This blog is for my kid(s?). So if they want to, they can look back on what it was like "back then"...
Enjoy, & feel free to leave your comments. L & C Black 2k6.
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One excited Mum to be and an equally excited Dad to be are now almost besides themselves with anticipation!
It is like waiting for Christmas, and knowing you've got that top present that you always wanted....but you still have to wait...and it's only March....
Chris has to rest up as her blood pressure is a little high, so tomorrow I am of to the NRA open day at Bisley. My mobile phone will be at close call incase anything happens, but all is quiet at the moment.
Hopefully I will meet up with our friends Adrian and Sally (who are a really wonderful couple) and a couple of their friends. There should also be a fellow Mornington Crescent player (called Raak) coming down from the North. Needless to say, long term best bud Eddie will be coming along for the day - It wouldn't be half as much fun without him.
Hopefully Junior will just be a relaxed bump for the day, but I am ready to drop everything if I get a message that "things are about to happen..."
My father first learnt to fly in a silver RAF Tigermoth in the 50's. He grew very fond of these old biplanes.
On his 70th birthday I gave him a flight in one as a treat. It was a yellow painted moth, reg G-ANFM. He loved the flight, and luckily enough I managed to get a flight as well. I'm now also very fond of the old Tigermoths.
For Dad though, it was his last ever flight.
Several years later - in his 80's - I took him to a Goodwood Tigermoth meet airshow and the same Tigermoth he had his last flight in was there - out on the flight line was G-ANFM.
Dh.Tigermoths G-ANFM and G-AXBW (Photos from AIRLINERS.NET)
4 days to go until Tuesday 2nd. Zero day.
Chris has just had a rifle shooting result letter saying that she managed to get 3rd place in the National Womens Individual Championships (CLASS C) with 288/300.
She only missed getting the NSRA Silver Plaquette by a gnats whisker - The person in 2nd had also shot a 288, but had managed to put more in the 10 ring.
Not bad seeing as she was quite heavily pregnant when the competition took place, and wasn't really in the mood to take part. She hadnt wanted to do much shooting during the pregnancy, but found herself entered into theis competition! Not bad going!
Meanwhile on Jnr front, we are both full of excitement for the arrival of the little one. I had a look at a house today and made an offer. I have already eyed up a room to become a nursery - IF we get the house!
The house I looked at is in Farnborough...well, Cove (my Dads birthplace and home). It looks over a green and is quite quiet. Hopefully it all goes well and we finally move.
This is Tigger incredibly handsome cat and big brother to Miew.
We sadly lost him at the ripe old age of 15 in April 2004.
Now we have a new family member on the way it reminds me of how lucky I was to have such a great friend while I was growing up.
I never had a pony and he used to be happy to oblige being dressed up as one as long as you then fed him like one (he loved food). He also used to fit quite happily into my dolls clothes (they were large dolls!!) and made a wonderful pillow.
Luckily Tigger loved daddy quite a lot even though he used to sleep on his side of the bed, take up lots of room and stop him sleeping by my head. Miew has been a great pupil and looks to be following in his big brothers footsteps.
Because of Tigger I think Miew will make baby and our next baby (oh yes, there will be one!) a great fluffy big brother and like me Jnr. will realise there is no greater friend than an animal (apart from Loooocas!!!!!!!).
Chris xx
39 weeks. That means that the due date is next Tuesday. Tuesday 2nd May.
Hey there Junior,
You might get here sooner, you might get here later, but I am now wanting to see you more than ever.
I'm going to try and post a comment every day now, counting down the clock until you are with us.
I was thinking about putting my feelings down everyday - the closer that special day comes...but it will just end up the same every day: "I'm so excited and can hardly contain myself!".
Mum to be feels just the same - even though you keep kicking her!
Careful, or she'll remind you about that when you bring your first boy/girlfriend around to the house (that and the baby pictures - don't think that she won't do it!)!
So I go out to my car yesterday morning and find a Portsmouth kiss. Great! They didn't even leave a note to say sorry. That's this place through and through.
Bumper scrape, paint on body scraped, indicator lens broken. Idiot low enders.
Not long to go now. Even just looking at Chris in the "baby on board" T-shirt taken a few weeks ago, you can tell that baby is growing fast!
OTHER NEWS JUST IN:
I've been entered into the Bisley 100m "Any sights" shoot, and Surrey 50m Individual. Still awaiting my NSRA/ELEY semi results.
"Any Sights" means that the rifle can use telescopic sights, laser (if you want!) - ANY! I shall be using my standard sights with no magnification - I don't need that fancy stuff to shoot well. (last words....)
This was Chris at about 32 weeks. She's now a lot bigger and 38 weeks!
We had some tests and scans today because one of the midwives thought Chris had too much fluid.
Several midwives later, and no-one else thinks that she has too much fluid. So no problems there, but we still got a 38 week scan done!
