Tim Atkinson's Blog, page 52
September 6, 2014
World Beard Day
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, it is, it really is. Today is the day dedicated to the (largely) male phenomenon that is facial hair. Not just of the top lip variety, either. No. This is the full monty, in all its hirsute variety. Today is World Beard Day.
I confess I didn't realise it, either. It's not received much coverage in the press or on the telly. In fact, the only reference I could find was on a certain local radio station and even then, I wasn't listening. (I saw it - re-tweeted - on my time line.)
So I thought I'd fill the void, plug the gap and cover that smooth chin. My own (chin, that is) has been covered more or less (less since the advent of the beard trimmer) for many a long year and although it comes off periodically (my beard, that is) it always sprouts anew, often by personal request. (Yes, dear reader, my bare face is that bad!)
Mind you, it's not for the want of trying or temptation. Shaver manufacturers in particular keep dangling their wares before my eyes and - since the styling of my own growth as 'goatee' - there has been a need to keep the cheeks (facial) smooth.
But as a confirmed wet shaver (and I mean wet - I only ever shave in the shower) my interest in electric facial depilatory products has been minimal, to say the least. So when I was asked to test-shave the Braun WaterFlex just recently I was intrigued, and happy to oblige.
The Braun WaterFlex is specifically designed to... (just let me get the blurb)
"...inspire men to unlock a whole new world of shaving, and to feel the unbeatably smooth skin feeling of a shave with water, foam or gel. Specially designed for use with water, foam or gel, WaterFlex transforms electric shaving into gliding, leaving men’s skin feeling perfectly refreshed."
So does it? You'd have to ask my wife. Unbeatably smooth skin is her department.
But as a man, limited beard wearer and only occasional shaver (once every couple of days, usually) I can at least confirm that the Braun WaterFlex does the job, does it well, is comfortable, doesn't slip like a bar of soap in the shower (it has a specially-designed non-slip grip) nor electrocute the user (it has a clever filter keeping water from the business end of the shaver) and generally does the job painlessly.
Oh, and it recharges quickly (just over an hour) too.
If I didn't have a beard I'd use it on my chin!
I confess I didn't realise it, either. It's not received much coverage in the press or on the telly. In fact, the only reference I could find was on a certain local radio station and even then, I wasn't listening. (I saw it - re-tweeted - on my time line.)
So I thought I'd fill the void, plug the gap and cover that smooth chin. My own (chin, that is) has been covered more or less (less since the advent of the beard trimmer) for many a long year and although it comes off periodically (my beard, that is) it always sprouts anew, often by personal request. (Yes, dear reader, my bare face is that bad!)
Mind you, it's not for the want of trying or temptation. Shaver manufacturers in particular keep dangling their wares before my eyes and - since the styling of my own growth as 'goatee' - there has been a need to keep the cheeks (facial) smooth.
But as a confirmed wet shaver (and I mean wet - I only ever shave in the shower) my interest in electric facial depilatory products has been minimal, to say the least. So when I was asked to test-shave the Braun WaterFlex just recently I was intrigued, and happy to oblige.
The Braun WaterFlex is specifically designed to... (just let me get the blurb)
"...inspire men to unlock a whole new world of shaving, and to feel the unbeatably smooth skin feeling of a shave with water, foam or gel. Specially designed for use with water, foam or gel, WaterFlex transforms electric shaving into gliding, leaving men’s skin feeling perfectly refreshed."
So does it? You'd have to ask my wife. Unbeatably smooth skin is her department.
But as a man, limited beard wearer and only occasional shaver (once every couple of days, usually) I can at least confirm that the Braun WaterFlex does the job, does it well, is comfortable, doesn't slip like a bar of soap in the shower (it has a specially-designed non-slip grip) nor electrocute the user (it has a clever filter keeping water from the business end of the shaver) and generally does the job painlessly.
Oh, and it recharges quickly (just over an hour) too.
If I didn't have a beard I'd use it on my chin!
September 3, 2014
Back to school
... and guess who (for the first time in over six weeks) slept in?
Not me. Not Charlie, either. But his little sister decided that today was the day to snuggle down and stay in bed.
All of which meant the first day - always the best prepared in advance (clean clothes laid out, bags ready by the door and - in my case - bike checked, tyres pumped and trailer attached) didn't quite go as smoothly as it might otherwise have done.
