belgianwaffle

Twins

For God and St Patrick


Posted in: Dublin, Family, Ireland, Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Twins, Youngest Child

This year he has brought us a four day weekend and, honestly, nothing could be more welcome.

Poor Daniel is sick though recovering. A negative Covid test but a bit miserable all the same. Mr. Waffle, Michael and I turned up for 11.30 mass in our local church only to discover that masses were at weekday rather than Sunday times. Mass was over. Alas. Michael rejoiced, naturally.

Trying to find out where to get a 12.00 mass in Dublin is very difficult. The archdiocese categorises by church and while I can see that might be handy in a general way, it was not useful on this occasion. I found an excellent English website which listed all the masses in Dublin by time and then by location. Not so godless after all, it appears. Anyway we went in to town to the church in Whitefriar street to find them locking the gates against us. No 12 o’clock mass. We actually tried to visit the other week to take in its shrine to St. Valentine and relics and the door was briskly (and I felt slightly gleefully) shut against us by the same man. The house of the Lord is always open indeed. Mind you we had had to skirt the parade to get there and even at that early hour, not all of the parade goers seemed sober. So perhaps a wise precaution on balance. We eventually got 12.30 mass in St. Theresa’s on Clarendon street where they had gone all out with the music and had a lovely solo singer and all manner of musical instruments including perhaps bagpipes? Anyway they played us out to the quintessential St. Patrick’s day hymn, “Hail Glorious St. Patrick” very nicely done.

Mr. Waffle and I tried to get home and around the parade but to no real avail so eventually we gave it up as a bad job and watched a bit of the parade. Views were poor but I love to see people leaning out of the windows upstairs in city centre buildings (it reminds me of this picture):

Untitled

Then we had lunch in town and went home about 3 before it all became a bit too raucous. A lot of people waving Ukrainian flags as well as Irish ones and the authorities had bedecked the city in both. This chimes with our official St. Patrick’s day message which focuses on Ukraine.

In unrelated news, I found where all the jam jars in the utility room have disappeared to; they’re hidden in the shed. Our facilities for summer jam and jelly making are intact. And the way things are going, we might need them.

Untitled

Finally Aunt is still in hospital, seems to be reasonably well but the hospital is now closed to visitors due to surging Covid cases. It hasn’t gone away, I suppose although there was nary a mask to be seen in town today. Another colleague tested positive yesterday but I am now much less unnerved by this than I used to be. I wonder is that entirely a good thing.

Culture Clash*


Posted in: Family, Mr. Waffle, Twins, Youngest Child

I am the child of two academics. Mr. Waffle is the child of hippies. I believe in my heart of hearts that everything is a competition. Mr. Waffle thinks nothing is a competition. In fact, “It’s not a competition” is one of his favourite phrases and he once applied it to an Olympic race. To be clear, the Olympics are a competition.

I am a pushy parent. Mr. Waffle is a “relax and let the child develop; let the child explore and learn without direction; let the child discover what he/she likes” parent. Do you think my children would be able to speak French now, if I let him have his way? I think not. However, I am forced to confess that he and his brother and sister are very accomplished. Mr. Waffle’s brother is a superb piano player having developed an interest in the piano and never having been forced to play a scale (I mean, he did play scales, obviously, but by himself out of interest). Mr. Waffle didn’t like piano and gave up and nobody cared. What kind of a world is this?

We bought Michael a guitar over lock down and he played a bit when we got it but then stopped. He’d had some lessons in school pre-Covid and expressed an interest so we got it for him as a possible lock down hobby but it just didn’t seem to take. Over the last couple of months though he’s picked it up again without pressure from anyone (my parenting method means I can only have so many irons in the fire and guitar playing is not one of them). I hear him strumming in his room the whole time and he has got immeasurably better without anyone forcing him to practice or making him do lessons.

Point to Mr. Waffle. You will recall that everything is a competition.

*If you are reminded of “This Be the Verse“, please keep your views to yourself.

Keeping the Allied Professionals in Business


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins

Daniel has finally recovered from his injury and the physio has cleared him to go back at the GAA. Rejoicing. He’s also got contact lenses and it is so odd to see him without glasses. I’m still getting used to it. He seems quite pleased though and says that they aren’t sore at all which I find almost unbelievable.

Meanwhile my teeth continue to give indications that they have had enough. The dentist has repaired yet another chip. I would really welcome a full six months when I didn’t need to darken his door.

But in unrelated welcome news, I do not appear to have Covid although it seems to be rife in the office. Off out tonight for dinner with my newly restored tooth and negative antigen test. What a time to be alive.

Untitled

Happy Birthday to Me


Posted in: Dublin, Family, Ireland, Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Siblings, Twins, Work, Youngest Child

I am 53 today. I have had a very satisfactory birthday. My loving family delivered on the present front. I got amazing home made cards from the boys; I spoke to herself in far off England. I got lots of flowers, cards and good wishes. I had birthday cake. Mr. Waffle and I went to Glendalough and it did not rain on us.

Untitled

Honestly an excellent birthday.

Unfortunately, as I tramped around the mountains on my delightful day off not one but two of my staff texted me to say that they had tested positive for Covid. As I had them in my office several times over the course of the last few days, I fear the worst. I feel fine so far though and I am double vaccinated and boosted. Let’s hope for the best.

Weekends Rounded Up


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland, Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Twins, Youngest Child

We had no electricity for a full day the weekend before last. Very challenging. They laughed at me when I said that we needed candles in stock. They’re not laughing now. The boys spent the afternoon playing card games by candle light with my sister’s partner. And we went out to dinner.

This was the scene at 9 on Saturday night when we went to bed.

Untitled

There was great rejoicing when it came back on and we spent all day Sunday being grateful for electricity and heat (the Aga was still blaring out heat and we lit a fire but the central heating was not working) but we’re back to our usual blasé selves now. Our agony was made worse by the fact that it was only some houses on the street were affected and our neighbours on either side had light and heat.

We went to see the newly opened Custom House Museum which is mildly interesting. It was nice to wander around the building and have its history explained but not fascinating now. It was free as their card machine was broken. We take our wins where we can.

Untitled

Daniel read at mass today – really good, in fairness to him. This afternoon, Mr. Waffle and I took a ride on our bikes in the park and spared the boys. Michael stayed contentedly at home and Daniel went to watch his hurling team (he can’t play at the moment due to his shoulder injury).

Untitled

It’s all thrills around here. Ahem. Satisfactory nonetheless.

This is Full Employment


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland, Middle Child, Mr. Waffle, Twins, Youngest Child

Mr. Waffle and I went out to see a film the other night. As I was leaving the office, one of my colleagues asked me what I was going to see and I started, “My neighbour is a documentary film maker…” but was unable to get any further due to the gales of laughter that met this pronouncement. Anyhow, despite fears to the contrary (including, to be honest, mine) the film was very good, if a little long.

We’d left the boys with cash at home to buy revolting pizza from Domino’s which is inexplicably popular with them. When we got home at 9 there was no sign of the pizza which was ordered some time earlier. I rang the shop.

Me: I was just wondering where our order was.

Domino’s Man: Oh, I hate to say this, it’s out with our slowest driver.

Me: Any idea when it will arrive?

Him: Could be tomorrow to be honest. It’ll probably be cold too.

It came at 9.40. It was cold. To be fair, they offered to sort us, if it was cold when we got it but at that point we couldn’t face waiting for another order.