Jnr wouldn't stay still for the basic audio scan for heart beat, so no heart beat was found...but this wasn't a concerne because it was obvious Jnr was okay...kicking, squirming nd lashing out from within!
The ultra sound visual scan was cool. We saw the arms, legs, face, back, stomache and heart of Jnr...so big now! We couldn't get a new scan picture because Jnr is too big to get a good clear picture off.
Estimates based on size now put Jnr at 6lb 9. With two weeks to go, and an estimated weight gain of 1/2 lb a week, we should be looking at 7lb 9.
Lets see how good that estimate was then...
Bugger.
Our house is generating a lot of interest with buyers, so the move is finally on the horizon! Huzzah.
Nope - scratch that.
The estate agents we are buying through failed to tell us one little detail....that the house we want to buy has been remarketed and sold, subject to contract! We knew nothing about this.
So BEALES ESTATE AGENTS and ROMANS ESTATE AGAENTS are both uselss money grabbing no good a-holes. They don't care about the client, they only care about the money - No wonder they won't join an ombudsman to regulate estate agencies - They'd never be able to operate like they do now.
Where does that leave me and my 38 week pregnant wife? Well....our house is for sale and we are looking for somewhere to buy....JUST LIKE 9 MONTHS AGO!!!
Thanks to the Bloody Idiots at ROMANS and BEALES.
Cheers guys - hope nothing really bad ever happens to you. Nothing real bad.
Well, we decided to go for a walk today. Stretch our legs and have a look around the Pounds Scrap yard before we leave Portsmouth.
I've often looked at it as I've driven by. I've always thought it would be a great place to get some photos, as a lot of the items scraped off in there are behemoths - Really huge chains, ropes, anchors, trucks etc.
The photo above is an American amphibious assault craft, and it is huge...really huge. Click on the imge to see more of these photos. I mean HUGE.
This photo is of the kitchen wall in our house. It was taken to serve one purpose.
On the photo group I belong to people comment and in some cases score each others images.
Some of the remarks are quite pretentious. Some of the images are also pretentious.
It brings to mind the type of art where someone exhibits a 1 metre square photo of a completely red canvas. Nothing but red. Someone then buys it for £1,000,000:00 becasue it is such cutting edge art!!!
Art is in the eye of the beholder, and to me an image has to have stuff going on, or at least be of something of interest.
That is why I published this picture, just to see what comments I would get BEFORE I came clean as to it actually being a bit of a joke.
It is eye opening...truly unbelievable. Click the above picture to see those comments....Luvee.
Click on the image of Trouble here, and you will be taken to a collection of photos that I have taken (Also via the LINKS box at the top of the page).
I quite like photography, and to make a picture that little bit more than a simple "snap shot" is quite interesting to me...
Go on...have a look and enjoy!
Gama is taking on another crew chief...one who used to be with the company when it was based in Plymouth.
We had heard that he had a large toolbox, so sent Tony to investigate...
You couldn't make this stuff up...
We put the house back on the market this morning, and straight away we had two viewings. Mann and Co are doing their best to sort this house move mess out....no thanks to BEALES estate agents...bunch of cheating low life muppets.
Anyway, The first couple weren't that interested, but the second guy (Gary), and his little girl were. The little girl was having fun playing with our cats, whilst Chris and I were chatting to an ex Navy guy who is training up to be an estate agent (he was doing work experience).
I said to the ex-Navy guy "Are you sure you want to do this line of work, after all, being an estate agent isn't as safe as being in the Navy..."
BANG!!! THUD!!! BANG!!! from upstairs.
I ran up to see what had happened, and found Gary with his hand to his head, and Emma (the estate agent proper) asking if he was okay....
The loft hatch. We never use the loft, but Gary decided to take a look. Although it appears to have a bolt and hinge, the hinge isn't there, and it is only the bolt that holds the door up. As we never use it, it was never an issue.
I recall viewing the house all those years ago and the door bumped me on the head, but I didn't think anything else of it, as I had learnt that it was just a hatch panel and not a swing door...
Gary made his way downstairs where we gave him a seat and a glass of water. He appeared to be okay. Okay that is until he toppled from the chair and was caught by the estate agents. The shock of the bang to his head had set in and he passed out.
I called the ambulance whilst Chris and the estate agents put Gary in the recovery position and kept him aware of his surrounds.
A paramedic and an ambulance turned up and did some checks, then took Gary and his little girl away.
I put some hinges on the hatch, in case anyone else wants a look. Never even occurred to me that someone would try and open it.
As the estate agents left, one turned to me and said "If it is any consolation to you, he really liked the property...."
Hmmm. Even the house is out to stop us from moving.
I just hope the poor guy is okay. Damned house.
I wonder if we could convince him that he agreed to buy the property before he banged his head.....
The time is flying by now as Chris hits 36 weeks. Jnr is kicking strongly and making his/her presence known.
Cats are now a little dubious of sleeping on Chris, as without warning they are finding themselves being kicked off of bed....but no-one moved!!!
I was wrong about the 13 hours in that last blog post...today was 17 hours between leaving for work and getting home again!
I was right about the cat though...still relaxed on the bed!
Getting ready to leave for work at 05.30 isn't made any easier with Miew looking on all snug and smug.
Rubbing it in even more, he'll be in exactly the same place and position when I return home 13 hours later...
It's a hard life being a cat!
Chris wanted to know what cake I wanted for my birthday...
Now I love cornflake cakes, and she didn't let me down! It is the biggest cornflake cake I have ever seen.
It tastes great, although It is a struggle eating it, but I'm sure I'll manage somehow!
Ian (father in law) sent me an email like this today.
Well, it made me laugh anyway, so I had to blog it!
So I hit the big 33 today. I must admit that I prefer experience over age, but would like the energy that I had back then, with the knowledge I have now. I can understand what people mean when they say that "Youth is wasted on the young."
I've had a few regrets, but then again, too few to mention (I think there's a song in that lot somewhere....). There are some things that I wish I hadn't done, but given the choice and ability, I wouldn't go back and change anything.
I am happy with what I am and what I have now, and it was my past that made me the guy I am now - the happily married expectant father.
Some advice for you Jnr - If someone offers you advice, don't blank it with the headstrong belief of youth - Instead listen to the advice, as it could well save you time, energy, effort and anguish in the long run.
Why learn by your mistakes when you can learn from people who have been there before you? Learning fron others means that you have more time to go and make brand new mistakes of your own to learn from....
Wayne Barrett, one of the Gama crew chiefs.
Seen here loving the fact it's my birthday, which means cream cakes all round. He likes his cakes. Heck, he likes anyones cakes, biscuits, sweets etc....
Seen here in a rare moment of non-cake mastication.
Little Tone - shown actual size. Sometimes known as Swiss Tony. Actual name: Tony Kurtis, top guy and great laugh. Works at Gama with me.
Terri Baker.
Gama collegue and friend. Almost as excited as me and Chris over the arrival of junior. I also work with Al Baker, Terri's dad and all round nice guy.
I have just been watching the BBC show "Life on Mars" about a 2006 cop who finds himself in 1973.
It makes me wonder what the next 33 years hold in store. The thing that grabbed my mind was not the old fashioned and outdated versions of the everyday items that we take for granted now, but the things we take for granted that didn't even exist back in '73 when I was born.
What will my child(ren) have that hasn't even been thought about yet? Back in the 70's they didn't even have rough ideas of things to come. It wasn't a case of how small or powerful the next mobile phone would be, as there were no ideas of mobile phones or pc's, no cd's and definately no mp3...none of that stuff even existed in anyone's dreams.
What does the World hold in store for our future?
Well junior, due to the imminent house move, take away food is a major part of life! Great excuse anyway!
This Indian pictured is the best for miles...or Km if Europe has had its way. It's always a tough call between Fish and Chips, Chinese, Indian or KFC. If sushi was available, then it would be an easy choice for me!
Imagine a house that is a jumble of boxes....floor to ceiling...awaiting a phone call to say "The contract is clear...you can finally move house!!!"
Imagine a cat. Slightly daft, pretty darn big but with little brain.
So...it's a couple of days from my birthday (hooray!) and Miew, my little prince of a cat (who takes up a whole double bed), decides to give me a present.
Now Miew looks like a cat, tries to do cat stuff, but is never quite as good as the balancing and chasing and catching as he is at the sleeping.
My present. A baby rat. Miew has caught it, and brought it into me. Then dropped it for me. But unlike a normal cat, this gift rat is alive. Very much so. Not even a bite mark.
It ran under all those stacked crates and bags...bugger.
A good hour later, with several misses, the rat is rounded up. I have my air pistol at the ready, as every time we almost get it within grabbing distance, it runs off. I don't want a rat in the house and I don't want to kill it - so it would be my last choice getting it cornered and shooting it, then moving everything out of the way and dispose of it.
Luckily I finally corner it (third attempt and the room is a wreck).
I put down a long cardboard tube with a folded up end, and Chris scares the rat so it runs towards and into the tube. I grab the open end of the tube and fold it over. Ratty is taken outside and released over by the garden shed.
House: A total bomb site.
Me and Chris: Knackered.
Miew: Wants love and attention for bringing me such a lovely gift.
I guess the blog about how I sold my Toyota Supra 3L turbo and bought a sensible baby friendly (boring) car will have to wait....Just wait until junior asks for his/her first car and moans that I only allowed them a sensible one...I had a Supra and now I drive a Citroén Berlingo. Mind you, by then even a simple hatch back basic model will probably put out 240bhp....and run on household waste.
