Saturday 1 November 2014

The Morning After.......





Seven a.m. in a silent household.
The bunting sags damply against the yellowing vine leaves. The fridge is over-stuffed with party foods; cold sausages, proper orange jelly made with juice and mandarins, cold rice salad, cheeses and fruits - and I have just remembered the miniature sausage rolls, still in the warming oven of the Rayburn. There are small cup cakes with only lightly licked toppings, and the remains of a birthday cake with  two candles and edible butterflies.

Today will be an easy time. Like Boxing Day, which is my favourite event of the year, people can graze happily on the remains of the day. After all the preparation there is time to relax and reflect.

Yesterday was a day of special celebration, warm enough to spend most of it out in the garden, or crouched within Granddaughter's second birthday gift of Walnut Cottage.
There is much to celebrate.
It is fitting that her birthday gift of the little house was originally made by her Grandfather, and Little E's birthday is also the anniversary of his death. So the two of them feel linked, even though they were destined not to meet.

I had a silent celebration for myself as well, because after eight months of incapacity I can begin to return to normal life.

There was an evening celebration for son and daughter-in-law who went out for a meal here (highly recommended) all by themselves. Not a high chair in sight.

There was celebration of a (potential) new friend for Little E. Little F, Granddaughter of a fellow blogger, who came for tea. The pair of them managed to share a few toys (well, sort of) and played alongside one another with only the odd wary glance. Another few hours together and they would be companions.

A celebration of a beautiful autumn day, and a step forward into the next adventure.

10 comments:

  1. Life going on, with leftovers!

    Glad you are starting to feel better these days.

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  2. F had a lovely time and we so enjoyed meeting little E and her family. I can vouch, fellow bloggers, for the excellence of the cake and the orange jelly! But best of all was to see you looking so much better and sounding confident about getting back into the things you enjoy. Thank you again for inviting us.
    On the phone this morning I asked F if she liked playing with E. 'Yes,' she said. 'More? Peese.' A definite hit.

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  3. So glad to hear your health has improved - yay! Sounds like it was a wonderful celebration, and blessed with fine weather to boot.

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  4. It sounds a lovely party, and I'm glad you're feeling better.

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  5. Snap on Boxing Day. For some years now I have been saying that all I want for Christmas is Boxing Day - so much more civilised.
    Loved that the small person had a wonderful day - and am thrilled that your health is on the improve...

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  6. Thank you all for the kind comments.It was indeed a lovely day. For me it's been a long haul recovery process, but I'm getting there, and having Little E around is always a complete tonic.

    Jee: it was lovely to see the girls getting to know one another. It's only taken two years to organise!

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  7. Sounds like a very good day. So glad you are making progress. I'm with you on Boxing Day. And also 2nd January ......

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  8. mm: I do hope you're making progress too?

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  9. Wonderful - so many nice things but I am happiest to hear that you're regaining strength. Isn't it funny though that there's really always something that gets left in the oven?!

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  10. How lovely - I too am so glad that you're feeling better. And grandchildren are SUCH A JOY!!!

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