News - 22-03-2017 - Admin - 16 comments
Keep Calm Its Mothers Day!

Following on from yesterdays tragic events in London I've decided to rewrite part of this as it really got me thinking about life in general and how much we take our everyday lives and situations for granted, ill address this later on in the blog, so onwards we go.

Every year it comes around and every year its always left to the last minute, so come on men, fathers, sons, grandsons get your arses in gear and make Mother's day a special one this year.

I know we should make our parents feel valued every single day of the year but I do confess that I'm very lazy when it comes to making time to visit family, often siting work, events and especially Indie as reasons for not having enough time to visit and spend time with my parents. Its only since becoming a father that it has really hit home exactly how much parents sacrifice when bringing a child into the world, and if you are reading this and you have not had the pleasure of having kids just yet believe me it's a huge sacrifice.

I'm not sure why it has stuck in my head for so many years but I do recall a Mother's day when I must have been 10 or 11 and I was given money by my dad to get my mum a card. I can't remember what happened but to cut a long story short it didn't happen and when the day came around I didn't have anything to give her. I knew my mum was disappointed (she tried not to show it) but I knew and it obviously affected me on some level as nearly 30 years on I still remember and I promised from that day that I would always make the effort. It's not necessarily about cards, presents etc but time that I believe is the most valuable thing you can give someone. So this year guess what happened? My mum decided to head off and visit my brother in Australia totally forgetting it's the 40th birthday of her first-born son 'Moi' on Mother's day, so we are even now mum!

There's a secondary part to this week's blog. How do you go about making the mother of your child feel special on this day? I'm no longer with Indie's mum but I am also in the very fortunate position that we are best mates, it's not only about my little one rocking up on the special day with a card and flowers, but an opportunity for me to let her know that I think she is doing an incredible job bringing up our daughter. I feel that mothers take the brunt of the responsibility when bringing up children, I often found myself taking the secondary parenting role due to the fact that I felt totally out of my depth.  I'm over that now and realise a father can play a very influential role in bringing up a child, I'm not sure whether it was a masculine thing where we don't like to admit our shortcomings but I definitely looked at Indie's mum Louise and thought "what the hell do we do with this little life we have brought into the world?" I'm all about showing Indie the right way to grow and respect the things that people do for us, and that starts right here with me.

The tragic events in London hit home hard for me as only days earlier I was stood on Westminster Bridge with my daughter, we were so happy, taking pictures with Parliament behind us. What happened during the terror attack changed the lives of those on the bridge that fateful day forever, some of those involved never got the chance to come home to their families. This is why we need to cherish our time with our loved ones, Mothers day is an opportunity to show how much we love our mums but on reflection I've realised that I need to make more of an effort all year round, not just on one day. I've got an unusual dynamic in my family, my mum, my step mum and my grandmothers all made huge sacrifices and impacted my life in an incredible way, and I'm sure I wouldn't be the person I am today with out them all so I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to not only them but to all of you Mums out there, you do an incredible job.

Harissa chicken with cumin Hassleback Sweet Potatoes (serves 4)

  • 1 free range chicken 1.5 - 2 kg
  • 1 tbs harissa
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed
  • Small piece fresh ginger grated
  • Juice ½ lemon
  • 4 medium sweet potatoes
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tsp ground cumin

Method:

1: In a small bowl combine the harissa, ginger, oil, lemon juice and garlic then set aside. Place the chicken on a baking tray, slash the thighs with a sharp knife then rub with the paste. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours but overnight if you can.

2: Slice the sweet potatoes at ½ centimeter intervals cutting 2/3 of the way down, mix the oil, garlic and cumin in a bowl along with a pinch of salt and pepper then rub this oil into the potatoes making sure you get a good coating.

3: Before cooking stuff some coriander and the lemon halves inside of the chicken cavity. Roast in a pre heated oven set at 190c / gas mark 5 for 45 mins per kilo plus 20 minutes. With an hour left of the cooking time for the chicken place the potatoes onto the tray. After half an hour run a fork across the top of the potatoes to fan them out and while you are at it baste the chicken. The chicken is ready when the juices run clear when a skewer is inserted into the thickest part. Serve up and garnish with some fresh coriander.

