We arrived and as we flew in to Cork airport, I said to my daughter, look that’s Cork. “Nana!” she said. “Yes” I confirmed.
We landed and waited for our luggage. “Nana?” she asked in irrate tones. “In a minute” I said.
We came out and there she was, Nana, conversation as follows:
Nana: Hello my darling.
Me: Hello Mum.
Nana (Ignoring me and my intervention) : How’s my little girl?
Princess (in tones of febrile excitement): Nana, Nana, Nana!!
Me: Hmmph.
Nana: Oh hello dear. Your father has parked outside and we have to ring him on your mobile to find where he is.
Me: What? But I have no credit on my Irish mobile.
Nana: Oh well, I’ll just walk up and down the carpark until I find him, you go and top up your phone (departs leaving me muttering darkly).
Princess (to her grandmother’s retreating form in most distressed tones): Nana, Nana, NANA, NANA.
Go to airport shop. No top up cards.
Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”
Go to card vending machine – it is out of order.
Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”
Go to another machine, it refuses to take my money.
Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”
Go to payphone. It will not take coins in any of the denominations in my purse.
Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”
At that moment my mother returned.
Princess is ecstatic “Nana” she says approvingly. “Good.”
“I’ve found your father but I’m going to the bathroom before we leave. He’s up there” says my mother gesturing vaguely.
The Princess bursts into tears and she and I venture out into the car park with her wailing “NANA, NANA, NANA!”
We find my father. “Look,” I say “your grandfather”.
She looks at him dubiously and then says “Nana? Nana? NANA!”
“Hello dear” says my father nervously “where’s your mother?”.
“Well that’s what we all want to know” says the Princess (or words to that effect).
Anyway after that initial excitement, we all went home and the Princess continued her bonding with my mother. We had a relatively quiet week but very pleasant. The Princess who can be a picky eater at home took everything her grandmother laid in front of her with gusto. Alas, she slept poorly, but I suppose you can’t have everything. Didn’t see anyone other than my parents, my aunt and the heart surgeon. The heart surgeon is pregnant and her baby is due in March. Circumstances have determined that within two weeks of the birth of her first child she will have to travel to the US for job interviews. A terrifying prospect but one which she views with relative equanimity. She uttered the immortal words “how hard can it be?” Oh how we laughed.
And that’s it really. Quiet but pleasant.
Start my new job on Monday. Had an away day on Friday which was reasonably pleasant but getting my feet under the desk on Monday will be…interesting.
on 28 November 2004 at 19:12
I’m starting to miss Nana myself after all that. So you didn’t get out and about much? Ah well, a break in the homeland is rejuvenating enough. Despite no pleas for free papers. Again. One of these days you’ll be desperate to find out cinema times or what’s new on the Kinsale Road Flyover – and I’ll laugh…Ahem. But good luck with the job! 
on 28 November 2004 at 22:05
Great to see you back, Waffle. Lots of luck for tomorrow – you’ll be brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
on 28 November 2004 at 22:23
MDW: Yes, this is a VERY valuable lesson in how not to alienate your daughter…though it does seem to lead to enormous affection from grandchild, so swings and roundabouts, I suppose.
JD, Bobble, HJB, Loc: thanks for all the finger crossing (and also the sweetie B)- I think I will feel better once tomorrow is over…
Loc, but I DID want the Examiner. Had I known that all I had to do for a free copy was contact you, I wouldn’t have had to shell out vast sums.
on 29 November 2004 at 08:56
Well there you go – you’ll know in future. A bit worried about this ‘vast sums’ business – how many bundles are you buying?! Or are you getting your hands on those black market hush hush copies that tell the future news before it happens…very handy for the bookie…
on 01 December 2004 at 22:04
Well, loads of bundles obviously, I mean, you know as an antidote to the Irish Times (which had half a page on a Dun Laoghaire sculpture on Saturday incl large photo of same – national paper pah!).