Came back yesterday from 2 nights at Anne's house.  Had a nice time.  Great to see how Alex just fits in with anybody and is content hanging out with adults - who all like him and appreciate his dry sense of humour.  Joey a bit edgy with all the commotion and also, I think, get knocked out of his stride a little bit when things aren't quite what he expected.  So not a great couple of days for him - a bit niggly, a bit impatient - but not too bad.

Izzy was fantastic - just at that age when she is old enough to really understand Xmas but young enough to still believe in Santa.  She just goes with the flow and enjoys herself.

Downside was that we were staying in a furnace.  Anne's parents have their house heated more that we are used to, which is fine and understandable.  But they had left the heating on upstairs and it is a forced air heating which sucks the moisture out of a body.  Dreadful.  We managed to close down most of the vents for the second night, and open the windows, so not too bad.  But all the heat was then forced into the bathroom which was, literally, like a Swedish sauna!

I am taking Alex in to NYC today for two nights, about which he is really excited.  We will go to see the show 'Spiderman' (ridiculously expensive!) and have pre-theatre dinner at the revolving restaurant on the 48th floor of a building on Broadway.  Apart from that, he wants to........... go shopping!  Clearly gets that from his mother's genes rather than mine.  5tyh Avenue, here we come!

Nice day, on the whole.  Took the boys to se the 'Hobbit', which they enjoyed but both were disappointed by the ending which was clearly designed to set the audience up for a sequel, ending in mid-jourey, as it were.   Alex has, as always, been very easy and made Izzy very happy by agreeing to snuggle her for a bit at bedtime.  He is weakening!

Joey had a bit of a mixed day.  He is a bit tired and has a bit of a cold.  Also, he gets very excited when Alexander arrives.  End result is a bit of a return to previous behaviour, where he can over-react and then get all defensive.  And we are  a bit tired as well, and perhaps less patient.  A pity but it was always going to be a bit of a rocky path.  We are off to stay with Anne's parents tomorrow, so hopefully he will enjoy that.

Picked up Alex from the airport.  He is looking good and is straight into the 'madhouse' as he calls it, out on the tramp with our two, grace and Chris.  Good to see all the kids enjoying themselves.

Went to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia today - very impressive science museum.  And then to the Fogo de Chao churrascuria for a late lunch.  So much for my going vegetarian! They did have some delicious picanha.  It was very busy but it was funny how after we had finally managed to meet a couple of Brazilian waiters and introduced ourselves, we received top-clas service with a smaile - and loads more picanha!

Another good chat with Anne last night, again over a few glasses of wine.  Funny how that helps the conversation loosen up!  Anyway, well worth doing.  Just mulling over options for the next year or so, the challenges and frustrations.  And reminding ourselves how lucky we are.

Had a good chat with Anne over a few glasses of wine a couple of nights ago.  She had become  a bit annoyed because, basically, I was not pulling my weight.  In particular, I rarely took the kids anywhere by myself so that she had a few hours child-free.  I can't say she was wrong and will do better.  Just talking about it has made things much better and we do need to communicate better - but isn't that the case with most couples?!!

Joey sang at his school Xmas concert today.  In my, admitedly biased, opinion, he has the best voice in the school.  But what also distinguishes Joey is the gusto and comnfidence with which he sings.  Check it out on Youtube;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzP0D6Meo2Y&feature=youtu.be

Beeen busy last few days - including with real work!  Had a good meeting with the Director of the Rutgers Uni Ecocomplex who is v keen on working wwith us, and a good telcon with my KPMG contact, who thinks that they will help us.  Then spent some time getting the right message to colleagues as follow up.  My main concern is that I am working with 2 v busy academics and one rather tireed guy, so I do feel as if I am driving this forward on my own. 

Joey has been in good form, came out of school happy enough.  But when in bed, he sometimes starts moaning and saying how unhappy he is.  We try and get the balance right between comforting him and reminding him of how lucky it is.  But it us upsetting to hear him say these things.

Bit of an issue yesterday with the neighbours.  Joey came home after playing v nicely with Chris and Jack and eventually fessed up to me (having just arrived in from NYC) that Chris's Dad, Joe, had sent him home and told him to ask us to call him.  So I went over.

It seems that Joey was using some bad words, and saying 'Kill the Jews) and when told off was a bit lippy.  No idea where the 'Kill the Jews' bit came from - we certainly do not use that and I doubt if Joey knows what a Jew is.  Joe was pretty cool about it - says that they love having Joey around but that he needs to watch his words and also sometimes reacts with some anger and 'lip'.

So, long conversation with Joey.  He denied everything and became very upset when he thought that we did not believe him.  Bit of temper lost on both sides.  Gradually got through to him that, even if he was misheard, the sensible thing is to just apologise and make sure in future that there is no chance of any misunderstanding.  And not to say 'Sorry.  But I didn't do it!'.  Not fair in some ways, if he really was misheard, but that is another lesson that he has to learn - life is not always fair and you have to deal with it.  Also that you cannot be in any way cheeky to adults and not expect consequences.

We did go over and Joey was prepared to apologise, but Joe not there.  His wife was - as always - lovely and told Joey not to worry and that he was always welcome.  Also said that Chris and Jack were over at Jack's house and that he should go and see what they were doing.  Joey was not really in the mood for that but has been good as gold ever since.

Just back from a party at Bruce and Lorn's where I did not drink at all.  that's a first.  Some idiot there was defending US gun laws - particularly odd given what happened yesterday in Newtown.

Out on the town last night in New York - until 0500.  Quite a night - at a party with Irane, quite civilised, where a very pretty girl (and I mean girl, 22 yrs old) called Adream (yes, you read it right and she was) flirted outrageously with me, then met up with Phil who I used to work with at a UKMission party where I actually danced and then on to a piano bar.  Great craic.  Bit tired today, though, si have volunteered to be the designated driver when we go out this evening.

I went for a walk and by the time I came home everything was calm.  Read to Joey and put him to bed.  He apologised.  I shall find out later what happened.  Can't talk about it now as Joey has very good hearing and can hear us talk, even if we whisper.  The amount of times we will be chatting and next thing Joey shouts down 'What do you mean about xxxx?'  Cheeeky wee bugger.

Joey will insist on having the last word, which can be very frustrating at times.  He had had  agood time after school, playing with Chris and Izzy.  Then he had his 20 mins on minecraft (how I hate that game!) and was all upset when his 20 mins were up.  One thing led to another and then the whole world is against him, we are mean and he storms off to his room.  Anne is up there now.  Very frustrating, after all the progress that we have had.

