A Day Like Any Other Day...
Friday, May 22, 2009 at 3:14PM A Day Just Like Any Other Day Except…
…You were there. If you’re old enough to remember Edward R. Murrow, like me, you’re really old. He’d say that at the end of his broadcasts. We’re having an “at home day.” It’s an at home day in England at the home of Brother-In-Law and sister-In-Law who have scampered off to France for six weeks. Our original plan was to go with them, but I was worried about being in the French countryside if things went wacky in Canada. It’s a lot easier to get on a plane in London than it is to get back to London from St. Palais. That pesky English Channel blocks the way. Also, we realized that we have only spent four weeks in our home since last September. An extra six weeks added on to our two weeks spent crossing the Atlantic and then four weeks in UK would just be too much. David and Janet were kind enough to give us full run of their home so we are happily ensconced in this small village.
Being here suits me. I grew up in New England, in Connecticut. Old England, here, looks just like where I was raised. I was a small town girl in a fairly rural setting. I had horses and dogs and rabbits. This is much the same. I like where we live now, in south Florida, for the warm air and the warm ocean and the soft breezes. It’s an easy life. The weather is awesome year round. Here, the weather is schizophrenic. This morning, the sun was shining through our draperies when I awoke. After yesterday’s day long rain, I was thrilled. I decided today was a great day for laundry. There is no clothes dryer here. Yes, really. SIL has spent her entire almost fifty years of marriage without a dryer. I do not remember a life without a dryer. I remember that my grandmother didn’t have one, but we always did. My first trip to UK was with husband and was in December. It was before we were married and I was “being presented.” We walked in SIL’s home and there were underpants and socks draped over radiators, drying. Well, being the American post-war Baby Boomer that I am, I hadn’t even seen a radiator in a home as far as I could remember, much less one used as a clothes dryer. The washer was a front loader and on the first visit it was in the kitchen. This was before the new craze of the huge front loaders we now have in the US. I do remember seeing washers like the one SIL has in a relative’s kitchen when I was a child. Talk about shock and awe. Most people in the UK now do have clothes dryers, but SIL says she’s gotten along this long without one so why bother? That being said, I do love hanging clothes on the line. It’s all about options and choice, isn’t it?
We hopped up this morning and stripped the bed sheets. After gathering up the rest of the whites, I washed a load. It takes forever in the washer here. I kept running out to the workroom to check and the machine was still churning away. Eventually it ground to a halt and husband and I headed for the clothes line. In the meantime, I hand washed two cashmere sweaters and laid them out to dry. The sun was shining brightly and a great breeze was blowing. Up and pinned it all went. As we are not allowed to have a clothes line or even a drying rack where we live, I found it freeing and exhilarating to see those sheets flapping in the breeze. I mentally gave home owner association ruled and regulated golf course resort living the proverbial middle finger and strolled inside with a satisfied smile. I grabbed my camera to take a few photos of the horses outback and the neighbor’s garden. All of a sudden, the wind gusted, the heavens opened and the rains began pelting me. Husband ran out and we began grabbing the laundry from the line. We draped the sheets over baby buggy and the drying rack and I hung pillow cases and underwear on radiators. 
I’m a semi-proper English wife now, I guess. As soon as all that was accomplished, the sun again appeared, mocking me and my sissy American ways. As I said, the weather in England is schizophrenic. I may be a sissy, but I’m not a stupid sissy. I refuse to play the weather game. The laundry is staying in…
Reader Comments (4)
Well, this web site is very fancy--I like all the bells and whistles. Life for us has been galloping along and the month of May is almost gone. So glad to find you well and happy here. I haven't forgotten nor have I copied my recipe for you. Sorry sorry sorry.
I have a clothes line in the garage and my son always says it's there to kill him someday--he's and the line is just at his throat. I use it a lot; none allowed outside here either, have also two drying racks.
Bet that washer will feel tedious before you return. Just checking on you. As I said, like the new look. Have fun and say hello to Merry Old England for us.
pat
Hey there, I forgot you were here in good ole England! I think of you often just keep forgetting to pop over and say hello here. The sun popped back out later today and stayed. It has been one of those up and down days. It's been a while since I've updated with you. Son and daughter in law are expecting a baby in September. It's a girl Faith Lynn will be her name. I now have my Hope and Faith. Busy cross stitching a baby announcement to take home hopefully on a visit when Miss Faith is due. Not sure if the trip will be just me or both yet all depends upon the money. Still saving for the reapply. Still missing home now more than ever. Mom is doing well and going back to her house today actually.
Continuous sun our first weekend up here at the cottage. All the bedding washed and hung on the line. The fresh scent as we cuddled in the first night holds promise of a wonderful summer.
Thanks for the memories of towels and pajamas warming on the radiators ... we stayed in the tub until the water cooled, knowing that when we emerged, we would be wrapped in their warmth.
Retirement papers signed!
Chris*
Glad to hear you're having a great time. So are we still in sunny South Florida. We'll probably be here until the middle of June so hopefully we'll see the two of you and Taffy on your return. In case you haven't heard, the park closes June 30 so I guess we have to be out by then. David hurt his shoulder working at the duplex but at least most of the work is done. Take care of yourselves. We miss our new friends. We're watching over the Tundra for you.