Dear Dad

Dear Dad,

As you know it is remembrance day today. The end of WWI. Although you fought in WWII, you never let a year pass without reminding us all of the Poppy Appeal.  How you, and your brave compatriots fought for our country and future. It used to bore some family members, you know, banging on about the war, blah, blah, blah. But I was fascinated at some of the life stories you told. At times I found it hard to believe it was real, but as I grew it all came about before my eyes in books, documentaries and films. Devastating. Horrifying. It never left you. Especially your POW years.

Remember, Dad, when Ross had his Primary 7, WW2 project to do and he won a book token for the best one? It included the drawing he made of the dragon tattoo you had inked on your forearm while in France. And that wonderful interview he had with you about bombs and bombing?  Then the way you recited off your army name and number effortlessly, as if it was fresh off the tongue!! You also learned him a few 'choice' words in German! I think 'Schwein-Hund'  was the mildest one! Those didn't go in the project folder but among his bibliography source reference page, he'd included in huge letters: MY GRAMPA.

I still and will always remind the boys that you were the only one of 5 friends to return home to your little village after the war. Right to your dying day this still hurt you as you felt so guilty meeting the families of your dead friends once Hitler was put in his place. God spared you though, Dad. And I'll be eternally grateful for that, because you were a gem of a man. The most patient, funny, selfless man I knew. Heaven knows how you put up with Mam all those years - but you believed in unity no matter how bad things got.

My very fondest memories of you was when we watched Danny Kaye films together. We knew every song from Hans Christian Anderson and the one we loved best was 'Inchworm'. Your wee twin girls, Ellie and Migi, as we were nicknamed by you, would sing the 'sums' bit in the background while you sang the lyrics. Your voice had a beautiful tone to it. Of course and ironically, you're favourite song from a musical was supposedly Hitler's favourite, too. Edelweiss.  I still can't listen to that without crying. Anybody's version. Daft old sop that I am!

As I grew I loved you best after you'd had a few nips. Your quick wit and patter after a swally was so enchanting and you were a bit of an auld rascal- weren't you? Remember when Migi visited from London with her snooty husband, when her kids and mine were small? How you sighed through every karaoke song until the whisky kicked in and then you took the mic away and got my little ones to sing Irvin Berlin's 'At The Devil's Ball......?' Remember how mortified he was when you changed some of the words? Of course the kiddies didn't have a clue what it all meant but the rest of us got a laugh at it! That was ma Dad.....

Then there was the last ever Christmas you spent with us! Remember that nosy neighbour of mine who just wouldn't bugger off with her son on Xmas Eve? Yapping and yapping. You were getting fed up listening to her 'drivel' and when she mentioned her dad had just had  hip-replacement surgery you asked her loudly....."So whose hip did he get?" And Trevor struggled to keep his laugh in? She left soon after that. You old scamp!.... And don't worry Dad - we'll each keep pouring you a mini-whisky every New Year on your resting place - even if it does kill the grass! I smile at the vision of all those empty miniature Bells bottles that the green-keeper has to tidy away each New Year and Father's Days. I could carry on forever here but sadly, I can't.

Dad you were the best of old buddies. I can remember how you'd bend down, creaking your old bones to tie a kid's shoe lace in case they tripped. You were forever checking the boys. And your parting words every time we left the house was "mind the roads". Since I was a nipper.

The biggest regret in my life was that you never got the chance to see my boys play in their bands. Dad, you were a musical genius. Remember when you learned me to play The Blue Danube with you on the piano? Well, I can still do that - but it doesn't sound the same without you on the chords! You could play any instrument by ear and always encouraged the boys to do the same - lift it and give it a try. Of course, they weren't as gifted as you, but boy did they learn fast! They had rhythm all right!  It was in their blood, their Grampa's blood. Thank you so much, Dad.

I'm saying goodbye with a picture of you with your army friends. Ted, Willie and Jim. How that guitar suits you! You guys really cheered the troops up! And this has been a remembrance day for me, too. But it's dedicated to only one hero.

Love,
Ellie
x

A Bet On Lynette

Bigging them up again! I can't help it. My son's band Casino have just recorded their latest offering called Lynette. It's a wonderful little tune, with wonderful, uncomplicated words. It's even more special (as with most of their songs) because it is based on true life.