Joey came home upset from school.  Nothing too serious but something haappened during recess.  Problem is that there are a few other kids, mainly Ryan and Ryan, who, whilst not really bad kids, like to wind Joey up.  And he still does not know how to respond to that sort of thing.  He remains too sensitive.  Normaaly Mrs H keeeps a keen eye on things and pulls the Ryans in if things are going the wrong way.  But she was not at school today so that didn't happen.  Like I said, I don't think that they are really bad kids but it is v frustrating that this happens.

Joey had to go to the Deputy again, Mr Maher, but I think that he was sympathetic to Joey rather than dressing him down.,

How to make Izzy happy?  Tell her she's having chips for dinner.  I have to admit, it makes me happy as well.  Especially after I made myself a tomato and avocado salad for lunch.

Played first game of Risk with Joey this evening - and he loved it!  Great, because it will be good for his maths, reading, geography and other skills.  Or it would be if the board wasn't a Dutch version!  Given to me by a Dutch friend in NYC some 20 years ago in recognition of my passion for the game.  I'll have to get him an English version for Xmas.  Or is it for me?

Joey has clearly not inherited my diplomatic skills.  At the neighbour's house on Saturday, one of the other kids was, well, rather fat.  Poor kid, 8 years old and sweating because he was trying to run after all the other skinny kids.  And then interrupting his play every few minutes to come scrounging for cakes and stuff.

So Joey asked him how much he weighed.  '107lbs', the kid replied (which, by the way, is almost twice Joey's weight).  'Wow', said Joey 'and how many doughnuts do you eat'.  'Two a day'.  'Well, that is really unhealthy, you know'.  True, but.......

Some photos of the family taken recently for charity.  I think that we look pretty good!

A bit of a setback with Joey, but also a bit of a step backwards.  He has had a tendency in the past to over-react to being hurt.  He is fine when he knows it is coming eg the dentist.  Indeed, he is very brave and good.  But any sudden shock is different.  On Saturday, we were coming back from the neighbours house, on the way to the town Xmas-tree lighting ceremony, when he ran into a sharp branch, which gave him a dig in the belly.  You would have thought that it had punctured a hole in his stomach.  Problem is, although on this occasion it was probably quite painful and worthy of sympathy, we simply don't know and therefore he did not get much sympathy, despite screaming his head off.  He then ran off, calling us mean.  Calmed down after a while but we have had to speak to him again about this.  Not only does it open him up to being laughed at by other kids, but we really can never tell if there is anything serious or not.

This had followed on from rather disruptive behaviour at school on Friday.  Nothing too serious but enough that we were told about it.

On the plus side, last night Joey actually attempted to read a proper book by himself.  Anne was reading to him at bed-time, and talking about it and she was saying that, with all his progress in reading, he would be able to read a proper book if he tried.  Now, we are not talking War and Peace here, but at least a book that has some interest for him.  Until now, he has only been able to read very simple books, where the story-line is really for very young kids and not of much interest to him.  Joey was reluctant to try and did so, Anne suspects, to prove her wrong.  But he managed it OK and was pleased with himself.  If he keeps up the progress, I think that he will soon find that he can read interesting books.  Which, in turn, will hopefully motivate him to work even harder at his school work.  So, all rather positive.

Had a nice evening in the pub last night with an English guy who I met at a friend's house.  Just chatting away about rubbish.  A few beers.  Very pleasant.

And a pleasant day today.  Anne took the kids to her parents so I had the day to myself.  Watched a bit of Man Utd beating City, watched a cracking Clermont v Leinster game, did some work and tidied up a bit.  Very relaxing.  Oh, and I want to the Bistro for an enjoyable meal whilst reading a bit of the paper.

Izzy is a wee charmer, likely many young girls.  If I do something nice for her (ie agree to give her a bit of cake or to allow her 10 mins on the TV), it is 'Oh daddy, you are the most wonderful Daddy in the world, and I love you'.
Down side is that if I tell her off or, worse, laugh at something that she has done, she will do a real pout, cross her arms, stamp her feet, look down and scowl.  Or else burst into tears and run upstairs.  rather sensitive, is our Izzy.

What is it with weight?  I can was 202lbs before going to bed last night.  And 200lbs this morning.  How can I lose 2lbs just by lying in bed for 8 hours?  Go figure.

Just been looking at my blog stats - not very impressive but then again I am not writing for others and it is after all the quality that counts rather than the quantity - Richard take note!  Anyway, seems that somebody in China took a look.  Clearly wasn't over impressed as they only took one look!

Anne's niece, Christine is staying with us.  V smart, nice kid who has just graduated from Princeton and who is setting up a really interesting company in kenya, provide a job matching service via SMS.  I have agreed to invest some money a) because I think that there is a good chance that this will be a success and b) because I think that it will bring benefits to Africa.

Had good fun retelling some of my old war stories from Africa.  I think that she was quite impressed by the number of times that somebody has stuck a gun up my nose!

Speaking of Africa, I have agreed to send a few thousand again to my wee clinic in Kinshasa.  Not sure how much I have sent over the years but it is a fair amount.  But I am satisfied that they use it well and that it helps people and saves lives.

Time for bed.  Bit of a late night yesterday and then up early to take Joey to school and then help clear paths on some D & R Greenway Preserved Land.  Anne jsut gave me a call that I was expecting.  She went out to an event on diet and behaviour or something with Lorna, her new best buddy.  Who does like a drink and is always looking for an excuse.  So, sure enough, call at 2115 to let me know she would be home late!

Good night!

So, yes, as of Monday I am officially, sort of, employed.  I have been in talks with some guys from Imperial College for some time about setting up a Bioeconomy Institute.  We need to raise the money first.  One multinational has agreed to stump up some but a lot more is needed.  said company has agreed to allocate some funding essentially for me to arise the rest - some £1.1m by end March.  Should be interesting, especially as I have no experience in this field.  Still, I will give it a lash and see what comes of it.

Had a liitle bit of turkey for dinner.  My only meat of the day.  Lots of quinoa and beans, along with vegetables and fruit.  Down to about 200lbs.  Not bad.

Just sent following to my investment advisor;

Hope all is well.  I am looking forward to your suggestions on how I should invest my money but, and I should have decided this sooner, wanted to note that I want to invest ethically as well.  That means not in any fosiil fuel industries, or in major food producers, Walmark or Tescos, or arms manufacturers, or tobacco companies.  Hope that doesn't bugger things up too much!  Let me know if it does cause complications.

About time that I did this.  Won't make a huge difference but we must all do our bit!

