A life just as ordinary

Just like you, but different

It’s not where you’re at it’s where you’re from.

Part of being where you are is knowing where you came from. I’m from a family that has a chequered history, not unusual. and the family tree is a journey, … Continue reading

October 30, 2013 · Leave a comment

Beer at the beach house (Bach) Yeastie Boys + Firestone Walker + Panhead – Englebert Pumpernickel

Yes indeed a collaboration between the nice people at Yeastie Boys + Firestone Walker + Panhead , to bring you the Englebert Pumpernickel. A ridiculously pale beer with an immense … Continue reading

October 25, 2013 · 2 Comments

Trees. They take up a lot of space.

We had 4 trees in front of our house, right on the boundary line, and two of them were close to a drain, and you know the horror stories about … Continue reading

October 12, 2013 · 5 Comments

Sporting your life vicariously – the return

MissPdubyah gave up playing Club Hockey 18 months ago, and all Hockey at the end of her time at College. Much to the despair of MrsPhil and myself. After all … Continue reading

July 6, 2013 · Leave a comment

A Letter to Murray McCully – he replies

The reply to my original letter is posted here as a PDF MurraryMcCully or as a picture below, This is a response to a letter I wrote to my MP, who had … Continue reading

March 21, 2013 · 4 Comments

The 12 ways of Christmas – The Holiday with the ‘folks’

We’re lucky enough to enjoy a beach house. We’re lucky enough to have ‘Christmas‘ in the summer months, being as how it’s New Zealand and it’s all the other way … Continue reading

December 27, 2012 · Leave a comment

The 12 ways of Christmas – The Dinner

Since I moved from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern (England to New Zealand) I’ve always struggled with the concept of  Santa, Trees, Snow, and the “full’ Christmas dinner. There … Continue reading

December 15, 2012 · 1 Comment

The 12 ways of Christmas – The Tree

This year might be the year when we don’t have a traditional tree decoration at home. By decoration I mean a tree with things on it. As a child the … Continue reading

December 9, 2012 · Leave a comment

Happy Families – yes you’ve left home but…..

MrsPdubyah and me, well we’re a nuclear family, 2 adults, 2 children, cat, or more correctly now 4 adults and cat. Even more correctly 3 adults at home and one … Continue reading

October 14, 2012 · Leave a comment

Two Funerals and a wondering

To be honest it’s been a few funerals,  but specifically I’m thrown off by axis by one of which was this week, the other from 1988. This week the funeral … Continue reading

October 5, 2012 · Leave a comment

Happy Families, the one with the lost photographs #2

I found some more recent pictures, some of me as a fine young man, and they are presented here for your amusement.

September 15, 2012 · Leave a comment

Happy Families – the one with the recap #2

Anyways we crack on ….  There are many more things to tell If you remember we had an aunt Peggy  – it turns out that she was not a relation … Continue reading

August 28, 2012 · Leave a comment

Happy Families – the one with the recap

I mentioned yesterday how strangely a family that doesn’t really communicate that well suddenly gets a burst of enthusiasm for each other. Today I have the recollections of  the #2 … Continue reading

August 28, 2012 · Leave a comment

Happy Families, the one with the lost photographs

Among the many best things about re-uniting with family post the stress of the death of the mother is that there is more acceptance and sharing of things. This time … Continue reading

August 27, 2012 · Leave a comment

Those Three Little Words…

Empty Nest Syndrome. MrsPdubyah was moping about the house yesterday ‘unfulfilled’ and generally mooching and moody, #1Son has allegedly left home and MrsPdubyah yesterday used some of my beer tokens … Continue reading

July 15, 2012 · Leave a comment

Growing up – the one with the still leaving home

It’s been an intriguing week. Boychild has signed his tenancy agreement with his girlfriend and a new landlord for a place in Kelston. All his worldly goods in a couple … Continue reading

July 13, 2012 · Leave a comment

Growing up – the one with the leaving home.

#1 Son is about to leave the parental home and set up a love nest with this girlfriend. It’s been a while coming. As a father I’m pleased that he’s … Continue reading

July 7, 2012 · 3 Comments

Unhappy Families – the one with the long lost brother.

From previous posts you might have got the impression that there was a family member shy of a family. The youngest child had mysteriously and inexplicably decided to shy away from contact with … Continue reading

June 28, 2012 · Leave a comment

This is just me being me

I did all this!

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