I got married, and walked with Mary Poppins on Halloween

Well it happened, after many years I got married to Sparkling Eyes, it was a registry office do on the 19th October 2019. She's the most beautiful and perfect woman there could be in my world, not because she tells me nobody else would have me, but because I love her ridiculously. And in order to solidify our relationship a lot more Sparkling Eyes has put up with my farting, hugging and loving her since. It will be a three and a half week period of her company before I head off back to the Old Smokey and return to work and a different life. Now  a ring is on my finger. The finger hasn't gone blue with cut off blood circulation, and there may well have been moments when it had to be removed so the washing up could be done, but now it is quite nicely settled and the start of a distinctive ring finger mark is imprinting itself. This three and a half week period of wedding bliss is wonderful, this here is my woman, I'm here man and now I have a legitimate claim of a wonderful beautiful family who have been discussed many a time during these blogs. Though they've been infrequent of late. I'll do my best to write a few more blogs and maybe refresh my picture on the profile. Perhaps the biggest problem has been too much time spent keeping up with social media and the BREXIT crisis. Oh for a little bit of humour to brighten the day.

This period (just married time) is otherwise going to be referred to as the long hug, because the most magical thing in the world is a hug and there's been lots of them happening. Even an old geezer in his late 50s enjoys a hug from his new wifey, and enjoys the company of a wonderful family.

Last night was Halloween, little Princess J all 6 years of age dressed up as Mary Poppins and insisted she be taken around the houses in order to fill up her felt bucket with sweets. It is probably a time of year where the dentist gets a little excited or depressed, depending very much on the dentist as he sees his younger customers turn up to get their mouths checked. It didn't matter much to Princess J for she likes sweets and doesn't think about small things like visiting the man in a white coat who can inflict bouts of pain with a little prod here or there.

So we knocked on a number of doors, the vast majority were not opened and at the start of our trek it got to feeling my little Princess wasn't going to get much in the way of treats. After a few houses we went to a tenement block. These have about 8 flats in them and require walking up flights of stairs rather than through front gardens and knocking at doors. When in the tenement block it is hard to tell if anyone is in the property as there are no front windows with lights, just a small stair well and a door, usually solid with a number or letter and a peep hole. The first door Princess knocked at and there was no reply. She then turned around took a few steps to the other side of the stairwell and knocked on a second door. We waited. it seemed quiet but then there was a noise behind the door. It opened and out wafted a plume of cannabis smoke, pungent but of course calm and chilled. A young woman disappeared back into the flat and came out with a plastic pumpkin, she knelt down to the same height as Princess J and took a handful of sweets to drop them in our little Princess's bag. We thanked them. And so this first success led and inspired us onwards to knock on another two or three dozen doors to which various sweets and chocolates were put in to the mini Mary Poppins' bag.

There were lots of ghouls, skeletons and various other scary creatures out that night, but only a single mini Mary Poppins, the one, who's hand I held and watched over as she ran up to the doors to give them a gentle tap. When we returned to the house she was so excited and happy. But the celebrations were not over. For of all things she wanted to do it was to bob apples. This was a must. Now I'm not particularly happy with bobbin my head in a bucket to fish out an apple, the thought of cold water and getting it up my nose while half drowning just doesn't float my boat. Funnily enough neither did

it seem to work for Sparkling Eyes or Rock Chick, both had expressed they were not going to do it and both had said it was Pops duty to do. Bloody ell. Mary hadn't forgotten about it, the knocking on doors and bucket of sweets hadn't worked as an amnesiac. Sparkling went and got a large plastic container and filled it with water, Rock Chick found some apples and dropped two in the water. Mary Poppins took first go and within a few seconds had came back up with her apple. It took her no time at all. Being suspicious I asked her to keep an eye on Sparkling and Rock and said they were not allowed to push my head down. The bucket was on the floor, hesitantly my head went down, someone was pushing or holding it into the water. Up I came to laughter of Sparkling and Rock, complaining they should not hold me down and again saying to Mary don't let them drown your Pops. This happened about 4 times each time I came up the girls were laughing and I had a strong suspicion Mary Poppin joined in, Pops didn't drown and though mildly unpleasant had a wonderful time as well.

Moral of story, even a married man might have to face attempted drowning by his most loved wife, but it will be OK.

Princess J is 4 today

Today will be Princess J's 4th birthday and she is really growing up. I had the pleasure of being her best pal most of yesterday, this was a very important job which began early in the morning. When she decided she would wake me up having spent the night sleeping with her Gaga, Pops had been regaled to the spare room. I could hear her outside the door saying she wanted to wake pops. So to help her out the kindle was hidden under a pillow and I pretended to be asleep. The door creaked open and little feet marched towards the bed, her voice gently called out "Pops, Pops" no movement. A little bit of fake snoring was thrown in. Princess climbs on the bed and looks straight into my face again "Pops, wake up" some more snoring and now her little button has been pressed because the go softly treatment is over with. She shouts "Pops, wake up!" Of course at this point who would not wake up?