Neither was the journey without incident, thanks to a dodgy pedal. Thankfully, that's now fixed and in time for the school run this afternoon so, once again, it's all systems go for our cycle to school.
We do our best. But, according to cycle charity Sustrans, fewer children are walking or cycling to school than ever before. And I can see why. (Want to see the helmet-cam of my daily commute? Take a look at this... and it ain't pretty!)
When asked, many parents cite safety (rather than, say, the weather or their appearance) as the main reason why they drive rather than walk or cycle on the school run with their children.
It's always seemed pretty cock-eyed to me to take any form of exercise for exercise's sake - more especially if you have to pay for it as well. (Why join a gym when you can bike to work?) But we're all aware of the need, collectively, to get moving as a nation. And that includes our children.
Which is why we need action - action to make our roads, and therefore, the school run, safer. Every child has a right to walk, cycle or scoot to school and enjoy their journey. We want to see a safer school run, and Sustrans has today launched the first of three short films to highlight this issue. Because, after all, there's no adventure without a journey. And it's what lies in-between that makes the getting there exciting...
If you'd like to get involved with the campaign visit www.sustrans.org.uk/safetoschool
Not me. Not Charlie, either. But his little sister decided that today was the day to snuggle down and stay in bed.
All of which meant the first day - always the best prepared in advance (clean clothes laid out, bags ready by the door and - in my case - bike checked, tyres pumped and trailer attached) didn't quite go as smoothly as it might otherwise have done.
Neither was the journey without incident, thanks to a dodgy pedal. Thankfully, that's now fixed and in time for the school run this afternoon so, once again, it's all systems go for our cycle to school.
We do our best. But, according to cycle charity Sustrans, fewer children are walking or cycling to school than ever before. And I can see why. (Want to see the helmet-cam of my daily commute? Take a look at this... and it ain't pretty!)
When asked, many parents cite safety (rather than, say, the weather or their appearance) as the main reason why they drive rather than walk or cycle on the school run with their children.
It's always seemed pretty cock-eyed to me to take any form of exercise for exercise's sake - more especially if you have to pay for it as well. (Why join a gym when you can bike to work?) But we're all aware of the need, collectively, to get moving as a nation. And that includes our children.
Which is why we need action - action to make our roads, and therefore, the school run, safer. Every child has a right to walk, cycle or scoot to school and enjoy their journey. We want to see a safer school run, and Sustrans has today launched the first of three short films to highlight this issue. Because, after all, there's no adventure without a journey. And it's what lies in-between that makes the getting there exciting...
If you'd like to get involved with the campaign visit www.sustrans.org.uk/safetoschool
August 29, 2014
Innocent Alphabet Challenge C is for...
Like to take part in our new alphabet challenge, they said?
How about the letter 'C' they told me?
Oh, and if you could somehow link it 'back-to-school' in someway, that'd be great.
And we'd like you to post on the 29th August if you could...
I'm always up for a challenge and accepted this one in the same spirit. We've had fun with these Innocent alphabet magnets before (and you can too - they're giving away the latest set of magnets with Innocent smoothies and there's more! Collect the barcodes from the packs and you can send off for your name in magnets if you like...)
So, to the challenge. Charlie began well enough...
His spelling sometimes went awry...
But that's easily corrected...
The real problem, though, was weaving in the 'back-to-school' idea. C... c... (school) clothes? (School) canteen? (School) cane? (Actually they don't have them any more, do they?)
Then, with Charlie's next choice (my grandad's old railway cap) inspiration struck...
'Charlie,' I said. Run upstairs will you please? There's another cap we could use, isn't there? Oh yes, he said, and laughed. It's a bit battered these days, of course. But this, dear reader, is what the well-dressed primary (state primary!) school pupil was wearing severalyearsnottoomanysayitquicky years ago in Hull. Ladies and gentleman, if the cap fits...
Of even if it doesn't!
How about the letter 'C' they told me?
Oh, and if you could somehow link it 'back-to-school' in someway, that'd be great.
And we'd like you to post on the 29th August if you could...
