Diary of a Gay Dad. I am a full time dad to five young children.

Did you know that eight months is how long it took for the girls and I to come home to the UK? Eight long months we lived in India. I thought that today I would choose just a couple of the pictures that are now available due to reconnecting my broken laptops hard drive. This First picture I took from the place that we started this epic journey of family together. Powai Lake in Mumbai.

This next picture is me with a rather small trolley at the Haiko Supermarket in Powai. It was nice to have a local ‘western style supermarket’ close by. At other points in the journey, we just ate foods from the street vendor or local market place. But it was nice when we shopped with convenience. The picture below is probable when they were seven months old. It is amazing to see that their little faces havent really changed at all.

The girls and I had lots of fun looking back at all of these memories. Of course, they do not remember as they were just little, new born babies. But in that time they grew, began to sit, started on solid food, oh the bliss of turning a thousand apples and they even took their first tentitive crawls. Amritsar would try and throw her chest forward and Tara would just look at objects in front of her and clench her fists and scream at them, compelling (not quite propelling) herself towards them. I did of course have the help of a couple of different nannies over the time. The two most memorable were Bharti and Manju. Though I believe they once knew one and other and were not the best of friends. They were both strong willed women.

I thank Bharti for being there and showing kindness and love to our girls. We do miss her. Now this next picture is myself, the girls and Manju. Again the girls were about seven months old at this point.

I forget where this picture was taken. I think somewhere on the shores of Powai Lake as we would not have travelled too far from ‘The Lakeside Apartments’. This moment would have been just a couple of weeks before we were finally allowed to leave india.

I love this picture, the lighting was perfect. Just the presence of sunlight would confirm that the photo was taken in October 2013. The monsoon clouds were with us for most of our time in India. Doesnt she look so serene. So the final picture for today is Tara, sat up to attention, looking very thoughtful. Well that was my moment of nostalgia. Dont forget that I will be publishing the second chapter of my novel ‘Eighteen Moons’ on here later this month on the cycle of the full moon here in the UK. Or if you cant wait for that, the entire book is available through Amazon Kindle. Just search for ‘Eighteen Moons’. Eight of those eighteen moons was my time is India. Maybe next week I will look at (in brief) another five moons speant in Thailand.

Having just observed the surrealities of the video I posted 5 minutes ago, I guess not. Children do the funniest of things don’t they? I’m pretty sure that Thor will keep his ‘funny boy’ nature and have lots of friends throughout his school days. He certainly makes me smile. A lot less screaming nowadays also. Calo (Caleb) can be quite the funny one too, though he has taken on ‘Thor’s Mantle’ when it comes to being screamy. They are all so funny in their own ways, so it is quite rightly difficult to have a favourite. Ending comment on today’s diary entry has to be lol…

Up at 7am and asleep by 7pm. What can I say! With all of the children at school there is the ultimate freedom that I will inevitably embrace, come September. At present, I need to be at home, pretty much 24 / 7 as the little ones day at preschool is but three hours in the morning. Will I really have the chance to leave the house for several hours each and every weekday? I felt guilty this morning as I saw a friend, Richard at 10am and visited a farm shop in a small village in Oxfordshire. Very pleasant staff and a real old style butchers. They even had the fake green plastic clover surrounding the packaged meats in the chill cabinets. I haven’t seen that since my childhood. Is veal back on he menu? I hope so as four sirloin steaks came in at £20, two frozen Madagascan Mega Prawns for a tenner and three packs of Toulouse, wild boar and duck sausages, another tenner! I was back at 12.30 and Sindy graciously held on until I returned. All that nosh now hidden away in the freezer, John is in for a real treat as he absolutely loves wild game. There was some venison steak and pigeon breast in the shop too.

I actually felt guilty for my not being there when the little ones arrived home from preschool. Habits are habits after all. I am going to have to think long and hard as to my new direction after next September. What can I do with a new found independence, what tangent could I possibly take? A lot to consider, but even before this juncture, I do want to continue within the art of the written word. I’m considering a book of short stories! What do you think? Obviously the children would be considerations. I’m thinking a kind of rewrite of some of ‘Aesop’s Fables’ but using scenarios being acted out by Amritsar, Tara, Thor, Aaliyah and Caleb, the outcome being the learning of a moral outcome! What do you think? Is it a worthy project to undertake? I think a big injection of humour would be essential, but my writing, up until now has always been factual. How does one consider a step over to the other side – fiction. That’s a big step to take. Is my imagination feeling fertile enough? Any advice from out there would be massively appreciated.

