Archives for February 2006

Principles, What Principles?

2 February, 2006
Posted in: Mr. Waffle, Princess

The Princess has been at home sick for three days.Â She’s going back to school tomorrow.Â Rejoice.Â I’m exhausted.Â You know that Mr. Waffle and I are somewhat proud that the Princess doesn’t watch any television?Â After two days at home alone with my three children, I rang Mr. Waffle and asked him to stop off at the video shop on the way home and, for God’s sake, pick up something for the Princess.Â Hotfoot upon pride comes Nemesis the avenger.Â Yeah, she’s on her way up from the school now to taunt me.

Comments

poggleon 02 February 2006 at 14:04

Is that the little girl you met the other day? Nemesis the Avenger, I mean? 0
Sweetie(s) given

kristin(Homepage)

on 02 February 2006 at 17:20

on a recent preschool application form i was requested to note how much television the child watched per day, as well as what kind. it was with great remorse that i wrote ‘disney videos.’
we’ve got a cold here, too. i’m ready to feed her to the wolves.

Minkleberryon 02 February 2006 at 17:23

you’re better parents than us. The wiggles save my sanity for half an hour every day, and probably every 3 hours when I have to feed Seth once Jimi goes back to work!

KateEvanson 02 February 2006 at 20:44

My little one loves to watch television and I encourage it so I can drink cocktails get supper ready, etc. But only normal drama, news, films etc. I don’t want her watching any of that children’s muck. I wonder how long I can keep her ignorant of the wonderful world of teletubbies.

belgianwaffleon 04 February 2006 at 10:24

Mike, quite. Kristin, oh dear, I know PRECISELY how you feel.
Minkleberry, you are a far better parent than I will ever be, you are at home, with two children all the time and an oozing wound to boot and you only watch half an hour’s telly a day. You are my hero.
Kate, you have no oozing wound, you’re clearly just a dreadful parent.

Meta-Blogging

3 February, 2006
Posted in: Reading etc.

Things here in blogland have been a bit strange recently. 20six is Â“migrating to a new platformÂ”. In the interim, we have been spammed and our home page has become a little, um, odd. I have been invited to join a weblog team called Â“banmysiteÂ”. IÂ’’m guessing that it is not legit. And the whole Â“migrating to a new platformÂ” thing has spooked lots of people. The words Â“blog builderÂ” have been mentioned and the non-technical among us are, frankly, nervous. And people are abandoning their 20six blogs like rats departing a sinking ship. And the fabulous Jojo who is paid to keep us happy has left and we could never love another nanny as much.

I chose 20six to host my blog because when I started blogging I went to this site. As you will see, it gives an alphabetical list of possible hosts and the combination of my terminal laziness and the fact that 20six was first on the list made it an obvious choice. If I had known a little more, I might have gone for livejournal or blogspot or blogger but IÂ’m really glad I didn’Â’t because I have become very fond of the online community that is 20six. I suppose it would be pushing it to say that it breaks my heart to see people like pog (or poggle as she must now be known) thinking about leaving and bobble, norah and jd actually doing so, but it does make me a bit sad.

When I think of all the people I know from here being dispersed across the vastness of the internet, IÂ’m sad, bloglines or no bloglines. OK, I realise that these are people I know that I would walk past on the
street, but theyÂ’re still people I know (yes, inter alia, hjb, minks, locotes, this means you too; stop pretending you donÂ’t know me). In fact, they saved my sanity. It’Â’s hard and a bit lonely being a mother of small children abroad, I can tell you. In fact, I think I have been telling you for some time.

Anyway, the Â“migrationÂ” is scheduled for mid-February. Until then, I intend to stay put in my bunker and see out the last days of the old regime. I trust that when the migration is complete, I will emerge
and see that at least some of my old friends are still about. And, if my blog disappears in mid-February
(my faith in the technical people is, as you see, boundless), it will resurface elsewhere. After all, it is saving my sanity.

Comments

Angela
(Homepage)
on 03 February 2006 at 13:33
Please be sure to keep us updated on your whereabouts!
jackdalton
on 03 February 2006 at 15:12
Ah ‘waf… you soppy old womble you. I didn’t know you cared so much about all us digital denizens …;-)
Locotes
on 03 February 2006 at 15:32
I can die a happy man after that mention. Funnily enough, you probably HAVE walked past me on the street on one of your far-too-rare homecomings. I was the tall studly-looking fella in case you were wondering…ps – didn’t know you had done a runner jack. Well, best of luck with whatever you’re up to. I’m sure you’ll frustrate any new colleagues just as much as your old 20six ones.;-)
poggle
on 03 February 2006 at 16:09
Even for you, this has been a long break, Locotes – Laughably Lazy is an understatement, Mister
Friar Tuck
on 03 February 2006 at 16:28
That’s probably why I don’t have a blog. It would aggravate my separation anxiety syndrome. The pain would be too much to bear.
DruidX
on 03 February 2006 at 16:28
Angela wrote: Please be sure to keep us updated on your whereabouts!
I second that motion. Even though I don’t do my blogging on here anymore [I’m here now], I still keep tabs on everyone I ‘met’ here, and I think I’d miss 20six if it did go.