I'm always up for a challenge and accepted this one in the same spirit. We've had fun with these Innocent alphabet magnets before (and you can too - they're giving away the latest set of magnets with Innocent smoothies and there's more! Collect the barcodes from the packs and you can send off for your name in magnets if you like...)
So, to the challenge. Charlie began well enough...
His spelling sometimes went awry...
But that's easily corrected...
The real problem, though, was weaving in the 'back-to-school' idea. C... c... (school) clothes? (School) canteen? (School) cane? (Actually they don't have them any more, do they?)
Then, with Charlie's next choice (my grandad's old railway cap) inspiration struck...
'Charlie,' I said. Run upstairs will you please? There's another cap we could use, isn't there? Oh yes, he said, and laughed. It's a bit battered these days, of course. But this, dear reader, is what the well-dressed primary (state primary!) school pupil was wearing severalyearsnottoomanysayitquicky years ago in Hull. Ladies and gentleman, if the cap fits...
Of even if it doesn't!
August 28, 2014
Tesco Fuel Save review
Fuel costs are the big killer as far as holidays and days out in the summer are concerned. Even with a relatively economical car and a modest journey, the cost of getting there can mean you have less to spend when you arrive. So Tesco's latest Fuel Save offer has got to be good value. It's simple, too.
Do your shopping in Tesco, scan your Clubcard and - for every £50 spent you'll get a total of 2 pence per litre off your next fuel purchase. Spent £100 and get 4p a litre discount! Not quite made the magic total? Don't worry, just keep shopping and keep scanning and it'll add your savings to the total.
Then all you need to do is scan your club card at the pump:
...and decide where you want to go!
We decided to take a trip to Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, a lovely National Trust property (seat of the Massingberd family) where - in addition to enjoying the quite wonderful house and grounds...
... you can play croquet on the lawn:
... as well as Jenga:
And all cheaper than it might otherwise have been thanks to Tesco Fuel Save!
Do your shopping in Tesco, scan your Clubcard and - for every £50 spent you'll get a total of 2 pence per litre off your next fuel purchase. Spent £100 and get 4p a litre discount! Not quite made the magic total? Don't worry, just keep shopping and keep scanning and it'll add your savings to the total.
Then all you need to do is scan your club card at the pump:
...and decide where you want to go!
We decided to take a trip to Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, a lovely National Trust property (seat of the Massingberd family) where - in addition to enjoying the quite wonderful house and grounds...
... you can play croquet on the lawn:
... as well as Jenga:
And all cheaper than it might otherwise have been thanks to Tesco Fuel Save!
August 27, 2014
Supersize Schools need not be a Bad Thing
I was asked to comment on this Netmums/LGA survey for BBC Breakfast yesterday. 'As a parent and a former teacher,' they said, 'do you think larger schools and bigger classes are a bad thing?'
I probably surprised them by saying 'no'. (That's probably why my views didn't make the 'cut' and I wasn't invited over to Media City to share them, which would have been fun, but no matter.) Because, with both hats, (teacher, parent) the expected answer must surely be 'yes'. Small is beautiful. Isn't that the appeal of private schools?
Well, perhaps. Small can be extremely beautiful. But big can be good, too. Large schools enjoy huge economies of scale that enable them to stand head-and-shoulders above their rivals in terms of equipment and resources. Believe me, I know.
But isn't all that sacrificed by the lack of personal care? By the frightening and impersonal scale of a large school and the fact that its staff can't possibly get to know the children individually.
Maybe. But not necessarily. My son goes to what is (and always has been) an uncharacteristically large primary school, certainly for this relatively rural area. There are in excess of six hundred pupils. Yet not only does the Headteacher seem to know each one of them by name, he seems to remember their names years later. (My eldest daughter left the school six years ago and she's not alone in being flattered and surprised by this wonderfully personal feat of memory!)
A large school needn't be a bad thing. A big class needn't be a hindrance to your child's progress. It all depends, quite obviously, on the teacher, on the school and - especially - on its leadership.
Which means, of course, that the opposite is true. Small can be anything but beautiful, and tiny schools with duff staff and poor leadership can struggle for years in spite of everything Ofsted likes to think.
Basically, a bad school is a bad school, whatever it's size. And the advantages that larger schools have access to ought not to be ignored. There are dangers, sure. But good leadership and management can reduce if not eliminate them while at the same time taking advantage of a host of benefits denied - by dint of size - to the smaller school.
