belgianwaffle

Twins

Palm Sunday


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland, Twins, Youngest Child

Today is Palm Sunday. A fact I had forgotten until I entered the church this morning and Michael began loudly complaining when he saw the size of the missalette. “It’s three times longer than normal,” he hissed. “That means mass will last three hours.”

While it didn’t last three hours, it certainly was grand and long. The priest read the first gospel (which I think is not compulsory), he read the longer version of the long gospel (you know the one, it’s the miniature passion play) and then, crowning indignity, he gave a sermon which is normally unheard of on Passion Sunday. The elderly lady in the pew in front fainted. A group of older mentally handicapped people who were behind us made noise throughout the mass much of it mournful. One could hardly blame them. At communion, one of them ran up to the altar scattering pensioners in her wake; it was a difficult Sunday for the pensioners.

As our neighbour’s teenage daughter came down from communion, Mr. Waffle asked whether I thought her top was entirely appropriate for mass. She was wearing a pink hoodie and it was only when she passed me that I saw that the legend on the back was: “Hockey is my religion.”

It was that kind of Sunday. How was your own weekend?

Broadband – Our Ongoing Saga


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Twins, Youngest Child

Another depressing message from Mr. Waffle on the broadband:

Another 10 days before we get broadband…
———- Forwarded message ———-
From: <getmore@eircom.ie>
Date: 16 Mar 2015 12:50
Subject: Your eFibre & eVision installation appointment
To: Mr. Waffle

eircom
Account Number: XX

Dear

Thank you for choosing eircom. Your eFibre and eVision installation appointment is 26 March AM.

In the interim, poor Mr. Waffle has taken to lugging his modem home from work which is good for us but only in the evening. Poor Michael, you should have seen his appalled visage when I told him that it would be 10 days before the internet and television were restored. I asked if I could take a picture of his sad face for the blog but he seemed to regard this as an unwelcome and tactless intervention, so you will have to use your imagination.

Busy Weekend


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

On Friday night we dropped Michael off at the scout hall at 7 for his first sleep over. It was his first time ever sleeping without his brother under the same roof. They both really missed each other. All the time he was gone, Daniel kept asking when he would be back and when Michael eventually came home, they gave each other a big hug.

On Saturday morning, Daniel had a GAA match, herself was on a course and I went to look at new bikes. V. exciting. On Saturday afternoon at 3, Michael returned from scouts. At 3.30 the Princess and I cycled into town and tracked down a jacket for her to wear to her confirmation. At 5.30, I dropped Daniel and Mr. Waffle up to meet a group from Daniel’s GAA club who were going to see Dublin v Tyrone in Croke park (a draw). We collected them at nine and collapsed into bed. On Sunday, we had a starring role at mass. After mass, herself and Daniel stayed for choir rehearsal. When they came home, we had lunch and then cycled to the supermarket (reasonably painless) to pick up treats for a trip to the cinema with the cousins at 4.

Is it any wonder that we were all a bit tired as we sat down for dinner at 7.30? With one thing and another, we also have a very busy week ahead and as, over dinner, I outlined the excitement that was coming, I commented, “And I’ll be playing a couple of tennis matches as well, because I’ve entered the Spring round robin.” Then I sat bolt upright in horror as I realised that I was meant to be playing at that very moment. I telephoned my opponent all apologies and we agreed to meet at 8 instead although I was somewhat unenthused after my roast chicken dinner. I returned defeated 6-0, 6-3 an hour later. And I still haven’t packed for my work trip tomorrow. Sigh.

How was your own weekend?

Stranger Danger


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

I was late leaving work this evening which often happens because I am busy and constitutionally ill-adapted to being on time.

This meant that Michael was late getting his healthy pizza (ahem) for dinner. His father had been out dropping Daniel to GAA. If only I had been home on time, or somewhat organised and got herself or the childminder to put on the pizza, Michael would not have been eating pizza in a plastic box as we screeched out the door to go to scouts (still very popular, thanks for asking). There was some running up and down the street in the snow to find where the car was parked – definitely adding to the allure of the pizza – and a call home (don’t mock the afflicted) but we found it eventually.

After dropping Michael to scouts, late, I had to go and collect Daniel and a neighbour’s child from GAA. The traffic was very slow in the driving snow and I didn’t turn up to collect them until 7.30. I arrived to find the pair of them sodden, frozen and last to be picked up. A man I didn’t recognise delivered them to the car.

As they thawed in the car, I asked what had happened. Due to the snow, practice had stopped at 7 rather than 7.15 (unprecedented in my experience, usually nothing stops practice); the club house was locked, the other children’s parents were punctual (caring, delete whatever you think is appropriate yourself) and they stayed alone and coatless in the snow like a pair of orphan waifs until a man came up to them and asked whether they would like to sit in his car. His face was familiar and he had a kid they knew from training in the back. Daniel said, “But stranger danger, [neighbour’s child] didn’t want to get in.” “So,” I said in horror, “you stayed freezing in the snow.” “Oh no,” said Daniel, “I got in alright, just [neighbour’s child] stayed outside in the snow. The man did try to bundle him into the car, but he resisted.” One can only imagine the scene. Shortly afterwards, the man brought them up to the car park where they met me and all was well.

You may draw your own conclusions about this little tale but I am quite pleased by Daniel’s good sense.

Crushed


Posted in: Twins, Youngest Child

Me, looking at Michael’s novelty rubber (eraser, Americans, eraser), “Is that a hedgehog?”
Him, coldly, “No, it’s a stegosaurus.”