Archive for January, 2007

Plague House

Published at Tuesday, January 23, 2007 in Diary and Parenting. 3 Comments

All is not so well in the house. Gabbie has got rubella, probably caught from the MMR jab she had (although the doctor says it has been going round recently). She had a dreadful Saturday night, really restless and unable to sleep. And on Sunday, the rash really came out and my wife took her to the hospital (on Sunday night the duty doctor is at the hospital). They took one look and said “classic Rubella” and home they came. We are on pregnent lady avoidance watch now.

On top of that, Jeannie has a stomach bug/ache/something wrong and is off school as well. First visit to the Doctor’s is inconculsive and a sample is required. She has not been sick and is still eating so we don’t know what is wrong.

Ryan, on the other hand is fine and had a very busy weekend. Firstly, a party on Saturday morning, followed by a boxing match, sorry handbags at football in the afternoon. Sunday morning was swimming and then Flushed Away, a film right up his street.

The Hydragenic Guide to the Music of 2006

Published at Thursday, January 18, 2007 in Diary. 0 Comments

Mr. Hg has recently completed a detailed and fascinating account of his favourite music in 2006 concluding with the top album being Snow Patrol’s, Eyes Open. I concur that it was very good indeed, but I’d have picked The Killer’s, Sam’s Town as my top choice.

I don’t have the ears and words to describe what I hear properly and sometimes I don’t listen to music in enough detail. Case in point :-

How many dinner parties have been conducted in complete obliviousness to the dread and horror floating sweetly out of the loudspeakers in the background?

Chasing Cars is the big single, but it remains beautiful, however many times I’ve heard it. It’s utterly solipsistic (”We’ll do it all, everything, on our own; we don’t need anything or anyone”), with its call to “lie with me and just forget the world”. I think this song is both about the first flush of love (”All that I am, all that I ever was, is here in your perfect eyes, they’re all I can see”) and about its durability (”Just know that these things will never change for us at all”).

I’ve just stuck the album on iTunes to have a proper listen (as you could see from last.fm)

Uncle Asbo

Published at Monday, January 8, 2007 in Diary. 0 Comments

We had a great day out on Saturday, visiting Aladdin, the panto at Watford’s Palace Theatre. My cousin, Matt was the musical director for the performance and invited us to see the show. We were not let down. All three of the kids loved it, even the little one who jiggled about in time to the music. I’ve not seen many pantomines, but this did not feel quite like a traditional panto in some ways. It had more music, songs and dances, and was like a stage production and had high values. The acting and singing was high quality and I would say that this music was too, but it was.

Ryan was asked to go on stage towards the end of the show to perform a song with three other children with Wishy Washy, and drew “aaahs” from the crowd as he came over all shy as he said his name and told everyone that he was 4.

Afterwards we went for a meal at a Italian resturant and there was some great news. Matt, referred to in the panto by Widow Twankey as Uncle ASBO, revealed that he was engaged and would be getting married later this year. As I say, a great day. We got home tired but happy.