The General Election 2010
For as long as I can remember I've had little interest in General Elections - for various reasons - but this time around it's been different.
I watched all 3 of the leader's debates on television, read various online sources of election information and news, picked up numerous 'tweets' about it and pretty much soaked up any other media source of election titbits that came my way.
Why? Well quite simply for the first time in my life I actually feel the outcome of this election will affect not only my life for the forseeable future but that of my family as well.
What did I learn from the televised debates? Very little if I'm honest (did anybody?). We had what I personally felt was expected...
Gordon Brown bombarding us with facts and figures or 'substance' as the media moguls kept calling it;
David Cameron playing the 'pick me for change' card, but without actually really telling us what that exactly would mean to the average person in the street;
Nick Clegg happily playing the waiting game whilst G&D exchanged verbal blows before swanning in-between both and appearing as the solution to everything (but again without actually telling us anything!);
As for the minority parties well I didn't really see or hear enough about them - or rather their policies - to really make a judgement. A fact which I thought was rather surprising, especially here in Wales as we have Plaid Cymru. I wonder if any Scots reading this felt the same about the SNP?
Much of the media hype surrounding the debates focussed on what they wore, how they did their tie, did they look at the camera, did they address the person in the audience asking the questions, etc, etc - did anyone really give a rats arse about this stuff? Surely it's the policy details of each political party that we're interested in, after all that is where the devil is... isn't it?
I was brought up in a working class environment - my father a lorry driver and my mother a shop assistant - money was hard to come by and my parents worked very hard.
Growing up I remember the Thatcher years and the stories my Dad would say about the miner's strikes and in particular the violent scenes at the now former British Steel Plant in Port Talbot. Scenes which were replicated across the coalfields of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire - remember Arthur Scargill?
I can also recollect the privitisation of British Rail - another wonderful Conservative government idea. I'm sure there are other bones of contention for those of you with better memories that I.
But all that is in the past now and I've kept an open mind - or at least tried too - for the 2010 General Election. I've focussed on what affects the house of DDWT now.
I am a married man with two young children and work in local government. These facts alone make me very wary of the Conservatives.
The proposed £6 billion savings that Mr. Cameron would look to slice off 'Government' immediately if he came to power worries me - how many jobs and services does that equate to? Then there's the debate of tax credits, oh and the inheritance tax thresholds to help the more economically stable individuals within the UK. I won't even be drawn into the debate over immigration....
Mr. Clegg was refreshing and offered - I felt - less of a gamble than a Tory vote but at least they appeared to be on the same lines ('ish) as Labour when it came to tax credits and the NHS. The only bone of contention for me was/is the immigration amnesty policy - the least said the better probably.
And finally Mr. Brown, whom basically gave it to us as it was - complete with his facts and figures (again!). He is no prime minister though and lacks the charismatic charm that goes with the territory. You only had to see Tony Blair in action earlier this week to confirm that. GB was a good chancellor, but not such a good PM.
So who did the house of DDWT vote for? My wife made no secret of the fact that she didn't have the same interest or indeed inclination to be interested (her words not mine) in the election as I did, and as such we had our own views on each party and their policies.
Having said that we both voted and given the information at our disposal and considering our own circumstance, we both decided that it was very much a case of 'better the devil you know that the one you don't'.
Only time will tell of course if that remains the case, but I've little doubt that whomever is the power holder in British politics some turbulent times lay ahead.
I’m still blogging…
...well just about anyway! Today marks 5 years exactly since I did my first EVER blog post (using Blogger) and I must confess I never ever thought that I'd still be at it - albeit not as frequently.
A heck of a lot has happened during the time - both good and bad - but at least I feel that it's all been a worthwhile, especially as it only really started out as a means for letting people know what I was up too (as I was crap at keeping in touch - and still am!).
Personally I see a blog as creating a little piece of history about yourself online and is a source of great inspiration and motivation when looking back at what you've done with your life - be it now or in years to come.
I'd also like to think that in some way shape or form I've helped others along the way, whether it was giving them motivation to improve fitness (lose weight?) or merely to change a Vauxhall Meriva pollen filter!
So here's to another 5 years of blogging 
I wasn't ready
I attended the funeral of my work colleague's late mother today as a gesture of my support, just as he had done for me back in September.
In retrospect, I perhaps somewhat foolishly thought that I would be ok and would be able to deal with the tide of emotions that only a funeral can evoke - especially as it was at the same crematorium as where my Dad had been laid to rest.
My train of thought had been that I'd have to face up to it sometime and that it was better to do that sooner rather than later. This was partly based on the experiences of my wife whom had been in a simialr situation.
So here I was almost 5 months since I laid my Dad to rest and I now realise I wasn't ready to face such a range emotions, not yet anyway.
I struggled to keep myself from becoming a blubbering wreck before, during and after the service but thankfully managed to hold it back long enough to make my way from the crowds.
Upon reaching the car, I released the pent up emotions I was feeling and it made me realise just how raw my feelings still are.
They say time is a great healer on on today's evidence I can see why people say that.
Such sayings might be old adages, but this one certainly rings true for me in this instance.
Valentines Gift Ideas
Let’s talk Valentine’s Day. A day when all hopes of love and romance are heightened, only to be thwarted with an onslaught of tacky toys and materialistic junk that collects in our attics, before being taken to a car boot sale 8 years on. A day of sulking, presents, proposals and high expectations.
Every girl dreams of something special for Valentine’s Day. Diamonds perhaps? A lovely meal? A romantic poem that could very well have been written by Byron himself, yet written by your partners own fair hand…? Every guy dreams of, well, getting laid thanks to his efforts of bringing home a cuddly toy devil and box of Chocolate Fingers.
Valentine’s Day is in fact homage to a bishop by the name of Valentine. Whilst the Pagans were happily putting girls names into a box and drawing one out for each man to have sexy time with for a year, Valentine decided it was high time that people should be allowed to get married. Idiot. Under the blanket of night…or just a blanket, people would tippy-toe up to his church to be wed, so that they could be together forever. When Emperor Claudius II found out about all this marriage rubbish, he had Valentine tortured and slung into jail before being beheaded. Valentine apparently took a fancy to the jailers blind daughter, magically restoring her site and leaving her a farewell note signed ‘From Your Valentine.’
Thus a day of lushy red hearts and Eskimo kisses was born, to strike depression into the hearts of every singleton on Earth. If it wasn’t for Valentine, we could have been celebrating a day of sexual liberation and still been picking names out of hats, much like people do with car keys at parties.
So what are you going to do this year? Go all out with the champers and jewellery after a private jet ride to the Bahamas? The credit crunch is affecting all of us and we can’t even get those cuddly devils from Woolworths anymore! With a tight budget and a little creativity you could have the best Valentine’s Day yet! Show you care with a little bit of help from Find Me a Gift.
Why not start the day off with breakfast in bed? Freshly squeezed orange juice, fried egg and a toasted bacon sandwich may sound basic, but by using something like the Mood Message Toast, you can imprint ‘I Love You’ and ‘Good Morning’ into the bread when toasting. Use a Heart Frying Pan to cook the egg into a heart shape for added effect.
See? By 10am you have already scored brownie points! Why not purchase a packet of cornflakes that have a free toy, open it from the bottom and exchange the toy for a romantic gift such as a Silver Love Token set with a real diamond. Everyone knows that the way to a mans heart is through his stomach (and pants) so a romantic breakfast in bed could be all you need to make your loved one feel appreciated and spoilt.
So what should you do with the rest of the day? Why not create a Valentine’s treasure hunt! Hide clues and treats around the garden, or sprinkle a path of Freeze Dried Rose Petals for your lover to follow. Whether you are leaving love notes dotted around, chocolates or gifts, a Valentine’s Treasure Hunt is a great way to create a unique and fun afternoon! The fact that you planned such an event in their honour, may possibly get you out of the washing up AND let you watch CSI Miami tomorrow.
Now that you have both worked up an appetite you can impress with your creative culinary skills! Sprinkle some Red Heart Confetti on the table and dish out some Heart Shaped Pasta with a homemade sauce, followed by strawberries and marshmallows dipped in a Chocolate Fountain!
Time for a little pampering and relaxation before bed! The 52 Weeks of Romance or Bed of Roses kits have everything you need for a pleasurable and stimulating evening in for two. Why not sprinkle rose petals on the bed, light scented candles and treat each other to a relaxing massage before getting into a bath of colour changing Bath Pearl Lights. Spending some quiet time together and getting to know each other’s bodies again can spark off forgotten passions and romance. Using massage oils can help relax the body and mind, aiding the self conscious to feel more at ease and helping the masseuse to glide their hands across your skin effortlessly. Trying to wind down after a stressful day at work can be difficult, but a foot or back massage can aid sleep and provide much appreciated ‘us’ time for many couples.
