Well clearly my taunting of Liverpool has had unexpected results, prompting them to raise their game against Manchester United.  Good news for the neutrals, I suppose, keeping things going for another few weeks.

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I had Patrick at his football training this morning;  he plays for East Meath United - the EMUs.  I was helping train the under fives today and it showed how difficult a child protection policy can be.  Four and five year olds find it very difficult to put football bibs on by themselves but you've to stand by while they struggle.  A lovely little girl got hit with the ball rather hard and was crying sore.  I stood there unable to do anything.

I have a horrible feeling that in a few years time we will have a generation of adults attending counselling, explaining how every time an adult appeared when they were a child, the adult would run away;  they grew up feeling there was something wrong with them as no one would touch them or stay in the same room as them.  And then they might discover this only happened in Catholic institutions, as only they had full child protection policies.  And then they'll discover the Church is an easy body to sue, for while the Church may no longer touch you, you can certainly touch the Church.

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Someone bought Patrick a kite for his birthday.  There is no more demonic invention, designed to destroy the peace and happiness of a father.  Because the damn things never fly.  It is a rule.  They fly when adults fly them on beaches;  they fly when little Afghani boys fly them in films.  They fly for other people.  But when you have three little children standing expecting great things they never fly.  Sometimes they tease you, going up in the air at great speed, but they descend as quickly, crashing into the ground (or today into the top of Michael's head).

The first kite I ever had was when I was about five or six.  My cousin Marie "helped" me fly it.  It's maiden flight in Upper Meadow Street ended with it wrapped around the telegraph lines on Edlingham Street.  It's tiger shaped face hung there mockingly for many years.

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Just watched two episodes of Upstairs Downstairs there on ITV3 - a timeless classic I recommend.