The entire morning I'd become Princess J's best play friend. It meant being shot with a water spray and running away from her as she giggled uncontrollably, holding down the sea-saw and swing at the end of the garden as she went up and down as high as she could possibly go while the legs of the fruniture did their best to pull out of the grass. Then there was the hour or so run on the local children park, again up and down on swings, and round and round on an assortment of playground kiddy toys. Followed a a few rolls down a small grass hill and the intermingled game of trying to keep Princess J's summer hat on her when she didn't want to wear it so just kept throwing it on the ground. Each time she was told-off she laughed more, because to her it didn't matter as this was all fun and fun is always the most important thing in the world. Certainly to every four year old, something us adults very much need to relearn, our laughter may well be more sophisticated but a child's laugh is the purest of all.

So Sparkling Eyes (Gaga) has now spent over two hours making sandwiches for the party, in her concern for the taste of young children she knows exactly not to mix adult tastes with the taste of a child. Theirs is more simple I am told. They like cheese, cheese with about anything is OK. I did the dishes and picked some fresh mint and chives from the garden. For a little mint and chives sprinkled over dip and things looks nice. Sparkling said she will drive today because she is more careful and will have to drive slowly. We'll head down to Rock Chick's place in a couple of hours time.

Princess J got a bicycle. When she first saw it she was a little quiet. For it was not a Paw Patrol bicycle, but it didn't matter for shortly afterwards she was on her bike with her Dad going to the shops and Rock Chick had a little emotional cry as she saw her daughter grow up another year. Funny both I and Sparkling had a moment when we thought of Princess opening up her bicycle and then just staring at it trying to take in that it was not Paw Patrol, because she is fixated with Paw Patrol and everything she has must be Paw Patrol endorsed. Any manufacturer in the world who makes items for children must have a very close eye on the trends they keep. The Night Garden has been kicked into tenth place, opening any kind of chocolate egg and finding a toy is first place. Any new Disney child film with lots of songs also rates up there pretty high.

The party hasn't began but, the day has and it will be beautiful and sunny.

Adult sent to bed by three year old Princess

Princess J likes to put me in my place. It is her duty and she enjoys it as much as a three and a half year old can enjoy chastising an adult. Lets just say immensely. Which kind of got me onto the thinking of what goes through the mind of a child? Their conception of the world is very different because hours of watching the Night Garden, Monsters Inc. or Paw Patrol etc etc does this kind of thing. It's probably a little like brain washing an adult. Their reality has the real existent of monsters and those monsters are cuddly. Human grandfathers are therefore also toys to be put in their box. In my case it was for Princess J to send me to bed. She didn't particularly need a reason but any reason can be found at any time. This time it so happened because I told her Gaga (grandmother) didn't have eyebrows, which is true, because I've seen her without them every morning. They get emphasised with the help of a pencil. So Princess J calls to her Gaga just so she can check to see if there are eyebrows and then I am sent to bed and told the reason I was sent to bed. Her little hand takes mine and then she leads me up to her bedroom, she points to the bed and says I must go to bed. After which Princess closes the door. Of course Pops is unhappy and he has to show a little theatre, so I stand behind the door and bang gently with my fists shouting "let me out" to which Princess J holds the door shut and says "no, you been naughty." It's then my turn to lay in bed and pretend to snore. Little Princess J laughs during this whole episode then goes downstairs to tell her Gaga what she's done and why she has done it.

A few moments later little feet can be heard coming up the stairs because now Princess J has to check on me. I snore and then hug one of her cuddly toys. The door opens and my eyes are closed. She peaks in and sees me but notices I have her stuffed Iggle Piggle doll. With determination she then comes up to me and begins to pull the doll away. I give a little struggle hanging onto it but she emphasises I have been naughty. It is after all her doll anyway and she must of felt naughty Pops was not the one to benefit from this comfort while sleeping. Princess takes the doll downstairs, I find another cuddly toy and do the same again. We repeat this situation about six times, she is really enjoying giving naughty Pops his punishment and soon there is a collection of soft cuddly toys in the living room. While Princess feels quite content with her work and Prison Officer righteous attitude to reprimanding the naughty man.

However, I got to thinking about poor Pops (me) being punished like this and wondered whether it could of been symptomatic of something else. Although you can never be sure of these things. So I thought perhaps she is punishing me because she loves her Pops and it had been 6 weeks or more since seeing him so she was going to teach him a lesson for not dropping in and playing with her. It seemed to make sense to me, for Princess J has not punished anyone else in the same way.

On leaving Gaga took me down to the train station in the car while Princess was secured in the back. I got out and said to Princess I had to get a train, I don't think she understood, and then waved as the Gaga drove off. Later I learned Princess was unhappy I had left. Fortunately Gaga knows the cure. An ice cream on a cold day was just the thing. There is one thing for sure, you just can't help but love the children in your life.

Missing the bus 5 times and a one minute chat with Princess J

Monday seems so far away, to be precise it was 5 days ago, but the day didn't turn out so good. It was a complete sequence of mistiming and impatience. This is what happens when you spend the entire two days cooped up indoors and not setting a foot out. All because while indoors there's a less likelihood of spending any money at all. Especially since lately it had been dripping worse than a 30 year old tap needing a washer replaced, which is an entirely different story. So waking up Monday morning meant the usual five hours of disrupted sleep because had even a little exercise taken place then tiredness and sleep would of been easier. This pent up energy was spent walking to the bus stop and during the frustrating ten minutes of waiting for a bus then making the decision to walk. However walking in a direction to get on an earlier bus meant eventually missing a total of five different buses. A mile and a half pass and now halfway to work I do eventually get on a red double decker. It's funny as well because lately the buses and traffic seems to be much less than it should be. It can only mean one thing. For some schools the summer holiday has already began. It's nice not to share a bus with a thousand kids who have screeching voices. To work with them would probably mean a compulsory supply of valium and a George Cross medal.