Personalised gifts can really show how much you care about someone. Why not put some special or naughty photos onto a Digital Photo Frame Fridge Magnet for instance? The frame also has a hidden stand so it can be placed on your office desk or bedside table. When I was young, you would declare your love by carving your initials into a tree and exchanging mix tapes. Oh how times have changed. Relive some of that retro romance by carving a message into the Carve Your Own Card and sending it with the equally cool USB Mix Tape. Just download your favourite smoochy crooners or rave favourites and leave in your loved ones school locker/ letterbox. If you fancy something a little more home made then the YouDoo Dolls offer a blank canvas in which to recreate your hubby or yourself in a weird voodoo doll type way. Iron on a transfer picture of your face, dress it up, fill it with more padding, a secret love note or lavendar. Blue Peter eat your heart out! Add accessories and hair to your doll before sobbing uncontrollably, as you realise you have to give your masterful creation away to someone else.
For little sentimental gestures with big impact, get a silver or gold Rolo or even a Love Heart sweet. Each of them is presented in a presentation box, but why not take them out and place at the middle or bottom of a real roll of Rolos or Love Hearts. A fantastic idea for those with a sweet tooth and love of surprises!
Climbing into bed at the end of a gloriously romantic Valentine’s Day…what is that on your pillow? A beautiful Secret Message Arrow! As if fired from Cupids bow itself, the Secret Message Arrow opens up to reveal a hidden compartment where you can pop a roll of paper with you secret love message written upon it. What will it say? “Will you Marry me?”… “I Love You”…or “Get your crash helmet on Love, cos your about to go through the headboard.”
My longest run
We finally got our garage back to normal after I jammed the car full with all the Christmas and New Year cardboard, plastics, cartoons, surplus clothes and headed off to the local civic amenity site.
It really is amazing how much packaging accumulates over a 2 week period and judging by the number of people at the site, I was far from being the only one who felt that way! Don't get me wrong, it's great to see so many people using the civic amenity sites across the country, but I do wonder how much fuel, etc is being used/wasted and the environmental effect by having so many people transport their own waste to such sites.
Begs the question why the manufacturers and/or supermarkets don't do something about the packaging materials they use at source - rather than pass it on to the customer. But hey, that'll cost them money and cut into profits so that ain't gonna happen is it. Cynical aren't I.
On a more positive note, I went for my first run of 2009 today and was over the moon with my 'achievement'. The run of 72 minutes 31 seconds was the longest continous run I have EVER done in my life and at the same time the distance of approximately 8 miles is the longest continous distance I've ever done.
Despite feeling leg weary at the end of it, to say I was chuffed was an undertstatement! Whilst I know it's no mean feat really for a 37 year old man - given how many OAPs run the London Marathon, etc - it still means a heck of a lot to me personally.
Maybe my dream of running a marathon one day isn't such a pie in the sky idea after all
Out with the old, in with the new
Happy New year to you! So here we are on the very first day of 2009 with lots of people probably nursing hangovers, others laden with new year resolutions and some like me just looking forward to what should hopefully be a healthy and happy year ahead.
The Mrs and I welcomed in the new year browsing and shopping online (sad but true!) in-between watching the BBC's iPlayer coverage of the new year being welcomed in by fireworks around the London Eye.
In keeping with the theme of the day I decided to invest some time rummaging through my wardrobes in an attempt to sort out what now fits me and what doesn't - not to mention what can be considered fashionable or not as the case may be! I'm an official hoarder you see
Now don't get me wrong the fact that I'm now hovering just below the 16 stone mark is very pleasing, but the sheer number of clothes I'm having to get rid of is scary! Take my work trousers for example, I'm passing 13 of them onto charity, leaving me with only 4 left. Now that tells me a lot....I've got too many work trousers and God only knows how many other clothes will be finding themselves a new home.
Oh well my loss is someone elses gain and for me that's a positive start to the new year.
Katherine Jenkins' Drugs Revelation
Poor old Katherine Jenkins. How difficult it must have been for this talented multi-millionaire songstress to come clean and reveal to the tabloids that she'd done various drugs in her pre-stardom days. Grown men and women have leapt to her defence and expressed admiration for her having the strength to come clean.
