Having three daughters means I rarely get the chance to kick a ball about or engage in more ‘rough and tumble’ stuff. It’s all Barbie and Littlest Pet Shop.
When I take them over the park I mustn’t push them too high on the swings or too fast on the roundabout.
But today was different. C and L, my two nephews came to visit.
‘Can we go over the park, Uncle Mark’ they asked more or less as soon as they arrived.
I was already stood by the front door with my trainers on and a football tucked under my arm.
‘Come on! Let’s go!’ I said excitedly. They broke into a run as we neared the park gate and I joined them. And what a joy it was to kick the ball high into the air as we entered – I felt like the captain of Arsenal coming out of the tunnel onto the pitch at the start of a game.
There we were, the three of us, in our own little football world kicking a ball about.
After a while they wanted to have a go on the swings and roundabout.
‘Higher, Uncle Mark!’ they shouted. ‘Faster!’
I was in heaven. L even come off the roundabout and did one of those little wobbly walks because he was so dizzy. I’d never been responsible for making anyone do that before.
Then they wanted to go back onto the swings.
‘Uncle Mark! Uncle Mark! See if you can hit us on the head with the ball!’ shouted L.
‘It doesn’t get any better than this,’ I thought.
So I took aim and kicked the ball. I missed but it hit the metal frame and bounced straight back in my face. Giving me a bloody nose.
‘Are you alright Uncle Mark?’ said C.
‘Hmmpphh, I’m fide,’ I managed.
‘I think we’d better get you home,’ replied C, taking my hand.
I wonder if they want to play Littlest Pet Shop when they next come round?
