belgianwaffle

Lost in translation


Posted in: Reading etc.

Saw it on DVD at the weekend. Brutal.  What may have been artistic ennui on the big screen was plain old ennui on the little screen.  Didn’t help that herself was in roaring mode so we had to keep going off and tending to her. After a while we didn’t even bother pausing because shag all was happening anyway. Also because we’re still wrestling with pause and fast forward on the DVD and the Princess isn’t old enough to explain it to us yet.  Locotes, I blame you for raising my expectations.

More LRB personals:

“Heaven knows, I’m miserable now.  Emotional wreck, club-footed, anxious M, 33, living a half-life in a garret in London, seeks solace in the brawny arms of a charming man, 30 -40.  I’m afraid I loathe opera but love Morrissey, dodgy Brit sci fi, Barbara Pym’s novels.  Lower those expectations at box no. 12/15”

The pile of newsprint has built up in my absence.  We receive the following through our letterbox:

The Economist (weekly)

Saturday’s Irish Times (weekly)

The LRB (fortnightly)

The BCT magazine (don’t ask – monthly)

Test achat (a consumer magazine – please don’t ask – monthly)

Musee des beaux arts newsletter (quarterly)

Because this lot are not enough to keep us going we also get

The Observer (weekly)

Le Soir (weekly)

The European Voice (well – I have to look for my jobs somewhere – weekly)

The Bulletin (see above – weekly)

As assiduous readers will know, and if you’re reading this, you’re assiduous, I’ve been away for a week and the accumulated weight of stuff is threatening to crush me.

Mr. Waffle wants to know if we’d like to subscribe to the “The New Statesman”.  I don’t think so.

Comments
DruidX

on 08 July 2004 at 22:06

I think I just learnt a new word.
‘Assiduous’ means very often right? 🙂

jackdalton

on 09 July 2004 at 00:56

Yes, give LiT another try. It’s a wonderful and quirky watch. Hang herself out the window some evening in the baby bouncer or deploy HiredHelp. then give it another go. Or read it.
New Statesman is a good read too: I’d ignore you on this if I was MrW.
😉

belgianwaffle

on 09 July 2004 at 20:56

Ok lads I may try LiT again but maybe even at its best it’s a boy film.
DruidX, I think assiduous means very thorough but I had a moment’s doubt there when you asked me and I checked it in the dictionary where it says “showing great care and perseverence”. Am quite pleased with that now, I think assiduous was the very word I was looking for though I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time.

Locotes

on 10 July 2004 at 18:41

A boy film?? That’s just crazy talk…it’s a rom-com! Total girly domain. It’s just that Bill Murray is a legend, and it’s actually a really well-done humourous yet touching piece. And there isn’t much out there that gets me to say that…
As an assiduous cinema-goer, I urge you to give it another try.

belgianwaffle

on 11 July 2004 at 22:29

As a person who has become increasingly less assiduous in recent times, I don’t think I can face it. On the plus side I have booked the last installment of the LOTR on vid for when Mr. Waffle goes to Wales for the w/end for his brother’s stag. Am quite looking forward to it. Sad really.

Locotes

on 12 July 2004 at 12:38

Nothing sad about LOTR – it’s just won an oscar for chrissakes – so anyone making jokes about pointy ears and gay hobbit action is the outsider – not you.
😉

belgianwaffle

on 12 July 2004 at 13:01

I’ll revert on that Locotes. V. excited about Cork city win. Quite amazing.

Locotes

on 12 July 2004 at 14:01

Well I know we both do our best on a daily basis to promote the mighty Cork with our splendiferous writings – but I felt an actual post about the lads and their excellent win was required. I’m sure most if not all 20six is in awe.

belgianwaffle

on 13 July 2004 at 16:12

Loc, surely ALL 20six must be amazed and astounded.

Travelling


Posted in: Princess, Work

I have been rejected for three more jobs (two of which I interviewed for) and spent 17 hours on trains with the Princess since I wrote last.  It’s no wonder I’m too depressed to pick up a keyboard.

Also did have a very nice week with my parents in La Rochelle where the Princess learned to love the ocean (provided that she was not immersed above her chubby knees) and continued her love affair with sand.  However, my memories are hazy as all of my brain power was required to keep my sanity on the 10 hour train ride home.

