belgianwaffle

Travel

Holiday hiatus


Posted in: Princess, Travel

We are going to the North Sea for a fortnight. During this time there will be no blog updates, unless it is very wet indeed.

In my absence, I leave you with the knowledge that the Princess took in her first film this afternoon (following on the excitement of her first bed on Wednesday) and I spent the morning being used as a pincushion in the lab. I would like ooohs for the former and aahs for the latter.

While I’m away, you may wish to contemplate this picture of her highness demonstrating her didactic streak.

Comments
Minkleberry

on 14 August 2005 at 17:08

Wow! Ouch! Have a great time

negrito

on 14 August 2005 at 17:57

Fantastic ! 😀

poggle

on 16 August 2005 at 11:46

Ooooh
.
.
Aaaah
.
.
.
.
.
Awwwwwwwwwww

beachhutman

on 18 August 2005 at 17:13

Why is her food in her potty?
(keep it tasteful now)

armyofthe12gritos

on 19 August 2005 at 20:32

WE ARE AMONG YOU!

Sarcastic Journalist

(Homepage)

on 20 August 2005 at 05:11

“I swear, woman. If you don’t refill this sippy cup soon, I’ll show you a pincushion.”

Bobble

on 22 August 2005 at 18:28

Not been blogging much Waffly but your posts do keep me entertaned even if I don’t comment. Have a fab holiday.

Kristina

(Homepage)

on 23 August 2005 at 07:14

Oh! I have that bowl! It’s a frog. And it’s from IKEA! Sweetnessss….

belgianwaffle

on 31 August 2005 at 13:26

Loc, an offering entitled Madagascar… I’m a disappointment to you, I know it.
Minks, Negrito, Pog, ta.
BHM, be good.
SJ, how could you guess exactly what she was saying? You’re a genius.
Thanks Bobble.
IKEA rules the world Kristina. But we knew that..

cha0tic

on 05 September 2005 at 03:43

Something familiar about that pointy finger 🙂
Familiar finger

belgianwaffle

on 05 September 2005 at 09:08

SUPERB! Thank you.

Locotes

on 13 September 2005 at 16:42

Well, yes. You are. I forgive you though. Generous soul that I am.

belgianwaffle

on 14 September 2005 at 10:15

Well, Loc, we will strive to do better.

Risking life and limb


Posted in: Family, Travel

I received the email below from my father-in-law, who along with m-i-l is hoping to join us in France. It’s all worry, worry, worry.

“We still want to go to France very much, but some concerns emerge. What are the possibilities of being shot. The hunting season in France has been brought forward by a week, and an outfit called something like the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux predicts 9000 tonnes of lead pellets, propelled out of 250 million cartridges will soon be whistling around our ears, with particular reference to duck-shooting in the Somme estuary. Being blown up. A newly-created public park in Lille (seehow they are targeting us) has found to be home to over 200 WWIhand-grenades, each capable of maiming within a 25 metre range. The excuse is that the contractors landscaping the park trucked in topsoil from the Flanders area, a lame excuse to me (nopun intended). Being misled. In Paris, once again in our theatre of operations(see how the military jargon so readily overwhelms one in times like these) unidentified agents have been pasting convincing Latin translations of street names over street signs, appropriately enough  throughout theLatin Quarter (eg Vicus Scholarium instead of Rue des Ecoles). Prime suspects are militant Latinists – a new one on me -from the local Tridentine church.

    Mother-in-law continues to improve, but I am not sure
    that she is up for full-scale counter-terrorist and counter-intelligence operations.

    Can you advise soonest, please?

    Worried,

    Monkstown”

    Comments
    negrito

    on 31 July 2005 at 12:06

    Eheh, seen from Paris the worse thing you risk is rain on the head ! 0
    Sweetie(s) given ���

    belgianwaffle

    on 31 July 2005 at 21:27

    Loc, only very mildly delusional and, yes, jovial.
    Negrito, I can’t help feeling that this is a very real risk though… 0
    Sweetie(s) given

    negrito

    on 31 July 2005 at 23:39

    Lol, If you need Gritoland security guards just let me know !!! 0
    Sweetie(s) given ���

    Friar Tuck

    on 02 August 2005 at 18:02

    Suggest the American solution… carry an AK-47 with you at all times. ���

    belgianwaffle

    on 04 August 2005 at 12:41

    Oooh, security. Thank you gentlemen!

