Hello there –
Many thanks all for such comforting posts back. I know, it’s not worth getting riled about mobile phone companies but what can one do. I’m congenitally short-tempered. And lack of fish?? Never. Must have been a digital aberration. However, just to make up for temporary disappointment, I’ve added a little extra at the bottom of the blog just for the moment, and having played it for a second or two just now, I can thoroughly recommend it for anyone who’s recently had to tangle with VeryShitafone. It’s a yeti at the bottom of a mountain with a large club, who is standing beneath diving penguins. You have to aim at the penguins (click to swing the club) and if you’re lucky they’ll bounce for miles in a gory spray of headless mess. Of course, if your swing isn’t so good, they’ll just carpet the nearby ground. I recommend you turn up the resolution of the screen to about 150% - 200% before you try – it’s a very old game and more than slightly decrepit, but has lost nothing of the stress-relief factor in the time lapse. So if you feel like chillin’ with my nice fish, feed them – if you’re a bit miffed with your day, feel free to club my penguins.
Ah, yes – no, the Non’s hair is long as ever, there was nothing lying about – Sophie was very conservative. However, when she does finally decide to get her hair cut I’ll donate one plait each to the both of you, how’s that. Hopefully it won’t be too long (that's the intervening time, that is, not the plait). I think there’ll be plenty more of where that’s coming from, definitely. Grows like the Dickens. Nice to hear that the W&W are off to the UK – always a good hoot and glad it didn’t coincide with the Horror recently. Trust Ryanair to refuse to pay for anything to compensate the poor passengers for hotel bills – even though it’s totally illegal and Buzz and so on are paying. We were discussing the increasingly awful tactics they’re employing to get money out under the guise of ‘low-cost air fairs’, and reckoned it would probably not have been long before we stopped using them … except for the one fact that they do fly directly to Treviso – which is an undoubted advantage in our case. (Or the W&W’s case, more immediately and pertinently). Oh talking of the Horror (sorry, referring to the Iceland eruption here, not the Non or the French Revolution), saw one of the ladies next door today washing her car – poor thing her husband and daughter had just picked this time to go to Europe and were meant to have been living it up in Paris at a very nice hotel (all booked and pre-paid) but no, 5 days lost. Luckily they’re there for a month so not absolutely disastrous but still damn shame for them. And I was just thinking how nice to be out of it all but I guess people travel, don’t they – that’s the point, I guess.
Where was I. I don’t think I’ve said a thing so far. Non was I think glad to be back home for once – the first week at school was enjoyable but I get the impression that by the time I picked her up today she’d pretty much run down her stock of energy, and was ready for a bit of home-time. A bit disorientated. Never helps when she doesn’t eat her sarnies heartily – had about half of them and none of the bits and pieces…. At least she drank her juice, I guess that’s something. It’s still pretty hot here. In the meantime, I was lucky enough to grab an opportunity that popped up (well, that is, Anna mentioned she was off to the Baths and I said ‘COULD YOU GIVE ME A LIFT TOO PLEASE???’ and she very kindly said Yes) and … well – got a lift to the Baths. However, Anna was in a hurry today and I hadn’t actually had breakfast before I ran back home to change – gobbled a hurried small slice of my home-made sourdough bread as the most instantaneously filling thing available in the house (I think it’s like the Elvish bread in The Lord of the Rings… a small square will keep you going for days). Then when we got there I knew there wasn’t much time but still wanted to get my 1km done so pounded up and down like there was no tomorrow and I think got it done in less than half an hour. Even last time it took 45 minutes. Well by the end of that I wasn’t entirely sure where my knees were when I got out of the water. What a start to the day. Still, very good to have been able to get a swim in – with the slightly colder weather and the less beach, I’m expanding widthways at a rate of knots.
