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I got another lie in and then took the dog for a walk and cleared some stones. I podcasted it for you, so you wouldn’t miss out. As you will hear I could barely walk round a field for 40 minutes without being pestered by fans, but I guess this is the price of fame.
More annoyingly most people pretended that they weren’t fans and had no idea who I was and didn’t go on about all my TV appearances. As much as I loathe being recognised and having to acknowledge all the amazing stuff I’ve done, I think the people who just treat me like I am a normal old man just walking a dog round a field (and occasionally stooping to pick something up) are sadder. Come on guys. Be true to your hearts.
Incidentally a bonus audio Christmas Eve stone clear is up in the members’ secret area at http://rhlstp.co.uk. There’s loads more extra stuff in there including interviews, taskmaster watchalong, 30 mins bonus material from RHLSTP 300, stand up shows, recipe for Bella’s pudding + much more. Plus membership card/badges/advance notice of live guests plus a monthly draw with cool and ebayable prizes. The end of year draw is always the biggest with very cool prizes. Plus 9 runners up this year get Pooman card game. Join now from
£3 a month
I got the kids out of the house this afternoon and took them to get the car washed and then to a local park to scoot round the lake. I was aware that it was pointless getting the car cleaned first, as it was going to get dirty on the drive, but I was really just trying to pass the time and feared that the car wash place would be closed on our return. Most of parenting is just trying to pass time to bedtime. I was glad that there was a mini queue at the car wash place and that the car in front wanted the elite service. I had to cope with the kids climbing around in the car, but time was passing and we were edging ever closer to a time when they were asleep. It’s not about educating or stimulating the kids. It’s just about getting to the next island of rest.
The whole trip to the park was the same. Scooting around a lake in the cold is good for nothing. Hold on, did my parents just do stuff with us to try and make time speed up a bit too? No. No. They only cared about our development.
Even though we got there at about 3pm, with the sun on its way down, the park was more packed than I think I’ve ever seen it. I kept my mask on and kept out of the way and obviously am in no position to be critical because I was there too.
Perhaps like us this was everyone’s first time out in two weeks, but the hospital stats seem to suggest not. I think we kept our distance. But who knows?
Ernie said hello to everyone and was confused when some people didn’t say hello back. Would it be a better world if everyone said hello to everyone? Maybe not as long as we have Covid. But his confusion as to why everyone wasn’t as filled with love for humanity as him was clear. Oh Ernie, I am sorry about the world, but you will join us in indifference soon.
Ernie hasn't slept in his cot for many months now, but it's been in his room all this time. Today we finally got round to putting it in the spare bedroom in the attic, potentially to be used by anyone visiting with a baby (might that one day be our own kids? What a terrible thought). It was another poignant moment of change, even if the cot has been nothing but a toy container for most of the year. We've moved on from nappies and cots this year and barring some kind of horrific and terrible accident we won't have to go through those things again (until our kids have kids or I become incontinent). Only time to mark it with a sigh, but a landmark none the less. I just know that I will look back and wish I had drunk in every second, rather than trying to rush every moment on. But when I wish that I will not be remembering how tough it all was.
