.....Once upon a time.........

there was an old(ish) man who didn't need one of these reading to him tonight!

Kept Charlotte up until 10.00 last night....then took her off to bed. 5 minutes of crying and then she was sound asleep.....result!......you never lose the parent tricks!

Oh foolish man to forget that memory fades with time!

Charlie woke me up at 3.30....howling....went into her room......my heart melted at the tear stained face and the upraised, pleading arms.....picked her up and carried her into our room...thinking she would go back to sleep in the big bed with Grandad.

Wrong!

After 5 minutes of pretending to go to sleep she announced, "Charwotte awake now.....drink, drink, bottom change".......so I changed her nappy, got her some milk and snuggled up with her. Suddenly she lunged to the left and picked up the TV remote......" Wemote Grandad, press button"

Well it couldn't do any harm could it?....and it might send her off to sleep.

Wrong!

I did learn a few things though......
1. Charlie and Lola is not on at 4.00 a.m.
2. Ditto Peppa Pig
3. Loony Tunes Babies WILL NOT do as a substitute......" No wanna wabbit (Bugs Bunny) anna duck (Daffy)!"
4. Post Man Pat and Fireman Sam are easily mixed up by two year olds.
5. The new Magic Roundabout is not a patch on the old one.
6. 2 year olds can recognise Mickey Mouse from the outline of his ears but do not realise that that is only the station identifier....programmes do not start until 6.00!
7. Beds are really good for bouncing on....over and over and over and over again.
8. If you can persuade Grandad to pick you up and take you to the window you can pretend you're flying....if you're 2!
9. There are hundreds of kids programmes on in the wee small hours....but none of them are Charlie and Lola or Peppa Pig!
10. Absolutely the best toy to play with in a bedroom without toys is Grandad's tick-tock!

Eventually 6.00 came round....the time I needed to get up to go fishing...and I handed Charlie over to the Daughter.

I got sorted, picked up Shaun and off we went.

I learned a few more things.
1. 3 hours sleep is not the ideal preparation for a six hour fishing match.
2. A McD breakfast is not an instant boost of energy and revitalisation.
3. Fish are vindictive bastards......I caught a big bream....as I was putting it into my net it flicked its tail....and whacked my tub of maggots into the air....losing me about 25% of my bait.
4. When you are dog tired long straight motorways are not the best places to drive along!
5. No body has any sympathy for Grandads who forget how devious kids can be!

Das vidanya moy padruga.