#fun

Gareth Ellis

Apr 12, 2021
3 min

Review: MK Play Association

Getting the children out and about is sometimes hard as a parent. No wait, let me rephrase that. Getting them out is easy as you can always go for a walk, it’s varying things that I sometimes struggle with. It’s also the interaction side of things that I feel is hard, especially at the moment with this bloody pandemic. So, imagine how pleased Jess and I were to get Rupert booked on to a Milton Keynes Play Association event just recently (and even more pleased that the weather

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Gareth Ellis

Oct 20, 2020
3 min

Review: Pumpkin Picking at The Patch MK

This weekend was a first for the Ellis family – as it was the first time any of us had gone pumpkin picking. Rupert is a massive fan of getting out and about, Emilia is always beautifully behaved wherever we go and Jess and I just like spending time together – so it seemed perfect. Let me first start out by telling you a little bit about the premise of the day in case you’re thinking of heading there yourself. The Patch is a working farm area, Mount Mill Farm to be exact, bas

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Gareth Ellis

May 31, 2020
2 min

Pandemic Positives: Staying Social

So, the news hit recently that people will be able to meet up in groups of six in gardens or outside spaces as of tomorrow. This is huge news for a lot of people who have been dying to meet up with friends and family and enjoy the sunshine together, while still obeying the government rules surrounding coronavirus. For me, I’ve been meeting up with friends, family, and work colleagues on a regular basis – through the magic of both Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and video calling. Team

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Gareth Ellis

Mar 2, 2020
3 min

The Best Laid Plans…

This weekend was lovely. To be fair I had Monday off as well so actually, this long weekend was lovely. It was full of family time, getting outside and getting stuff done. There was no work stress, which right now seems to be at its worst, and it was so nice to feel real freedom. Over the weekend we thought we’d get out and about as the sun was shining (on the Sunday) and seeing as we’re National Trust members we’d take the short drive to Stowe. Now before I start this I shou

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Gareth Ellis

Feb 25, 2020
3 min

Don’t just give up on Lent

Today (Tuesday) is one of my favourite days – not because of its position in the week (it’s far too close to Monday) but because it’s Shrove Tuesday – PANCAKE DAY! Now I know what you’re thinking, you shouldn’t have just one day for pancakes. However, this is a day when you can heap melted mars bar and ice cream on a pancake and not feel guilty. What comes tomorrow though excites me almost as much (almost.) Lent is a religious festival that is supposed to represent Jesus’ sac

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Gareth Ellis

Feb 7, 2020
3 min

Ru’s Putting His Best Foot Forward

Rupert loves to walk. From the moment he’s finished his milk in the morning, we put him down and off he goes. He walks back and forth mainly, picking up toys as he goes and handing them over, but he rarely crawls now. On one hand it’s amazing. Each day he does something a little differently when he walks. He carries himself a little faster, or he keeps his balance a little steadier, or he learns how to walk across the bed or the sofa. Now though he wants to walk outside. He w

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Gareth Ellis

Feb 1, 2020
3 min

Stay and Play!

Today I got invited to stay and play – and I loved it. Stay and Play sessions are held across the country (run by the council) and give parents and carers a free place to take children between 0 and 4 to play – hence the name. Jess takes Rupert a lot on Fridays because she’s off work and it gives our little one a chance to play and explore. Previously, he went to Sensory class, and whereas he used to love it, he outgrew it and wanted to do more than sit still and watch, he wa

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Gareth Ellis

Jan 26, 2020
2 min

Putting the we in weekend

This weekend has been amazing. And I haven’t really done that much. Before Rupert, and before I was with Jess, I could go a whole day without leaving the house. I wasn’t much of a lay-in person, never have been, but I was sometimes a bloody lazy bugger. A typical Saturday for me (sometimes) was up at 9am to watch Soccer AM until 12pm, then half an hour break, then watch whatever football match was on at 12.30pm. By the time that was over it was around 2.30pm so I’d have anoth

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Gareth Ellis

Jan 20, 2020
2 min

Don’t be Blue on Blue Monday

So apparently, today is Blue Monday. No, it doesn’t mean playing your favourite boyband songs and reminiscing over which one you had a crush on. No, it’s the third Monday of the year, the Monday where you’ve already blown your New Years Resolutions, you’ve got no money as you were paid before Christmas, and you’re stuck doing Veganuary for at least another 12 days. The point is that it’s another made up day, actually made up as a PR stunt by the travel industry to get people

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Gareth Ellis

Dec 22, 2019
2 min

Rupert is one – My 100th blog

This blog is special to me, as this marks my 100th since I started it way back in 2016. Back then it was Ellis in Wonderland and I was writing about everything from mental health to rubbish drivers. Then in May 2018 everything changed. We found out we were having Rupert and J suggested I turn it into a Daddy blog – Dad’s the Word was born and we were soon documenting our journey into becoming parents. In November of that year our Ru was born and since then it’s been a yearlon