Goodness, what a ramble. Still haven’t said anything. Not sure there’s a great deal to say anyway, actually – we’re gearing up for a long weekend here as Monday is Anzac day and the Flea has it off. Tomorrow first thing we’ve got chores (libraries, returning defective electrical goods, hiring a storage unit to clear our garage – I’ve got it booked – that sort of stuff – I’ve done all the REALLY exciting stuff like cleaning the toilets today – yes, Friday is certainly a toilets days, isn’t it - quite agree with the Pie.. however unfortunately this also seems to be the case with Mondays. And sometimes Wednesdays, depending on what we’ve eaten. Ahem, where was I….) and then nothing planned as yet but I bet the Beach will figure in there somewhere.
Ah – Swallows and Amazons.. sorry, no idea, haven’t seen them. I think I’ve vaguely heard of them, and seem to recall they had the sort of feel of ‘OK, fine, but a bit dull’ – which after all I suppose is the very heart and soul of the books as well so one can’t say fairer than that. Mind you, I’m all for a bit of dull, and loved the books – after all, one is not to this day called Nancy for nothing. However no, sorry, useless on info for the DVDs. Pmsl at Leo’s being too Genki for your wallet… what a spot to be in. Oh well, I suppose well done Leo!
Anyway, lots of love to you all, Nancy xxxxx (Ahem, that’s Captain Nancy to YOU, scurvy swabbers.)
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There is definitely something slightly wrong with the blog: I only received it at 5.15 which means you must have sent it at 1am and I can’t believe that diligent as you are you would be staying up until then just to keep us informed. I was already dredging that ditch looking for a Poppet.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the Non’s tresses have come to no real harm, where was Sophie’s mother while they were playing hairdressers? Hope the plaits will be hanging there for many more years.
Your recipes are always mouth-watering, I am getting fatter even reading them. Can I just say that the plural of gnocco is GNOCCHI with an H, although I am sure they taste just as good. When I went to the Gym the other day the girls were talking about food, what else?, and one of them was going to cook risotto with strawberries that lunch time and the previous week she had made it with melon and prosciutto crudo. I am not certain I would like to try either of them. I think the Pie should add some description of those beautiful dishes she takes pictures of, and please use English names of the ingredients for the poor ignoramus who has no knowledge at all of Japonese.
When will you be going to see James? I think you mentioned May but not a date yet.
Hope to talk to you this week-end.
Thank you for resuscitating the fish, they seemed pretty frisky when I fed them. I shall have to wait for Alan to wake up before I have a go at the penguins, at the moment they are just a tiny blur at the bottom of the page.
Lots of love and many XXXXXXXXX
Woofie
Lovely to read everything as usual, hope Non has the rest for the weekend, (and what is the holiday?)
ReplyDeletejust write down some snippets with Nea today (since I spent a full morning actually just not doing anything particular and playing with her)
and I spent the last one on Leo,
Park, morning, empty.
"Well Nea, I think Nora's not coming today, you know what, I think we could go to the bookstore today and I saw this LOVELY little fairy doll that looks just the hight and size of Bibi (that's her favorite) and they're on sale! How about that?" She sits, gives it a ponder and says "Nope".
"No? Why? You want to stay here?"
"I'B got ebuph"
"What?"
(Looks up a bit huffishly) "I'B GOT ENOPH"
(think) "Oh did you say I've got enough?"
"Yeshh"
(rather astounded, lost for words here-
"Oh, oh OK then, I just thought she'd make a good friend for Bibi, that's all"
" No. Bibi fwend Nea. Gop eboph"
"OK then, can we go to the store anyway because mummy wanted to look at some of hers?"
... shrug of shoulders. "Okay, mmm, fiwst, bag"
(pointing to my bag) "You want my bag? What do you want from it?"
"Open t" Looks inside, hmmm,
"I know! Pen pepar."
"So you want the pen and paper, what would you like to do?"
"ABCs!!!"
... so I doodle down a few and ask some questions, and some added up and I said
" Oh look this one together spells RAIN"
"Rain! " ... takes the pen and starts drawing some potato heads and strokes underneath them below the word RAIN, completes it to her satisfaction with a few dots and looks up happily
"LOOK! nanana (this is when she doesn't quite know how to say something ) nana.. Piple undr d rain! UUUUUh, (shivering) COOooold, wet, haha ha ha!"
