Hi! <Waves>

Funny and honest tales from a made-to-work Dad of three, wobbling, graying, and laughing his way through parenthood. Armed to the teeth with Nerf guns, full of pie, fighting a chocolate addiction, but genuinely honoured to be at least half of Team Parents (yay!).
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Showing posts with label skating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skating. Show all posts

19 January 2018

Man Down (Part 1)...

Well I didn't expect my weekend to turn out like that.
I had such high hope and plans for my weekend.
Housework. Spring clean. Roller skating with Miss6. Fun and games with all the kids.
And I was looking forward to re-sampling the Damson Gin my Dad had given me.
Shame most of that didn’t happen...

Mrs. Amazing: 'So what's your plans this weekend?'
I'm off to the George Lucas ranch (Skywalker Ranch no joking), got an idea I wanna run by the big man <Is spendearnest>
Mrs. Amazing: 'Er... right...' <Has a nasty suspicion this is gonna be one those conversations>
Yep! I'll be back for tea I imagine! <Goes to leave>
Mrs. Amazing: 'Er... How you getting there? ... To America…?'
Oh... I'll walk!
Mrs. Amazing: 'Across the Atlantic ocean?'
Then I'll sail! Hmmm... that may take longer though won't it...
Mrs. Amazing: <Nods>
I'll be back for bedtime then! See ya later! <Goes to leave>
Mrs. Amazing: 'Aren't you taking Miss6 skating after lunch?'
Oh yeah... damn... can’t miss that <Is disappointed>
<Thinks>
I'll go next weekend then! <Puts down rucksack>
Mrs. Amazing: 'Good idea' <Mentally notes that to distract me next weekend>
Mrs. Amazing: 'What's in the rucksack?'
Supplies!
Mrs. Amazing: 'Chocolate and comics?'
No! <Is indignant> Actual real sensible proper essential supplies, thank you very much!
Mrs. Amazing: 'Can I see?'
...
I think it's best, for both of us, that you don't look...
<Runs>
<Eats chocolate whilst reading comics later>

(The perfect disguise!!!
[PING!]
Ow…)

I did take Miss6 roller skating.
But just before we left my stomach started hurting. So thinking it was nothing I took some stomach pills and off we headed. We dropped Boy10 at a party on the way. Leaving Mrs. Amazing and BabyBoy3 to get up to mischief.

I love roller skating with Miss6.
She wants to be able to skate soooo much. Round and round the circuit we go. Me on my blades, her on roller skates. Laughing and joking with each other . Practising new bonkers tricks and me essentially trying to convince Miss6 that she needs to stop using her brakes to skate. I am slowly getting to her.
A few falls helped my case.

An hour in.
My stomach pains got worse. So bad in fact I stop for a bit and let Miss6 skate for a bit on her own.
Which I am very reluctant to do, as I love skating with her. And secretly I fear at some point she’ll realise she doesn’t need or won't me to be skating with her. And me sitting out for a bit will hurry that situation on.
But my stomach does really hurt. In fact I start worrying that I may be sick. But hell I'm an adult. I can control things like that.
After a bit of a rest. I strap my boots back on and head out once again.

Then I nearly fall.
Which in all the times we've been. I've never done. A proper feet panicking on wheels moment. It shakes me and I stop again. Check my boots. Obv. it's their fault.
Then I notice that on both boots the plastic shell has broken. Smeg.
Which I probably did during my near fall.
Ah well, at least I have a good sensible reason to sit out. Because I feel rubbish.
I text Mrs. Amazing and tell how I am feeling. She says sit and rest.
So I listen to wise woman. I sit.

Miss6 heads off skating on her own.
And I watch and take pics from the sidelines. Not being very happy about being sidelined, but presenting a happy face to Miss6. Whilst I'm sat I find the energy sweets (just normal sweets) we had brought with us, and have one.
What a mistake.

(Miss6 was stood still… I just take a poor photo...)

We then have to leave.
I need to leave. My stomach pains are now pretty constant. That sweet has hurt. So much so I have to make a conscious decision about driving and whether I can. It's only ten minutes. So I go for it.
Normally me and Miss6 sing in car together to whatever we are listening to on my phone. Disney. 80’s classics. Funky rock. Miss6 likes most things.
The current favourite is Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse of the Heart. 12” version.
Which I love belting out with her.
We change the lyrics for fun, try changing ‘Turnaround’ for ‘Eat the cake’. It's hella fun and strangely works with the rest of the lyrics.
But I am quiet. Stomach. And for a change I get to listen to Miss6 sing.
She's getting pretty good.

