GrumpyDaddy

Amidst the stupidity of a government intent on ruining the economy, our education system and our health service the Tory/Liberal Anchluss did get something right. The decision to abandon plans for a jump-jet version of the F35 advanced naval strike fighter was a very sensible move.

This more complicated version of the F35 has a reduced range and reduced weapons payload compared to the regular version of the aircraft. The jump jet is also more complicated to build, fly and maintain with all the extra expenses that follows. For obvious reasons the Royal Navy hasn't been keen on receiving this version. However defence contractors that are friendly with the Tory party are.

Abandoning the jump jet wasn't entirely a pain free choice. Flying the conventional version of the aircraft would require our two new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers to be fitted with costly catapult launching and tailhook recovery systems.

Yesterday I had a moment of true contentedness. Obviously it didn't last too long - I'm too much of a grump for that - but for a while I was truly happy and at peace for the first time since, well I'm not going over old ground now.

I was walking down along garden path holding the hand of our two year old Will. He was humming a tune of his own composition. It was raining, for a change not water, but cherry blossoms from the trees in our garden,

The air was full of birdsong; beautiful, melodic, birdsong. I don't think I've ever heard as much birdsong as our new village. The birdsong is an ever-present beautiful chorus here. It's so good for the soul.

And so as little Will and I walked among the blossom and birdsong, hand in hand, with the sun shining on us I had a moment of peace and clarity. It feels like after the dramas and travels of recent years, our family has found its home. I have found my home, somewhere I can relax and hopefully heal from all that has befallen us.

I do believe I am actually happy.

A slight problem for the blog though, but I'm sure I can muster up some grumpyness soon...

Yes there has been something of a pause. I've been moving house. We've busy little bees. But I'm sure the usual miserable shite blogging service will resume now we're moving back to normal.

In the meantime why not check out my music blog Grumpyrocker, it's got plenty of good stuff there, mostly not written by me.

Got lots of stuff to post about so I'd better get back onto it, or Mumsnet won't let me play in their paddling pool anymore.

Once again the subject of wearing crosses in the workplace has reared its head again following the government's decision that there is no automatic right to wear one.On this rare occasion I agree with the government.

The sort of people who get annoyed by this kind of thing have already been getting worked up about it. How can we show we are Christians, they demand of the government, if we can't wear our execution-based jewelry?

Here of course is the irony. The sort of person who needs a bloody great cross to show that they are a Christian, the sort of person who rants and raves about their rights to wear a cross, needs a heck of a lot more than a piece of jewelry to convince anyone they have anything to do with the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.

Sorry, I know I've not given you much attention of late. We've been rather busy here. In four weeks time we'll be on the move to our new house and there's lots to fo in that time.

We've done plenty though - got quotes from movers, chosen and bought new carpets, booked the move with BT and Sky and many other things besides. We still haven't done the twins' school application though - whoops - tonight, we'll get that done tonight.

I don't really like moving, it's usually so stressful and tiring. Moving is one thing - but moving with children is another kettle of fish. However when we moved to Dorset from London we used a full packing service. This was a revelation, suddenly so much of the stress of moving was removed. And thankfully we'll be using a packing service this time around.

So rather than dreading the move - as I usually would - I'm actually really excited about it. I'm really looking forward to the change of scenery, moving to a house that works better for our family and to starting my new job as full-time parental technician.

I'm also looking forward to starting some new projects. I've got plenty of plans for my music blog that I intend to work on once we're settled in our new home.

BTW sorry for this very dull blog post. I'm just testing my ability to write blog posts with the new browser in my recently updated Android tablet. The old one wasn't great for this purpose. The Ice Cream Sandwich browser is great though. You may be glad to hear that it now has a working spell checker. No excuses now

I really like where we live. Our Dorset village might be mostly a new build - but it is still a rural village with clean air, almost no crime and has a strong sense of community. But to be honest since moving here in 2009 I've not really been much of a social animal. Lovely place though it is it lacks one important thing - a pub.

Now you may scoff, or even offer some temperance advice. Hold fire. I am serious and this has nothing at all to do with alcohol. In fact I don't drink that much anymore - hard to believe if you read some of the tales of my youth. I've always loved pubs - whether drinking pint after pint of ale with friends, or just drinking something softer and enjoying a good book. Pubs are great places to meet and chat, I used to work behind a bar many years ago and the social aspect of that is something I miss, though not the work.

It comes down to this - I miss having a local.

Some sort of normality has returned to our household today. After nearly a week and a half of ilness both the twins are back at school today. That said, I'm still expecting a phone call at some point to come and bring Pat¹ home. Not that's he's really ill anymore, but he's in complete mard-arse² mode thanks to a week at home.

In the true style of parent blogging I'm going to moan about my lot. I've no real reason to, the fact I can sit here spending time to blog shows I'm a privilaged person, but parent blogging is all about moaning about stuff. In a moment I may start moaning about stuff I have no real training or expertese in such as the methods used to teach reading at school or the design of buggies, or some other stuff I know nothing about.

I know it's a bit late for talking of new year resolutions but earlier in the month I couldn't actually think of anything I wanted to promise myself in 2012. After some thought I've now decided on something - partly inspired by the approach of the BBC radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage.

Over the years I've embroiled myself in many a compex argument with creationists and those that subscribe to the intelligent design concept. The sad fact is these people are too into their delusions and lies to admit their error. You can't change the opinion of people this stupid. And I've come to realise I'm just wasting my breath.

The other problem with debating with creationists and especially intelligent design advocates is that they believe that their view is of equal value in a scientific discussion as those who offer real scientific theories. In trying to debate with these muppets we've given them credence, which is far from what they deserve. They peddle their "evolution is just a theory" nonsense at length - despite not understand what "theory" actually means in a scientific context. They believe that "theory" means guess, it doesn't.

Hello and a belated Happy New Year. There's been plenty of anticipation and excitement in our household over the festive period because 2012 signals change for our little family. I've held off mentioning any of this over the last few weeks until plans were finalised.

The big news is that my wife has got a new job. Okay, for most of you that's not very exciting. But as she's a vicar that means change for all of us. The most visible change is that we're going to be moving. Not far. We're leaving our sleepy West Dorset village and heading to another sleepy West Dorset village some half an hour's drive west.

We're moving to a large vicarage - which is nice. But it also means lots of change in how we live our lives. With my wife taking over a full time role I'm going to become one of those fabled beasts - a full-time house husband. Scary eh? Okay with the twins at school it's not going to be too tough in childcare terms - just me and toddler Will most days. But during the school holidays I imagine the stress levels will rise.

2011 has been a great year for rock music, in particular for progressive rock and melodic death metal. While I still hold that 2009 was the best rock music year of recent times I still think there are plenty of great records that should be on your shopping list when those Christmas vouchers come flooding in next week.

Check out my musical review of the year over on my music blog Grumpyrocker.

I wrote recently about how I wasn't well at the moment and some of the rather unpleasant procedures I've undergone to get to the bottom¹ of whatever is wrong with me.

If you remember I had two tests lined up. I've been very nervous about these tests, more because I've been scared of what they might find. Partly because I tend to worry about such things anyway and also because a stupid GP scared the Bejaysus² out of me.

Well the experience of the first test was fine. As fine as being fed feet first into a giant radioactive doughnut can be anyway. We can save on electricity bills now as I'll glow in the dark for a year or so. In the week since the CT scan I'd not heard from my GP or consultant and took that to mean "no news is good news". After all if they'd found anything in there they'd have called me, right?³.