Just been for a walk and reflected.  I think that it is the right thing to do to go vegetarian but problem is that we already have a dairy, egg and bread free household and I am not sure that I would also manage being vegetarian.  So I think that I will make one of the fastest policy U-turns in recent history, Mitt excepted, and take a more gradual approach.  We are already pretty much organic, and don't eat much red meat so that step will be to reduce my meat consumption to the minimum.

But I do recommend watching 'The Cove'.  A very good movie - see http://www.thecovemovie.com/the_team/the-filmmakers.htm
Described as a mixture of Flipper and the Bourne Identity, it shows an undercover expedition to uncover the massacre of thousands of dolphins each year in a secret cove in Japan.  Very good.

His next movie will be about the 6th great species extinction - happening now and caused by, you guessed it, man.  Very impressive bloke.

Went to see 'The Cove' last night - film by 

Louie Psihoyos

 - the one about the massacre of the dolphins in Taiji, Japan.  I am going vegetarian.  Would like tio say more now but Izzy wants her 15 mins with 'Dora' on the I-Mac and Joey has just started his 20 mins with Minecraft on the laptop.  Two computers in the house and none for me.  

Another good day.  Kids were great.  Had a good workout.  Anne and I had some quality time together.  Off to an interesting event in Princeton this afternoon.  Oh, and BP have agreed to fund my work on fund-raising for the Bioeconomy Institute!  A job at last!  Details to follow.

The kids in London.

She did indeed open the bottle of wine and we watched 'Prime Suspects'.  But only one bottle and one episode.  We are getting old.

But it pays off.  Felt good this morning and the kids have been in great form all day.  Singing, playing with each other, having a ball.  Anne took them to the movies and they went straight out afterwards to play with Chris and Grace, running around, on the trampoline, on the play frame.

Particularly pleasing was the way that Joey responded to a bloody nose caused by an accident on the trampoline - a collision with Chris.  No over-reaction at all.  Took it like a man, despite quite a bit of blood coming out.  Real progress.

I have a weak wife.  She is opening a bottle of wine. 

Spaeking of healthy food, our 5 yeaar old Izzy yestarday ate for dinner broccoli, cabbage, corn and black beans, along with minced meat with some tomatoes, onions and mushrooms.  Not bad!

Saturday evening.  Kids in bed after a good day and we are settling down to a cup of herbal tea ands an episode of 'Prime Susoects' on Netflix.  Oh, how the mighty have fallen.  But the reality is that these trips are not so easy to recover from anymore.  Between over-dry hotel rooms, jet lag, young kids and the odd night out, I don't sleep that well and am exhausted on return.  I need  a week to recover!

Oh, and I do feel the change in diet as well.  In particular, the last 3 days when by myself, I did not eat the healthiest.  Not as bad as I used to but nowhere near as well as at home.  And I finished it with a massive fry-up at the best greasy spoon in London - the Regency Cafe in Pimlico.  I highly recommend it.

Trip to UK was really good.  Anne and kids enjoyed it, on the whole.  Highlights were;

- spending time with our old Brazilian Nanny, Luana, before she returns to Brazil
- seeing Sharon and family, and my Dad
- having a churrascaria dinner with old friends - Geoff, Harriet, Dermot (first time meeting up in 25 years!), Futz and Sarah, Conor,  Gladys and John, Richard,  Hursty and Niamh etc.  Good craic.
- really good meeting with Imperial guys which means that I might have some work!
-  going to see Shrek the Musical with the kids
-  having Alexander over for the weekend - we went to England v S Africa, spent a night with my Dad, visited the British Musical Experience and took the cable car across the Thames (very good!)

All in all a good trip.

Crisp weather today and kids are outside playing with Chris and Grace.  Is there anything better than the sound of laughing children?  If you are English, perhaps watching England take the All Blacks apart, as they did today.  Outsanding performance.

Today, as I was taking my daughter to school, I passed an elderly lady coming down the stairs - presumably having dropped her grandchild off. 'Oh', says she 'Nice to see somebody else here with grey hair.'. Ouch. Oh to be young again.

Back in the USA!   Just had 10 days in the UK - hence my silence.  Didn't want to tell the world that we were away and that the house was empty.  A good trip - family came for a week and then I had 3 days by myself for business. Will give more details latere.

Joey had a good day at school and is now playing nicely with Izzy and Chris.  He seems back to normal, thank goodness.

Joey had a good day at school today.  And, as we are always forgetting to comment on her, so did Isabela!

We also had our teachers conference with Mrs H.  Very positive.  Joey continues to make real progress in reading and writing.  To the point that she thinks that he could move up a class in the new year ion reading.  He still grumbles and looks for excuses not to do work but does settle down and once he has forgotten that he 'can't do' something, he just gets on with it and does very well.  behaviour much better as are social skills - but they could still do with improvement.  He says what comes into his head too often, even if it is not appropriate.  And he tends to dominate small groups of peers with his powerful personality.  We agreed that he should go back to one on one with the social behaviour teacher for a session a week for the next few months.  Said it before, but we will get there.

Also agreed with Mrs H that we can be flexible about homework.  Especially when he has an after-school activity, he gets back just in time t see other kids come out to play, or at least before he has finished his own homework.  Given the importance of encouraging social interaction with other kids, we can be a bit flexible about letting him off some homework, where appropriate.

Should add that Mrs H says that he is also doing very well in other subjects and is certainly on a level if not in advance of his peers intellectually.

Early start this morning - Joey up at 0615.  But seems better so planning on sending him to school.

But, jeez, he takes so long to eat anything!  So despite early starts, he takes ages to eat and then everything is a rush!
I am down to 198lbs!!

The wife is torturing me.  She cooked duck and chips ad then cookies for the kids.  The smell!!!  The aroma!!!  And I had a glass of beet, kale, carrots and apple.  Ugh.

Anne took Izzy to school and left me with Joey.  He has been out on the trampoline by himself for over 30 mins jumping around, practicing his boxing and kick-boxing moves.  Hopefully that will use up some energy and he will be ready to do some work when he is finished.

Kept Joey back at home today.  He is just too hyper and and with a tendency to over-react again.  We suspect that it might be that the additional supplements which are supposed to bond with toxins in the body and help excrete them might not be working properly and having a negative impact.  With the doctor's agreement, we have stopped those.

