Family Affairs » football

BIRTHDAYS AND DIVORCE

andydriver — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:28 +0000

It’s my birthday tomorrow (YAY) and this is the most grown-up I’ve ever been about my birthday in that I haven’t gone into a huge decline about how a lack of partner = rubbish presents. I have bought myself two presents on the basis that I am not expecting presents from anybody else – this divorce thing is a real bummer when it comes to gifts. Almost worse than any other aspect- it’s very depressing not having anybody to drop major hints at for a whole year who then buys you something entirely different that you don’t want and you can’t quite believe that they can have got it SO WRONG.

I have learnt over the last few years that it is quite satisfactory to cut out the middle man and buy yourself something you really want. It leaves no room for disappointment.

This year I have bought myself two things.

The first is twenty two sets of football kit to be sent out to Lusaka via an airline pilot for the Bank of Zambia’s two football teams and the other present I will show you tomorrow….

Off to teach now.

HELP REQUIRED

Family Affairs — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:52:00 +0000

When I was in Lusaka I met the father of a blog friend of mine who runs a hospice for Aids victims – they are heavily involved in helping out the local people in any way they can and at the dinner I met a journalist who works for the BBC in Zambia, in charge of football. I offered to help in any way I could to get football kit out to them.

I have now been asked to provide football kit for several local teams in Lusaka. Which amounts to quite a lot of money. I will do some fundraising locally BUT does anybody know how to add a “Just Giving” or a “donate here” widget on to my blog so that I can enlist the help of the blogosphere? Just a pound here and there will help raise the £600 I need. I’ll write a bit more about the team another time, but for the moment I just need some help with putting the details on to my sidebar.

Thanks!

FOOTBALL TROPHIES

Family Affairs — Fri, 16 May 2008 10:47:00 +0000

Well, as predicted my 7 year old didn’t get a special player of the year award, but he did get a trophy along with all the other players:

He wasn’t too disappointed which was good. The manager of his team is the father of one of the other boys in the team. This is fairly typical at this level – why else would you want to put so much time and effort in to a team? However, I am really not sure that “Manager’s Player of The Year” should have gone to his own son. There is no way I would have chosen my son if I was manager…or am I being unreasonable here?

Anyway, how sweet do my two boys trophy’s look together?

"PLAYER OF THE YEAR" AWARD

Family Affairs — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:15:00 +0000

I have had one of those busy sort of parenting days – children needed bags of kit this morning for virtually every sport known to man: football, cricket, tennis, gym, and swimming, my daughter needed spare clothes because she is staying late at school to show prospective parents around and then there is of course the dreaded packed lunch. I rushed them all off to school and then had to teach quite a few classes back to back.

Here I am with a half hour window of opportunity before I have to go and get kids from 93 different locations, cook supper for 6 (book group girls coming over) and attend my 7 year old’s football presentation evening tonight (yawn). It is his first one (and about my 98th). He is so exited. Because his older brother is now playing in a cricket match we have invited one of his friends to come instead. I thought it would be simple. I was to pick him up en route and drive to venue because we wouldn’t have much time after all other activities. But no, we can’t do that. We have to come home first because apparently they have to “gel their hair”. “He doesn’t know how to do it” my 7 year old told me “and he really doesn’t like his hair at the moment so I said I’d do it for him”.

He is hoping to win an award tonight. I know that perhaps I should be more positive, but I’m just being realistic. He has high expectations because his older brother is an exceptionally good athlete and just this morning he pulled a splendid trophy (see below) out of his bag as he packed his bag for school “oh yeah, forgot to tell you I got Player of The Year award again”. He gets it every year. Without fail. It’s completely brilliant and I’m very proud of him. The problem is he makes it look too easy.

I can tell you that if I’d won that award it would have been a different matter. I’d have phoned my parents in France, called all my friends, insisted on photos, blogged about it…it would in fact have been my biggest achievement to date. I’ve never won a “Player of the Year” Award. It’s not fair.

I will be just as proud of my 7 year old if he doesn’t win any accolades, obviously. He tries his best and he too is a team player. I just hope that he won’t be too disappointed.