Gerard's blog

Happy Birthday Jakey! (or Seven Years Gone)

Written by Gerard on Wednesday 4 August 2010

I have hazy memories of the day Jake was born. Most of it centers around me, in the afternoon, walking out of the hospital to a nearby KFC to get something to eat. Bizarrely, I can't remember whether he was born at that point or not, just that the darkening skies chose that point to open. As I returned to the hospital, lightning flashed across the sky above the building, and heavy, warm rain started to descend on me.

Spain: Stranded in Alicante!

Written by Gerard on Thursday 22 July 2010

We just got back from a two-week holiday in Spain. I'm planning a full write-up of some of the stuff we got up to on holiday, but first I want to share the biggest disaster of the holiday.

We'd hired a car for the fortnight. Driving in Spain is pretty straightforward, and I really enjoy being able to go further afield from wherever we're staying. Renting a car is the smart thing to do, and we've done it about four times now.

Connections, Reconnections

Written by Gerard on Sunday 4 July 2010

It's been a funny old week in our house. We're got a house guest, we've had a very uneventful 10th wedding anniversary and we've attended an old friend's wedding.

Incidentally, for those of you approaching a 10th wedding anniversary, you'll be pleased to know that it's known as the "tin" or "coal" anniversary. Nothing more prestigious that that. Sorry.

The Summer Holidays Have Begun

Written by Gerard on Wednesday 30 June 2010

Yes indeed, the Summer Holidays have officially begun.

Do you remember when you had that last half-day at school? The teachers are busy tidying things up and the classroom looks bare with all the posters and paintings taken down and sent home. Instead of lessons, there's a video to watch or you just idle about chatting with the handful of other pupils who've bothered to show up.

Now we're dealing with the last day of school from the other end - we're the parents now. And that means getting the kids ready to go into school in plain clothes. No lunches, just a light snack and some sweets for the classroom party. Gifts for the teachers if you're feeling especially thankful toward them.

Colonoscopy

Written by Gerard on Tuesday 29 June 2010

You know how old stand-up comedians used to start their routines with "A funny thing happened on the way to the theatre..."? Well, a few weeks ago, a funny thing happened me in the airport. I took a quick trip to the bathrooms and was alarmed to discover quite a lot of blood on the toilet paper when I was finishing up. (Oh yeah, this post might ick you out a little bit.) There was more blood on the bowl, the sight of which made me the tiniest bit dizzy. Nothing like being in an airport, on your own and bleeding profusely from the back passage to cause a mild panic.

Cycling with Rachel

Written by Gerard on Sunday 13 June 2010

I had quite a Rachel-centric day today. Rachel's our 8 going on 18 year old, a very knowing, witty and fun little girl to be around. She's definitely picked up my sarcastic streak, and had a great knack of using it to comic effect.

First off, I came down to start breakfast with the kids. We're trying to be better about getting up on time on weekend mornings, because the kids often slope downstairs and stuff themselves while we sleep. I mentioned in passing that I was going for a cycle, and Rachel invited herself along.

How do you keep your kids amused during the summer holidays?

Written by Gerard on Thursday 10 June 2010

We're fast approaching my most dreaded time of the year - the summer holidays. The kids are off for a full two months, the weather's been oddly changeable lately. How are we going to keep them from driving us bonkers over the summer holidays?

Yes, consider that an open question, everybody. How can we keep the kids amused over the summer holidays?

Especially for the Work At Home mums and dads among us who need to get some work done to keep the money rolling in! How do we achieve that balance between getting our jobs done, and keeping our kids happy?

Time to get serious about losing weight

Written by Gerard on Monday 31 May 2010

My wife told me that new studies suggest carrying weight around your belly is the worst place to be fat. I was never aware that you had any choice in where you carried your weight, but the news dismayed me a little bit. I've been developing a rather worrying pot belly for the last few years - mostly as a result of a desk-based work life combined with a really lazy diet.

There are penalties for rocking the pot bellied look: you're at an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. And you don't want either of those things knocking on your door.

How to make French Toast

Written by Gerard on Monday 24 May 2010

I recently rediscovered the joys of French toast - a delicious mix of whisked eggs and bread, all fried to golden perfection. No, it's not particularly healthy, but it's a tasty treat and fills the gap if you're not in the mood for a huge dinner.

Here's how I make French toast - I prefer it fairly plain, but others like to add their own flavours to the mix. And I should mention that as an alternative to pan frying, you can grill the bread instead, but it's messier and not quite as satisfyingly tasty!

Communion

Written by Gerard on Sunday 23 May 2010

Rachel did her First Holy Communion yesterday, the high point of a long week of preparing the house for invasion by relatives. We are anti-houseproud. We just don't care. Except on special occassions, then we rush around like mad things painting, decorating, cleaning and tidying.