Living Between the Lines
A wry look at family life
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Debbie did do Dallas!
Yes folks, it’s true. Thank you, Laura, because had you not moved out here, I may never have come to Texas. As it is, we wave the UK goodbye, and fly to DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) International Airport, where Laura and the family are waiting to greet us. I shall gloss over the long, long wait to get through security once we have landed, because seeing their faces as we walk into Arrivals, Delilah holding up a home made welcome banner, makes it all worthwhile. Hugs all round! So, apart from playing American football with the grandchildren, and another game that I really do not understand, in which I am…
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Happy 13th Birthday Flossie!
“Happy 13th Birthday Flossie!” That’s what I heard shouted at me this morning when I stumbled to my Paws. Do they think I am deaf? Well, come to think of it, the house has seemed a lot quieter these past few months and I get the distinct impression the Boss has been calling me for some time when she finally raises her voice loud enough for me to hear. So, yes, I must admit, deafness seems to be the reason. I am not quite sure why they are all so excited at me reaching the grand old age of 13 but I can tell they are by the number of…
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A typical writing day…
Here I am upstairs, in my lovely, fit for purpose writing room. Computer on – hmm, so many emails – must ignore. Himalayan Crystal Salt lamp on, to keep me calm (a Christmas Gift) Now, open file. File is saved where? Dropbox/iCloud/Desktop/got it! Re-read the beginning of chapter two and spend twenty minutes or more changing one word. Prepare to begin a new chapter. Big old Dog wants to go out Big old Dog wants to come in Small dog barking at front door – at delivery person Now I am here, I may as well save them the trouble of putting the parcels in the plastic box I put…
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The Special Tent…
The following conversation was overheard between Mum and toddler, as we sat admiring the view, on the beach at Readymoney Cove. Catherine Tate springs to mind! Worth noting, we could hear Mum’s voice more than toddler’s but you can tell what he might be saying! Imagine Mum’s voice sounding just a little more stressed by the second, having trudged across the sand with towels, picnic blankets, something in a long, nylon bag slung over her shoulder and an over excited toddler skipping along behind, finally settling a couple of yards to our left. The Mum: ‘This is a good spot darling, but we need to wait for Daddy to help…
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A letter from the past…
This letter came into my possession recently, It was sent to my mother, a few days before her wedding to my father, Denis, in October 1948. I remember Aunt Gert but only vaguely. My paternal grandfather, Victor, was one of eight children and he and at least two of his siblings, died in 1968 when I was 11/12 years old. Memories of sitting outside the church in the car, during what seemed to be an endless series of funerals, abound. So, finding this letter gave me quite a jolt. Knowing my mother’s love of dogs makes it all the more special. The letter itself is quite hard to decipher, so…
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Those Senior moments
You know you are getting old when you gather dog lead, phone and poo bags, ready for a walk with your faithful old Golden Retriever, and five minutes later, realise you cannot find your phone. Phone has completely disappeared. Phone cannot be rung from landline because it is on silent and out of signal. Dog grows ever more impatient, so you decide you will resume the search on your return. Friend takes her phone with her so should there be an emergency (dog collapsing or photograph needing to be taken) friend has it covered. Returning some 40 mins later from a walk that used to take Dog half the time,…
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It’s official…
…I have been elevated to official ‘Old Dog’, status in the family. Now, how on earth did that happen? I began this blog almost 12 years ago as a lively, forward thinking, pup. I was proud of my ability to escape from anywhere. No fence was too high, no hedge too thick…um, well, there was one hedge in which I got stuck, but we won’t dwell on that. (If you must, you can read all about here).A Twist in the Tail The fact remains that I have gone from being that cute bundle of fun, to this staid old lady. One thing I have not lost, is my appetite. On…
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Summer’s End
What a way to bring summer to a close! The past three weekends have been amazing. After more than 18 months of restrictions and lockdowns we opened up our garden and finally got friends and family together in one place. 1st: Came my youngest son’s 30th birthday party which he held in our garden (30, How did that happen?) – It was a far cry from the teenage parties of yesteryear! The thing about 30 year olds is, they are grown up and they willingly help tidy up afterwards. 2nd: Lisa’s 50th birthday party – also held in our garden with the same marquee, this time with a pizza van…
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Going up in the world!
I have moved up in the world (upstairs to be precise). My desk and files are now sitting in a spare front bedroom, (the bed being replaced by a sofa bed). This will be my new ‘study’. I love it already. The move was probably long overdue, I am no longer the only one in the house during the day. My husband and my dear friend, have both set up office space in the house. Lockdown is easing but my dear husband is showing no signs of wanting to make the daily journey to the office and much as I like meeting him for a coffee or lunch during the…
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When Inspiration Strikes…
A trip back to my late mother’s house in Essex, unearthed a real gem recently. The small, blue, notebook was crammed with recipes, some written on the pages in her neat, cursive hand, others culled from newspapers and bearing stories of mystery and intrigue on the back of a recipe for peanut butter cookies and trifle. These stories are sometimes just a headline, sometimes whole paragraphs…never the whole story. What a feast for the imagination! My mother started collecting the recipes when she married my father in October 1948, perhaps even before that! Having survived all these years, the pages are yellowed and worn with time but there is a…
