Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Laxie]

They're all gorgeous!  Tell the truth...they've got Gramps wrapped around their little fingers.

[RED-DOG]

Alisha, (pictured right) is one of the life's carers. she worries about snails falling to their death from cabbage leaves and she feels sorry for grass when it gets trodden on. My favorite quote from her is "If you lick the telly, will you die?"

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

This is Tom. He's as sharp as a tack and as hard as nails. Confident and independent, he knows his own mind and is not afraid to use it. He fears nothing and no one. He is one of the most astounding individuals you will ever meet.

He scares me a little sometimes. One day, he will make headlines.  I just hope it's for the right reasons.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

On the left is Muzelley, the eldest girl. An avid reader and a daydreamer. (There's a lot of me in this one).

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

This is just a random snap. She probably won't even remember it, but it's moments like these that will seep into her subconcious, each one drawing the threads that bind her to this way of life a fraction tighter.

Click to see full-size image.

[nirvana]

She probably won't even remember it, but it's moments like these that will seep into her subconcious, each one drawing the threads that bind her to this way of life a fraction tighter.

That's a rather beautiful turn of phrase to match a very evocative photo, wp sir !

[Geo the Sarge]

A stunningly gorgeous collection of kids Tom, you sound justifiably proud.

Geo

[Karabiner]

A gaggle of gorgeous grandkids.

[AlexMartin]

She probably won't even remember it, but it's moments like these that will seep into her subconcious, each one drawing the threads that bind her to this way of life a fraction tighter.

That's a rather beautiful turn of phrase to match a very evocative photo, wp sir !

i concur. are u drunk red? amazing photo btw, deffo frameworthy.

[Kev B]

Fabulous pics and anecdotes Tom I can see you are so proud and rightly so. Gorgeous looking tribe you have there. On another forum I have a thread where I periodically post pics of my granddaughter Gracie. When I look back as I sometimes do it's frightening to see how quickly they change.

[The_nun]

Beautiful pic's Tom. All blue eyed beaut's.

[Snatiramas]

Firstly I love this thread..... got it all, family, poker, dilemma's and Reds painfully humorous slant on life.....
There are some questions that need asking.

Starting with what makes slightly older men want to prove to themselves that they can still run? Red at the science museum doing what most blokes I know would do. Proving we still have something that was probably lost at about the age of 25. I write this with my legs up due to aggravating my hip injury whilst on a rugby coaching course. My best mate Faff has done his Achilles proving that if only the breaks had been different he would have been Federer.....mid life injuries just going to prove the stupidity of the male of the species.

Secondly. Anybody missing the birth of their children for a game of cards needs to contact me to help them get their life balance back in order. When Anne Marie went into labour with the bump that later became Adam I would not have missed it for the world. Eight hours of labour, a crushed right hand that wouldn't work for two months when I didn't pass the gas and air quickly enough and my only funny moment in a hospital.

Anne Marie had to be taken in for an emergency Cesarean and they asked if I wanted to gown up. I thought  "do I have to?" on account of my dislike of all things medical....I replied like a shot "I would love to". They direct me to a cupboard with gowns. I pick up one that says XL. A quick observation. Why are XL sizes always in a position where you can throw your back out trying to pick the item up from the bottom shelf, whilst the small sizes are perched so high that the poor unfortunate little person has to climb up two shelves to be able to reach them.

Anyway I pick up one that says XL. Then I pick up another. The first one was too small. So was the second. Bugger it. I put one one each arm and tie them together.....job done. Walk into the theatre and suggest that they need some MAN sizes.
[ ]Got a round of laughter......

Great pictures....a child with a smile FTW everytime

[TightEnd]

Tom

BBC: Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones

Did you see it? If not worth a gander on IPlayer

[Rod Paradise]

Tom

BBC: Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones

Did you see it? If not worth a gander on IPlayer

I really enjoyed that but he confused me when he talked about abseiling down the Grey Mare's Tail then next said he was in Kinlochleven - that's like going on the London Eye then saying you're in Birmingham Bullring.


He's got a real anger about the right of way laws in England though (rightly IMHO).

[RED-DOG]

She probably won't even remember it, but it's moments like these that will seep into her subconcious, each one drawing the threads that bind her to this way of life a fraction tighter.

That's a rather beautiful turn of phrase to match a very evocative photo, wp sir !

i concur. are u drunk red? amazing photo btw, deffo frameworthy.

Thank you.

Kids are like sponges, they are absorbant and resilient, and that's the perfect combination for learning life's lessons.

Don't wrap them up in cotton wool, just let them get on with it. Everyone knows that kids are great at enjoying the good things in life, at seeing the wonder and beauty that we jaded adults take for granted, what people don't realise is that kids are also great at dealing with life's little knocks and bruises, both physical and mental.

Don't nurse them into adulthood so that pain and disappointment come as a shock revelation that they are not equipped to deal with. Allow them, (Within reason) to learn to take the bitter with the sweet.

Kids don't need you to solve all their problems and make life perfect, they just need you to love them and take an interest in the things that matter to them. (If you don't know what that is, go back to the sponge analogy) Give them a little squeeze, and whatever is inside will come flooding out.