belgianwaffle

Separation*

14 September, 2025
Posted in: Princess

We saw a lot of herself this summer. On Saturday we saw her off to London where she will be residing from now on. I have spent the past four years adapting to having a daughter who was in college in England. It feels somehow different to have a daughter who is living and working in London. I am glad for her and I hope she has a fantastic time with all her friends who live in London. And it could be much further away (and she might yet decamp to another continent; at least London is easy and quick to get to). But it is sad to see her go; another generation of emigrants in the family. My husband and I emigrated; my parents emigrated; my parents-in-law emigrated; and my grandparents emigrated; but, you know what? We all came back. Keep your fingers crossed that someday she will come home for good after lots of exciting adventures.

*Separation by WS Merwin

Your absence has gone through me
Like thread through a needle.
Everything I do is stitched with its color.

A Period of Unparalleled Hideousness Begins

22 August, 2025
Posted in: Dublin, Ireland, Twins

We’re getting the hall, stairs, landing and reception rooms downstairs repainted.

Work began on Monday. I have already agreed to buy a new carpet for the stairs and landing and to remove all the anaglypta (probably no loss). The idea is that the work will be completed while we are on holidays. Unfortunately, it started before our departure. The photos below do not at all convey the level of absolute chaos that prevails at home. I went to the bathroom in bare feet the other morning. A painful error.

The painting plan was set up before we realised that one child would not be on holidays but would be at home in Dublin preparing to resit an exam. My brother (agent of chaos) will also be staying in the house. Have we set up our child to fail? Well, we’re not exactly removing obstacles from the path, that’s for sure.

Anyway off on holidays to France now. Back in mid-September with tales from the holidays. Something for you to look forward to.

Sibling Content

21 August, 2025
Posted in: Cork, Ireland, Siblings

My brother was going to stay Sunday night as he was going to the Oasis gig but then cancelled as the tickets were too dear. I would say that most people had probably secured their tickets sometime in advance of the Friday before the gig. As the children say, “He’s not a tame uncle, you know.” He’s full of surprises. However, he met one of them for lunch recently and parted with €50 as well which was gratefully received by the indigent student fund trustees. Herself is scheduled to meet him in September when she returns from her extensive holidaying. She’s a regular dining companion. I can’t help being concerned that it may all beggar my brother.

My sister hasn’t been in Dublin for ages and the last time she was up it lashed rain and our only outing was a rather grim stroll around the block. However, we have been down to Cork for her not fifty yet party. I have to say, it was pretty good. She had a pizza van parked in the driveway; a magician; a children’s entertainer; and herself and Michael were scheduled to give a historical tour of the area but had to extemporize and give the talk inside instead because of the phenomenal rain which, arguably, follows her around. Still, a pretty impressive logistical feat. I contributed my mite by digging up baby pictures for her to hang up around the house. I think it’s fair to say that, notwithstanding the challenging climactic conditions, a good time was had by all.

It was the weekend of the all-Ireland hurling final and Cork were favourites to win. The city was festooned in flags. Consider this motorway bridge on the approach to the city.

On our drive back to Dublin, I said, “Will we listen to this hurling match on the radio?” I have literally never watched a full championship match in my life, let alone listened to one on the radio but my curiosity was piqued after our Cork flag experience.

GAA commentators are known for their quirky style so I was only mildly surprised to hear the commentator opening with the line, “Belinda Carlisle said ‘heaven is a place on earth’ and today she could be talking about Croke Park”. Anyway, to cut a long story short Cork were winning comfortably in the first half and then utterly collapsed in the second allowing Tipperary to win. It was such a collapse that it was noteworthy in all kind of ways. It spawned a series of headlines and none of them flattering to Cork. Apparently there is a phrase indicative of solid contentment in rural Tipp – “the hay saved and Cork bet”. Well they delivered on that on the day.

It was a bad day for the bookies; for the man who got “Cork All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions 2025” tattooed on his arm; and for the woman who decided that now might finally be a good time to take an interest in Gaelic games.

Why?

20 August, 2025
Posted in: Middle Child, Twins

Earlier in the summer my beloved middle child came home looking like the victim of a shark attack covered in abrasions from the all-weather surface very close to our house where there had been an impromptu basketball game. For added ouch factor each foot was covered in an extensive array of blisters. Apparently there was no grip on the old shoes but, gentle reader were there new shoes at home a 5 minute walk away? Yes there were. Was it better to play on all weather in socks for 3 hours? Apparently it was. My children are such a puzzle for me.

