To clap my hands and skip about in a elephantine manner?

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

I'm going to be a grandfather! Woo hoo! They haven't tuppence to rub together, so there'll be 3 generations under one roof. Still, DD is doing well after the throwing stopped, he's working all the hours God sends, and with luck I shall see New Person into their teens, as opposed to my DF who got less than 7 years of DGF hood. Wish us luck.

How lovely 🙂

Less than a fortnight before they're off. He's very nearly walking. We caught him clinging to the stairgate with his feet the other day. Here's a picture of other bad habits being encouraged.

Ahhh! Hope you all enjoy the new chapter that'll unfold between the hills and the sea.

We're moving them Monday week. Long drive north, unload, run round picking up appliances, overnight on their floor, run back. 22 and a half years since we brought DD home from the hospital, and stood staring at this tiny person who'd been given to us. The house is going to feel very odd indeed.

But you are soon going to be moving up there too, Disgrace? Unless I misunderstood an earlier post of yours? Not the same as living with them but a new chapter for you all.

Bore: it's going to be that moment when we get back to the house on our own. Of course, the following morning the clear out and redecorating starts, so we'll be too busy to mope. I reckon I've got two full bookcases to go to Sue Ryder, about half a ton of gardening rubbish, shitloads of old clothes. Upstairs landing needs a new ceiling, all the doors need painting, couple of skirting boards, etc etc etc.

To be honest, we've needed a kick up the arse for years.

On our own

Yes, of course. It's good that you will have the arse-kick to take your minds off it a little.

Been telling myself for years that I should start clearing stuff. Somehow never get round to it though.

Tell you what though, he's getting to the nerve wracking stage. He made it out of the living room, up the stairs and into the bathroom in under a minute yesterday. When he was found, he was hanging off the bath and working his feet up the side.

”ello ampa!"
"Hello Little Prince! What do you want for breakfast?"
"Idge! Obbries!"

I can work out 'Idge' but 'Obbries'? Am guessing strawberries.

Spot on, Bore. Yesterday he did something unusual: he stood unsupported, and then jumped so his feet left the ground twice. Then he tried to take a step and fell over. It looks like he's got his CofG sorted, but only vertically. We'll miss him dreadfully, but not the bit where two ageing ex-bikers/climbers with fucked legs have to chase a tiny maniac round a large house.

You appear to have taught him to skip about in an elephantine manner Disgrace!

Oh God, it's really happening. Rental sorted, most of the packing done, van booked. Got to keep busy or I'll have hysterics.

Aww. Just think of it as the next big adventure. You'll be joining them soon enough and I'm sure you can FaceTime/Skype every day!

The dreadful day is upon us. Poor DGS has caught hand foot and mouth, and is having a miserable time of it. Just waiting for the rental office to open, then collect the van and start shovelling. I have used nearly 100 metres of bubble wrap since Friday.

Courage, mon brave!

All shall be well and all shall be well
And all manner of thing shall be well

[encouraging shoulder-punch]

They're in, and we're home. DGS, despite being covered in blisters from HFM, managed to get the front off the gas fire within 20 minutes, got hold of the dining table and did a full chin up, and charmed the assembled company. He was miserable on occasion, but so would you be if you had 15 lesions in your mouth.
Still, DW and I have been kept busy this evening by wrestling with a recalcitrant printer and not killing each other. This bodes well for the future.

It's been a week. Pluses: electricity consumption has dropped by 70%. We have found most of his discarded breakfasts. The washing machine no longer runs flat out, and the line no twangs under load.
Minus: he's not here. They're not here. I have no one to cuddle, or tease, or boast to about getting a 400 metre kill in PUBG Mobile (DSIL and his team rank around 15th, out of an installed base of 10 mil+). I miss DSIL's cookery, particularly his enormous curries. DD herself had to be talked through scrambled eggs the other day.

It must feel very strange. When will you be moving Disgrace?

Oh @DisgraceToTheYChromosome I love you're relationship with your GS and all your updates.

This last one just makes me cry a little tear or two. Chin up and think of when he's a little older and you can do what my parents have just done and set off in their camper van off to France with their GS (my DS) for a few weeks. I miss him of course but the help during school holidays is worth it and it gives me a chance to tidy without it getting untidied again already

Oh I'm sorry they've moved out, that must be incredibly difficult. Are you moving to be near them soon?

Things are moving. We have a buyer, subject to mortgage approval. They've given us a completion target of late September/first week of October. Our shortlist up north has tightened to under two dozen, and the out-laws are going to do the postcode sift to keep burglars to a minimum.

"I've got up here on my own, and in 15 seconds I'm going to faceplant the laminate. Again."

Luckily DD caught him before he could turn the chair over. Oh, and he can descend stairs independently. What a wonderful time his parents are having. Heh heh heh.

Oops. Eleven months on Friday, forgot to update. Facetime is the very devil, as he's persuaded we're either on the phone or behind it. This means he's alternately licking the screen or turning it round, so we're treated to an enormous tongue or a kaleidoscopic living room.

On? In! Bloody autocorrect!