Super Dad

Bodhi’s school fete was on Saturday. We wandered up and meandered through the surprisingly well organised festivities. Stalls, rides, music, food, competitions and fantastic organisation all round. While Bodhi was wriggling his way through the obstacle laden bowels of a large inflatable caterpillar, I spied that most leveling of manly pursuits – The sideshow alley Strongman Hammer challenge (bang the mallet down, hit the bell). Several stout, stocky fathers had failed in their attempts to ding the bell atop the pole, which had made a small crowd gather round. It wasn’t so much their failure but the look of utter defeat in their child’s eyes immediately afterward that stayed with me.

How hard could it be I thought, as Bodhi and I wandered hand-in-hand over to the growing crowd? Deceptive no doubt, but It looked simple enough. Still, those strongarm dads before me had been found severely wanting. Their hits barely registered a “Modest” rating (between the “Passable” and “Tell him he’s dreaming” marks). Parting the crowd, I handed over my entry fee.

With the long handled mallet in hand, I looked down at Bodhi, smugly winked, rocked back, swung and gave it an almighty whack. The lead tracer shot up, passed “Passable” on its way to “Thunder God” but fell breathtakingly short of the ultimate mark before hurtling back to the ground carrying the hopes of my adoring son with it. Shit, I thought. I gave that one hell of a crack and still fell short. I looked down to my side. Bodhi, concern writ large on his innocent features, burned through my soul.

I resolved there and then that I wasn’t going to be just another fundraising statistic. The ring master quieted the surging crowd, pleaded with them, move back…give space. I gripped the handle for the second of my two swings. My sinuous forearms, honed through countless weekends of seemingly endless hammering, digging, painting, wax-on-wax-off laborious toil, steeled themselves for effect. As I raised the mighty mallet, just moments ago much lighter but now carrying the overbearing weight of expectation, the crowd hushed…. I swung. Momentum lifting me clean off the ground…Impact…A thunder clap…All eyes tracked upward following the tracer as it raced along its track, skyward, like a firecracker through the night.

The rest is history they say. But as I looked down at my little boy and winked, there was no smugness, just two little eyes, looking up in pure adoration. Cometh the hour, Cometh the Dad.

Minas.

Summer Sun

Finals footy has started. On Friday it conveniently coincided with $5 buffalo wings at The Toxteth in Glebe. A couple of mates joined in and after several platters, pints and pulsating plays, we pontificated the potential playoffs then headed our various ways.

I did a few odds and ends around the house on Saturday - painting, turfing, sanding, shelving. Since tackling most of the harder stuff though we’ve scaled back the efforts somewhat. When we were in the thick of it I used to look forward to Mondays - just so I could get away from the house work, but now it’s back to a more leisurely pace. There’s a lot to be said for getting someone in and knocking it over quickly…versus our approach spending several months of consecutive weekends toiling away.

Mum looked after Bodhi on Sat night while The Lovely Samantha and I enjoyed some adult conversation at friend’s dinner party. Lots of yummy goodness with Neil Perry’s macaroni & cheese stealing the show. It was superb! Easily the best thing to come out of Masterchef in recent memory.

Started Sunday with a café breakfast in Drummoyne followed by a bit more preening around the house, before heading out to visit the grandparents. Their hearing has deteriorated to the point where we’re required to shout at them. It’s not very conducive to conversations and is particularly ironic given we’re trying to teach Bodhi to speak more softly.

In the afternoon I did some more brick-laying (triathlon speak) by combining my swim & cycle training. Aside from an initial bout of light-headedness immediately following the swim/bike transition, and a momentary swerve into oncoming traffic, I actually felt quite good. Home to a warm shower and a good bed.

I’ve been keen to get Bodhi into an organised sport for a while and was annoyed with myself recently for missing our local little athletics registration cut-off. So, when I stumbled upon the upcoming Nipper’s season at Bronte SLSC, I jumped at the chance and signed him up on the spot. Over breakfast this morning, I embellished the fun aspects with Bodhi – summer sun, sandy beaches, frolicking in the waves. He’s already decided, with no negotiation entered into, that it’s not for him. Oh the joys.

Think I’ll buy him a cute little cap…just in-case. 

see ya,

Minas.

Father's Day

Hey;

I parked myself on the couch and watched Friday night footy through sleepy eyes. By half time, the remote had been swindled from my unsuspecting palm and the channel changed to some chick flick. After about 30 minutes, I finally noticed. Feigned insult for all of five seconds, then tucked myself off to beddy byes.

We got to spend Saturday on our neighbour’s boat again. It wasn’t ideal weather to be out on the harbour, but passing on the offer would be akin to saying no to a Ferrari ride because the road is slippery. This thing is amazing. Just incredible. I soooo want one. It’s bigger than our house, currently for sale for more than our house and, here’s the kicker – doesn’t need any DIY! Too cold to swim, but sublime none the less (Meg – we moored for lunch outside your old flat in double bay).

Father’s day kicked off with a smashing breakfast of French toast, mixed berries and a side of bacon. Not in a fancy café mind you - prepared at home by none other than The Lovely Samantha. Bodhi also made me feel special with some handmade cards bursting with TLC and a mug with “#1 Dad” emblazoned on the side...awwww... talk about feeling special.

The warm fuzzy feeling was short lived though. Sunday turned out to be stunning, ideal weather for boating. Instead, we spent it in the front yard edging, planting, cementing and painting. Nearly there. Not long now.

See ya,

Minas.