belgianwaffle

Archives for 22 July, 2004

National Day


Posted in: Belgium, Mr. Waffle

Yesterday was Belgian national day. Mr. Waffle was off work.  Everything was closed.  Stalls were put up.  Military hardware was paraded.  The royal family was out in force.  I only know this from last year because when we went into the Sablon to partake of this year’s fun, the Princess didn’t want to join in and howled continuously until we agreed to take her home again.  Trying.

And this evening Mr. Waffle leaves for his brother’s stag w/end (in Wales where a bunch of the lads will be running up Snowdon for fun – what an odd bunch – Mr. Waffle plans to take the train up, he’s not stupid, my husband) and he won’t be back until Sunday.  Woe.

Comments
belgianwaffle

on 22 July 2004 at 20:28

Um, is this one of your clever puns? If yes, alas, don’t get it. Very distressing. If no, I haven’t a clue, but suspect it is slow.

KateEvans

on 22 July 2004 at 20:34

I find silveretta’s clever puns distressing too. And now I’m jealous of your wallpaper.

silveretta

on 22 July 2004 at 20:34

None of my puns are clever BW. I simply meant that if the train won’t see him back till Sunday then it must be slow.I’ll get me coat.

silveretta

on 22 July 2004 at 20:35

Yes – your wallpaper is the best, along with Bobble’s.

belgianwaffle

on 22 July 2004 at 20:48

See Silveretta, it was a clever pun that I didn’t get. Knew it. Ta for wallpaper encouragement both. I am rather pleased with it. I found the option for background in my search to replace my waffle picture and since the other option for this pm’s entertainment was sending out cvs, decided to add one. It is a drawing of our street which a cartoon book drawing man (there must be an easier way to put this but you know what I mean) did for Mr. Waffle’s b’day. Cool eh?

Matters literary


Posted in: Reading etc.

Have read a volume from Ms. Hustvedt’s back catalogue.  The publishing exec gave me a present of “The Blindfold”.  It’s the kind of thing I don’t normally approve of – more or less plotless, three short stories tenuously linked by each other and a fourth chapter drafted to tie up loose ends, but I loved it.  Except for chapter 4 which was weak.  Am going to move on to “The Enchantment of Lily Dahl” as soon as the pub exec snaffles it for me.  Having a sister-in-law in publishing has made me curiously unwilling to go down the traditional route of paying for my books.
And in other book news, the pub exec read my copy of the latest Marion Keyes which is set in the publishing world and felt a) somebody should tell her that Burberry is no longer cool, v. Essex apparently b) there weren’t enough lunches and c) editors not agents should be the heros.  But aside from that she said it was reasonably accurate.

Have started “Blindness” by Jose Saramago.  The heart surgeon recommended it.  The heart surgeon is a bit of an overachiever (she can’t help it, she’s still very nice) in reading as in other things and I am a bit unnerved.  She loved it.  But she’s the kind of girl who only reads great literature and feels other stuff is really a waste of time.  For example, I can pretty much bet that she didn’t spend last weekend rereading Georgette Heyer’s “Charity Girl” for the umpteenth time.  So far I am on page 2 but I am a little daunted.

Got the new Jasper Fforde book on tape and in hard copy – thank you pub exec. Working my way through the tape.  It’s a bit confusing to be honest even to someone who’s read vols 1-3 of the series.  Maybe it’s overabridged but I must say, based on the tape, I am experiencing no enthusiasm to attempt the book.  This man’s imagination is out of control.  Heard him interviewed on the radio the other day and had this impression entirely confirmed.

Still stuck on chapter 1 of “The Bridge over the Drina”.  Must try harder.  Summer holidays beckon.  Will achieve much am sure.