On other matters – like you all, I am very tired of the BREXIT issue. Even without bringing a political point of view to this diary, my head continues to feel sore from all of the discord surrounding this state of affairs and complete disarray. I will be glad when we can all see some resolve.

And a settled future.

Just reconnected with a ‘Dear Heart’! So ending the day with a smile (you know who you are), though my original diary entry was going to start with our daughter Aaliyah. She really wants to be good, but as you may know, remorse is in short supply when it comes to her antics. She bit Caleb yesterday, though I did not report it to you out there as I thought it was an isolated incident. Today she yet again bit Caleb without any consideration. It really sucks to be regarded as lesser in the general pecking order (poor Caleb). He cried of course and thankfully Sindy did the ‘Bad Cop’ response and sat Aaliyah on the ‘Thinking Chair’. Then, given her angry and uncontrollable vexing, she was sent up to bed early. Nothing more to add regards Aaliyah’s bad behaviour, but I am upset that all of the improvements with her behaviour of recent months, it really does suck when you feel that you are back to square one. Let’s just go forward with a modicum of HOPE. Sindy and I reassured each other that she is still only three years old, almost four. But her remorse is still very sadly on the side of slight. Today’s pic looks like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth!

Clearly it was not! John visiting his mum Hazel in Dublin for the day, back later on tonight. Quite the fleeting visit and the children and I have had a relative day of leisure. Several visits to the ‘Thinking Chair’ for the little ones and the girls gorged on their mass of birthday gifts. Many craft oriented presents, so our weekends will be busy for the foreseeable future, but of course, they wanted to open and start them all today. Did I tell you that Tara lost her first tooth this week?

Anyhow, the day was busy and now they are asleep, I have a few moments to write this. But it is now getting late, so I will make it brief. Lots of happy and not so happy screams today. But we had lots of fun in between the dramas. John is hopefully back from his day trip to Dublin soon. No doubt quite exhausted from the day. Wishing his mum Hazel (pictured above) lots of love from us all. Nite nite xx

Saturday, the ‘Big Party’. The day started early. There was excitement in the air. A bed invasion at 6am and soon after a breakfast of pancakes with Dadda’s home made mango jam drizzled liberally with a splash of lime juice. Come 9am Sindy and sister Sally arrived to prepare the party lunchboxes. I on the other hand had just finished the triple later chocolate cake that was sandwiched together with Strawlime Berry Jam and heavily entombed with homemade chocolate ganache fudge icing. The top was laden with home moulded white chocolate pyramids and squares. The ladies made Jam and ham sandwiches for the lunchboxes, the jam on this occasion was black grapple. I cooked a mass of perfectly cooked basmati rice in the microwave. Please read a previous diary entry for the method of guaranteed perfect rice every time. Things were on track. Our three veg curries were pre cooked and bagged up in the refrigerator (Mutter, dal and chana) and 30 chapattis were dry cooked on the griddle. Wrapped in a wet tea towel and polythene bag to keep moist, they were added to the bags of food that were set to leave with Sindy and sally for the setup at the hunting lodge where the party was being held. We all arrived later to meet Thea and hubby John (Pips parents) who were also helping to set up. Within 15 minutes of our arrival the party was in full swing. The wild animal lady entertained the little ones and everyone had a great time with the myriad of surprisingly scary insects and small vertebrae! The children consumed their lunch boxes and the grownups devoured the ‘Pur Veg’ curries with gusto. Sindy and Sally were brilliant as were our fellow hosts. A brilliant venue and we left with a happy crowd having appreciated that it was a more inclusive affair – the grownups and their enjoyment are often an oversight at these events. Catering for 40 adults for a tenner went down well I think. And a few of them even thanked us for a party that was a party for all and not just the children. Job well done! The other matter was my shock at the gratuitous amount of presents and cards this year. I just counted sixty cards between the twins and as for the avalanche of presents on the dining hall table – unbelievable!

