Road Closed

We are CLOSED today owing to dentist appointment. Pray for us.

PS isn't this photo hilarious? I wish I had taken it but I found it on the interweb. And even though I'm trembling with trepidation, it made me laugh.

Imaginosity

Did The Adorable Nephew like Imaginosity, the children's museum in Dublin? Since he shrieked and kicked when I took him away from the museum, I’d have to say that the evidence points to yes.

We spent two hours in the museum, during which time Gregory pressed every button, took apart everything he could,

peered into every nook and cranny.

He liked the Yellow Submarine,

the supermarket (the tongue stuck out in concentration is a family trait, I do it myself, as does Gregory’s Mama and his Mamó),

and the diner.

He kept a watchful eye on the pishies,

and took excellent care of this baby:

He’s going to make someone a wonderful big brother one day.

Aaargh!

Wow. I really jinxed myself with that whole pledge to be consistent thing. Picture, if you will, the ball in the pinball machine. That is me.

I'm setting off for the other side of the world IN TWO WEEKS. That means packing. That means visas. That means finishing the Serious Project. That means a to-do list of epic proportions.

So, really, I wouldn't hold my breath for any kind of consistency at all. There WILL BE BLOGGING - but it will be sporadic and, I'm very much afraid, even more stream-of-consciousness than usual.

Stonehenge Out the Window

Old joke: American tourist says to local, ‘Great castle [or ancient monument/ruin, as appropriate], but why did they build it so close to the highway?’

The people who built Stonehenge certainly set up shop uncomfortably close to the A303. Not just that, but the road goes from dual carriageway to single lane shortly before Stonehenge. This means you have plenty of time to admire the stones because you will almost inevitably get stuck in the traffic jam across the road.

Of course, for people like me who like the absurdity of taking photos of historic monuments from the car (something about the ironic juxtaposition appeals to my sense of the ridiculous. Why yes – I do have a degree in English literature. Why do you ask?) this presents an ideal opportunity.

So in the continuing series ‘monuments from the car window’ I give you … Stonehenge With Raindrops:

(Without trees)

(With trees)

Hints to Foolish Bloggers

Last night I had a dream. I was writing (in this here blog) an apology for my absence yesterday. Yes, I promised on Tuesday that I would be more consistent. No, I didn’t manage to keep that promise. But I obviously felt so guilty that my subconscious poked me about it IN MY SLEEP. Happy now?

Anyway, in the dream I was quoting Oscar Wilde: A foolish consistency is the refuge of hobgoblins’ minds. Yes, that’s what I said: a foolish consistency is the refuge of hobgoblins’ minds. Check me out! I quote Wilde in my sleep! Except, wait – it doesn’t make any sense.

[Googling.]

Friends, conscious or otherwise, here’s a hint. Be careful not to mix up the words of two writers.

A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. [Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, transcendentalist.]

Consistency is the last refuge of the unimaginative. [Oscar Wilde, 1854-1900, sybarite.]

PS Either way, (foolish) consistency gets the thumbs down.

Look, Gregory! It's the Zoo!

Panda, our mission today is to break away from the tall people and get inside with the animals. Are you with me?

*

Look Gregory! This is where the tapir lives!

But, so, I’m getting in here with the tapir, right? Right?

Look Gregory! Aww, it’s a baby elephant!

Let’s see. If we climb onto Mama’s shoulders, I can throw you in and then I'll HAVE to come and get you. Simple….

Look Gregory! Here are the penguins. (Please note LTBB blending in with the other kids.)

[Attempts to jump into the water thwarted, Gregory threw his raisin packet in with the penguins. Following an unsuccessful attempt to retrieve it, a hasty getaway was effected.]

Look Gregory! There are gorillas in here!

I can has gorillas? Panda, maybe we can go in through the hole. How are your glass-cutting skills?

Look Gregory!

This lady’s really annoying me. I’m going to take her camera.

*

Sad to report, for a boy who likes to get hands-on (and take his panda with him) the zoo just isn’t hands-on enough.

Postcard to Gregory

Dear Gregory,

I hope you are well. I’m well but I don’t know what happened. FIRST I was watching cartoons with you and Suzie the Dog and then the cartoons were finished and then you weren’t there

and then Auntie Nehneh came downstairs and said well Panda this is a disaster and you were on the AVION and you went to France that’s the name of where we live. Then she said I could be on holidays at Mamó’s house and Mamó said I should have a bath. So Mamó put me in the thing you call the bvwashing and it went round and round and Miffy the Bunny was with me so I wasn’t lonely. Now we are resting while our ears dry.

Dodo is here too and when I’m dry Auntie Nehneh says I can have dodo and we will go on ADVENTURES. I will see you soon love from PANDA xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx