My Best Friend

I have said " I love you" since she was born, every night and everyday.

I said today to my Offspring, "I Love you and you are my best friend."

I received the response I was hoping for, "Papa, you are my best friend too"

How did I feel?

Ecstatic! Joyful! Elated! And loved!

But then...

I was told....

"Maximus is my best friend, maman is my best friend , my best friend is the lady who cuts my hair,  dog next door is my best friend, My best friend is the bug I caught in my bug catcher! My best friend is me........Can you have a best friend?

So who is your best friend?

read more "My Best Friend"

Sarah-Jane on Raising Amelie

Guest Post by Sarah-Jane of almostthere.biz (click)

A remarkable woman who unlike me has worked a full time job and brought up a wonderful child by the name of Samuel (click). I never expected such a gift and am humbled at Sarah-Janes Talent.

Cheers and here it is....


Through my travels in the blogosphere, I stumbled across something so very dear.
Something that rang bells within my heart and made it so difficult for me to depart.

A little girl with beautiful eyes and short brown hair, the epitome of cuteness in a face so fair.
The tales and adventures from someone so small have captured my heart in no time at all.

A special journey about a child who keeps her Dad young, not just about the games they play and the songs they’ve sung.
I laugh when he says he doesn’t have a clue and if you start reading you’ll see this is not very true.

I see from afar through my own eyes, unconditional love with no fancy ties.
I love the stories as they unfold and the special bond that they clearly hold.

The love, the laughter, the times that they share, there isn’t anything that will ever compare.
I read about compassion and sharing, the highs and the lows and things that only a parent would know.

I read about a little girl with her mind at three, who reminds me a little, of a girl once like me.
Someone who knows her own thoughts and her ways and with the love of her father will not get lost and stray.

The stories are stunning, quirky and cool, and Amelie is definitely nobody’s fool.
Through Raising Amelie and the eyes of this parent, you get the wonders and sights that we often forget.

Time is getting short and I must go but I leave you with one last thing you should know.
Don’t take my word for it, not just from me, delve right in and you will see.

There’s so much more here than meets the eye, I will leave you to read but I must sadly say goodbye.


Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Sarah-Jane
Everything you have written and have done in your life should be seen by everyone and I wish they do!

Sarah-Jane and Samuel

 Peace to all!

read more "Sarah-Jane on Raising Amelie"

Looking Forward

I was looking forward to time away. I was looking forward to not worrying about little accidents around the house or worrying if our dog (Maximus) is well protected from my two and half year olds rather rough affection. Worrying about the next meal she will have. Worrying where the danger lies in our furniture arrangement.

For 5 days I was no more a Disciplinarian, Authoritarian, Marxist... i.e.    A Caring Father!

I was looking forward to going away across to the other side of the country to attend my brothers wedding. By the way was a nice affair, congratulations Christian.

I was looking forward to being by myself, without a care in the world. Just me, like it used to be.
One day away from my daughter was all it took for me to realise I'm not that person any more who only thought about himself.

That my freedom of being me again was nothing more than a fallacy. It was no more what I wanted. It was no more, than a selfish notion!

Being away from my insolent, disobedient, loving, intelligent two and a bit year old was too much for me to enjoy any of my time away.

I missed her! I missed Amelie! My life is no longer just about me. It was no more looking back.

A 5 hour plane trip back and I arrive at the airport. I disembark and head towards the exit. It's late and way past her bedtime but standing there amongst the others waiting for their loved ones is a tiny figure clutching a teddy. Standing there is my love, my being. Standing there is my daughter.

Amelie comes to me, I pick her up and we hug. She says how much she loves me, I respond with the same. I sit beside her in the back of the car, she holds my hand the whole trip.

Along the way Amelie says, "Papa, I was looking in the sky looking for your plane. I saw the flickering lights. Did you see the flickering lights?"

"Yes, I did see the flickering lights." I reply.

"No, you didn't! You were in the plane. You can't see the flickering lights inside the plane!" And then she falls asleep.

I'm Home. Looking Forward.

read more "Looking Forward"