The time will come when Junior will want to know where mum and dad used to live, and why we moved...That day will be the day I tell them about Portsmouth.
Junior is then going to see the Casheater Tower in Portsmouth and ask: "What were they thinking?" - "They get rid of the Tricorn thing and then make something with even less use!".
The Millenium Tower became Spinacher when it was obvious that the local government cocked everything up and the project was delayed. The millenium shot past and the original name became something of a joke. Luckily they told the public that we wouldn't have to put any cash into it ourselves. Then they said we might have to put little in. Then we ended up with major hikes in council tax bills.
At least we had a lovely new tower that dwarfs everything with its splendor....well...it can only just be seen if you enter Portsmouth from the Southampton end, and is dwarfed by the ill designed trash burning facility* near Hilsea if you enter from Chichester end.
Still...I'd rather have this wonderful tower than clean and safe streets with good social services and well funded schools. The tower was a great buy.
*Yes, it is the 21st Century, and some dope put a state of the art refuse burning facility next door to a school...and to top it off, they didn't even link it to a turbine or energy creation system...No, it just throws muck into the skies with no positive side effects. Global warming....What's that then?
Lets get this tale onto a blog then shall we...
Back in 2005 I arranged a surprise 25th birthday treat for Chris. I told her that I had booked a top restaurant near her Dad's place in Goodwood, but things were looking frantic at work...an air ambulance was desperately needed and I had to stay on to get it fixed....
I didn't want the restaurant to go wasted, so told her to go to it with her mum, and I'll try and get down there later...
On the Friday of her birthday (May 20th) her mum said that they had to drop into Goodwood to pick up a birthday present from her Dad on the way to the restaurant. This meant that Chris, her mum and her dad would all be at Goodwood aerodrome at a set time...
My good friend Sudeep "Soggy" Jacob is a pilot...He has a 'plane based near Oxford and others that he can use.
The unflappable Sudeep "Soggy" Jacob. Ace pilot extraordinaire
I jumped in Eddies car with Soggy and Eddie (my long time buddy) and headed up to Soggy's airfield. For the surprise we needed a 6 seater, and Soggy needed to get tested (checked out) on it before being allowed to take it. The weather was bad....and we had to wait for ages to get a chance for Soggy to get his chance to be checked out.
The Cherokee 6 that had a major part to play....and the dark clouds that threatened to end it all
Once all that was cleared and Soggy had the aircraft, we then had to wait for the weather to clear again so we could take off and head down south to Goodwood. The weather was rough, but nothing to really moan about (that would be Sunday's trip back to Oxford...).The weather was "Do-able" - Only just though....
We took off and headed south...throttle open and making good time. We flew over my (and Soggy's) work place (Gama Support Services) and carried on down to Goodwood. The timing was spot on!
Gama Support Services, Farnborough. My car is not in the car park....Chris thought that it should be....
Ian, Chris's Dad, pulled his part of the plan perfectly. Chris and Lauren (her mum) had arrived to "pick up the present", but Ian had to go and sort out something on the airfield first (he works there on the rescue team, as well as being a race marshal). Chris and Lauren went with him...just in time to see Me, Soggy and Eddie taxi the aircraft in. Chris was really excited that I had managed to make it...and arrive in style!
I told her that we had flown down from my work place to get to the restaurant in time, and that it was lucky that Soggy had his aircraft with him that day. Eddie had just come along for the flight, and was going back with Soggy whilst I went with Chris and her mum to the restaurant. Lies, all lies.
As the aeroplane was at Goodwood, and we had time to spare, I offered to have everyone go for a quick flight around the airfield before we all did our separate things.
Soggy, Eddie, Lauren and Ian in the first 4 seats. Chris and I sat at the back for this trip.
So we took off....flew a circuit....and then carried on flying north to Blackbush Airport, where we landed. A colleague from work , Steve, was at Goodwood to see us in, and then we jumped out of the 'plane and walked over to where I had some transport arranged...
Steve, a friend and collegue from Gama, does his marshalling duty for us at Blackbush
Chris was delighted...as she had a good idea of what was going to happen next. She knew the area...and knew of a top Thai Restaurant nearby that she really loved...
At the restaurant I had arranged a quiet area....and a load of Chris's
friends...and some top presents that Chris had been after for some time ("Oooh, I REALLY like those"...she said...every time we had been to the restaurant in the past...).
All in all it was a great day. Everyone played their parts superbly, and it was all down to the very last second and split second timing. Looking back, almost a year later, and I'm still surprised that we pulled it off. There was so much planning involved, and so much against us. A good job all round.
The photos are available on Flickr (MY PHOTOS link at the top of the page).
Chris....ready for the return flight....
The return trip to take the aeroplane back up to Oxford, and the Isle of Mann trip are stories for another day...
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