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The first activity from my new book, 'Things to do with Dad', was building a teepee.

Labels: Louis, Oscar, Yani

Oscar with the 'Player of the Week' trophy from his Saturday football club.

He had a grin as wide as the goalposts all evening and went to bed with it tucked up beside him. Ahh....

Labels: Oscar

Labels: Louis, Mum, Oscar, Yani

Watch Slideshow

Pretty grim up north last night. Man city had a weakend side out, but so did we, and we held them comfortably for most of the game. They didn't create much, although Samaras - who IS as crap as everyone says - missed an easy header just before half time.

We basically lost concentration in the last minute - already thinking about a replay, the same as us in the crowd - and a pass split us open. Amazingly, Samaras scored. Was fun up till that point. Oh, well, when it rains it pours.

P.S. Read today that we just broke even this year, but that next year we won't have the £7 million parachute payments any more. Hard times ahead.

Labels: Mum, NCFC, Oscar, Yani

Watch Slideshow

Yani took a bunch of friends out last night for a big Friday night outing on her 8th birthday. We started at MacDonalds - which went from full to empty in about 10 minutes flat as the kids ran amok - and then went rollerblading nearby to work off some of the fat and sugar.

Labels: Jo, Oscar, Yani

Yesterday we went to the Dr Who exhibition in Manchester. View Flickr Slideshow

It consists of a display of real BBC props from the filming of the show - including the large, moving mechanical model of the Empress of Rachnoss from the 'Runaway Bride' episode last Xmas - but the real highlight was the actors wandering around amongst the crowd dressed as Dr Who creatures.

The 6ft Sycorax Warrior was quite imposing, but the creepy scarecrows from the 'Family of Blood' episode were the most memorable since they were the first ones we saw, unexpectedly coming round a corner at us just as we got there. The kids hid behind me like little 3 year-olds again. Well funny.

After the exhibition we walked into the town centre for lunch at Macdonalds and then ice creams in Piccadilly Gardens, giving Jo some extra time to catch up on sleep. We got home just in time for the football results and the day just got better and better - United won, Norwich won and Ipswich got hammered 4-0. The perfect day?

Labels: Louis, Miles, Oscar, Yani

Pictures from the August bank holiday week, which we spent caravanning in Northumberland. I've wanted to go there for ages and it didn't disappoint. Every beach seems to have a castle and the views along the whole coast near Lindisfarne are breathtaking.

Labels: Family, Jo, Louis, Miles, Oscar, Yani

Here are some pictures from our trip to Norfolk in August, which culminated in watching City squeak three points against Southampton at Fortress Carrow Road. Funny to see Oscar and Nathan celebrating together, like me and Dave a quarter of a century ago.

Labels: Family, Jo, Louis, Miles, Oscar, Yani

A few pictures from our day out at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire in August.

Labels: Family, Jo, Louis, Miles, Oscar, Yani

Oscar and I went to United's pre-season friendly against Inter Milan last night. Although they lost 3-2 due to some suicidal defending and clinical Italian finishing, it was a fun night nevertheless.

We got there just in time for kick-off, after picking up a Wayne Rooney scarf and a greasy burger on Sir Matt Busby Way. Old Trafford was packed. It was a new record attendance of nearly 74,000 for a friendly and we were in the South Stand, about 30m back from the pitch with United attacking our end.

It seemed to be going swimmingly when Oscar's hero, Wayne Rooney, scored after 14 minutes - but Vidic, O'Shea and particularly Evra then proceeded to play like the Keystone Cops for the next quarter of an hour and United were 3-1 down before we could blink.

Adriano scored a bizarre own goal in the second half to up the excitement level as they tried to pull off the traditional United comeback, but once Ferdinand blazed over from 6 yards about 20 minutes from the end, we knew it wasn't to be, especially when the referee turned down a good penalty shout. When he gave Inter a free kick shortly after, Oscar stood up and shouted, "You don't know what you're doing!". Good lad.

