The Blue Bowls

Some people treat themselves
by buying handbags or shoes,
nail varnish or perfume.

I buy china.

Last week,
after a long morning of appointments,
I bought these bowls.


I love them.

MissM is not amused

MissM has expressed disappointment at the choice of colour for the new bathroom towels. MrsM has chosen Spruce instead of Sunshine (now discontinued). MissM knows what she likes and Spruce is not it. MissM does not feel that Spruce towels create the right ambience in the bathroom.

MrsM secretly agrees with MissM.

MrsM asks MrM what he thinks of the new bathroom towels. MrM has not noticed aforementioned towels and is embarrassed. He attempts to cover this faux pas by asking MissM what she would prefer

MissM
Terracotta
MrM
I don't think it would be very absorbent

MissM is not amused. In the ensuing family scene MrsM realises that Terracotta towels will feature in her future capital expenditure.

Survivors' Photograph

Before MasterM and MissM went away to school
I spent an entire summer sewing labels
onto all their school uniform and home clothes.
I sewed nearly 350 labels
and it drove me to the edge of madness.

This weekend, as we unpacked MasterM's suitcases,
I realised that there were 6 pairs of socks
out of the original 10 pairs.
6 pairs of socks that had survived
the school laundry
and school changing rooms
and exceptionally untidy dormitories.

I wish I could go back in time
and tell that poor woman
sewing day and night
throughout the summer of 2003
that it was worth the effort.

Every.
Single.
Stitch.

"These guys know how to party..."

MasterM starts the day at a Champagne breakfast
with his Housemaster and friends.

MasterM and friend discover extra bottle of Champagne;
they drink it.

(11am - Church Service)

MasterM participates in Champagne reception.

MasterM joins his parents for a Champagne picnic.

(2pm - Prizegiving)

MasterM does not attend Headmaster's Garden Party
but goes to pub where he does not drink Champagne.
He drinks something else. Beer?

(7.30pm - Leavers' Ball)


MasterM enchants all the mothers of his friends
by asking them to dance.

MasterM enjoys the availability of wine.
Red and White.

MasterM is completely articulate at midnight
when his parents leave the party.

MasterM negotiates half price entry for himself
and a large number of his friends
who wish to go clubbing
and continues dancing until 4am.

MasterM is up and ready to go
at 11am the next morning.

the end of a long week

five nights away from home
two planned trips home
one unplanned trip home
four concerts
three picnics
unreasonable number of parties
one Giraffe costume
one expedition to shop to buy psychedelic waistcoat
one return expedition to shop to retrieve mobile phone
one saintly younger sister
two emergency visits to camera shops
unknown quantity of champagne
three traffic jams
one speeding ticket?
seven suitcases full of laundry
one amazing sunset

*****

Thank you so much
for all your wonderful messages
over the past week -
it has been such fun to read them
on MrM's Blackberry.
I hope to catch up with all your news
over the weekend.

Special Request

Sarah is going for her last Chemo treatment today.

I am not sure how she has managed
to keep so positive and cheerful
all the way through such a difficult time.
She is a very special lady.

It would be really amazing
if you could leave her a message
to wish her good luck.

The Open Door

You can walk through a door every day,
in and out,
doing the things that you do,
not even seeing the door.
And then one day you will walk through it
for the last time
You probably won't even notice
because the world is waiting outside the door
and you are in a hurry to get with your life.

*****

MasterM leaves school today.
There is a Commemoration Service, Prizegiving,
Garden Party and Leavers' Ball.
On Monday he wore his school uniform
for the last time;
I thought that I would feel sad
but he looked too large for it.

I hope that the world is ready for him.

The Cottage in the Woods

At this time of year
we stay in a tiny cottage
wedged in a wooded valley,
hidden from the road.

The outside is covered with roses
and the inside is filled with
interesting books
and wonderful things to photograph.

The owner leaves us gifts of
homemade cake and freshly laid eggs.

It is not a holiday
because we have many things to do
but we always find time to sit on the deck
and drink a glass of wine in the evening stillness.

Desperate Housework

Problem:
Are you afraid of your ironing pile?


Solution:
Take it to a very high place
and wait for the next gust of wind.

Lace and the Citrus Garden

Photography Tip for the Day

Photograph your garden
in soft focus
and then you can enjoy the flowers
but the weeds disappear.

Tomorrow: how to make ironing vanish.