Finally.
And with a growing sense of dread and dark thoughts of appendix bursting in my head. I turn the car into the road we live on... and my saliva changes texture.
Runny. Watery. My ‘I am going to be sick’ warning sign. Which I know well.
Oh crap. How on earth do you be sick whilst driving? You don't. Well try not to.
Home and parking is thirty seconds away.
I'm not sure I'm gonna make it.

Twenty nine seconds later (ish).
I park crappy and leap out of the car and release the pain in my stomach. All over the floor.
Splashing my trainers and trousers.
Then once the first wave has gone. I've time to adjust where I am standing and move to some vegetation. Then there's a further four, lets say, waves.
Which is fine. Except I have this horrible fear that poor Miss6 is sat in the car, watching all of this. Transfixed on the car crash, that is my stomach, going on.
Poor love.

In between 'waves'.
I tell Miss6 to get Mrs. Amazing and to get out of the car.
RUN GIRL RUN! BLURGHHHH...
I later learn Miss6 was trying to do just that. But the child locks were on on the car doors. And the only open door, mine, had mess blocking her way.
Waves all gone I stood in that post 'wave' after shock trying to recover myself. And notice Miss6 finally working out to escape through the passenger door.
Urgh.

Mrs. Amazing quickly arrives.
Mrs. Amazing: ‘Oh....’
She understands the situation quickly and helps me inside. Then asks where Boy10 is, and I have explain I didn’t get him, because I couldn’t. You’ll have to do it.
Mrs. Amazing then has to leave immediately to get Boy10 for me.
As I am still in wave-shock so can only manage sitting on the sofa with Miss6 and BabyBoy3 watching cartoons.
Feeling quite sad that my plan of having a few more snuffties of the Damson Gin my Dad, as it made me all giggly, had given me for Christmas (and was lovely) wasn’t going to happen.
Two Paw Patrols later Mrs. Amazing comes back.
With Boy10...

Boy10: 'WOW Dad! Did you make that mess outside?' <Is delighted>
<Nods sadly>
Boy10: 'Poor you' <Pats me on the head>
Cheers dude... <Whimpers>

Continued next tale... Oh yes it gets better!!!
<Shakes head and gives you a look>...  
<Nods with serious eyes>...  
<Shakes head>...  
<Has confused self>
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(I assume this was a joke… <Is suspicious>)


30 September 2016

Skater Girl...

I got to take Miss5 skating a while back. 1703
It was her first ever time. I'm not sure she had even seen roller skates before.

She had been invited to a roller skate party.
They exist. And Mrs. Amazing asked me if wanted to take her along...
YES! OMFB! YES YES YES! OOH OHHH!!! <Puts up both hands>
Yeah, alright... <Smacks lips>
... If it helps you out... I could maybe think of doing it...
For you mind… £10 <Holds out hand>
Mrs. Amazing: <Pays in invisible money> There you go
Damn it! Cool...

I was quite surprised to be honest.
I had assumed Mrs. Amazing would want to take Miss5 skating herself. Seems like a lovely mother daughter activity to me. Something physical they can both enjoy.
It wasn't until later that night, back mostly broken, feet sore, exhausted and still sweating. I realised that maybe I was played like a one-string banjo Mrs. Amazing had thought it through better than I had.
Still.
Bonding and communicating in a physical way is very important for Dad's to do with sons and daughters. Maybe even more so for daughters. Maybe not. Probably more.
Either way, it was quids in for me.

It cost more than two quid.
The skate hire was £2.25 (and yes I did ask why it was 25p and not a nice, non annoying change amount, like 20p or 30p. And yes they thought I was mad).
Still. £2.25 is less than a pint. And considering the fun and giggles we had, that made it an absolute winner. The skate party was at the local leisure center (which is where I go to do anything but leisuriate but whatevs.) where me and Miss5 normally go swimming.
In a huge room that's normally for badminton or other sports. So the floor was lovely and flat.
Handy.

As we queued to go in I wondered if would be allowed to skate as well.
Not that I'm any good mind. I was once on a Street Hockey team years ago, but everyone that turned up for practice got on the team (they were nice). And sometimes I do head out with blades (cool skates) on with the kids.
Wearing my cool, street, totally down with the kids, trick, grinding skates.
And then I fall over a lot.
I may have the equipment and experience, but the skill is still very much lacking.
I can stop. But only in one direction (don't ask).
However, hand me an enormouse (better spelling) hockey stick and I can totter about a street hockey pitch well enough to get by.
And fall over a lot.

