There was a time when I believed that older people drove more slowly because some essential fire had gone out and, defeated, they’d given up on the seek of thrill. Now I understand it’s just that their eyesight is such that at 70mph they have less time with the road signs in focus than […]
On death, stupidity and what really counts
Life’s not fair when you’ve got siblings
My triumvirate of sons have one thing in common. They will all wail “it’s not fair” many times a day as one injustice or another befalls them. Almost certainly they have perceived that one of their number has been treated differently and, in the unlikely event that it’s not my fault, it will fall to […]
Things your children don’t need
Back to offering unrequested advice again. This time parenting advice, like it or not. It’s almost Boy Three’s seventh birthday. (Seven! I know, can you believe it?) So it was necessary to organise a celebration. Interesting how there’s an inverse correlation between the number of children’s birthdays you’ve presided over and the level of […]
Advice for would-be family camper
At first glance, camping is wonderful. It’s cheap, it’s simple, it fosters adventure and togetherness and – if photos are to be believed – everyone doing it is grinning like an idiot. And, at some levels, this is true, but only if you do it right. Camping is incredibly complicated, stressful and unpleasant if you […]