Anne worked with him at home this morning whilst I took Izzy out.  He was very good - although I am not sure that everyone would approve of using Blackjack and poker to teach maths.  But at the end he became very agitated again when he couldn't get his drawing quite right.  Rather than risk any episodes at school (he has one yesterday when he was hauled in before the deputy head at recess - accused of hitting a girl.  Seems Joey denied it and would not back down - typical stubborn Joey - claiming it was a 'misunderstanding'.  Who knows - Joey does not normally go around hitting other kids but he may have just been over-physical when upset) we will keep him home this afternoon as well.

Purge.  So, on the third day no solid food now but not feeling as bad as I thought that I would.  I have certainly lost weight - down to 198.8 lbs this morning.  Apart from when I had dengue in Brazil, I don't think that I have been that light for 30 years!

This included being at a seminar all day yesterday in Princeton.  Complete with delicious breakfast and lunch, and me with my 3 bottle of juice to last me the day.

Joey's behaviour more volatile again - very stroppy and argumentative, feels everyone is being mean to him, not showing much empathy with Izzy.  Not sure why this has happened - Anne will call the doctor this morning to see whether an additional supplement that he has started taking might have unbalanced something.  But very frustrating and aggravating for all. Hopefully a temporary blip.

Started the juice diet today.  Had a lovely 'condemned man's' dinner last night and that will be my last solid food for 5 days.  Juice is mainly mixture of kale, beets, spinach, carrot, apple etc.  Weighed 206lbs last night after dinner and 204 lbs this afternoon, after a morning helping clear trails up the Sourlands. Should be an interesting experiment.

Off to Princeton now for a seminar on tracking. Hope I don't faint.

Joey has had a good weekend, including playing with Chris.  Seems that all is forgiven.  There will be hiccups and the path will not be smooth but we are getting there.

Off to see 'Skyfall' this afternoon, with Joey.  I just love James Bond!

Good night yesterday as we celebrated Anne's birthday.  Colleague from London now in NYC came down with his wife, lovely girl originally from Angola.  Lorna and Bruce joined us.  Ate at the Bell and Whistle - very good.  Drank lots of wine and then stopped off in the Bistro for a few.  Very enjoyable.

But the backlash has started.  At Anne's prompting, I have agreed to go on a 5 day 'purge' with her, drinking only vegetable and fruit juice.  We watched 'Fat, sick and nearly nearly dead' some months ago and since then have been drinking a couple of glasses of juice per day but now we will go full on for 5 days, starting tomorrow.  I am not looking forward to it!  But should lose some weight and, hopefully, feel better.  We shall see.

Last night was not a great one for Joey.  I brought him home at about 1630 and Chris was coming up the road.  He asked Joey if he wanted to accompany him to Jacks to play and off Joey went, quite happily.

When I went to pick him up at Jack's house an hour later, he was not happy.  Didn't really say goodbye or thanks properly and then ran home upset.  Got there before me and then slammed the door as he went in, which made Anne shout at him.  He stormed upstairs crying.  Seems that the other kids were 'mean' to him and he was miserable because he had no friends and he hated this country and wanted to go back to England.

Not sure what happened.  Chris and Jack are nice kids but they have been mates for a long time and it is quite possible that they exclude Joey from tome to time.  It is also possible that they don't always want to do what Joey wants to do sometimes, or that they occasionally tease Joey and Joey still hasn't figured out a way of dealing with properly and without getting upset.  He is sensitive and his social skills need working on.

Part of the problem also is that he goes to a school where the kids have some form of learning difficulty - extending to mild autism - and this don't all have great social skills either.  And they are very spread out over a wide catchment area, so even if he got really friendly with a kid there, chances are that the kid would live miles away.

Joey has made so much progress, and is such a good kid in many ways.  very upsetting to see him upset.

Joey has balls.  Today is pizza day at school, when the school offers the kids pizzas at lunch.  Joey cannot eat it so we will send him in with a lunch.  We have also been telling him that pizza isn't really very healthy.  We said that we would speak to the Director, Deb Peters, but Joey said he would do it himself.  We advised his teacher that he wanted to do this.  Here is the correspondence with Mrs H;

 He didn’t seem to want to talk to James.  Joey  said that he wasn’t the appropriate person to speak with.  Watch out world! Wow.

From: Gery Juleff [mailto:gjuleff@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 9:29 AM
To: Stephanie Hoffman
Subject: RE: pizza party

Thanks. Let's hope that he has inherited a few of Gery's diplomatic skills.

 

---

From: shoffmann@thecambridgeschool.org
To: gjuleff@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: pizza party
Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 09:09:20 -0500

Joey told me that he wanted to speak with Deb.  I told him that he could do so at snack time.  However I just found out that the Peters went to Morocco!  If James has time Joey can speak with him.

From: Gery Juleff [mailto:gjuleff@hotmail.com]
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2012 8:36 AM
To: Stephanie Hoffman
Subject: pizza party

Steffannie,

I have sent in lunch for Joey because he can't eat the pizza and he didn't want me to take him out today. He was quite upset that the school serves food that is unhealthy for all the students and inedible for those on diets like Bruce and him.  I said that I would speak to Deb Peters about the issue to see if something could be resolved that would be a treat for all. He doesn't want me to intervene, instead, wants to speak to Deb himself and argue his case. Gery and I have coached him on the importance of being polite and respectful but didn't want to discourage him from trying to correct what he sees as an injustice. I don't know how accessible Deb is during the day and if it will even be possible for Joey to speak to her but I wanted to let you know that he wants to do this.

Hopefully, the day goes well. If there are any problems we are around.

Anne

Thursday is nature club for Joey after school  Further to my post below on correspondence with his teacher re hot chocolate, I met her at the local Quick Chek on Rte 31 to pick Joey up. He was in the back of the car scoffing down organic popcorn and a shake.  Turns out it was soy milk with pumpkin and banana.  Ugh.  Tastes as bad as it sounds  but Joey loved it!

Ah, wee angels.  Butter wouldn't melt in their mouths.  They do generally play well together.  What you don't see here, of course, is Joey then getting a bit stroppy with Izzy, who then cross.  Joey shows no empathy, gets all indignant and bolshy with us and then ends up being sent to bed early.  He was very upset afterwards but he does need to learn and we have been lenient with some of his behaviour in the past.  On the plus side, he was much better the day afterwards.  A good bollocking does him good from time to time.

I have a feeling of some sort of return to 'normality' at the moment.  Joey is doing well and we do not dread getting an email or call from the school.  We have dropped looking to buy a house.  Hurricane Sandy is receding into memory, at least for us.  I have had some good news re the Bioeconomy Institute project (Shell are interested in supporting) .  Anne is more relaxed.  I am back in the gym.  We are less stressed and drinking less.  Things are looking up.

