On the Eve of Departure

Today Carl went into hospital and had new grommets (buisjes) fitted in his ears. It's the third time he's had them and he takes the whole experience in his stride. The operation is over in a few minutes, he doesn't react badly to the light anaesthetic, and generally he sees it as a great opportunity to milk his mother for sympathy, sweets, and a trip to the toy store for being such as good boy. Not a bad deal in exchange for going into a hospital filled with friendly staff and having "a little sleep" which would allow him to hear better.
Tonight at dinner he and Niels were arguing about something they had just seen on t.v.
Niels was insisting Lucky Luke had said one thing, Carl insisted he's said something else, both adament they'd heard it correctly. This went back and forwards a few times until Carl seemed to lose interest. He returned his attention to his dinner, scooped up some rice with his spoon then quietly murmured in a voice I only just picked up "Maybe you need to go to the hospital for a little sleep too".

Score 1:0 to Carl for witty humour! Pretty good considering he hasn't even turned five yet.

Niels' comments are altogether more brutal. What he lacks in subtlety he makes up for in delivery. This afternoon he was singing away at the top of his voice, so I started dancing along, thinking he'd be pleased to have me join in the fun. Instead he stopped dead mid-word, rolled his eyes and said "You crazy old lady".

Gee thanks.

Tomorrow I'm off the New Zealand for a couple of weeks, leaving the boys in the capable hands of their grandparents and, by the end of the week, their father. For the first time in years I'll be able to watch the end ofa movie on the plane, eat my meal without ending up wearing half of the kids, and not have my hand luggage monopolised by changes of little undies and t-shirts, new toys designed to distract small minds from the monotony of flight and favourite stuffed toys that don't fit in the kids bags. With a day's stopover in Singapore to catch up with the girls (we're talking coffee, lunch, pedicure, shopping and dinner all meticulously planned beforehand!) then 11 hours of uninterruped sleep (hopefully) on the leg to Auckland, I'm thinking, to hell with the holiday, I'll just be happy to have the journey! Wasn't it Hemmingway who said the point of travel was not the destination but the journey itself? That's how it's starting to feel to me.

I'll be back in touch from sunny kiwi-land. Eventually.

Probably.