grumpy old man #2 - interrupted briefly by gelato

So while catching up with my blog I also sent Sal a message asking her to pick up some cheap shoes for H so she may one day regain the use of her now, apparently, OK foot. I didn't relent on the swimming thing though. You had blisters so bad you struggled to walk therefore that foot stays clean and dry today so you'll have a good day with mum tomorrow.

Can I ask mum if I can go for a swim when she gets home?

I rolled the dice. Yes you can, but I'll tell mum why I said no swimming.

Now of course it did not go down exactly like this, but my blog = my hyperbole.

Hi H, I bought you some new sneakers! Of course you can go for a swim! Yeah, let's all go for ice cream at Gusto's afterward!

Sigh.

So my flat mood, which had plateaued and was maybe on the up after my earlier blogging took a nose dive, and while I can see what was happening - and how to arrest it - I of course did nothing.

Sal, refreshed from her spa but coming down with a cold, bailed on the pilgrimage  to Gusto's. It is every bit as good as tripadvisor said it would be and every bit as chaotic. The website gallery does not show the huge lineups at the two counters - the first is joined to order and pay, the second to choose your scoops.

Because I'm an idiot, and we're on holiday, and we were all sweaty after the 2km post-rain-humid-wander (amazing recovery from H by the way, but she'll walk over flaming glass shards to get to ice cream...sorry, sorry, sorry, cheer up, I know, I know, I know...) I ordered 3 scoops each.

AJ - Merry Christmas, Strawberry and Milk, Oreo
H - Merry Christmas, Vanilla, Oreo (I think...)
Me - Apple crumble, Vanilla, Bounty

Other than the Merry Christmas (nice chocolate start, weird sweet finish) every one was a winner. I'm quite glad the girls left the Merry Christmas because I was feeling a bit queasy and borderling abusive parent providing them with that much sweet, sweet ice cream (drools like Homer Simpson on a donut.)

So there you go, that was good. And I found some wall art to take pics of on the return, so that was also good.

The girls argued over going through the door to the toilet and left a hat behind. But hey, it was OK there for a while, and I get to go diving tomorrow.

Should be able to sleep my grump off.

grumpy old man interlude

Ah the joys or parenting when you're a #grumpyoldman. All's fair day today means Sal gets freedom and I take on parenting duties. Now, I'm not sure if I'm a good or bad parent, really I'm not. I tend to explain - in probably too much detail - all the decisions I make. I also have a pretty good track record of answering all questions the kids ask, refusing only when I know they know the answer or when I can tell them what to do to find the answer for themselves.

The upshot of this is that I have two pretty well rounded, outgoing, confident little ladies who are not afraid to ask questions and offer their opinions. Which is great. Unless you're their dad and you're right about something. They have not yet worked out that correcting people or offering another point of view (their's) does not need to be the default position. Sometimes you just need to understand that dad might be talking sense when he says don't wear those shoes, take a jumper, try to go to the toilet before we leave, make sure you drink enough water...

So the problem I have...I answer, I explain..and if I get nowhere I let them make their own decisions, even when they are wrong. Setting them up for fail? I don't think so. I do (what I believe is) my best to let them make the right decision. Then allow them to make the wrong one. Then have a mini-retrospective when the wheels inevitable fall off.

Like they have this morning.

• Don't wear your crocs if they hurt your feel, we'll be doing some walking. 
• Puts on crocs.
• Wear your Keens, they will be better if you have a blister on your toe.
• Keeps crocs on.
• Taxi to breakfast and then a relatively short bimble around
• My feet hurt (well no shit sherlock...inner monologue)
• Try to walk properly
• I can't walk (quite a drama)
• Let's walk back the shops up here; if I buy you some shoes then do you think you'll be able to walk? (repeat a few times)
• No, oh the agony, you go on without me (limping as if has trod on an IED)
• A bit too much explaining of the situation
• Will you be able to walk today? In different shoes?
• No, we need to get a taxi home
• Get in taxi
• (almost home) if you buy me shoes then I should be able to walk
• too late little lady, too late...inner monologue (words broadly similar though.)
• We need to make sure your blisters get better so you can have a nice day with mum tomorrow
• I'll just go in the pool then
• No you won't, you need to keep your feet clean and dry (repeat)
• Oh but but but, so unfair etc.
• (internet search) What does that say?
• Keep your feet clean and dry
• (sullen)

So here we are back at the villa and I'm letting the kids sort out what they can do. Funny thing...AJ tells me today has been her best day so far because she hasn't got in trouble. Ah, the joys of parenting.

Anyway, before this happened we had breakfast at Revolver. Here are some pictures from this morning and maybe I should take this opportunity to blog about Monday.