GOOD NEWS AND A LEAP OF FAITH

arely do I have good news to share. For me, the daily struggle and the mundane routine are the norm, especially this year, which has been a particularly challenging one so far. So to be able to say this gives me immense pleasure...

​Last week, my youngest daughter, Rags, passed her driving test!

THE CAPTAIN'S YULETIDE MESSAGE

ule is a special time, a moment of peace and reflection that transcends beliefs and means so much to so many. The world continues with its wars and the disasters continue it’s important to cherish the simple joys of life whilst the rich still seem bent on destruction for their own benefit.

So whilst the King is waffling on on the telly I get to deliver my message to the world.

2110.07 HAPPY PLACE

I don't blog enough. I know this, I feel a little overwhelmed at the moment. Work is really been getting me down, the pandemic is still bubbling around as well as all the usual life worries we carry. To eleviate the stress I'd planned a trip with my beloved Morticia to our favourite place.

1910.04 DUN PARENTING... RAGS IS 18

My youngest daughter is 18 years old today. I've managed to deliver my two daughters to adulthood without killing them or them killing anyone else.

1810.06 LICENCE TO... DRIVE

Having kids is an ever changing adventure. Every year with every birthday there's something new. On Thursday it was my youngest daughter's 17th birthday.

1806.05 THE WEIGHT

Time is a commodity I don't have loads of at the moment. When I do get a precious moment I am so tired I don't feel like doing anything.

1711.12 REMEMBER THOSE THAT GAVE SO MUCH

If you were reading this time last year you may have read my post for Remembrance Sunday and my daughter who is an Army Cadet.

1710.16 THE LAST EVER PARENT-TEACHER EVENING

As a parent of older children, well an adult and a teenager, I've seen many of the parenting tasks end. Last Thursday I saw another one end.

1710.04 SWEET SIXTEEN

Being a parent is a job for life. Sure the sleepless nights are over pretty quick, in fact the whole childhood part is over pretty quick so if you've got little ones make sure you're savouring it all.

1611.26 HOME ALONE

This weekend Morticia has gone away with the girls so I've been left 'home alone', well not quite. I'm here with Rags and we are enjoying a bit of quality time together. We've been catching up on all our favourite superhero TV shows and eating junk food. We're having a great time.

When she goes to bed I've been working on new graphics for my website/blog ready for next year. Next year is a big milestone for my website. It'll be 15 years old. Although in the early years I gave it loads of attention it's only in the last year that I've given it renewed vigor and in that time I've 'met' loads of new friends. Well the new graphics I'm working on will show my commitment to this outlet. Although I am active on social media I fell out of love with it some time ago. Blogging allows me to express myself emotionally and creativly whilst still having control.

A first look at some of the new graphics
(I'm not quite happy with the menu bar yet).

Anyway, that was a bit of a tangent...

Every relationship is different but I feel it's healthy to spend a little time apart and (after Rags has gone to bed) some time alone. I'm making the most of my time and getting some great quality time with my daughter. Today I'm making Toad in the Hole and we are going to watch movies. It's going to be a great day.

Supplemental 1611.27;
Today had promise but has been sadly marred by a nasty migraine which has left me in bed for most of the day. The movies we planned to watch remain unwatched and the quality time I planned was reduced significantly. I'm very disappointed with how the weekend has panned out in the end. We got in some quality time but not as much as I'd hoped. 

1610.04 XV

My youngest daughter was born fifteen years ago this day.

Everything changed. Even though I had been a father for 5 years previous to that point I wasn't prepared for the difference Rags would make to my life.

Baby Rags with her big sister

She is wise beyond her years, she has a sense of fun than rivals anyone I know. She has intelligence and wit with a grounding that I envy.

Rags

She has grown into a beautiful young woman and I am immensely proud of her. Happy 15th birthday Rags. I love you with all my heart.

1607.15 PRIZE

Yesterday we were invited to attend my daughter's school for the end of year "Evening of Excellence". Rags had been nominated to receive a form tutor excellence award for the second year running. As the head teacher explained to the assembled parents, pupils (I think they call them students these days) and governors, out of 733 pupils only 40 were selected to win awards.

Rags goes from strength to strength and she has grown up to become a kind, thoughtful and clever young lady. As her father I have to say I am immensely proud.

Well done Rags!

1606.11 THE PICKUP

Today, together with my youngest daughter Rags, we headed south to go and pick up Morticia. I woke up 15 minutes before my alarm at 6:45am, Rags had said she was getting up a bit earlier to grab a shower. I couldn't hear the shower. I shouted her.

We set off at about 9am. The cat was sorted with plenty of food and water (and a clean litter tray), the SeaMonkeys were fed. The traffic on the M1 and A57 was a little heavy with loads of caravans on the road. The traffic cleared as we went through Sherwood Forest.

Driving through Sherwood Forest

Rags was a rubbish co-pilot who instead of giving me nibbles and keeping me hydrated just nodded off. We arrived at St. Neots just before 11:30am.

We were reunited.

In the afternoon we had a trip into the town. It looked like there was a Morris dancing convention in town (they were everywhere). Morris dancing isn't something we see back home so it was a bit of a novelty. After tea we headed back to Morticia's mother's house. Tomorrow we head home, tonight however we're off to the pub to enjoy being together again.