Some words on Sunday later this evening.

It is 9.30pm and the children have only just settled. Largely because I yet again had to play ‘Bad Cop’. John, just in from work one hour now and still glued to his iPad replying to his daily emails. I put the children’s ballistic goings on down to the excitement of tomorrow’s big celebration of the girls (and Pips) ‘Official Party’. It’s been a couple of days since my last diary entry and to be honest, we are still all in party mode. How did the magnate of this phenomena come to be? In my day we had a birthday, invited a few friends on the day itself or maybe the closest weekend, we were given a few crappy gifts, danced to pop music, played ‘Pass the Parcel’ and that was that. Anyhow, the second big cake ‘Bake Off’ happened this afternoon with a triple tier chocolate cake, internally moistened with Dadda’s home made strawlime berry jam and frosted externally with home made ganache. I even made homemade white chocolate pyramids to adorn the top! Bloody hell, how times have changed. Renting a hunting lodge, hiring an entertainer, catering for 40 adults to luncheon for under a tenner (that was my cost saving initiative, it can be done) and picnic lunch boxes for the mass of children. It seems that all of us parents have to participate in this frivolity when it comes to the ‘Special Day’ that it’s a birthday party for our child or in the case of twins, children. Moving on, Sindy and sister Sally are coming in to make up the lunchboxes at 9am tomorrow and Pips mum Thea is joining them at 11am to dress the venue with a multitude of animal related decor and an explosion of balloons. I had the biggest surprise when Sindy arrived back this afternoon clenching a handful of helium filled number balloons. Please reference the picture above. And NO, we have not invited the Anti Christ. The cake pic will be showcased tomorrow once the pyramids have embellished the cake, as will any comments on the official 6th birthday party of Amritsar, Pip and Tara. Happy Days boys and girls! Did I say I spent numerous hours preparing vegan curries for under a tenner – it’s just as well I no longer put an hourly, monetary rate on my time invested in the things I do. I would sorely be disenchanted, wouldn’t I? Welcome to parenthood. Oh – the 45 hand wrapped, personally printed ‘thank you’ chocolate bars look well, wouldn’t you say?

The girls were born six years and one day ago, in Mumbai, India. I was very sadly not allowed to see them on their day of birth. John was unable to be with me due to the Indian High Commission in London not issuing his visa, even the surrogate Rehanna would not have been allowed to pick up the girls and touch them. There was only me and due to red tape at the hospital, it was not until the following day that I got to see the girls in the neonatal intensive care unit and have their tiny little fists clench my outstretched finger. I felt very alone when I had to leave, but when I spoke to John later that day, we were both close to tears as I told him all about the girls and how beautiful they both were. Back then, I did not know what lay ahead. I could barely imagine six months, let alone six years. Yet six years have flashed before me and here we are today. We both made the decision to become parents and thanks to that decision, our two amazing daughters exist in ours and so many of our loved ones lives. Though we no longer have any contact with the surrogate Rehanna and never met our anonymous egg donor, we do thank them both for playing their part in delivering us Amritsar and Tara.

The girls awoke this morning one year older. They are very happy indeed to be 6 years old. We are having a small celebration today, but ‘The Big Party’ is being held next Saturday in conjunction with a school friend, Pip. Sindy has just headed off to collect then from school and then an hour in the park. I on the other hand am dressing the kitchen table for our ‘6 Today Extravaganza’. Their main gifts from John and I are new tablets, since all four devices we have (the children’s that is), are now broken and will not charge. We just realised that this might be partially down to them having been given headphones and they have tried to plug the jack into the wrong hole. A circular peg does not fit into that of a rectangle.

Anyhow, the ‘bad boys cupboard’ has been raided and the ‘pork products’ are a plenty. Just the finishing touches to add – oh f**k! I have still to decorate their birthday cake. I have been far too busy this afternoon cutting open Tesco 200g bars of dark, milk and plain chocolate for rewrapping in foil and applying our thank you message to give as a going away gift next weekend to the ‘Big Party’ revellers.

