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Usually these posts for me are a bit of tittle tattle but I'm going to include all the bits and bobs as a single item and try and go a bit bigger and deeper.
1) Fatherhood
I'm currently enjoying this very much. Andy D posted a Interesting Link about how fathers in the 21st century are move practically and emotionally engaged with their children. I think this is true. It certainly is for me, both as a father and as a son. I'm much more present in my son's life my dad was in mine at the age of 8. An example, it's the World Cup of soccer this year. The first game was yesterday at 4pm. I picked up the Captain up from judo at 7 and suggested that he and I could watch a bit of the first game on catch up if he wanted. He did want. Sadly, I couldn't find the game on catch up - so instead he had an early night. I remember watching the 1982 World Cup Final (Italy 3 Germany 1) at the age of 7. Without my dad, who had said I could stay up to watch it in the other room. That's my dad who was at the 1966 final. I got in to trouble for getting bored of the football and watching a film instead.
However, I now spend much more time and have a much closer connection to my father. I expect we'll all three watch some of the games over the weekend.
We were lucky enough to have my daughter visit after term. She and I spent an evening cooking. Chicken Katsu Curry, Honeyed Fig and Mascapone (which will become Higo Catalunaya once I have perfected the receipe.)
The Captain is the same age as I was when my parents separated. It is much on my mind.
2) Mental Health
Some time between the summer and October I seem to have drifted in to a depressive slump. Mostly this was manifesting at work, where things felt very difficult. I got asked if I was okay at work in January and this prompted me to go to the GP who prescribed some medication. The pills have had an almost magical effect. I was almost manic or ecstatic for the first couple of weeks and it's only now that I find myself just feeling "normal" but normal in a cheerful and active way. So well done the anti-depressants. I expect I'll be on them for a year or so. I have no problem with that.
3) British Politics
I keep waiting for the Tory Party to implode and also simultaneously explode. Now the one thing to remember about the Tory Party is that they, more than any other group in history ever, are able to put their own pragmatic grasp on power ahead of any personal or political or ideological consideration up to and including the ruination of the entire nation. So, them imploding is a rare event and not one that I actually expect to happen. I still think it's odds on that they will fudge and bluster their way through Brexit and then blame everyone else for the situation of the former United Kingdom and escape consequence free. But I still have hopes that they mismanage the situation (not Brexit, but their own survival of Brexit) and end up wreaked as a party and as an ideological vehicle for a generation.
In a parallel and related strand of British politics I am becoming more and more a supporter of Scottish independence. The only way to protect my part of the United Kingdom from the idiots and bastards in other parts of it is to leave them to it. I look forward to the SNP raising merry hell with Parliamentary proceedure and Ian Blackford as a Parnell for the 21st Century.
4) Work
I am deep in to budgeting at work. Looking at the 3 year sales plan and wondering where we're going to find 5, 10 or even 15 high quality software engineers. I've been learning some new spreadsheeting skills and getting nicely in to the ebb and flow of the business. So far prior year budgets are standing up to some intense scrutiny. That's pretty pleasing. I'm busy making things more transparent and robust and adaptable. It's verging on good fun.
We'll need to work out what we're doing with the new management team of our owners. They seemed pretty sharp but I fear they are betting that we can use our capability to make up for a lack of capability elsewhere in the organisation.
5) Bits and Bobs
A) It's my pals 50th birthday party this Saturday.
B) I have a rehearsal on Sunday for Skirt. I'm looking forward to that. Thinking about the look and feel of my character. I feel I could be in for some hair growing and perhaps a beard. And a battered tweed jacket. Men also have constraints on clothing, they are less and different than those placed on women but they exist.
C) Other weekend excitements include the return of my niece from the seaside, a visit by my brother, and a family barbeque on Sunday. Because of A and B I won't have time to cook at the BBQ but I might be able to make a salad on Sunday morning.
D) The World Cup has started - I secretly hope that it will be a disaster as I don't much care for Russia's politics at the moment, or their football culture or the ethical standards of FIFA. I also hope that Australia will stun the world by beating Brasil on penalties in the final causing the trophy to be renamed the Bruce Remy trophy. Australia play France on Saturday morning. I have my t-shirt ready. I saw my first World Cup replica shirt yesterday - and the winner is Panama. I already like their flag. So this World Cup I am supporting Australia, Uraguay, Costa Rica, Japan and Panama.
E) The Captain was busy scurying around the house this morning. In addition to getting all his clothes ready including reaching up to get a clean fleece before discovering that I had one in my bag he was also in the utility room scurrying around. I thought he'd gone in there to fetch himself some crisps but he was looking for a bag (like the ones Grandad uses) to bring home his artwork from school. I gave him a Scottish Parliament canvas tote bag and he left happy.
