My Mum does the most wonderful impression of the yummy mummies in my town. She pretends to be a swan on the top half of her body with her arms swinging gracefully at her side while her feet go ten-to-the dozen to keep the poor darlings afloat and maintain the impression that life is a bucket full of ease and bliss. It makes me laugh every time she does it and she does it often, for whenever I go into I wish my life was more like their’s mode, she imitates her yummy mummy swan and we fall about laughing. Truth is I do the most darling swan impression myself. Though I cannot quite pull off the smooth haired Joules and Boden dressed, lip-glossed glamour of most of the Mums of billions of perfect kids around here, I have perfected a little something I like to call Stuff-It-In-the Cupboard syndrome, in order to maintain the illusion that mess would not dare to come live in my humble little abode. I think I’ve got’em all fooled! Last night Finn and I enjoyed a Mummy and child play-date at home. Our friends came over and I sat in their lovely company feeling fair-frazzled by the effort it had taken to stuff most of my life into every cupboard and drawer in the house. Before their arrival I had worked myself to the bone, polishing and primping and preparing high tea, until I found myself suffering a hot flush and deciding that this was clearly evidence of the perimenopause Kath and I discuss at length, (though neither of us are yet suffering), had to loosen my pinny and take a breather in the windy garden. All so my friend, who surely wouldn’t care if I lived in a midden, would believe that life in Long Lane was the same old bucket-full of ease, serenity and bliss the rest of the local swans are apparently living. I mean really, isn’t it a nonsense? But you see I do believe we all suffer from our own brand of vanity and stuffing the chaos we usually live in, into cupboards Monica Geller, style is mine. Some women will not admit , for love nor money, that their marriages are falling apart, even when the evidence is clear for all to see. Others tell lies about the the food they don’t eat as they starve themselves into oblivion. While still others, glide around town, smiling in a Stepford wife kinda way, while behaving with all the modicum of a harpy behind closed doors. Different species of swans all pumping their little quacky webbed feet for all they are worth. Me I shove the mess that is my life and my head and everything else into a cupboard and simply pretend it isn’t there, for life is easier when we do not have to deal with the physical and emotional trash in which we exist, not because we intend to kid the rest of the world, but more because we simply haven’t got the energy to go into battle yet, or we are too busy suffering the slings and arrows of being ghost-menopausal/heartbroken/slightly terrified or perhaps a little round the bend. And more than that, because keeping up appearances is a defense mechanism against others who would pull us apart and a politeness we extend to those we love and wish to have in our company. We stuff coats and tennis racquets and truth and neurosies into all the nooks and crannies of our lives and truly hope no-one is rude enough to open the door when we aren’t looking. No-one likes a flustered swan do they? So Stuff-It-In-the-Cupboard syndrome is our ailment of choice, for one day we might just work up the nerve to open the doors and sort out the mess ourselves, but until that day comes we will hold our graceful necks up high and paddle for all we are worth.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
Well now, it is a rare occasion that I happen across something that has me wanting to schedule over-seas shipment, but when I saw this hand-painted, re-conditioned chest from the wonderful people at RedBarnEstates, for a moment or two I seriously entertained…
Hello Darlings, welcome to the new look Brocantehome! I thought I would get us warmed up by telling you were I’m at with a life audit. As always do feel free to take both the graphic and Life Audit prompts for a…
So everyone I know is suffering at the moment- suffering with general Winter malaise, aching limbs, stiff joints, coughs, colds, sickness bugs, sore throats and ear infections. You name it and one of my family, little or large is currently enduring it….
Well would you look at that. Someone created a necklace that sums up my entire life! From the ever lovely Ginger Pickle… Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life…
"We cannot change yesterday, that is clear.Or begin tomorrow until it is here;So all that is left for you and me,Is to make today as sweet as can be." Emma.C. Dowd. Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a…
A quote – “It’s 4:58 on Friday afternoon. Do you know where your margarita is?”― Amy Neftzger Other Things To Do At BrocanteHome Browse the Bookstore Discover a curated list of books to enhance and support life the BrocanteHome way Browse the…
4 Comments
Yes, just keep paddling and hope the cupboards are big enough. 🙂
But I am one exhausted mummy who has spent the whole day TURNING OUT 3 childrens entire wardrobes and chest of drawers to do the bi-annual will-it-still-fit-in 6 months or is it to be passed down, donated, crafted or trashed job. And then I tackled my own closet and carried out FIFTEEN winter skirts and packed away all the rest of my winter stuff, filling all our emptied and tidied spaces with floral dresses and denim shorts, teeshirts and sweatshirts and lightweight cashmere cardies instead of aran knits. So now theres just the coat closet, boots and shoes and winter sports stuff to do. Roll on Spring! And don’t anyone even THINK of stuffing ANYTHING into my nice tidy cupboards 😉 xx
{"id":null,"mode":"form","open_style":"in_place","currency_code":"USD","currency_symbol":"$","currency_type":"decimal","blank_flag_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/blank.gif","flag_sprite_url":"https:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/plugins\/tip-jar-wp\/\/assets\/images\/flags\/flags.png","default_amount":300,"top_media_type":"featured_image","featured_image_url":"http:\/\/brocantehome.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tipjar-2.png","featured_embed":"","header_media":null,"file_download_attachment_data":null,"recurring_options_enabled":true,"recurring_options":{"never":{"selected":true,"after_output":"One time only"},"weekly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every week"},"monthly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every month"},"yearly":{"selected":false,"after_output":"Every year"}},"strings":{"current_user_email":"","current_user_name":"","link_text":"Leave a tip","complete_payment_button_error_text":"Check info and try again","payment_verb":"Pay","payment_request_label":"BrocanteHome","form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","general_server_error":"Something isn't working right at the moment. Please try again.","form_title":"BrocanteHome","form_subtitle":"Help Me to Keep BrocanteHome Online","currency_search_text":"Country or Currency here","other_payment_option":"Other payment option","manage_payments_button_text":"Manage your payments","thank_you_message":"Thank you so much: helping me keep Brocantehome online really means the world to me.","payment_confirmation_title":"BrocanteHome","receipt_title":"Your Receipt","print_receipt":"Print