belgianwaffle
on 04 February 2006 at 10:27
Oh Pog, the romance, the drama, “the boy stood on the burning deck when all but he had fled” etc.
Thanks FP, DruidX, worry not, I will force you all to read my new blog, if need arises.
FT, that is no excuse.
JD, Locotes, having you talk to me in comments without seeing your blogs, makes me feel a bit like I’m getting communications from the spirit world, I quite like that.

dmts
on 04 February 2006 at 11:09
and here am I having had to change my name because of this 3 letter rule – no more hjb.

belgianwaffle
on 05 February 2006 at 13:16
I know, Heather, it’s all very dreadful.
Bobble
on 05 February 2006 at 23:47
I am glad I can keep help you sane my dear Waffly.
I may have moved my inanity to WordPress but I do cross post the link to 20Six so anyone barmy enough to read it can… (and my wordpress is RSS so you can subscribe to it on bloglines if you want…)
Minkleberry
on 06 February 2006 at 18:49
I am not capable of leaving anywhere yet. I can barely type!!xx
jackdalton
on 06 February 2006 at 22:19
H: you will always be HJB to us and we’ll always have Paris and all that….
Minks, the trick then is to move to the mostly familiar
(Bobbs has moved out of the mortalsphere at this point but it’s all very, very impressive. Others have gone here-ish.)
[And ‘waf, thanks for this sub-let. :-X ]
belgianwaffle
on 15 February 2006 at 12:48
Don’t like the “yet” Minks. Quite Jack. Feel free to squat as long as you like.

Linguistic Regime

4 February, 2006
Posted in: Belgium

In recent times, the question has arisen as to in what language announcements should be made on trains (that is rather cumbersomely put, but you appreciate what I’m getting at here). In French speaking Wallonia, announcements are to be made in French and in Flemish speaking Flanders announcements are to be made in Flemish. So far, so straightforward.

But what about in Brussels which is the capital and officially bilingual (though, de facto, French speaking)? Announcements should be made in both languages you might say, which just shows how little you know about the matter. You have not addressed the vexed question of which language comes first; the Belgians have. There are three main stations in Brussels. In Bruxelles-Midi announcements are to be
made in French, then Flemish. In Bruxelles-Nord announcements are to be made in Flemish, then French. This leaves Bruxelles-Central. Which language should have priority here? Worry not, a solution has been found, in odd years announcements will be made in French then Flemish and in even years announcements will be made in Flemish and then French. I swear I am not making this up.

Friar Tuck
on 04 February 2006 at 19:03
If they would just speak English, there would be no problem. The Flemish are almost there anyway.

belgianwaffle
on 05 February 2006 at 12:58
Berry, Mr. Waffle wants to know what happens in Ottowa and New Brunswick? He was born in Canada, he takes a special interest. You are funny, FT, START YOUR OWN BLOG.

a href=”http://www.20six.co.uk/Berry”>Berry
on 05 February 2006 at 13:54

I’m not too sure in New Brunswick but I’ll find out. In Ottawa, here is a quote from their official language web site “all documents published by the City or its agencies and addressed to the public appear in both official languages (instructions, regulations, municipal by-laws, etc.).That publications be made available in both official languages simultaneously or in the language of the target group (i.e., schedule of courses in French).”

Bobble
on 05 February 2006 at 23:43
Does that explain why the station staff are so unhelpful at Midi then? You really couldn’t make this up could you.

Matters of Faith

5 February, 2006
Posted in: Princess

Her: Can we go to the synagogue?
Me: The cinema, sweetheart?
Her: No, Mummy, the syn-a-go-gue.
Me: Well, darling, we’re not Jewish…
Her: But, member, Mummy, the priest said that Jesus went to the synagogue.

Comments
Friar Tuck
on 05 February 2006 at 19:07
What?! Jesus attended the synagogue?! But seriously, her name is surely written in the Book of the Elect — she actually listened to a homily.

ladyjane
on 05 February 2006 at 20:44
It’s a peer pressure test – “yes, darling, but just because Jesus went to the synagogue…….”

poggle
on 06 February 2006 at 11:25
She has a point …

Conversations with my Family

6 February, 2006
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!

Caption Competition

6 February, 2006
Posted in: Boys, Daniel, Michael

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