Monkeyshines

Category: Paternal Thoughts

  • A Life on the Stage Beckons

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    James
    in

    Apologies for the dearth of posts lately, have been busy helping the Little Monkey to learn lines for his upcoming role as Professor Quirrell in the local Mums-and-Babies production of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. His audition for the part of a baby Cap’n Jack Sparrow, in a flashback in the next of the…

  • The Horror of Yoghurt

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    James
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    Ever since I was a little monkey myself, I’ve had a pathological hatred of yoghurt. Even typing the word makes me feel a bit queasy. A whiff of the wretched stuff from across the other side of the room will turn my stomach. I don’t even like watching other people eat it. I was hoping…

  • Munching Monkey

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    James
    in

    The Little Monkey has recently started monkey-led weaning, which has been fun for all of us. Sure, it’s a bit messy, but we’re fortunate enough to have an autonomous furry vacuum cleaner who helps to clear up the scraps. And it was a little alarming the first few times he gagged on a morsel of…

  • Little (Monkey) Chef

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    James
    in

    We acquired the chef’s shirt in these photos from a friend, before the Little Monkey was born. I’ve been dying to see him in it, because, for some reason, I love the fact that it not only has a nice picture of some cheese, it informs you that it is ‘200g cheese’. I cannot explain…

  • Christmas Monkey Shines

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    James
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  • Merry Christmas!

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    James
    in

  • Waiting For The Beat To Kick In

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    James
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    While watching Harvey with Mrs. Monkeyshines recently, one of Elwood P. Dowd’s lines struck me as a nice complementary quote to the one in a Kurt Vonnegut book which I wrote about before. And since such thoughts seem appropriately Christmassy, and because I’ve been listening to Dan Le Sac/Scroobius Pip lately, I was minded to…

  • The Grisly Dribbly Truth

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    James
    in

    As a proud father, I’m unashamed about the generally hagiographic tone of my blog posts about the Little Monkey. But I feel the need to balance out his up-coming über-cute Christmas pictures; plus I don’t want it to seem like parenthood is one long chuckle-filled, gleeful picnic (else how will he appreciate our hard work…

  • I can only get away with sentimentality like this at Christmas

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    James
    in

    I don’t know if it’s a side effect of fatherhood or just age, but I seem rather more prone to sentimental, watery-eyed moments since the Little Monkey came along. I’ve lately been watching Secret Millionaire and getting choked up at the denouements. Earlier in the year I was moved by an article about children who…

  • Sleeping Kitten, Sitting Monkey

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    James
    in

    The Little Monkey has always enjoyed being toted around, getting an adult’s-eye view of the world. Until recently, however, he’s always had to rely on a grown-up (or a restrictive seat) to get a right-way-up perspective. So it must be quite satisfying for him to sit, semi-stably, watching out for brightly coloured and excitingly shaped…