Getting off the bus there was only a few minutes walk into work and sat on the steps was a duck. It was a somewhat odd thing to see. When considering as the doors open up there were about to be a few coach loads of people walking in. Fish factories are like that. In one door and out the other. The duck was quite content to just sit there, like sitting on the steps of a public building was the normal nature of work for a duck. No doubt he was not aware of the two local Chinese take aways, who probably would be serving up the odd portion of his cousin. Not to mention the restaurants, which I have now mentioned.

At lunch I managed to get to chat to Princess J, although the discussion was very short. Being she is three years old and her language is very much still developing. I thought she was saying "can't hear" so spoke louder and told her we'd have to get her hearing checked out. Only then to be advised by Sparkling the little princess was actually saying "cat hairs" because Olly is moulting and the house was covered in them. It was only a few moments and it was a wonderful thing to do, listen to the most wonderful little Miss Trouble there is. Which is also another story altogether.

Saturday morning what do I do?

Oh I miss being bullied by a little girl who is barely three years old, my grand-daughter Princess J. She is the happiest little girl I have ever met in the entire world and I love her so much it hurts when I am away from Scotland for too long.  Next week will be week five from last seeing the little Princess. Let me also add Sparkling Eyes who I cant help finding I like to annoy and she in turn gets a perverse kick out of annoying me. She is the most wonderful pain in my arse I've every had and will always continue to be one. She puts me in my places and reminds me of who I am, she is my friend and my love and everything to me. Damn I must really be missing Scotland today.

Yesterday in Scotland it was raining and dull and the kind of day where you just stayed in doors and didn't venture out. It was one of those weather days which wears down the spirit to do nothing. They say you should get things fixed while the sun is out, which means there's always a lot of work to do things and get them fixed. Whenever the sun does decide to come out.

It's Saturday and I need to decide what to do with my time. The sun is out, Sparkling will begin working later this afternoon and it will mean two days where I don't get to chat to her as text messages fly through the air. Fortunately she now likes her new job, is easier and less manic than per previous job with the Red Cross. The RC may have a name for it as a charity but as a care provider for those needing palliative support it is dreadful. Sparkling showed me her list of calls over a weekend period and there were scores. Some people only getting a fifteen minute visit where the carers were expected to give a shower and breakfast. It isn't worth getting the RC involved unless you are in absolute need and then don't expect much. The care staff are spread thinner than marmite. Havey is in the corner there and it's about time he was played, sun is out and it's about time I got some exercise, I need to do something, anything, just be active. I got books and journal articles from days of old when I used to study, now they can be thrown out  but there's this emotional investment in these things because they were part of my life for a period, and there is knowledge in those things and knowledge is useful stuff to have. What is it that stops me from clearing out when I know I so need to?

Not quite talking - Princess J

Princess J is approaching a point of talking, not quite there but almost there. She will be stringing even more sentences along in the next few months. She is also the most loud little Princess ever, especially when she does not get her own way. Such as ice creams and chocolate eggs which she seems to be addicted to, she also has in unbelievable amount of energy never stopping.

While outside entertaining Princess J, which is the only thing adults are useful for in her eyes I learnt how to run after her with a skipping rope. She held one end and I held the other, she would then run up and down a strip of grass with me behind her. For some reason this was a very funny thing to do, she loved it. Whereas poor 50 plus man was absolutely shattered on account of not getting much sleep the previous night, getting up about 3 a.m. because the cat wanted out. But it don't matter because when I'm in Scotland it seems I'm everyone bitch. Sparkling eyes is constantly reminding me how exhausting and wonderful it is to be a human entertainment centre for Princess J.  Sparkling enjoys seeing Princess J develop with her own character, and there's one thing for sure Princess J has a loud personality.

For example, when Rock Chick (mum) had promised the Princess a ice lolly after tea it was as a means of bargaining to get Princess J to eat her tea. Unfortunately the freezer had no ice lollies left. At this point Princesses expectations were dashed on the rocks and a full meltdown ensued. It was bloody, loud and involved a lot of crying and screaming.  The poor thing really doesn't like to be disappointed. Sparkling (nan) saved the moment, and put on her firm and obedient voice, telling the little Princess to be calm she would go and get some lollies and be back shortly. In fact she told Princess to stay by the window and watch her as she went to the shop and came back.  Returning from the shop Sparkling stood outside the window and showed Princess the box of ice lollies. Princess J was then very happy and her meltdown had passed. Another time as the Princess had a melt down Sparkling again put on her authority voice put the Princess in her bedroom and left her there. The Princess being a little unhappy with this bashed her door and then threw herself on her bed as if exhausted. After all, such loud and energetic emotions must take it out of you. She had calmed down and went into stroppy mode.