The theme is ‘Wild Animal Party’, though I think the entertainer is just bringing a rabbit and a parrot! I don’t really know what they are bringing to be truthful, but it had better be enough to entertain 40 children for at least 2 hours. Phew, more on that next weekend.

Today I am just looking forward to seeing the girls faces as they unceremoniously tear the paper from the pile of gifts in colour coded paper. Hopefully daddy will be here early to see them do this.

An update later perhaps.

A meal out was had at a Michelin starred restaurant in Wiltshire named ‘The Harrow’. An absolutely amazing taster menu and extremely friendly staff and management. They do a boiled egg course. I can’t say what they do with it, but it’s a real treat! Nikki babysat and we were home before 11pm. Only one mishap Nikki informed us and that was Thor walking about looking bemused. Not sure what he was bemused about, never mind.

The terrace has had several hours attention over the last couple of days. Getting it ready for the summer has been some considerable work, but it is beginning to look like a place where we can enjoy what the summer has to offer. Lots of warm sunshine I am hoping. It’s a great place for barbecuing and chilling. Fingers crossed on the weather front. Pics to follow when some of those spring buds have blossomed and bloomed.

Craft time was had this afternoon in the kitchen, raiding the recycle bin, Tara became a fairy with a green crown, Amritsar had a complete meltdown as Tara used up her green ink on her five coloured pen. Finally she is settled, but she is still steaming underneath. Thor said loudly in the thicket of it all ‘Amritsar’ he exclaimed, ‘I am getting a head ache, please be a bit quieter’. Daddy lost his temper at one point, she was told to go up to bed but refused and just continued to scream – god when she wants to be a complete madam, Amritsar does it for England.

Caleb is back in a nappy. He has drenched two sets of clothes so far today. Sorry Sindy, but he is back in a nappy until Monday afternoon. I don’t think that he will be ready to start ‘Big School’ in September. I really hope I am proved wrong on this. It would be sad if he had to be held back for a year. But the girls teachers confirmed at the parent teacher meeting earlier in the week that he must be confident using a toilet, plus he needs a basic grasp of things like queuing at lunch time and eating without spilling his food everywhere. At the moment it’s all still too much a struggle for him. He’s only truly happy when he is nestling on daddy’s lap. All day and every day if he had what he wanted. It’ll get better I’m sure – five months to go before September. Let’s wait and see.

Well today marks the first day of Spring. The Winter has finally come to an end and as I can see in the garden, life is reasserting itself. I am reminded of my first Holi (the Hindu festival of light), that I celebrated back in 2013 in Mumbai, just before the births of Amritsar and Tara. This year I was reminded of the Spring Equinox this morning by Raj, a friend from my time in Nepal. In return I am wishing he and all of his family a very ‘Happy Holi’.

Now not being in either India or Nepal, this years first day of Spring saw me spend some time in the garden, in awe of some of the budding shrubs, beginning to loosen their tight grip on the new life and growth within, pushing so hard to spring forth.

Last nights dinner was seafood once again. With the boiled potatoes left over from the children’s dinner, John and I enjoyed cod, salmon and shrimp with a very flavoursome lobster bisque, made with the shells of lobster, prawns and tomato purée that I had previously made and placed in the freezer.

Tonight’s dinner was somewhat more frugal. A simple bowl of Dal and 2 chapatti. Just me here tonight as John is visiting his mother Hazel in Dublin. She has not been feeling so well, so sending them both lots of love. It’s funny, when John is not here I either go for simple Indian ‘pur veg’ or a Cornish pasty! Both no no’s for Johns, a good Irish man, loving his ‘meat and two veg’. Though I do tell him that a pasty is just that, but he does not listen.

Everyone was happy here at home today. Caleb is now wearing pants in the afternoons and practicing his potty manoeuvres. Two pees and a poo! Good going Caleb. We also looked at photo prints that arrived today from ‘Snapfish’. You get to print 50 photos a month for free with the snapfish app and so far this year we have printed 150 pictures from my phone for free, just paying the postage. Rock on!

