Month: March 2008

I took Bert for a haircut today, the poor boy was looking like nobody owned him (or those who did didn’t cut his hair). I first started visiting Doug The Barber almost six years ago and one of the best things about being a dad is being able to take my sons to a good old fashioned, if not slightly eccentric, barber.

This morning it was Dad Day at Doug’s, three of us with young boys, all about the same age in tow. I feel so sorry for the first dad in line – his poor boy (Will, as we all learnt) was obviously not happy to be there and shrieked at the top of his lungs for the entire cut. No matter what dad tried, even mentioning mum, could get young Will to calm down.

The dad after me came in with a young boy and girl; boy for haircut and girl most likely ’cause mum wanted the peace and quiet. The girl would have been a little older than Bert and sat there making googly eyes at him the whole time. Bert, being a typical male, was completely unaware that a pretty lady wanted to say hi and happily sat and listened to stories. Must have a word to him one day.

Our cut went well, Bert loves the chair and busied himself shooing imaginary flies from the cape around his neck. Mumma is happy, Dadda is proud and Bert looks like a real boy again.

Yesterday was day one of me being an at home dad again. I did a quick head count before Rae got home and hadn’t lost any of them. I’m fairly sure they got every meal they were meant to and the two littlest got their naps, I even managed to get some washing folded.

Of course as soon as Rae got home I did what any sane man would do – hopped in the car and drove to a pub (okay, so it was for a meeting, but it was still a pub). I had forgotten just how demanding and exhausting those little people can be, give me a week or so and I may even be brave enough to attempt a car trip.

Woo hoo – the building permits were issued last week so Henley now have until the 20th of next month to start building our house!

Oh, and we got our first mortgage statement the other day. It’s only for the land so the amount isn’t that large but we’re already $16 worse off than when we started. Not bad going.

As we were today, the day before Rae goes back to work.

Today was a great day. A late breakfast, a coffee at the Coat in the morning and an afternoon spent with my wife. Lovely weather, final confirmation that all our home loan paperwork is done and dusted, kids that napped for two and a half hours. Ah yes, a good day indeed.

But they weren’t the only reasons today was magnificent.

You may have noticed I was home today. On a work day. I’ll also be home tomorrow. And the day after. And for a good many after that. I’m on long service leave! Yes, for the next five months I’m home with the kids and I’m incredibly happy. The six months I spent at home with Bert were some of the best times I have ever had and even though I know it’s going to be a heck of a lot harder this time around with three kids to manage instead just the one, I can’t wait.

We’ve been going through the daily routine over the past couple of days (Rae goes back to work on Thursday) and I have a rough idea of what should be happening and when. The only things I’m not looking forward to are getting them all in and out of the car and choosing their clothes each day. Rae leaves quite big shoes to fill when it comes to the presentation side of our kids and I’m somewhat challenged when it comes to style. I’ll give it my best shot though.

So, now I’m home with nothing to do (* cough cough *) any one want to meet for a coffee?

I can’t believe the Tiger captain was arrested in the early hours of this morning for urinating in a public place. Not just any old place in public though, he had to choose police head quarters to relieve himself against. Everything I’ve read about the man points him to being a solid, upstanding, sensible, mature adult. I admired him for looking after his invalid father and being a quiet yet solid leader on the field. Now you’ve gone and done such a stupid thing, barely a week after Brendan Fevola has been pilloried in the press for doing the same against a restaurant window.

Why Kane, why? We had such a good start to the season and now this.

This afternoon at the Bulldogs game with Rae I got to see what a true captain can do – with his team down and only minutes to go Brad Johnson, in his 300th game,  stepped up, was a leader and won the game off his own boot. He showed spirit, courage and skill and what’s more, I bet he won’t be out drinking until the wee small hours during the week.

I don’t care how Terry spins it. Kane, you have to step down as captain now, for the good of the club, and you have to be suspended. You’re the captain, what on earth were you thinking?

Rae says the headline in The Sun tomorrow will be ‘Judd Is A Dud’, I say it will be ‘Pressure Off Wallace’.

What a glorious feeling this winning thing is, after feeling it only three times last year I’m soaking up every glorious minute. I think the best thing though is that tomorrow I can look Bert and Kennedy in the eye and not have to apologise for making them Richmond supporters.

Go the mighty Tigers!

(PS Tigers, I’m sorry I tipped against you.)

UPDATE

They went with “From Rags To Richo’.