I think the emotional and terrible two's people talk about are due to toddlers not being able to fully express themselves in speech.  They get frustrated and they also don't understand concepts or realities, they have what Freud would say all Id and a bit of Ego.  The Id being the basic raw desires to be satisfied. Well that's my interpretation. Princess J is so funny in many ways and she is such a joy to everyone around her, but she does have a little devil side to and doesn't do as she is told. Which is only right as well got for even as adults none of us like to be told what to do, more so as a child.

As for me I am pops and Princess J has me round her little finger. She's beautiful.

Princess J at two years old

Princess J is now two years old and is beginning to show she is as independent minded as the next person. Her preferences and dislikes are also coming through. She is fixated on doing those things which give her the most pleasure. Play, sucking her dummy, her bunny which she sleeps with all the time and is a comforter and not forgetting one of her favourite activities jumping on the bed or climbing over furniture. She is so full of energy if scientists were able to harness this in some way the  energy crisis we find ourself in would be solved in no time. But it doesn't work like this because I two year old would like not have anything to do with a scientist in the first place. Unless it was in the invention of a new type of ice lolly.

Listening to her learning to speak and actually speaking is a miraculous event as well. She enjoys baby babble and it enjoyable listening to her babble, as though in earnest she is really trying to communicate. Then when on a swing she shouts out in perfect English, "Come on mummy, swing!" Because of course being on a swing is so much fun and mummy should be part of this fun. I wonder how she learns to associate words with their meaning. There are concrete words which have the most meaning which she has picked up quickly. Such as mummy and daddy.  The number of these concrete type words have increased and increased and many of them are not just objects they include concepts. Such as the word 'outside' or 'sleep.'  The development of a child's cognitive abilities is amazing, probably something Piaget would know all about. However I can't help there was a lot of things he missed and just failed to include in his theory. How does a two year old know that causing fake pain on another person is fun? When Princess J squeezes my toe I pretend it hurts me and she in turn laughs. She learns she can control her own environment just a little at a time. She likes ice lollies but doesn't like being told go to bed. She enjoys cartoons on TV and loves chocolate - probably too much. When one person does not submit to Princess J's requests then she will go to the next person. Almost like if one does not give into her another person just might and this is what she is looking for. However this would suggest it was her intention.

Funny though, one thing I do know it is difficult to say no to such a beautiful princess and I guess this is why she has so many people wound round her little finger.

Sparkling gets told on by Princess J

Sparkling told me the other day how she got told on by Princess J, all of nearly two years of age. So there is Sparkling in her car waiting on Rock Chick to come out of work to give her a lift and little Princess J is strapped in her chair in the back seat. So Rocks asks the usual question "how was your day?" to which Princess J actually answers, and says:



 "Princess on TV and Gaga say No. "

To which both Rock and Sparkling laugh, because Sparkling has now been grassed up by her grand daughter who.  Little Princess J was trying to watch a program on TV about Princesses and it was time to leave the house and pick up Rock.  Sparkling said "no" and said it a number of times, turned the TV off and headed for the car.  Now Sparkling tells me she has a set routine as well for taking Princess J out in the car.  She first put's Princess J in the driver's seat, where she stands on the seat and pretends she is driving the car with her hands on the wheel. She absolutely loves this. While she is laughing at this fun game Sparkling then has time to load up the car with whatever needs to be put into it.  She gives Princess J a few minutes to enjoy her pretend driving and then straps her in the back seat.  It is so funny when I think of the cheeky little girl who just about can see over the driving wheel when she is standing up.  She is so full of energy and so funny because she is an expressive little girl. Her emotions and thoughts can not be hidden, what she feels she shows and you can't help but love her in everything she does. She is a ray of sunshine.

When talking about Princess J's character both I and Sparkling agree it is as though she has taken two traits from her parents.  How she has inherited or learned them is unknown and it seems these are the kind of traits you would only understand if you knew both her parents.  First is the quiet determination and obstinacy of Rock Chick and secondly the emotional expression of Dangerous Sports lad.  With Rock she knows what she wants, she then goes and gets it in her persistent way, and with Dangerous he just cant help being expressive even if holding back his feelings would be to his advantage he just cant, sometimes he is a little girly about it.  This is fine because in Princess J those girlishness attitudes are OK,. unfortunately doesn't show much of her girly side, maybe it is early days. What I see is Princess J the girl who is going to lead the first all female expedition up Kilimanjaro or the South Pole. Sparkling told me once how they took Princess J to the park and let her run, well she took off and didn't turn back, they waited but still she didn't turn back.  When she walks she's just goes marching off in the direction she wants to go and doesn't look back either.  Maybe it's because she knows Gaga or Rock will be there chasing behind her to catch her, or maybe it's because she has her own mind.  I can see here one reason why people have children, it's the entertainment factor.  Of course this does not take second place to the enormous amount of love factor which comes first every single time.  You just can't help loving her.

Sparkling is hoping for a job to come through shortly.  This is doing a job she has done before, caring in the community.  The company she will be working for seems like a really nice company as well. The ethos has come from the founder of the company who did this work herself and then grew it up to over 400 employees.  She pays them well and her staff like working for her.  Most jobs of this description usually pay only minimum pay and this is also true of central London.  The value of work here is low, it is the job you get paid for and not how conscientious you are as an employee.

