belgianwaffle

Ireland

The Butcher’s Dilemma


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland

It is the season of the street parties, fetes, school parties and garden parties.

The local Educate Together school is having a barbecue on the same day as the church garden party.

Our local butcher who gives generously to all local causes was approached for a loan of his barbecue by the ET school before the parish council could beat a path to his door. In the absence of the butcher’s barbecue, ours was inspected and deemed a worthy substitute. At mass on Sunday, however, I was told that it was no longer needed as the butcher had sourced another barbecue for the church garden party. There’s a man with keen commercial sense.

More History Than We Can Consume Locally*


Posted in: Dublin, Family, Ireland

This year it has been all about 1916 and the decade of centenaries. Since 1916 is only just out of living memory for most families, there is still a lot of memorabilia knocking about in attics, under the stairs and under the beds and stories from that time which have been passed down a couple of generations. I recently got a load of stuff from my parents’ house which I may tell you about another day when I am feeling stronger.

My favourite story remains that of my mother-in-law. Her mother was a young girl during the revolutionary period and came home to where she lived in the flats (always a hot bed of rebellion etc.) to find the Black and Tans parked outside and the building cordoned off. She went to go in saying to the soldier on the door, “I have to go in, there are soldiers in my house.” “Aha,” said he, “how do you know it’s your house?” “Because it’s always our house,” she said wearily.

*Stolen from Saki: “The people of Crete unfortunately make more history than they can consume locally.” This is equally true of Ireland.

New House – Third Anniversary


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland

I am not planning to say this every year, really, but, in April, it was three years since we moved into the new house and it continues to make me very happy. I love our house. The garden is not huge; it’s a small city garden, but it is green and pleasant, if slightly overgrown:

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The reception rooms are really beautiful and although we have an exciting curtain/sofa/rug combination which is perhaps a little jarring, we will fix it in time. Though I was quite pleased with my London sister in law today as she a) admired the rug and b) said that contrasting colours and textures are very fashionable in London. Frankly, if it is in this particular way, I will eat my hat, but I was somewhat gratified nonetheless.

Look arty Japanese branch arrangement:
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Our old house has finally come out of negative equity and we are selling it. If someone buys it, we might get that new sofa.

Weekend Round-Ups


Posted in: Dublin, Family, Ireland, Princess

Herself went to Cork the weekend before her birthday. She went by train on her own and, happily, it all passed off peacefully. She had a brilliant time in Cork and came back with a large suitcase full of presents, including a pen for writing on windows. It was wet in Cork, though.

Rainy window

While she was in Cork, we took her brothers zip lining in the Dublin mountains which they really loved. Although, standing around in the hail did nothing for my nasty cold.

The following week herself had all kinds of birthday excitement as well. Her friends took her to see Hamlet which they all enjoyed. Then the next day they went zip lining (Mr. Waffle became a fixture peering up through the leaves in the forest) and she had two friends stay for a sleepover.

Meanwhile, Michael announced that he and Daniel had never got birthday presents as they already had what we bought them (last September) and we gave the presents back to the shop but they never got anything else. This struck me as unlikely but conceivably true. It was certainly true that the presents were slightly disastrous. Neither Mr. Waffle nor I retained any memory of replacing them. So the boys and I cycled in to town and I bought them an x-box game and a fart gun. The latter, for which I grudgingly forked out €24.99, has enjoyed success beyond our wildest dreams. His sister really hated it, so already something of a win as far as Michael was concerned.

On some Sunday since I last blogged (am a little hazy which) we had a very successful trip to Glasnevin cemetery. Firstly we went by bike and it was speedy and no one was knocked over. Secondly, it’s a fantastic cemetery with all kinds of interesting patriot stuff and great, elaborate graves. Thirdly, it’s beside a very nice pub known, appropriately enough, as The Gravediggers, and we went there for tea and crisps after our wanderings in the cemetery. I wonder is Glasnevin the only cemetery in the world with a very nice cafe in the gruonds and a pub practically built into the curtain wall.

As well as the patriots, I see that the father of plastic surgery is interred there. Not a lot of people know that, I imagine or, indeed the link between Robert Emmett and plastic surgery. There’s a great pub quiz question for you now.

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And here’s an arty shot from inside the Round Tower over Daniel O’Connell’s grave:

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The details of the weekend just past are a blur but I can confirm that the following elements featured: bouncy castles, canoeing on the canal, a visit from my sister in Cork and an all day hurling blitz.

Is it any wonder I’m exhausted?

Your Point?


Posted in: Cork, Ireland, Reading etc.

A number of people sent me a link to this Kevin Barry piece in Granta about Cork.

It starts out as follows:

If cities are sexed, as Jan Morris believes, then Cork is a male place. Personified further, I would cast him as low-sized, disputatious and stoutly built, a hard-to-knock-over type. He has a haughty demeanour that’s perhaps not entirely earned but he can also, in a kinder light, seem princely. He is certainly melancholic. He is given to surreal flights and to an antic humour and he is blessed with pleasingly musical speech patterns. He is careful with money. He is in most leanings a liberal. He is fairly cool, usually quite relaxed, and head over heels in love with himself.

At the very least, the last of this is true: the city of Cork is besotted with itself, and it talks of little else.

It is a truly brilliant article; especially since the author is only a blow-in.

One of These Excuses is not like the Others


Posted in: Ireland, Reading etc.

It was my oldest friend’s birthday on April 20. We thought we might go to lunch on a Saturday to catch up.

From: Me
To: Her
Subject: Happy birthday to you

Alas, I cannot go to lunch on Saturday – I am out on Sunday afternoon and I can’t go out to lunch on Saturday as well. Planning ahead but how about Saturday, May 7?

From: Her
To: Me
Subject: RE: Happy birthday to you

That’s too bad about Saturday but it was short notice so I knew it was a long shot. As regards 7 May, I will possibly have a Kiwi friend visiting that weekend, I don’t know yet for sure but I will keep you posted.

From: Me
To: Her
Subject: RE: Happy birthday to you

Will we pencil in May 14 – I know it’s a long way out but still…

From: Her
To: Me
Subject: RE: Happy birthday to you

14 May I am in Ulaan Baator. Yes, really.

I think she has won that email exchange with her fermented mare’s milk. If you care, the 21st isn’t a runner because my niece is making her first communion so we have settled on May 28.