belgianwaffle

Love is in the Air


Posted in: Siblings

You will recall that my sister is moving to Delhi. Even as I write, she is on a work trip in far off Delhi.

She got the following email from security in her company:

Security: Valentine’s Day unrest possible in India Feb. 14. Avoid protests; use
caution at restaurants and gift shops, especially in northern cities.

Rightwing Hindu groups strongly object to the observance of Valentine’s Day in India. Unrest is possible, especially in Mumbai, New Delhi and other northern Indian cities around Feb. 14. Valentine’s Day is very popular among many young Indians, but groups such as the Shiv Sena, Sangh Parivar, Hindu Jagran Manch, Bajrang Dal, and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) consider Valentine’s Day a vulgar affront to Indian culture and an example of Western commercialism. They regularly threaten to disrupt holiday events; protests are common outside shops selling Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. Demonstrations can turn violent – protesters have ransacked shops, burned bonfires of greeting cards and attacked people celebrating the unofficial holiday. Vandalism and police clashes are possible.

Most Valentine’s Day unrest occurs in New Delhi and in major cities in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. Although Mumbai is very cosmopolitan, it is a Shiv Sena stronghold and there has been Valentine’s Day unrest in the city. In New Delhi, mobs have harassed Westerners at Connaught Place. Use caution in the area, as well as at the Kamala Market and Ansal Plaza.

Despite increased police surveillance, security disturbances are possible at public parks, university campuses, and commercial areas in major cities around Feb. 14. Avoid gift shops (such as Archie’s Greetings) whose proprietors ignore warnings from rightwing Hindu organizations. These groups might also threaten
to disrupt Valentine’s Day events at other venues. Potential troublemakers are easily identifiable – rightwing Hindus often wear saffron-colored clothing or carry orange flags.

Valentine’s-related security disturbances since 2000:

  • Andhra
    Pradesh    : Hyderabad
  • Chandigarh
  • Chhattisgarh:
    Raipur
  • Delhi:
    New Delhi
  • Gujarat:
    Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara
  • Jharkhand:
    Jamshedpur
  • Madhya
    Pradesh    : Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur
  • Maharashtra:
    Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nasik, Pune, Thane
  • Orissa:
    Bhubaneswar
  • Rajasthan:
    Jaipur

A Reading from the Book of Job


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

“Does not man have hard service on earth? Are not his days like those of a hired man? Like a slave longing for the evening shadows, or a hired man waiting eagerly for his wages, so I have been allotted months of futility, and nights of misery have been assigned to me. When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get
up? The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.’

Job had twins, who knew? Yes, I know I am very lucky. Really. But last night I was at my wits’ end. Poor old
Daniel has a cold and he howled. And he woke Michael and when he got back to sleep, Michael woke him. And I didn’t sleep at all. And nor did my poor husband. And today I am like a zombie and I have two cross babies on my hands and one sick one. And school ends at 3.00.

And in other religious news, my daughter is fascinated by the story of Samson and Delilah. For this, I hold Tom Jones entirely responsible. Our poor daughter is subjected to a barrage of schlocky songs sung by her loving parents. If she bumps herself she sings “I didn’t mean to hurt you, I’m sorry that I made you cry, I
didn’t mean to hurt you, I’m just a jealous guy..”. When dancing she accompanies herself with “I’m in the mood for dancing, romancing…”. When wearing her boots “These boots are made for
walking…are you ready boots?” You get the picture here. When she wails, I try to jolly her out of it by singing “Aie, aie, aie Delilah”. They love it in the supermarket. Anyhow, the other day, she asked me “What’s Delilah, Mummy?”. “Not what darling, who?” And I told her the story, leaving out about Samson being blinded (she is only 2 and 3/4) but including how he brought down a building with his bare hands and crushed his enemies. God, she loves it and I am exhausted from recounting it. I shudder to think what will happen when she finds out about the plagues visited on the Eygptians.

