Sunday 6 December 2015

On the home front...



After my Yorkshire adventure, a week at home. A kind of enforced staying indoors. The weather has been atrocious with little let-up from the howling gales and driving rain. At least the chimney's now sealed up but we still have a mysterious damp spot in the bedroom which comes and goes.


The weather and constant gloom haven't - alas - resulted in hibernation. I long for a period of dormancy but instead I've been stuck in a maelstrom of making (Christmas fairs) and preparation for festivities, of list-writing and socialising and family commitments. Joe continues to get up in the night and play very loudly in his room. He was 'Just sorting out some tea towels' (in his toy kitchen) at 2.10 this morning. I'm hoping this little phase of adjusting to the new house passes quickly as we're all exhausted.


So my last craft fair of the year came and went. It was, of course, a horribly wet and windy night. The turnout wasn't up to much but I left having made a modest profit and some new contacts. I now only have a few commissions to deal with before Christmas and I'm keeping it that way.


Compromises have been made in terms of the house being finished prior to the Big Day. The joiner (a reliable one this time) will be back next weekend and the bathroom floor should have been fitted by then too. The rest can wait. Small, niggly jobs that aren't vital. And with the state of the world right now I'm definitely of the opinion that we should count our blessings; we have a home and warm beds and food to eat. Complaining about a bit of woodwork seems so trivial.


The weather eased a little today so we went and bought a Christmas tree: a living one, in a pot, which is currently still netted and awaiting Joe's bedtime so we can put it in the alcove by the chimney. It seems as good a place as any and we don't actually use the fire so it shouldn't dry out and drop its needles. I hope.


There's a party at playgroup tomorrow. I'm supposed to be taking the crisps. We don't have any, unless you count the fancy root vegetable ones I treated myself to yesterday. And I doubt a room full of two-and-three-year-olds would go for those. So procuring Wotsits is on my morning to-do list.

I haven't written my cards out yet, or thought about Christmas food, or even what we'll be having for Christmas dinner. It'll be just the three of us I think, as the rest of the family are all spending the day with other extended family. And I quite like the idea of a quiet, relaxed time. My brother brought his eldest (aged five) over this afternoon. It was mayhem. No, really. I thought Jay was going to blow a fuse and that's something he never does.


I've been looking for little moments of brightness during these gloomy, grey days. And wondering whether we should have painted the house white after all. But we don't want to paint anything ever again. Or at least, not until spring. Not even my dining table and chairs, which is irritatingly 'shabby chic'.


There have been some good things on TV, like Detectorists and The Middle. I know, the latter's hardly high-brow but it's something we enjoy watching.


I'm reading PG Wodehouse. Again, silly but light and his writing makes me laugh. Laughter is very important in this house.


We've been to the garden centre a few times lately. Any port in a storm (quite literally) as all this indoor time with Joe is enough to give me serious cabin fever. Finding something to do undercover which doesn't involve trailing around shopping centres - one of my pet hates - is difficult. He's enchanted by all the cut trees and sparkly lights and polar bears. And going midweek means it's not overly crowded.


We currently have some nice festive things in the house: the aforementioned tree, fragrancing the air as only a real tree can. Mounds of satsumas and pomegranates. A new discovery: salted caramel-coated nuts (so very good).

Not so good - imitation Baileys, bought yesterday. At £4 a bottle I didn't expect much but it's really not very nice at all. Watery, overly sweet and a strange artificial vanilla flavour to it. Even in coffee it's pretty undrinkable. Elegant economy, in this case, does not apply. 


Finally: I'm slowly working my way through all the lovely blogs I've missed out on reading these past weeks. It seems it's just one thing after another what with moving house and squeezing in work around Joe.

On Monday, my grandmother died. My mum's mum. She was ninety four so, as many are telling me, she had a 'good innings'. Although she died in her sleep she had been ill for a short time. She was a strong character, formidable after a colourful life which included much hardship during the War. The family name will go with her (although I've often considered taking it), along with many memories and stories. It's hard not to think about the fact that, since last year, three women  - each from a different generation - have gone from our family.