Life Imitates Art

19 August, 2025
Posted in: Ireland, Reading etc.

A friend told me this story recently about an older gentlemen (let us call him Mr. Murphy) he knows who is in his 80s. Mr. Murphy’s wife of 50 years died last year. At tea with my friend Mr. Murphy announced that he is getting married again later this year; to a woman to whom he was previously engaged 56 years ago. Mr. Murphy made her a ring from a silver shilling. She kept if for 56 years and now it’s her engagement ring. And, if this doesn’t remind you of this short story by William Trevor, it should.

Weekend Round Up

18 August, 2025
Posted in: Family, Ireland, Mr. Waffle, Princess

Friday, August 15

My weekends now start on Fridays thanks to my four day week. Am I pleased? You betcha.

Herself was home for a couple of weeks (rejoice!). On Friday (before she headed off to Paris on Saturday), she and I went for a day out in Howth. We parked at the Summit car park and walked down towards the lighthouse. It had been a bit overcast earlier but the sun came out and it was beautiful.

In a way that is not at all obvious, you can access a beach from a set of steep slightly makeshift steps set into the cliff. And down we went.

By Irish standards the water was delightfully warm. We had a lovely swim. You often see seals swimming a bit out to sea from this beach. However, very excitingly there was a baby seal sunning itself on the beach. Lads, the thrill.

After our excitement on the beach, we went back up to the car (slightly more tiring than going down).

As regular readers will be aware, I am a big fan of the bike and public transport and it is not so often that herself gets to have an outing in the car. As we drove back into the village, she announced defiantly, “I love the car, I love it.” However, parking was a bit of a nightmare and after 15 minutes of circling the town looking for parking, she was less sure. We eventually parked in a loading bay (judge away, I was operating in the belief that it is only a loading bay in hours of loading, no hours of loading were specified so really who was I fooling?) and went for a lovely lunch on the pier, slightly marred by my fear that I would get clamped.

After lunch we got two 99s and walked back to the car. I finished mine before we got there. “What’s your plan for my ice cream?” she asked. I was genuinely baffled. “I mean, I haven’t finished it,” she clarified. “Well, you can finish it in the car,” I said. “In the car?!” she exclaimed. It is true that the children were never allowed to eat ice cream in the car for reasons which should be obvious. “Yes, you’re 22, you can eat ice cream in the car,” I said. She was awe-struck and delighted. It was kind of hilarious but maybe you had to be there. But guess what, we were not clamped so a very successful day all round.

Saturday, August 16

Mr. Waffle’s sister and her family are in Dublin for a couple of weeks and last weekend we had them and Mr. Waffle’s brother and his wife around for tea. A good time was had by all etc – relatively low labour from our point of view. This weekend Mr. Waffle’s brother and his wife had us all around for lunch and also his elderly aunt and uncle, their son and their grandson. I must say it was a big crowd and I am lost in admiration at my sister-in-law’s ability to cater for large numbers. It was quite exciting to meet Mr. Waffle’s first cousin and his son who live in Spain (first cousin’s wife is Spanish). We last saw the son when he was about 4 and he is now 12 and very tall and very pale for a Spaniard (still tall for an Irish person and quite tanned). My niece and brother-in-law played and sang (very reluctantly) and I have to say they were absolutely amazing; he is a very good pianist and she is a professionally trained singer. Mind you, what would I know, he finished up laughing saying “went into F there” – what does that mean? A mystery. Sounded fine to me and I thought my niece sang absolutely beautifully. A little thrill.

Sunday, August 17

It’s heritage week. Mr. Waffle and I thought we might try Leixlip castle which is quite near Dublin. It’s not open to the public very often which is possibly why when I rang the phone number they gave out on the website, a rather harassed though very pleasant woman told me they were chock a block. She felt perhaps she could fit one but, alas, we were two. I’m willing to bet my bottom dollar that the person I spoke to was the chatelaine which makes me more curious than ever to visit. Maybe next year.

Today we went to Tullynally Castle instead, ancestral home of the Packenhams. The house tour was mildly interesting although the castle itself, Gothicked by Francis Johnston in the early 1800s is not to my mind particularly beautiful. But my goodness, it’s big and the family still live there – it’s clearly very lived in and I would say it is baltic in winter. The gardens are the big draw and they are delightful.

Herself pointed out to me that it is only in Ireland that crisps are served unironically as a salad accompaniment to sandwiches. Sandwiches tend to be described as ” served with salad and crisps” and have a token bit of green to help them live up to that billing. Today’s example is a good one. My smoked salmon came with a side salad.