A long, hot night finally broken by rain that leaves the damp air smelling like diluted orange juice. We stumble out of bed at the same time and convene bewildered, rubbing away sleep, on the landing. Even the house feels restless. Spiders who have taken shelter from the heat scurrying up towards the skylight and reminding me that it is time to get my feather duster out.
I hobble down the stairs, bothered by a painful ankle I have developed on the route between toilet and bathroom, and begin my morning round hunched like Mrs. Overall. Blinds up, curtains open, kettle on. Lamps lit. Every door flung open on to the morning. Birds fed. Pea puree taken out of the freezer for defrosting in time for this evening. Washing machine filled. Laundry hung. Tea wet.
Tick. Tick. Tickety-boo.
And then we sit, the three of us in the conservatory. Them silent. Their heads bent over phones and me wittering about the markings around the necks of Mr and Mrs Dove keeping watch from the fence. About the mortar we will need to scrub away from the flags in the garden. About whether it will be possible to drag the hose across the garden to give the conservatory roof a thorough scrubbing. About how harassed I feel by the family of Daddy-Long-Legs that seem to live behind the cream sideboard and only pop out to buzz loudly in my ear whenever I have the audacity to close my eyes.
I witter and they hum and ha and pray that I will shut up so they can check share portfolios, football news and WWE gossip in relative, companionable silence. Some days I long for a resident woman, or my Mum at the end of the phone to witter with, if only to set this perpetual trivia of the mind free all over again so I can reclaim my space on the yoga mat in relative peace. So I can spill my head and get on with my day.
Instead there are morning pages. Stretches with a set of pink bands. The spritzing up of my self in time for necessary appointments this afternoon. A cup of zesty tea to revive the spirits and the pummelling of the cushions on the salad sofa, for they will not bend to my will and behave themselves by standing to spritely attention and instead need the kind of regular battering I almost consider daily exercise.
Today then. Tiny chicken fillets to be sprinkled with salt and pepper, grilled and pulled for lunch-time sandwiches. Tomatoes slow roasted in garlic to dress the sourdough bread. A sink full of morning dishes. Splinters of glass to be avoided after a bottle of rosy cider threw itself out of the fridge, though I have swept and wiped and held out a magnifying glass in search of those that got away.
Today. An ordinary Thursday in what will be the pattern for the next term. All of us here each Thursday, and every Friday. Ste reading. Finn wandering. Me somewhat claustrophobic and yearning for empty rooms. I love them both so much but I have not known a house of daytime people in many years, and even the relentless peopledom that was isolation has not cured me of my need for silence. Though of course it is always me making the noise. Offsetting my anxiety with noisy singing. Constant wittering. The occasional tango with a tea-towel that makes me laugh out loud. Apparently unable to hold my relentless cheer in!
Today. I stand in front of the bathroom mirror and stare bewildered in the mirror. This year has taken its toll and tonight I will dye away the fluster of grey hair gathered like a halo around my face and climb into bed early, skin plastered in retinol in an effort to fix my face. To read accompanied by the white noise of my beloved fan. I will keep the windows open so I can hear the noisy flight of the geese away from the bird sanctuary to exotic pastures new while I nibble at a supper of toast and chamomile.
I think it is ok isn’t it: to seek time out in this way? My life is challenging right now and in the kindest way possible, I need to keep on filling my own well. For there is very little support for those of us there for those struggling with themselves. So little reward for that which asks so much of us in the face of their pain. And so, when the day is done, I have to do it for myself. Topping up my reservoir of strength and nurturing my coping skills with gentle self-care.
I am quiet at night-time. The wittering stops and the reflection begins.Iam quiet at night-time. No longer and never more myself.
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.
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7 Comments
It is not only ok, it is imperative that you refill and recharge yourself in any and every way you can. If you run on empty then the fabric of your universe will tear. M.xx
A daily evening retreat to my sanctuary (bedroom) with tea, books and pondering time has become a necessary part of my life. This is not an indulgence but a basic necessity to keeping ones mental and emotional health on an even keel. Your words ring so true.
I loved the “someone to witter with….to set free the trivia of the mind..” So true.
I have sort of been “missing in action” so to speak since the death of my mother, and I am trying to get back on track with life and the blogs that I adore so much. And I’m utterly confused. I’m trying to play catch up with all that has gone on with Brocante Life for the past several months, and I’m convinced that I’ve missed some important details. It’s hard to tell from your Diary posts because they dont go in order. I’ll read one about your sons illness, and the next one I click on is from a year ago. So I’m sort of going in circles. It appears that you and your husband have been very ill? And he has been in hospital? From one of the posts, I thought he moved away or something. But I think I misunderstood that one. Anyway, I’m really looking forward to getting back to the business of living, or at least trying to, and getting myself totally caught up with Brocante Life. I hope that whatever has been happening at your house is better now.
Hi Laura, I’m so sorry to hear about your Mum. I know that pain so well. I think your confusion might be coming from clicking through the Housekeeper’s Diary Posts at the bottom of the latest one: which would mean that you might miss details. The posts arent suggested in order so that might explain why the timeline seems muddled? If you head to this page you will be bale to read them in order: https://brocantehome.net/category/housekeepers-diary/ To catch you up quickly, my partner has got significant mental health issues and he did leave for a while to stay with his Mum when he was at his most distressed. We have now got great support and he’s getting slowly better. Have you joined the community? Because Im there daily, its probably easier to join the dots there?x
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It is not only ok, it is imperative that you refill and recharge yourself in any and every way you can. If you run on empty then the fabric of your universe will tear. M.xx
A daily evening retreat to my sanctuary (bedroom) with tea, books and pondering time has become a necessary part of my life. This is not an indulgence but a basic necessity to keeping ones mental and emotional health on an even keel. Your words ring so true.
I loved the “someone to witter with….to set free the trivia of the mind..” So true.
What is “wet tea”?
That grey halo around your face? I call it my “Greylo”
Oh, I have missed you, you and your beautiful prose. We are all here to listen, cry and laugh with you as you are for us. Welcome back.
Try dabbing the floor with a slice of bread to pick up the invisible shards.
I have sort of been “missing in action” so to speak since the death of my mother, and I am trying to get back on track with life and the blogs that I adore so much. And I’m utterly confused. I’m trying to play catch up with all that has gone on with Brocante Life for the past several months, and I’m convinced that I’ve missed some important details. It’s hard to tell from your Diary posts because they dont go in order. I’ll read one about your sons illness, and the next one I click on is from a year ago. So I’m sort of going in circles. It appears that you and your husband have been very ill? And he has been in hospital? From one of the posts, I thought he moved away or something. But I think I misunderstood that one. Anyway, I’m really looking forward to getting back to the business of living, or at least trying to, and getting myself totally caught up with Brocante Life. I hope that whatever has been happening at your house is better now.
Hi Laura, I’m so sorry to hear about your Mum. I know that pain so well.
I think your confusion might be coming from clicking through the Housekeeper’s Diary Posts at the bottom of the latest one: which would mean that you might miss details. The posts arent suggested in order so that might explain why the timeline seems muddled? If you head to this page you will be bale to read them in order: https://brocantehome.net/category/housekeepers-diary/
To catch you up quickly, my partner has got significant mental health issues and he did leave for a while to stay with his Mum when he was at his most distressed. We have now got great support and he’s getting slowly better.
Have you joined the community? Because Im there daily, its probably easier to join the dots there?x