My son's primary school is, quite simply, one of the best equipped schools I've ever seen either in the state or in the private sector. Not all of its success is down to its size, of course. Appointing a fully-qualified builder as caretaker some years ago was a masterstroke that must have saved thousands of pounds in building costs as well as allowing construction projects that would never get beyond the in-tray of the LEA to be completed to the highest standard and in quick time.
Unfortunately, good leaders - of the kind who can bring success to such large schools - are a rare breed.
Perhaps the question ought not to be 'are big schools bad?' but 'how can we make sure big is beautiful?'
I probably surprised them by saying 'no'. (That's probably why my views didn't make the 'cut' and I wasn't invited over to Media City to share them, which would have been fun, but no matter.) Because, with both hats, (teacher, parent) the expected answer must surely be 'yes'. Small is beautiful. Isn't that the appeal of private schools?
Well, perhaps. Small can be extremely beautiful. But big can be good, too. Large schools enjoy huge economies of scale that enable them to stand head-and-shoulders above their rivals in terms of equipment and resources. Believe me, I know.
But isn't all that sacrificed by the lack of personal care? By the frightening and impersonal scale of a large school and the fact that its staff can't possibly get to know the children individually.
Maybe. But not necessarily. My son goes to what is (and always has been) an uncharacteristically large primary school, certainly for this relatively rural area. There are in excess of six hundred pupils. Yet not only does the Headteacher seem to know each one of them by name, he seems to remember their names years later. (My eldest daughter left the school six years ago and she's not alone in being flattered and surprised by this wonderfully personal feat of memory!)
A large school needn't be a bad thing. A big class needn't be a hindrance to your child's progress. It all depends, quite obviously, on the teacher, on the school and - especially - on its leadership.
Which means, of course, that the opposite is true. Small can be anything but beautiful, and tiny schools with duff staff and poor leadership can struggle for years in spite of everything Ofsted likes to think.
Basically, a bad school is a bad school, whatever it's size. And the advantages that larger schools have access to ought not to be ignored. There are dangers, sure. But good leadership and management can reduce if not eliminate them while at the same time taking advantage of a host of benefits denied - by dint of size - to the smaller school.
My son's primary school is, quite simply, one of the best equipped schools I've ever seen either in the state or in the private sector. Not all of its success is down to its size, of course. Appointing a fully-qualified builder as caretaker some years ago was a masterstroke that must have saved thousands of pounds in building costs as well as allowing construction projects that would never get beyond the in-tray of the LEA to be completed to the highest standard and in quick time.
Unfortunately, good leaders - of the kind who can bring success to such large schools - are a rare breed.
Perhaps the question ought not to be 'are big schools bad?' but 'how can we make sure big is beautiful?'
August 23, 2014
Leap Frog Leap Band review
Couch Potato Kids...
We're all aware of them. Worried about the problem. Concerned about the welfare of the next generation.
But can you blame them?
I mean, when I was their age I played out, climbed trees, kicked balls, lit fires, scrumped apples, annoyed elderly neighbours and the like because, well, that's what we did. There wasn't much else to do.
But faced with the awesome entertainment opportunities today's children have, is there any wonder they find a comfortable place on the sofa exercising only their thumbs or index finger (according to device and/or game)?
Not really.
So what's needed, obviously, is an interactive electronic gadget with all the entertainment bells and whistles of the games console or tablet, but which demands that kids get up off the sofa and, well, move. And earn points moving. And learn why moving is important. And learn why a good diet is essential.
Enter the Leap Frog Leap Band, as opened this morning by Charlie and as operated by his little sister. Here's how they got on....
We're all aware of them. Worried about the problem. Concerned about the welfare of the next generation.
But can you blame them?
I mean, when I was their age I played out, climbed trees, kicked balls, lit fires, scrumped apples, annoyed elderly neighbours and the like because, well, that's what we did. There wasn't much else to do.
But faced with the awesome entertainment opportunities today's children have, is there any wonder they find a comfortable place on the sofa exercising only their thumbs or index finger (according to device and/or game)?
Not really.