Oh come off it. I mean really, how hard could it have been for her. She's well liked (as the public/media reaction illustrates) and financially secure (having recently been awarded a £6 million pound recording contract).
Can you imagine the outcry if a lesser known/squeaky clean personality had come out about their past misdemeanours. Need I say more?
Of course there is the issue of Christmas being just 51 days away and a certain 'Sacred Arias' album having been released just a couple of weeks ago - so it couldn't be one massive marketing and media push by her agent could it?
Nah, our Katherine is too nice for that. Surely.
Goodbye Dad
Today is a very sad day indeed as my Dad finally lost his battle against cancer at 15:35 this afternoon. Fortunately, we were at his bedside to say our last goodbyes.
The last 5 weeks or so have flown by and if the truth be known he was always fighting a losing battle against bowel, liver and lung cancer - so it is perhaps with as much sadness as relief that he is now suffering no more.
Rest in peace Dad, you might be gone, but you'll never be forgotten.
Welcome to the world Baby DDWT
Our very special daughter and sister to DDWT Junior came into the world today at 18:17 and weighed in at a healthy 8lb 8oz.
I’ll now try and tell you all about the day - from what I can recollect.
03:10 - Mrs DDWT wakes up because baby is starting to rumble her tummy - consequently I start to mildly panic and insist we call the hospital.
03:50 - I go and get my Mam (in order to babysit DDWT Junior) and the first words I hear on the radio on the way are “Relax, take it easy” (from one of Mika’s songs). How apt! My Mam duly arrives and is as nervous/excited as we all are.
07:00 - Baby was now beginning to get a good contraction rhythym going and it was time to head off to Singleton hospital. Details of my nervous system and my urgent requirement for the toilet shall remain undisclosed - except to say that I made it in time…just.
07:30 - Ok, we’re on the labour ward. Mrs DDWT starts to crank up the TENS machine a notch or two.
09:00 - Baby decides to take her time and slow down the old pelvic thrusts. This meant Mrs DDWT was taken down to the maternity ward to wait and "see what happens".
11:05 - Things start to gather pace again and we were on the move (literally) - this time to the delivery unit. Here we were greeted by Fran Hathaway and Eleri Beckett the midwives on duty at the time. Everyone thought it would all be done and dusted by clocking off time at 14:00. Little did we know at that stage eh!
14:30 - Baby was still inside Mrs DDWT's tummy and had seen off two midwives when number 3 arrived, Linda Richards. Linda was going to be with us until 21:00 - if it took that long. Mrs DDWT was getting well into the gas and air.
17:15 - It was decision time as Mrs DDWT was now beginning to tire and was in a lot of pain - with no sign of baby either. A quick examination showed that baby had moved the wrong way and it was decided that the best course of action was an epidural - which neither us were very happy about. At this stage in proceedings Mrs DDWT gave me a slap for my efforts and tried to ‘trap’ the midwives arm whilst trying to break the waters! I can laugh about it now.
17:50 - The thought of the epidural was too much and the sight of the anaesthetist all tooled up and raring to go was enough for Mrs DDWT and baby to get their skates on and quickly. Thankfully Linda could see that the situation had dramatically changed and the threat of the injection went away as we were now well and truly into the final stages of labour.
18:17 - will now go down in history as the time that Baby DDWT came into this wonderful world.
So there you have it, my account of our little daughters journey into the world.
Washing machine woe
It's not been the best of days really. Our Zanussi FL1082 washing machine started leaking big style this morning and some baby items got damaged in the process.
Now you're probably wondering what the connection is there, well I'll tell you. Mrs DDWT - currently in the midst of baby 'nesting' mode - decided to 'spring clean' some baby items in the washing machine. However, whilst the wash was in progress the said baby items got jammed in the seal between the washing machine drum and door - cue a 'burnt' seal and damaged baby items. The end result was a leaky washing machine. Grrrrr.
With tempers flaring - "what the hell did you want to wash x in the washing machine for?" - I decided to take solace in the Yellow Pages and find a local Zanussi repair centre. Fortunately, there was one in Morriston - 'H. Phillips'. A quick call and estimate later and our repair said he'd be with us shortly to collect the washing machine - which he duly did.
Some 3 hours or so later our washing machine returned and was thankfully now back in it's original state - i.e not leaking! The service was excellent in fairness and I'll be sure to use them again if the need ever arises (which I hope it doesn't!).
Unfortunately, the whole episode meant that a leak had sprung in my wallet.... to the tune of £75.