Ever Learning Dad

Finally done with the painting! Yas! I didn't do much else to be honest and my brain is on autopilot. Watched the Rangers game for a wee break. 3-1 win at home to St. Johnstone. It was tedious after the third goal went in. Betty, as ever, had the right idea this morning.

Another day painting adding a second coat of primer to the whole kitchen. Set up nicely to finish the job tomorrow with the top coats. I must admit it looks so much fresher and brighter already just having the white walls so I’m a wee bit pleased! But I couldn’t face another full day in and headed out to spend some Christmas money in Waterstones. I picked up their book of the month, ‘The Anxious Generation’ by Jonathan Haidt, which examines the effects of digital and social media on young people. I’m a wee bit anxious to read it given I’m already worried about how hooked my own girls are on things like YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat. I really wish I hadn’t let them on these things at such a young age; it’s a huge regret if I’m honest. I can’t see any benefit to them while the negatives are plenty. I take a bit of solace knowing I’m not unique as a parent and it’s as much down to societal pressure as it is to individual choices. I also got ‘LESS’ by Patrick Grant, which looks more at m...

It only took two months after the plastering was finished but I finally got round to painting the kitchen. It’s fresh plaster so needs the full two coats of primer and topcoat. I’ve also painted over the bright red wall in there too. Who paints their walls bright red!? Anyway, I made a start finally, spurred on by the fact I now have a holiday to pay for and funds can’t stretch to getting a professional decorator in. But man, I hate painting. It’s tedious beyond words. If it was just a case of whacking up a bit of matte topcoat, no bother. But it’s all the mundane bits beforehand; filling holes, cracks, smoothing them out, cleaning the wall, the aforementioned primer etc. and then waiting hours in between coats. Yawn. I shouldn’t moan. It was previously artex all over in a minging puke-y colour. Much better white and smooth. So that was my Friday. Well, I managed to progress on Resident Evil Village too! I think I’m getting close to the final boss. How exciting a life I live.

First full week back at work done. I’m so glad I switched to compressed hours last year. I cram my 35 hours into four days and get my Fridays off. This week was just about getting back into the swing of it. Had a few meetings, done some social media stuff and a bit of planning. All good. Went to see ‘A Real Pain’ last night, starring Jesse Eisenberg (also writer and director) and Kieran Culkin who deservedly picked up a Golden Globe for his role. It was a solid 4/5 movie. Beautiful cinematography around Poland with a lovely piano led soundtrack. The supporting cast was excellent and Eisenberg himself was great as the wound up David.

We’re going to Tenerife in July! I’m not sure how I’m going to afford that, along with trips to Bologna and Aalen also this spring/summer but I’m sure we’ll make it work. The kids are buzzing and I really did want them to have something nice to look forward to this summer. However, the cost for a week is mental. Even more annoying that we have to fly for Manchester because the additional cost of flying out from Scotland made it unaffordable. Really frustrating. At work, I’m interested in applying for a development role with our Service Design team. I spoke to the team manager today and had a positive conversation about what the role entails and I spoke with my current manager and she was, as ever, very supportive. I’ll get my application in and see where it leads. It would be for a higher grade and without being too desperate I really need this.

Granted I've only been to Würzburg, Freiburg, Aalen, Berlin and Saxony (Gräfendorf)) and mostly in summer so my experience is limited...anyway here's what I love about going there as a tourist and with my German fiancé. Bread It's 100x better than anything you get in Britain. German bakeries are the real deal and frankly, what we get in our country is laughable. Germans look upon British bread with rightful and utter contempt. There are so many varieties regionally and even locally. Briegel for example seems to really only be available in Aalen and someone from just up the road in Stuttgart wouldn't be able to get it in the city. But it's bloody marvellous. And that's before we even get to the sweet treats! And the displays are always impeccable, even in their chain stores. I'm making myself cry just writing this. Beer Germany is the home of quality beer. And it doesn't cost a fortune. You can get a proper case of 16+ bottles for a fraction of what it...