belgianwaffle

Princess

On the Socials


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess, Work

We had an in person away day at work last week. I was genuinely looking forward to it (sadly) and it was really great to see people in person again. But you know, ultimately, an away day is as you would imagine. We had a guest speaker. She spoke about trying to manage our tech habits and inspired by her, I have deleted Instagram from my phone. It was a slight wrench but I had found myself sitting scrolling at midnight when I ought to be tucked up in bed reading my book and keeping my husband awake with the bedside light. I gave up Twitter in April 2019 and although I do still slightly miss it from time to time, I am very pleased that I did. I find Instagram less interesting than Twitter so hope that I will miss it even less. Although I did like those filters.

Instead, I now seem to be addicted to Duolingo which at least has the merit of being educational. I am learning Ukrainian. I would say that the Cyrillic alphabet is tricky. Mr. Waffle said, “It’s based on the Greek alphabet – remember Cyril and Methodius – which I learnt in a week when I was 12, how hard can it be?” Frankly, this attitude is unhelpful. I spent some time in Bosnia in the mid-90s and in my head I still pronounce the Bosnian word for restaurant as Pectopah so you can see my difficulty.

Separately, herself introduced me to BeReal which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. I am quite enjoying it despite the fact that I know no one on there but herself (I feel like I am definitely ahead of the middle aged curve on this one). Sadly most of my pictures feature me in my concrete bunker (or, as it is described elsewhere, my award winning office – architect led design, what is it with architects and concrete?). I am very excited by the prospect of my sabbatical and a whole range of different settings opening up to me.

19


Posted in: Princess

Herself is 19 today. “When,” she asked me, “will you be doing the GDPR-breaching post for my birthday ?” Not tonight but, probably before the boys’ birthday in September.

She seems to be pretty pleased with her haul of presents – many books including a first edition of a Samuel Beckett book of poetry in French. I paid good money for these notions and I am pleased to see them being used.

She was off at a session in the Alliance at the weekend on Irish and French literature. Simultaneous translation was provided for both the French and the Irish speakers on the panel and herself was the only person in the room who didn’t need to put on the headphones at all. Honestly, my work here is done. And where do you think she got her notions?

Still Reading


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess

One of my Monday book club members is president of a professional society this year. Last Monday she invited us to dinner on the society’s premises to celebrate her presidency. How satisfactory. 22 years of book club and it was the first time we haven’t had frozen pizza at a meeting.

One of our members who is cautious insisted that we all take an antigen test in advance. I was sure one of us would be felled but no, we were all clear. It was such a lovely evening and we all waxed nostalgic remembering early meetings, members who had come and gone and favourite books. Also the food was fantastic.

Herself also came back from her trip to Marbella on Monday evening. As I cycled home, I thought, “If I were a good mother, I would have a vegan feast prepared for her instead of going out for dinner for myself.” Happily, I am not a good mother because it transpired that she had rung her father and asked him to iron her evening dress, bring it with him to the airport when he was collecting her at 6 and drop her into Trinity for 7 where she was going to a ball with her friends. People, if I had prepared a vegan feast I would have been incandescent.

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Feeling Popular


Posted in: Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

The school is having a fund raising quiz night next week. We asked Daniel and Michael whether they would like to be part of a family team of 4. They instantly declined.

We asked two friends of ours who love quizzes and who have no children (so no babysitting or school events of their own to support) whether they would like to go. Yes but that night one of them has bridge and the other has poetry appreciation club (it’s our age).

I texted herself in the fleshpots of Spain where she is currently enjoying herself, to see whether she would come with a friend. Two days later I received a curt monosyllable in reply. No.

I suppose we’ll have to go on our own. We’re doomed for the popular culture round though to be fair, I’m not saying that the bridge and poetry appreciation crowd would be delivering there either.

Alas.

Mother’s Day


Posted in: Family, Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

I always think about my own mother on Mother’s Day. I still miss her. I suppose it would be strange if I didn’t.

My little family dutifully delivered for me despite the fact that it comes hot on the heels of my birthday which is always a big effort. I had a very nice breakfast, flowers and a card and, best of all, I didn’t have to get up at 6.30 to drop herself to the airport as her father kindly did so.

I trust you had a satisfactory day yourself, if you celebrate.

She’s Baaack (temporarily)


Posted in: Princess

Herself came home on Wednesday after her surfing holiday in Portugal. I was slightly surprised to learn that she is off to Marbella on Sunday for a week before returning to Dublin for further Easter holidays from April 4. Isn’t it well for her? It is far from the student life I remember which seemed to involve nothing more exciting than the odd trip to Kerry.

She expressed a willingness to go out on a cultural evening so she and I went to the launch of the Francophonie film festival on Wednesday night – a slightly sad film about Lebanon (Sous le ciel d’Alice) and a not bad at all buffet from the embassies of the countries which are members of the Francophonie (you would be surprised – I mean Austria, Greece, Hungary?).

She opened an envelope from the Department of Education which had been awaiting her attention for some time and which I had been extremely curious about. She has won a scholarship for her leaving cert results and must now input her details to secure €7,000 a year for the remainder of her college career (definitely good news) but she must confirm that the family holds a medical card to qualify (a proxy for income). We do not hold a family medical card. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. In a very Pollyannaish way she said, “But aren’t we lucky that I don’t qualify, really”. And, you know, I bask in the glow of her achievements. I often think what a pity it is that my mother got sick before herself started secondary school and got into the habit of winning prizes for everything. My mother would have really enjoyed that. And while I’m mentioning my mother, I must remember my father who was rather indifferent to academic achievement (opposites attract, I guess). Yesterday would have been his 97th birthday. I still sometimes forget he is dead and mentally bookmark things to tell him.

I had forgotten the Princess’s slightly acerbic way and I am not sure that I entirely welcomed her assessment of my singing at breakfast, “You’re like the Tesco finest version of songs, quite like the original but not really as good.” Indeed.

However, she is dutifully keeping us all up to date on what the young people are doing. She’s signed up to a new app called Be Real where once a day at the same time you take a picture and so do all your friends. It simultaneously takes a picture with the front and back camera. I am not sure I will take to it. I have to say that only one of us looks like a chipmunk in my first Be Real shot.

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My brother was passing through London when she was there last week and she brought him to a restaurant which he said was quite weird but he found it kind of fascinating. It’s where the bright young things go. He described the food as dear and bad. Of course it was dearer for him because he also gave her some cash which she promptly went out and spent on a rather nice new coat.

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People it is so strange when your child becomes an adult and knows things that you don’t and is out and about in the world but surprisingly gratifying too.