Category Archives: Jon

Tick, tock, tick, tock, it’s always something-to-do o’clock

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As I have surely mentioned before, I have had a problem with stress. It started around about the time I became a parent, and has haunted me on and off ever since. Now, I am not saying in any way that I regret having children – it has been the best thing I have done in my life.

The last few weeks have been quite good. Even with my daughters going back to nursery school after a long summer holiday, they have made the transition to normal routines very easily. This has helped me enormously in the mornings, where all goes smoothly without tears or frustration (on their and my part respectively). A large part of that is due, no doubt, to us all getting a good night sleep.

I still have a few problems with the evening routines. Having things done by a certain time (snack, getting ready for bed, reading a book, getting them to sleep) still gnaws away at my patience, and I hope that a bit of hard work to break down these regimented times will reap rewards.

Red, White and Blues

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The world cup is well under way, and England are playing appallingly. Their first match against USA ended in a draw, their second group match also left the team with a draw against Algeria. In both matches England could not get it together and left many fans angry. I understand the feelings of those fans – we looked promising in the games running up to the competition – but this should be a time when the fans rally in support of the frustrated players who, despite the comments of some, probably do want to win.

England are not the only top team to feel the pressure: France, Germany and Spain all lost their second matches. Nearly all the groups have just one decent team, so everyone else is vying for a second place, which guarantees a place in the playoffs. It would therefore be quite natural for those teams to try and come away with a point from the matches where they play the more favoured sides. A more defensive strategy may be the reason why England (and others) are finding it difficult to score goals.

Freya and Zelda have been around for the England games. I’d like to say they were watching and supporting, though I think they enjoyed the experience more because of the popcorn and juice they got. They have donned their England shirts and kept them on for most of the games. And for the first match they had their faces painted with the English flag.

We have one more match, which we must win, on Wednesday. I remain confident that England can sort out the problems they have had. Otherwise it will be a serious let down.

Update On Zelda At Nursery School

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Well, Zelda, you have now been at nursery school for almost three weeks. After a very sad first week (you did not like being seperated from me), you are settling in quite nicely: A few tears when I leave you, which is expected, but you soon calm down and get down to it.

I am thankful to the teachers, my colleagues, who have taken you under their wings and given you the physical comfort you have needed to make the transition a smooth one. I am also reasonably confident that, after the two months’ holiday that is soon upon us, you will not have so many problems on your return in August.

I feel honoured and lucky that my daughters can be at my workplace. Freya is soon leaving nursery school for the next step in her education, but I potentially have three more years of working with you so near to me. Not many parents can boast that.

Panic In The Streets Of Stockholm

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I was on my way to Gröna Lund today (a fair in Stockholm) with my family and a friend of ours, Debbie. We took the underground first, and then a bus. The bus was crammed with passengers, warm, and moving very slowly at times. About ten minutes into the journey I started to have feelings of discomfort. They became more pronounced until, a few minutes later, I had to descend the bus and walk to my destination.

I had just had the beginnings of a panic attack, something I hadn’t had for a long time. It has come out of the blue and it left me feeling slightly worried. I reckon this is a one-off attack brought on by the unusual situation I found myself in, but what if it is something more serious, more permanent?

NB I have just read that panic attacks are more common in people who have a pollen allergy. Interestingly, I am pretty certain that I have developed an allergy to pollen over the years, and I have had some pretty heavy allergy-like symptoms the previous days. Maybe my attack was not as unexpected as I thought.

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Your Democratic Right (That Comes Once Every Four Years)

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I didn’t even know until Josefin told me earlier this evening. I have little time to dedicate to reading the news, for the most part a depressing pastime. I eschewed the Swedish press a number of years ago (except the occasional glance), confident in the fact that I would be no worse off for being ignorant.

I’ll no doubt take a look at the BBC site over the next day, to see how things are going and (probably) disparage the British population for its choice of politics. Still, it’ll keep me happy.

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