Ever Learning Dad

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.

£280. Interim service and rear break pads. The latter being my own fault as I had an advisory on those back in August. But I also only just got the exhaust repaired in November which was close to £400 as well. I could cry every time I hear something scraping, screeching or jolting in the damn thing. It's done. Move on.  I at least got my steps in walking from the garage to home and back again later in the day. I very rarely spend near two hours in a day walking (pitiful) so I'm sure my lungs were at least thankful. Pretty bog-standard Wednesday. I checked my bank account just to confirm the dwindling funds, two and a bit weeks until payday and the car money went on the credit card, which has taken me over half my limit, which I really try to avoid doing.  This is not a very fun post so I'm leaving it there. I also don't have any nice photos today because when I go back to work my inner creativity dies a little. So here's a shitty picture of my shitty work desk. My s...

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.

I could try and do something here, which outlines my hopes and ambitions for the year…but today was simply about getting back into it, getting through the day and settling in to 2025. I make no apologies. I don’t even have a photo so there’s Betty looking thoughtful.

After watching Rangers and going through the wringer of emotions (again) as they pissed away the lead, TWICE, against Hibs for a 3-3 draw, we went to the basketball. Caledonia Gladiators’ women’s team were playing Essex Rebels at the Playsport Arena in East Kilbride. Our home team ran out winners in the end scoring 91 points, which was a pretty impressive return. Some of the shooting was excellent with more than a few 3s being sunk! We’d got some complimentary tickets through Anna’s football team and I think there must have been a few comp tix given as the crowd was pretty decent. I was actually sad not to be able to stay for the men’s game taking place shortly after. I’d definitely recommend going to see the Gladiators. First, Playsport is an excellent venue and it’s a genuine home arena as the team owns the space and so it is fully decked out and really looks the part. You feel like it’s an occasion going to see a high quality sports team. That presentation will be crucial to helping...

A bit of a late morning getting ourselves up and out. Partly my fault I guess and annoyed as I wanted to do a wee trip to the Kelvingrove Art Galleries but if I don’t get us out before midday I can’t face driving in to the city. So we went to Whitelee Windfarm instead, which provided both a strong breath of fresh air, some exercise and a chance to get the kids off their screens for more than 10 minutes. It was blustery, the kids refused my instructions to wrap up and subsequently looked frozen but my attitude is to let them learn the hard way if they don’t want to take advice. The attitude infuriates me and I have to bite my tongue. I do wonder what the balance is between just being a parent who dictates and being a parent who encourages learning. I’m sure there is a balance and I’m just not getting it. I had a few great non alcoholic beers into the evening. The quality of AF beers has come so far in the past couple of years. I had the Joker and Caesar Augustus AF beers by Williams Bro...

No kids until later on in the day, so we took mum’s dog Kounellis a walk around Strathaven Park and the village centre. It was a beautiful day and I always feel a bit more at ease after a visit here. It’s got an old timey charm, especially compared to the traffic, housing estates and roundabouts of EK. Later, I made tagliatelle bolognese and had a cheeky wee red wine with it even though I really do want to cut out the booze for a while. Overdone it over the Christmas period. The pasta was great though. Again, talking about things which put me at ease and I’d say chopping veggies, the smell of garlic and onion and the sight of it all coming together is definitely one of those things.