He took the result well, much to my relief. I guess the disappointment of defeat in a five goal thriller is far less devastating than the penalty shoot-out Scouse thievery of the last visit there for the Youth Cup Final. One of his main memories of the night will probably be not only seeing Rooney and Ronaldo in the flesh, but also seeing yet another Mancunian streaker.

What is it that brings exhibitionists to the Old Trafford area in such droves? There were six in a day at the Windies test a few years back. I wouldn't mind but they're always ugly blokes. The look of shock on new signing Anderson's face as the stewards led the offender away suggested that either they don't have the streaking tradition in Brazil or that if they do, then the streakers are female and as beautiful as their game.

• Our photos (Flickr)
• Game highlights (YouTube)

Labels: Miles, Oscar, Sport

On the phone to my rugby mad friend, Chris, in New Zealand the other day I was staggered to realise that England's World Cup win with Johnny Wilkinson's last minute kick was FOUR years ago. It feels like two at most. It's just scary the way time flies. To the left - on the beach in Devon that same summer.

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

Much excitement in Oscar World this morning as these tickets dropped on the mat. Feels a bit surreal to be going to a game like this, especially since I was stranded in the Far East when Norwich played Inter in '93.

Ironically, I only found out about this game after shelving the plan to watch City play Vitesse Arnhem - our first opponents in that great European adventure.

Labels: Oscar, Sport

On Sunday we invited a bunch of Oti's school chums round for bouncy castle fun in the garden. We really lucked out with the weather; it drizzled right up to kick-off but then - just as when Haile Selassie's plane approached Jamaica in 1966 - the clouds parted right on cue and it was dry for the next couple of hours until people had gone.

Labels: Family, Oscar

Kids atop a rotten tree stump this morning in Marple during the Saturday morning constitutional. We had chips afterwards to balance the ying and the yang of all that fresh air.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Yesterday we all took off to the Crocky Trail near Chester for a day out on Oscar's 6th birthday. There's lots more camcorder footage when I get round to it, but for the moment here are some phone pix.

Labels: Jon, Louisa, Miles, Mum, Nina, Oscar, Tom, Yani

The view from the Stretford End a couple of months back when United kids played Liverpool kids in the FA Youth Cup Final. The Scousers stole it 4-3 on penalties after extra time, kick starting celebrations in the away stand and the mother of all paddies from Oscar...

Labels: Oscar

Here's some video from our Easter weekend in Norfolk with Mum, Dad, Nick and Jo.

It's been a long old slog since I got the camcorder at Xmas to make all the bits talk to each other - I've had to install and uninstall numerous bits of video editing software, upgrade the operating system on the laptop, find a compatible sound card and buy a bigger pen drive ("We're gonna need a bigger boat...") - but it feels worth it. Enjoy.

Labels: Dad, JoF, Mum, Nick, Oscar, Yani

Here are the kids having a day of riding lessons in Middlesborough recently.

Fortunately there was no repeat of what I suffered when I tried horseriding at Yani's age - being thrown from the enraged stallion, landing underneath amidst flying hooves and narrowly escaping with my life (as I recall).

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Some great Wales Christmas pictures from Nick. I can't believe these were all taken with a phone.

Labels: Anna, Christos, Dad, Jo, Jon, Miles, Mum, Nick, Nina, Oscar, Tom, Yani

Yani's picture of Oti perfectly captures the excitement of the brand new year ahead.

Labels: Family, Oscar

Just uploaded to Flickr, a few snaps of Xmas Day at Marloes Sands. We've hired the youth hostel there for the last 3 years; it's a farmhouse in a fantastic location about 100m from the cliff top on the very last bit of south-west Wales. More footage to come when I've worked out how to upload from my new camcorder, an amazing birthday present from my family.

Labels: Anna, Christos, Dad, Jo, Jon, Miles, Mum, Nick, Nina, Oscar, Tom, Yani

Here are the kids pottering by Derwent Valley Reservoir, apparently the place where they practiced dropping the Dambusters' bouncing bombs. The mist lifted on a beautiful blue sky right after we arrived and we had a picnic by the water without seeing another soul the whole time.