Sparkling is off tonight with her friends to see a spooky.  This is Scottish for clairvoyant.  It turned out the spooky was crap, she couldn't tell Sparkling there was an Englishman riding a bicycle and playing the ukulele in her life. Oh well, she can't be that spooky after all.

A boring Saturday

Well my Saturday has so far been a blank tablet, tabla rasa or to interpret a blank slate on which nothing has been achieved. Maybe not completely nothing, I did a film review of American Sniper and have been watching Youtube videos. The type of video I should not be watching. Ghosts, polotogiests, conspiracy theories about aliens and governments.  So all in all it has been a productive Saturday. Oh nearly forgot I'm still spending a good part of the day dabbling in a facebook online game which needs constant updating in order to progress.  This also is a solitary thing I do because I just don't like playing in a group even though the game is set up as a group activity. Why have facebook friends I'm never going to meet. In fact the definition of friend should also mean someone you actual see. Sparkling Eyes bombed me out this morning as she was doing her gardening so would not speak to me but we caught up this afternoon. At last.  The walls are not closing in on me so at the moment Cabin Fever is being kept at bay.  As a mild tangent to the day I checked the weather report only to find next Tuesday is predicted to have frost and possible snow.  Wonderful, so now it looks like Winter is dragging on to take down some of Spring as well. I don't know if it is me but it seems like we've had half a year of crap weather.

Yesterday I checked out facebook to see a picture of Princess J, whilst her mummy was out and daddy had fallen asleep she decided to get her little fingers on mummy's lipstick.  Although she probably ate as much as she got on her lips and cheeks.  I couldn't help but laugh and laugh. I have now seen the picture a dozen times and just love to see the Little Princess's cheeky face. This is the face of a mischievous adventurer who feels she has been put on this world to explore it in every sense. She has to get out and about and then she has to stay out and about as long as possible.  Not liking to be kept up locked indoors more than a day at most. Sparkling took Princess to a local children's playground, and while there she slid down the slide and then climbed up the slide, threw her dolly down the slide and then went down after it. On the swings she had to stand on the seat and hold on but when both I and Sparkling had our own hands on her to keep her safe she was unhappy, wriggled about and said "no" in her demanding voice. Like she knew what she was doing, what she wanted and it certainly did not involve any adult safety measures. She stood there and successfully managed to swing back and forth. I'll grant it was a gentle and small swinging motion while I and Sparkling had our hands at the ready to catch her.  She let go with one hand and began to fall forward. Sparkling was there. But Princess J did her own thing because it was what she wanted to do and she doesn't understand the consequences of what happens when she lets go.  All the time she smiled and laughed and had great fun.  It's amazing how infectious having fun with a small child can be. Maybe this is one of the reasons people have children, this as well as the enjoyment of making the child in the first place. lol.


It has not even been a week and I am missing Sparkling. In this evening's chat she told me how a pizza for two was calling out in her freezer waiting to be eaten, that she to missed me. I then saw an image of us in the kitchen with the pizza and putting our own choice of toppings on it. Sparkling would go for a generous helping of extra mature cheese, we'd throw extra green/red peppers ontop and when it came out there would be either chilli flakes or jalopeno peppers sliced up. It's good watching TV in Sparkling's company. I felt a tear or two trickle down from my eyes as I thought about it.  It will likely be about six or seven weeks before I get to see her again, so I'll just have to hold it together for the time being, book my leave and pay for a train ticket.

Chasing the Mow

You never really get to know what happiness a child brings until you are in their company and this is completely true with Princess J. Whilst her mum (Rock Chick) and dad (Dangerous sports lad) were to have a new year's party it was down to her nanny (Gaga) and grand-dad (pops) to look after her. So Princess J spent the hogmany and then most of the first day of 2015 with her Gaga and Pops (moi). Whilst Sparkling Eyes and I, also partied into the wee early hours of new years and hit the hay at 3 a.m. Princess J went to bed at 10 p.m. given good fortune she would have a long sleep and we would get up maybe  10 a.m. and be slightly worse for wear. Except as always there is a caveat and this unfortunately is all at the whim of Olly the cat. Which little Princess J refers to as the Mow. For some reason the Mow brings happiness and excitement to Princess J.  For when he is about she has to play the hunting-for-the-mow game.  The Princess is so alert to the Mow when she is in a deep, deep sleep if she hears him meow she will wake up, and stand in her cot saying in the cutest little voice "mow?" Her fixation with Olly is full and complete, she wants and loves him or just plain wants to pester him. It was at about 8 a.m. Olly decided it was appropriate to begin his alarm clock Sinatra, he wasn't particularly loud in his meow but it didn't matter it was enough to wake up Princess, and after about 4 to 5 hours of sleep Gaga and Pops learnt how to live with little sleep and how to run about like blue arsed flies keeping the little Princess happy.

Mow, mow, then Princess J points her petite index finger at the cat. Olly without any compunction of fear at this point continues with his little meows of attention even though deep in his heart there is a fear of being chased by small footsteps of excitement by the intrusion of a little person.  It's not just the intrusion thing he gets unhappy about, it's a matter of affection. The excite loud screams of a little girl must be hitting a certain audible wave length and cause fear.  That and the manic little running steps she has, it is his nightmare to be chased by Princess J, but he very well deserves it for all the many nights of meowing all kinds of hours and waking Sparkling up. Usually these will result in an elbow to my side as Sparkling says "cat" in her authoritative sergeant major like voice. Unless I am comatose it is always my turn to run about after him, get his biscuits, wet meat or open the door and watch him venture out into the dark deep wilderness of the back garden. He prefers good weather to bad weather as well. Yet with little exciteable Princess J here some of the personal waking up mid morning pain is taken away. Olly's daytime habit is to sleep on a bed and Princess J's day time habit is to play Chasing the Mow. 