Joey's diet is a pain in the neck for him.  See correspondence with teacher below.  To think that heading down to Pizza Express in Cobham used to be a really fun treat every Friday for the kids.  Shame.

No, unfortunately I do not.  Anything with yeast, gluten or dairy products is out.  Poor kid.  Does make it difficult sometimes when Anne is fed up with cooking and in the past would have treated the kids to a pizza, which they loved!

 

---

From: shoffmann@thecambridgeschool.org
To: gjuleff@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: nature club
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 14:48:23 -0500

Joey is the only one in nature club, so we  will go  on a walk and then go to the health food store.  I can ask which contain milk products unless you know of a brand.

From: Gery Juleff [mailto:gjuleff@hotmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 2:46 PM
To: Stephanie Hoffman
Subject: RE: nature club

Hi Steffanie,

Only if the chocolate itself does not contain any milk products.  There are some that do but most do not.  I hope that he does not get too upset if he is unable to drink it.

Gery

 

---

From: shoffmann@thecambridgeschool.org
To: gjuleff@hotmail.com
Subject: RE: nature club
Date: Thu, 8 Nov 2012 14:43:56 -0500

May Joey drink hot chocolate made with soy, rice or almond milk?

Kids awake at 0615 and came in to tell us all about it.  So downstairs to have first snowball fight in pyjamas!

Anne has just taken Izzy to the docs.  She has what seems like a bruise under her left armpit but it is very tender and there is quite a bump.  She says she got it on the trampoline so probably is just a bruise but better safe than sorry.

And it has started snowing.  Up to 6 inches expected in next 24hrs.  Feel sorry for those without power - and there are still quite a few in the hood.

Fell asleep before I heard Obama's speech.

Joey delighted with the result this morning - really cheered him up.  Good man.  He was in great form.  Hate to say it but a wee bollocking once in a while does him good.

Hurray!!!  And time for bed.

They have just said Mitt will come on in 5 mins.  Looking forward to that!

Past midnight and Obama has clearly won.  Wish Mitt would hurry up and concede defeat so we can hear Obama and go to bed!  Lovely to see the Romney crowd so quiet!

Went through the bottle, went out to Bistro to get another.  They have no wine!  All sold out!  Mixture of v busy week (think all those folks without power looking for something to do) and no deliveries.  Got a six pack.

Looking good for Obama.

2215; tight but looking good for Obama.  Decided to watch Fox News for a few minutes, just to get riled up at the bullshit therein!

Went to the liquor store to get one bottle of wine (note the 'one') to imbibe whilst we watch the election coverage.  Anne has voted - no secret that she has voted for the Democrats.  Her Mum has also stuck with Obama - only second time in her life she has voted Democrat.  Her Dad probably voted Republican, despite Anne having put on one liberal documentary or show after another all week.  Nice try!

Come on Barack!

In-laws have power and have gone home.  It has been nice having them here, especially to spend time with the kids.  They both noted how well Joey was coming on, which is nice.

But we are not 100% there and we had a bit of a face-off this evening.  Joey is not always as nice to Izzy as he should be.  When she is hurt, even when Joey has done it (eg by accident on the trampoline), and crying, he shows little or no empathy for her.  Then this evening, they were playing really nicely downstairs, both dressed up as a sheep (Joey) and a polar bear (Izzy)  and decided to put on a show.  Izzy didn't get it right, Joey became cross with her, told her she was out of the play and then got cross again when she cried.  When we pulled him up for this, he got all indignant, refused to talk about it properly and it all escalated to the point where he was sent to bed early.

I will say one thing about wee Joey, he has got balls.  He really will not back down.  If we can just channel that better, it will stand him in good stead.  I think that we will manage that.  Hopefully.

Kids back at school, in-laws back here!  Kids went back OK, bit of moaning from Joey but not too bad.  In-laws had hoped to be back in their house today but still now power so camping out here.  Hitting the gym tomorrow for first time in months.  After some 10 days without booze, had a few at the weekend.  You do feel better without the poison!

In-laws went back this morning - but are returning as they still do not have power in Ridgewood!  At least Anne and I were able to go out for dinner last night whilst they put the kids to bed!

Just heard from one of Anne's friends in Pelham - still now power and not expected back until 9 November.  And it is getting cold.

Kids back at school tomorrow.  Hurray!  I think that we are all getting a bit stir-crazy.  There is nothing really on in the area for them to do.  Fortunately the weather has been kind - no rain and generally not too cold.  They have spent a lot of time on the trampoline.  Joey has fallen out a couple of times with the neighbour, Chris.  But we think that it is at least partly because of Chris' sensitivities, not because Joey is doing anything wrong.   His parents are separated and I think that he is going through some tough times.

Sound of chainsaws has diminished, at last.  ll the fallen trees on roads have been cleared in and around the town.  West end of Hopewell still had no power this afternoon - and same applied to Pennington.  Likewise in many of the outlying districts, particularly in the Sourlands.  Lots of queues at gas stations.  Those restaurants that can open are doing very well, as is the Boro Bean.  For those without power, eating out becomes very attractive!

getting cabin fever.  We have been lucky and have power but kids off school all week, in-laws staying here and there is nowhere to go.  We are luckier than most, I know, but it is frustrating.  Fortunately the weather has been good so kids have spent reasonable amount of time outside - and thank goodness for the trampoline!  Kids are getting pretty good on it and it is great for fitness, coordination and for attracting other kids.  Best investment we ever made.

And we have eaten far too much meat over the last few days!  Dave and Anita brought all their meat down with them as they had no power - so Anne has been cooking roasts day and night.  Enough!

Just sneaked a bread and jam sandwich.  Feel a bit guilty - we are supposed to be sharing Joey's diet but Anne has some bread for Izzies school lunches.

Haven't had a drink since last Monday, but the in-laws are here (they still have no power) so went to the Hopewell Historic House Liquor Store this afternoon to find them open, busy and with a wee generator giving enough power for the cash registers, fridges etc.  And it was busy - everybody stocking up in case there was another cold night without TV.  Good to see priorities right.  Bistro was also very busy at lunchtime.  Very dark also!

Halloween has been cancelled!  Or at least the Mayor has banned trick or treating.  Fair enough - there are still lots of problems with cables, trees down, lack of power etc.  Our power went off Monday evening and came back on yesterday morning - only to go again this morning for some 6 hrs.  back on now, hopefully.

