A Limited Peace

Well, at least things didn't kick off too much in America following the inauguration last week. Nothing has been reported anyway.

Back home, the chaos of home schooling continues, with some days extremely stressful indeed. Especially since you don't really know how hard to push or what is expected of your child to be able to do. Although watching them at work does give you a bit more of an insight into their strengths and weaknesses.

Indeed, it gives you an insight into the strengths and weaknesses of the class teachers as well and without naming names some certainly have more weaknesses than strengths.

The baby has been awkward over the last week. It's probably another of those developmental things, especially coming in the last few weeks before he turns one, but he's woken up far more in the evenings than he was, meaning less relaxation time and sleep for my wife.

He's walking so much more though (and picking up speed), and his play is definitely getting a lot more focussed. He's started making animal noises when playing with particular one's - bee (buzz), tiger (grrr) - as well as making vroom noises with a car.

I've certainly been fortunate across the last year to be able to work from home and see him develop, something I never really got with the other two. Things which always happened when I was at work, I now get to see first hand. He's also just as happy giving me a hug at certain times, whereas the girls just wanted mummy. They are still a bit like that too and sometimes refuse to let me even try to help me with things.

Peace is a limited thing at the moment, confined to when they're all asleep, or in those brief moments when they are concentrating. In some ways I think the world is like that too right now. We are all getting over Christmas, but when February comes and the awful death toll of Covid and Brexit start to bite here in the UK, and the Trump supporters have regathered in USA, I think things will sadly heat up again.

In other news, it actually snowed today - albeit briefly.

Protest is quiet
But the atmosphere prickles
A limited peace

Though it never lasts for long
A limited peace
Floating gently to the ground

A limited peace

The kids are quiet

Snowflakes are quiet

New Year - A New Hope

Well, last year didn't really happen did it...at least it did, but it didn't.

Looking back at my number of posts by year I notice that I managed a paltry two all year and so here I am with a new hope (and yes that is a star wars reference) that I can manage at least three this year.

Last year was tough for us all. I probably had it easy in comparison. I was able to work from home and life carried on a some sort of paraphrased normality all year. Except, that we did welcome child number three into the family in February and so an already confined flat felt even more confined, and with both older children home for most of the year too, and having to actually work from home (something I had never done before) and with a baby, caused a lot of stress.

Not in terms of being under pressure, but just the number of emotions flying around at warp speed (or should I say hyperspeed if I want to continue the star wars theme?)

Things improved as schools opened again in September, however school is two miles away and required walking (or in their case scooting) there and back twice a day. Working from home got easier, and we found ourselves in a routine and it was great to get that sort of exercise and fresh air.

Now the schools are closed again and we'll be back to homeschooling for a while from next week. But it's better to be safe. The current situation is getting quite scary and seems to be far worse than it was last year. It's shocking to think that there has been no preparation for any of this, given the amount of time available - but then test and trace has been a mess from the start so...

Throughout all this I have really struggled to get the words out. I am an introvert, but I am also the sort of person who struggles with words in stressful situations. Mostly speaking them, but also writing them. My brain goes into shutdown. I have tried on a few occasions, but rarely has anything come out which I would be happy enough to even post on here.

But this is a new year, a chance to reset and try again. Anyone who has read this blog in the past may also spot a reset in the colour scheme. There's always a chance to try again (as there is every morning as a parent especially when you've been constantly saying "no" and "stop", you can always try again the next day - kids I've discovered are surprisingly forgiving).

So, hopefully I can get a few more words out this year, and can share a little more of our little niche in the world...

Take care & stay safe

Brexitland

Brexitland is a faraway place

And yet it’s there, just on the horizon

But nobody knows how we get there

Whether one walks, or drives, or flies in

And what is there is shrouded in myth

An Atlantis or a Never never land

Has it unicorns, or ogres, no one knows

But we won’t be led by the hand

MP’s stand back, and usher us on

Like pawns in a game of chess

Not caring which way the pieces fall

No desire to clean up the mess

So let’s choose again before it’s too late

The drawbridge still straddles the moat

Decide if we really want to be at siege

By giving us a second vote

The Road Alone

A year ago we voted leave
But forty-eight percent still grieve
At the thought that we are cutting ties
Because of those remorseless lies

So is it true that half were duped
Believing money could be recouped
That there'd be no more immigration
Or bureaucratic leglislation

"Take back control, we'll be great again
Don't be silly, don't vote remain
£350 mill. for the NHS
Least that's what the side of this bus says

"Foreigners aims are to disjoint
While the country sits at breaking point
Trust us, we won't lie to you
It's not a glossy, rose-tinted view"

Or was it through desperate hope
For the poorest who can barely cope
That change, that any change, could be
The thing that makes their lives more free

But the choice is made, we've turned our backs
Saying goodbye, and making tracks
On the road alone, with far to go
To a destination we still don't know

If we've made a mistake then time will tell
We may discover that all is well
Another enlightenment may dawn
The flowering of a nation born
Or will it be like the Roman's leaving
A dark age land of self deceiving