My Questions..

My Questions. 

So how it works is that you are tagged and answer a set of questions given to you by your tagger. Then you choose  your favourite bloggers, and you give them a new list of questions to answer, and then they choose eleven of their favourites, and so on and so forth.

1. If you had to describe your life in the title of a film or song which would you pick and why?
2. Who do you feel has had the greatest impact on your life so far, you can say up to three, again, why?
3. Your favourite recipe is.... 
4. What is the next big life goal you want to complete? 
5. The best gift you ever received was from ____ and it was ___ (fill in the blanks)
6. Your favourite memory with us both in was? "That time...."
7. If you could teach my soon to be daughter one lesson it'd be.. 
8. Where is 'your happy place'?
9. The moment you looked at your life and felt 'proud' was just after you _____ 
10. The last time you laughed so hard your sides hurt was because... 
11. If you could go back in the last 5 years and change something what advice would you give yourself?

Liebster Award: My Answers

So I got tagged by my dear friend Ella in this blogging thing. I'm not much of a social blogger and really just post what I want but I'm sat waiting for my baby! So need things to do.. So here it is.. 

So how it works is that you are tagged and answer a set of questions given to you by your tagger. Then you choose eleven of your favourite bloggers, and you give them a new list of questions to answer, and then they choose eleven of their favourites, and so on and so forth.

1. Why is your favourite person your favourite person? (You don't have to name names but you can only pick one person!)
As I just mentioned, I'm not that social, and the people I do have in my life are all equally fantastic. But my favourite is of course my other half. For anyone who knows me the boyfriend/girlfriend label is something I avoided with a barge pole. I was always so reluctant to put it on my relationships. It was common for me to be with someone for months before I was comfortable to introduce them as a girlfriend, it was something of a joke amongst my closer friends, but then I met Katy, and well my whole opinion swung drastically. It really didn't take me long to realise that she was something special, and together we just clicked. I think it's somewhat cliché and I'm sure pretty 'cutesy' to read. But we are 2 peas. I have this attitude where I blaze through life, I make rushed decisions and I make them boldly, throwing myself into the unknown and seeing where it takes me, it's really nice to have someone that just goes with it too. She sometimes looks at me when I suggest something as if to say 'really?' but I know that wherever I am, or have decided I have her support, and that support is what's led me to where I am today, on the year anniversary of our meeting in a life 100x better. In a beautiful house, doing a job I love, having hobbies I enjoy, not being out every night drinking and smoking, and ultimately.. having a child, the single greatest experience of my life, since mine and her's first kiss.

2. Favourite memory?
I'm impressed if I can remember this mornings events, my memory is awful. But when we found out I was having a baby Katy and I went for dinner, we spoke about it and afterwards we rang Mimi, my best friend, the first person to find out we were having a baby. As I told her I felt a tear gathering in my eye and slide down - all sly like - my cheek. It's the first time I ever had 'tears of joy' since this I welled up a bit at the first time we heard the heartbeat, and the first scan. 

3. Somewhere you haven't been to yet but want to?
There's quite a lot of places, but I really want to go to a romanian market. I'm looking for enamelware and I hear it's quite the hotspot. This isn't a joke.

4. Somewhere you have already been but are aching to go back?
My experiences of exciting trips abroad and submerging myself in other cultures are pretty limited, as I've never had that desire, my aims and goals have always been fairly close to home but there was this beautiful restaurant I went to when I visited Rome when I was 18 and I went alone, sat outside and watched the traffic filtering by, little Fiats and Vespas and men in suits going home from a long day at work, and I sat on an incredibly comfy chair with a large glass of Pinot, and it just felt like I was in heaven, and I would love to be back there, with someone by my side this time, sat in quiet and just taking in that moment. 

