When a relative stranger stops you in the lane and asks you if BrocanteHome is no more, you know it is time to get back to blogging.
Summer swallows time like no other season can and the longer you stay off-line the more absurd the thought of spilling your guts into space strikes you. Surely too much navel gazing could give a girl a hunchback?
And yet there is so much to share. A week in your sisters. A book that swallowed you whole and for the four hours it took to read it, tainted your world with it’s own brand of gloom. The death, suddenly, of the first boyfriend you ever had, strands of teenage history tangling up in sheer fright at losing one of their own. Entire days spent watching Finn somersault around the house in his pyjamas, just because he can. An electric shock that turns your index finger bright blue. A six foot four man who continues to make you smile. So much to share.
. Finley. Exhausted by the sheer effort of having fun he is struck by the baby blues. He is cross with you on many levels: because Daddy has a new girlfriend who steals his precious alone time with him and the dog he is dog sitting for. Because he is fed up with being dragged to the doctors and poked about with in the diagnosis of anaemia and a skin virus. Because he cannot bear the idea of being six and wants to be a baby for ever. Because he does not want to swallow bitter medicine three times a day for the next six months, nor write a postcard to his new class teacher. Because receiving a school report that says
“Finley is a very special little boy, his indomitable spirit has been an inspiration…” does not alter the fact that having a funny foot makes playing football more difficult than it used to be. Because life is just so bloody hard when you are five and eleven months and your Mummy is an “Interrupter” and an “Argumenteter” . Because, because, because…
Helen. A week in your sisters is a week away from the chaos of your own house. A week in a house where everything is easy and only the madness that is a two year old Beagle disturbs your calm. Helen is an astonishing cook. You didn’t know. You develop a passion for the beetroot you have merrily avoided all your life, and inspired by her thin thighs feel the urge to sprinkle flaxseed on Greek yoghurt at silly o’clock in the morning and scour the internet for Kenny Rogers songs wearing straw hats at silly o’clock at night. Occasionally you glimpse the degree to which your relationship as sisters is defined by your roles as children and you do not know how to separate the two. You wish you lived closer.
Richard. He is six foot four but then you do believe you may have mentioned that. He taught himself to knit on jury service, paints pictures, moves bathrooms from one end of the house to another, adores his friends and creates dinner parties that make his guests swoon. He pinches you and has tattoos and never lets you speak and extends his enthusiasm for surface decoration to the very silly car he drives and moans when you watch Big Brother and forces you to watch horror films and makes you laugh so hard you snort and now he has gone to Amsterdam and you will miss him. But there is no angst. For once there is no angst.There are blueberry pancakes on a Sunday morning, Agatha Christie films, and ludicrous arguments about stolen glasses of juice, but, oh bliss, none of that blasted angst…
You. You think you look look older than you used to. Your Dad, in his infinite kindness peers long and hard at your face and announces that wrinkles are patterning your face in the same way they pattern his. You thank him and resolve to sit across the room from him always. You now have two relentless chin hairs and occasionally find yourself squinting to read. The six foot four man is four years younger than you are and never gives up reminding you. Some mornings you believe ambition is being lost in a long hard game of life, and you and the person you could be, maybe should be, lead parallel lives, never the the twain to meet. But you don’t feel demented by it any more. Some days all you really want is a packet of salt and vinegar crisps and a long chat with Kath. You want sun and light nights and Russell Brand still. A record by EverClear on repeat, smoked haddock and a clean sink. You are not sure you want the week in a Windermere hotel with Mark’s Mum next Monday. Windermere is lined with memories of vintage ringed proposals and plans for an Italian wedding that never came to pass and perhaps Mark’s enthusiasm for sending you back there in the company of his Mother is a little ill thought out but it is what it is: five days in a peaceful lakeside town. A holiday after a long spell without knowing the meaning of the word.
Gratitude remains all. Even hunchbacks know that.
Gosh. Blogging feels good.
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30 comments:
well as a 6 foot 4 male I'd say, reading between the lines i think he's crazy about you, is missing you already and he's not even left yet. Also seeing as he'll arrive home when you've left for your holiday the next 10 days will be hell without you to hold tight in his arms.
