Ugly

I figure that I'm not the only one to have received baby pictures from a friend or relative. As nice as these first images of their child are, I cannot help but wonder whether the parents are concerned about the appearance of their little bundle of joy.

I have found that the majority of babies are indeed ugly. I've come to the opinion that it's one of those unavoidable things in life but have often wondered if parents know how ugly their child is but are keeping quiet about it, constantly re-assuring themselves that the pride of their loins is in fact a frog prince/princess?

I have to bite my lip whenever I see a friends new born to stop myself from laughing at the hideous little troll in the crib. "Poor bugger" I think to myself, "Nine months of worry, hospital visits, doing up the house, back ache, eating the right food; buying clothes, prams, cribs, play pens, and more for something that looks like it's related to Gollum! "

If any of my friends try to hide a wry smile in the next few weeks then I will know what they're really thinking!

Temptation

Unfortunately I gave in to my craving last night and switched the Channel 4 news on. To make matters worse I also had a cigarette.

The main headline was about the government losing 25 million child benefit records.
I immediately felt myself become incensed at such incompetence, but then started to think that it was a good job they lost them now rather than in a few weeks when they will have all my details.

I really don't know why I get so riled when watching the news. It's not as if I know anyone affected in the stories or had them alter my life in anyway. The perceived "terrorist threat", or Immigration have had no influence whatsoever on my daily comings and goings. Sure, I might see a few more foreign people here and there
but it's not something that I feel particularly strongly about.

I think I shall put it down to the emotive broadcasting that the media pumps out. It makes you feel as if you must have an opinion on everything they transmit otherwise you're some sort of ignoramus.

Tonight I'm going to paint the spare room in anticipation of Juniors arrival (Just over two weeks). I figure that this should keep me away from the television and the evil weed.

What's happening in the world?

I'm have now been news free for 24-hours.

It is quite a liberating feeling but I do confess to being tempted to flick onto a news website for a brief sneaky peak at the days events.

It reminds me of when I was giving up smoking - I still have the craving to know what is going on but so far have managed to resist.

Seeing as the missus is now on her maternity leave, I bet that she has the six o clock news on when I get home.

No News day

Most evenings I watch the national news.

Then i watch the local news.

I usually follow this up with a current affairs programme.

Once this has finished it is usually time for the Ten O'clock news - which I watch.

To send me off to sleep I watch Newsnight or Question Time - whichever happens to be on.

The purpose of watching all of these programmes is so that I can feel like an informed worldly person, and not one of those people who rant and rave when they only know half the facts.

The effect of watching this many "factual" programmes is that I end up utterly depressed at the end of it. My good lady and I have started arguing about topics that have no impact on our lives. We feel compelled to form an opinion on topics such as: immigration, chavs stabbing people, binge drinking, the state of the NHS, etc.

So in order to have a happy home when Junior arrives (in just over two weeks) I have decided to have a news blackout at least three times a week.

Instead we will have conversations about nice things and think happy thoughts.

I'm really looking forward to it.