Family Affairs and other matters

"I’M YOURS" JASON MRAZ

It’s 10.30pm on Saturday night. I’ve just downloaded “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz – a lovely new song, that sounds like a more funky reggae version of any of Jack Johnson’s songs, but if you’re as old as me, it’s SO got the same feel to it as “Don’t Worry Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin (circa 1895) – I’m dancing around the kitchen on my own (sad I know). My 8 year old is upstairs having finally gone to sleep after threatening to throw up, I have left my daughter at a disco I was helping out at a minute ago and my 16 year old is on a rugby tour and sometimes…just sometimes…music just really does the trick and I’m hoping my son won’t be sick and thinking life is really, really OK. I might be in the middle of a Brookside-esque soap opera but what the f*ck. Sometimes, music can soothe a troubled soul.

NOT always of course and especially when it concern’s Mother’s Day- when you look at the suggested “Top 10 CD’s To Buy You Mum For Her Special Day” and somebody has decided that we are all 85 years of age and need Cliff Richard, James Taylor and at a very risque push – Tom Jones.

I’m old enough to note that the song that’s just been shoved out of the UK Numer 1 slot by “Flo Rider” (from Florida – hence the name if you hadn’t realised) has changed the lyrics from “You swing me right round baby right round like a record baby right round round round” to “you swing me right round baby right round when you go down baby go down” and when I told my children that it was an old song by Marilyn (I think) not only did they ask what a “record” was, but my teenage son rolled his eyes when I said “what do you think it means by “when you go down?” and said “it’s obvious mum” like I was a sad old git.

Live, love and dance like a fu*kwit in the kitchen on your own and everything suddenly seems wonderful…

Until tomorrow. When the clocks go forward and you’ve got to get up really early for a football match that your 8 year old is SO going to lose because they’re in the wrong league. But never mind.

Try kitchen dancing. It’s very liberating.

MOTHER’S DAY CAKE

My food obsessed 8 year old is constantly thinking of excuses to make cakes. This is owing to the fact that all things interesting are banned from the house in an effort to keep his weight down. He normally tries the “so-and-so’s coming round today, shall I make a cake?” or “as it’s football, shall [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...

THE JADE GOODY EFFECT

Jade Goody’s death at home on Mother’s Day certainly put my insignificant moan into perspective. How very sad to die so young, leaving especially her two boys to deal with a such tragic loss. She was courageous and brave throughout her remaining months of life. I take my hat off to her. Let’s hope if [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...

HAPPY (ISH) MOTHER’S DAY

I am having a “what’s it all about?” moment. Thankfully, those moments have become fewer and farther between, but nevertheless, that dull ache can come back when you least expect it and the reality of my shattered family life lurches to the forefront of my thoughts…and it makes me feel very sad. As I write, [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO

Here is my gorgeous younger brother trying to pick up a lion cub during the time that we lived in Africa. This picture amuses me a lot, mainly because if you look carefully there is a rather nasty bite mark on his leg that didn’t come from the lion. I’m very sorry I did that. [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...

“WHERE DID MY SEX KITTEN GO?”

The following article was written by Simon Jones in The Sunday Times. I was going to dissect it, but you should read it in it’s entirety – it is quite extraordinary:- “My first wife, Frances, was a classy, stunning woman. In the macho world of medicine, she was as capable and ambitious as any man. [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...

THE TWITTERING CLASSES

I signed up to “Twitter” yesterday because my ahead-of-the-times friend has and therefore I have to do the same. Apart from that pathetic Lemming like excuse, I haven’t a clue why I need to be on Twitter. I don’t get it so far. I’m not sure what I am supposed to do or why I [...]

Continue reading and leave comments...