Adventures with Huck

I was recently reintroduced to the fabulous world of Mark Twain's Huck and Tom by a dear friend, A. I loved the series as a child and it has brought back the most magical memories. Sitting in front of the fire, with my brother L, in the living room. Wrapped in a stiff but warm towel after a weekend bath. Mum would have made the grandest of floor picnics. Sandwiches from the roast chicken we'd had for dinner. Crisps, pork pies, mum's own cup cakes or delicious chocolate cake. I still have a burning passion for Mum's chocolate cake. Then we would sit and dry by the warmth of the fire while watching the Sunday evening episode of Huck Finn and friends. I still get that same contented warmth on hearing the theme tune. I still smell the freshness of the towels mingling with the soapy purity of our just washed limbs. The lemon tang of the giant bottle of family shampoo used to wash my long hair. I had hair so long and thick I used to sit on it. It was my Dad's pride and joy. Once warmed we would put on our Pj's and dad would start the lengthy process of combing it out. Tangle by tangle gently teasing it with his own comb that he kept in his back pocket (a habit he still has) finishing with a long rope like plait. Then snuggling into the crook of his arm to sail away with Jim and Huck on the raft for adventures...

This reintroduction has afforded me to bring the same magic to my own two. We sit with tea on our laps and indulge in an episode or two most evenings. They are being held enthralled by the tale. It is so refreshing to share something from my childhood that still holds the same innocent and simple magic it did all those years ago. A time where myself and my dear children sit and spend time together. This time has become precious and god forbid anyone who interrupts. Our time and it is sacred. We are planning to start the whole series from the start once we have finished to cling on to this time. I have also just purchased the books. When the series has run it's course we can sit and read them together by the light of the fire and lamp in the living room. Gentle calm and precious moments. I hope I have created a memory of security and safety in L and A's mind similar the that, that I hold dear myself.

Thank you to Mark Twain for the precious moments, and thank you to A for bringing them to me.

Raindrop on roses and whiskers on kittens....

Isn't it funny how the little things can give you an enormous sense of well being. This last two days I have made the effort to get G to the beach for a run. Yesterday I took her for her first time. A bright crisp day with promise of spring. A blue sky and invigorating surf. I took her out on the the beach which left her running around me in circles. Sand an amazing new texture to be played in and sniffed. Trying to bite the bubbles of the foam on the sand from the surf. Running full pelt at the waves only to stop short and run from them. A good hour of unadulterated simple fun with G. I have not been a dog person through my life. I grew up with a beautiful Dane, but never saw myself as a dog owner. I have always favored cats and Harry and Buffy have given me years of joy (and mice). The chickens are an endless source of fun and eggs. (Miss Pecky has just saved herself from the oven by providing me with a couple of eggs) But G is a revelation. So loving an gentle and funny and hyper and loopy and and and.....
We returned again to the same beach today and again fun was had. She was however a little tired and didn't want such a long romp.
Then a unexpected meeting with my dear friends A & H. A truly wonderful couple. Tea was had and cake resisted.
Then this evening my Babies came home. Full of love and happiness. How I love them....

all in all the sunshine and my loved ones have yet again been a blessing. I love them all x

Splish splash

Today was the eve of L's birthday. He is going to be with his father this weekend so we decided to celebrate today. No cards or cake today as that will be something for him to come home to. I miss him dreadfully when he is not here. Equally his sister A. It seems particularly rough this time as it will be the first time in his short life I have not woken him with a cuddle on his birthday. It hurts. I will fill this weekend with "useful" chores to make it whizz by.
Last night he had his best friend S sleep over. Of course his room carried a health warning so I cleaned it out. It's all shiny and clean now...
Then today we went swimming at the local pool of fun. It is a wonderful pool, has a huge Olympic pool on one side and a fun pool, with slides and the like on the other.
L & A were like water babies possessed. Such fun was had. Playing in the rapids with A on my back like a baby duck and L whizzing around like a wild thing. The only down side was it being half term. there is only so many teenage knees and elbows you can tolerate in the breast. I am black and blue. All too soon time was ticking on and I wanted to take them for Pizza. So out we got and off we went. L ordered for all or us. Meat supreme and cookie dough ice cream for desert... not a good diet food really.

then home to pack a bag, off they went with their father leaving me cuddling G and waiting for them to bounce back in on Sunday with excited tales and cuddles.

In the mean time, peace, quiet, solitude........

ahhhhhhhhhh

premonition or just a dream?

I had a dream the night before last. Now due to the fibro I dream a lot, and they tend to be very "near the surface" dreams. Easily remembered and often dismissed. Sometimes just wanderings over the days events. Often more meaningful but easily interpreted. Occasionally just plain odd.