The song is about a girl that my son, Ross, fancied from afar. As a teenager still at high school he used to hang around a shop called Fratz that was situated next to a local park, with his mates. He was euphoric when Lynette became a member of the group and basically it's about his gentle pursuit of her - in which he was eventually successful and now wonders what happened to her. And because of the lyrics, I now know that he puffed away in his latter years of high school and had the odd alcopop! But after hearing the song, I think I'll give a belated rollocking a miss. If he'd never met Lynette and her bad habits, then this song might never have come about. Older ones like my old self can even relate to it and it did take me back to my own teenage days - less the fags and booze - and daft schoolgirl crushes. My favourite lines are in the bridge lead up to the chorus that goes as such:

'Oh, Lynette, don't forget, leave me two's on your cigarette.'
Get it on, won't be long, till we kiss like we had never met.'

On November 26th in Behind The Wall in Falkirk, the band are having their first EP launch party, on which Lynette will be included. The song will be up on their website next Wednesday/Thursday after it's been mastered (bloody perfectionists!) and I gaurantee you'll be hooked after a couple of listens. The guys will also be filming their first script video (to Shadow Company) where a certain amount of acting, (with a director) will be taking place. As far as I've fished it's setting is in a hotel after/during a function and Ross will be sitting at the bar with a whisky and a black eye, while Telfer (frontman) walks in with his shirt half hanging out his suit and his tie all squint like he's been in a fight, too, in the opening scene. That's all the little bastards will tell me! The song is actually about a prossie, so I'll be curious to see if that's included. For a young band that's only been together a year, I'd say they're well paying their dues to their fans.

Last Day Of Fools......!

One good thing about friends of the offspring is, that if they're tanked up enough, wondrous tales of yore start surfacing. Some Friday nights my older son, Ross, now 20, invites a few mates to his room for a tipple before they hit the very expensive night club in town, otherwise they wouldn't be able to afford to get to 3am. But while popping up with a few snacks and things, they like to spill about silly things. Sometimes I push my luck and quiz them about this and that. Mind you, there will be things that mothers NEVER find out, and we don't want to know anyhow.

Lewis, a friend of his has one of the biggest hearts I know, but also has the biggest gob and was telling me what happened on the last day of school - three years ago. Apart from Ross attending his very last day dressed as an eedjit (photo) his group of close mates had a series of pranks made up and thus went on:

They ran into the library with one of them 'horn in a can' things - that you hear at football matches - and almost gave the clerk a coronary.

They tied adjacent classroom door handles together and banged on the doors simultaneously.

Jars of little fishes (baggy minnows) from a nearby pond were tipped into the staff room toilet sinks.

A huge dick was sprayed in cream or foam (they can't remember) on the head's office door.

And lastly (all that they were admitting to anyhow) bog roll was looted from the toilets and decorated over the trees............

I can see why Ross never confessed to any of this as behaviour like this wouldn't have been tolerated on a normal day. But I can't help smiling when I think of the poor teacher who went to wash her/his hands after a piddle.

Head Banger!

I shall be (un) gracing these pages again here soon. This is the busiest week via bands, practice and gigging. Casino are recording a new song this week called Lynette and my other son's band No Need For Idols have week day gigs - some they have to turn down because their schoolwork must come first. Yes, it's an Anadin special week this week! Back soon to catch up!

Happy Hollereen....*sniff* ...I'll Miss You!

I might not get the chance to post in time for Halloween. It might be the last of any future Halloween pictures - for a good while anyway. My kids are too old now and Trick or Treat is so popular round our area that I think I'll be forgiven for not joining in for a bit. It will be the first time in fifteen years that I'll not have contributed.

I'm posting some pictures of last Halloween. My wee sister lives in a block of flats with buzzer entry so it's difficult for kid's to get access so I threw a little solitude party for my niece instead. The pics will pretty much speak for themselves. My sister followed us with her camera.

Indoors in Scotland it is traditional to 'dook for aipples!' A basin filled with water, with apples and monkey nuts floating in it and a fork is all it takes. You have to put the fork in your mouth, hands behind your back, aim, let go and try to 'stab' the apple to eat! (Rachel didn't cheat - honest!) It's messy, wet, but so much fun. Now she's at school it'll be parties there from now on. Silly really but it kinda hurts to have closure on such an event. But my time really is needed elsewhere now.

ps.......I just love the pic where the 'Witch' gets a fright &...... Cat's Halloween...!

