Christmas/Winter Wolfism

 Here is one Wolfism from yesterday, as we were walking in the snow. Veggie Carrie was holding my arm to dear life, wobbly feet on snowy and icy grounds. I teased her, saying it must be her South African side. She used to do this when we ice skated together. Noticing Wolfie being far more comfortable, as if he's been living here his whole life, she said her son had definitely Québécois blood. Then came Wolfie's remark: "It's because I'm ice and fire!" Best Wolfism yet, I think.

Time at the pumpkin patch

There is one annoucement I wanted to make for the countdown to Halloween: we have so far five pumpkins for the jack o'lanterns. Three we bought in supermarkets, two were acquired at a pumpkin patch this weekend. We go to a near(ish) petting zoo that makes great family activities every Halloween. Among them, of course, is pumpkin picking in a "pumpkin patch". On a sunny but cold autumn day, there's nothing better. Wolfie was enthusiastic and gave his mother a new Wolfism, when she told him we should stick to one pumpkin this year: "Well, I'd like to choose a little bit more than just one pumpkin!" I think two is very reasonable.

Wolfism about Caffè Nero

 I blogged a few days ago about the imminent opening of Caffè Nero, which I was quite looking forward to. My wife and my son don't share my interest in this coffee chain. And Wolfie reminded me why: last time we went to a Caffè Nero, we had a rather lacklustre experience. Bad enough for him to remember it. Too many people, barely anything to eat or drink behind the counter, dirty place, it truly was a terrible experience. As he explained himself in an hilarious Wolfism: "It was like: "Welcome to the King of Rubbishness!" So we might not go there any time soon, come to think of it.

Garlic and a Wolfism

 I haven't shared a Wolfism in a long, long while, even though he says a few every week that are really funny and witty. So a new one was in order. He asked me recently this question, which I could not answer: "Daddy, why is garlic so famous?" If you have an answer, any answer, good or bad, please write it in the comments.

Railway Bear

During our last visit to the National Railway Museum of York, we bought a new teddy bear for Wolfie's menagerie. A teddy bear designed for the 100th anniversary of the Flying Scotsman. His cap says he is the engine driver. Cool. Wolfie and I found him very cute, but my wife hesitated to buy it, because the price was rather high (£18.00). But our son used this Wolfism to end the debate: "I already gave him a kiss and a name, so it's too late mummy." So yeah, we have a new teddy bear. His name is Scotty, bu the way.

Antarctica Cold

I haven't published a Wolfism in a long while and there are so many to share here. One my son said last year, which I thought was very funny: "Daddy, I'm cold. Not cold sick but like, Antarctica cold." As you may or may not know, Wolfie sometimes gets obsessed by Antarctica. Earth poles in general, really. And it reflects on his psyche and the way he expresses himself.

Wolfie in Autumn

Well, I am not the only one in the family to consider the beginning of September with the beginning of autumn. We went downtown last Saturday, my wife, our son and me. And Wolfie said: "It's a beautiful autumn walk." Which could be considered a new Wolfism. Anyway, he kept stressing how autumnal the day was, even though it was fairly mild: he picked up leaves on the ground, for us to keep as a souvenir. My wife said that my son is turning more and more like me: same tastes, same likes and dislikes. It surprises her a little more every day. But anyway, I'm glad he embraced the season so much: too many children just see autumn, or at least its beginning, as the end of the holidays. Wolfie can see that it is also a beautiful time.

A Solstice Wolfism

Okay, so we are not the 21st of June, but apparently from what I read today is the summer solstice. The first day of summer, officially, although for me it starts with the month. Moreimportantly, it is the longest day of the year and one I usually dislike. Because yes, a day that never seems to end is kind of the stuff of nightmare for me. But I see the silver lining and the glass one quarter full: it means days are getting shorter, although we will not see it (or feel it) until a long time. Last year, Wolfie gave us his own take on the solstice, which I thought was brilliant. It is worth mentioning it here as a new Wolfism: "I like it because it means school days are getting shorter." That may not be strictly accurate, it is nevertheless quite sweet and the right attitude to have.

Wolfism about Saint George's Day

 Happy Saint George's Day everyone! I nearly forgot about it. Which is a pretty English thing to do. Nobody cares here about the country's patron saint. Even Wolfie does not care much, if at all, and Saint George's Day. He told me this morning, in a disdainful tone: "Daddy, what's special about Saint George's Day? Why do people celebrate it?" This is a new Wolfism and, while not the Englishest he said, it is pretty close. Because it seems that no true Englishman cares about Saint George's Day.

Living in a Rovos Rail train?

I got this picture from the Facebook page of Rovos Rail, the South African luxury train company. If time and money were no objections, spending time there would be my dream holiday. Wolfie's too. He saw this picture and gave me another Wolfism: "I want to live there, even if it's just a train!" A train, but not just a train. Living in a train, especially a Rovos Rail train, now that's an idea. This view is way better than what we have in our living room, in any case.

The Snail Torch

 My readers may know that I am a surprisingly loyal customer of Mountain Warehouse.I generally buy warm clothes there. But I also buy other things. Last time, I bought this cheap snail torch, because for some reason Wolfie seemed to like it. He gave me his usual Wolfism when he wants to buy something I don't think he needs (although it's usually a plush toy): "Oh but daddy, but daddy, I already gave him a name!" I gave it to him for three reasons: 1)because it was cheap, 2)because his pleading was cute and 3)because we can never have enough torches. At least when he needs one for his blanket fort, he will not use any of mine and waste their battery. And what is the name of the snail torch, you may ask? Honestly, I cannot remember.

