LL's first footie match - Boxing Day

Although still not feeling at all a well man, BFS braved the gale force winds and driving rain to take LL to his first 'proper' football match at Pittodrie for a clash between Aberdeen and Caley Thistle. 

Myself and the other two lads went to visit Grandma A since we didn't get to see her on Xmas day. She was looking well and was whizzing about like a racing driver with her new tray/zimmer combo unit. She had Jurassic Park on full blast which kept the boys occupied whilst we had a chat.

LL said that the football was 'great' despite becoming a drowned rat making the walk up to beach where we'd pre-arranged to collect them, BFS couldn't really comment as he'd spent the whole match concentrating on not 'following through' or being sick! He also left the programme from the game on his seat so the only momento LL has of his first game is the boldly striped hat/gloves and scarf combo that he was gifted to wear to the game. I don't think we can blame him though, he was using all of his brain power to maintain his dignity!

On another front I had a wee trip to the Matty unit in Montrose as there had been a distinct lack of movement from baby Waddell all xmas day and then overnight (in comparison to the usual disco moves being practised in there! Typically, as soon as I sat on the bed and got strapped up to the monitor it decided to wake up and have a party (and has been super active since) so all fears alleviated.

Xmas 2015

Well hello! It's been a while.

There have been many changes at Station House so I thought it was about time that I should once again record what we get up to as a family so we can look back on these days and treasure the moments which will otherwise pass us by!

We have just celebrated christmas as a complete family for the first time in a few years. For the last few either myself or BFS have had the joys of celebrating the festivities in the middle of the North Sea.

It was a relaxed and quiet affair, with our only visitor being Grandma B for an hour after lunch as she was en-route to spend the day at my brothers house with his brood. Grandma A. has been a bit poorly and didn't feel up to making the journey. This was probably a good thing as BB was up at 3:30 am vomiting in his bed - as BFS said the only words worse than 'Mum, I've just been sick in my bed' at 3 in the morning are 'Dad - I've just been sick in my bed' at 3 in the morning!!!

BFS started to feel somewhat ropey not long after emerging from under the covers too so a slightly subdued Christmas it was to be.

The kids gave us until 7:50 to get up (thanks guys!) and we went downstairs to check to see if the fat man in the red suit had made a stop at Station House. He had! - yay, but before getting stuck into the paper unravelling I got on the case and made us all porridge and set the fire in the kitchen whilst BFS took Lexi out for a long walk to tire her out. After brekkie we settled into the living room to take turns to open our gifts kindly left by santa.

CC was very chuffed with his new 'guitar' and subsequently performed a strum for every gift opened by each of us....

BFS was chuffed with his new coat.

 

There was a distinct Lego theme this year (again) with LL jumping on the bandwagon!

BB had his 2000+ piece age 14+ box of Lego completed by Boxing Day morning!

Whilst BFS was roped into building CC's toys.

LL took himself away to the solitude of the kitchen table to concentrate on his build.

Christmas dinner was stress free, although poor BB and BFS weren't feeling the love for it (but we all got to use glasses with 'sticks' which cheered up CC (wine glasses))

After dinner, once the rest of the parcels from under the tree had been opened, the big two took great interest in watching what Daddy had received.

Lex gave her new bed and toys the big protective thumbs up!

Next morning I was having some regrets about choosing a 'karaoke machine' for CC as his dulcet tones belted their way up through our bedroom floorboards much earlier than I was willing to rise!




The boys were introduced to some retro toys including Hungry Hippos and Twister. LL was a bit less than impressed with Twister when he realised that his balance wasn't as good as expected and he tumbled claiming 'injury' to his legs. It was with tears and reluctance that he joined back in the game!



I wanna hold your hand....

BB chose to hold my hand today as we strolled around Tesco. He has no idea how much this meant to me. A small gesture, but from a child who has been very distant physically for probably a year now, it lit up my heart.

Little hill on my head Mummy

Slight guilts at exxasperatedly ignoring CC's wails as I thought he was once more coming to tell me his brother 'did this' or his other brother 'did that'. Daddy gave him the time of day and upon doing so discovered a true egg sized lump and sent him over to me for a feel. 

There's a true lesson in the boy who cried wolf!

Anyways he was promptly treated in true Waddell fashion, and milked it enough to not eat dinner but still get dessert.

Quiet day at the office!

Weather Bomb!

I'm sitting in the heliport for the second day in a row tentatively waiting for the nod to get on the chopper.

I say tentatively, because the UK has been hit by an 'Atlantic Weather Bomb' ie the Met are getting creative with their description of a storm. It is a pretty brutal storm, but I have seen worse. Just haven't flown in one though!

Our flight got cancelled yesterday because of the sea state, so they made us come back at 6am (which meant a 4:30 start for me). The weather report still isn't good and amid reports of lightning offshore they've now decided to wait until daylight to fly 'so they can at least see where they're going' giving the wind time to build up. Rumour is they may still shift us though - and personally I have to say I'm sh***ing a brick. One upside is - it'll have one he'll of a tailwind so the journey should be over faster than usual - whoosh...

It was a minor bonus getting cancelled yesterday as I grabbed the opportunity for a flying visit to town to pick up some Xmas shopping. Only two weeks to go and nothing wrapped yet. Ironic as this year has probably been the most organised regarding getting gifts. My job when I come home will be to get some parcels under the tree so it looks more festive (along with the one side of baubles it has presently!) I may pop some more decorations on too, just to 'enhance' the kids efforts ;0)

Mickey Bubbles

This Friday I got one of my (increasingly frequent) passes away for the night, so some clothes were thrown in a bag (including a beautiful early Christmas top from BFS) and a dash was made for the train station to meet K and A for a stop over in Newcastle.

The reason?

Our little excited group were on our way to see the handsome crooner himself - Michael Buble (insert squeal here).

The journey down was smooth, the hotel conveniently found a quick stroll from the train station, and the venue so close we were overlooking it from our lovely room. 

The excitement hit us about 5pm, then we went down for our pre paid dinner.

We wish we hadn't!

The first disappointment was that they'd replaced what looked like a decent enough menu with a 'pre Arena' selection of crappy offers (burgers etc) - then despite the hour and twenty minute wait for our measly (slightly burnt) starter, the main was awful and the dessert inedible! A and I downed a bottle of Zinfandel whilst waiting, then we got another complimentary one as even the manager couldn't ignore the fact that we still didn't have any food in front of us. It wasn't even busy!

Anyways - we found the funny side (thanks to the wine) and managed to get the meals refunded from our bill. We then followed the crowds to the Metro Radio Arena in anticipation of a couple of hours of entertainment. 

The support - Naturally 7, got us all in the mood, then the man himself made quite an entrance in amongst pyrotechnic heaven. 

What a total cutie and charmer rolled into one. We were on our feet for the whole gig (despite security trying to get the Geordie lasses behind us to sit down - they refused, so we stated up too!).

At one point he walked right by us to get to the other stage - my hands had a mind of their own, and found themselves stretching out to try and touch him 😆 I got within a centimetre and they were rudely pushed away by Jose, his rather burly bodyguard. I'm thinking though, that technically because he touched me whilst holding on to Buble, that by default I touched him too ;0)

Afterwards we went out on the 'Toon' and had a cocktail before heading to Flares for some cheesy tunes and a couple of hours of dancing. 

A good night was had by all!