Walked around town a few times.  No serious damage or flooding but lots of trees down - hence the power cuts.  Power is carried via overhead cables in the US, not underground.  Cheaper, no doubt, and easier to fix than digging up a road, but very ugly and vulnerable to this sort of problem.

Sounds like Anne's parents are coming to stay - their house in Ridgewood still has no power.  There are quite a few in this area without power still as well.  Indeed, some friends of our neighbours who live at the end of town have been told it will be 5 November before power is restored to them.  That would be miserable.

Got the evil eye from Pia this afternoon.  She is the owner of the neighbouring house we agreed to buy - but then backed out after 3 different issues arose which they had not disclosed to us.  Cost us $3k and she is giving me the evil eye?  Bit bloody cheeky!

I am down to 204.6 lbs!  Wasting away.

Anne makes a great chocolate chip cookie which would not be interesting except for the fact that she does it without any dairy, gluten or egg-yolk.   Beats me, too.

Breakfast cereal of choice for Joey now is organic buckwheat and hemp with soy milk.  Yep, you read that right.  I quite like it as well. With organic bananas and honey.

Now you know why I am down to 204.6 lbs.

So, how much has Joey's reading improved over the last year?  At the beginning of the year, he would struggle, even after having it read to him first, with the following;

'The goat ate the tin can.
I like this tin can, said the goat'.

Today, he read, without having it read to him first (a relatively new phenomena) the following;

'What is a black hole?

Black holes are the remains of collapsed stars. A tug of war is going on inside every star.  On one side is its gravity, or pulling force, which is trying to make it collapse and become smaller.  On the other side is the energy pouring out from its core, which is trying to make it explode.  For most of a star's life, its gravity and energy balance exactly.  But when the stars core runs out of fuel, its gravity wins and the star collapses.  The gravity around the star is now so strong that even its own light is sucked in, making it invisible - a black hole in Space'.

Quite a difference!  And he is gaining so much in confidence - just the fact that he will try and read something like this without having it read first is a strong indication of that.  He now takes pleasure in achieving this and will give it a try, whereas in the past his fear of failure meant that he would not even try.  Long may the progress continue!

Should also have added that it was lovely to get lots of messages from people asking how we were.  Nice to know we are not entirely forgotten!

Sandy came and toyed with us.  One of the biggest storms to the hit the east coast rolled over us last night.  Lots of rain, high winds and no power for most of the night.  Kids were great - played battleship by candle-light and then they both slept with Anne whilst I was banished to the guest bedroom.  Quite a lot of damage done to trees in the neighbourhood but no flooding so we got away lightly.

Princeton University campus.  I quite like the way that I took the white out of the leaves.

Kids have been up and playing all morning, with neighbours Chris and Grace.  Great to see them playing so well - but Joey still has to learn how to control his reactions better.  And not to get angry with me when it is not my fault eg giving the wrong breakfast when I had asked him 3 times what he wanted and he had replied.  He is getting better but still a way to go.

I am down to 206lbs.  Not bad.  I think that 195 would be my best weight, if I am honest, but I would be happy with 200.  Hard to believe that I was 220lbs at one point.

Anne had to tell Joey off last night because he was making a mess of the wall near where he sleeps.  he picks his nose and then, for want of anything better to do with the byproduct, wipes it off on the wall.  Delightful.  Nine year old boys are savages.

Anne out stocking up before we get hit by the 'Frankenstorm' that is due here Monday and Tuesday.  Should be fun.

I went for a 30 min run this morning and am feeling rather smug and virtuous.  No drink since Monday either - and have also stopped my other vice.  So embarrassed by it that I cannot even bear to write it down.  But I have stopped.  For good.

Joey and Izzy out on the tramp, playing very well together.  Joey continues to improve and is doing really well.  We have our old Joey back!  He can, of course, still be a cheeky wee bugger at times but he is a 9yr old boy and there are still some habits that he has to get rid of.

I have said it before but that trampoline was the best investment we ever made!

Trinity reunion; This won't mean much to anybody else but I wanted a record of the correspondence for my own memories!

Clincher - you have my sympathy.  Always wanted to met a Russian nympho but during most of my career it was not allowed and I had to turn them away.  

Good to see some concrete suggestions here.  Agree with all the points to some extent at least.  There will be food available in the Pav - and a rather more extensive list than when we frequented the place.  So I can add something about that.

Agree with women - I propose to include Karen and Tara in next series of emails unless anybody objects.  Agree that Clincher's name comes off invite but hope he will agree to be on advisory Board. 

Agree re food.  Can just mention it now and follow up nearer the time to get orders if people do want to eat there (have had discussions with Jason, the Pav manager - they can do food for large groups but will need idea of what people want in advance). 

Should we start at 1700 rather than 1600?  Probably makes sense.

I will look at creating a Facebook acct once we have agreed the details.

A more crucial point is that about who do we want to meet up with?  I think that it is right to base it on the 1983 class reunion but the reality is that we would, I think, much rather meet up with Clincher or, for me at least, Tiger Ennis, than with somebody from the '83 class that I never knew.  So slightly redrafted core message might be;

2013 will be the 30th anniversary of graduation from Trinity for John Reid, David Fitzgerald, Mick Lynn, Tara Buckley, Karen Richardson and Gery Juleff.  There will be an official reunion at the end of next summer but we not sure that we will all be able to make that and, in any case, thought it might be fun to do something rather more informal.

So, at 1700 on Saturday 15 June 2013, we and many friends will gather in the Pavilion Bar to sup a few pints, retell old stories and renew friendships.  There will be food available;  although not 3 star, the menu is rather more extensive than it was in 1983.

We hope that you can join us.  Please let Juff know (gjuleff@hotmail.com) so that we have an idea of numbers.  And please forward this message to any graduates of '83 that you know who are not on this mailing list.  They should also RSVP to Juff.  

Finally, we would not wish to pass on the opportunity to meet up with any old friends that had the misfortune to graduate in a different year.  So, please do feel free to come along and join us if you want to catch up with any of the '83 crew - and pass this on to anybody who might be in that position.  They should also RSVP to Juff.   

We are giving plenty of notice, so we hope that you will be able to join us for what will, we are sure, be a memorable night.   

We look forward to hearing from you - and please don't forget to pass this on!

Juff, Mick, Tara, Karen, Reider and Fitzer.

PS good to see Ulster doing so well!

From: John.Reid@livenation.co.uk
To: david.fitzgerald55@yahoo.co.uk
CC: paulclinch@yahoo.com; gjuleff@hotmail.com; mlynn1@eircom.net; john.j.coulter@jpmorgan.com
Subject: Re: Reunion.
Date: Sat, 27 Oct 2012 12:15:30 +0000

Always good to get a lecture in the use of social media from fitz. The best bit of this note is that you don't ten know the name of the woman you refer to !

