It’s time to go back to blogging after the absence forced upon me by the birth of a beautiful son to my wife and I. He’s spent the first two weeks of his life being named, admired, photographed, fed, changed, cuddled and has also had prayers for his safe arrival said over him every day. He is a wonderously turbulent addition to our home and a blessing from the Eternal.

Like any new parent, being suddenly put in charge of a newborn takes a bit of getting used to. The lack of sleep, and changing to a routine based around baby’s needs for feeding, changing, cuddling and entertaining is something no book or ante-natal class can prepare you for. You just have to roll with it and get on and do what needs to be done.

I’d like to thank all the commentators to this blog who sent us their best wishes and who reminded me that the smell of milk sick and nappy contents can never be got out of a keyboard. At the moment I don’t care how much our little lad pees and poos over me, just as long as he is happy and healthy.

About the only downside to arrival of this little blessing has been having to deal with NHS maternity, midwifery and health visiting services. I must say, that with the exceptions of the occasional decent individual NHS worker, the number of which I can count on the fingers of one hand, I’ve not been impressed. The NHS on this occasion has veered between being dangerously incompetent in the delivery room, to patronising, useless and untrustworthy in the post birth period.

Being a parent is an adventure like no other I’ve ever embarked on before, but I’ll try not to bore others on here about it, although I cannot promise not to rant about the NHS, children’s services, schools or other parenting issues.