Well the rest of us thing you have great anonymous commenters!
Glad to see you back!
it is nice to have to back blogging, and yes I was wondering how you were -
Your newsy update fills it all in.
Poor little Fin - I can hardly believe he is almost 6.
Looks like you are having an absolutely fabulous summer.... spiked with a bit of mystery and a dash of wow... Six, four, huh? Mr. Anonymous sounds delish! yOU GO, sWEETHEART
Wow Alison! welcome back! and hey anonymous if you are who we think you are,congratulations!a whole army of women are crazy about her too!you got lucky,look after her!
Welcome back.
I must ask you, because I crave your words like I crave salt (which is to say, constantly), when are you going to write a book?
Also, I went camping last week and thought of you. Save for the back-float on the lake, you aren't missing much.
So glad you are back...more please.
I missed you! So very glad you're back!!
Alison, all I have to say is...you go girl!
PS: Please write your book in between your canoodles with your lovely 6'4" Mr. Anonymous
Welcome back Alison! Missed you heaps.
xxxxx
Fleur
Welcone back Alison, I missed your posts. Life sounds good for you right now so I'm glad you're putting it first, we can wait for updates as long as we get one from time to time!
I'm so glad to hear from you and all your adventures with Finn and Mr. Wonderful or should I say"Anonymous". Have a nice summer's end. Sally
Wow. Back with such gusto and panache. So loving that six foot four male ...
Missed you!
Oh thank heavens all is well! I was worried. With your long absence I was imagining all kinds of terrible things that could have happened to keep you from blogging. I was so happy to see you back today! Don't leave us so long again please. Here I am in Texas, USA and I need to know that all is well with Alison and Fin.
Smiles, Barbara
You're back! I'm so pleased. I too had wondered whether you had foresaken the bloggy world. Now I see that it's just that real life has kept you otherwise occupied. It's good to hear from you again. :)
So glad you are back! I'm only technically advanced to the point of clicking you up on my Brocante Home toolbar...and I missed you!
This post reminds me of the song "Down Under"...Remember?One part of the songs goes "6 foot 4 and full of muscles"...I always did love that song...lol
yay!! welcome back Alison ;D
Oxx
Its good to see you back. Your jolly brave going on holiday with your ex-MIL. The Lakes are great though - very romantic.
I love your blogs...
:)
Gosh, I've had two chin hairs for years now. You must have younger hair folicles than me. =)
So, so glad that life is swallowing you up and moments of joy keep you from blogging.
Have a beautiful time between now and your next post. Blessings.. Polly
Welcome back, Allison! I, too, had wondered what had become of you. I'm glad to see that it seems you were simply too busy with "something or another" lately. LOVE your blog!
One of your Canadian fans, Nicole
...thank goodness you are back!!
I must ditto what everyone else said... thank Goddess you are back! And Mr 6'4 sounds fabulous... and you absolutely deserve it! And what about that book? I devour your words when you write... a book would be heaven!
Much love from your fan xoxoxoxoxo
Just wanted you to know you give me strength and courage. I have kept up with all you have dealt with yet kept a happy outlook on life. By reading BrocanteHome I get the strength and courage to get out of bed and get on with life. Hugs my friend
Everyone has missed you, but we are so glad to hear that you have been so wonderfully occupied!
Everyone needs to step back from the things that intrude on the real life we all really want...your a smart girl to have taken a nice long break.
Looking forward to catching up on all the silly, wonderful and just plain bodacious stories you will be sharing from your summer adventures!
Hope Finn is feeling great...you too!
As a 6'4" anonymous male recently back from Amsterdam. I can honestly say that:
as enjoyable as the break,
as nice and clean as the hotel and
as great the culture and city was to visit ......
It was so nice to come home and visit a certain person even for an hour or two just because they were missed so very very much.
So glad i came back early, and Princess is leaving a day or two late.
It's also amazing to see how much she is loved by all her friends on here.
Love your blog - I found you on twitter!
mary
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handbag originals
So glad to see you're back! I too was worried that something had happened to you or Finn. Love your blog!
be careful, mr anonymous sounds a bit to perfect
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