Happy Kiddo

Last night we took her to see the latest gaffe from Ms Rowling. It was surprisingly quite entertaining and while we were watching credits roll at the end, I thought: “Mike Newell directed this?” That explains its higher-than-expected entertainment value. I remember thoroughly enjoying Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Anyway, as it was a long movie, we rushed to catch the early evening screening at 6.15pm. and so skipped dinner. Half way through I felt hungry and when the movie finished, my dearest wife was either hungry herself or she heard my tummy rumbling. “We are going to Bob’s Kitchen are we?” she casually remarked. No one objected and for a change, there was no queue outside this little simple Chinese diner. We had a very satisfying noodle and dumpling.

Right from the moment we left the cinema, throughout dinner at Bob’s kitchen, right through the drive home (amidst thunderstorm and heavy rain) kiddo couldn’t stop talking about Messrs Potter, Weasley and Grainger. She was still at it this morning over breakfast and I tried extremely hard not to mute this excitement although I am about as interested in the magical world of Hogwarts as I am in croquet. I make the usual obligatory “You think so?” and “Why do you say that?”, only half following whatever that was pouring out of that considerable facial orifice of hers. For the umpteenth time, I wonder how is it that my wife and I are both relatively quiet folks but kiddo turned out to be such a wonderfully active chatterbox. Again, I remind myself of my parental duty to stoke, not dampen, such enthusiasm. To cajole and encourage instead of stomping out such liveliness, no matter how unnatural it is for me.

 

Silent Me

There’s this joke about 2 blokes having their drinks in a bar somewhere. Half an hour later, one asked the other: “So how has work been?” “Alright”, the other bloke replied. 45 minutes later the first bloke said: ”Going anywhere this Christmas break?” “No” the other bloke replied. 30 minutes later the first bloke said “And…” to which the other bloke immediately turned to the first bloke and said “Look mate, if I wanted a conversation I would have stayed home, okay?”

To a large extent this is true of me. I’d much rather sit down, have a drink and read something or listen to some music or watch television instead of talking. Having company is great but not necessarily company which requires constant chatting. It’s not a bad thing but I’d rather have company who is okay with not chatting. Strange huh?