Comments

Bobble
on 13 February 2006 at 14:48
There is something about being Irish and religion, a TV programme, can’t quite remember it at present…

Anyway, showing such an interest can only make you feel less guilty about sending princess to Sunday School and the free hours you will gain from it.

Friar Tuck
on 14 February 2006 at 03:59
Good thing the story of Susanna isn’t read on Sundays!

geepeemum
on 14 February 2006 at 10:07
We were reading Samson and Delilah to our 2 the other day, albeit a slightly sanitised version, and I said to my other half – “So is Samson the prototype suicide bomber and should we really be reading this to our children?” Not sure what messages it sends really!
Kate_Sith
on 15 February 2006 at 09:48
Murrain! Frogs! er… the Darkness! The plagues ROCK.
belgianwaffle
on 15 February 2006 at 12:54
Gosh, you lot are a bundle of joy. Bobble, you should know, catholics don’t do Sunday school. That’s protestants, they actually know their bible.

Outing


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

Two of the women who attended the celebrations had been to a speed dating event earlier in the week. What was it like? “There was a slightly older man who asked me whether I liked dogs. I said yes and he said ‘that’s good as I come as a package with a three legged labrador'”.

Given that it was one of my very rare nights out, I got rather dressed up* and the Princess was fascinated by this vision of her mother. “I like your lips Mummy and your dress and your boots”. It was very gratifying. Though I wouldn’t have bothered with the boots, if I’d known that there would be a forced march from the restaurant back to where our cars were parked.

This was the longest stretch of time I have been away from the twins since they were born. You will, I know, be fascinated to hear that my breasts visibly grew over dinner and that when I came home I expressed 500mls of milk (over a pint for imperial readers).

*Quote from another mother of three (supplied by my friend D) is very appropriate here, when asked whether she ever got out this woman said “yes, occasionally…to the clothesline”

Comments
Friar Tuck
on 12 February 2006 at 03:09
Hmmm, a three-legged labrador. Oh well, as long as he wasn’t three-legged I suppose.
Glad you could get out somewhere other than the clothesline.

dmts
on 12 February 2006 at 11:20
And in the other jungle at least I have bloglines to tell me of your updating, Are you allowed to have clothes lines in Belgium? There are very few in Switzerland….but then mothers get to go out to do the shopping here

Berry
on 12 February 2006 at 13:27
Oohh, a night out. Good for you. Sounds like you had great time.
And like Heidi said- a pint? Impressive.
Minkleberry
on 12 February 2006 at 20:12
A pint! jeepers, that’d fetch a few pence on ebay

kristin
on 13 February 2006 at 02:09
oh, waffley, glad you got out. i’ve missed you, i’lve been at disneyland with my little one and had no internet. i was crawling the walls, i tell you.

belgianwaffle
on 15 February 2006 at 12:53
A FEW PENCE Minks, surely more than that? The rest of you are very kind!

Unhelpful TV Viewing Habits


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

On a completely separate note, I have been watching Supernanny on the telly. She has dealt with stressed out parents of twins for three weeks in a row. My favourite quotes “I wouldn’t wish twins on my worst enemy” and, from a mother when asked by Supernanny whether she got any “me time”, “I go to my mother of twins group once a month”. Oh good God. The publishing exec (who is now an editor -ta da!- send your unpublished manuscripts here) is responsible for Supernanny the book, so I am the proud possessor of a free copy which I could use to follow up the useful lessons learnt from the telly, but, realistically, I fear that there is no hope.

Comments

geepeemum
on 08 February 2006 at 15:23
Just goes to show how different YOUR twins are from all the other sets. One of my friends swears she is going to write a book on parenting twins becasue she says that books are always really negative about it and she has really enjoyed having hers. She has had a 10 year gap since her last child. And she does appear to have twins who sleep 12 hours a night since about 3 days old… I know but she had a bad time with her 1st 2 children so she deserves a break… And anyway who’d want their worst enemy to have such a fab experience as you’ll end up having as they all grow up together?!

kristin
(Homepage)
on 08 February 2006 at 16:34
i am not a little embarrassed to admit that in a moment of tipsy desperation i sent in our particulars to ABC seeking Supernanny’s assistance. Somehow, tho, i don’t think our painfully shy little one will make good tv. (Edited to add that she’s only painfully shy in front of strangers. When she’s at home she’s a raving lunatic.)