In the afternoon we went over to Sheffield for a bit of a drive and neighbourhood recce. We've pretty much decided to move there next year. Brincliffe is out - too posh. Greystones is out - too suburban. Nether Edge is a possibility.

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

At home this year for a cake-decorating and make-over party with the girls.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

A day on the beach, watching the tide go out at Prestatyn on a late summer Sunday.

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

Piccies from our last trip down to Norfolk on August Bank Holiday.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Now showing - pictures from our long weekend in London last week.

The first day was a bit ambitious and the walking round the sights of central London got to Jo and the kids a bit. Sunday was much better, with everything happening at the Natural History Museum, where we met up with Tom'n'Anna and Christos. After larking about in South Kensington all afternoon we went for a great Turkish on Green Lanes. Monday was London Zoo. It was different to how I remember it - smaller and more laid back - and that made for a very relaxing day.

Thanks for the flat, Nick and Jo! (I think the cat is still there; it was wise enough to stay under the bed the whole time and not waste any of its nine lives.)

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

Pictures from last weekend, when we somehow managed to summon up some strength on a Friday evening, chucked all the camping stuff in the car, and headed out into the Peaks for some camping in Buxton.

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

Our little man was 5 today and says he had his "best birthday ever"! The highlight was the party with all his classmates at the local play centre. Just like last year, his excitement at being crowned king for the day was priceless. More pictures...

Labels: Oscar

Piccies from 'Knights and Princesses' day at Chirk Castle near Wrexham;

  

Labels: Oscar, Yani

We've just spent a few days down in Norfolk. Here are the kids escaping the oncoming waves on Sheringham beach;

The beach is one we used to play on all the time when we were kids. Not sure how easy it would be these days. Check out a selection of the warning signs, all in a 100 metre stretch;

Wells was a bit more chilled. The weather got out nicely in the late afternoon, and with the tide out as well, it was beautiful;

Thursday morning we headed out to Holt Country Park early on. Here we are making a den on the Holt Lows;

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Yani and Oscar drying off at the beach in Prestatyn;

Labels: Oscar, Yani

On the Beach - one of the pictures from Nick's collection at Flickr. It's a shot from our day out in Formby last week when Nick, Jo and Tom came up from London. Nick's slideshow has also got some family shots from the 70s. Be ready for denim and flares.

Labels: Anna, Jo, JoF, Jon, Louisa, Miles, Mum, Nick, Nina, Oscar, Tom, Yani

Yani and Oti showing off their 5 metre swimming badges. They go to a class once a week on Thursdays after school.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Didsbury
Oti and Yani play in the graveyard of St James church in Didsbury, next to Fletcher Moss park. I like the evening shadows.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Consumerism; from the cradle to the grave. This morning Oscar captured the zeitgeist perfectly while waiting for Noddy;

Oscar (watching Lego ad): I want one of those.
Me: Why?
Oscar: I don't know. I just want one!

Update: Guardian article on the kids' advertising industry;

Today's average British child is familiar with up to 400 brand names by the time they reach the age of 10. Researchers report that our children are more likely to recognise Ronald McDonald and the Nike swoosh than Jesus. One study found that 69% of all three-year-olds could identify the McDonald's golden arches - while half of all four-year-olds did not know their own name.

Labels: Oscar

Picture from a couple of weeks ago of the kids all dressed up on the first day of term, Oti wearing his uniform for the first time. A fortnight on and he seems to be settling in well, behaving nicely in class and even doing PE, which was something he had to avoid last year. Early days, but it looks promising. He seems to have grown up into a little boy over the summer.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

I was a paranoid wreck in the run up to Oti's big day - invitations went out just before we went to Devon for the week so we couldn't get the RSVPs and I spent the whole time plagued by visions of no-one turning up.

Fortunately, this social-fear-by-proxy was unfounded - most of his class turned up and he had a great time. He was crowned king of the party and got to sit on a throne at the head of the table in his ermine robes as all his little pals stuffed themselves with junk food and bounced off the walls.

