28 November, 2004

When we mention things the Princess likes, she tends to demand them, e.g.

Me to Mr. W: Those biscuits we bought for Christmas last year were very nice.

Princess (ad nauseum): Bikkit? Bikkit? Bikkit! Bikkit!

So we spell exciting things, for example “have we got a b-o-t-t-l-e of wine for tonight?”

But she seems to have twigged that spelling involves things she likes so hence this evening as we persuaded her that she should try eating the slop we were offering:

“We have some s-a-l-m-o-n in the fridge, will we give it to her, if we’re desperate?”

Princess (cutting across her father): Yes, yes, yes.

Yes, my child likes smoked salmon.Â Yeah, and if you think that’s odd, you should see her with venison.Â When we were in Cork we had venison for dinner the night before we left and she really liked it.Â There’s a child with notions.Â So, anyway, I brought some cold venison on the plane for her lunch but, you know, I didn’t fancy saying on the plane “Would you like some venison, dear?” – yes, I have a sense of shame, why do you ask? – so I said “would you like some cold beef?”Â Â She peered at the meat.Â She took it in her chubby paw.Â She chewed it. She spat it out and stuck it back in her mouth and then once she had swallowed said firmly and clearly “benison”.

Comments

demolitionlover

on 28 November 2004 at 22:38

smoked salmon is nice

Bobble

on 28 November 2004 at 22:49
(
Comment Modified) Mashed apple just doesn’t cut it in your house I guess?

jackdalton

on 29 November 2004 at 00:46
(
Comment Modified) Only as a garnish to pork steak probably… 😉

Locotes

on 29 November 2004 at 09:24

Never been too partial to the benison myself – give me the pork products any day. I get the sense herself could be a high-maintenance girlfriend in later life…
😉

NorahSplog

on 29 November 2004 at 11:50

She has such style! 1
Sweetie(s) given

belgianwaffle

on 29 November 2004 at 21:30

Hmm, I dunno Jojo, she is also very fond of olives. Is my baby the reincarnation of some deceased dedicated posh partyer?
Well, yes, demolition lover, smoked salmon is nice, but for a toddler? Bobble and JD, clearly not and frankly, Bobble as someone who is part Italian, it ill behoves you to frown at fancy eating. Locotes, must point out that among her less exalted tastes are “sausages!” and “bacon, bacon, bacon!” Norah, a sweetie, you are a kind and generous soul.

Bobble

on 29 November 2004 at 23:29

See see, I try and pretend to be British and fit in and, and… No, give them watered down wine – always worked in our house.

poggle

on 01 December 2004 at 14:54

We knew that, waffle – why else would she be called Princess?

belgianwaffle

on 01 December 2004 at 22:05

Bobble, I like that. Pog, you are right, as always..

We arrived and as we flew in to Cork airport, I said to my daughter, look that’s Cork. “Nana!” she said. “Yes” I confirmed.

We landed and waited for our luggage. “Nana?” she asked in irrate tones.Â “In a minute” I said.

We came out and there she was, Nana, conversation as follows:

Nana: Hello my darling.

Me: Hello Mum.

Nana (Ignoring me and my intervention) : How’s my little girl?

Princess (in tones of febrile excitement): Nana, Nana, Nana!!

Me: Hmmph.

Nana: Oh hello dear. Your father has parked outside and we have to ring him on your mobile to find where he is.

Me: What? But I have no credit on my Irish mobile.

Nana: Oh well, I’ll just walk up and down the carpark until I find him, you go and top up your phone (departs leaving me muttering darkly).

Princess (to her grandmother’s retreating form in most distressed tones): Nana, Nana, NANA, NANA.

Go to airport shop. No top up cards.

Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”

Go to card vending machine – it is out of order.

Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”

Go to another machine, it refuses to take my money.

Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”

Go to payphone. It will not take coins in any of the denominations in my purse.

Princess screams “NANA, NANA, NANA!”

At that moment my mother returned.

Princess is ecstatic “Nana” she says approvingly. “Good.”

“I’ve found your father but I’m going to the bathroom before we leave. He’s up there” says my mother gesturing vaguely.

The Princess bursts into tears and she and I venture out into the car park with her wailing “NANA, NANA, NANA!”

We find my father. “Look,” I say “your grandfather”.

She looks at him dubiously and then says “Nana? Nana? NANA!”

“Hello dear” says my father nervously “where’s your mother?”.

“Well that’s what we all want to know” says the Princess (or words to that effect).

Anyway after that initial excitement, we all went home and the Princess continued her bonding with my mother. We had a relatively quiet week but very pleasant. The Princess who can be a picky eater at home took everything her grandmother laid in front of her with gusto. Alas, she slept poorly, but I suppose you can’t have everything.Â Didn’t see anyone other than my parents, my aunt and the heart surgeon. The heart surgeon is pregnant and her baby is due in March. Circumstances have determined that within two weeks of the birth of her first child she will have to travel to the US for job interviews.Â A terrifying prospect but one which she views with relative equanimity. She uttered the immortal words “how hard can it be?”Â Oh how we laughed.

And that’s it really.Â Quiet but pleasant.

Start my new job on Monday. Had an away day on Friday which was reasonably pleasant but getting my feet under the desk on Monday will be…interesting.

Comments

jackdalton

on 28 November 2004 at 17:05

A job!!! Despite the hair-do?
🙂

Bobble

on 28 November 2004 at 17:26

Good luck Waffly, you won’t need it. 1
Sweetie(s) given

Locotes

on 28 November 2004 at 19:12

I’m starting to miss Nana myself after all that. So you didn’t get out and about much? Ah well, a break in the homeland is rejuvenating enough. Despite no pleas for free papers. Again. One of these days you’ll be desperate to find out cinema times or what’s new on the Kinsale Road Flyover – and I’ll laugh…Ahem. But good luck with the job!

dmts

on 28 November 2004 at 22:05

Great to see you back, Waffle. Lots of luck for tomorrow – you’ll be brilliant, absolutely brilliant.

belgianwaffle

on 28 November 2004 at 22:23

MDW: Yes, this is a VERY valuable lesson in how not to alienate your daughter…though it does seem to lead to enormous affection from grandchild, so swings and roundabouts, I suppose.
JD, Bobble, HJB, Loc: thanks for all the finger crossing (and also the sweetie B)- I think I will feel better once tomorrow is over…
Loc, but I DID want the Examiner. Had I known that all I had to do for a free copy was contact you, I wouldn’t have had to shell out vast sums.

Locotes

on 29 November 2004 at 08:56

Well there you go – you’ll know in future. A bit worried about this ‘vast sums’ business – how many bundles are you buying?! Or are you getting your hands on those black market hush hush copies that tell the future news before it happens…very handy for the bookie…

belgianwaffle

on 01 December 2004 at 22:04

Well, loads of bundles obviously, I mean, you know as an antidote to the Irish Times (which had half a page on a Dun Laoghaire sculpture on Saturday incl large photo of same – national paper pah!).

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