    Malingering and packing


    Posted in: Ireland, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Travel

    This morning my baby was in poor form. She had a cough. She pointed pitifully at the bathroom and said “malade”.  She wouldn’t eat her breakfast. She lay feebly in my lap muttering “sucky thumb”.  Alas, today was a busy day for the parent Waffles as it was our last day at work before heading off to Dublin. What to do?  We were saved by our cleaning lady who also babysits for us who arrived to clean and then agreed to childmind. Mercifully she was free for the afternoon as well. The Princess was delighted.  So delighted, in fact, that she hopped off my lap, where she had been reclining dolefully and into the arms of our babysitter.  I explained that I had to go to work.  She was blithely indifferent and waved me off with a “bye-bye Mummy, nice day” while hurrying to show our babysitter her latest acquisition – a book on a flying bunny.  When I got home she was jumping up and down on the spare bed. Well, at least she isn’t sick, I suppose.

    I am blogging and I should be packing.  Packing for a Summer holiday in Ireland is such a challenge.  The weather forecast is rotten but
    you never know, it might just, surprisingly, be fine.  Have packed shorts and woolly jumpers but feel that I will need more than this to
    survive. Just said to Mr. Waffle “Do you think I need a coat?”  He replied, with feeling “You are visiting Ireland in July.  Are you mad?  Of course, you need a coat.” Maybe I’ve been away too long.

    Comments
    poggle

    on 06 July 2005 at 10:35

    Coat, bikini, fleece, brolly – and don’t forget the sherpas.

    Locotes

    on 06 July 2005 at 17:37

    Just to confirm, weather’s been pathetic over the last week or so. Welcome home!!

    jackdalton

    on 06 July 2005 at 19:50

    This coming week will be better. I’ll organise that.
    And anyway, it never rains in The Stephens Green Centre or Liffey Valley, or Dundrom, or the ILAC…. 🙂

    sus

    on 11 July 2005 at 12:15

    Well, I heard they had a heatwave yesterday…better bring the bikini too.

    belgianwaffle

    on 14 July 2005 at 20:45

    Bobble, it was hot. Yes, Pog, reallly it was. Locotes, unbelievable eh? JD, warm, warm, warm. Sus,your source was correct. According to the national organ of record (the evening herald) Kilkenny was hotter than Rome, Madrid or Athens on Monday. Extraordinary.

    poggle

    on 15 July 2005 at 10:04

    Kilkenny? I’ve been there, you know. Lovely castle. And I didn’t misbehave with a blue-eyed Celt at all. Not me, guv, no guv.

    jackdalton

    on 15 July 2005 at 17:03

    Everyone’s been to Kilkenny at some point. Either physically or mataphysically.

    belgianwaffle

    on 16 July 2005 at 07:26

    Pog, how intriguing. Was it very warm? Right as always, JD.

    poggle

    on 18 July 2005 at 10:57

    Well …erm …. oh – you mean the weather? It wasn’t bad at all Waffley – and it was only March.
    The Celt was very warm. Very warm indeed. Ahem.

    belgianwaffle

    on 18 July 2005 at 19:16

    Pog, you lead such an exciting life…

    poggle

    on 20 July 2005 at 10:29

    Yes … well …. just occasionally.
    Ahem.

    Low standards


    Posted in: Travel, Twins

    The Princess appears to be better. And my genius husband has found us a house for a fortnight in Normandy so it looks like we won’t be spending the Summer in our flat after all.  Rejoice.  My friend who I met for lunch says that my doctor probably won’t let me out of the country so close to my due date. A month before isn’t close, is it?

    Comments
    dmtson 01 June 2005 at 20:48

    It’s only a problem if you’re flying? Isn’t it?

    formerfilmexperton 01 June 2005 at 22:48

    they have doctors in France. Anyhow you have family history of late arrivals!!!

    jackdaltonon 02 June 2005 at 10:48

    Do a runner. Don’t tell the doctor…. It’ll be like being young again: Run Away! Run Away! 🙂

    beachhutmanon 02 June 2005 at 14:28

    avoid the calvados and you’ll be fine….

    poggleon 03 June 2005 at 11:03

    Just make sure there’s plenty of boiling water and towels. That’s what they always did on ‘Little House on the Prairie’ – and they were fine.

