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JFGP had a little accident. He was on holiday with his Mum and his little brother and managed to take a tumble. They were camping just north of Newcastle and it had been raining – quite a lot. The assembled small people were playing in the playground at the camp site and number 1 son went to slide down the slide. He didn’t want to get his trousers dirty so he decided to go down the slide on his feet. It all went well until he got to the bottom. Where it all went very badly.

That was 3 days into a week long holiday. After some time at the doctor’s and a couple of x-rays they managed to struggle through a couple more days but then came home early. My holiday at home was curtailed and my exclusive access to the playstation was at an end but it was good to see the little chap home safe and nearly well.

After a visit to our GP this morning, then a specialist and a few more x-rays the latest prognosis is that he has two breaks, one above and one below the elbow. He has a new cast and will be keeping it on for the next four weeks. I’ll post another photo when it comes off.

Here are our subjects at the start of the calendar year. New Year for us is at the beginning of the long summer holiday from school so I think we can say that the boys are relaxed.

This picture was taken on the first “Dad day” of the holidays. This is where I and two small boys get the day to ourselves to play and go on adventures. Or in this case play computer games and go to the pool for a swim.

This is our official family photo for 2011. If I was witty and eloquent I would accompany it with an annual family message. But I can’t compete with Mil Millington. So go and read his message for a few wry smiles.

I will let you into a little secret about this year’s photo. I had it all planned – and in advance, which is a first for me. We were going to go to the beach and get a shot of 2 Aussie boys on their boogie boards enjoying the surf, sun and sand that epitomises living in Sydney. With Father Christmas hats on. It was already the perfect Australian Christmas photo, in my head. Unfortunately the weather had other ideas. It has been cold, grey and raining for the last few weeks and on the day I had allotted for the Christmas photo it wasn’t any better.

So I had to improvise with an indoor shot. Considering the circumstances I don’t think that I did too badly.

In a first, at least recently, here is the November photo of our two subjects actually published in the month of November. You probably won’t notice a lot of difference since last month but a variation in dress and expression is at least worth an extra picture.

November is always a quiet month here. Spring is just getting started but it’s still not unabashed sun and warmth every day. We are on the home stretch towards the end of the school and calendar year and small boys thoughts turn to those endless days of the summer holidays. Small boys parent’s thoughts, meanwhile, turn to how are we going to be at home for six weeks and still keep our jobs. Some combination of 4 day weeks (SWMBO), extra utilisation of Lesley and strategic days off (yours truly) should see us through. Fingers crossed.

I know it’s November, but I’m playing catch up. Somewhere between watching the Rugby World Cup, paying scant attention to the bin lids and working a little bit too much there doesn’t seem to have been much time to curate my photos. But I’m catching up. Slowly. Here is the formal picture of two small boys that I took in October, 2011.

Please ignore the small boy behind the curtain. But if this works I may be moving my photos. More later, or not as the fancy takes me.

On the off chance that anyone is still reading this collection of ramblings could you let me know by email or in the comments below if you can’t see a picture of MIGO next to this text. Also, could you check that when you click on the thumbnail that you see a much bigger version of the picture? Thanks awfully.

I don’t know when it happened but one day in my early 40′s I woke up and discovered that I love XTC. Along with Prefab Sprout they are probably the finest pop artists of the last thirty years. As evidence allow me to present the fantastic Mayor of Simpleton;

You should also listen to Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume 2) the best album released in 2000.

A special double month bonanza in this post. First, we have two small boys from July, otherwise known as the birthday month. We had quite a busy time with 2 parties to (in my case) attend. MIGO’s was first, even though his birthday is later, and we enjoyed a couple of quiet hours at AMF Bowling in Dee Why. Well, as quiet as you can expect with 12 children between the ages of 5 and 8. Still no one lost any shoes and there was very little crying. So I count that as a success.

Our next party was a week or so after JFGP‘s birthday and he decided on a gymnastics party. The lovely people at Manly Warringah Gymnastics club organise kid’s parties most weekends and have the event down to a fine art. From floor exercises to the beam, the parallel bars and even vaulting into a foam pit the small people have (and had) a ball. Then we just escorted them upstairs and filled them with the finest party food. Not a healthy item on the table. This one was another hit and a number of the attendees left claiming that they wanted their party at the gym.

Your extra treat is the August picture of the two small people. The month is still young so there isn’t a huge amount to report. Swimming lessons start again in a couple of weeks as we continue our preparation for the 2016 Olympic games where the team are confident of a large number of medals in the pool.

Those keeping an eye on my photo stream at flickr will be forgiven for thinking that I have gone into hibernation. Well I have, somewhat, but I am hoping to get out and about with my camera as winter turns into spring and we start to venture out of the house again. I may even start taking pictures that don’t feature the kids. Then again maybe I won’t.

The new car has arrived. I think it looks marvellous, and everyone who has walked past has stopped to take a look. And definitely not to snigger. There has been no sniggering.

It’s been named the orange taxi for two reasons. The first is rather obvious but the second is because it’s the first diesel car I’ve ever owned or driven and when I was growing up the only car type vehicles with diesel engines were the black cabs in London. I know that they are all the rage now but to this day I can’t hear a diesel engine and not think I should be putting my arm up and whistling for attention.

Two small boys were suitably impressed when I picked them up from school yesterday. I asked if they wanted to go for a drive and they said yes. So I asked where they would like to go (just call me consultative Dad) and they both said “home, so we can play Wii”. There is no pleasing some people. These two were pleased when I took them home and let them play Super Mario Brothers.

I order our new car in April. Last week I had to sign the paperwork, arrange insurance and agree a price for my part exchange. With a bit of luck and a following wind we will be the proud possessors of a new car early next week. There is only one thing left to sort out.

Which 80′s pop stars are coming with my Kia Sportage?