Juff why don't you get a page up and use the college and alumni site also and lets get on with it.

From: David Fitzgerald <David.fitzgerald55@yahoo.co.uk>
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2012 12:58
To: john reid <john.reid@livenation.co.uk>
Cc: Paul Clinch <paulclinch@yahoo.com>, Gery Juleff <gjuleff@hotmail.com>, Mick Lynn <mlynn1@eircom.net>, John Coulter <john.j.coulter@jpmorgan.com>
Subject: Re: Reunion.

The point of all of this is not to have a massive piss up but rather to name a time and a place for all to turn up and meet old friends. The idea was to get this message onto Facebook and allow it to go viral, which it will, and see who turns up. It is not about organizing an event and then inviting people. The cascading ability of Facebook is extraordinary. 

Having said that, Hugo McNestrys son plays for my Under 13 team at London Irish. His wife, whose name escapes me at the moment, graduated in 83 so I will seek her advice on this. 

Worst comes to the worst, we meet in the Pav and have a feed of pints.

Sent from my iPhone

On 27 Oct 2012, at 11:48, John Reid <John.Reid@livenation.co.uk> wrote:

100% agree. I think you have nailed it and aren't at all unfair. Hence my point about women.

 In any case we don't need to take ownership of the thing. 

Can we ask the pav to do some basic food ? 

JC welcome aboard (whether you like it or not). You will find mick unresponsive or difficult, fitzer showing up as long as we don't bring up how badly munster are doing and the recently retired (on the public purse) juff as "organiser". In other words, nothing has changed.

Whats your view ?

As I say I don't know any of these women any more and we need to get writing to them quickly 

Cheers

Reid  

From: Paul Clinch <paulclinch@yahoo.com>
Date: Saturday, 27 October 2012 11:23
To: john reid <john.reid@livenation.co.uk>
Cc: David Fitzgerald <David.fitzgerald55@yahoo.co.uk>, Gery Juleff <gjuleff@hotmail.com>, Mick Lynn <mlynn1@eircom.net>, John Coulter <john.j.coulter@jpmorgan.com>
Subject: Re: Reunion.

I was at work yesterday hence my silence. I also went into trinity players (for the first tine ever!) to watch my daughter playing Vodka van Dyke the mutant Russian nymphomaniac in the play 'Horrifical'. I never imagined that the first Russian nympho I'd meet would be my daughter!

I must point out here that due to my academic excellence I didn't graduate till 86!!  So I'm not sure my name should be on the signature at all. Unless you want only guys at it though, I think you need to get a couple if girls to sign it. With the greatest of respect, you 4 inviting a gang to the Pav won't have women rushing to join you, and prob wouldn't have even in your heyday (if that ever existed). You'll prob get spud metchy Stan and people like that but v few with 2 X chromosomes!

I think the current format is fine but to most women I think they'll have pictures in their heads of Rogers naked drinking a pint in one go, Juff doing bunch of grapes, fitzy & reider doing their thing with any woman unfortunate enough to be in their vicinity & Mick in a coma in the corner. Perhaps I'm being a little unfair?

So my suggestions: I think you need Tara or Debbie or Margo or a couple of their ilk on board. I think you need to see if you could organise some light food & include that on the invitation so it looks less like a monumental p*ss up (particularly starting at 4!!). Or we could just have the same group that we had for Juff's stag & have a great night anyway! (if you put Juff's suggested signature on it that's surely all you'd get anyway!)

I'm not sure whose emails I have apart from rugby related guys & my medical class. I don't use facebook but I guess that's a decent way to get hold of people. Perhaps the best way to do it is to get others to pass it on & hope that some of them are still on speaking terms with some of the women in the year! Maybe Dec Stapleton knows a few?

I've copied JC on this as well. Hope some of what I've said makes some sense. 

Great to hear from you all. 

Clincher

-- 

Paul Clinch

+353-87-2487444

On 26 Oct 2012, at 21:12, John Reid <John.Reid@livenation.co.uk> wrote:

I think i could manage those 3 (or was that 30 years ago ?).
I have no idea how to find them.
Clincher why are you so quiet ?

From: David Fitzgerald [mailto:david.fitzgerald55@yahoo.co.uk] 
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 07:05 PM
To: John Reid 
Cc: Gery Juleff <gjuleff@hotmail.com>; Mick Lynn <mlynn1@eircom.net>; Paul Clinch <paulclinch@yahoo.com> 
Subject: Re: Reunion.  

Reid surely we can manage Jackie Morton, Debbie Martin and Margo Quinn!!!

Sent from my iPhone

On 26 Oct 2012, at 17:19, John Reid <John.Reid@livenation.co.uk> wrote:

Add Barrymcilheney@btinternet.com

Do we really only know 3 birds ?

Clincher you have a lot of work to do 

From: Gery Juleff <gjuleff@hotmail.com>
Date: Friday, 26 October 2012 02:34
To: john reid <john.reid@livenation.co.uk>, David Fitzgerald <David.fitzgerald55@yahoo.co.uk>, Mick Lynn <mlynn1@eircom.net>, Paul Clinch <paulclinch@yahoo.com>
Subject: RE: Reunion.

Gents,

See below email addresses for contacts that I have.  Not sure if all of them left TCD in 1983.  If you can add any names to the list, please do and send back to me.  Also any that you know did not graduate in '83 and who we would perhaps not wish to make an exception for re inviting along.  Suggest message along following lines;

'2013 will be the 30th anniversary of graduation from Trinity for John Reid, David Fitzgerald, Mick Lynn, Paul Clinch and Gery Juleff - and for you.  There will be an official reunion at the end of next summer but we not sure that we will be able to make that - and, in any case, thought it might be fun to do something rather more informal.

So, at 1600 on Saturday 15 June 2013, we four, and as many of the Class of 1983 as will be able to join us, will gather in the Pavilion Bar to sup a few pints, retell old stories and renew friendships.  

We hope that you can join us.  Please let Juff know (gjuleff@hotmail.com) so that we have an idea of numbers.  And please forward this message to graduates of '83 that you know who are not on this mailing list.  They should also RSVP to Juff.  If we got it wrong and you did not graduate in 1983, well, it would be good to see you anyway. 

We are giving plenty of notice, so we hope that you will be able to join us for what will, we are sure, be a memorable night.   

We look forward to hearing from you - and please don't forget to pass this on!