Dean x

16 comments:

Lisa - 2017-03-22

Didn't realise it's your 40 th this year. Your words read that your parenting skills are spot on. You said to me the other day. " we can give our children advice. if they listen and take the advice is up to them". Teens that's when your challenge really starts.

Scott Wright - 2017-03-23

Why haven't you wrote a blog before?I enjoy your honesty and your wording hits the Mark and makes me think. Well done Digger looking forward to catching up soon

Christian Derrick - 2017-03-23

Well said bud. We should have been celebrating our trip to London the same day last year. Life just far to cruel at times. Have a great birthday !!

Michelle - 2017-03-23

Value your Mum (s). I don't have mine anymore, in the physical sense, but she's always in my heart. They're not around forever. Spoil 'em rotten on Sunday.

Carol Searle - 2017-03-23

Dear Dean, I agree with everything you say. We must all appreciate our Families especially our Mums. Sadly my Mum is no longer with us, but the love she left behind I pass on to our 'little ones' so they can grow up knowing they are cherished. Sometimes life gets in the way and we can feel a bit lonely, but deep down we know our loved ones are there for us. Darren celebrated his 40th last week......makes me feel so old......so please accept Philip & my Congratulations to you as you celebrate your 40th this weekend. I can remember when we celebrated yours and Darren's 10th Birthdays! Haha! W

Chris Iles - 2017-03-23

That's so true for us all Dean with time issues - you are a brilliant dad and indie is a real credit to you both xx7470

Janet gregory - 2017-03-23

Loves you❤️

Aileen Pennington - 2017-03-23

So enjoy Your programmes and your blog .. It was good to read that you are sharing your daughter . It is my pet hate when couples seperate the children are often used as pawns between the parents ,they are confused enough when Mummy an Daddy are not together any more.Its all about the adults ,so young man l applaud you and Indie's mother ..

Wendy - 2017-03-23

Lovely words Dean xx

Wendy - 2017-03-23

Lovely words Dean xx

Shan wong - 2017-03-23

What a beautiful blog! You are absolutely right .. you should cherish every moment with your loved ones. Growing up I always thought my mum was invinsible and would always be there. I could call her another day , visit another time etc Then eight years ago she was cruelly taken from us on Mother's Day after a tough fight with cancer. So everyone should make that phone call , make that trip ... every moment spent with them is priceless.xx

Wesley - 2017-03-24

Amazing words brother I still to this day remember that Mother's Day but how come you never told your readers what we got her in the end? We went down the road and took daffodils from someone's garden, that look on her face was probably disbelief as her tow angles had stolen someone flowers.

Sue Andreae - 2017-03-25

Well what can I say...To my mum yes I should be more patient... and yes should spend more time with her. To my children.. young adults ( still my children in my eyes).. I know you have your own life to live.... but a chat on the phone can be wonderful at any time of the year. A card a bunch of flowers doesn't have to be just on Mother's Day ... anytime you can send words of your thoughts about YOUR mum, just to say loving thoughts.... I had to laugh I remember me one year going out to my parents garden and picking some daffodils to give my mum..... but I guess we have all done that, at sometim

Sue Andreae - 2017-03-25

Well what can I say...To my mum yes I should be more patient... and yes should spend more time with her. To my children.. young adults ( still my children in my eyes).. I know you have your own life to live.... but a chat on the phone can be wonderful at any time of the year. A card a bunch of flowers doesn't have to be just on Mother's Day ... anytime you can send words of your thoughts about YOUR mum, just to say loving thoughts.... I had to laugh I remember me one year going out to my parents garden and picking some daffodils to give my mum..... but I guess we have all done that, at sometim

Sue Andreae - 2017-03-25

Well what can I say...To my mum yes I should be more patient... and yes should spend more time with her. To my children.. young adults ( still my children in my eyes).. I know you have your own life to live.... but a chat on the phone can be wonderful at any time of the year. A card a bunch of flowers doesn't have to be just on Mother's Day ... anytime you can send words of your thoughts about YOUR mum, just to say loving thoughts.... I had to laugh I remember me one year going out to my parents garden and picking some daffodils to give my mum..... but I guess we have all done that, at sometim

Ali Beacham - 2017-03-25

Lovely words Dean I love reading you're Blogs have a great day with you're Family Tomorrow

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