So what's needed, obviously, is an interactive electronic gadget with all the entertainment bells and whistles of the games console or tablet, but which demands that kids get up off the sofa and, well, move. And earn points moving. And learn why moving is important. And learn why a good diet is essential.
Enter the Leap Frog Leap Band, as opened this morning by Charlie and as operated by his little sister. Here's how they got on....
August 17, 2014
Lollibop 2014
... was nothing if not popular. I've no idea how many people attended on Saturday (yesterday) but the queue of cars to enter the venue was so long that - rather than sit in the car for what looked like an hour - we turned back and caught the train. Hatfield House is only a few minutes walk from the railway station.
... was nothing if not better. Bigger, better and bolder than last year. The venue helped, of course. Not that the Olympic Park (last year's venue) was duff, but the rolling acres of Hatlfield House proved perfect to accommodate both the hoards of visitors and the huge variety of attractions. The woods even provided the perfect location for a Bear Grylls combat course, which Charlie loved. (At this point, dear reader, I would have liked to have shown you a lovely picture of Charlie emerging triumphant from the tunnel netting. Unfortunately uber-dad - whose kids were clearly not doing it right - kept making his brood go back for another, better, go and got in the way of my photo. Sorry.)
... was again in thrall to the talent, energy and ability of Justin Fletcher. Mr Bloom was there too and - for the uninitiated - compere Alex Winters helpfully suggested that his popularity (he had caused a near-stampede at the big top earlier and was transferred to the main stage on Saturday afternoon) was down to his mum-appeal. But Justin reigned supreme as usual.
... had something for everyone this year. Although, unfortunately, I didn't get chance to try the adult crèche. There was just too much for the kids to do.
Honestly, anyone would think Lollibop was just for them!
... was nothing if not better. Bigger, better and bolder than last year. The venue helped, of course. Not that the Olympic Park (last year's venue) was duff, but the rolling acres of Hatlfield House proved perfect to accommodate both the hoards of visitors and the huge variety of attractions. The woods even provided the perfect location for a Bear Grylls combat course, which Charlie loved. (At this point, dear reader, I would have liked to have shown you a lovely picture of Charlie emerging triumphant from the tunnel netting. Unfortunately uber-dad - whose kids were clearly not doing it right - kept making his brood go back for another, better, go and got in the way of my photo. Sorry.)
... was again in thrall to the talent, energy and ability of Justin Fletcher. Mr Bloom was there too and - for the uninitiated - compere Alex Winters helpfully suggested that his popularity (he had caused a near-stampede at the big top earlier and was transferred to the main stage on Saturday afternoon) was down to his mum-appeal. But Justin reigned supreme as usual.
... had something for everyone this year. Although, unfortunately, I didn't get chance to try the adult crèche. There was just too much for the kids to do.
Honestly, anyone would think Lollibop was just for them!
August 14, 2014
The Rise of the Daddydays
FATHERS TWICE AS LIKELY TO TAKE TIME OFF WORK OVER THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS THAN A GENERATION AGO, screams the headline of a press release from Sainsbury's I've jujsst been sent. It goes on to say that,
This year’s summer holidays are being dubbed the ‘Daddydays’ by Brits, apparently. Research by Sainsbury’s shows that today’s children are twice as likely to be looked after by their dads over the summer holidays compared to children of the sixties. And baking beats football as the top activity dads are most likely to entertain their kids with during the summer.
Who'd have thought it?
Mind you, us dads have been in the news again this week. Even our local MP announced he's stepping down in order to 'spend more time with his family'. And I don't think that's a euphemism.
But I digress. This survey - of 2,000 parents - reveals that almost half of dads (42%) now take equal responsibility for childcare over the summer holidays compared to just 23% when they were young. And the list of things dads do to keep the kids amused contrasts to their own childhood experience too: the dads questioned placed football (26%) top of the list of their own childhood holiday activities closely followed by visiting their grandparents’ house (24%).
No mention anywhere of cricket, I see. Or tree climbing. (I particularly remember getting stuck doing the latter and a friend having to fetch my dad who had to talk me down, branch by branch until I reached terra firma. Still, clearly dad was there and we were bonding. Sort of. Because the article goes on to say that,
Half of British dads think that summer is a time when they really get to bond with the kids over any other time of year (48%) so they focus on entertaining activities (58%) over educational ones (24%). Kids love spending time with dad too – two thirds of them think dad lets them get away with things that mum doesn’t.
