belgianwaffle

Happy Anniversary


Posted in: Mr. Waffle

This day, a mere four years ago, Mr. Waffle and I were married.  It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time. And then we were married. Very odd.  It’s taken me some time to get used to the idea but, you know, I like it. Though, of course, at the time, I didn’t realise that it would entail changing my name to Waffle. And now we have a little family. Isn’t this even odder? Mr. Waffle is, obviously, the world’s best husband and father. I know this because the Princess keeps telling me “My Daddy great” and also because every time we see my mother and he leaves the room to do something she says, sotto voce, “Gosh, he’s marvellous, isn’t he?”

Of course, I know this also because I picked him out and persuaded him that it would be a good idea to marry me and I am NEVER wrong. And also he is taking me to an expensive
restaurant for lunch. And furthermore he rose with the lark this morning and took the Princess to her creche by tram
while I lay indolently in bed. And because of the thousands of little things he does to try to make my life perfect. And also the big things. And because he loves us both.

Comments

dmts

on 28 July 2005 at 13:19

My mother used to do that ‘isn’t he marvellous’ bit too – I always felt the sub-text was ‘why on earth did he marry you?’
Many felicitations to you and Mr Waffle (and the princess and the baking waffles) 2
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 28 July 2005 at 15:24

Awww…bless. While I’m sure if our paths had crossed on Pana one day, that things would have been quite different, I’m very happy for you.
😉 1
Sweetie(s) given ���

Minkleberry

on 28 July 2005 at 15:38

Crikey- I can’t take real heartfelt sentiment in this condition. I’m in floods here.
Congratulations xx 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 29 July 2005 at 10:44

Thanks Norah. Heather, 2 sweeties, I’m overwhelmed and also completely in agreement re mothers. But we’re just paranoid right?
Loc, well, maybe but I think when I was last living in Cork, you were about 7, so possibly not. Ta for the sweetie.
Minks, I am touched. I am also still hormonal, I weep at everything. I sympathise. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 30 July 2005 at 08:54

You left Cork when you were 3 years old?? My God, I’m shocked. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 31 July 2005 at 21:28

Well, no, but you are really young, aren’t you? Sort of 25ish or something like that? 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

poggle

on 02 August 2005 at 10:55

Belated Happy Anniversary Missus …. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 04 August 2005 at 12:39

Ta pog. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 04 August 2005 at 22:01

Well, yes…that was sort of the point of the subtle compliment I was paying you.
Which promptly sailed right over your head.
Ah well. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 06 August 2005 at 12:47

But Loc, you’ve never, to your knowledge, seen me. Now if you had seen me walking down Pana and said to your friend, she can’t be a day over 25, THAT would be a compliment. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 08 August 2005 at 14:06

Oh please. As if a small detail like that makes a difference – I just KNOW that that’s the case. Trust me.Though incidentally, I think the first picture you used on your blog contained your good self – you shared the Princess’ wonderful locks if I remember correctly…
…and you didn’t look a day over 25.

Which I told a nearby friend.

Who looked at me strangely admittedly… 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

belgianwaffle

on 08 August 2005 at 20:04

Locotes, you are brilliant. And of course correct. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

Locotes

on 09 August 2005 at 10:06

We’re both just wonderful people – how marvelous life is. 0
Sweetie(s) given ���

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Improving Mother-in-Law


Posted in: Family

This arrived from my father-in-law yesterday: The suspect is definitely on the mend, with the medical team talking of a release into the tender mercy of her husband this coming week-end. Improved life signs include normal insatiable curiosity about other patients on the ward (sociological background, what the Polish girl thinks of working in MacDonalds in Tallaght etc) [see men do marry women like their mothers]. On balance this is a good sign. How small Dublin is – I was accosted in the supermarket today by a hill-running guy who is involved in mountain rescue to find him asking me “how is your wife?”. Apparently he was on call on the day in question and would have plodded up into the hills had not the helicopter boys scooped the pool
beforehand.”

