Perhaps we should have known from the start, when Sophie screamed blue murder as the plane landed in France, not because of "a pain in her ears, le pauvre petite" as the lovely French steward suggested, but because she simply refused to put her seat belt on. Screaming in confined spaces became quite a talent of hers. Her best work reserved for taxis, trains and, of course supermarkets.
Perhaps it was when we walked into the Benetton shop in Bayonne, with another lovely French man coming to help us and Sophie responded by hitting the floor and screaming " I want a pink t-shirt- WITH SPARKLES ON IT!" - and walked out wearing one.
I definitely knew we were losing the battle when the kids were no longer allowed to accompany me into the St Julien supermarket, as my humiliation at reaching the counter with two small children screaming for toys had peaked.
In desperation, one afternoon, I locked the kids in the car in the supermarket car park to run in for our baguette and jambon Bayonne. The lovely ladies at the counter looked as relieved as I was not to be having the Smith tantrum spectacular again showing at a venue near them. I gave my "Merci's" breathed a sigh of relief and walked out to see my youngest son executing a very fine 'pressed ham'* up against the car window.
Mon Dieu!
*For those of you unfamiliar with this technical terminology the 'pressed ham' is the pressing of one's bare buttocks up against a glass pane for the shock/amusements of others. A very popular activity amongst drunk, exhibitionist undergraduates in the early '90s and possibly popular still today.
10 comments:
fuqin brilliant - still laughing ...
Now that's funny.
I know what it's like to have the screaming child on the aeroplane, so you have my full sympathy there! As for the rest, well, just something for me to look forward to! (and I'm sure my children will learn the 'pressed ham' from their father.....)
Will I be protected from that, since I'm a vegetarian???
I honestly can't think of a reply to do justice to the 'pressed ham' story.... totally flummoxed!
Oh blimey. Oh crikey. Um...thinking of you...
Ha, ha, ha. Luckily Chloe hasn't discovered pressed ham yet. She did grab my boobs in public and announce BOOOOBIES very loudly the other day though. Nice.
Hope the birthday was a good one!
Apologies if I already told you that story. I think I'm getting just like my Dad - scarey.
It's O.K.
You'll get your revenge , when you're ancient , strategically deaf and a bit gaga . They'll have to put up with your very loud , inappropriate comments in public . I'm practising already .
Sonata .
This is a fabulous brief expose I truly loved it
In conclusion , allow me thank you for your patience with my English as (I'm convinced you have become aware this at this time ,), English is not my primary tongue accordingly I am using Google Translate to shape out what to enter what I truly have in mind to voice.
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