5. Top five favourite films?
Simple. In no particular order: Vanilla Sky, American Gangster, Fight Club, Seven, Airplane, Oceans 11, 12 & 13, V for Vendetta, Trainspotting, Yes Man, Body of Lies, Man on Fire, Shaun of the Dead, Kings Speech, Lord of War, Weatherman, Donnie Darko, Everything Must Go, Arthur, Garden State, Taken, Last King of Scotland, Ladder 49, Zoolander, Sweeney Todd, The Green Mile, One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest..... oh, you said 5? Fuck off.

6. Why you study what you study at uni, or alternatively if you don't go to uni, what would you want to study if you did?
I didn't go... If I had I'd have enjoyed doing something with Business, I don't know if such a degree exists but the legal side of business, contract law, employee rights... that sort of thing, I think it'd be really useful and I'd love to start it online once I'm not so 'about-to-have-a-baby-and-a-full-time-job-and-set-up-a-business-and-be-a-boyfriend-y'

7. A song lyric that resonates with you?
'it's better to fall on your face than to live without knowing' it's from The Art of Falling by Greg Holden. I listened to it on repeat when I was leaving school, deciding if I should move to Bath and when I found out I was going to be a Dad. It's an inspiring song, by a great artist with a lot of memories for me.

8. Do you prefer being casual or dressed up?
Casual. It makes getting dressed up that little bit more special. (Sound more like Gok Wan Derry, it's all about the confidence)

9. If you could meet any actor/musician/historical figure, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
Whoever I met I'd try and act cool like it was no big deal which I'd then regret forever. I really have no interest in meeting celebrities, but I'd be willing to meet anyone who's 'shaped' the world.

10. Three reasons you like blogging?
To let people know what I've been up to. To read back in the future to remind myself of what I've done. To feel vaguely like I have an artsy-creative side.

11. Something, an event or person or film etc, that's changed your life?
My Birth was pretty life-changing, second to that was probably finding out I'm going to be stood next to a woman giving birth to my child. 

I'm going to do my tagging and questions in a new post as this is already pretty long! 

9.30 Hoovering.

There have been a few things today that have caught me thinking, oh, am I now old? 

1. I went out to go and buy something from a hardware shop on the other side of the industrial estate, I left at about 9.30, and strolled down, it's a short walk and we found out last week that you can walk across a public footpath that runs by the river, suddenly I found myself a bit taken a back by how much I was enjoying a saturday morning walk alongside the trickling water. Not as much a taken back though when I initiated an awkward 'good morning' to a passer by. 

2. A little while later and I was washing up and I looked out the window and thought oh it's stayed dry for a little while, I'll do the grass whilst it's sunny, whilst I was doing this and mulling over of important things such as; stocks, politics and whether I'm more of a Guardian or Times man, I thought our rock garden area was a little weedy, so I started to pluck those and admire my lawn. 

3. Back in the house and at the kitchen sink, whilst waiting for my washing up to dry before I did some more I decided to clean the hob, grill and even oven. I'm not even moving out and trying to get back my deposit!

and now heres the clincher..

We've been worrying lately that the house is too messy to have a baby in, and so we've been occasionally doing frantic clean ups so that when the midwife turns up she says something along the lines of "oh with a house this tidy you are going to be the best parents, this birth will be a walk in the park because your glasses are all very straight inside the cupboard" so, back to the story.. 

9.30 I'm hoovering through the living room, straight into the kitchen and then I begin the stairs and suddenly I realise, it's 9.30pm on a saturday and here I am hoovering the stairs. Is this where my gosh I'm so mature nowadays moment ends? No. My mind then jumps to 'Oh god, I hope I'm not annoying the neighbours'... I know what you're thinking, surely this is where I just stopped thinking. but here's the final thing. Katy suggested I did it tomorrow but my reason for doing it tonight, was this.. 

If I did it know it'd be done tomorrow so we could get up without worrying about it, and go to the car boot and when we got back the house would be nice.

As if a 20 year old fella thinks like that. Im going to start separating milk lids soon I know it. 

www. done . com

So over the last couple of days excuse my absence I've been working on a couple of projects. 
One of which was to put up a website. 