Juff, Clincher, Mick, Reider and Fitzer.

Autumn in Mohonk. 

Could kill for a good cheddar sandwich.  But, in solidarity with Joey, I am off dairy and gluten.  Without bread and cheese, a cheddar sandwhich isn't quite the same.  Bugger.

Joey has gained 3lbs in the last month or so.  Impressive!  And today we went out for a run with his mate from next door.  Did about 3 miles.  Joey not even out of breath and no sweat to talk of.

Izzy celebrated her 5th birthday last Saturday.  A good time was had by all.  

Izzy

Mrs H took some of the kids in her car to nature class.  One of the kids said he was thirsty and would love a doughnut and soda.  Mrs H ignored him.  He repeated it and Joey piped up; 'Don't you know that soda is bad for you?'  Kids said that his parents allowed him.  'Well, your parents can't care for you very much if they let you drink that stuff'.  Mmmm.  Well intentioned but not really what we want him telling other kids.

Went to get some magic water from Mrs H's house and had a chat with her.  She said that a number of the other teachers had noted the positive change in Joey's behaviour, and Mrs H had explained what we were doing - identifying the problem, getting help, changing diet etc.  They went on to talk about other kids with issues and about the need for...............medication!

Feeling a but tired, and old, today.  I have what seems to be some sort of pulled muscle under my shoulder-blade which is giving me some gip.  Not doing enough exercise, and drinking a bit too much. Not a good combination.  need to change.  As a first step, we have agreed that all of us will follow Joey's diet, at least whilst at home.  We pretty much do, anyway, so it is not that much of a stretch to go 100%.  Apart from the yeast bit of course. Can't cut out booze altogether.

Izzy had her birthday party yesterday.  Sun sone and all had a lovely time.  About a dozen kids or so.  Izzy had been looking forward to this for, oh, months and it was all she wanted.  Then Chris and Joe from next door invited us over for dinner, with kids.  A very pleasant evening.  Today started well with a walk in the woods nearby by me and the kids.  Bit of a disagreement between Anne and I this morning over how to deal with a minor Joey upset (he insisted on playing with one of Izzies toys.  I told him that he could only do so once Izzy had decided to play with it.  Anne came down and asked Izzy if she minded if Joey played with it.  She said OK so everything calmed down.  But Joey did not learn anything about patience and respect for somebody else's property, and it put Izzy in the position where she had to make the decision.  What if she had said no?  Anyway, whilst Anne and I are broadly on the same page, there will always be differences.  But I was a bit miffed..

The second half of October and the temperature is in the uppers 60s and 70s.  Unbelievable.  Foliage is starting to turn to gold and red and yellow.  Spectacular in places.

Wee bugger just beat me at backgammon.  Now, I did give him some help and he was rather lucky with the dice, but, fair play to him.  Good for his maths, which he badly needs.  In fact, it is his biggest problem now.  See exchange with Mrs H below;

Stephanie,

Thanks - that sounds great.  We have had some discussions with Joey and are working on strategies to make maths at home more interesting for him via games etc.  Hopefully, together we will help him make the breakthrough needed.

Regards

Gery

 

---

From: shoffmann@thecambridgeschool.org
To: gjuleff@hotmail.com
Subject: math
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:50:46 -0400

Joey will get one on one help with math twice a week and continue with Ms. Gold for his math.  Since he is doing so well overall, we thought that a move backwards would not be a positive for his self-esteem.  Hope this works for you.  Have a nice day. Stephanie

18:50; Anne cooked a lovely jumbalia gumbo with shrimp (a new favourite with the kids) and chorizo (an old favourite) along with broccoli ('I love broccoli!' cries Izzy) and cabbage (Joey a signed up member of the 'cabbage gang').  Joey now drawing the Titanic going down and Izzy playing cards with Anne.  A lovely family scene after a good day.

Dad left yesterday.  It was a good visit and I think that he really enjoyed it.  His relationship with the kids grew stronger and hopefully that will continue.  His legs, though, are getting worse and he is no longer able to walk as much as before.  He does struggle manfully and managed some days to walk a couple of hours a day, albeit very slowly.

On our last walk, through the fields of Hopewell park, we met a very nice German lady who organises Brazilian au pairs as part of a cultural exchange and a New Zealander in a horse and buggy who trains horses for the Johnson and Johnson (pharmaceuticals) family.  One of them has a spread on the edge of Hopewell. Quite a cosmopolitan community we have here!

Izzy last night, when Anne was putting her to bed, was a bit tearful about work she could not do at school.  By chance, I went to the 'Back to school' night at the Pennington Presbyterian School, which Izzy attends.  They said all the right things about developing social and emotional skills and not pressurising the kids.  But also that they talked to local schools about what they expected of kids going into them next year, as Izzy will.  And this includes some basic reading and numerical skills.  Not the time for a long discussion here but it is wrong that a 4yr old should be upset because she feels that ashe cannot do the 'work'.  As it happens, a) the teachers were surprised as Izzy is doing just fine and b) we suspect that part of this is what she has picked up from Joey, which is v unfortunate.

Joey has been doing pretty well.  No complaints at school.  Making real progress with reading etc.  But he still has his moments and can be anxious, like this morning, when he really did not want to go to school.  On these occasions, Anne is very good with him and she then takes him.  Also took Izzy, in her pyjamas.  And I just got a phone call from Anne saying that she had met up with Lorna and was going to Boro Bean for coffee - with Izzy in pyjamas!

Still alive but very busy with Dad and doing not very much!  Where does bloody time go?  But all is well, more or less!

We are out of the contract to buy the house.  Not 100% sure that it was the right thing to do but we did not exactly love the house and were fed up with the messing around.  Bottom line is that it did not 'feel' right for Anne anymore and we always said that we both had to want to buy somewhere.

We did look at a house in Pennington Tuesday morning, which was lovely in many ways. albeit a wee bit small.  I thought, on leaving to go to the Amish country, that we might actually put a bid in.  But, in my absence, Anne took against it.  Bit too small.  But, above all,  she thinks that it would be beneficial for Joey, in particular, to stay here for longer.  Why?  because most of the kids in the Cambridge school have 'issues' (it is a specialist school!) and Joey, whilst friendly with quite a few, has yet to make any real friends.  On the other hand, we have Chris and Jack living here.  Neither have any learning difficulty or social behaviour issues but both are lovely kids.  We think that Joey has learned a good deal just from playing with them and it would do him good to keep doing so for a while.

So here we stay.  Anne called up the landlady last night and, in principle, she is happy for us to extend the lease.