Friar Tuck
on 08 February 2006 at 17:25
Uh, it seems to me that the only thing that will come from your watching Supernanny is a guilt trip. I think you’ve already got one of those; you’re Irish, aren’t you? That would be like me watching the Lives of the Saints channel (thank God it doesn’t exist!). I bet you could teach Supernanny a thing or two! I highly recommend watching Project Runway. Everyone can feel good after watching that.
Minkleberry
on 08 February 2006 at 19:27
Supernanny is a crazed dictator so my nursery nurse sister claims. I’m totally obsessed with the House of Tiny Tearaways. Tanya Byron rocks, and Jimi’s got a huge crush on her.
Bobble (Homepage)
on 08 February 2006 at 22:38
There is always Lives of the Saints on TV in Italy, never fear.
poggle
on 09 February 2006 at 14:38
Supernanny gets to go home at the end of the day. So she gets a good night’s sleep. See?

belgianwaffle
on 15 February 2006 at 12:52
Ooh this is all very interesting. Kristin, I think you were a bit optimistic – your home life is really not hideous enough to justify supernanny…

Caption Competition


Posted in: Middle Child, Twins, Youngest Child

Comments
dmts
on 06 February 2006 at 12:40
that is wonderful.
Berry
on 06 February 2006 at 13:37
Ahhhh…. so sweet. They’re adorable! 🙂
Peggy
Homepage)
on 06 February 2006 at 14:15
Very cute, indeed! Is one of them wearing his sister’s old clothes (pink with flowers)?
Norah
on 06 February 2006 at 16:38
They really are terribly cute.
geepeemum
on 06 February 2006 at 18:19
The one on teh left looks as though he’ll never never never be the one to back down first!

Minkleberry
on 06 February 2006 at 18:44
ooooh lovely!
kristin
Homepage)
on 07 February 2006 at 00:08
look at those strong necks! tummy time does its job!! what lovely boys.
cha0tic
on 08 February 2006 at 01:13
ERK! They look like they’re communicating using psychic powers. Are you sure you remember the conception? It wasn’t in a place called Midwich was it 🙂

daddyslittledemon
on 08 February 2006 at 13:12
Madame la Gaufre
any tips or advice on persuading my baby daughter to sleep? My own inclination is towards chloroform, but my wife has expressed misgivings.
thanks in advance

belgianwaffle
on 15 February 2006 at 12:50
Ahh thank you all very much. Except for the Midwich cuckoos. Humph. DLD, not a hope, Princess didn’t sleep till she was two. Roll with the chloroform.

cha0tic
on 16 February 2006 at 02:40
That’s not to say they don’t look cute. Maybe they’re having some sort of Staring contest.

belgianwaffle
on 16 February 2006 at 08:35

Conversations with my Family


Posted in: Family, Siblings

My mother: Really?
Me: Yes, that wardrobe is surprisingly narrow, I’ve measured it.
My mother: Have you considered that you may want to open it?

My brother: So I was thinking that I might come and visit.
Me: That would be lovely.
Him: When does your holiday end?
Me: In April.
Him (in tones of deep shock): My God, you’re not even protesting anymore.*
Me: I’m too tired to protest.

*You will be aware that I am on maternity leave not on holidays.

Comments
kristin
(Homepage)
on 06 February 2006 at 15:57
holiday, pah.
Locotes
on 08 February 2006 at 15:32
Free holidays are great aren’t they?*backs away slowly for fear of getting a clatter*
belgianwaffle
on 15 February 2006 at 12:50
Duck!