The purest form of excitement and happiness arises when Princess J find's the Mow. In excitement her finger and arm point at Olly, her voice goes up an octave, as it gets louder, then she does a Red-Indian (native American Indian) foot to foot running on the spot dance. She is like a mini volcano and jogs with intrepidation on the spot.  This is very unlike the behaviour Rock Chick shows who learnt from a young age to completely ignore her pets because more important to Rock is sleep no cat or dog will get her attention.  Princess J though is a different person altogether and she shows absolute commitment to chasing the mow. I help Princess J up on the bed where Olly might of been asleep.  An evil subconscious laugh goes off in the back of my head, and a voice saying you little fury fiend, you've just met your match. The rest of your day is going to be in fear of the cutest little girl in the world, all because the Princess loves the Mow. LOL, yes I can hear my own evil laugh going off. It's pay back time for the 1 a.m. meow, the 2 a.m. meow the 3 a.m. meow. LOL. Princess J gets on the bed after assistance, I gently try to stroke Olly, but now the alarm bells have really gone off in his head, he stares at Princess and he knows her pats are not gentle strokes her excited scream is going to pierce his ear drum and decides he's not having any of it. He creeps away in full view sneakily as only cats can creep off in full view.  Princess J, points again and shouts out Mow and starts to crawl in his direction. Olly is thinking "no way Jose" and he is off, under the bed away faster than a peep of gas escaping from an open lift following the escaping occupants who under held breath hope they can get far enough away for clean air.  Olly has not choice but to seek salvation outside, in the garden, no matter what the weather he would rather  be out there than inside being hunted.

We tended Princess J most of the day. The excitement of the cat, sleeping over at Gaga's and being given the opportunity of climbing, crawling and walking up stairs, because there are none at her gaff is overwhelming to her. I count stairs up and down, then I count more stairs up and down, this goes on for about twenty minutes at a time. After which her attention is taken to something else and Sparkling is on call for the next round.  That night Gaga and Pops slept the sleep of a zombie apocalypse aftermath. Even a nuclear bomb wasn't going to wake us up. Lets also say Mow slept good as well as there was not a peep out of him till 8 a.m. just when we could of done with another game of Chasing the Mow, where's a little Princess when you need one?

The personality of Baby Princess J at 18 months

I returned from seeing Sparkling Eyes and spent lots of time with Little Princess J, who is so cheeky it is unbelievable. For Princess J, the world has been put here to she can adventure and have as much fun as possible. I so love the sound of her giggles when she laughs. It is an amazing thing to here an 18 month old little girl giggle with excitement. She is learning to mimic other people around her and this is noticeable when she does something, such as sneaking a drink of tea.  For an adult having a cup of tea when you are dying for one will lead to a customary "ahh" sound and a face of relief. It's not just the thought of caffine but probably having a hot drink when cold and being thirsty.  Princess J does not have her own cup of tea but this doesn't stop her from going up to Sparkling Eyes and reaching out for Sparkling's cup. Providing the tea is not too hot, Sparkling will then gently hand her the cup and mind as Princess J takes it in both hands and raises it to her mouth. The difficult thing she has nearly got the hang of is realising the degree to which a cup is tilted changes the rate at which the liquid flows into her mouth. However, she is right on the verge of understanding to gradually tip the cup up.  Then as Princess J sips away at the warm tea she lowers the cup and gives out a big old "ahhh" and a beautiful big smile as well. Just to say I-loved-that-as-well.  It is so funny how she is picking up the norms of how adults act and then applies them to her own world. It is not only tea she does this with as well.

It seems Princess J knows a telephone is meant for communicating with. Now she is no longer content with having a play telephone because she likes to have a go of talking on the real thing. When she sees her mum Rock Chick answer the phone Princess J thinks she should have a chat on the line as well. So first thing is first and Rock dutifully hands the phone over to Princess J.  Princess J has not got the hang of language yet but it doesn't stop her from trying so she engages in wonderful displays of baby babble. She can say some words and if counting she probably has about a 100 or so words but they are said in isolation.  Such as "outside" when she knows she is going out or the word "up" to raise something or indeed the word "again" when she wants to hear her favourite song or watch her favourite film (Frozen). She loves music and so likes to engage in a bit of babble with this as well in a beautiful little singing voice.  I have heard Sparkling ring up Rock Chick and in the background Princess J will be doing her best to get the phone off her mum. Rock passes it over, during this time, Rock says Princess walks about with the phone as if in deep conversation which requires all her concentration. Well it is conversation although her own language, and through this comes her excitement at chatting to her Ga Ga (Sparkling Eyes). Sparkling gives Princess J all the time in the world to say what she wants to say and makes a few comments of the like "is that so" and "then what did you do?" At which Princess J continues and tells the rest of her story.  She knows how to use a phone and what it's for this is for sure.