Magpies and penguins (a Wolfism)

 Wolfie said another Wolfism a little while ago which I have been wanting to share since. Today is as good as any. So anyway, there were some magpies in the garden and he said: "Magpies look like penguins." It is funny, because I never noticed and it is kind of true. Anyway, I love magpies, so there you go, now I will never be able to look at them the same way.

Promises and Wolfism

Sometimes I get worried and I think Wolfie acts recklessly. Like when he climbs up a tree and I find the branches a bit weak. So I ask him not to climb said tree. After I asked him over and over to promise it, he asked me this question, which is a new Wolfism: "Daddy, if I promise you something, is it okay if I say it, but don't do it?" I told him that it kind of defeats the object. That said, I can't help but think it's kind of how many adults deal with promises. Most promises. So this Wolfism is a very innocent statement that reveals a very cynical truth. What do you think?

New (and adorable) Wolfism

Wolfie said the cutest thing yesterday and I had to share it here: we learned that one of his friends at school, one he is really close to (they even do the school run together sometimes) is sick. Her two brothers are sick too, and so were their mother. The family has not been lucky. Wolfie's friend has been having a fever for a few days. So we suggested to Wolfie that he sends her a get well soon word, something to let her know he thinks of her. He said: "I don't want her to get well soon, I want her to get well now." So yes, that is so adorable that I had to share it here.

"Easter rich"

We ended buying a lot of chocolates for Easter. It was not intentional, but I thought we started early. In this country, buying last minutes for Easter often means seriously lacking choice, as things go off the shelves quickly. But we did not lack chocolates this year, even not taking into account the cake I baked. Wolfie commented on it today: "We have lots of chocolate... Are we Easter rich?" I think we are indeed Easter rich. And that is a new Wolfism.

"You always never do that!"

 "You always never do that!" is a a new complaint Wolfie has when he thinks we should do something more often. Like giving presents, preparing certain meals (desserts) or going somewhere he likes. Or he tells me this when I complain about something that we don't do often enough. In other words, it is a new Wolfism which I wanted to share on this blog. He generally says it with vehemence, when he is supremely irritated. Nevertheless, he is so very cute when he says it.

A wreath in a Brio box

This weekend, Wolfie and I started building what he calls "Christmas City", basically use a lot of toys, among them a lot of Brio train set, to make a town around the Christmas tree. He got this idea from his Christmastime with grand-papa and grand-maman, as we have a proper Christmas village at home at the foot of the tree. But Wolfie has huge ambitions, so he build a city. So anyway, he told me: "Daddy, daddy, we need the Brio Christmas wreaths for Christmas City. They are in the Brio box." (This is a new Wolfism, by the way). Problem is, this is the Brio box we have. So I was looking for a needle in a haystack.

Be that as it may, I did not get discouraged. Because I also wanted the wreaths. We have two, one green, one white, which Wolfie got from his Brio Advent calendars. As this year he did not want a Brio calendar, we had to find the wreaths of old, not being able to just wait for new ones to show up. Anyway, of course this is a daddy's job (anything games or toys related in this household is pretty much a daddy's job). But in the end, after methodically emptying the content of said box, I found both wreaths. I'm quite proud of myself. So this is how I spent my Saturday morning, but at least Christmas City has its wreaths.

Tooth Fairy's Economics

You might be interested to know, but Wolfie has started losing his baby teeth. He lost two so far, one a month ago, one this week. The second one was a bit of an issue, because it bled a bit more, which got him a bit upset. But anyway, that now means he receives money from the Tooth Fairy. Two pounds a tooth, apparently, which I thought was pretty high compared to my youner days. But that is what his dear maternal grandmother told us. Apparently she is in the known. I told her: "So the Tooth Fairy's current exchange rate is £2.00 per baby tooth? Must be inflation." Which I think deserves to be a new great unknown line. Be that as it may, Wolfie had a two pounds coin under his pillow a month ago, then yesterday he got four 50 pences. "So many moneys" as he said. And that's a new Wolfism too.

Haunted Desk

For today's countdown to Halloween post, something cute Wolfie said recently. My six years old son and I were putting Halloween decorations on display on the 1st of October, as it is tradition in this household. My wife is not really into Halloween, so it's a boys' thing here. So we were putting lots of things everywhere in the living room and on the shelves when he looked at my working desk and asked: "Daddy, daddy, can I haunt your desk?" I thought tit was very cute and deserved to be a new homologated Wolfism. So now I have a haunted desk.Not haunted by much, but it looks spookier than usual.

"Hotter than in Africa"

So we are in the worst heatwave in UK history at the moment. I hate it. Wolfie said coming back from school yesterday, with a bit of pride in his voice I must admit: "It is hotter than in Africa." He might actually be right. His maternal grandfather, who is South African, even told me that South African heat is far more bearable, because it is try, and not damp like this one. Hopefully we won't have to tolerate it much longer. And in any case, "hotter than in Africa" is a new Wolfism and the one that will define this week.