The two days of summer
August 5, 2007 at 10:30 AM
by Ashleigh
My Joe & Barbara's Nicky making breadSummer is here. Quick, run outside. Switch off the computer, soak up the sunshine. It'll be gone by Tuesday.
On Friday we went to Archeon again, this time taking Barbara and her boys. We had a great time. The day sped by! You can see some photos here. It's always fun seeing Barbara and we had a great time relaxing while the kids played in the playground in between activities. There were only a couple of meltdowns from the little ones over the course of the day and the big boys enjoyed having a companion of their own age.
Barbara is expecting twins. Watching her blossom with mama'ness is interesting.
I had a sterilisation in January so there are no more babies on my horizon, and although I'm glad that I did it, I also can't help remembering that wonderful feeling of growing another life.
I regret not having lived in the moment more with my pregnancies.
Why is it that we're in such a rush to reach a result instead of enjoying the process?
Product rather than process orientated I suppose.
I need to remember to enjoy the process of life more.
The product of life, after all, is death.
Yesterday we went to the paddling pool nearby and the kids played in the sand and water for a few hours. I read my book, Elizabeth Costello, by JM Coetzee, found, surprisingly, in the library here. I know Charlotte didn't enjoy this book at all, but so far I'm finding it interesting.
I think the comparison between the old-fashioned, slightly dour prose that Coetzee uses in this book and the warm summer weather yesterday made the book easier to handle.
I like the way he's presented the narrative - the combination of texts, speeches, and the observations of Elizabeth Costello's son hold my attention well. The writing reminded me of Doris Lessing's work - difficult at times, but sort of pushing you to understand the author's perspective.
I've read, and enjoyed, his book Disgrace. Hopefully Elizabeth Costello will not disappoint me.
I'm a quarter of the way through and I haven't been tempted to skip to the back of the book yet to see what happened. (Yes, it's an awful habit!)
I was surprised to read in the amazon review that Coetzee is now considered an Australian citizen. I didn't believe it at first, and then I was shocked when I looked up his wikipedia entry and found that he is indeed, an Australian citizen. When I worked at the University of Cape Town in 2001 he was still a South African and still a professor of English at UCT.
I suppose my ambivalence may be because I'm on the brink of abandoning my own citizenship. Funny how strongly one judges when one is about to take the same leap.
Today, a visit to the Amsterdamse Bos with kids, beach tent, beach toys, barbecue and picnic in tow. I have kebabs marinading, I plan to make a big Greek salad and a watermelon salad, and perhaps a cake for dessert. I had planned to visit the beach but the idea of 30C and traffic jams to get there and back was alarming.
I think we'll go tomorrow instead.
For Dutch readers in North Holland, there is a wonderful tool for working out which beach to go to.
It's called Reach the Beach.
It gives you details on the beaches, webcams, driving directions and tells you what to expect in terms of toilets, restaurants, etc.
It's a fantastic idea, well done to whoever thought of that!
Comments
Were you at the Groot Kinderbad in Amsterdamse Bos yesterday? We were there yesterday (and today too!). If you were, did you see us? You should have come to say hello - if you did!
I read Disgrace (Coetszee's Booker Prize winner) a few months ago. Although I enjoyed his style it became quiet a drag mid-way. I also didn't quite get the focal point of the book ... I enjoyed his 'Waiting for the Barbarians' but can't say (overall) the same about Disgrace. Never read his E Costello... It would be interesting to hear what you think!
Hugs.
Barbara: so glad you are enjoying the book :) I thought about the emptynest'ness too and then promptly stopped thinking about it right there and then!
Nina: we were there, but very late in the afternoon. I think you must have left already. Once you are living in Amstelveen we will have to meet up and visit the Geitenboerderij or Elsenhove - have you taken Milla there?
I liked the book Disgrace, but I have to say - JM Coetzee is not the most uplifting of authors! Sometimes I wonder at how the Booker/Nobel prize winners get chosen - 'cos half the time they are completely unintelligible to me. Just what that says about me I don't know ;)
Would you say it's worthwhile travelling from Limburg to go to the A'dam Bos, particularly since there are plenty of woods where we live? Are the plenty of other things worth doing there?
I'm thinking of going to watch the long driving competition in September and am toying with the idea of taking the kids. I expect it would hold their interest for about half an hour, if there's ice cream included, so maybe my Dutchess could tag along and then take the kids off to do something else when they get bored.
Or do you think it would be better if I left everyone at home?
TIA
You have no idea how much I'd love to tag along on your picnic/BBQ today, Ash! Our planned family outing hold 0.00% attraction for me. LOL.
I'm reading the Trollope novel you lent me and really enjoying it so far. Makes me wonder about my own situation in 20+ years when empty nest becomes a reality. Weird thought....
And am I blossoming with mama'ness? Other than needing a postal code of my own for my bulk, I don't really feel different ...
August 5, 2007 11:09 AM