We believe Princess J may well be an explorer when she grows up, because she likes to lead the way when out on walks and she doesn't like to be chained down with reigns or too much hand holding unless she wants to hold hands. It's like her feet have been made for walking and she will walk and find adventure and wonder in this world in everything she sees. Whether it is a multi-bag packet of chrisps off a supermarket shelf or a packet of bird seed, if she likes the look of it she will pick it up and carry it and continue running around the shop, and then drop it on the floor when she's bored. In the park she loves to go on all of the attractions, slides, swings and rocking horses.  Where possible she will climb and hold on and then laugh her head off when she is pushed or swung because for her it is the most wonderful thing in the world.  And nearly every person she takes an interest in she then melts their heart with her curiosity and happiness. Sparkling takes Princess J for walks around a local aquarium and the Little Princess just runs around the shop loving every moment of it. She is picked up to look at the fishes and then put down again because she can not stay in any one place more than a few seconds. Because boredom is not on her agenda of things to do. She races from one thing to another and doesn't stop at all, especially if taken to a new place, then it's all cylinders firing no matter how tired she really is.

When I pretend to be a monster who catches and then tickles her she is the happiest little girl in the world. Usually running to her mum or to Sparkling to seek someone to save her from the tickle monster then to look back over her should just to see if the tickle monster is there so she can burst out into a good giggle.  She is a happy beautiful little girl and were she a prescription medicine all the ills of the world would fade away in an instance.

A good moan and some thoughts about a little Princess

The weather has taken a turn for the worse. It's cold and feels like winter is trying to come back again. For feck sake it's bloody March!! It should be well and truly Spring but this is not the case. I got up this morning and the chill just seemed to keep catching up with me. Good, now I have something to moan about. It's not just the cold, I been feeling like shite and think I'm coming down with something. There is nothing like a good moan to make you feel better. On top of all this I'm stuck on level 199 of Candy Crush, it's too difficult and just doesn't seem to be giving me the right mix of combinations to finish it.  I've been down to one square on two occasions but then ran out of moves. It's been longer than a week and I must admit to the addiction starting to wear off.  My shoulder and arm are killing me. I don't know what happened, my left upper arm hurts bad if moved in a certain way.  Sparkling doesn't give me any sympathy and just says I need to be fully well when I come up because I will be looking after Princess J.  Well thankfully I've managed to get some time off from the Fish Factory OK'd and I'll be up to relieve Sparkling and getting a bit of Granddad Pops exercise, but only if my arm holds out.

It seems the mischievous little dynamo is so full of energy she is completely wearing out Sparkling.  When on a full day shift I'm lucky to get a ten minute phone call with her, and this week I've probably only spoken to Sparkling twice.  Then she's preoccupied with having to do something. Like Hoovering up, dusting, cleaning making food to eat.  A Gaga's work is never done.  Well, Rock Chick and Dangerous must be glad to get home from the daily grind to find Nanny Gaga has been a full entertainment centre and wearer outer of Princess J.  All she needs is a feed before bed and then 10 hours of sleep. Rock Chick says Princess J is playing up to Gaga and doesn't act the same way when she and Dangerous put their foot down. Sparkling puts princess to bed but she only sleeps for twenty minutes after lunch, then she is up again and moving about.  Princess is getting her own personality, she interacts and demands fun. When she sees Gaga she screams throws up and open her arms and laughs with joy. Awwe, I feel like this every time I see Sparkling as well. But restrain myself because by this time I'm opening a car door and throwing myself inside so she can accelerate off.  If I did act this way I'd be sure to get the pointed finger and a telling off, then again there is an age gap between me and Princess of nearly 50 years.

I feel much better now a moan and a chat about the most beautiful funny little girl I know who has the ability to twist me around her little finger.  I see pictures of her on Facebook and am enthralled because she is just so cute. Mind I have a suspicion Sparkling is also partly to blame for Princess J's cute demanding and funny character for she has a thing about making smiles and laughter, of which Princess has buckets full.

Challenges, a 1000 words, a baby, a neurotic cat and a hectic time of year

It has been 10 days of the 1000 word challenge and it has not been an easy task to set. On one of the days I didn't write any words at all so the next day decided to do double. It was tough going to say the least. But I do notice the times I write about things which are relevant to my own life or stuff I know about then the words flow quiet easily. It's not so difficult on such occasions.  It was said the author of Catch 22, Joseph Heller used to set himself the task of writing one page a day. I remember watching him give an interview a long time ago. Well it would of been a long time ago because he's dead now. Anyway, it was good to listen to what he had to say. It took him at least 7 years to write this first book, going backwards and forwards with his editor. In fact the original title of this book was to be Catch 18, but he decided to change this as "18" was used in another title of a book published a little earlier than his own. It's a ironic he should change the original title when his main character Yossarian of Catch 22 had many problems with bureaucracy, in effect, Catch 22 had become a Catch 22 of itself, because it couldn't be 18.