Etiquette


Posted in: Princess, Twins

The Dutch Mama came to stay last night.  Just for one night and she brought the Princess a present.  The Princess was so pleased that she took off all her clothes and ran around naked.  A new phase perhaps?  I have just realised that I never take kiddie presents when I go to stay with people.  I will reform.  The Dutch Mama also brought loads of gear for the twins because she is kind and good.  To my deep regret, I opened it in the presence of the Princess who spent some time trying futilely to get into a 0-3 months babygro (MINE, MINE).  She’s going to be so delighted when these babies are born.

Comments

NorahSplogon 27 July 2005 at 16:48

Oh dear – the royal nose is going to be put out of joint. Poor princess. 0
Sweetie(s) given

belgianwaffleon 28 July 2005 at 11:10

Yes, Loc, I’m hoping she’ll grow out of it, apparently her uncle was a great stripper when a toddler and he seems to have grown out of it.
Yes, Norah, I’m terrified. 0
Sweetie(s) given

I’m not a feminist but


Posted in: Work

The other day, I heard a young woman say I’m not a feminist or any of that rubbish, but I hate it when older men patronise me. She went on to explain that for all of her career, she had worked for older men. What, she thinks that the rest of us have spent our careers working for teenage girls? Does she feel that it’s necessary to qualify her criticisms in this way so
as not to annoy older men or does she really believe that feminism is rubbish and it’s important to say so at every possible juncture? I found either interpretation very depressing. What did I say? Nothing. I am a feminist, but I’m a coward. Sigh.

Comments
belgianwaffleon 26 July 2005 at 14:55

It is supremely annoying, isn’t it? I wish I could pull myself together and say something. Perhaps next time I’ll say, “you know, it sounds to me like you might be just a teensy bit of a feminist, are you worried about that?” and watch for squirming. Or, more likely, I won’t.

Jeithzorroon 26 July 2005 at 15:07

That does seem to be the all-purpose-loophole-to-offend . I’m not racist but, I’m not being mean but, I don’t think the earth should be run by aardvarks with telepathy but.
Regrettably I too can only vent my spleen behind the safety glass of blogging.

NorahSplogon 26 July 2005 at 15:24

I’m not a blogger or any of that rubbish, but I happened to be passing and I have to agree that it is rather depressing.

jackdaltonon 26 July 2005 at 19:43

You should have decked her… she doesn’t deserve to get away with that level of sloppy thinking.

StarCorneron 26 July 2005 at 20:58

But if she’s not a feminist doesn’t that mean she would believe in a more patriarchial (sp?) society and therefore deserves to get patronised by men – silly cow!!! (sorry about language but people like that annoy the hell out of me too!)

belgianwaffleon 27 July 2005 at 10:29

Good point JZ. Norah, beautifully put. JD, is this the academic in you coming out by any chance? StarCorner, you restore my faith in human nature!

jackdaltonon 27 July 2005 at 21:40

Probably.

Oh the pain


Posted in: Belgium

I broke a tooth eating a frozen Mars bar.  Do you really want to know?

Anyway, due to amazing Scandinavian dental technology, my tooth is slightly better than new. But the bill came to, oh dear, 285 euros only a small portion of which I fear will be refunded by our insurance. Oh the pain.

Comments
Bobble

on 25 July 2005 at 12:48

Back away from the freezer and lie down dear.

belgianwaffle

on 26 July 2005 at 14:51

No, bobble, frozen Mars bars are delicious, truly (Norah, back me up here, please). But expensive.

Locotes

on 27 July 2005 at 15:46

Christ – sorry about that. But who goes biting into Mars Bar Bricks? At least a bit of thawing was surely in order?

belgianwaffle

on 28 July 2005 at 11:09

But they’re nice frozen. Though expensive.

Klaus Jensen

on 28 November 2005 at 16:54

“Gold Palle” is the nickname of this dentist, because he(Palle Hansen)is the most expensive dentist in Bruxelles.

Klaus Jensen

on 28 November 2005 at 16:54

“Gold Palle” is the nickname of this dentist, because he(Palle Hansen)is the most expensive dentist in Bruxelles.  belgianwaffle

on 29 November 2005 at 15:46

Mr. Jensen, thank you, this is a superb piece of information…

Technical


Posted in: Reading etc.

