Elysian Daze

Category: 2023

  • Why Do people die?

    Elisa, playing with a snail shell which she found on my windowsill: “Where’s the snail?”. I’d never thought about that. “It probably died”, I said. She looked concerned, then asked: “Why did it leave its house behind?” Before I had a chance to think up a convincing answer she beamed and exclaimed: “I know! It’s…

  • Sleeping Beauty

    At bedtime last night I told Elisa that I would read two stories, not more. The clever minx suggested that she also read two, one of which was Sleeping Beauty. She said that I should read the part of the witch. “Why?” I asked. “Because I can do children’s and grown-ups’ voices, but I can’t…

  • Where’s My Sock?

    2023 A couple of Elisa sound bytes from this weekend: “My papi knows everything, and my mami always knows best”. Going down the stairs: “I’ll go first because I’m your darling”. In the wee hours of the morning she mumbled in her sleep and seemed to be distressed. I assumed she was having a nightmare…

  • The Cat & the Cupcakes

    Elisa and I baked cupcakes (Nigella Lawson’s foolproof recipe) for Opa’s birthday. I left them out on the cooling rack overnight, still in their cute heart shaped silicone cases. The next morning, I noticed that not only had one of them been nibbled at, but also a tiny piece of the case with it. I…

  • First Kiss

    Elisa: “Anne-Cleeear!”. A-C: “Yes?”. Elisa: “I kissed Rocco”. … followed by a giggle. A-C: “Did he like it? How did he react?” Elisa: “He laughed”. A-C: “What did you do?”. Elisa: “I laughed, too”. Dissolves into fits of giggles. Aaah, that first kiss!

  • Karma Chameleon

    April 2024 Last weekend, Elisa arrived and announced: “I’m a snail. My names Hermine!” (pron. Hermina). “Look how slowly I can move!” Then she proceeded at such a slow pace it was hard to tell that she was moving at all. It transpired that Hermine is a character from a story book which is being…

  • Snoring Cow

    21st May 2024 Today I took Elisa shopping to buy some bedding graced by the two Frozen princesses and a bath towel (Barbie). I added a pair of slippers. These items were for her to keep here for when she stays overnight. She was finding it hard to decide which ones she wanted, so she…

  • Little Tree, Little Tree

    This past weekend, Elisa wore her princess outfit. She showed me how princesses walk, and how they put their dainty slippers on. While we were in the kitchen she decided to be Cinderella: “I’ll be Cinderella and you can be the ugly stepmother, the two ugly stepsisters, and the prince. Can I have the mop…

  • Heading For Trouble

    … thanks to my negligence, the poor darling got a chunk of her hair caught in and pulled out by my electric whisk.