Monday 10 November 2008

So...

It's happened. I knew that it would. Hell and damnation.
My husband suddenly, out of the blue, likes Sudoku.
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
You see, I like Sudoku. And as any half intelligent being will tell you, only ONE PERSON CAN LIKE SUDOKU PER HOUSEHOLD.
For the last few years, since the VERY FIRST SUDOKU in the Times, I have been doing it. I have spent hours and hours pouring over the Fiendish on the last page of a popular broadsheet, (now conveniently sudoku sized).
Give me a Fiendish, or now the Super Fiendish, and I am a happy girl. Nice hot fire, drink in hand and a good sharp pencil (not HB. More like 2B).
My parents have a good ploy. They are both Sudoku mad. They photocopy (!) the sudoku page each morning and then they both have a lovely time doing it at their own pace. They have sharpened pencils at the ready. I tell you, it's a way of life. Both are happy. Both are content. It works.
Now, one of the biggest crimes anyone can commit in this house is to
Do The Sudoku When They Didn't Buy The Paper In The First Place.
There is nothing worse than arriving in the sitting room, fire all warm and glowy, children all in bed, supper sizzling nicely, than to find said sudoku Done. Not good. What is just as bad is to find Husband sitting by fire with said sudoku, Filling It In.
This has now happened not once, not twice but three times. I am not a Happy Bunny.
I am going to have to hide the paper. I refuse to give in and buy an awful little book full of sudoku puzzles. They are just not the same. They are Not Good. The only suduku for me is the one on the back of my broadsheet.
So, darling husband, here's the thing... you do my sudoku and I will go into your greenhouse and EAT ALL YOUR TOMATOES.
There. That should do it.
Now, where is my pencil?

16 comments:

Tim Atkinson said...

Tomatoes or Soduku - tough choice, but I think I'd got for the tomatoes! (Sally - aged ten - is the Soduku fiend in our house, and her only competition comes from Charlie chewing up the newspaper.)

Ladybird World Mother said...

Glad to hear you have sudoku fiend... very important. Start them early I say.
You'd go for the tomatoes,eh?!
We have green tomato mountain at moment due to husband about to make green tomato chutney. Now just have to buy all the sugar, sultanas blah blah blah that go with it. Joy.

Troy said...

Can't you just cut the puzzle out of the back page of the newspaper before your husband gets to it?

Then maybe photograph a tomato with a sharp knife stuck in it, print it out and sellotape it over the gap in the paper where the Soduko game was?

I find the subtle approach always works best!

Ladybird World Mother said...

You really do make me LOL, Troy. What a brilliant idea. Have no paper today but will buy one asap and do just that. Will report back.
Sublety... its so my thing.

Suburbia said...

I'm total rubbish at Suduku (not even sure if I can spell it!)

Is your header photo Puerto Pollensa Beach? I have one which looks so similar!

cheshire wife said...

Thank you for visiting my blog. I have never tried Sudoku. I must have a go sometime but I think that I do not have time for Sudoku and a blog at the moment. Looks like it is one or the other.

Do you still have tomatoes in your greenhouse? The cold weather saw mine off a few weeks ago.

Louise said...

That is too funny, not for you, ahem sorry....I love soduku but I am not really good at it, oh I can do the easy level and the odd medium but after that...not a chance!
:)
Thanks for visiting my blog!!

Ladybird World Mother said...

Hi Surburbia and Cheshire Wife - thanks for comments. Beach is Nerja in Spain... just over a week ago. Seems a life time away after all this rain back here!
Tomatoes still going although almost through now. Be careful when starting Sudoku... as you so wisely say,there's no time for both! ( but I have a damned good try)

Ladybird World Mother said...

Oh, just seen Louise! Thanks too!
Glad to find another sudoku'er.
Try a fiendish one, go on!

Hadriana's Treasures said...

My parents and grandfather are crosswords addicts. Sometimes I attempt them but never get anywhere BUT I saw a very good BBC prog. last night about how to do crosswords. Think it's on again soon...really recommend it. My Dad does Sudoku but I've not batted an eyelid towards it yet. Give me time though. Give me time!

P.S. Do you use Bill's Wholefood Store in Lewes? Was reading about it - sounds divine...

Hadriana's Treasures said...

P.P.S. Know Nerja from knowing Malaga really, really, really well. Nice part of the world.

Gadjo Dilo said...

It happened here too, Ladybird! I used to do Sudoku to help me get off to sleep, now the wife does it while I'm just lying there inert counting shep. Very sweetly, she used to cut them out of 2 copies of the local free paper so we could both do it the same one together - but the competetive aspect would never have been sleep-inducing!

Far Side of Fifty said...

I do the NY Times online..easy and medium! Sudoku..I love it! great new header..very relaxing! :)

Ladybird World Mother said...

Hadriana - go on, give sudoku a go! Yes, love Bill's in Lewis... does a mean coffee and gorgeous chocolate cake, although havent been there for while as is a little far away for a coffee (half an hour) You know Nerja too! We had such a nice time there.
gadjo dilo - all my sympathies go with you... so understand that the competitive element would just ruin it!
far side of fifty - ONLINE SUDOKU!!!! Oh my god. now I have another addiction. Thanks!

imbeingheldhostage said...

LOVED East Anglain Troys answer!

I hate when the hubby tries to get all bondy by taking up my loves-- it's wrong! I didn't want to be married to me, I wanted to marry someone different (although I like me very much).

So I'm guessing a massive photo copier in the sitting room is not an option?

Ladybird World Mother said...

imbeingheldhostage - loved his reply too! He makes me laugh. Take a look at his answer to my sheep in the garden...
So agree with the bondy thing and husbands... get your own, i say. (hobby, not hubby!)
Giant photocopier in the sitting room... now there's a thing. It could go next to the ice rink and the merry go round. Just the thing. Thanks for idea!