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Daniel

Where to Begin?

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Posted in: Boys, Daniel, Ireland, Michael

It’s been a busy time. The boys turned 14 on September 27. That’s a lot of candles.

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Birthday posts will follow describing them at 14. Something for you to look forward to. We took them and five of their friends to Kildare (for which we had to hire a spare car, I couldn’t quite face the bus with seven teenagers) to play a game where they run around and pretend to shoot each other.

When we got to Kildare, all of them went into what was basically an enormous shed. There were lots of men of all ages sitting inside, dressed in military clothing. I thought they looked a bit daft but, I suppose if they’re enjoying themselves, what harm? And all to the good for the boys’ friend’s uncles who run the place.

We were encouraged to leave and go to Kildare village (outlet shopping about which I have mixed views) but when we got there, it was absolutely heaving so we went to the Japanese Gardens and National Stud instead. I had previously believed these to be two different attractions but in fact the man who left the Stud to a grateful nation also had an interest in gardening and brought in a man from Japan to lay out the garden. Surprising.

So it was, as Johnson said about the Giant’s Causeway apparently, worth seeing but not worth going to see. I mean it was a nice way for us to while away an afternoon but I’m not sure I would have been delighted to have driven down from Dublin specially. The stud features a (very mildly) interesting museum including Arkle’s skeleton:

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Somewhat surprising. We got to wander around and look at the horses. Most expensive was Invincible Spirit. It costs €120,000 to have your mare covered by him and he looked suitably pleased with himself hanging around the fence with his coat on:

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It was more fun going around and looking at the younger horses who came up and had a good look at us, let us give them a rub and then kicked up their heels and galloped around the field.

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The Japanese Gardens were also appealing in a not-extensive kind of way.

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Then we just had time for a nice cup of tea before going back to rescue the boys. The place was full of young families and I felt a bit old and more than a bit smug as I strolled around unencumbered by prams or tantrums.

The boys had had a great time shooting at each other and they were sweaty but cheerful as we drove them back to Dublin. A great success all round. I have to tell you, I am loving the teenage years.

Two Worlds Collide

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Posted in: Boys, Daniel, Michael

We are going to an adventure centre for the boys’ upcoming birthday. As part of this a waiver is needed from the invitees’ parents. I drafted up a comprehensive letter with details of pick-up and departure times; waiver information; addresses; website address for the centre etc. The boys gave it out to their friends.

“Do you think that the wording of the letter might have been a bit overly lawyerly and formal?” asked Michael that evening. “I don’t think so,” I replied firmly. “Why do you ask?” “It’s just that my friend R tried to eat his invitation.”

Unpolished

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Posted in: Boys, Daniel

Daniel was called upon to do the first reading at mass this morning at short notice. It’s still the summer, it’s all a bit disorganised. As he scuttled on to the altar clutching the missalette in his hand, I was quietly confident but then I had a quick scan and was less so. This was the reading he saw for the first time on the altar and had to read aloud.

The Lord says this: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations: to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Moshech, Rosh, Tubal and Javan, to the distant islands that have not heard of me or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory to the nations. As an offering to the Lord they will bring all your brothers, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, on dromedaries from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem says the Lord, like Israelites bringing oblations in clean vessels to temple of the Lord. And of some of them I will make priests and Levites, says the Lord.

He actually sailed through it. He’s a great reader and he has a lovely deep voice and speaks slowly and clearly. No one could blame him for this but it was unfortunate that he mispronounced Tarshish as Tarnish.

In other news, we’re back. Holiday updates to follow. Hold on to your hats etc.

Insights from the Garden


Posted in: Boys, Daniel

Me: Oh look at the lovely sunflowers in that garden.

Daniel: I don’t think they really go with the look of our road.

Me: Why not?

Him: They say ‘young people frolicking in the sun’.

Me: And what is the general look of our road then?

Him: Old people tending to brightly coloured shrubs.

Me: Actually, that is true.

Latch Key Children


Posted in: Boys, Daniel, Dublin, Ireland, Michael

I haven’t been entirely delighted with how much time the children have been at home alone this summer, particularly Michael. Today was a bit of a low point.

We live in a trendy, urban up and coming area, if you’re an estate agent. A bit too edgy maybe, if you’re not. For example, I was not totally delighted to discover that my daughter knew how to recognise people doing a drug deal before she finished primary school. Our leafy road is lovely though: the houses are great; we know most of our neighbours many of whom have been there a long time; it’s close to town and it’s quiet without much through traffic.

I came home from work this evening and the two boys were home alone as expected. Mr. Waffle was at a work thing and herself was at her residential camp. Daniel had come in about half an hour before me. Michael was still in his pyjamas although he had showered. I’m trying to spin this as a win. I asked for news from their days. They had a talent contest at Daniel’s camp; it was a bit dull. Michael had risen at lunch time, showered and, undoubtedly, spent the rest of the day glued to his phone although this was not how he put it to me.

After a while Daniel said, “Oh yeah, I forgot to say, there was a man sleeping on the doorstep when I got home.”

“Sorry? At the gate or on the doorstep?” I asked.

“On the doorstep,” he said.

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Well,” he said, “I hung around for a while not sure what to do and then [the very nice, quite senior in the FCA man] from across the road came and helped me in.”

“Michael, did you know there was someone sleeping on the doorstep?” I asked.

“Not until Daniel came in,” he said. The advantage of remaining in pyjamas all day.

I took myself off across the road to thank my neighbour but he was out and I spoke to his wife. He hadn’t mentioned his good Samaritan act to her. I can’t help wondering what was the story with the person, quite possibly, passed out on our doorstep. It’s hardly a welcome development, I think we can agree.

It turns out, even my bleeding heart liberalism has a limit. My very conservative father who has been waiting for this development for some time will be pleased to hear it.