Beauty and the Beasts...!

I very rarely judge other peoples' children. I don't think there is the perfect parent out there either. But there is a group of mum's - and sometimes dad's - that I don't understand. The Beauty Pageant ones. How can mothers display their daughters like so? And the lengths some go to!

I watched a few episodes through the week (another bout of insomnia!) while channel surfing. It almost made me cry. Not for the joy of watching a crown being placed on the winner's head but how these poor little girls' future expectations of the world might be.

The programme follows 2 girls in particular per episode and I could hardly believe the way they were forced into dance routines, and structured how to 'walk' and 'smile' properly. Being heavily berated for a missed movement. Forced into make up of ridiculous levels. It was more rivalry they displayed with the other contestants than after a bit of fun. Mums hollering at them, tutting from the audience if the poor kid didn't answer questions quickly or cute enough. And the make up on some of them! False eyelashes, I even seen a kid being made to wear false teeth as she had a few gaps from where her milk teeth fell out. Spray tanning!! Then they're trussed up with hair that's far too old for them, wearing dresses like bog-roll ladies from the 70's that cost a fortune.

There is this little British kid called Sasha, 11, I've also read about whose role model is a much older 'glamour model' who bares boobs and buffed up bits for photo shoots or nights out. Her mother supports her child's fantasy future of one day perhaps becoming as 'famous' by popping her tits out in the local and national papers. I bet she must be looking forward to that day of publication. The poor kid even said she doesn't care that her schools grades are low. Glamour and fame is her future. So, could it be some of these mums are living vicariously through their daughters? Or is it in fact simply a way of getting mother and child bonding in the style we females like to often do, with no future problems?

Look, I have a niece who's 5 and I adore her. Being in a house full of men I enjoy the female company when she stops over. We wear make up!! Rachel has me looking fabulous in minutes. Sparkly purple eye shadow on one eye, green on the other, mega-orange cheeks and bright red lippy! Then she combs my hair into her own (tuggy) unique style where the comb often gets lost. Sometimes she brings her crowns so we can play princesses. Sometimes we go to the shops like that!!Then once we're fed up we'll go into the garden and dirty our hands and nails digging for bugs and the worms that she loves snapping in two! Oi! We're still princesses you know - just evil worm hating ones! Then we'll share some food (after a long bath!) moan about about how 'rotten and smelly' boys are. Then off to bed with a good story and no thoughts as to how we'll pass tomorrow. Not in fear of silly steps going wrong. Or feeling the world will collapse if nothing is won. Or if our smiles or crowns are crooked.

Life shouldn't be mega-competitive for under 10's. I'm not saying these little girls don't have some fun out of it but it's the burden on their shoulders if they don't win that saddens me. Some of these mothers take their girls to every pageant they can and it costs them a fortune. PUT THE MONEY AWAY FOR THEIR FUTURE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY YEARS INSTEAD WOMAN!

There, I feel better now! Glitz and glam will always be a part of most growing girls' lives. That's natural. And the competitive stages of how women look will kick in when they're about 15 or 16 where they compare clothes or want to look as good as so and so. But not that young.

I'll leave you with two pictures. One is of my niece Rachel and a rare picture of how one of these little mites may really feel. See if you can guess which is which.....?(She says sarcastically!)
ps..........I promise to post a picture of me the next time Rachel gives me a makeover - I'm stunning! Honest!

The 20 Year Hitch!

Yes, today we've reached that milestone. Had to climb many hills and had so many spills that I dare not think about them all. I've been married for 20 years now. I just found out that your 20th Anniversary is your 'China' one - which is very apt given all the plates and cups I've threw at him over the years! Never had a direct hit. Not with one of them! Kept Polycell in business well, so I've at least managed something good.

So what are Trevor and I going to be doing about it today? Bog all. I need an emergency extraction at the dentist, (which my daughter'll go ballistic about when she finds out! She's an RDN or 'Matron' as her work colleagues named her) and he's got the cold again. So I suppose a little moan together before bedtime will be the best we can do.