If you fancy a look hit HERE. or go to www.derrytydeman.com

привет, Hallo & Hola

I have just seen that I've had a few views from around the world this week, whether this is true or not who knows! But Hello to you joining us from Russia, Venezuela and Germany!

Old Hammers & Dusty Chairs

Yesterday was such a lovely day, this probably sounds terrible, but it was really nice doing something for us. Katy and I went down to the car boot sale, which is about a half hour walk from the house, and we browsed around for a while and picked up a few bits and bobs, I wanted to get rusty tools and fun projects to do over the next little while. But it was just nice to be doing it for us, we didn't even go through the baby clothes, or look through toys. We spoke a little about Lia, but really we were just hanging out like a couple of friends, and I think that's what makes this relationship so great.. at least for me anyway! 

In other news, today is my last day at work for 2 weeks, it's crazy to think our baba is due in 2 days time!! I don't know when she'll actually be born, and I've decided to stop trying to guess, my sister said the other day; "she won't come until you stop thinking she's going to come out" which I guess follows the old rule, a watched kettle.. but we are getting impatient now little Lia, we so want to meet you. 

I got my food for the Live Below The Line challenge, it's started to worry me slightly now! But I am making the most of drinking Coke and eating junk food now, whilst I still can. 

I almost forgot, Katy surrendered what was our 'breakfast area' (basically the strange hallway from the kitchen to the garden) but totally unused since we moved in, so I now have a workspace, it's a bit small, but it's bright, I'll upload some pictures when I can!

I'm very excited about my life..

Living Below The Line. £5 for 5 Days.

• Everyday Value Spaghetti 
• Everyday Value Long Life Semi Skimmed Milk
• Everyday Value Noodles x2
• 1.5KG Everyday Value Veg Pack
• Everyday Value Red Kidney Beans
• Everyday Value Small Potatoes
• Everyday Value Oats
• Everyday Value Rice

I'm more than aware that I have quite a few student followers, and so this just looks like your every week shopping list. But this is actually what I'm going to live off for 5 days between 29th April - 3rd May. 

I'm taking part in the 'Below the Line' challenge, which was created to raise awareness and a greater level of empathy for those who live on less than £1 a day. I know it's not realistic, and that £1 would have to also cover rent, education, medicine... etc.. 

But I haven't even started and it's already started opening my eyes to just how much I spend on food. I said to Katy half way through, I'm going to have to get rid of the chickpeas they are just too expensive (at 40p) and I had to pick between the spaghetti (19p) and milk.

So the rules are, I can only eat those things I mentioned earlier, and only drink tap water, from 00:01 on 29th to 23:59 on May. 

to find out more visit... Live Below The Line See if you want to get involved yourself, or just find out a little bit more. 

or of course, if you would like to and I'd be really grateful (and it'd make this whole thing worthwhile) you can sponsor me a couple of quid here. 

Tydeman's Trunks

So, here it is..  

2 days of chopping, banging and painting..

and here we have the trunk our baby will grow up with (I hope).

Tonight, find out what all the mess is about...

Growing up Jesus' breakfast area was probably a similar sight.

Recipe #2: Spanish Omelette

So heres lunch, the photo is actually from easter sunday, but we had it again today. Such an easy enjoyable dinner... and heres how its done.. 

Ingredients (to make enough for 3): 

• 5 Medium Eggs
• Dash of Milk
• Bacon
• Masture Cheddar
• Parmesan
• 6 King Eds / Maris Ps / Irish Cobblers.. etc..
• 1/3 of a Red Pepper
• 10 Fine French Dwarf Beans (or similar long green bean)
• 10 Mange Tout
• Salt & Pepper

1. Chop up your potatoes and boil till fully cooked.
2. Once ready start frying finely sliced peppers in with your bacon.
3. Once the meat has started to appear cooked add the rest of the veg, move around the pan for approximately 2 minutes. 
4. Add in the cooked potatoes.
5. Mix the eggs in with the milk and salt and pepper and pour over the top of all the ingredients.
6. Sprinkle more salt and pepper on the top and jiggle it around the pan so all the ingredients are covered in egg.
7. Once the egg is cooked firmly along the bottom (test by trying to slide omelette around the pan)
8. Sprinkle parmesan and more salt and pepper and put the pan beneath the grill and allow the top to brown.