The funeral is on the 15th. A service at the Polish church followed by a gathering at the Polish club, somewhere I haven't been since I was a child. The prospect of another funeral is not a good one but I have to go and say goodbye.

I didn't mean this to be a depressing post so apologies if it seems to have ended that way. In fact if anything it's made me realise the importance of keeping our history and traditions alive, both by writing about them and passing them on to Joe. Christmas has always been a 'Polish' time of year for me, and this year will be no different.





25 comments:

  1. So sorry to hear about your grandmother Sarah, it sounds as though she had an interesting life. I hope the funeral isn't too difficult for you. I can quite see why you are feeling the way you are, it's been a hard year indeed. Your photos are lovely as ever. Some pretty things there, and I love the vintage typewriter. It sounds as though you are really busy. A nice quiet Christmas at home sounds like an excellent idea. I do hope Joe gets to grips with the idea of sleeping all night soon. I can imagine what it's like to wake up in the middle of the night to find him up and playing. Eek! Wishing you a good (and restful) week. CJ xx

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  2. So sorry to hear about your grandmothers death. I do hope that all goes as well as it can with her funeral. She sounds like a great grandmother and very interesting indeed. My thoughts and hugs are with you. xx

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  3. CJ has typed what I was thinking after reading this post, Sarah. I am glad you posted. I am not aware of any Polish ancestors in my family, but agree with your thought that it is good to know and pass along knowledge of our family roots. Part of my interest in blogging that has bumped me into you is that some of my ancestors are from the Boston area of England and settled in the Boston, Massachusetts, USA, area. Wishing you a good week, as well. xx

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  4. Oh Sarah - I'm sorry to read about your grandmother. I wondered about the Polish connection when I noticed 'Rose Petal Jam' on your bookshelf (it's a lovely book). You do sound melancholy but that is completely understandable. Hopefully, once the funeral is over you can relax and enjoy a quiet Christmas with your close family. Have you by any chance heard of this CD: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Help-Children-Sleep-Bedtime-Audiobook/dp/B000BHGMFE/ref=pd_sim_14_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=51uouiYKY-L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1DKRBSPHS83KVJPSFG4E
    A friend recommended these cds to me when my daughter had trouble sleeping. It might help with Joe. Sam x

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    1. Hi Sam, thanks for the recommendation. He seems to be settling down - although our next door neighbour has now covered the trees in his garden with coloured lights and Joe keeps watching them out of his window!
      Have you read 'Sugared Orange' by Beata Zatorska? It's the winter version of 'Rose Petal Jam' and is just as beautiful. I may have to try some of the festive recipes this year... x

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  5. Dear Sarah, so sorry to hear about my grandmI love this story so much, made me laugh, made me smile, made me sigh in recognition, even made me cry a little. It does get easier physically, but generally just gets different rather than harder or easier. And I still end every day thinking I'll be better, calmer parent tomorrow. And with fabulous hair.other. I hope the funeral, although it's such a sad and painful event, will bring you the sense of closure and that you'll have beautiful and quiet Christmas.
    On a different note, my younger daughter used to wake up almost every night at 3 am when she was about Joe's age and demand a particular cartoon. We survived - but barely so :). Hope Joe will outgrow his habbit soon. Take care x

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    1. Thank you. Fortunately at this age, he goes through phases which seem really difficult at the time but they pass very quickly. And having a little one about the house means you can't stay melancholy for long. Particularly with Christmas just around the corner. x

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about your grandmothers death. It has been a difficult year for you and your family and I hope very much that next year will be full of happiness and joy. Thanks for saving me from being cheap Baileys, it is something I like to enjoy at this time of year. Lets hope Joe will sleep through the night tonight! Funny, my James got up at 11:15 pm last night, thinking it was time to get up... he went downstairs for his advent calendar and was surprised that not even the dog was up to say hello. xxx

