Did my mum have it all?

1950’s housewife images have an strange pull for me.  The small waisted, perfectly groomed wife and mother, smiling with inner peace, as she serves delicious and nutritious food, to her handsome husband.  I allow myself to fall into the soft gooey world, as these images tap into something deep within me; I can almost taste the dessert. It must have been so easy then, just follow the rules:

• Have dinner ready
• Prepare yourself
• Clear away the clutter
• Prepare the children
• Minimize all noise
• Make your husband comfortable and listen to him
• Make the evening his

We have all seen quotes from The Good Housekeeping economic books. I pull myself back and see that this is a veneered imaged.  My 20th century self laughs out loud at the thought that, to prepare myself,  I should have to, take fifteen minutes to rest so that you will be refreshed when he arrives. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. Greet him with a smile.  I rub the tint away from my glasses, and remember that this was a slavish life and as a woman you had no choice, in the good old days. Continue reading “Campfire Story” →

Dad, I am right! Some words and more, that I spoke at his funeral.

Dad used to say that it was all so very simple. Life is life, we are no more than anything else.  We are born and like a plant we grow, bloom, fade and die; the circle of life.  He would confirm, nodding gravely, a silent yes, in answer to my unspoken scepticism.  He did not believe in any Religion, so that was a dead end. Now, I get that’s certainly the physicality of life, but what makes us human, what’s the point? I don’t feel like a chicken or a plant. A lemon sometimes, maybe. I asked the same question that has burnt on the lips of scientists, philosophers, anthropologists and scholars over thousands of years.

We know that we have a reptilian brain, which controls the body’s vital functions, such as heart rate, breathing, body temperature and balance, useful when we face danger and need to run to the hills. It does malfunction sometimes, a stray hiccup, a shart – look it up- or the weird sick in the mouth thing that happens for no reason.  Laughing, when in fact you are horribly embarrassed.  Alcohol renders it useless, I can personally vouch for that. OK, so the same in that respect. Dad one, me nil.

There must be more to life, I don’t feel like a plant

Continue reading “Campfire Story” →

10 Things My Children Never Knew Existed.

During general conversation, in my house, I often find myself explaining a word or my use of an idiom.  Keep your eyes peeled, caused much hilarity and trumped, racking my brains, which was generally considered the most ridiculous thing I had ever said, by my young children.  Now I know I have the gift of the gab and I don’t want to beat about the bush, nor let the cat out of the bag,  but I won ‘t lead you up the garden path either and I can assure you that I am not in cahoots with anyone …Ok ok I will stop, and wipe the slate clean, sorry.

I can understand why most of these old sayings need explaining, their roots are deeply planted in my English heritage, their origins no longer relevant and perhaps not commonly heard here.  It is with motherly love then, that I have gently explained the meanings behind these and increased their vocabulary with care. However, I have been shocked lately, that my children simply do not know that these 10 things, among others, even existed. Continue reading “Campfire Story” →

Being 50 – Nothing much changes.

I remember writing a piece at school about what life would be like in the magical millennium, the year 2000.  Then it seemed miles away and I indulged in a story of flying cars, and doctors that could cure anything, pretty standard, I found out later when my paper was handed back to me.  And I think that is it, life can be pretty standard, we plod along take the happy when we can, deal with the sad as it arrives and grow.  On the inside the only thing that is different about me is  experience.  I am basically still that 10 year old, plus knowledge.  Actually that is not strictly true, apparently your ears and nose never stop growing. But on the outside, that is absolutely another thing entirely.

I remember reading in the Daily Mail, yes I am that way inclined sometimes, an article about being 50.  It was written in 2011, I remember because my ex George Clooney had just turned 50 and I was having trouble finding a card that was not too sentimental.  Didn’t want him to think he stood a chance at getting back together. I found the piece , and here it is. Continue reading “Campfire Story” →

An ordinary life

I stopped during my beach dog walk this morning feeling that something was not quite right. Looking down I confirmed the problem ; one trainer was mine, the other was Peter’s. I looked around to see if people were staring and pointing at the weird dog lady, but everyone was just going about their business.

One family were taking pictures at various spots along the beach. Mum and daughter taken by dad, dad and mum, taken by daughter….’.Hey’ I intervene ‘would you like a picture of all three of you?’ after a brief confab they hand me the camera and assume a pose. I bend down on one knee (to hide the odd shoe) for the best angle when a gust of wind blows what I assume is sand all over me and the camera. ‘Oh dear’ I say making the cat being sick noise (not wanting to spit in public) and brushing myself down. ‘I think there might be sand in your camera, I’m terribly sorry I don’t know where that came from’. It was then I noticed a small mahogany box tucked under the daughter’s arm and the look of horror on the parent’s faces. ‘Ummm….we were saying Good Bye to Honey, our Golden Retriever, dad smiled, ‘she was 13.’ He looked at the box, I looked at the box, daughter tried to hide the box. ‘Oh’ I say ‘I’m sorry to hear that. I didn’t actually take a picture.’ awkward silence. ‘Ok then’, I sing song brightly, ‘better get my collie home. Blue…….Blue……..BLUE….Really it wasn’t that funny