A couple of years ago, I wrote a post discussing when it was sensible for kids to get their first phone. I concluded that starting secondary school was a good marker. Cut to the present day and oldest is in year six. And, yes, we just gave in and got him his first phone ahead …
We’re only two days into the latest Covid-induced lockdown and I’m already exhausted by homeschooling. On the face of it, things should be pretty straightforward. We’ve been through it all before and, as I’m currently between jobs, I’m able to do more to help too. But there are a couple of key differences. First of …
First things first, Happy New Year. I hope 2021 will be a vast improvement on its predecessor for all of us. This time last year, I wrote a post explaining why I wasn’t making any new year’s resolutions. This year, I am making one, albeit with a caveat. More on that shortly. Looking back 12 …
The other day, we were listening to Electric Light Orchestra while preparing dinner in the kitchen. This in itself isn’t news. We listen to Jeff Lynne et al whenever we need cheering up so, given the year everyone has been experiencing, we listen to them a lot. The song Telephone Line started playing. If you’re …
I don’t mind admitting that I’ve been feeling down lately. We have the prospect of another six months of restrictions with coronavirus cases on the rise again. Added to that, my job is coming to a premature end. It was originally supposed to last until the end of next year. That changed to the end …
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post questioning whether the machines are rising up against us. It was inspired by a series of technical mishaps and I concluded that, as a result, they weren’t up to it. But, as The Terminator spawned numerous sequels, I think a follow-up to my musings is well …
Well, blimey. Diary of the Dad is ten years old today. It started as a way of trying out content for a book idea, became a new hobby, then a full-time job, before reverting to a hobby again. It’s been quite the proverbial rollercoaster. But the one thing that has remained constant is that I’ve …
Yesterday, the eight-year-old lost one of his milk teeth. You like stories, I know. But there’s a bit more to this one. You see, I was partially responsible. It was the latest in a line of unusual family moments involving gnashers. So, starting with my latest parenting fail, here are five dental disasters. And I …
As far as perceptions of age are concerned, I’m officially over the hill. I turned 40 last year and, despite some claims that it’s the new 30, I’m yet to feel it. Particularly of late. I don’t know whether it’s because of lockdown fatigue creeping in, the cumulative stress of seven years trying to move …
One of my earliest childhood memories concerns the use of a small fib to combat my reluctance to try a certain food. It was meat – I’m not entirely sure which kind – but I remember that it was at my grandparents’ house in Kent. Probably desperate to avoid a standoff, my parents told me …
