Amir won a sandcastle competition

Today we took a trip into town to the Library and also had a look around the shops when we found that Rotherham by the sea was taking place. This is a huge amount of sand imported from the coast and put in All Saints Square near the fountain. Amir and Zak had a wonderful time playing and also took part in a sandcastle competition.... and won!
Well there were 2 winners out of around 20 children but still it was an achievement, the amount of time and effort Amir put into it plus having it knocked down in the process TWICE by sweet little 2 year olds. He deserved it, the prize was a 3d puzzle, he was so proud of himself.
Well done Amir!

Supermarket Checkout Assistants

I decide one Saturday to put Amir and Zak in the car and take them to our local supermarket for the week's shopping. It's slow, tedious, but it's a nice break from the norm. They help, sing, talk, shout, jump, run, huff, puff and pretty much blow the supermarket down. But still, I enjoy it. We have a full trolley at the end of the shop and take it to the till where a supermarket checkout assistant is counting down the minutes till his/her break. But, but! She still has to be kind and say all the things she has been trained to say:

"Good afternoon sir."
"Afternoon." I replied.
"Aww, aren't they cuties?"
"Yeah, if only you knew."
"Would you like help with your packing?"

Now at this point I am thinking to myself, with the amount of shopping and the steady stream of stuff, I should be able to cope. I will say "No" and save the assistant some heavy labour before their tea break is due. And to thank you for your generosity, what do they do? They look at you in disgust and then before you even got round the other side and opened a bag, there's 10 items already down there! And, to top it off, the speed increases. You can tell by the beeps and how quick they follow each other. In fact some beeps don't even finish before the other starts.

Then you go to pay and automatically stick your card in the reader. "Erm, excuse me, can you take it out as it's not ready yet.". Literally 2 seconds later, "How are you paying sir?". "Erm, let me think, Card?" I replied, "Yes that's fine, please enter your card in the slot and follow the instructions.".

I think it's easier when you don't take your kids, or is it?

Frustrating Motorway Drivers

Every work day I drive 35 miles up the M1 and then 35 miles back down it and the amount of inconsiderate drivers about is amazing! And at the same time frustrating. I don't like to speed, but I don't like to be stuck behind people that shouldn't be in a particular lane. I average about 80 on the Motorway and that means that my trip takes me about 30 mins. But a lot of time could be saved if people gave in to what I think they believe to be humiliation and moved in a lane. An example...

3 lanes on a motorway, I am driving up the fast lane. There are 3 cars in front of me trying to get past a 4th. Why is this slow car in the fast lane? Because it is trying to get past 3 cars that are in the middle lane. Well, why aren't the cars in the middle lane in the slow lane? Ahhh! Because there is no space? No! Because they feel it's embarassing. If you guys move over, the slow guy in the fast lane who is faster than you can then go in the middle lane and we can get past.

This not only happens once, but at least 20 times on each journey! Wake up drivers!!

Final Decision - Barring Injuries

I have decided on the final team selection now. I am happy with it and all of you should fear it. I am gonna make every yard and lead from the off. Have a look all you jealous FL competitors!

Beirut Before & After

For those of you interested in seeing the before and after aerial shots of Beirut, click on the link below.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14252208

Summer Ball - Harewood House

Nicola and I have been invited to the BT Summer Ball at Harewood House in Leeds. It's a black tie event and what better way to spend Saturday than to drop the kids off at their grandparents and go to Meadowhall just the two of us.

As men usually do, I found what I wanted in 10 mins. A tuxedo with a black bow tie and shirt all for £130. Not bad! Well, not bad considering its £60 to hire one and even then, you have to put a deposit down and worry about whether you might spill something on it. Judging by BT's standards, there will be a Christmas ball too, so I'll wear it then!

As for Nicola, well, it wasn't so simple and as much as I love my wife, walking in a very indecisive way and stopping and starting for 30 mins just aint my bag. Eventually we found a dress that was absolutely stunning. She really does look like a princess.

What made the whole day fulfilling was eating some good food at a very reasonably priced Pizza Express. The salad I had was delicious.

Anyway, we'll post pictures of the ball when we get them.

Fantasy League Dilemma

I can not for the life of me figure out which way to go in this year's Fantasy League football competition. I am struggling with strikers and who to pick. With a budget of only £75m and Henry costing £11m of it, it's easy to see why I am having this problem.

Currently, Wayne Rooney is appealing against a possible 3 match ban and with Henry being expensive and Shevchenko being unproven, I have decided to go with a daring partnership of Berbatov (Spurs) and Darren Bent (Charlton). Ok, I am a Spurs fan, but I really think he can be the answer to Henry.

Any ideas anyone?

Funny But True!

Nicola sent me this via email and I thought I would share it with you. Very funny, but very true!

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft.house 4 inches deep.
2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them withroller blades, they can ignite.
3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowdedrestaurant.
4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strongenough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Supermancape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spreadpaint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on.When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a fewtimes before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hitby a ceiling fan.
7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's alreadytoo late.
8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- yearold Boy.
11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12.) Super glue is forever.
13.) No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you stillcan't walk on water.
14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15.) VCR's do not eject "PB & J" sandwiches even though TV commercialsshow they do.
16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.
19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do notlike ovens.
20.) The fire department inAustin , TX has a 5-minute response time.
21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthwormsdizzy.
22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24.) 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, withor without kids.
25.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

Help Lebanon - Red Cross Appeal

To whomever is reading this; Lebanon (my home country) is suffering a crisis in aid and not much is being done about it in the western world. If you would like to donate, anything, even a £1, then please use the link below to send money to the Red Cross in Lebanon. Thanks!

http://www.redcross.org.uk//standard.asp?id=58240&cachefixer

Introductions...

Hi everyone, welcome to our blog. We are Nicola (my wife), Amir (my eldest son), Zak (my youngest) and myself Wassim.

Nicola:
She is a beautiful lady and mother who always thinks of others before herself. A great person with a lovely sense of humour. Her passion is her kids and hopefully when she gets bored of that, she can send some of that passion over to me!

Amir:
This guy is the cheekiest and most fun guy I have known in my life, and considering he is only 4 is some statement. He is a joy to us all and makes us laugh all the time.

Zak:
I call Zak my little girl. Why? Well, I have always wanted a little girl, but seeing as we haven't got one and because he is so pretty, shy and sensitive, I call him my little girl. He even likes it! Oh dear...

Me:
Well, I am just your average man, work hard to pay taxes and spend whatever is left on bills. I try my best for our family and when I have time, I like to enjoy varying activities.

I'll post some pictures so you can have a look.