belgianwaffle

Archives for March 2014

For Georgette Heyer Fans


Posted in: Princess, Reading etc.

So, look, I started herself on Georgette Heyer. I started when I was 11 (the Reluctant Widow) and she was keen to give them a go. She has already read all the Georgettes I have in Dublin: “The Grand Sophy” (twice), “Cotillion”, “False Colours”, “Arabella”,”The Foundling”, Pistols for Two”, “Friday’s Child”, “A Lady of Quality” and “The Reluctant Widow”. What volume should I give her next? On the one hand, we’re having great fun talking about them and quoting from them (I have finally discovered what my memory is filled with – huge chunks of Georgette text) but I’m not sure that I want her to read all the good ones before she turns 11. And are the ones I think good, the ones she will most enjoy at this age? For my money the only good ones left are “The Unknown Ajax”, “Venetia”, “A Civil Contract” and “Frederica”. In related news, these novels are deeply unsuited for the 21st century child (I definitely did NOT know exactly what libertine meant when I was her age).

Recommendations for Georgettes or, even, other novels gratefully received in the comments. She’s read “Pride and Prejudice” (twice).

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

Daniel: Jabba the Hutt has a son, was he married?
Michael: No, I think Hutts just breed naturally.
Me: What did Jabba the Hutt do again?
Daniel: He made Princess Leia wear inappropriate clothing.
Michael: That’s not really a problem in “Angry Birds Star Wars” though.

There’s a whole world out there.

Seasonal


Posted in: Princess

Herself: I’m thinking of making unleavened bread.
Me: Are you, where will you get the recipe?
Her: From the Bible.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day


Posted in: Ireland, Princess

On Friday, the school allowed the children to dress up as a figure from celtic mythology or Irish history. The Princess spent weeks thinking about her costume and putting it together and eventually went as a druidess [is that actually a word?].

However, in her year, the whole dressing up thing seems to have peaked and most of the other children just wore Leprechaun hats and t-shirts saying “Kiss me, I’m Irish” [thank you America, sigh].

There were three other children in her class who had dressed up: a girl as Aoife (the evil step-mother in the Children of Lir), one boy as Michael Collins and one boy as Bobby Sands. There are quite, um, green, elements in the school.

“What did J wear as Bobby Sands?” I asked.
“His swimsuit and a blanket.”

I’m really sorry I missed that.

In other news, even though it is a bank holiday, there is still GAA training. Horrific. We skipped it. We’d already been to the parade; how much should one family have to suffer?

Climbed the Sugar Loaf over the weekend. Obligatory photos:

And a happy St. Patrick’s Day to you too.

Parent Teacher Meetings


Posted in: Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

We had our annual parent-teacher meetings. Mr. Waffle and I went along and wedged ourselves into tiny primary school size chairs and heard that all is well. Though Michael is inclined to question the utility of much of his repetitive labours such as colouring, writing and sums which could be done much more speedily and effectively on the computer. I got the impression that his teacher did not entirely welcome Michael’s consequent reluctance to engage in these activities. However, some kind of truce appears to have been worked out. I am pleased to reveal that only other day I was summoned to the classroom to admire a project on Ancient Greece which he, his brother and a classmate had worked on. It involved both colouring and writing and they were all justly proud of their labours.

Happy Birthday


Posted in: Mr. Waffle

Today is Mr. Waffle’s birthday. It always casts an ominous shadow over mine on the 10th. Almost invariably, he gets me a lovely, thoughtful present. My pleasure is always tempered by the knowledge that I have nothing for him and by the 19th, I will have to rustle up something.

Oh yes, it’s all about me. Anyhow, when he came in from work this evening the children and I sat him down and gave him a glass of wine. The Princess had made madeleines during the afternoon while we were at work and he had them as his birthday cake. She is a virtuous child. Mr. Waffle often asks for these but the children and I prefer our cakes to be iced and to include chocolate. His family are frugal in their habits; a marietta biscuit between five of them is plenty. These are good genes. Michael has them in spades.

I thought that I should note that my husband is a saint. I intended to give lots of examples of his virtue, including, for example, that I still don’t know how to operate the washing machine and yet we have clean clothes. A daily miracle. As it is late, one earlier example of virtue will have to suffice. After dinner, I told him to go and sit down and I would clean up when the dishwasher had finished. I went upstairs to harass the retreat (or “sing a lullaby” as it is known locally) and what unmistakeable sounds did I hear from the kitchen? Yes, indeed, my husband had cast his book aside and was cleaning up after his birthday dinner.

Definitely, the best husband.