The Flagging Dad

Jan 26

Jan 26 Frozen Party

Andy Carter

“I don’t like Frozen anymore, Daddy,” Jacob declared less than a week before his 100% Frozen-themed 4th birthday party.

“But you’ve loved it for the past year? Could you not just hang in there for a bit longer, buddy?”

“It’s boring. I only like animals now.”

“Can you not like Frozen and animals?”

“Don’t be so silly, Daddy.”

As if this revelation wasn’t enough of a headache, the day before the party, I was handed a shopping list so complex it felt like I was participating in a task on The Apprentice.

Jan 8

Jan 8 January: The Least Wonderful Time of the Year

Andy Carter

With the boys’ birthdays falling on either side of Christmas, life becomes a relentless stream of delivery men from November to January. Aside from one chap who I like – he calls me “my guy” and makes me feel young again – I will be glad when this period is over, and I can work from home without having to leave meetings to answer the door to men dropping off Lion King tepees.

Jun 19

Jun 19 Center Parcs, 2023 (part 1)

Andy Carter

A friend of mine told me that installing a roof rack on his car was the moment when it really struck him that he is a dad.

“More so than the birth of your daughter?”

“Yes.”

I cannot fully vouch for his claim as I paid extra at Halfords for a teenage lad who was, I think, stoned, to install ours while I sat in Starbucks, sipping a latte, but I can see his point; a roof rack confirms your youth is over.

Jan 12

Jan 12 York! York! York!

Andy Carter

We arrived at York station at 10 am where a group of teenage girls disembarked, glugging large bottles of WKD and shouting “York! York! York!”

“Do you think they are going to have a better day than us?” I asked Louise.

“No, definitely not,” Louise said, struggling for signal on her phone to find directions to the Railway museum.

I didn’t answer my own question.