This one was different. I awoke with such a feeling of contentment. It had just what I long for. I had a nice house, Can't say much about the house as it seemed unimportant. Then the garden ran down from the back and had a greenhouse and a good veg garden. Old fruit trees and bushes making a natural fence from the woods that spread out from the bottom. A stream or brook trickling through it. In my dream I am building a chicken run. Somewhere for them to be at night. I am also aware of my geese and bees. I am aware of the smell of the earth and the leaves soft underfoot. It is sunny but not too hot.
The best thing of all is the lack of neighbours. The lack of stress. The peace and tranquility.
The only thing I recognise in this dream is the chickens, they are still my chickens. So it must have been a premonition,



I so want it to be a premonition :)

A good spring clean!

Time to de-junk...
both emotionally and physically. I have decided that living in a tip is getting me down. I keep tripping over things (not just G) and stubbing my toes. there is too much in this house. I need to have a huge cull. I thought I would start with a cobweb cull. It is so much easier to de-clutter in a tidy house. So far so good. I have a spotless bedroom. My little haven. It is mine and only mine. I remember we would have to have permission to go into my parents room as children and feel that I will be following suit. Until A can learn not to leave a trail of devastation wherever she goes, then she can only be in my room with permission. As for L he sees no reason to be in there anyway. It is here I sit and read, here I think, it is here I can relax and I no longer want to do this in a mess made by others. So one room down!
L's room, check! I am not best pleased at having to do this myself and think when all the tidying/spring cleaning is done I will be placing a rota of chores and house rules up on the kitchen wall. Simple rules, put away what you have used. Wash the dish you have just dirtied and put the laundry in the basket....not rocket science really. That make two..
The living room, no more cups left to sit, no more animal hospitals and no more cobwebs! It is a nice bright yet cosy room I would like to sit in it without sighing... That makes three..

tomorrows list?

hall, conservatory, A's room, bathroom.....deep breath and dive in.......

then a weekend free to garden....heaven :)

Miss Kenrick pick ups..

This morning was filled with the delights of the stuffy Victorian Miss Rebecca Kenrick. Sister of George Kenrick Esq. of Varteg Iron works. Nice work if you can get it. It is a lot of fun playing a stuffy Victorian with a sparkle in her eye....
stunning red crinoline and an austere look. Such a character. Just a short monologue but a good one ;)


mmm, corsets, I do love corsets. I must make more.....

the diet started yesterday. I have just realised how much rubbish I eat. It's no wonder I am putting on weight. Well there is no way I am starting the sunny season feeling like this. So out go the cheeses and crisps and in come the fruits and salad. I do love salad though...
Soon i will be slim. Perhaps having the voluptuous curve of the delightful Dita. *I wish* But certainly looking better than this. I could also quite happily say goodbye to the backache this weight brings with it.
Exercise is the key. More swimming, walking and gardening are on order I think. I must plant up my seed trays this weekend too. It has been too long that my conservatory has looked like a conservatory not a greenhouse/conservatory hybrid.

anyhoo, off i pop. may be back later with some more random musings.....

the oldest is often one of the best

Tonight I want to pay dues to Lc. I first set eyes on her when I was just eight years old. She sat on my garden wall looking longingly over at my little set up of dolls and tea party. I smiled shyly and said my hello's but ventured no further. The my dear, intuitive mother stepped in, and for that I thank her. This moment proved to be the moment I found my oldest and one of my dearest friends. She had recently moved into a house just a few doors away and was very much a lost soul. He mother recently separated from her father and taking up with a "funny sort". She has the most amazing strawberry blond hair and looked a little like an elf. A friendship began. This was cemented over the years. We went on may an adventure and often found ourselves in outrageous scrapes. But she has always been a source of endless laughter. She is also a fabulous reality check. When I self analize and moither over the silly things she is one of the few who can laugh and say "get a grip girl!" . When talking to her of woes and troubles she is always the first to sympathise and then make me see the irony.
As we have grown we have grown apart and back together again. Our circle of friends often differ. We have very little, superficially, in common. But! She knows the very soul of me. The day P and I went our separate ways she seemed to some how know there was something amiss. She rang, out of the blue. We laughed, I cried, we made plans that never came to fruition. She knew though that I needed to just sit and make those plans. I have covered her back over the years, she has always been the naughty one... she has put me back together.
She has dealt with so much and I have listened. When the father of he daughter left her destitute I went the 120 mile to fetch her. She would do the same and I would do it again and again.
We do not speak often and I have not actually seen her for nearly three years. But I don't need to. She is always there. In the background. I will always be there for her.
Still I would not be surprised to find her on my doorstep at 6 am with a smirk on her face and mischief in her eye. That is my dear, dear Lc. Always the naughty, lovable child. But in all this she is the strongest, most level headed of remarkable women. A joy to behold and a blessing to know.
I named my little Angel after her...
In all this we must not forget her daughters F & M. beautiful, bright, shining stars....just like their mum x