Tuesday 9 October 2018

Slow Sweet Day

Living here can be like a rather complex folk dance at times, as we weave round each other trying to do similar but different things in somewhat compact spaces.

Tuesday is special. It's the day when everyone else is out and I am Home Alone!

And I have had such a lovely day. Very ordinary really — dusting and cleaning floors, vacuuming carpets and stairs, polishing things, sorting and tidying, talking to the crows and cutting up dead wood for kindling. And reading, doing the puzzles in The Lady. Nothing special, but so relaxing, in the quietness of my own company. A very precious and happy few hours. 

It is the most beautiful autumnal weather — still and sunlit, warm and quiet.

And it's late afternoon, so one by one everybody is coming home, which is also a happy thing. Right now the kettle is on for a cup of tea, and the cats are sitting with me in our bedroom, one washing himself with conscientious care, the other one dozing peacefully.

It's not in great wealth or fame or achievement, not in status or beauty or prowess of any kind that happiness lies. It's in days like this.



NB — Of course, I could be completely wrong about the prowess and fame and wealth and whatnot — like, how would I know?!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope this isn’t too personal, but I think you have such a kind face Pen!
And I’m glad you’ve enjoyed a peaceful and contented day. You’ve got to grab and recognise those whenever you can I always think :)
Deb

Rebecca said...

Maybe the two are not mutually exclusive...or maybe they are. Like, how would ANYONE know? ☺️

Pen Wilcock said...

Why, thank you Deb! Most who know me would agree it is only my face that's kind — my heart is as black as soot! Mwahaha! You are a sweetie to say so. x

Rebecca — Hmm. The opportunity to compare and contrast might bring a few insights. Though success and celebrity are not often synonymous with contentment. x

Suzan said...

Pen I love slow days when there is time and space to potter and achieve something. After a period of quiet I welcome people home. I definitely agree with you.

Yesterday was my day to look after my granddaughter. We had a great day. After a full day I was shattered and in bed by 7.30. My son dropped in and I am ashamed to say his noise was the proverbial straw. I was quite cross when mum woke me at ten. I guess she was lonely. I thought I might not drift back to sleep and I needed to sleep as in an hour I will be back looking after my precious girl. Her mother has scored some extra work days and since they both work part time these extra days are welcome. I also believe is better for the young one (13 months) to be at home and in her routine. Caring is a thing I love to do. I feel privileged to be able to do so but I know by 5pm I will be shattered again. Both the babyy's mum and uncle have their 22nd and 27th birthdays today so it is another long day.

God bless.

Pen Wilcock said...

Oh, my goodness! May you be strengthened and blessed! What a marathon. They are so lucky to have you. xx

Lynda said...

Ah yes! Peace and solitude...and simple pleasures...
I have been blessed just by reading about it! xx

Pen Wilcock said...

Oh, I know what you mean! It's the same for me when I spend time at your blog, reading about what you've done and looking at the lovely photos of books you've read and the crochet you're working on, and the mist rising from the river on your morning walk . . .

Suzan said...

Pen I survived the day. The kids are quite perplexed as the baby always sleeps longer when I look after her. It could be that there is no noise, no tv etc. As I said on my friend's blog deafness might help a little too. We had a lovely meal out and everyone enjoyed themselves. I swear the baby is the superglue that holds our family together as we are such different people.

God bless.

greta said...

a day alone? pure and utter bliss. one thing that i think that extroverts don't get is that it isn't that we don't like people; we simply must have some silence at regular intervals. when we have company staying with us it's always folks that i like a lot, just not for 24 hours straight. i can't be verbal for every minute of the day. talk about tiring a person out!

and thanks for introducing me to 'lynda by the river', now bookmarked and enjoying.

Pen Wilcock said...

Suzan — well done you! Glad you all had a nice time eating out together. xx

Greta — oh, Lynda's blog is a lovely place to visit!

Julie B. said...

I stayed home yesterday and wore my flannel pajamas all day. The quiet and the hot tea and the rainy weather were a balm for my elderly self. I'm glad you get days like this. xoxo

Pen Wilcock said...

Pajamas ALL DAY! There is something distinctly glamorous about that.
I am one of those who sees the days of the week in colour. Just as Mondays are yellow, Wednesdays green and Thursdays red, so Tuesdays are (and have always been) azure blue. I have always liked Tuesdays, and they still hold this special flavour of sweetness, with the solitude they bring. x

Rapunzel said...

You might like my son's house rule from the years after his divorce. His good school friend Ryan moved in to help him raise his toddler son. Ryan had Fridays off work and as James worked a night shift they came up with the law:

No Pants (trousers) Till Noon on Fridays.

pajamas are such a happy invention.



Pen Wilcock said...

Yes. That is a most excellent house rule. There is something entirely comforting and peaceful about one's pajamas. Or, as we call them in England, pyjamas! We don't have bynanas though.