(Busy today... I hope they’ve lots of skates in stock…)

I opted not to get myself skates to start with.
For a few reasons.
1. I didn't want to be told I wasn't allowed to skate when I had already put on skates and be laughed at.
2. I didn't want to be allowed to skate and then realise I was the only adult skating, and be laughed at.
3. I didn't want to be allowed to skate and then realise all the other adults in the room were ex-olympic skaters perfectly and brilliantly gliding about the room like swans, and then be laughed at.
4. Putting on skates takes smegging ages and it always takes me ages to get them right. (Yeah I know, a courageous little trooper I. So brave...).

Plus I thought if the opportunity arose I could always run out and get myself a pair of £2.25 (I've no smegging change left! What do you mean you won't take cards for that much?) skates.

As we stood there queueing.
I suddenly worried that Miss5 may have inherited my amazing skills at skating.
Poor love. That's a lot of floor she is going to be seeing.
Of course she may have inherited Mrs. Amazing's skating skills instead. Which could be great news!!! Except...
Except that in Team Parent (yay!), relatively speaking, I am considered the greatest skating person of all time. Ever. In all realities. Relatively speaking that is.
I consider leaving immediately...

We stay.
And eventually troop in. There are only a few adults left in the room. All the other parents are doing a drop and run. I have so much to learn. Which I now realise as I'm not skating would have been a great idea. As now I have a few hours of boredom to slowly die in. No one to talk to. No book. No phone.
I bet Mrs. Amazing would have a book. Damn it!
But as lots of small children start skating I realise me skating was a bad idea...

I am so sorry about your daughter. I lost control and…
<Shows pancake shaped daughter>
DadOfPancake: <Is speechless>
... Is there anyway Maple syrup could this help situation at all?
DadOfPancake: <Turns red>
Thought not... <Runs>

(Ready! ... Lets go narle those grindings home friend...)

We trade in Miss5's skating chip for actual skates.
So much easier to skate with. They are huge. Well they’re the right size for Miss5 obv. But the scaling of the boots mean they look quite comical on Miss5. Kind of like clown-skates.
Still Miss5 is very excited to put them on. It’s really sweet.
She’s one of the smallest in the room but without doubt the most excited.
Hella cute.

I sit her on a bench and put her skates on for her.
The straps are like my skates, so it goes very well. I even help another child with theirs whose parents have scarpered.
With Miss5 still on the floor looking at her huge skates I start think that maybe this won't be so bad after all. I’m sure the time will fly by. I’ll find some way to entertain myself I am sure.
I could count all the face splats laps she does .

However Miss5 cannot stand at all.
The funny thing is that trying to stand on wheels. When you're not that awesome at regular standing, say like a wobbly five year old, is really really hard.
I help Miss5 up.
I have each of her hands in one of mine. And basically I am holding her up.
My back moans a little. But the father in me, the Dad that wants his daughters love and respect.
Well he tells my back to shut the hell up.

Brainzilla: Stop that! That hurts. That's awkward!
No way! Daughter needs me! <Shakes fist>
Brainzilla: Fine! But I will make you pay.
Fine you suck.

As I guide Miss5 out of the safety of the bench area.
Almost totally holding her up. It occurs to me this party lasts three hours. I will be broken by then. Holding Miss5 up is frikkin’ awkward already.
It's really hot in here too. And the water I brought for us both is unlikely to be enough for three hours.
However that's not a huge cause for concern. As I left the bottle in the car. And cannot go get.
As I’m holding Miss5, on wheels, up.
We are going to die.

Luckily the party has drinks!
I’ll have fifteen shots of Jack Daniels please. In this plastic cup <Points>
DrinksGiver: ‘Another? That's your fifth second ’
Yes <Is firm> lots of ice...

Well lucky for the litte ones.
Not the parent helpers. Of which I am one of five. I am sure had I asked... But you know. Don't like to cause any fuss I prefer to dehydrate. I'll be fine.
I can always steal Miss5's water later on when no one’s looking.
All the parent helpers are the doing the same awkward slow walk about. Child hanging from their arms like a puppet.
Constantly falling over.

