Derbydave

To add to our  glorious patchwork of family life, Father-In-Law has a heart condition and although he has just stopped smoking still suffers with his lungs.

I'd asked Gill if she wanted to go to a little Italian for dinner last night to celebrate our 11th anniversary. We've been together nearly 13 years and have always favoured small Italian restaurants. With our busy family life and Ashleys endless appointments it's important to find time (and a babysitter) to get out for these quiet times. It's too easy to forget the WE and US when you're Mum and Dad.

Swan Pub, Bury

interior of the Swan, Bury

11 years ago we got married.

We travelled up to Scotland on the 5th and stayed in separate rooms for the night.

The family and friends came up on the day. We had 3 bridesmaids and 3 page boys and Gill was stunning in her off the shoulder ivory dress. Her hair was in golden ringlets and the flowers were silk.

The “do” afterwards was a modest affair with a pink heart cake and a finger buffet.

The drinks flowed as we’d both had “fortifiers” before the service. The speeches were funny and the kids behaved.

Our bed was apple-pied and full of confetti and the morning came too soon.

We travelled back, almost getting sideswiped by a truck driver.

We had lots of preparation to do for the next chapter.

On the Saturday we had a church blessing in Oldham with Gill’s huge extended family and our mates from work. Afterwards we had a Reception in a x-snooker hall near the swimming baths.

I sang “Oh my love my darling” as we waltzed our first dance together - drinks and tears flowed.

After a farcical night in a town centre hotel (they lost our reservation) we dropped our pressies off at the house and grabbed our cases for a week in Paris.

I hauled Gill around the sites - up the Eiffel tower, to the Arc de Triomph, and the Sacre Cours Cathedral. Gill was delighted with the price of fags and eventually went into shops without the need for my stilted French.

Finally, we got home as Mr and Mrs Wood.

As I stepped into the dining room with a cup of tea I breathed the drink in and nearly choked to death. Gill though she’d lost me.

11 years later, 4 kids, 2 jobs and 3 houses on, we are happy and contented with where we are. Ashley is a challenge and the girls are growing fast. Cerys is a delight.

Wonder what the next 11 will hold.........

I'm off work this week and so had the privilege of taking my son into school this morning. He has a large pram/wheelchair which, with him in it, is hard to miss.

In my arms I held my precious baby
Quietly sleeping, soft and freshly bathed.
Her dummy slips from her pinkish lips
As eyes flicker into baby dreams.

In my arms I held my growing boy
Now pushing boldly into his first stand.
Joy is shared by us as our eyes meet
Celebrating this latest of victories

In my arms I held my beautiful girls
Both excelling at school and developing
Into Future Woman, bold and strong and wise
Each to rule their families with love and wit

In my arms I hold my beloved, my heart.
She reflects all I say and do with plain speech
and a quiet and simple wisdom which clears away
the everyday fog of my tangled thoughts.

The business of Christmas preparations is filling the house with lists and conversations. Plans and hiding places and fresh considerations abound as we tailor a Christmas to welcome our 4th daughter. 

Funny how things come in fits and starts.

Rays of Sunshine has granted us £500 for Sensory Equipment for Ashley's new room. We are, needless to say, chuffed.

With Ashley now going into large nappies (Huggies 6 are rather too tight), we are looking further afield to keep the Big Man snug and dry.

Ashley's getting too big for your standard size 6 nappy so we are having to source the small adult sizes for him now. The Tena website has Tena prices so we've rummaged through eBay to find some bargains. Last night we agreed to pick some up so after Brownies, everyone jolly and singing silly songs we set off. Little did we know what the evening would hold for us as we left the M61 and passed the "Entre ye who dare, for few return" sign on the A577.  

As a single banjo played we drove into the one way system at Atherton. Terraced houses leaned in as we puttered down endless winding streets devoid of gardens and patrolled by hairless youths on bikes, dressed in uniform black tracksuits (the boys,not the bikes). Street signs were scant and misleading and yokels loitered outside pubs to laugh at the Outsiders as we circled the town squinting over the steering wheel. 

Eventually we found the old woman's house, hidden in a backstreet devoid of street lights. Her stairs were lined with huge jars of pickles and every room was bulging with goods for sale. Hubby sat silently watching TV surrounded by parcels ready for posting. Our nappies were in a banana box which I scooped up and put in the car while Gill paid the old dear. As I sat in the car I imagined locals, deformed from centuries of inbreeding crawling and slithering towards the car as we waited for our blessed release. 

Eventually Gill staggered from the house with coathangers of Football Shirts (only £2 and with original holograms). We made for the border, again passing the same pub with the same yokels and headed for the safety of the M61. 

Promise me this, good friend. If I talk about going to Atherton and Leigh again, steel up quietly behind me and slap me hard on the back of my head. 

Never, ever, again.