Marriage is a unity with so many odds against you. No guarantee it's gonna last. I showed him on facebook recently how easy it was to divorce him! Well, he kept interrupting me to look for google tips on killing chocobo's or similar for a ruddy computer game! But I doubt we'll ever part now. Although we have very little in common (really we don't) he still makes me laugh. Virtually raised the boys himself when they were little as I was never out of hospitals. Honestly, as with today, I went to the dentist looking forward to having my feet up for a bit. Not in the least bit scared of needles. Had more pricks than Kerplunk me and it shows right over the gynaecological region. But he's the biggest prick I've ever had. And I wouldn't want it any other way. Hubby, I doubt if you'll be reading this but:

I BLOODY LOVE YOU, I DO!

And here we are on our wedding day. A simple do with family mostly, and that's my brother Rab with the fag in his gob! Never let it be said that I pick pictures with no class! Just look at how Trevor nervously fingers his tips. Yeah - you've done it now mate!
And us today where he's lost his hairline and I've lost my waistline! Well, all marriages are give and TAKE aren't they!!

Life's Big (and small) disCRAPancies.

I don't know where some people get off. How some dog owners think it's alright to let their pet drop it's back end, let out a steamy one and then just casually walk away. Abandonment. Some dogs get public praise for it, which is only fair as it's keeping to it's toilet-training bargain side of things but I'm sure if the dog could understand, it'd be appalled. Why is this still going on..?

The park next to my house is a haven for inconsiderate dog owners. The amount of times we mums in the street have had to clean our carpets and prize muck from soles on shoes is unbelievable . It's angering that a kid can't get a slide on a slide or swing on a swing without bringing home feaces on their shoes and clothes. Ironically, as they grew, we parents made sure that our children took turns in picking up litter (while trying to dodge the dollops) and used to get designated duty days.

Sadly, it brings needless shame to the true caring dog owners that live on our street and surrounding area. Even with park bins for the doggy-do to go in, and free poop scoop and bags from the local council, our park is still being abused. And the culprits aren't always busy families with busy lives but older and uppity owners (one with a big car and plenty of golfing time to kill). They'll be toodling off home to a neat garden and stain free carpets. I swear if I knew their addresses I'd post a few neatly tied presents through their letterbox.

The worst one is this retired lady. She has two lovely black Labradors. Mother and daughter. The older one always trails behind but on approaching the park it's arse goes into bowel release mode and it never makes it to the grass in time. It shits as it walks!! I've said to her a couple of times about it and she picked up right away then, but I get real miffed if I see the infamous dollops lying outside my neighbours' path. She knows it can only be her Lab doing this and must pass it on her journey back.

Anyhow, talking of crap, I've prattled on enough. Here's wishing you a happy and squish free walk home wherever you reside.

Totally Eggsited...!

This has been an excellent week. The biggest news is that after fertility treatment, my daughter has released an egg. Diagnosed with polycystic ovaries last October after 18 months of trying to conceive, there was fear that motherhood may not even happen but she seems to be progressing wonderfully. Fingers crossed - apart from her legs!

Of my oldest son's good news - his band, Casino, have received their confirmation date for playing King Tuts - a renowned Scottish venue and the biggest sought after performance stage!

Of my youngest son's good news - his band, No Need For Idols, have recorded their first demo, with amazing tracks for 15 year olds to have composed and have their new website up and running!

Now all I need really, for all 3 of them, is a direct hit - and my job here is almost done.

Violet Sky, Here We Go, Walk Away......coming to an ear near you very soon!

My youngest son and best friend Oliver have just arrived home from the recording studio, their band having just finished their first demo. As with Adam's brother's band, they're getting gigs galore, sometimes having to turn them down. Where do the years go? This picture below is Adam and Oliver 3 years ago when they were both 13 - little dreamers:
And messing in the garden:
Helping me support my favourite charity by way of their very first performance - still only 13:
And proud of it:Now 3 years on they've recruited new members and formed No Need For Idols and they've stormed into the semi-finals of our local Battle Of The Bands and today recorded their first demo? Children no more. Onwards boys!
So from left to right there's Callum, Oliver, David, Adam and Connor. I'll put in a link once their new songs are internet available - hopefully tomorrow!

Friends since they were six, and even with them attending different high schools, 'Addie and Ollie' have always been in touch and remain to stop over at each others houses, these days to write songs, instead of on walls - we'll sometimes their bedroom walls if inspiration can't wait for a note pad. Despite falling out a hundred times, they'll always be mates. They've never let a silly row last. For they know when somethings feel right......and now they're cementing that in song. Good Luck Guys! Maw's very proud of you!

and here's the link;
http://www.myspace.com/noneedforidols