December
We all wore wellies and I wore false nails. In fact my lovelies, the reason why I haven't bored you with my dalliances in the past seven days is not because I was up to my eyes in mud but because I am the kind of woman whose vanity knows no bounds and I simply cannot type when I've got plastic nails glued to my fingertips. So smack me on the bottom with the Womans Weekly.
Thank heavens I'm awash with news. Last weekend was spent in the splendour of a converted barn in Staffordshire (With the motley crewe walking through Dovedale above) and yesterday we traipsed up the dunes of Mablethorpe to see a thousand seals giving birth to fuzzy white pups on the beach on which they cavort on an annual basis...
So it has been a week of wellies and stepping stones. Grief cuddled up in giggles and walks in the ountryside. Baths taken in beamed rooms with slipper baths to die for. Hours curled up reading Winifred Pecks' Home For The Holidays and Jane Brockets' Gentle Art of Domesticity. Dreams made of jam tarts and cosy socks. Dinners of creamy black pepper mashed potato and the quiet realisation that I can be truly terrible company and most wicked of all, couldn't quite give a damn...
And then there was home. A flourescent light installed in the kitchen after seven years of asking. Deep rooted dirt finally revealed and just as soon banished. Marks romance declared kaput and goodness knows what written large across his face. Slip covers washed in a fit of aggravated domesticity and too many run ins with my crazy postman as a result of Christmas shopping on the world wide web...
Saturday night I donned my copper coloured gladrags and took to the streets with my darling Mummies in tow. Carrot and turnip and spicy sausage consumed in early celebration of Christmas, followed by port and stilton and gin and lemonade provided by someone I adored as a teenager and who took advantage of my general bonhomie to ask me to adore him all over again. (I swear men only find me desirable when I am to be found with a mouthful of chocolate torte and a spoonful of double cream dribbling down my chin...).
And now it is December and there isn't a child in the house washed. I want to be sitting next to my Mum, reading quietly under the vast beams of someone elses house. I want Christmas to be three months away and Christmas Eve to be tomorrow and for there to be a big bowl of cheesy bacon Winter night soup bubbling on the stove. I wish the Christmas tree was already blinking in the corner of the room and life wasn't one long round of tidying up lego and feelings, rooting through drawers full of junk and minds full of memories. I want to live in wellies and wear stilettos to bed. I want to treasure forever the memory of watching Finn write F-I-N-L-E-Y at the bottom of a letter to Santa Claus and feel as absolutely safe always as I did holding my Dad's hand as we crossed the stepping stones of Dovedale.
I want it to be December always . For there to be family forever. And for the man who asked me to abandon blog posts as long as this and sum up my world in sentences of just six words, I say only this...
Tempus fugit, but December is bliss.
It's been far too long since I've popped in Alison....and, boy, did I miss reading your tales! I laugh out loud at your wonderful stories. You're a gifted writer to say the very least!
hugs to you,
andrea
Posted by: Andrea S. | 05/01/2008 at 09:45 PM
Dearest Alison,
You are simply adorable and deserve every moment of "December Magic" that your heart can hold.Wish you only the very best this Christmas for you and little Finn.
Posted by: Hattie | 20/12/2007 at 05:49 AM
Very good post indeed.
Sorry to say - and to feel it - but I'm very happy about what happened to Mark. Maybe now he will learn.
Posted by: paula luckhurst | 05/12/2007 at 07:25 AM
Sounds like you had a dreamy time. Once we determine what pleases us, we can begin re-shaping our lives to include more of it. Blessings... Polly
Posted by: Polly | 04/12/2007 at 03:03 PM
Never listen to men who want you to give up this wonderful blog something that your soul so passionately shares the rest of us wordy wonders.
It sounds like your December is so delightful! I hope it continues so lovely.
Posted by: Grace | 04/12/2007 at 02:12 PM
Oh I am so glad you had a good time away, lovely to have you back!
I would hate you to start using six sentances or less, we would miss out on feeling hungry and having to go make soup and buy books from amazon!
