belgianwaffle

Youngest Child

Our Luck Turns


Posted in: Dublin, Ireland, Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

As I write, the Italian exchange is somewhere over France. Everyone in the house, except Daniel, remains Covid free.

We took the Italian to visit the Guinness Storehouse which I have to say, I found pretty tedious but he seemed to find mildly interesting, or perhaps he was just being polite. Aside from the staff, Michael and I were the only Irish people in the building.

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We also took a day trip to Howth which was pretty much perfect. The weather was beautiful and the Italian threw himself into the sea with admirable enthusiasm.

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He was delighted to see two seals in the water nearby. It turns out seals in the water are not a feature of the Mediterranean. He dried himself off by lying on the beach looking like some kind of golden Greek god surrounded by pasty Irish people. Then we went for a very nice lunch on the pier and we were home before the rain started.

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This morning it was lashing but I took him into town to buy presents for his mother and sisters (his father and brother got Guinness tat but he felt he needed jewellery for the women in the family). He cooked us all lunch – pasta amatriciana – which was delicious and we dropped him to the airport where chaos levels were medium/high. It took us an hour of queuing to get him to the security check where we left him to carry on alone. It was only his second flight alone ever but he seems to have managed to get off alright a mere three hours after his arrival at the airport.

He was a really nice young man and in himself no trouble – in fact, very chatty and engaging for a teenager whose first language is not English – but God, the timing turned out to be very awkward. I am exhausted. I’m still a small bit sub par from Covid and the energetic entertaining was well, energetic. I am hopeful that our French arrival, due Monday, may be put off until the end of August.

We were supposed to be going to a 50th birthday party at the weekend but we have cancelled in case we give anyone Covid and to tend to poor Daniel who is really not very well. I am off to Cork on Sunday to see my friend from America who is back for a couple of weeks and I really hope nothing intervenes to stop that. I am holding my breath here.

Small World


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

Mr. Waffle went to Warsaw for a college reunion trip. He was a bit nervous because of much trailed airport chaos. In the end it was fine in Dublin but his KLM flight did get cancelled because of chaos at Schipol and he had to fly back Ryanair which he did not love. One of the people on the trip was someone who is a former colleague of mine.

Meanwhile a current colleague of mine was flying via Warsaw after a trip to Armenia to see the Irish football team (a slightly crazy level of devotion, if you ask me and one which is rarely rewarded with a win). He flew via Warsaw and as he was sitting having a drink in the pub at the airport a hand tapped him on the shoulder and, of course, it was his former colleague on her way back from the reunion.

Michael asked me recently why the Irish divorce level is so low and I think it must be because people cannot have affairs. No matter where you go there will always, always be someone you know waiting to tap you on the shoulder.

FFS


Posted in: Ireland, Middle Child, Princess, Twins, Youngest Child

So Daniel was a bit under the weather yesterday. We tested him – negative. For this relief much thanks. Michael and I took the Italian for a walk up to Eagle’s Crag.

We had lunch in Wicklow. That evening we went out to dinner and the theatre – Translations in the Abbey, not a great production I thought and a bit hard for the Italian but, you know, fine. Daniel felt a bit miserable so didn’t come.

This morning Daniel announced that he felt pretty sick and a bit dizzy. He took another Covid test. I honestly despair. Of course it was positive. He and the Italian have been sleeping in the same bedroom. We can only pray at this point. We’ve moved poor Dan into a camp bed in the study. On mature reflection maybe we should have moved the Italian but we’re committed now.

Meanwhile herself has received a communication from a close friend that he has Covid. I despair further. She tested negative this morning but has a bit of a sore throat so really who knows what tomorrow will bring? If we could just get the Italian – currently symptom free! – on a plane home, that would be great. His mother is looking at options. I mean if he has to stay here for 10 days in quarantine his English will be amazing but I’d say he’d rather be in Ischia on holidays with his friends.

And our French exchange is due to arrive on Monday. Pray for me.