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Gareth Ellis

Dec 7, 2019
3 min

And then there were Four…

Well, the news is out, and yes the rumours are true. Rupert will soon be a big brother, as Jess and I are having another baby. We found out our latest magical news way back in September when Jess and Ru video called me. I was at work and ducked into a meeting room (not full of people) and I thought I was in for a nice chat with my wife and son. Then Jess flipped the camera to the positive pregnancy test and boom, say hello to baby number two. In true clichéd fashion I was los

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Gareth Ellis

Sep 10, 2019
3 min

Teamwork makes the Dream Work

I’m a very lucky man. I’ve currently been with Jess for just over seven years (married for two) and we have a beautiful son together. We live in a lovely home and have wonderful family, even those watching over us. But I’d be lying if I didn’t think that sometimes having a son can put a serious strain on your relationship. Now before I go into this I have to say that I am as happy with Jess now as I ever have been, this is not a ‘Dear Jane’ blog for her. But sleep deprivation

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Gareth Ellis

Aug 30, 2019
2 min

Sun’s Out, Guns In

I am what’s known as a sun worshipper. I am THAT guy who moves his sunbed round on holiday so that it’s always facing the sun straight on. I’m THAT guy who would rather sit in the shade than get vest/t-shirt tan, and I’m THAT guy who doesn’t want to be in the sun if it means I’m not laying in it getting the best tan I can. However, this year has been different. With a baby you don’t really have time to lay in bed, let alone lay in the sun. And with little hope of a summer hol

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Gareth Ellis

Aug 8, 2018
2 min

Decorating the Nursery: Part 1

So recently J and I have been decorating the nursery and this weekend we made some amazing progress in little man’s room. However, before I get to that I want to tell you all about the journey we took to get to that point. When you think of decorating your baby’s room you think it will be so easy and that you’ll settle on a colour scheme before naturally and easily getting on with it. I did anyway, I thought it would be as simple as looking at paint, buying it, then coming ho

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Gareth Ellis

Jul 19, 2018
2 min

Wham, Bam, We’ve Bought a Pram!

Big news! This week we ordered little man’s pram set! We’re so excited because we got a great price for a set that includes so much. I mean, it comes with a carrycot, cup holder, car seat and even a foot muff! However, our journey towards that decision wasn’t such an easy one. Let me take you back about 2 months. So, J and I had just been for an overwhelming visit to an out of town nursery shop and sensing we might get a bit down we went to Mamas & Papas for another look (and

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Gareth Ellis

Jun 20, 2018
2 min

Time is precious, spend it wisely

Time is such a precious commodity. It’s one of those things that when you have a lot of it you don’t need it and when you need it you don’t have it. Since J and I became pregnant I’ve noticed that some days I really don’t have any time to do anything. It’s partly my own fault because, especially in the early days, I wanted to wrap J up in cotton wool, and protect her and the baby. Since then though, doing as much as I can around the house is my way of showing her my love and

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Gareth Ellis

Apr 3, 2018
2 min

Every body is beautiful

My wife and I rarely watch something on television when it’s live, meaning we’re forever watching things on catch-up. It’s great in a way because we get to binge watch stuff and watch it all together and all in one, the bad thing is, there’s so much good telly that we feel like we’re missing something. The reason I say that is because as of writing this we’re currently catching up on some really good television – The Real Full Monty. For those who haven’t watched it a number

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Gareth Ellis

Jan 9, 2018
2 min

New Year, New Me….is a myth

New Year, New Me. That’s the old adage, isn’t it? It means so much to so many people as they feel that a new year means that they can wipe the slate clean and make a new start. Whether that means a new diet, a new hobby or a new venture then people think it’s great. Except it isn’t, it’s lame. Why should the moving of one day into another mean that somebody suddenly wants to reinvent themselves? Surely that doesn’t work throughout the year. Do people stop smoking as Wednesda

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Gareth Ellis

Dec 24, 2017
1 min

Blogmas 2017 Day 12 – Thank you for a wonderful year

So here we are, the end of Blogmas 2017, and nearly the end of the year. Throughout this year I’ve put my heart and soul into this blog. I’ve written about things I’ve struggled with and you’ve been there to listen to the bad times and celebrate with me over the successes. So all I can say is thank you. Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to click on to the links on social media or visit the blog page directly. When I started the blog it didn’t really strike me th

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Gareth Ellis

Dec 23, 2017
2 min

Blogmas 2017 Day 11 – Review of the Year

This year has been amazing. I’m an extremely lucky man and I can probably count 2017 as the best year of my life. I know that’s often a phrase that is thrown around easily but I have been truly blessed, and a lot of people reading this will have contributed in some way. Rather than go through month by month like so many other reviews of the year I just want to talk to you about a few of my highlights. I couldn’t start anywhere else but J and I’s wedding day. The most perfect

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