I caught up with Sparkling yesterday and she told me what life was like looking after Princess J. Who has a new freedom to move about now she can crawl. Her inquisitive nature means there is never a moment when Sparkling is able to sit down and rest. Princess J has to be entertained full time and if she can will refuse to take her afternoon nap. When returned to Rock Chick the little Princess shortly goes to bed and sleeps a full 12 hours or more. Revitalising her energy and getting ready to take on the next day. She has now learnt to pull herself up onto her feet and look around as well. She would like to walk but isn't developed enough so falls down on her backside when she stands up too long. She is also a very funny little girl, who laughs at things which have no meaning at all. Then when trying to make her laugh she will refuse and put on her neutral face. If not her afraid face, well certainly when there are strangers about. The cat Olly has learnt to avoid her. He doesn't like the heavy hands of a baby trying to pull his fir out and he gets upset by it. Probably thinking Princess J is a form of small animal getting all the attention he doesn't get. His revenge is to meow at 3 a.m. and make Sparkling cranky.  If I was around he'd be making me cranky because I'd be getting an elbow in the ribs to sort him out.

I still do my best to get an hour in on the ukulele and but sometimes it just doesn't happen. Still Harvey does make me happy. Playing him is relaxing because it is so different from everything else I do, I love it.  The coordination of strumming and singing is still hard to pull off but I'm sure to get it some day. It's been over a year now and progress has certainly been made. I also recommend to everyone whenever I get a chance to play the ukulele, but I don't think there have been any takers. As Princess J grows up I'll try and influence her, that would be great.

The Fish Factory is hectic because of backlogs of work and the end of a financial year approaching. I can't think of a more difficult and stressful time in the Factory's calendar. I don't know how long it will be before I get a chance to see Sparkling but it's likely to be at least another 4 to 5 weeks and will be time for me to book a room in a padded cell, where there is nothing but piped calming music coming through all the time. Suddenly being woken up by a cat at 3 a.m. or exhausted by a baby, or even spending hours writing word after word after word is much more appealing.

OK back to the laptop, and to think of tonight's 1000 word subject.

A happy family

It is always good to hear whatever news I can about Rock Chick's baby. How much she now weighs, whether she was a good girl, if she has learnt how to smile properly yet. And Rock Chick is the best mum you could expect to have, she is so attentive, so tired out, and so tolerant. Just as Dangerous is also maturing into a great father. He dives into nappy changing, holds Baby Fro close and so lovingly and caring he is a completely changed man. OK he still loves to do the things young men love to do, but he has responsibilities and with Rock's guidance he has walked up to the precipice and now become Dangerous Dad. He loves so utterly his daughter and Rock Chick it is a wonderful sight to see. Although I must admit to seeing Rock Chick lose it on occasion with him because he doesn't do things the right way, but this is the nature of any relationship, a man will inevitable not do things quite the right way and certainly can not be as good a mother as a mother is. Even though he tries. Whenever I see Rock she glows with happiness and then it is obvious nothing else matters, they are overwhelmingly in love and happy and content.  However, what of Baby Fro.

Sparkling tells the story of how close she was with Rock Chick growing up. How she was always there next to her, how Rock always needed attention and reassurance.  Had Sparkling  of known earlier she would of given Rock Chick more often to relatives so she formed attachments with other people and felt safe and secure in their company.  Rock Chick was difficult as a baby to raise because of this. It is always difficult for a mother who goes out to work, especially when they become a single parent and making ends meet becomes a priority. The attachment got stronger and caused Sparkling tears at times as it meant many demands taking place at the same time. Juggling one thing against another made Sparkling a better circus act than a real juggler. In the end Sparkling has done the best job she could ever do, she is a great mum and hugs Rock all the time.

Baby Fro is now three months old and Rock Chick calls her Greeting Face (crying face) for she has this worried or afraid look she puts on and she cries a lot. She is of course completely infatuated with Rock Chick, staring at her like a stalker on ecstasy. It is as though Baby Fro has has been hypnotised. She is equally infatuated with Dangerous Dad and has him under her littlest finger whenever she wants him. He dots and dots and dots over her.  However, Baby has this look on her face, it's the "Danger Stranger" look, she gives it to everyone and all the time. It could be because of tummy problems she has been constantly vexed by.  So she does cry a lot. more than Dangerous Dad can.  She sleeps and feeds to demand to the extent Rock is a food machine on call 24 hours a day. Rock's life is now owned and dictated in every way baby. Her life as a young partying woman is on the shelf to the requirements of a young permanently on call mum. In turn Rock's maturity and priorities have also changed. I will admit though Rock has always been a smart girl, she's got lots of brains.  Now she tells me me how she prefers to be in doors with her baby and her man having a cup of tea than being at a party. She has had perhaps two nights out to herself in this time, which is hardly any time out at all. When considering what a party animal Rock was, this the height of her growing up.  The toll of sleeplessness, nappies, hours of crying are tough, but Rock fares it well and Dangerous a wonderful support.

When I see them all together I feel happy because they are happy. It is such an unbelievable thing to be part of. Sparkling is on call as often as she can to help, and dots and dots as a grandmother does. I do my bit to the best of my abilities when in Scotland and have gradually overcome a fear of holding a baby, (because they are scary -irrational fear I know) especially after being told to hold her and walk around the flat to keep her quiet. (about a full twenty minutes)  I am so very happy. It is great to find I am part of this family which I instinctively know is bound by love and happiness. I am of course Pops and will play my ukulele at any chance I am given.As for Babyfro in such an atmosphere she will be smiling and laughing soon, she is going to a very happy, loved and contented little girl.