Posted by: mimi | 04/12/2007 at 10:24 AM
Alison,
I have been reading your blog for a few weeks now. My mama originally sent me the link to it, explaining what a delightful new blog she had found and one she was certain I would adore. Oh, how our mothers are always right!
Your writing inspires me to find joy in the mundane and to take new pleasure in my small but cozy home.
Thank you for reminding me of the blissful wonders of December.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | 04/12/2007 at 05:15 AM
Scrumptious writing, Alison. When are you going to publish a book? I am NOT kidding.
Posted by: Vee ~ A Haven for Vee | 04/12/2007 at 02:01 AM
I just watched the Victoria Wood video of "Let's Do It". Hilarious! Very interesting suggestions for lovemaking. LOL! Thanks for that bit of fun.
Posted by: Patricia | 04/12/2007 at 12:58 AM
That sounds like that country song, "Why have you left the one you left me for?" Lovely post... and to the man who wants short posts??? good grief... don't read the long ones, goofus! I love your lovely long posts....
Posted by: Gayla | 03/12/2007 at 11:40 PM
I knew it was just a matter of time. "Hey Mark! *PBBFFTT!*"
Yeah, that was a good ol' American razberry just for him!
Sounds like you had a lovely time and you know we want to hear more about "The Man"! C'mon, dish!!
Posted by: Nancy | 03/12/2007 at 07:43 PM
Happy trails! Get thee back to the wilds soon. It obviously does you a World of good.
P.S. Can you get Net access in Paradise on Staffordshire? We wouldn't want you to disappear for good!
Posted by: Ali | 03/12/2007 at 07:22 PM
I feel the same about December too - it's a lovely special month :-)
Posted by: Amy | 03/12/2007 at 06:51 PM
All I want for Christmas is to become a gifted writer like you!
Posted by: debbie | 03/12/2007 at 06:34 PM
Your time in the mud sounds fabulous.
What are copper gladrags? Could you please write a 'Guide To Snazzy Brit Speak'? I need a glossary, at least.
Mark? Oh, dear, I want to hear about that in depth, too. Is that gorey of me? I want to see him wallowing in the muck of his bad choices. But perhaps that's nasty of me and not very Christmas-like.
I look forward to your every post. Thanks for having this nice, soft corner of the world for us to wrap ourselves up in. It's warm and always oh-so-welcome.
OohLaLaura
Posted by: OohLaLaura | 03/12/2007 at 06:31 PM
Gorgeous post. You write with such delicious description.
But could you please back up to the part about Mark?
Posted by: Lisa | 03/12/2007 at 05:51 PM
Someday, you will compile these thoughts and others into a book, and I will buy the book, because you are able to convey on paper what others cannot. May you have many, many more posts rich with words, both ethereal and earthy.
Posted by: Sandybeach | 03/12/2007 at 05:05 PM
...welcome back, sounds/ looks like a lovely time was had by all - so Mark's romance has failed huh? Are you not-so-secretly pleased? I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, you deserve it and hey, there's nothing quite like a gathering with the girlies is there! x
Posted by: Lisa (the librarian) | 03/12/2007 at 05:02 PM
December IS magic!
While things all about us change, there is something eternal & unchanging come December.
Posted by: Susannah | 03/12/2007 at 04:43 PM
I love walking across the fields everyday, wellies are my favourite footwear at the moment,
enjoy the december days,
glad you had a lovely break, it sounded lovely.
Posted by: mandy | 03/12/2007 at 03:51 PM
I am so glad to have you back.. There IS magic to December, and it is WAY too short... I just don't want to get to that glaring light that is January 2, knowing the holidays are over and the magic is gone...
Posted by: Anita | 03/12/2007 at 03:20 PM
Why can't I write like this?
Maybe I need a pair of wellies...
Posted by: phyllis | 03/12/2007 at 02:36 PM
We are glad to see you back but it is never a crime to take time for you-and family. We can't be greedy with your blog!
Posted by: Raina | 03/12/2007 at 12:59 PM
Glad to have you back Alison. I know what you mean, I love December too, to me it is the most magical month of the year, and I want to enjoy all 31 days of it to the full.
Take Care
Melanie.
Posted by: Melanie | 03/12/2007 at 12:08 PM