Off to bed soon, an early night. All is quiet upstairs, down here as well, the hounds are both snoozing. I love it when they are finally settled – the dogs that is. Well, come to think of it, everyone really. I am also worried a bit about Gracie coming into season. Given the hormonal intensity, Remus goes even crazier than his normal self, if that’s possible. But she is showing all the signs! Oh well, more tomorrow, though tomorrow’s full moon would mean that I am going to publish chapter one of ‘Eighteen Moons’ (my novel) on here. I hope you enjoy it… that’s all for now.

These little beauties, I picked from the bottom of the garden this morning. The largest morel came in at 14cm. Very large specimens that will prove themselves to being a gastronomic pleasure when it comes to the actual consumption. So, after a couple of hours in the dehydrator, these fungi, now dried, are residing in a Kilner jar at the bottom of the provisions cupboard.

Talking of the dehydrator, I have to add that recent weeks have given me time to concentrate on the production of candied fruits. My latest assertions are a long, long way from my earlier attempts, late last year. I am now producing world class confectionery using just pure fruit and sugar. Dadda’s Jams have truly extended the concept to include the most pure and elevated sweet treats on the planet.

I have just decided that ‘Dadda’s Jams’ will take a stall at the local village ‘Easter Egg Hunt’, so onwards and upwards!

Totally unrelated – but Caleb had a ‘Big Boy’ moment earlier and wore pants for the last hour or two before bedtime. When asked if he wanted to use the potty, he replied yes and progressed on to have a pee and a poo! Well done Caleb. Thor and Aaliyah have gone without an accident in months. The only way is UP…

What with no sickness on Sunday, it was a return to normal this morning. Though the only outstanding casualty it seems is the screen of the television. On Sunday evening we enjoyed a roast pork dinner before bath time and bed. Aaliyah, pictured below, looks as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. But I fear we will have to keep a close eye on her mischievous misguiding’s.

Moving on, there was a parent teacher meeting at school for the girls today, so we had a picnic in the kitchen at 4pm, waiting on daddy’s early return at 4.30pm before a trip to the school to meet the girls teachers and see this years work books. Overall we are very pleased with their progress, well obviously! One of the fellow mums asked if ‘Dadda’s Jams’ was up for a stall at the ‘Big Easter Egg Hunt’ at one of the local villages, I said perhaps, so I will have to get back to her in the next couple of days and make a commitment (or not)!

I spent part of the day candying melon and kiwi fruit for later confectionery assertions. I will fill you in on that at a later date. But all is quiet now, John has drifted off to sleep on the sofa after a dinner of Argentinian Red Shrimp Thermidor with French fries and fresh fruit salad for dessert, consisting of, you guessed it, fresh melon and kiwi fruit. We go to bed contented and happy the quarantine of these last few days is over and our lives have returned to normal.

Happy Days!

7.30am here and most sensible households are just waking up on this sunny Sunday morning. On the other hand, everyone here have been dressed or dressed themselves twice already in their new clothing purchased yesterday. Breakfast has been had (dry toast for Aaliyah), John has hoovered the living room floor and he has taken the bin / recycling up to the bin area and finally, Aaliyah’s bed has been stripped and remade, due to another outbreak of ‘The Tummy Bug’. The pile of stinky bedding awaits its turn in the already full washing machine. Caleb is yet again attached firmly to Daddy’s lap. He’s holding on tightly.

I have just been reminded that it is St Patrick’s Day! SO ‘HAPPY ST PATRICKS DAY’ TO EVERYONE.

The television is on and the sun is reflecting off of the screen. I am reminded of Aaliyah’s destructive behaviour of yesterday. The entire top third of the screen was scratched deeply with a blunt pencil. It’s almost unwatchable and the deeply set scratches are really off putting. Tara wants a new TV. Aaliyah had a very good talking to once she was ratted out by Thor. I pulled up a chair and had a really stern talking to her when she spent the 20 minutes on ‘The Thinking Chair’ yesterday just after the incident. She has done the same to the Aga fridge and the Aga label on the cooker itself was broken and snapped in half by her mischievous hands. She knows when she is being naughty and always says that she wants to be good, but there is never any true remorse, the cycle just repeats itself. Anyhow, 8.00am now and a full load of washing to put out. Lets hope there are no more gushes, only dry toast for Aaliyah today. She does look sorry for herself now, but that’s just the tummy bug. Updates to follow.