Receipt","email_receipt":"Email Receipt","email_receipt_sending":"Sending receipt...","email_receipt_success":"Email receipt successfully sent","email_receipt_failed":"Email receipt failed to send. Please try again.","receipt_payee":"Paid to","receipt_statement_descriptor":"This will show up on your statement as","receipt_date":"Date","receipt_transaction_id":"Transaction ID","receipt_transaction_amount":"Amount","refund_payer":"Refund from","login":"Log in to manage your payments","manage_payments":"Manage Payments","transactions_title":"Your Transactions","transaction_title":"Transaction Receipt","transaction_period":"Plan Period","arrangements_title":"Your Plans","arrangement_title":"Manage Plan","arrangement_details":"Plan Details","arrangement_id_title":"Plan ID","arrangement_payment_method_title":"Payment Method","arrangement_amount_title":"Plan Amount","arrangement_renewal_title":"Next renewal date","arrangement_action_cancel":"Cancel Plan","arrangement_action_cant_cancel":"Cancelling is currently not available.","arrangement_action_cancel_double":"Are you sure you'd like to cancel?","arrangement_cancelling":"Cancelling Plan...","arrangement_cancelled":"Plan Cancelled","arrangement_failed_to_cancel":"Failed to cancel plan","back_to_plans":"\u2190 Back to Plans","update_payment_method_verb":"Update","sca_auth_description":"Your have a pending renewal payment which requires authorization.","sca_auth_verb":"Authorize renewal payment","sca_authing_verb":"Authorizing payment","sca_authed_verb":"Payment successfully authorized!","sca_auth_failed":"Unable to authorize! Please try again.","login_button_text":"Log in","login_form_has_an_error":"Please check and fix the errors above","uppercase_search":"Search","lowercase_search":"search","uppercase_page":"Page","lowercase_page":"page","uppercase_items":"Items","lowercase_items":"items","uppercase_per":"Per","lowercase_per":"per","uppercase_of":"Of","lowercase_of":"of","back":"Back to plans","zip_code_placeholder":"Zip\/Postal Code","download_file_button_text":"Download File","input_field_instructions":{"tip_amount":{"placeholder_text":"How much would you like to tip?","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How much would you like to tip? Choose any currency."},"invalid_curency":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please choose a valid currency."}},"recurring":{"placeholder_text":"Recurring","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"How often would you like to give this?"}},"name":{"placeholder_text":"Name on Credit Card","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter the name on your card."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please enter the name on your card."}},"privacy_policy":{"terms_title":"Terms and conditions","terms_body":null,"terms_show_text":"View Terms","terms_hide_text":"Hide Terms","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."},"unchecked":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Please agree to the terms."},"checked":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"I agree to the terms."}},"email":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email address"},"not_an_email_address":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Make sure you have entered a valid email address"}},"note_with_tip":{"placeholder_text":"Your note here...","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"empty":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"not_empty_initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Attach a note to your tip (optional)"},"saving":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Saving note..."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Note successfully saved!"},"error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to save note note at this time. Please try again."}},"email_for_login_code":{"placeholder_text":"Your email address","initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your email to log in."}},"login_code":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"success":{"instruction_type":"success","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"blank":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Check your email and enter the login code."}},"stripe_all_in_one":{"initial":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"empty":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"success":{"instruction_type":"normal","instruction_message":"Enter your credit card details here."},"invalid_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is not a valid credit card number."},"invalid_expiry_month":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration month is invalid."},"invalid_expiry_year":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is invalid."},"invalid_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is invalid."},"incorrect_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incorrect."},"incomplete_number":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card number is incomplete."},"incomplete_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incomplete."},"incomplete_expiry":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration date is incomplete."},"incomplete_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code is incomplete."},"expired_card":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card has expired."},"incorrect_cvc":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's security code is incorrect."},"incorrect_zip":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's zip code failed validation."},"invalid_expiry_year_past":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card's expiration year is in the past"},"card_declined":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The card was declined."},"missing":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"There is no card on a customer that is being charged."},"processing_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"An error occurred while processing the card."},"invalid_request_error":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"Unable to process this payment, please try again or use alternative method."},"invalid_sofort_country":{"instruction_type":"error","instruction_message":"The billing country is not accepted by SOFORT. Please try another country."}}}},"fetched_oembed_html":false}
Yes, just keep paddling and hope the cupboards are big enough. 🙂
😉
I hide my washing up in the oven sometimes when i have people over and I am convinced Nigella does the same…she just doesn’t admit to it…xx
That post has made me laugh. It’s also called “living in denial”. Which isn’t always a bad thing. Happy Friday!
But I am one exhausted mummy who has spent the whole day TURNING OUT 3 childrens entire wardrobes and chest of drawers to do the bi-annual will-it-still-fit-in 6 months or is it to be passed down, donated, crafted or trashed job. And then I tackled my own closet and carried out FIFTEEN winter skirts and packed away all the rest of my winter stuff, filling all our emptied and tidied spaces with floral dresses and denim shorts, teeshirts and sweatshirts and lightweight cashmere cardies instead of aran knits. So now theres just the coat closet, boots and shoes and winter sports stuff to do. Roll on Spring! And don’t anyone even THINK of stuffing ANYTHING into my nice tidy cupboards 😉 xx