Sympathy Vote...

I am beginning to realise (and, in truth, have known this for a while) that people simply have no sympathy for me. Ever.

There are some exceptions to this rule, such as having a fire in my bedroom and having operations on my shoulder, but it usually takes something of a pretty extreme proportion for me to get any excuse. This is why I think this is the case (and please remember, these are only from the past week!):

- I currently have a stupid cold. Rather than getting the bed rest I needed last night, I decided I'd prefer to represent my 5 a side soccer team. Yes, I kicked butt fo sho. Yes, I scored 5 goals in the first game I have played in 5 months due to operations and fire and ensured we won for the first time in 5 games. BUT, the big "yes" is that I feel 10 times worse for all my efforts. I don't even expect sympathy for that one.

- At recent bachelor parties, knowing that mine was fast approaching, I have endeavoured to hand out severe punishment and generally batter my close friends until they are black and blue (both friends still had enormous bruises come their actual weddings!). Therefore when mine actually comes and we play football for 4 hours and people rugby tackle, punch and kick me whenever I have the ball, sympathy does not even enter the equation. Even when Glendal face plants me into the ground, not one tear is shed. Luckily no lesson needs to be learnt, as my turn is over and done with!

Will I ever learn these lessons? I don't think I will. Elizabeth now faces a tough task in looking after me. For the rest of her life. Ha HAAA!

Babies Galore...

There is, currently, a huge baby boom going on at Church... it's ridiculous! Something like 15 babies will be born this year, and plenty more are due for next year! One of my Groomsmen has recently had one (moreover, his wife has) and another Groomsman's' wife is pregnant and due late November!


This excites me a lot. Firstly, I love children (on a Sunday morning I rarely talk to adults because of herds of children that I find myself being stupid with). I have some quality banter with a 7 year old who supports a rival soccer team; a 4 year old girl who is moving to Turkey this time next year regularly tells me that 'Phil' means 'Elephant' in Turkish; a 5 year old boy will punch me non-stop for as long as I'll let him for want of being turned upside down and carried around for a while. They are fun, have great energy levels, and are probably the most genuine people in the world!


Secondly, as I embark on the magnificent journey that is marriage, and look into baby planning etc on the Marriage Preparation Course, it's great to have close friends who are kind of a life stage ahead of you. One day I will be sucking all the kid rearing wisdom I can out of these folk!


Third... it means I can pretend I'm massive (which I am... see previous post) and take fun photo's like this:





Don't get me wrong here, I am not broody in any way. Right now (well, in 15 days time) Liz will be my family, and that's all I'm after and what I want. In fact, I hate kids. Leaving my parents to start up my own family will no doubt be tough- they are the most amazing people I have the honour of knowing- but I am very much looking forward to cleaving to and figuring out how to be family with Elizabeth Kate.