Then off we go, in store, I see that they have WHy are you my mother out in 50th edition (marvelous, same cover and all) say
"Wow look at this, it was mummy's favorite, shall we read it? "- SO we read, then she says at the end "Agen" So we read again,
then she closes the book and thinks a bit, points to the bird and says
",... Bup, wi baby biwd no... no no mummy is?"
"You mean why does the baby bird not know who his mummy is? But you see, he'd never seen her,he didn't know what she would look like so he thought anyone might be his mummy"
To this apparently stupid reasoning she suddenly arched her eyebrows and silently picked up the book, went to put it back on the pile, gave me a shrug and a sorry shake of her head saying "Siwwy baby biwd'.
.. after countless such, leave bookstore with just a card game manual in hands (something I've always thought of getting since Leo is just about able to play some card games now)
ReplyDeleteand I say " OK Nea do you want to go home now, help me make some dinner, and for lunch, how about some fish, avocados, tomatoes, bit of pasta and cottage cheese?"
Frown. "No, NO=WAY=HO=ZAY!"
"Oh my lord where did you hear that, well, anyway, so what would you want then?"
"Hmmm... le mi ink "(let me think) pats her cheek and suddenly points a finger in the air,
"I know! Urm, chikn, oan (gohan or rice), been,
coti cheez"
...More such, anyway, such fun but really scary- I don't know, I guess it's because Leo was a really slow starter but this kind of dialogue just DIDN'T happen. Never mind the
"I've got enough" one- now that wouldn't happen now at 6. Frankly, I don't say I'd say it. And she knew what it was and why she was saying it as well, it's just mind-boggling to me. There is absolutely nothing you can convince her to do if unless you find a reason that seems sensible enough, but then if one does, nothing is particularly difficult to do- it's amazing, one just has to take the time and talk. It's so much better now she can actually get it out, although she'll insist on saying after the "So how old are you?" "Na na name Nea"- that one doesn't seem to go.
It was early day school for Leo so we went straight to the park- stayed for a whopping 5 hours, they should etch my name on the concrete the amount I spend there- and was completely happy reading on a bench while Leo found some friends playing handball, and Nea- looked around, saw that there was only sand-playing as an option with the small ones, went up to some 3rd graders sitting around and said "Hi, nanana Nea, Pway"- after 10 minutes, you should have seen them- a pack of 7 of comparatively huge 9-10 year olds and one very small one, playing as if nothing in this world was out of place, she couldn't get enough of them while they let her lick them, tickle them and roll about in their laps and a boy came up and said " Is that your kid? She's really fun- can we keep her a while?" " Yes be my guest- you sure she isn't bothering you?" "Nooo, she's so much fun, she'll repeat everything... but I think that she won't do something if she doesn't want to"
... Yup, you've got it son.
In any case it was glorious. The sun was shining just in the proper way, the birds were chirping and the kids laughter in the background, suddenly I found out 20 minutes later that I had dropped off with the book on my lap- now this NEVER, ever happened.
Nea recount today, it's been a very enjoyable one- and now I promised to go out and play handball again, and more swing. By now it seems a little less desirable, the sun is almost down and showers to be had, dinner to be had. Maybe I can get out of it somehow. Happy happy long weekend and lovely one over in Italy too-
Oh, talking of food- had a lovely little snack of boring cod, but wrapped in pancetta, bit of white wine,snatch of lime,O Oil, capers, sal-pep and a tiny bit of... I can't remember, I think mustard seeds or cumin, in any case whatever, makes a boring fish very tasty indeed. Of course rather easy so probably just a standard. I LOOOOVE your posts Vens. They inspire one to be less boring, just mouthwatering- I wish I could be more inventive with the spices. Though I must admit I'm just NO good at mixing sweet stuff in salty- can never stand the grapes and apricots and peaches in the savory, unless they're dissolved completely- I know it's sad because it must be delicious, it's just that... it just doesn't go down. I think I should just try it some more times and it might grow on me.ALl in all it still sounds absolutely scrumptious.Really have to try them out. Thanks!
Lots of love to all, XOXOXOX Pie