For the next hour or so.
Me and Miss5 go round the hall. Slowly. With me in pain.
I have sweat on my brow from trying to hold her up. Whilst trying to let her have enough freedom to learn to skate. But at the same time being ready to stop her from falling at any moment.
So soft and tense and hard muscles all at once.
EASY! And exhausting.

Miss5 though is amazing.
Her boots are huge. They are so heavy for her tiny feet. Everyone can see the effort it is taking her just to move them about. But she keeps trying.
There isn’t one moment where she gives up, or says it’s too hard. She just keeps going.
The smile on her face cannot be shifted. She is here to skate.
She’s sweaty from effort. I’m sweaty from effort.
And despite my best daughter guarding skills Miss5 has crashed on her bum a million times already. And not once has she cried or said it hurt. Not once. I couldn't do that. I'd be moaning. She is amazing.
Miss5 pulls on me again to get her back up. And off she skates about an inch.
OMFB is this girl determined.

I then have a brainwave!
And show her how to use the brakes on the front of her skates. So Miss5 can finally manage to stand without me hauling her up by the arms.
Miss5: ‘I did it! I stood!’
<Straightens up> ARRRGGGHHHH <Crack!>

I still have to lift her up a bit.
It's just not a dead weight any more.
Yay.

(It’s blurry because Miss5 wouldn’t / couldn't stay still…)

The party is stopped for the first water break.
Which is badly needed. I feel hot and sweaty. Miss5 is crimson with heat.
We sit where we are and I head off to get water.
Everyone else skates back to the benches. Leaving Miss5 on her own out in the middle of the huge hall. Opps.
I dash back. And we slowly stagger / skate back to the benches.
I go for water again.

I get back and she’s gone.
Obv. not far. The lure of skating has managed to get her off the bench and left her in a pile a few feet away. Miss5 is a bit like a upturned turtle with her boots on.
Huge smile on her face.

I am really impressed with her.
She’s putting so much effort and energy in and loving it. She's one tough scrawny cookie alright.
Still. There’s an hour to go and I don’t think either of us is going to last that long. Without hurting ourselves (me mainly). I am unsure of what to do. And a bit too tired to think straight.
I want Miss5 to keep going. But fear I cannot.
Then out of the blue... An angel flies in to help us...

(No… not that smegger kind of Angel…)

A lovely nine year old angel called Frank MissA.
A friend of Boy9’s, and coincidentally my BestDrinkingInThePubPlayingBilliards(coz he sucks at it ha ha)Buddy’s daughter. Small world huh?
I am not sure if MissA saw we were struggling. I honestly believe she came over to say hi, and ended up helping us for the rest of the party. Without even being asked.
MissA saved that party for us. She was brilliant. And Miss5’s eyes went wide as plates as MissA, a nine year old and very much a kick-arse role model for Miss5, asked if she could skate with us.
I definately could have hugged her.
Miss5 did hug her.

It was so, SO, SOOOO, much easier with two us.
MissA took one of Miss5’s hands and I had the other. And off we set. My back cheering already.
Miss5 started to get it a bit more because she was better balanced with someone either side.
Not just me lopsided on one side trying not to get run over and moaning about back pain being silently very manly. And with MissA there to copy as well. Miss5 could soon stand and push off on her own.
By the end of the party Miss5 did one whole lap of the hall without falling over once.
Which may not sound much. But before MissA swooped in to help. We had only managed four laps of the hall together.
In an hour and a half.

I made a point to tell me BestDrinkingInThePubPlayingBilliards(coz he sucks at it ha ha)Buddy just how much help his daughter had been.
Thank you MissA. We couldn’t have gone on without you. You are lovely.
I'll buy you booze when you get to college.

As we hobble walk out of the leisure centre.
We had already said our goodbyes and thanks to MissA.
Miss5 is holding my hand, happy, still excited and nattering away as we leave.
I feel very close as Dad and daughter right in that moment. And it made me very happy.
Not bad for £2.25. All the pain my body may moan about for the next month, the dehydration through sweat and exhaustion, can smeg off, to be addressed in bed later.
Hella good times.

As we hit the car park Miss5 turns to me asks?
Miss5: 'Why are you hitting tarmac?'
Miss: ‘Daddy can I get some skates?’
Why are you trying to kill me?
… Yeah. Sure! Do you want to go skating again then?
Miss5: ‘Yeah!’

And then she adds in, just in case it wasn’t clear.

Miss5: ‘With you. Skating with you.’
Sure. I'd love to watch next time. I'll bring my blades and huge hockey stick!

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