longer between this break and the next one. My wish is for at least 10 years.
The Music Randomiser
Inspired by the top people at Word Magazine and their semi-regular ‘Randomizer’ feature I decided to share what is playing on my music player with anyone who stumbles across this page. It’s quite simple really. Set the music player of your choice to random (in my case that’s iTunes) and list the first 5 tracks that are queued up:
- Francis Dunnery – Still Life in Mobile Homes
- The Wonder Stuff – Mother and I
- The Smiths – These Things Take Time
- XTC – The Mayor of Simpleton
- Paul Weller – Remember How We Stand
See, I’ve (mostly) moved on from the 1980s, some of these were published in the 1990s. But never mind me, what are your first 5?
Man the Long Boats
The norse invaders have landed. Well, they made a guest appearance at our annual Jervis Bay weekend. We weren’t put off by the inclement weather – although I did have to try and keep the rain off the barbecue whilst I was cooking dinner on Saturday. As usual we had a great weekend and everyone got into the spirit, even I dressed up in a furry gilet and horny helmet.
I took my camera and got some photos. You can see all of the pictures here.
Two Growing Boys – February 2012
Here we have two small boys at the end of February, 2012. They have survived the first month of school and it’s all downhill from here.
JFGP‘s cast is starting to show it’s age. Both with the accumulated dirt and debris and also with the odour. Four weeks of small boy activity and no washing can do that to a limb.
Winged Warrior
JFGP had a little accident. He was on holiday with his Mum and his little brother and managed to take a tumble. They were camping just north of Newcastle and it had been raining – quite a lot. The assembled small people were playing in the playground at the camp site and number 1 son went to slide down the slide. He didn’t want to get his trousers dirty so he decided to go down the slide on his feet. It all went well until he got to the bottom. Where it all went very badly.
That was 3 days into a week long holiday. After some time at the doctor’s and a couple of x-rays they managed to struggle through a couple more days but then came home early. My holiday at home was curtailed and my exclusive access to the playstation was at an end but it was good to see the little chap home safe and nearly well.
After a visit to our GP this morning, then a specialist and a few more x-rays the latest prognosis is that he has two breaks, one above and one below the elbow. He has a new cast and will be keeping it on for the next four weeks. I’ll post another photo when it comes off.
Two Growing Boys – January 2012
Here are our subjects at the start of the calendar year. New Year for us is at the beginning of the long summer holiday from school so I think we can say that the boys are relaxed.
This picture was taken on the first “Dad day” of the holidays. This is where I and two small boys get the day to ourselves to play and go on adventures. Or in this case play computer games and go to the pool for a swim.
Christmas 2011
This is our official family photo for 2011. If I was witty and eloquent I would accompany it with an annual family message. But I can’t compete with Mil Millington. So go and read his message for a few wry smiles.
I will let you into a little secret about this year’s photo. I had it all planned – and in advance, which is a first for me. We were going to go to the beach and get a shot of 2 Aussie boys on their boogie boards enjoying the surf, sun and sand that epitomises living in Sydney. With Father Christmas hats on. It was already the perfect Australian Christmas photo, in my head. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas. It has been cold, grey and raining for the last few weeks and on the day I had allotted for the Christmas photo it wasn’t any better.
So I had to improvise with an indoor shot. Considering the circumstances I don’t think that I did too badly.
Two Growing Boys – November 2011
In a first, at least recently, here is the November photo of our two subjects actually published in the month of November. You probably won’t notice a lot of difference since last month but a variation in dress and expression is at least worth an extra picture.
November is always a quiet month here. Spring is just getting started but it’s still not unabashed sun and warmth every day. We are on the home stretch towards the end of the school and calendar year and small boys thoughts turn to those endless days of the summer holidays. Small boys parent’s thoughts, meanwhile, turn to how are we going to be at home for six weeks and still keep our jobs. Some combination of 4 day weeks (SWMBO), extra utilisation of Lesley and strategic days off (yours truly) should see us through. Fingers crossed.