 

I woke up this morning with thoughts of Venice in the back of my mind. I felt compelled to look back at my camera roll and guess what? One year ago to this very day, John and I were hurtling over the lagoon in a water taxi, destination ‘The Hotel Danieli’ in Venice. The above Canaletto image sits on the wall in our living room. Well, at least a Fake, hand painted copy of the old master does. This image of the Doges Palace and St Marks Square, as seen from the lagoon, actually pre dates the building of the Danieli! The world famous hotel was built on the far right hand side, in the space occupied by the three smaller buildings, flanked by the two slightly larger warehouses. Today the two larger buildings are also part of the hotel. We were lucky enough to have a lagoon facing room in the larger building on the right (first floor). Yes, I can actually see the double windows where we enjoyed such an amazing view. Whenever I see our copy of this famous painting, I always remember our visit, immortalised in oil paint. You kind of feel personally connected with it. Anyhow, one year ago to the day, that is where we were. The 5* restaurant is located on the roof of the other larger building on the left of the hotel. There is an amazing outside terrace, though on our visit it was wet and cold I remember. We dined there one night – bloody hell it was expensive for what you got, over €300. But that is Venice, the food was good, not great and the prices were brinking on extortion. We did read a review that mentioned that you should not look at the prices. Just eat and enjoy, just pay the bill and not to worry until you got home about how over priced even the most basic restaurant food was. Breakfast was also served in the restaurant. I nicked a really cool ashtray from the terrace on our final morning, just after breakfast. It was freezing and on the cusp of snowing (I believe there were several inches of the white stuff back at home). The ashtray is used outside on our terrace now and that also connects me to that scene in the Canaletto painting. Yes, one year ago today…

The girls and I started the conversation about their surrogate a few weeks ago when we unveiled their baby pictures that were entombed within the old hard drive from my dead Sony Vaio laptop. It wasn’t until today at the dinner table that Rehanna was mentioned again. We promised ourselves that when the children were old enough to ask questions, we would be as honest as possible. Tonight we continued the conversation about babies and the tummies that they grow within. Yes, the girls are aware that it is only women that have the ability to grow babies in their tummies and that their two dads are most certainly not women. The conversation was light and enough was included to make no secret of the special way that the girls came to us. Rehanna was our surrogate in India and is certainly part of our story. The clinic who created our embryos using our ‘Dna’ and the anonymous egg donation, paid the surrogate about 35% of the overall fees, a significant and life changing amount, equivalent to several years wages in India. Today the girls got very inquisitive about their origins and brought up the name Rehanna. I was open and used the word ‘Surrogate’ to describe her participation. The girls are very aware that Daddy and Dadda planned to have children and that babies grow inside a woman’s tummy. It takes three elements to make a baby! Even if you are a regular couple, an egg, some fertiliser and a tummy. In the case of a boy girl couple, clearly the girl adds twice, but in our case, a third party initiated the element of the tummy. To be honest, I didn’t imaging having ‘The Conversation’ quite yet, but questions need answers and today we answered just a couple of those questions. I certainly don’t want any animosity or feelings that we had held back the truth to our children in later life. Thor and the younger twins surrogates were also mentioned by name, Ausa and Susheila. I thank all three of them from the bottom of my heart. I would also like to add that all three women already had children of their own. Our full uncensored story, ‘Eighteen Moons’ is available through Amazon Kindle.

P.s. I have mentioned that I will share the story of how we came to be through this diary. So, if you did not want to purchase the book in its entirety, I will be publishing a single chapter at andiwebb.net each month on the day of the full moon here in the U.K.

