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Boys

Activity


Posted in: Boys, Michael

Michael has steadfastly resisted all attempts to lure him into any extra-curricular activities. Just before Christmas, however, he expressed an interest in joining the scouts. He had seen them fundraising at the local supermarket and been impressed.

It took until last week for us to get around to taking him. I dropped him to the hall at 7 and was told to come back for him at 8.30. I was mildly filled with dread as I thought, what if he hates it, he will be so cross.

When I came back at 8.30 he was absolutely delighted. He knew one of the other boys from a summer course they had done together. He was adamant that he also knew another boy from playing x-box live; that strikes me as a bit improbable but he adduced a great deal of evidence to support this contention. I got to be one of these parents shocked by the extent of their children’s activities online.

Michael is not really a joiner but the scouts seem to be set up for the likes of him. The first session was free as a test and after that he comes with 4 euros in his paw per session. On Tuesday morning he announced, “Only 6 more days to scouts!” I think we’ll be back.

It’s his first activity without a sibling – I think it will be good for him.

A New Take on the Nicene Creed


Posted in: Boys, Michael

At mass on Sunday for the first time ever, apparently, Michael listened to the words of the creed.

“I look forward to the resurrection of the dead/and the life of the world to come” the congregation intoned.

“WHAT?” said Michael, “We’re looking foward to the zombie apocalypse?”

My Talents


Posted in: Boys, Daniel, Michael

Daniel: You’re no good at directions.
Me: That’s true, I often get lost.
Michael: You are no good at remembering. You often forget things.
Me: That is true also. Can we talk about what I’m good at?
Long pause.
Daniel [hesitantly]: You seem to go to a lot of meetings. Maybe you’re good at meetings?

St Blaise


Posted in: Boys, Michael

About this time last year I took Michael to Cork. It was the feast of St. Blaise. When I was a child, I was always taken to get my throat blessed. I liked the drama of it. The priest takes two candles, crosses them and puts them on either side of your throat while praying to St. Blaise that he will protect you from throat illnesses (this is his thing). After mass that Sunday when Michael and I were in Cork together, they were blessing throats. I described the process to Michael and asked whether he would like to give it a try. No. It was only on the way home I realised that I should have explained that the candles were not lit and that it was fear of being set aflame that was putting him off rather than his normal antipathy to religion.

Maybe this year.

Weekend Round-Up


Posted in: Boys, Dublin, Family, Ireland, Michael

On Saturday we went to an old friend’s house for lunch. We’ve lost touch a bit over the years for no reason really just continuing our busy lives. It was delightful but, regrettably, we can never have them back as their house is undoubtedly the tidiest and one of the most beautiful we have visited. I particularly admired the floors which were varnished and had no gaps between the planks. They made the builders re-lay them as “you could see the foil backing of the insulation underneath in the gaps!” As I sit here looking at the foil backing in the insulation visible in the gaps between my floorboards, I can’t help wishing that Mr. Waffle and I were more forceful people. I am often reminded of Mr. Bennett’s assessment of Jane and Bingley when I think of us:

“Your tempers are by no means unlike. You are each of you so complying, that nothing will ever be resolved on; so easy that every servant will cheat you; and so generous, that you will always exceed you income.”

I am not sure about the generosity but I can vouch for exceeding our income.

After visiting our friends, we called around to the grandparents. Of late, Michael has become obsessed with getting home before dark. It is hard to be home before dark all the time in January. Michael spent his time looking reproachfully out the window which made for a not entirely restful visit.

Sunday saw the Princess up to do the first reading at mass. This was a huge relief as the second reading which she normally gets was 1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20. One of the unfortunate teenagers had to work her way, very gamely, through that one.

On Sunday afternoon we prodded the children out. They were not happy. We went into town to get Herself runners and wandered around Trinity a bit aimlessly. We went into the Book of Kells and the Long Room library – interest levels from boys despite being told that it was the model for the Jedi archives (or was it): zero.

It’s nice though:

Untitled

And it was all pretty empty on a late Sunday afternoon in January. Of course, we weren’t home before dark. There was weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness.

Weekend Round Up or Next, Conversion of Russia


Posted in: Boys, Mr. Waffle, Princess, Siblings

We had a busy weekend. My brother stayed with us Friday and Saturday night. On Saturday morning we went to the Young Scientist exhibition. Within less than two minutes of arriving I had lost Michael and had to make a lost child announcement. It wasn’t bad: the exhibits were interesting; the exhibitors were enthusiastic (we found a neighbour’s child exhibiting, very exciting) and there were quite good shows but the troops started to get hungry and we bailed at lunchtime.

We dropped the Princess in town with her friend and then she went off to her friend’s house and didn’t reappear again until she was dropped off at 8 in the evening – there is definitely something to be said for the mobile phone as regular updates kept us abreast of these developments.

Meanwhile the boys had a friend round in the afternoon who was to stay the night. We said to the child’s parents, “We are going to 11.30 am mass and happy to take him with us or for you to collect him beforehand.” His family are committed atheists, but clearly not committed enough as his mother replied immediately that he could go to mass no problem and they would collect him later in the afternoon.

So this morning I found myself hounding out of bed to go to mass: my two sons, their friend the atheist, my daughter and my brother (who had only returned at 4 in the morning from his night of dissipation). As I shepherded my unwilling flock in the direction of the church, Mr. Waffle commented, “You have become the Irish mammy”.

Mass itself was fine, even my intro which is usually fraught with difficultly. The Princess impressed her uncle with her reading skills. The atheist friend and the boys were positively saintly. After communion, I whispered to Michael to tell his friend it was nearly over as he was unlikely to know how long it would run and I felt he might welcome an update. “Neither do I know how long it will run,” said Michael mournfully.

Mass featured renewing of our baptismal vows and a sprinkling of holy water which is not standard issue. I am pretty sure that there is a device for sprinkling holy water but our priest today chose to use a bunch of (reasonably fresh) flowers for his water sprinkling which I think is unusual. I suppose it was all odd to our atheist friend.

Afterwards I asked him what he thought of it all. “Well,” he said, “it was very boring for me because I am an atheist.” I see.

How was your own weekend?

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