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Read on for Mark's latest contribution, "Going Crazy for Bubbles".

I was in my car this morning and glanced at the car beside me. In the back was a kid fogging up his window with his breath and writing in it. When he finished, he burst out laughing, rubbed it out and started again. It got me thinking of a line in the movie “Knocked Up”. Paul Rudd’s character is watching his kids play with bubbles and comments on how they go “ape” for bubbles. He wishes that he got as excited about anything as his kids do about bubbles. I can relate.
 

It got me thinking about all the simple things I did as a kid (and my son does now), took for granted and got excited by, which I don’t even notice in my daily life anymore, so here’s a few:

1.    I did indeed “go ape” for bubbles, as well as peeing in the bath, jumping in pools, and throwing snowballs.

2.    Getting chased by an adult was always amazing fun, especially those in authority. Think Oor Wullie and PC Murdoch.

3.    Going through a tunnel was fantastic, either on a train or in a car, but on a motorbike was heaven

4.    Handing over my dummy with a smile, as I knew I had 3 spare, hidden about my person.

5.    Wee Davey (my dad) letting me sit on his lap and steer his car from aged 3 years. I was an awesome driver.

6.    Waving at people from the back seat of the family car (standing on the backseat, no seatbelts back then) then flipping them the finger.

7.    Singing at the top of my voice and not caring who heard ‘cos I truly believed I was the world’s best singer (my Mammy told me so).

8.    Dancing like Shakin’ Stevens at every opportunity, ‘cos he was cool in the 80s.

9.    Sitting at my Dad’s feet and hugging his leg while watching the TV.

10.     Feeling my mum or gran sniff my head when we had a wee cuddle.

11.    Eating sugar sandwiches, and fatty foods, and no-one was fat, because we played outside all day.

12.    Using my foot, pressed on the back wheel as a brake on my bike.  My trainers had a friction-generated arch in the sole.

13.    Role-playing for hours with Star Wars figures.

14.    Throwing a dart “to” my best friend and burying it in his hand.

15.    Sharing a frozen Kwenchy-cup between 4 friends. No-one got ill.

16.    Walking to school with Gillian Forrester, and listening to her (non-stop) gossip.

17.    Knowing for a FACT that you were having Findus Crispy Pancakes for dinner. (curry ones).

18.    Going down Strathclyde Park to “the shows” before there was a “theme park” for the sole purpose of meeting girls.

19.    The school trip to Hadrian’s Wall, at which we played football with sheep dung.

20.    Riding a donkey along Blackpool beach, after arriving there by YMCA bus.

I could do this all day, but I’ll leave you with this. Take the time to enjoy the little things. We’re adults now and can get the best enjoyment of all - watching our kids do MOST of these things.