We have been feeding the neighbours’ cats.  The Princess noted that the neighbours had a number of DVDs – “look, Mummy, televisionâ€. “It’s television for grown-ups sweetheartâ€. “But what about Tallis and Byrd, what do they watch?â€
Talking on eggshells.
Me: Stop eating the eggshell.
Her: But I like the eggshell.
Me: No you don’t, you’re only doing it to annoy me.
Her: No, I’m not.
Me: Yes, you are.
Her: Are we at the pantomime?
Me (trying another tack):Â Do you know where eggs come from?
Her: Where?
Me: A hen’s bottom.
Her: But wee and poo come out of bottoms.
Me: Also eggs. From hen’s bottoms.
Her (looking dubiously at eggshell): I’m not convinced.
Is this yours?
As parents of twins, we shameless hoover up any goods offered to us.  A spare cot? Yup, that would be great.  Baby clothes?  Yes, thank you. A while back, I returned to the Dutch Mama some of the clothes which she had given to us which the boys had grown out of. She looked at them and said “these are lovely things, but half of them aren’t mineâ€. Also, it appears, we are not very good at returning things to their rightful owners. When we were in Ireland, we drove through a North Cork where the Dutch Mama’s sister is the postmistress.  “Should we stop and say hi?†asked Mr. Waffle. “Probably not†I said, “but, if we did, we could point out to her that Michael is wearing a very nice t-shirt that once belonged to her sonâ€.  In summary, I am not sure who lent us what, so I cannot say who lent us the t-shirt with “Little Lord Foster Baby†written on it but I suspect that it may be someone whose first language is not English.
Linkedy link
Today we went to Ghent. Although Ghent was, as always, very pleasant, the whole experience was so exhausting, I have no energy to describe it. Have a couple of links instead.
Men breastfeeding: all they have to do is try.
Jojo’s fantasy life: you will really like this.Â
My sister’s attempt to ensure that her carbon footprint is suitably significant: 186,865 kms and 5 continents so far this year.
The 40 dollar dog
Replacement plush toy retail price: $8.45
Postage (good Lord): $30.00
Actual value of goods as assessed by sending company: $5 (Canadian dollars that is) Look on daughter’s face when opening envelope with new travel Doggy: Priceless
School
The Princess has two teachers this year; good cop and bad cop.  This morning as I left, bad cop was in charge and she pulled the crying Princess’s hand from mine and pushed me resolutely out the door saying “the sooner you leave, the better it will beâ€. True, doubtless, but brutal. Mind you, my travails are as nothing compared to my friend who has just started her two children at a new school.  The two and a half year old is, to quote her mother “a tough little nut†but the five year old is a very sensitive soul.  When she comes to collect the younger child at midday, she finds her two children glued together in the playground.  She has to prise them apart and then her son cries and clutches the fence and says “I’ll wait here until you come backâ€. When she comes to collect him at 3.00 she can see his little hand clutching the fence from afar.  Dear God, it’s all very depressing. Meanwhile, she tells me that another Irish friend of hers has unexpectedly decamped to Dublin over the Summer because her two little girls have been offered places in a good primary school and, if they don’t take them up this September, the places will be gone forever.  Their papa continues to be based in Brussels. So, if given a choice between a good school and a father, which would you pick? I know that’s not fair, but really, it’s madness.Â