The top ten activities dads are likely to do to entertain their children this summer are:
1) Cook and bake with the kids (34%)
2) Play football (31%)
3) Visit the grandparents’ house (30%)
4) Go for a bike ride (27%)
5) Have a picnic (24%)
6) Play with water pistols (22%)
7) Have a family barbecue (22%)
8) Play with loom bands (22%)
9) Spend the day at the nearest beach (21%)
10) Colouring (20%)
The top ten activities dads remember doing with their parents over the summer holidays when they were a child are:
1) Play football (26%)
2) Visit the grandparents’ house (24%)
3) Cook and bake with the kids (23%)
4) Go for a bike ride (22%)
5) Play with water pistols (17%)
6) Arts and crafts (17%)
7) Have a picnic (16%)
8) Play street games (15%)
9) Go to the cinema (14%)
10) Spend the day at the nearest beach (13%)
Interesting, isn't it?
Personally, as I've said, cricket on a nearby field with friends was the thing I remember doing most often in those long, hot summer holidays. Dad played too, if he was able. The field was rather rough and grazed by cows, as I remember.
Which led to rather an unfortunate incident involving a cricket ball and a freshly laid cow-pat.
My dad was batting at the time.
But that was the end of the game.
Poo-stopped-play.
Ah, happy days!
This year’s summer holidays are being dubbed the ‘Daddydays’ by Brits, apparently. Research by Sainsbury’s shows that today’s children are twice as likely to be looked after by their dads over the summer holidays compared to children of the sixties. And baking beats football as the top activity dads are most likely to entertain their kids with during the summer.
Who'd have thought it?
Mind you, us dads have been in the news again this week. Even our local MP announced he's stepping down in order to 'spend more time with his family'. And I don't think that's a euphemism.
But I digress. This survey - of 2,000 parents - reveals that almost half of dads (42%) now take equal responsibility for childcare over the summer holidays compared to just 23% when they were young. And the list of things dads do to keep the kids amused contrasts to their own childhood experience too: the dads questioned placed football (26%) top of the list of their own childhood holiday activities closely followed by visiting their grandparents’ house (24%).
No mention anywhere of cricket, I see. Or tree climbing. (I particularly remember getting stuck doing the latter and a friend having to fetch my dad who had to talk me down, branch by branch until I reached terra firma. Still, clearly dad was there and we were bonding. Sort of. Because the article goes on to say that,
Half of British dads think that summer is a time when they really get to bond with the kids over any other time of year (48%) so they focus on entertaining activities (58%) over educational ones (24%). Kids love spending time with dad too – two thirds of them think dad lets them get away with things that mum doesn’t.
The top ten activities dads are likely to do to entertain their children this summer are:
1) Cook and bake with the kids (34%)
2) Play football (31%)
3) Visit the grandparents’ house (30%)
4) Go for a bike ride (27%)
5) Have a picnic (24%)
6) Play with water pistols (22%)
7) Have a family barbecue (22%)
8) Play with loom bands (22%)
9) Spend the day at the nearest beach (21%)
10) Colouring (20%)
The top ten activities dads remember doing with their parents over the summer holidays when they were a child are:
1) Play football (26%)
2) Visit the grandparents’ house (24%)
3) Cook and bake with the kids (23%)
4) Go for a bike ride (22%)
5) Play with water pistols (17%)
6) Arts and crafts (17%)
7) Have a picnic (16%)
8) Play street games (15%)
9) Go to the cinema (14%)
10) Spend the day at the nearest beach (13%)
Interesting, isn't it?
Personally, as I've said, cricket on a nearby field with friends was the thing I remember doing most often in those long, hot summer holidays. Dad played too, if he was able. The field was rather rough and grazed by cows, as I remember.
Which led to rather an unfortunate incident involving a cricket ball and a freshly laid cow-pat.
My dad was batting at the time.
But that was the end of the game.
Poo-stopped-play.
Ah, happy days!
August 10, 2014
A Father's Manifesto
Did you know Chapman Pincher died last week? Do you know who Chapman Pincher was?
It doesn't matter either way. His death (at age 100) is no great tragedy, more a cause for celebration (long life, good health, wealth and several of life's other pleasures).
