Me and Mine in January 2018

January 01, 2018

Me and Mine in January 2018

Where did I see somebody say that the last day of the month felt like "January, 75th"? I know what they were saying and, yes, there have been dark, cold and tired evening that had me too feeling like the month was dragging on forever. But our January wasn't that in the end, and to give dues where dues are due, we really need to call it "Pokemon-uary". That's right, those little collectible on-screen monsters were invited into all of our lives after some debate/suggestion/nagging/begging, and we've been a happier and healthier bunch for it since, counting down those dreary winter days in raid opportunities, stardust and monsters and candy captured.

We're going on a Poke-hunt, we're going to catch a BIG one!

The "boys" (the 8-year-old and the 44-year-old) have been playing since that summer I was so awkwardly pregnant and rather immobile, to treat the child to some much needed trips out after long days at home watching his stster prepare for her 11+ exam. Me, knowing all to well that digital games can gain a terrible terrible ... terrible... hold of my limited headspace, I'd stayed clear until now, and a lack of relevant tchnology also got in the way of getting everybody hunting - sharing one phone for four to play a game on is just no fun! But Father Christmas had kindly supplied us with enough technology to shuffle gadgets about a little and land everybody with their own screen, and after a moment of desperate boredom, bob stuck in a non-sleeping, clingy, teething baby, I hit the sign-up button that transformed our family dynamics.

So, in January, we've been out in the sunshine, we've been out in the rain, we've been out in the dark and we've been out to see (Pokemon in) other towns - for us, in this weather, that's really something!

Othe than that...

The baby - has graduated to riding her pushchair front-facing. After all, with everybody staring at their screens, front-facing is better for spotting "wau-waus", squirrels and birds - they're her kind of monster and if she could, she'd catch them all and take them home, too! That said, she's also happy with the occasional swish on a screen, and here and there, when we're not too low on resources, we let her feed a "mon" a berry too. Naturally she now thinks every screen is hers to swish and swipe, and she makes off with them at every opportunity that presents itself. Chocolate and biscuits have been welcome trading materials. She's dodged her immunisations, again, thanks (but not "thanks") to a horrid cold that had her crying, rasping and retching for the better part of three weeks. We're getting there now.

The boy - Pokemon, Pokemon, Drowzee, RAID BATTLE, oh Kyogre, PLEASE can we go out, Torchic, Baltoy, EEK NEW POKEMON!, Ponyata, Zangoose, "Mummy, you haven't got this one, do you want me to catch it for you?" And Crossy Roads on the tablet, "But I only need to get this one across to get my free gift!" January has been his month, and no doubt about it. Of course it's only going to get better from here, with a new batch of monsters released, the weather getting better and all his family hooked!

The girl - Yes, Pokemon, too. Of course. Although her relationship with them is a little more settled and there is still enough room in her life to binge watch Friends on her tablet, hidden under a blanket, munching through the ten kilo of chololate she had for Christmas. Of course it's entirely possible that the Pokemon are only a little muted because Friends don't leave her with any headspace, one can't be too sure. She has also started work on her first Sax exam, Grade One, and been singing her heart out as a small but strong voice in 'The Crowd' at her school's musical performance, looking smart and cute in her costume as a schol girl with plats and ribbons in her hair. Very manga, actually.

Daddy - See under "boy", minus the Crossy Roads bit. We've barely had any time to sit down in the evenings for a spot of netflix with the baby unwell, then the boy and the girl, then their father as well.

Mummy, me - I will admit to starting the month hogging my daughter's Christmas present, beeding Sims on the computer. When I looked at the stats one evening and realised that of the "50 hours played" the poor child had completed a mer five over two weeks - and my first Sims generation's neighbours all started ageing and dying - I knew it was time to STOP! Terrible, terrible. Not as bad as that brief simsing moment in my life fifteen years ago - which was terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE! - but, yes... terrible. After that, of course, see under "boy". And nursing poorly children, and telling them to come off their gadgets. And enjoying my sister's visit, later and shorter than in previous years, testament that all in life is fluid and even thos things that appear settled, aren't always (possibly never).

So, this was Pokemonuary, the month that could have felt very bleak and long but passed rather quickly in the end, once people were over their colds.

Here ae a few snapshots from our January 2018: