Wednesday 25 February 2009

Annoying new parents

I am suffering from annoying new parent syndrome. I can feel it gradually taking over me, but I'm powerless to do anything about it. As soon as somebody so much as asks how the 'little one' is (and, let's face it, most of the time these people are just being polite - we've all been there), I start rambling on about 'my Harry', how much feed he had last night, how he's grown, and so on. I mean, it's not as if I'm the first person this has happened to, is it?

So, here and now, I'd just like to apologise to all those people who have been affected in recent weeks. I should also like to thank my nan for gently pointing out the problem.

She may be 92 but she handled this delicate issue in a way that would have most management consultants reaching straight for their PDA. Rather than dive in with a direct 'please stop going on about being a parent, you're boring me', she presented me with a cutting from a newspaper which featured a columnist pleading with Chris Evans to stop talking about a being a new parent. There was no need for any discussion, the point had been made.

So, with that subtle warning in mind, I've decided to write a column about being a new dad (seriously). However, I promise to try and keep it interesting and, failing that, short.

By the way, while Melissa was in labour, I promised to say something nice about the midwives at the Wrexham Maelor hospital. They were all fantastic, particularly Alison Roberts and Laura who spent 12 hours helping bring Harry into the world while putting up with me hopping from one foot to the next and asking if everything was ok every two minutes. Thanks.

Thursday 5 February 2009

Welcome, Harry


I know it's been a long time since my last post on here, but this time I've got an excuse - I've become a dad.

Harry Benjamin Wright was born at 12.59am on January 19, weighing in at 7lb 14ozs. It was an incredible experience (although I'm not sure Melissa would use quite those words) and I'm now busy attempting to get to grips with the finer points of parenthood.

Even now, nearly three weeks after Harry arrived, it hasn't sunk in properly. Everybody keeps telling me my life will never be the same and I can quite believe it. I do know this for certain, though, I wouldn't change it for the world.