The staff at the venue were kind enough to totally fix the game of musical statues so he won. It was a travesty really - he didn't cotton on to the whole standing still thing until about the 5th round but even at the age of four or five the other kids showed commendable political awareness and all took their inevitable elimination on the chin.

Labels: Oscar

Spent the day on the beach with Alison and Colin. It was grey and cold and rainy, but it got out later and we managed to pack in the whole British seaside seaside experience while the sun was out; fish'n'chips, ice cream and hunting down crabs. Highlight of the day for Oscar was finding a picture of Robin Hood on the side of the ice cream van. It doesn't take much to make him happy.

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

Oscar models the early birthday present that he's been given for being a good boy at school.

Labels: Oscar

Jo attended an update meeting with the teachers and behavioural support people at Oscar's school today and apparently the last 6 weeks since the last meeting have seen amazing progress.

Last time we met and he was still not really paying much attention to other kids in class, although happier spending time in 1-1 with the teachers. Now the psychologist, who did an observation last week, reports that he initiated contact with other kids SEVENTEEN times in the hour she was watching.

And, perhaps not coincidentally, he brought home his first party invitation last week. I'm feeling very proud.

Labels: Oscar

It was a camping trip of two halves. We got all the way to the campsite in the Long Mynd when the car gave up the ghost by the local post office. Given the Countryside Alliance posters on view they probably thought the gypsies had moved in as we sat there stranded in the car park, kids in the back seat tearing a frozen banoffee pie to pieces like hyenas.

We left the breakdown recovery till the following day and got one of the locals to tow us to the campsite behind a tractor. (Oscar most impressed.) Unable to go for provisions, though, dinner was steak fried in butter on the bleuet and served with bread and ketchup, followed by a dessert of rice crispies. Real survivalist stuff!

Saturday was a vast improvement. The sun was shining the next morning and we had a great time playing pirates and princesses by the river in our fantastic wooden adventure boat before heading off to The Crown for a fat lunch of roast beast and chips.
If only all breakdowns could leave you stranded near a pub…

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Gave the kids one choccie egg each before the sugar police woke up. You've got to push the boat out occasionally. Yan scoffed her whole egg and the little packet of mini ones immediately and was complaining of a tummy ache equally quickly. Oti showed remarkable restraint and was still finishing off the buttons a good hour later. I thought they must have gone off or something.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

A day out in Formby with Mum and the kids while the sun peeked out for a moment. Lunch was a picnic in the deserted pines woods, freshly chopped logs for seating and climbing frame for Oscar once the chicken and chocolate eclairs were stuffed into his cheeks like a gerbil.



The biting wind from the Irish Sea was absent this time and the kids played on the sand while not harassing the poor creatures that were above the high water mark. Oscar's quote of the day; "It's a starfish. Let's kill it!"

Labels: Oscar, Yani

We went for a day in the Peaks today, going to Buxton and Bakewell. The park in Buxton has an ideal design for handling Oscar - a long enough stretch to roam about, but a river alongside separating it from the road. Ideal, and despite gloveless, freezing hands, we managed to make our snowman, complete with everything but a carrot.

Later on we went down to Bakewell to see what the tarts and the house prices are like. The numbers seemed reassuringly reasonable, but the tarts were a bit of a dissapointment. I'd heard they were something special and different to the exported variety there, but the reality was rather dry and lacking in substance. We still ate five of them, though.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

The skies looked bright inland so we decided to head out to North Wales and revisit the scene of a lovely day on the beach last year. What a different place in winter. Everything shut. Freezing cold. Biting wind. Tide in. Still, we didn't have to stay long, preferring to cut the losses on the beach after Oscar threw a beach pebble and caught Yani on the back of the head. Happy Valentine's.

Labels: Family, Oscar, Yani

Took at trip out to Hope Valley to have a walk and watch the kids throwing sticks into a stream. Also had a sideways glance into some of the estate agents' windows thereabouts. Bit out of range to get a comparable propertly in that neck of the woods for a couple of years, but it's a nice area. Local dress is hiking boots rather than shell suits.

Labels: Family, Jo, Oscar

We took a trip to Derwent Water today. We had a picnic under siege from the local ducks then went for a walk up by the dam. Kids found a little house made of sticks on the way back and had a great time playing in it.

Labels: Oscar

Oti dived straight into the freezing water today at Lyme Park then spent the next hour happily getting wetter and wetter. We also went to see Jo's new allotment.

Labels: Oscar

Heading to the beach
Teeth gritted, everyone heading off to the beach on Christmas Eve, just before the heavens openend.


Overlooking Skokolm Island
Boxing Day, setting off for a walk up the cliffs. Waves pretty big.


Let the games begin
Tom taking a senak preivew of the questions in the background before taking on the kids at Triv.


Beach
Strange rock formations on the beach near the farmhouse.


Paddling
Oscar playing on the beach on Christmas Day. Chucked it down with hail right after.


Jogger
Yani on Christmas Day heading back from a climb on the rocks.


Boules
The Xmas Day tournament, early stages. Jon and Tom run out winners.


Nana
Yani helping Mum reorganise her wind defences.

Labels: Anna, Jo, Jon, Miles, Mum, Nick, Nina, Oscar, Tom, Yani

Oscar can't resist having a few bites of the pumpkin.

Craftswoman
Yani in the early stages of a model of St Paul's Cathedral.

Witches
All ready to go out and trick or treat.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Yani's 5th Birthday
Yani was lucky enough to have a birthday on a Tuesday and a party on a Saturday this year - 2 cakes!

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Day trip with the Reddish Mum's group to Camelot, the one just near Bolton. Kids loved it, especially Oscar who got to see lots of knights, jousting and met this hero King Arthur.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Day out with Dad visting a castle just outside Rhyl and then going down onto the beach. It was a brilliant day, lots of sunshine, not many people and tea in a sea front 'chips with everything' cafe before we came home.

Labels: Oscar

Yani and Oti's first ever trip to the cinema. We went to see Finding Nemo at the Printworks and the kids had a good play in the streams outside.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Biker
Riding the trike.


Percussion
Oti doing a triangle solo.


Drums
Really getting into it now.


Daffodils
Flowers from the audience?


Jump!
Mid-air pyrotechnics.


Michaela Jordan
Slamdunking.


Barrel
The light at the end of the tunnel.


Winner
Proud Dad and certificate of completion.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Oscar taking a ride with Colin.


Hug
Mum and Yani.


Riverside
Dad down by the canal at Castlefields.


Whisky
John with his birthday pressie from Glasgow.


Shadow
Karate man.


Self-portrait
Brothers in arms.


Whisper
Nina telling some girlie secrets.


Pizza
Ordering mega-pizzas at Tom's flat.


Chef
Fireside chat under way.


Predator
Man about town.


Siblings
Tom and Jo.


Water
Tom and Yani by the canal.

Labels: Colin, Colin'n'Alison, Family, Jon, Mum, Nina, Oscar, Tom, Yani

Curry

Went for a curry at Sanam to say cheerio to Koji, our homestay student. Everyone came along, including Nina.

Labels: Miles, Oscar

Spent the weekend laying the new lawn with the help of Stuart from work, and the occasional assistance of Oscar and Yani.

Labels: Oscar, Yani

Thomas
Oscar had his first train trip, and a steam train at that, up the line from Bury to Rawtenstall to see Thomas the Tank Engine. Followed up the excitement with a nice picnic in front of the river and the mill.

Labels: Miles, Oscar

Junior Canary
Play off final at Cardiff's Millenium stadium, packed with 35,000 of the Yellow Army.

Labels: NCFC, Oscar

Bouncer

Having a bounce in the garden.

Carseat

Ready to hit the road.

Cushion

Looking a bit bemused.

Labels: Oscar

Oscar
The day Oscar was born.


Hello
Yani meets Oti for the first time.

Labels: Oscar, Yani