The Goldilocks Problem


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

I have porridge for breakfast. In my current predicament, I was too sick to eat anything until Sunday and then my kind husband made me porridge for breakfast. It was like cement. I asked him to put in more milk the next day (beggars can be choosers it turns out). Too milky, dammit. On the third day Michael took over. He was rather grumpy about the detail of my instructions. The porridge exploded in the microwave and he had to clean it up. He was even grumpier about that . He poured the remaining porridge into a bowl for me. He added chopped strawberries (“I know how to chop a strawberry!”) and left the leaves on (he does not know how to chop a strawberry). All that said, it was pretty good. This morning Daniel took up the baton. Daniel is an adventurous cook and always interested in new things. I was hopeful. This morning outside my door there was freshly squeezed orange juice in a jug (tick), a ramekin of maple syrup (tick, tick) and a beautifully presented bowl of porridge with raspberries on top (tick, tick, tick). However, was the porridge a bit on the hard side for your correspondent? It was.

Michael commented on hearing of the latest developments, “Only one can give you what you seek but the price is too high”.

Am I finding self-isolation a trial? I am.

As I write Mr. Waffle is picking up the Italian exchange student from the airport – Daniel revealed last night that Italian exchange’s grandfather, i.e. Mr. Waffle’s friend’s father was a very big cheese in the Italian legal world, perusal of Wikipedia confirms that this is true. In 30 years of Mr. Waffle’s friendship with this woman, this was never mentioned – this would not be true if she were from Cork.

Mr. Waffle and the boys tidied up the house in anticipation of the Italian’s arrival and made up a bed for him. Sadly the only duvet cover they could find was the one with the pink bunnies – a relic of an earlier time. Oh well. Lads, if the Italian exchange gets Covid, we’re all doomed.

I Always Wait for the Longest Day and Then Miss It*


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

So yesterday was my first day of not working. The weather was lovely. I was able to sit in the garden. I could chat face to face with Mr. Waffle and the boys from a safe distance. I could take my meals in the garden. I felt much better. My face got slightly sun burnt. Not normally a cause for rejoicing but it was a surprisingly pleasant day. I still, alas, have a cough and a runny nose but everyone else remains infection free. Today is a bit more overcast so I am dividing my time between the garden and the lovely isolation bedroom. I can see this becoming quite tedious. I think I will try another Covid test in the morning in the hope that maybe I am no longer infectious.

The view from my perch yesterday. A massive improvement on the day spent in the bedroom.

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We had a long chat with herself yesterday. Logistics seem broadly sorted for her return from England; she won a mild prize (£50 book token) for an exam – not the end of year ones which she just finished but I have to hope that this is a promising sign; she has exhausting and exhaustive summer plans; and she should be home next weekend. Hurrah.

I ceremonially put on my work out of office and dealt with a few last emails.

My favourite aunt – my father’s sister – is 93 either yesterday or on Wednesday. My grandmother and the hospital disagreed on the date and the matter was never satisfactorily settled. I spoke to her on the phone. She seems perky I am pleased to report.

I got a message from Daniel at 8 this morning telling me he was on the bus to Offaly to spend the day with his friend from there. Rome, Edenderry, he’s covering all the exciting locations this week.

Michael and I are thrown on our own resources. Mr. Waffle was able to spend a good bit of time at home yesterday but today he is more tied up at work. Michael is finding working as my chef close to a full time job and he is not hugely enjoying it. But he is resigned. We played charades for a bit in the back garden – something than allows for distance – but this is all we could come up with.

Still, I am enjoying not being at work. Lots to look forward to, I feel.

*Small prize (honour and glory) if you know where this quote is from. It used to be one of the Princess’s favourite books and she would often quote from it.

Long Summer Ahead


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

Me (to Mr. Waffle) : In July you’ll be working, herself will be working and Daniel will be at his camp but Michael and I will be free. Maybe we’ll go away for a couple of days. Maybe to Northern Ireland.

Him: In July?

Let’s pause to sympathise with those who are responsible for promoting Northern Irish tourism.