Yet tragedy there is.
In the broadcast obituary his son was interviewed. He said that his famous father had 'no time' for him as a child once his career had blossomed, that he had a short temper and that - had Pincher senior not lived to be 100 - his father might have been a stranger to him. Or, in his son's words, 'Had my father not lived as long I wouldn't be here now saying nice things about him.'
The great tragedy is, of course, that few of us dads will get to live as long. Who knows how much time any of us will get? I'm already well into my three-score years. And yet I realise I sometimes fob the children off because I'm busy, shout at them because I'm tired and generally give them less than they deserve.
But those moments may not come again; our lives might not be long enough to allow us to make up for so many missed opportunities. So here's my manifesto for us fathers: let's make the most of it.
Don't wait till tomorrow: do it now.
And the 'it', of course, is our relationship with our children.
From now on let's make sure that nothing - not jobs nor chores nor television, tidying or even reading books - get between us and them.
Let's be friends.
Today.
For who knows what tomorrow brings?
It doesn't matter either way. His death (at age 100) is no great tragedy, more a cause for celebration (long life, good health, wealth and several of life's other pleasures).
Yet tragedy there is.
In the broadcast obituary his son was interviewed. He said that his famous father had 'no time' for him as a child once his career had blossomed, that he had a short temper and that - had Pincher senior not lived to be 100 - his father might have been a stranger to him. Or, in his son's words, 'Had my father not lived as long I wouldn't be here now saying nice things about him.'
The great tragedy is, of course, that few of us dads will get to live as long. Who knows how much time any of us will get? I'm already well into my three-score years. And yet I realise I sometimes fob the children off because I'm busy, shout at them because I'm tired and generally give them less than they deserve.
But those moments may not come again; our lives might not be long enough to allow us to make up for so many missed opportunities. So here's my manifesto for us fathers: let's make the most of it.
Don't wait till tomorrow: do it now.
And the 'it', of course, is our relationship with our children.
From now on let's make sure that nothing - not jobs nor chores nor television, tidying or even reading books - get between us and them.
Let's be friends.
Today.
For who knows what tomorrow brings?
August 7, 2014
How much do you save?
sponsored feature
Do you save as much as you should? The Office for National Statistics has recently carried out a study which showed that families are saving less now than they have in previous years.
This may be in part to what seems like the ever-increasing cost of food and bills and this leads to many families struggling to save as their budgets only stretch to cover living costs.
However, we do try our best to save and MYJAR have created an infographic which shows how those families that do save prioritise their savings. The top things families seem to be concerned with saving for include:
1.
Holidays
2.
Rainy day
3.
Emergency fund
Holidays seem to be the biggest motivation for families to save. 36% of families set a holiday fund savings goal. Rainy day funds come a close second with 32% of families contributing and emergency funds come in third with 31%.
Of course, there are instances when unexpected costs and expenses can derail even the best laid saving plans and in those instances short term lending can help.
MYJAR offers short term loans that can help if you need a little extra to pay for an unexpected bill or unplanned repair before you receive your regular income. Be aware thatShort-term loans should not be used as a long-term financial solution.
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Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyadviceservice.org.uk
Do you save as much as you should? The Office for National Statistics has recently carried out a study which showed that families are saving less now than they have in previous years.
This may be in part to what seems like the ever-increasing cost of food and bills and this leads to many families struggling to save as their budgets only stretch to cover living costs.
However, we do try our best to save and MYJAR have created an infographic which shows how those families that do save prioritise their savings. The top things families seem to be concerned with saving for include:
1.
Holidays
2.
Rainy day
3.
Emergency fund
Holidays seem to be the biggest motivation for families to save. 36% of families set a holiday fund savings goal. Rainy day funds come a close second with 32% of families contributing and emergency funds come in third with 31%.
Of course, there are instances when unexpected costs and expenses can derail even the best laid saving plans and in those instances short term lending can help.
MYJAR offers short term loans that can help if you need a little extra to pay for an unexpected bill or unplanned repair before you receive your regular income. Be aware thatShort-term loans should not be used as a long-term financial solution.
[image error]
Warning: Late repayment can cause you serious money problems. For help, go to moneyadviceservice.org.uk