Post ‘projectile vomiting’ on Sunday, the week began with calm before a realisation. Thor’s being sick was not just down to his extreme gorging, rather a stomach bug that had been introduced into the delicate eco system that is our family home. Monday passed by with no symptoms, however Tuesday morning was quite a different affair indeed! Thor woke me at 5am saying that his bed was wet. I checked and all seemed fine. But I turned to see the entrance to the girls room and noticed Tara debunked to the floor. Thor returned to his slumber and I headed in to see what was concerning Tara. ‘Kit Koala is wet’ she informed me and then she ushered my hand to feel the bedsheet. It was slightly damp, so I offed the sheet in an instant to reveal a myriad of books and nicknacks beneath her duvet. The duvet was dry as was her pillow. I set her up a bed on the fluffy carpet and inquired as to her stash of bed clutter. She had nothing to say in her defence. A few mutterings but basically all were comfortable, though I didn’t check Caleb as all was silent in the semi darkness of the boys room.

Sindy arrived in at 7am and ascended the stairs. Twenty five minutes later she returned to the kitchen clutching Tara’s bedsheet plus all of Caleb’s bedding. ‘You should have seen it’ she remarked, ‘like third world war’ she added, ‘His bed was completely pebble dashed’ she concluded.

Day one of lockdown had begun…

At the breakfast table everyone enjoyed their cornflakes though Tara and Caleb were slower eaters than normal. It was first Tara to look to the floor and empty her stomach. In very quick succession Caleb followed suit. Both Sindy and I jumped to action and calmed the two before cleaning up and disinfecting the said areas. The others looked on in astonishment. That’s a day home from school I told them ‘me too, me too Dadda’ Thor piped up! ‘I don’t think so’ I added. The healthy three all went off to school with Sindy and we at home settled in with Netflix. Within half an hour Caleb had vomited on himself twice and the large cushion they sit on besides the television, thrice. Happy Days.

Day Two. So far today, all is well with the two in quarantine, signifying a return to school tomorrow. I am at present sat on a train on my way up to London to see a dental specialist regarding my tooth ache. I am showing no signs of the contagion. All will be back to normal tomorrow I am sure. Oh I almost forgot to add that Sindy had them all declutter their beds yesterday afternoon, so all is well on that front too. Happy Days indeed.

Sooner or later there had to be an entry with the word vomit in the title. And on this occasion, I refer to Thor. At the party yesterday, he ate and ate and ate. He came home and devoured his sweeties from his party bag and then he devoured a cheese and ham roll. There were chocolate cupcakes, but as they were all full (especially Thor), they all had a taster bite of one cupcake divided into five. Post bath time, Thor, sat on the chaise and looked blankly into space, his tooth brush was in has mouth, motionless. Within the blink of an eye, it had fallen to the floor and gush after gush of sick, oozed onto the dark oak flooring , splattering as it did so…

A mammoth washing day today what with the soiled towels and masses of children’s clothing. All put out to dry now and I am sat down at the kitchen table, awaiting their homecoming from their preschool trip.

Another breakage this morning. Caleb killed the Robot, Johns vacuume cleaning birthday present. He came in from the living room, clenching the robo vacuum cleaner tightly and then he decided to throw it onto the kitchen floor. Pieces of it scattered and he just looked at me with an almighty grin on his face. ‘Why did you do that’ I inquired, ‘Sorry’ was his shamefaced reply. His two favourite words are ‘Sorry’ and ‘Okay’. Thankful the robot was pieced back together, but believe me when I say, everything gets broken, sooner or later and with the not so famous five, sooner would be a more probable outcome.

What with the three little ones at a birthday party earlier, the girls and I made chocolate cupcakes this afternoon. It has been a tentative day in the wake of yesterday’s troubles. I think we’ve moved on, though Aaliyah on the other hand, has been a bit of a madam. I think the girls realise just how much they upset me yesterday. Amritsar has been the model citizen. Now back to chocolate cake. The girls did all the mixing and in payment enjoyed all of the ‘Stick Licks’. Bowl and spoons were fully pre washed before the dish washer did it’s magic. Amritsar, Aaliyah and Caleb have just followed me upstairs and the girls are now playing ‘Let’s get Caleb’ under the duvet in our bedroom. I might have to make today’s entry a little short as the shouting is getting rather loud. They have just left, the bed is a mess, but I managed to wrestle the Bubble liquid (party bag) from Caleb’s tiny hand just before he has an accident. Phew!