From the NY Times -

Glad to know its just an artists impression, otherwise, there was me thinking...

My eldest son: Starting university this year. Changed football clubs and started preseason training - appears to be enjoying it a lot more than he has in the past. Took up surfing. Taking a young fella under his wing (son of neighbours and friends) and teaching him mountain biking. 

He's turning into a nice young man and seems a lot happier these days. 

Youngest son: out of nowhere suddenly has a girlfriend who now goes everywhere with him. From a game-obsessed indoors-mostly kid, to a quite active socially-engaged teen. Still enjoying mountain biking with his dad and brother. 

This makes me smile. A lot. 

Handsomedan:

 

My eldest son: Starting university this year. Changed football clubs and started preseason training - appears to be enjoying it a lot more than he has in the past. Took up surfing. Taking a young fella under his wing (son of neighbours and friends) and teaching him mountain biking. 

 

He's turning into a nice young man and seems a lot happier these days. 

 

Youngest son: out of nowhere suddenly has a girlfriend who now goes everywhere with him. From a game-obsessed indoors-mostly kid, to a quite active socially-engaged teen. Still enjoying mountain biking with his dad and brother. 

 

 

 

This makes me smile. A lot. 

 

You made babies into functioning people - mission accomplished. You deserve congratulations. And probably a lie down :-)

Handsomedan:

 

My eldest son: Starting university this year. Changed football clubs and started preseason training - appears to be enjoying it a lot more than he has in the past. Took up surfing. Taking a young fella under his wing (son of neighbours and friends) and teaching him mountain biking. 

 

He's turning into a nice young man and seems a lot happier these days. 

 

Youngest son: out of nowhere suddenly has a girlfriend who now goes everywhere with him. From a game-obsessed indoors-mostly kid, to a quite active socially-engaged teen. Still enjoying mountain biking with his dad and brother. 

 

This makes me smile. A lot. 

 

Watching them flourish from teens into adults is great, if at times terrifying. Such a short time, but so many potentially life-changing decisions. You may not agree with them all, but you need to let them learn to make their own decisions, for better or for worse.

Strap in and enjoy the ride, and before you know it you'll have adult kids who are... adults, and don't need guidance as much. It's very satisfying.

Gurezaemon:

 

Handsomedan:

 

My eldest son: Starting university this year. Changed football clubs and started preseason training - appears to be enjoying it a lot more than he has in the past. Took up surfing. Taking a young fella under his wing (son of neighbours and friends) and teaching him mountain biking. 

 

He's turning into a nice young man and seems a lot happier these days. 

 

Youngest son: out of nowhere suddenly has a girlfriend who now goes everywhere with him. From a game-obsessed indoors-mostly kid, to a quite active socially-engaged teen. Still enjoying mountain biking with his dad and brother. 

 

This makes me smile. A lot. 

 

 

Watching them flourish from teens into adults is great, if at times terrifying. Such a short time, but so many potentially life-changing decisions. You may not agree with them all, but you need to let them learn to make their own decisions, for better or for worse.

 

Strap in and enjoy the ride, and before you know it you'll have adult kids who are... adults, and don't need guidance as much. It's very satisfying.

 

I think the good thing is, my wife and I got together very young, experienced "a lot of life" and were given a lot of rope as teens, so we view most things with a "well, it would be pretty hypocritical to tell them no", attitude. 

Within reason, we allow them to make their mistakes, own them and learn from them. It can be quite stressful, but they've turned out OK. We're pretty proud of the way they have matured - especially over the last couple of years. 

Had a bit of an interesting wake up this morning at 4.30am! Dog where I'm staying (dog sitting) wanted off for toilet. That was all fine.

We have an elderly guy living next door who had a stroke few years back. I hear strange noises coming from next door. Sounded a bit like he had fallen over or something like that. I'm now wide awake and keep hearing noises. Words that do not make sense.

I'm back in bed debating what should I do! That ad on TV about checking on your neighbors flashed back at me (Joan).

So called 111 and local st johns guys arrived pretty quickly.

In the end, he was all fine, and I did feel like I had wasted their time, but medic said I had done the absolute right thing. I think if you think something is wrong, you should make that call or knock on the door.

But what made me smile at the time was the shirt he was wearing when he came to the door, repeated three times, I'm so tired...

And the other thing that was interesting at 4.30am. Over the way. Someone in the red dressing gown were watering their garden with a water can!!!

Meeting Paul Coll after watching him play one of the best matches of his professional career, at Grand Central Station!

Meeting Joelle King last night after watching her play really well at the same place. 

There were moments last year I wondered if I would ever smile again.

Replacing my Emergency Kit supplies, and giving the last year's cans etc (Plus extra - even included a few treats) to a rural Church (Sister in-law's) to distribute to their needy.

(At least they know the locals who need it! - and they were very grateful!)

(Used to donate to local "major" charities but the response each year was worse - as I wasn't a "Corporate Sponsor" or giving money!)

Handle9: Laser levels. Just the business for hanging stuff on the wall

I do enjoy things being level. Makes me feel calm. 

Handsomedan:

Handle9: Laser levels. Just the business for hanging stuff on the wall

 

I do enjoy things being level. Makes me feel calm. 

You monster