F) Lifted two sets of 10 reps at 100 kgs this morning.
1) Fatherhood
I'm currently enjoying this very much. Andy D posted a Interesting Link about how fathers in the 21st century are move practically and emotionally engaged with their children. I think this is true. It certainly is for me, both as a father and as a son. I'm much more present in my son's life my dad was in mine at the age of 8. An example, it's the World Cup of soccer this year. The first game was yesterday at 4pm. I picked up the Captain up from judo at 7 and suggested that he and I could watch a bit of the first game on catch up if he wanted. He did want. Sadly, I couldn't find the game on catch up - so instead he had an early night. I remember watching the 1982 World Cup Final (Italy 3 Germany 1) at the age of 7. Without my dad, who had said I could stay up to watch it in the other room. That's my dad who was at the 1966 final. I got in to trouble for getting bored of the football and watching a film instead.
However, I now spend much more time and have a much closer connection to my father. I expect we'll all three watch some of the games over the weekend.
We were lucky enough to have my daughter visit after term. She and I spent an evening cooking. Chicken Katsu Curry, Honeyed Fig and Mascapone (which will become Higo Catalunaya once I have perfected the receipe.)
The Captain is the same age as I was when my parents separated. It is much on my mind.
2) Mental Health
Some time between the summer and October I seem to have drifted in to a depressive slump. Mostly this was manifesting at work, where things felt very difficult. I got asked if I was okay at work in January and this prompted me to go to the GP who prescribed some medication. The pills have had an almost magical effect. I was almost manic or ecstatic for the first couple of weeks and it's only now that I find myself just feeling "normal" but normal in a cheerful and active way. So well done the anti-depressants. I expect I'll be on them for a year or so. I have no problem with that.
3) British Politics
I keep waiting for the Tory Party to implode and also simultaneously explode. Now the one thing to remember about the Tory Party is that they, more than any other group in history ever, are able to put their own pragmatic grasp on power ahead of any personal or political or ideological consideration up to and including the ruination of the entire nation. So, them imploding is a rare event and not one that I actually expect to happen. I still think it's odds on that they will fudge and bluster their way through Brexit and then blame everyone else for the situation of the former United Kingdom and escape consequence free. But I still have hopes that they mismanage the situation (not Brexit, but their own survival of Brexit) and end up wreaked as a party and as an ideological vehicle for a generation.
In a parallel and related strand of British politics I am becoming more and more a supporter of Scottish independence. The only way to protect my part of the United Kingdom from the idiots and bastards in other parts of it is to leave them to it. I look forward to the SNP raising merry hell with Parliamentary proceedure and Ian Blackford as a Parnell for the 21st Century.
4) Work
I am deep in to budgeting at work. Looking at the 3 year sales plan and wondering where we're going to find 5, 10 or even 15 high quality software engineers. I've been learning some new spreadsheeting skills and getting nicely in to the ebb and flow of the business. So far prior year budgets are standing up to some intense scrutiny. That's pretty pleasing. I'm busy making things more transparent and robust and adaptable. It's verging on good fun.
We'll need to work out what we're doing with the new management team of our owners. They seemed pretty sharp but I fear they are betting that we can use our capability to make up for a lack of capability elsewhere in the organisation.
5) Bits and Bobs
A) It's my pals 50th birthday party this Saturday.
B) I have a rehearsal on Sunday for Skirt. I'm looking forward to that. Thinking about the look and feel of my character. I feel I could be in for some hair growing and perhaps a beard. And a battered tweed jacket. Men also have constraints on clothing, they are less and different than those placed on women but they exist.
C) Other weekend excitements include the return of my niece from the seaside, a visit by my brother, and a family barbeque on Sunday. Because of A and B I won't have time to cook at the BBQ but I might be able to make a salad on Sunday morning.
D) The World Cup has started - I secretly hope that it will be a disaster as I don't much care for Russia's politics at the moment, or their football culture or the ethical standards of FIFA. I also hope that Australia will stun the world by beating Brasil on penalties in the final causing the trophy to be renamed the Bruce Remy trophy. Australia play France on Saturday morning. I have my t-shirt ready. I saw my first World Cup replica shirt yesterday - and the winner is Panama. I already like their flag. So this World Cup I am supporting Australia, Uraguay, Costa Rica, Japan and Panama.
E) The Captain was busy scurying around the house this morning. In addition to getting all his clothes ready including reaching up to get a clean fleece before discovering that I had one in my bag he was also in the utility room scurrying around. I thought he'd gone in there to fetch himself some crisps but he was looking for a bag (like the ones Grandad uses) to bring home his artwork from school. I gave him a Scottish Parliament canvas tote bag and he left happy.
F) Lifted two sets of 10 reps at 100 kgs this morning.