Princess update perhaps not of interest to the general reader.  She continues to stand occasionally but resolutely refuses to walk. She loves slides and was able to go down one all on her own in La Rochelle.  Very thrilling.  She has now extended her vocabulary to say “baby” and “all gone”. The latter sounds like “aga” when she says it but we know what she means.  She will now also say “ta ta” when given something she wants, provided it’s done in good time.  Any delay in giving her what she wants is met with fury. Quite terrifying.  If you say “where’s your choo choo” or “where’s your doggy” she will crawl off and retrieve those items.  She blows kisses.  She imitates. So when I said “shush” on the epic train ride and put my finger to my lips she did the same to all of our long suffering fellow travellers.  If I sigh, she will sigh back.  She beats her chest and makes tarzan noises which is something, I would like you to know, that I only do in the privacy of my own home.  She’s fantastic.

Comments
Angela

(Homepage)

on 06 July 2004 at 16:20

If I owned a company, I would hire you in an instant! And then I would constantly come over and force you to leave your desk and talk babies and books and beer with me. (And, of course, I wouldn’t let the pesky managers fire you because of all the time you spend away from your desk talking babies and books and beer. Because, you know, I own the place!)

Locotes

on 06 July 2004 at 16:40

Sorry about the interviews – something will come up in the end (I know that’s a horribly annoying thing to say, but it IS true – keep the faith…though not necessarily in a Bon Jovi-esque way).
As for the Princess update – it’s all very impressive. A career in method acting awaits possibly, with all the sighing and inner fury. I’m at a bit of a loss with the beating of chest however….whatever keeps you happy in the confines of your own home I suppose.

jackdalton

on 06 July 2004 at 21:29

Hang in there, ‘waf.
You only need a bit of luck to make that breakthrough: and it will come. And as Locotes says, don’t lose perspective: it will all fall into place soon enough 😉
Princess updates are much enjoyed…

belgianwaffle

on 08 July 2004 at 13:23

Thank you, thank you. I feel all virtually supported. Frankly, I need all the support I can get. One of the interviewers offered feedback to unsuccessful candidates. I got my feedback yesterday. Can I offer a little tip here: if you didn’t get the job, don’t bother with the feedback, it’s just too depressing.

jackdalton

on 09 July 2004 at 00:27

nooooo you must get the feedback; at the very least it inconveniences the buggers, epecially if you ask for notes and jottings from the interview board. 🙂

belgianwaffle

on 09 July 2004 at 21:04

I know what you mean Jack and that was entirely my original motivation but the humiliation is CRUSHING.

jackdalton

on 10 July 2004 at 11:40

Only if you let it be. I’d suggest you make a list of the things they said and then rate each – in a balanced, honest way – as either A: ‘they may have a point here and this is something I can work on’, B: ‘perhaps, but there’s noting I can do about this’ or C: ‘stupid jerks they lack vision on this, so sod them’. Then set about fixing the A’s, don’t apply for jobs that need B’s and be proud of your C’s.
Not too scientific, but it works… 😉

belgianwaffle

on 11 July 2004 at 22:31

Yes, but it’s so hard not to feel that all their comments are Cs even though I know they can’t be really.

Brussels Childbirth Trust Fete


Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess

They didn’t need me on the champagne and strawberry stall after all so we all got to wander around in the drizzle together.

It was very English and very organised. You were given a time to go and queue for the various entertainments and marshalling was done by girl guides of varying degrees of ferocity. My English friend F asked whether I thought any other nation would be so horribly organised.  I pointed out that I had already seen a German lady leaving in a huff pulling her two children along behind her muttering under her breath “Hier ist alles sehr disorganasiert”.  These events tend to reinforce national stereotypes.

We took the Princess for a ride on a shetland pony and while waiting for our turn we saw a 10 year old girl guide saying sternly to a small child “don’t climb on the pony – hop on”. Since he was only about three we felt that this might be a challenge for him, but she was adamant and eventually there were tears and a parent had to lift him on.  This boded ill for our adventure. As we waited, a five year old said loudly to his parents “What a big willy that horse has”. Everyone chatted nervously about the weather. Finally it was our turn. The Princess took one look at the pony and refused to go next or near it. As we tried to put her in the saddle she clung to us in a most affecting manner and shot evil glances at the girl guide. Eventually she consented to be photographed pulling the pony’s mane. Our photographic archive is complete.

We also took her to dig for buried treasure. This involved digging up sand from a small basin with a spoon. Eventually you would come across a worthless small object perfect for babies to chew and choke on. To be fair she didn’t come across any small object because on being given a spoon and a basin she, not unnaturally, assumed that the contents were for eating and began spooning sand into her mouth enthusiastically. We managed to stop her before she got to the treasure.