We went to a garden party in the suburbs yesterday. It was all very civilised. And leafy. Our host was a man I knew when I was in Bosnia for a couple of months in 1996 and ran into again in a Brussels café last year. Small world and all that.

I was chatting to this woman and I asked her how she knew our host and she said that she had a blog. Ran into some blogging etiquette difficulty as I waxed enthusiastic about her very well-known blog in a polite way but havenÂ’’t really read it; so was frantically trying to remember whether she might have children etc. while wittily telling stories about the pleasures of being pregnant with twins.

I suppose it was inevitable that she should be the mother of twins. It turned out that a lot of people there were bloggers who knew each other, including our host. It was all very weird but the weirdest bit was when I was chatting to this Irish girl whose blog I cannot now find and she said to me “YouÂ’’re
belgianwaffle are you? I nearly keeled over from shock. “What� How did you know?” “Well, you’Â’re pregnant with twins.”

And while I’Â’m doing geeky, everytime I try to link to the sarcastic journalist, I get a message saying “You’ve been very, very naughty! You are the weakest link. Goodbye. What the hell is that about? If you are at all in the mood to be kind, you
might see if the link works for you and, if it does pass me on her email address so that I can see whether I have been blocked by accident or what. Oh come on, you know I havenÂ’’t been leaving nasty comments.

And finally, please admire the Princess’Â’s new hair style.

Comments
disgruntled

on 24 July 2005 at 17:16

Not sure if it helps, but I followed the link you gave and got the same thing. Even googling and following the link came up with the same message. So I don’t think it’s you, I think it’s a problem with that site. (Google still has it cached though)

dmts

on 24 July 2005 at 17:29

I got the link okay so I’m obviously an A lister.

Nicholas

(Homepage)

on 24 July 2005 at 19:29

Small world, isn’t it!!!!!

zed

(Homepage)

on 24 July 2005 at 20:14

It was lovely meeting you yesterday and you have the gift of the gob, my dear! I couldn’t even ask you a question 😉 There again, you may realise that in reality (although you don’t read my blog) I am, in fact, terribly shy. I had some tips for you that I was thinking about last night if ever you wanted some, re: twins, so do email me if you feel the need 🙂 I hope we meet again before the sproglets pop out – let me know and we can organise a BBQ chez-moi.

jackdalton

on 24 July 2005 at 23:01

Hey ‘waf.. that woman whose blog you don’t read is calling you a mouth!! 😉

belgianwaffle

on 25 July 2005 at 10:33

HJB, not only are you an A lister, you’re a saint as well. Disgruntled, it’s no wonder we’re disgruntled, frankly.
Nicholas, alarmingly so. Thank you for a lovely afternoon – more formal thanks to follow!
Oh dear, it’s not that I don’t read your blog, it’s just that I subscribed with bloglines and it never updates so I gave up on it. I would love to say that I am only very, very talkative in the presence of celebrities but this is completely untrue. I could talk for Ireland (and that’s saying something). Thank you for kind offering of advice re sproglets, I will be back to you. Am on first day of mat leave and gethering myself together to torment people.
Jack, what can I say, it’s true.

Sarcastic Journalist

(Homepage)

on 25 July 2005 at 17:00

I’m sooo sorry!!! I hope we can get this straightened out.

belgianwaffle

on 26 July 2005 at 14:52

All sorted, thank you kindly, SJ.

Aoife

on 26 July 2005 at 18:31

Sorry to make you keel over with shock! Nicholas had invited a stack of bloggers so I assumed that’s how he knew you.

belgianwaffle

on 27 July 2005 at 10:28

But no! And you know how dangerous it is to make someone in my condition keel over…Anyhow, where is your blog? I’ve tried Habseeligkeit in livejournal but it sneers at me.

Aoife

(Homepage)

on 08 August 2005 at 20:14

Sorry, have been internet cold turkey for a while and haven’t been blogging. Most of the journal is locked – you can sign up to livejournal without bothering to post anything and I’ll “friend” you to read posts.

belgianwaffle

on 08 August 2005 at 21:54

It’s ok, I found you, Nicholas gave you away! Will sign up to live journal when feeling strong and let you know…