Morris Dancing in St Neots Market Square 

1606.10 LAST DAY ON MY OWN

So my week without Morticia is almost over. I've spent the week mostly being horizontal, eating junk and watching movies and Netflix. Why? Because in 'real life' that's not what I do (except for the odd evening in). The week has gone by pretty fast, in the morning it'll be done with and after the weekend life will return to 'normal'.

Apart from the odd cloudburst it's been hot and sunny all week, perfect cycling weather yet I haven't turned a pedal all week. I could have set up the turbo trainer but if I'm honest I didn't want to. I needed to be fully relaxed.

I've eaten so badly I'm at the point where I'm craving pasta and grilled chicken. One of the supposed culinary highlights of the week was a Chinese takeaway that I'd promised myself weeks before. Sadly I was disappointed and whilst it was OK, it wasn't as great as I've come to expect from my favourite restaurant. I've drank so much Pepsi Max I think I'll be off the stuff for months.

I hit the movie collection pretty hard, I've watched...

The Hangover Trilogy, Star Wars - The Force Awakens, Casablanca, Edge of Tomorrow, Paul, A Good Day to Die Hard and Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation.

There is also the favourites that I always seem to watch when Morticia goes on a trip; Brassed Off and The Flying Scotsman (Graeme Obree story).

Netflix was hit too, I binged on Marvel's Jessica Jones and watched the Jimmy Carr stand up special.

So what about Rags? My daughter has been here but I've barely seen her all week. She has a busy after school life, with Army Cadets and helping out with the school play our quality time has been very short.

So tonight I tidy and clean around the house, pack up a few bits for tomorrow I go get my Morticia back!

1601.12 STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

Rags has been going to Army Cadets since before Christmas. Last night she got her uniform, she was so chuffed when she got home. Today she auditioned for the lead in her drama class' performance of "Legally Blonde" and got it. She never ceases to amaze me.

1601.08 SCHOOL REPORT

I took today off. Reason being that tonight was Rags' school parents evening. I've always been an involved father, it's my place to be part of my childrens' education.

Rags has always had good reports from school but this is the first in year 9 (if you are older and without kids in school then it's the 3rd year) so it's the start of her GCSE courses. No pressure then!

We sat one by one in front of teachers who of I'd have seen them in the street would have thought they were also pupils (sorry students) of the same school. Each teacher in turn went on to say how fantastic our daughter was and that she was a "pleasure to teach".

We had promised that if she got a good report from EVERY teacher then she would receive a prize. Safe to say that this evening had cost us. I will be ordering her a new charm for her Nomination bracelet (what she has chosen). Afterwards we went for tea at the Ring O Bells pub (a Hungry Horse), it was free dessert night with main meals so the treat was even better.

1510.04 RAGS FOURTEEN

My baby. My youngest is 14. Bloody hell! As a treat we took her and a friend to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. We did want to take her to Coronation Street but it's booked up until the end of the year (we booked it anyway).

Young tiger at @yorkshire_wp this afternoon #dayout for @raygunragz #birthdaytreat

A photo posted by CaptainKirt™ (@captainkirt) on Oct 4, 2015 at 1:49pm PDT

1410.04 TEENAGER #2

About 5 years ago I posted a tongue in cheek post on here asking for advice in coping with a teenager as my eldest was about to reach that age. My offspring took grave offence at this and in hindsight there were tell tale signs to the three years that were to come. 

My youngest daughter has now reached that age. This time around is so different, Rags is a mature, caring, bright and considerate young lady and I have a much more positive feeling about her future.

Ever since my eldest's 13th birthday an 8 year old Rags has been planning her celebration. Like her sister she wanted a limo ride followed by a small gathering, everything went off without a hitch and I was pleased that our eldest came along to share her sister's special day. Happy 13th Rags xxx

1408.04 BUSY BUSY

I've been working hard over the last few weeks. I'm not good at decorating but I've stepped up to the mark in order to get my youngest daughter's new bedroom finished. We waited 2 years to give up our eldest daughter's bedroom to her sister but it wasn't fair that a larger room wasn't been used.

She's moved in now, it's been changed so it now no longer resembles her sister's room. She is so happy with her new surrounding and now has a room fit for the teenager she is about to become.

1003.23 REAL MEN DON'T SKIP

Today saw me participating in my youngest's PE class for a second time. Together with other parents and our children we got involved in some light exercise and dance games.When I was first asked to do this my first thought was to run for the hills, 'dancing' was mentioned and as anyone who knows me knows, I don't do dance (unless you add alcohol). But Morticia is in no fit state to do it, it was up to me not to disappoint my little girl.

I was worried that the turnout would be low or that all the other parents would be mothers. Fortunately I was wrong and it was a good turn out with a nice mix of mothers and fathers.

The exercise bit was light but fun and the dance bit just involved jumping about to music. A good time was had and I think I earned loads of father-daughter points with my youngest.

The only thing I drew the line at was skipping, not with a rope, the one when you chuck your arms and legs out in a rhythmic way. Real men don't skip right?