I've not forgotten you!

Dear those who read these, 

I know there are some of you, despite what I originally believed that nobody would read this, bless you all for still checking my blog daily despite the fact I haven't posted for a while. 

But just so you know, soon I will do a good post! I admit it will probably be shamelessly promoting my most recent woodwork, and trying as hard as I can to get you to buy it! However, I'll also talk about baby items, recipes, our cat and various other things likely to make you still enjoy this blog!

So, catch you all soon..

I'm going to come up with some sort of pun / alliteration title for this..

Wednesday is my worst day of the week, it's a pretty simple reason - Saturday and Sunday are the weekend, Monday and Tuesday you're thinking about the weekend just gone and Thursday and Friday you are getting excited for the weekend, so, obviously Wednesday is the worst day where you've forgotten about the weekend and you are too far away to start getting excited. 

So, in order to try and improve them, each wednesday I am going to try and think of 5 things that I'm happy about, either that's happened so far this week, or I have to look forward to.. 

1. Today marks the start of the 14 day countdown to the due date, I think she'll be here before then, but it's so nice to be 2 weeks to go! Here is the light at the end of the tunnel, oh, and what a light!
2. Yesterday I was walking to work, and was about to cross a road when I noticed an ambulance coming down the road sirens going and lights flashing, I stopped to let him speed through, however, he did the same - and let me cross over, I hope nobody died because I was walking over, but at the same time it was a small gesture that I appreciated the rest of my way to work.
3. Me and Katy have been talking about buying property, not today of course, but in the next few years, and we've spoken about what kind and where and how etc, and it's just been so nice, to plan a future with her, such a nice thing that I'm getting to do... 
4. ... this kind of follows on from 3, but we've been finally finished unpacking boxes, the nursery / 2nd bedroom is clear of all our old junk, and we were sat in there last night discussing where things were going and what they'd be like in a couple of years and I just realised, this is the house we'll have our baby in, our toddler, our child. pretty special. 
5. I no longer feel like the new guy at work, I'm getting the respect of the staff, I think! I'm starting to get to know peoples quirks and the way they work, and just generally settle in. Makes me feel like moving all the way down here on a whim was the right thing to do, it's a great relief. 

So that's my first five. hopefully by next week I'll have a better snappier title, but who knows!

The last 2 weeks is the longest..

We basically have 2 weeks to go until the due date, if we make it to that.. It feels like forever! I just wish there was something to distract me, everytime my phone goes off in my pocket I automatically assume it's Katy and I start to think..

this it, t who I need to call first, should I just calmly walk home to her or run, maybe on this occasion it's worth getting a taxi, oh god I wonder how hard the birth will be, I should have bought more nappies, I wonder if I could get a pack on the way home, should I turn up with flowers, oh imagine what it's going to be like when our daughter goes into labour, god I don't know if I'll cope! 

I eventually get around to reading the message 'can you pick up milk?' 

It's nice to be this excited about something, but this waiting is like nothing I've ever had, at least usually theres a rough date, the day you're going on holiday, 2 - 3 day delivery, dinner at 8pm.. but with this, by the time I publish this post her waters may break, or in 3 weeks time, there's just no knowing. 

Perhaps this is the first lesson of parenthood - learning to go with life, from inside the womb my daughter is already her own person, she'll come when she's ready, and although I can sit by Katy's belly in the evenings and whisper in for her to hurry up, she's going to do things her way, and this is something I need to be prepared for as if she's anything like her parents, I can't see her conforming any day soon. 

and as impatient as I am, I love her for it.