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    1. I once got up and set out for school two hours early - when I found the place deserted and locked I ended up tapping on my friend's bedroom window and climbing in. She wasn't impressed! x

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  7. so sorry about your grandmother xxx

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  8. Hey Sarah,
    I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandmother. She sounds like quite a lady. Love and best wishes to you, my friend.
    Leanne xx

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  9. So sorry to hear about your grandma. It has indeed been a very difficult for you and your family. I am glad you are in your new house for Christmas and hope that you will be able to enjoy a quiet and restful time. Your photos are beautiful as always x

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  10. I'm sorry to hear of your grandmothers passing, it's been a very trying year for you & I hope next year proves to have a bit more brightness for you. I've bought proper Baileys for Christmas this year & ignored my usual parsimonious self. I giggled about your son sorting his tea towels so early in the morning x

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  11. I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother, but no apologies needed about ending on a depressing or sad note -- It's part of winter's often-dark richness, isn't it? and with any luck, winter points back to collect up the year's memories, as death of a beloved elder points back to a life... Sounds as if yours will always be well remembered at Christmas. Take care...

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  12. It's always good to see a new post from you. You are certainly in the thick of life at present. I'm sorry you have had so many farewells. A quiet Christmas sounds a good idea all round. The corners of your house look very cosy and comfortable.

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  13. Sorry hear of your grandmothers passing. My own nan passed many years ago in her early 70s, my husbands nan passed at the age of 100. That always struck me, the remarkable age difference as eye opening. I used to view 'old' and well, old. Seventy is 'old' and 100 is 'old' but there's a big three decades between them and when you think about that it brings a whole new found respect for that 'good innings' phrase.
    I do hope the weather eases up soon and the tree goes up without dropping too many needles x

    ps. We have one of those comes-and-goes patches in our bedroom too and found that rain has been blowing (!!) in through a tiny gap in the roof tiles and dripping down. Might be worth checking the attic x

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    1. Hi Annie - the problem with the bedroom ceiling is that it goes right up to the roof if you know what I mean (I think it's known as a vaulted ceiling, having just consulted Google)... So no loft above but yes, I definitely think it's water finding its way in through a small gap somewhere. Now where do I find someone mad enough to go up on the roof in this crazy weather?!
      x

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  14. Marks and Spencer Tiramisu Cream Liqueur is amazingly delicious, and I think it was £8 a bottle, so more expensive than your not so nice bottle, but cheaper than Baileys. We bought it for Christmas, but, ahem, it seems to have a leak in it and is nearly empty!

    Sorry for your loss. If we don't have a little boy, my husbands name will go when we do, and I have been wondering if giving it to a second child if we have one and it is a girl would work. But then, Carls dad is one of three brothers so that isn't a guarantee, even if we had a boy. Glad you came away from your craft Fayre in profit!

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    1. Me too! I'm going to try and book some good ones for next year - but for now, a bit of relaxation I think. And it looks like some of that liqueur might be going on the shopping list!

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  15. I'm just catching up after a long break too where I've been too busy to do anything as leisurely as reading blogs. Not a miserable post Sarah, just a lovely account of day to day life in your new home which happened to include your grandmother's passing. Sad, but part and parcel of everything else. Wishing you a peaceful time over Christmas.

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  16. three generations - that is three times hard to deal with.
    I lost my middle sister this year.

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  17. I'm sorry you lost your grandmother. No matter how long they are with us, it's never enough.
    My grandmother was 94 when she died, nearly 25 years ago, and I still miss her. My mother is gone now too. I feel privileged to have had them as influences in my life, and I'm sure you have the same feelings. A great heritage and a great blessing and a treasure of memories.

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  18. I'm so sorry for your loss Sarah. It's been a very difficult year for you. Glad the house is coming along into a home...hopefully the festive feelings can start properly after tomorrow. Take care xxx

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  19. I like your photos so much! They all have some kind of mood. They look really cool. Talking about holiday preparations. I and maybe all my co-workers at essay-writer-club are all in work, so none of us had time for that Christmas stuff at all.

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