December is almost upon us so there’s no getting away from the countdown to Christmas. Like many people, I have really mixed feelings about it this year. 2020 has been truly awful so I want to give the kids a lovely Christmas. But, at the same time, I’m feeling so down about the threat of …
Today marks the publication of 5 Big Insights – the largest ever study on the early years of childhood. Earlier this year, I shared my thoughts on its predecessor, 5 Big Questions. Backed by The Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, it encouraged parents and carers to think about the early years …
Disclosure: I received the following items to feature in my Christmas Gift Guide 2020 and keep. We’re into the last few weeks of the year so it’s time to think about the festive season. There’s no getting away from the fact that Christmas will be different this year. With Covid-induced uncertainty and job losses – …
Disclosure: We received a year’s subscription to The Phoenix. My kids absolutely love comics. More often than not, they spend their pocket money on them. They’re forever drawing and writing their own too. So, when we were offered the opportunity to review The Phoenix, they were delighted! Aimed at boys and girls aged 7-14, The …
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 …
Youngest has been at primary school for just over a month and has settled in really well. It seems like an age ago that we last had a child in reception – four years ago, for the record. This is making me feel old, which isn’t surprising as I’m at least a decade older than …
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 …
Did you know it’s Zero Waste Week? The aim of this annual event is to get people to reduce waste and rethink rubbish as resources. Every year there’s a different topic and, this time, it’s food waste. I like to think that we let very little go to waste in our house but, last week, …