    JoJoon 04 June 2005 at 12:34

    half of all twins delivered before the 37th week, apparently. Bet that’s cheered you up hasn’t it ;o)

    belgianwaffleon 04 June 2005 at 13:14

    Minks, Jojo, I’m ignoring you (thanks for the sweetie though, M).
    Pog, yes, I feel you are entirely right. In fact one of our books has instructions on emergency deliveries at home, so that should be handy.
    HJB, um, I hope so.
    FFE, just cos Danny’s always late.
    JD, very tempting.
    BHM, will dutifully steer clear of the Calvados.

    Talking on the phone


    Posted in: Princess, Travel, Work

    Am most relieved that the Princess consented to talk to me last night. They had a paddling pool in the creche (“nager, NAGER Maman, dans le creche”). Am optimistic that, once given her present, she will welcome my return. Trust that even minus present my loving husband will welcome me with open arms.

    By the by, has anyone seen Locotes since Liverpool won the cup?

    Comments
    Locotes

    on 27 May 2005 at 13:14

    Locotes is alive and well, though relatively dishevelled and still in a wonderful dreamy haze where nice things really do happen to deserving people.He is waiting for all that to stop very soon, and for the real world to resume kicking him in the gut.

    Locotes

    on 27 May 2005 at 13:14

    Oh, and maybe a present for the hubby wouldn’t go amiss….just to be safe you know.

    Bobble

    on 27 May 2005 at 14:06

    How could she not? x

    belgianwaffle

    on 29 May 2005 at 13:46

    Pog, you are always right. Locotes, glad you haven’t died of happiness. Yeah, I got him a pressie, better safe than sorry. Thanks Bobble.

    Scholl sandals – why?


    Posted in: Family, Princess, Travel, Work

    I went to buy new slippers at the weekend. I know, my life is full of thrills. I decided that thought I would buy Scholl sandals rather than slippers so that if I had to go out to put out the bins I wouldn’t look quite so weird. Why has nobody ever told me how profoundly uncomfortable these yokes are? And also that they are very noisy. And quite expensive. I am bitter.

    In other news, Princess continues a bit unwell and her saintly grandmother is staying for an extra couple of days to tend to her. Doctor today pronounced himself satisfied that she is on the mend, though baffled as to what might have been wrong. Am informed by my husband that Princess wailed convulsively for the entire appointment despite sustaining no injury whatsoever except, one assumes, to her dignity.

    Royal grandparents have flooded the house with newsprint and I am fully up to speed with Jools Oliver’s new book which the Guardian described as like a “common or garden baby blog”. Have realised to my horror that I am the owner of a common or garden baby blog and I thought that there was so much more to me.

    The Princess is speaking far more English following her grandparents’ visit as evidenced by the following exchange.

    Princess (shouting from the bathroom where she is sitting on her pot): Je fais caca, Papa, tu veux faire caca?

    Her father: Non merci.

    Princess: Mummy, you want to go poo?

    Me: Thanks, I’m ok.

    And finally, I am off on a work trip tomorrow, so blogging for the remainder of the week may be somewhat limited as I labour in a distant land.

    Comments

    poggle Those scholls will feel comfortable if you persevered, waffley – they’re kind of like acupressure and take a bit of getting used to. Your feet will thank you for it eventually. But, sadly, the loud clacking is par for the course.
    Princess has a bit of a poo fixation at the moment, doesn’t she? I foresee a lucrative future as a stand-up comedienne …..

    beachhutman >on 24 May 2005 at 17:24 Ah, so she’s twigged her mama is Monolingual…..

    belgianwaffle on 25 May 2005 at 11:12 >Oh, Jojo, if only you knew, you would laugh cruelly.
    Pog, thank you for both these pieces of information. Will persevere with deeply uncomfy Scholls.
    BHM, well, only temporarily, I suspect. JoJo Birmingham? Calais? Bognor? Bradford???

    Even sexier than Bradford…