Football Crazy

Both Adventure Boys were back at football training this week. Adventure Boy 1 has been playing for several seasons and now it's Adventure Boy 2's turn to join the local Boys Club and show us what he's made of on the pitch! I had to endure JJB sports last weekend as they both rummaged their way through several (expensive) pairs of football togs and the excitement of tomorrows game is mounting by the minute. I am actually working this Saturday. I know I am always working but I'm actually doing a locum so am otherwise detained from 8.45 'til 5.30. This makes the logistics of 2 football games 6 miles apart with only 1 parent a trifle difficult and we've had to rope in my father (bad planning for my youngster's debut performance). In readiness for the start of the season, we headed down the beach last Sunday where the three males like to train on the grass alongside the prom. This was the perfect excuse to escape for a while, watch the surfers, waves and sunset as I enjoyed a walk/run along the prom! On my return, I was greeted with "he kicked the ball at my face", "It's my turn", the usual stuff! Adventure Boy 2 needed a wipe for his muddy hands (I swear I'll be packing them off to University with baby wipes) so I bent down to reach inside the kit bag. Whack! The football hit me right on the bottom "One Nil" roared Adventure Father, Whack! again "Two Nil" roared Adventure Boys!

September Silence

I felt really sad at the start of term last week. I should be accustomed to it, being parted from my Adventure Boys for that 9-3.30 weekday silence, but each new school year signifies a new stage in the lives of our darling offspring. A new chapter for them and a new chapter for Adventure Mother. It must be the academic in me, always seeing September as a fresh start with lots of business plans raring to get off the ground, plans to clean the house (not so raring) and thoughts of Christmas entering my head (yes, I started last week!).

Back in July I was almost panicking as to how I would cope with the summer holidays, neither boys keen to join in play schemes, football courses or anything organised. I don't really like filling their hols with a timetable of events as it's supposed to be a holiday after all and I believe that boredom is good, encourages the imagination and I keep telling them "only boring people say they are bored".

The beauty of working for oneself is that you can work to suit yourself, working around the kids when they are playing or after bedtime. It's never perfect but I must have enjoyed the holidays and their company as I actually had pre-school nerves and couldn't sleep the night before. Then they were gone....silence filled the house once more.

I walked to town with my Competition Winning friend on Monday morning. She spends her life listening to the radio, doesn't need to work as a steady stream of Wickes and Argos vouchers pile through the letter box along with bowling and cinema tickets. She won tickets to see Madonna in Cardiff last month and just missed out on a cruise. Maybe this is the answer to the silence, I can surround myself with music and the chance of winning a holiday of a lifetime! But then, how can I leave my precious Adventure Togs if I win!