After winning a small prize in the raffle (every ticket wins a prize) and chewing on the plastic tape securing the three legged race area (I leave you to determine which member of our party decided that this was a good idea) we decided to head home. “Well” I said perkily to Mr. Waffle “that wasn’t so bad, was it?”  He hissed in an undervoice as we made our way through the phalanx of range rovers parked in the grounds “if you ever make me go to something like this again, I’ll divorce you.”  Not so good either then.

LRB


Posted in: Reading etc.

It is subscription renewal time. I will have to pay.  Is it worth it?  If I do decide to renew, I can give two free subscriptions to friends. Who is worthy?

In other book news. Next volume of the Shadowmancer man’s books was better but still not great. Reread “Pride and Prejudice” which is as brilliant as ever. Also finished rereading “A Short History of the World” by H.G. Wells and for a brief period knew who the Persians, Medes and Elamites actually were and what their role in history  was.  Bitterly regretted that University Challenge was over for the Summer and I had no chance to triumph. This is a great book- a readable summary of everything. Also, given that the author died in 1936, quite hilariously politically incorrect.

Am now reading “Notes on a Scandal” by Zoe Heller which is excellent, very funny and poignant and not for the reasons you might think. Still on chapter one of “The Bridge over the River Drina”.

Ill gotten gains


Posted in: Belgium, Princess

Well not really ill gotten.  Went and changed my train tickets and it costs 30 euros less to go the week after next.  I paid by credit card but the SNCF people refunded me CASH.  I spent the loot as follows:

1 coatstand (8 euros – well actually 10 because although they were willing to give it to us for 8, Mr. Waffle felt they needed the money more than we did.  A bit tiresome to get home, I carried it on my shoulder balanced like skis while Mr. Waffle pushed the Princess but we were something of a hazard to other road users – did have a surreal moment while waiting for the tram; best dressed diplomat and her husband came along, stopped to chat and hung up their purchases on the coatstand. Very appropriate for the land of Magritte).

Six porcelain cups and saucers (5 euors – a killing!  Mr. Waffle says that there is a gap in my life only porcelain can fill.  And I got a sugar bowl thrown in as well.  Slightly difficult to carry. Especially with a coatstand slung nonchalently over a shoulder)

2 cinema tickets (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabhan – only alright but we have broken our cinema jinx and actually got to see the film we wanted to see)

When we got home from the cinema last night, our babysitter told us that the Princess had woken up at 9.00 and insisted on playing until 11.00.  In our evil hearts we hoped that this would mean that she might wake up later this morning.  No. I have been up since 6.50.  Princess having stood up alone for the first time last night (gasps please) is anxious to keep practising in case she loses the knack. She has also said her first word. Cuckoo.  I’m trying not to draw any conclusions here.  This morning she pointed at her toy train and said choo-choo. Our genius.

Comments
belgianwaffle

on 20 June 2004 at 17:32

We think she may mean coucou which is the French for peekaboo as she usually says it after holding her bib up to her face.

jackdalton

on 21 June 2004 at 17:16

Ah… a multilingual upbringing “Dit ‘allo, Sprogette…” and all that. Impressive. Very impressive……:-)

Think Martin Amis


Posted in: Reading etc.

I just got an email from a potential employer summoning me to an interview next Thursday.  That’s right when I’m supposed to be relaxing on the French coast. Cursed loudly and then remembered that the rest of the household is trying to sleep.  Blah.  Will have to speak to Messrs SNCF about cancelling/changing train tickets and bet I won’t get the bloody job either.

Also got the following in the same bumper crop of emails, from my greatest living fan, my friend C:

“Last few blogs v. good, I liked the structure of the ‘More Belgian than the Belgians themselves’. Try to cut down on cliches, though, good to have a few but you can have too many – one entry with ‘great unwashed’ and ‘alone and palely loitering’ etc.

You know my criticisms are all constructive, don’t you?”

Is she going off me?  Will I become entirely unread?  Am cut to the quick and await with bated breath a full retraction going forward.

Comments
belgianwaffle

on 18 June 2004 at 21:29

Thanks Jack.

dmts

on 19 June 2004 at 10:20

Waves from Switzerland.

belgianwaffle

on 20 June 2004 at 08:41

Big wave back.