Hurrah, my traffic has gone through the roof, Beth has mentioned me on her blog. Otherwise today has not been a fantastic day. No work. Good. Decided to go to Planckendael. Bad. When we left Brussels, it was nice and sunny. I was wearing my trail about in the mud flares that I got in a mutton dressed as lamb moment. This is important. It was raining in Planckendael. It was muddy. Unlike teenagers who don’t mind being wet to the knees in their trendy trousers, I like to be dry. So I rolled my trendy jeans up to the knee exposing a lot of hairy leg (look, I am still getting over the rash, shaving is not good – if you care, you will be glad to know that, at least, my legs no longer
look leprous). This is not really the look I was going for.
Meanwhile my daughter splashed in numerous puddles and had a fab time getting wet to the knee. The animals were all, very sensibly, indoors and invisible. Mr. Waffle pointed out that for 30 euros less and considerably more conveniently, we could have had the same experience in the park round the corner from our flat. Without wishing to sound at all partisan, I would like to go on record as saying Planckendael is not half as good as Fota.
We arrived home sodden and muddy. Put the Princess to bed for a nap and collapsed on the sofa. Mr. Waffle’s brother and his wife are coming to stay this evening. I hope that they’re prepared for a quiet time with lots of lovely babysitting…
And she won too.
Heather is in the Swiss blog awards. I don’t think she’s really too pushed about it herself but you know, I thought it would be nice. But I can’t work out how to do it and unless someone explains to me soon, I won’t bother (though, I suppose since HJB doesn’t care, it’s no big deal or anything).
on 05 May 2005 at 15:00
I wouldn’t vote for her… she’s too good to win. Only mediocraties ever win those things.
on 05 May 2005 at 15:06
Oh Waffly – how lovely. Actually this is the Swiss being terribly punctual about things – I don’t think it’s happening until next year but Matthias asked me to mention it on the blog and I thought that a bit of blatant electioneering mentioning a few other Swiss blogs would be good.
Jack, that’s terribly sweet of you. I think.
on 05 May 2005 at 22:49
And there I was quietly patting myself on the back for a reasonable, two-layer word-play when who comes along but The Spokesperson for the League of Anti-mediocrities herself….
There are times when I give up on this deep humour thing, KateEvans. Because there’s always a bigger fish… 😉
on 06 May 2005 at 00:06
Only when they are delivered with panache and a certain kind of wide-eyedfaith. 😉
ps not a good idea to mention rats… it might upset someone round here.
on 06 May 2005 at 11:25
Soddit, how DO you get a link into comments? I had some good ratty stuff here: http://www.20six.co.uk/nextEntries/qgmiaosnfzv5
on 06 May 2005 at 21:26
Pog, you are all knowing. Ta. Jack, Kate, Norah, this is all a bit beyond me, I hope you realise that. BHM, as a person who can’t even work out how to vote in blog awards, I am poorly positioned to answer that.
HJB, NEXT YEAR??? You realise that by then I will have three small children and it will take all my energy to get out of bed, pull on my dressing gown and struggle to the kitchen. If they can’t take my vote now, it may never come…
Those go ahead Americans
My sister wants to know what I know about copyright and trademark law. Not a lot.
“Reason I ask is that a colleague from work and I would like to file a patent but the US government patent site is very confusing.”
on 05 May 2005 at 15:48
Unless it’s a patent on a product that makes internet sites easier to understand. Could be a winner…
on 05 May 2005 at 15:49
Ah, good. You do pro bono work. Expect my packet of questions in the post.
on 06 May 2005 at 21:24
JD, good point. Locotes, even better point. Have no idea what it’s for, this is her description “Its definitely worth investigating. Probably a better way to spend my time rather than playing Spider Solitaire”. And who am I to quibble with that?
FT, no.
English Whimsey; American Genius
Am back rereading the collected Dorothy Parker. Particularly liked this from a review of an A.A. Milne offering.
“The cabinet minister talks softly and embarrassingly to Sally – “Ah Selly, Selly, Selly” – but that is not enough. He must tap out to her, on the garden wall, his message, though she is right beside him. First he taps, and at the length it would take, the letter “I”. Then he goes on in to “l”, and, though surely everone in the audience has caught the idea, he carries through to “o”. “Oh, he’s not going on into “v””, I told myself. “Even Milne wouldn’t do that to you”. But he did. He tapped on through “v”, and then did an “e”. “If he does “y””, I thought, “I’m through.” And he did. So I shot myself. [….]
The play ends with him sitting at his desk, one hand tapping out “Good-bye, dear” – what a man; he must have had woodpecker blood in him! – while the other grasps the pen…”
Belgian Parking
The Amaryllis yesterday
The same amaryllis today:
on 01 May 2005 at 15:25
Okay, no flowers, but its got leaves now. Perhaps you can’t have both?
on 01 May 2005 at 19:10
I presume you are using this to teach Princess a lesson on the fleeting nature of this life?
on 02 May 2005 at 21:40
I used to have a wonderful stand of tulips that I brought home with me from the UK.
This morning I had a very sick dog and no more tulips. He even dug up the bulbs.
on 02 May 2005 at 22:55
Did you notice that it appears to be trying to jump out the window? I’d put it on a suicide watch if I were you.
on 05 May 2005 at 14:02
Locotes, we live on the second floor, relax. What’s watering?
MWM, well, maybe, but if so, why couldn’t we hang on to the flowers?
FT, it’s jumped.
JD, um, did he eat the bulbs?
Pog, the inspectors are at the door.
BHM, at last, now I know where we’re going wrong…
on 06 May 2005 at 21:22
Terrifying. Get a child. It’s easier to put things out of its reach.
on 08 May 2005 at 16:12
Hmmm… there’s always the question about what to do with it when you want a holiday or some sort of a life. Kennels don’t generally take them I believe – even with full MMR etc certs…
And the poor houses are long gone, so there’s not even hope of refuge to be had in later and declining years…
😐