Gremlin’s Fireside Chat

I had intended when I started out this blog to talk about more “professional” and technical things about life as an independent software developer contractor, but as my wife pointed out recently my blog is more of an adoration site about our daughter Maeve and her growing up. This is of course true, and I make no apologies for this turn of events. I just love being a father. I know its “not manly” and seems to go against modern “post feminist” thinking, but the truth is I love my daughter and feel no shame about showing it.

Well today we will be off to visit my mom and sister in Meath. Mom has just been released from hospital after a nasty chest infection – TBTG – and its time we made a visit. No doubt Maeve will show them her new verbal skills (more and longer sentences), her ability to put on her own shoes and something which has struck me as odd. Maeve has been trying to write. OK all kids like trying to scribble with a pen on any piece of paper (or surface) she can find. Maeve this week has obviously been writing along the lines of a note pad (just above like when you write) with squiggles small enough not to cross the line above and in groups with space between them. The squiggles are just that – no written words – but they obviously are Maeve’s attempts in that a lot of the “words” in the squiggles are circular joined up shapes and look like some foreign language if you did not know better. The other odd thing is she is writing all this in a right-to-left fashion. Don’t know what that means, but I do remember as a child when I was learning to “write proper” thinking that writing right-to-left was so much more natural and easier than left-to-right.

Okay its time to sign off and enjoy a love hot mug of coffee and a slice of meat loaf I made last night.

It had to come. We both knew it; but we were hoping for a few more years before it manifested itself. Maeve has started singing the odd phrase from a song or two lately – words from the Corries “Skye boat song” or Petula Clarkes “Cannot live without your love”; but today we were watching “Ratatouille” the cartoon movie about a cuisine loving rat when Maeve said the ominous phrase – point to the main rat lead she said “Mickey Mouse”. Americanisation has started.

I have finally shaken what is commonly referred to as “the post holiday blues” and back in the harness of research and development. The memory of days baked in sunshine amongst fantastic mountain views are now but fond memories – although I am far from missing the swarm of mosquito’s who took me as a nice source of food.

Maeve progress has been sustained and steady. New words she understands are coming out thick and fast – yesterday it was “night, night” when she went to bed; and “mine”, “no way” and “go away” are in everyday use. Maeve is an independently spirited girl who loves to do things for herself. For example its almost impossible to put her in her travel seat and strap her in. You have to let her climb into the car and into the seat before she will allow you to strap her in.

Maeve tantrums have increased as expected – especially if she does not get her way.. hopefully the terrible twos won’t last for long. Things have improved somewhat by ensuring that she maintains her old routine by getting to bed by 9pm so she can get a good nights sleep before she awakes at 6am.

My Daughter of 16 months is a Robbie Williams fan … nothing wrong with that. But to keep her amused I try to find music from various artists, periods and styles to keep her amused and this is where youtube is daned useful. I like swing/jazz stuff like Frank Senatra and the other Rat-Pack members and was playing this tribute piece from Robbie Williams  where Robbie was asking fans to “click your fingers” along with the tune and showed them how it was to be done…. only to be followed by my 16 month old daughter trying (to no avail) to mimic her idol

We had this recipe from this restaurant (Schiffergesellschaft) and chef (Holger Grätz) when visiting Lubeck  a couple of years ago – well recommended, as is the restaurant in a find old house where you eat on 16th-century banquet tables and benches in the candlelit great hall of the historic Shipmasters’ Society. Its a popular Lübeck institution that’s always busy, and funny enough whilst I was hanging around outside for my wife I was mistaken for the bouncer by a flower seller – but thats another story.

I came across the recipe from a webcast and the ingredients consist of for 2 people:

1. 500 g Corned Beef
2. 250 g Red Beets
3. 250 g sour pickles (Gerkins)
4. 1/2 peeled Onion
5. garlic
6. cloves,
7. bay leaves,
8. salt,
9. pepper,
10. sugar 1/2 tbsp.
11. Mustard 1 tbsp.
12. salt
13. 2 Eggs
14. 1 young Herrings
15. 1 Tomato Pumpkin cubes
16. 1/2 kg Potatoes

Watch the video for the instructions.