Other news from the weekend, my loving husband was saintly and took herself off swimming and to the park while I reclined on the couch recruiting my energies. Car free Sunday passed without a sign of a contraction. We took the tram into town and it was absolutely jam packed. I stood towards the back and the man sitting beside me looked resolutely out the window. I felt a bit sorry for him because, he may well have had some dreadful leg ailment which prevented him from standing and offering up his seat, but the woman squashed beside me was determined to make him suffer. She asked me when I was due and I said Friday. “My goodness” she said pointedly “you really should be SITTING DOWN”. I said I was fine , which was perhaps not entirely true. She explained to me that her first child had been born at home because she didn’t get to the hospital in time and that I really should be SITTING DOWN. I think both myself and the sitting man were quite glad to get off the tram. Car free day included lots of excitements like a farm in the city and bouncy castles and the obligatory wide range of food available at any Belgian organised fun. All moderately pleasant except for the moment when Mr. Waffle had to run around looking for a toilet with a little girl in his arms saying with increasing urgency “I want to do a WEE”.
The Affables dropped round on Sunday and I was once again struck by how very nice they are and, dammit, even their 18 month old is the picture of politeness (needless to say, the Princess mortified us by refusing to let said 18 month old touch any of her toys). I am also somewhat in awe of their stamina. They both have very demanding jobs. They collect their little girl from the creche on alternate evenings but quite frequently the parent responsible will bring her home, give her dinner, put her to bed, welcome the babysitter and head back to the office until midnight. And then they’re out partying regularly at the weekend (when not working). And no, they’re not even significantly younger than us. When they left, I said to my loving spouse that we should try to get out more. “Absolutely” said he.& “Will we try to go out to dinner before the twins are born?” Pause. “Next week?” he asked; “I suppose” I said. “But I’m really tired” he said. “Yeah me too, let’s not bother”. Pathetic.
on 19 September 2005 at 11:47
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‘waf: This has to be said– I am absolutely in awe of you and Mr W. and the coolness of your planing & preparation. And whatever the next few weeks bring in terms of tired and stretched to shredding point, there will be one Believer out here. Knowing you can do it.
And there’s always your late-fifties for going out… 😉
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on 19 September 2005 at 11:59
Going out is overrated. The kids going out- now thats where its at! x
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kristin
on 19 September 2005 at 18:33
Dear Mrs. Waffle, you are not allowed to feel that you should do more than you already do. The Affables may be affable, but they must also be closet Speed Freaks. The thought of you, days away from bringing twins into the world, actually going into town on a tram to enjoy no-car day instead of staying home with your feet up is quite enough.xo
Sarcastic Journalist
(Homepage)
on 20 September 2005 at 05:54
I hope you mentioned loudly that you were expecting TWINS on FRIDAY.on 20 September 2005 at 09:45
My sister now has a nanny and a cleaner so that she can have some semblance of a normal life with her twins…. do the Affables have domestic servants?!Good luck.
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on 21 September 2005 at 13:12
KE, very romantic.Thanks Jack, that’s sweet.
Minks, you are very wise.
Oh, Kristin, I like it, closet speed freaks, but I fear it’s just not true.
SJ, well yeah, but it’s just less impressive…
Lauren, I feel we may take a leaf out of your sister’s book. Thank you very much for the sweetie.
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