Skip to main content

Relief, Rellies and Recommendations







‘I’m going to be baby Jesus for Christmas,’ says Lily, tearfully. Lily and Russ were looking forwards to their first Christmas together in their rented flat but an official letter suggests this might not be possible. It seems that their landlord is in arrears with his mortgage and the flat has been repossessed. To add to their woes there is no trace of the bond into which their deposit for the flat was allegedly paid which means they are the best part of a grand down on the deal and will have to scrape together more money for another deposit if they have to move in a hurry.

You can say I’m biased but Lily is truly one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I know. Lily sees the invisible people; the cleaners, the porters, the security men, the people some folks don’t see. No one deserves to be homeless at Christmas but the thought of Lily suffering makes me incandescent with rage and frustration – there is almost nothing we can do. After a very worrying few days a fresh letter arrives – the landlord’s mortgage account is up to date and the flat is back in his possession. Let’s hope it really is just a glitch. Who says renting is the easy option?

On a happier note, we did a whirlwind tour of the south-east catching up with the rellies. Here’s how it went:-

Monday& Tuesday: Worthing with Mil and Dil
Wednesday: Multiple birthday celebrations: Lunch at ‘The Gun’, not your usual depressing carvery chain but good food, good service and excellent value. Up to Surrey to stay with Ma. Dinner with my lovely stepsons and their girlfriends at our favourite curry house ( yes, I did pace myself!).
Thursday: AM meet the Ace Gang (Julia, we missed you!). Four women go all out on the talking, drinking coffee and eating mince pie front. PM Dinner at my sister’s with her family, Rose and Ma – much silliness.
Friday: Me to my dear friend Jill’s for lunch and a jolly good catch up. Tom to town to see a former colleague. PM to Tom’s brother and family.
Saturday- Tuesday: Return to Wales with Rose and Si for a lovely pre-Christmas celebration. Now home alone!

A couple of recommendations… Tom had an appointment in Aberystwyth yesterday and afterwards we carried on up to MOMA (The Museum of Modern Art, Wales). Unfortunately two of the current exhibitions, including Ian Phillips beautiful prints of the Llyn coastal path finish on 3rd January but there is plenty of time to the Martin Bloch retrospective which is very special indeed. If you get the chance, do go.

Also, I’m on the last couple of chapters of Hillary Jordan’s debut novel, 'Mudbound'. It’s teeth-gnashingly good. Sigh.

And finally…Here’s wishing you all a very happy Christmas and a safe, healthy and peaceful New Year.

The painting is 'Mont St Michel from St Jean Le Thomas' by Tom Tomos
Labels:

Comments

Lane Mathias said…
Phew! I hope you're going to have a rest for a couple of days now:-)

Merry Christmas Chris and wishing you all good things for 2009. x
24 December 2008 at 03:39
Frances said…
Chris, I do like a happy ending. And, as a renter myself, appreciate every word you wrote!

However, I absolutely love happy endings, and am so glad that the flat tale is upbeat for now. Your holiday gallivanting sound exhausting, but also great fun.

Wish I could see that exhibit, but delighted to have seen Tom's beautiful painting.

Happy Christmas! xo
24 December 2008 at 04:44
Pat Posner said…
You've been busy!
I hope you and yours have a good Christmas and a healthy, peaceful 2009 filled with happy times.
So glad it ended happily for Lily and Russ.
The painting, as usual, is very evocative.

xxPat
24 December 2008 at 08:14
Deborah Carr (Debs) said…
So relieved Lily's flat/deposit was all sorted. It's horrible when things like that happen, especially to lovely people.

Love the painting (again!).

Hope you all have a fabulous Christmas and much success in 2009. x
24 December 2008 at 08:38
Flowerpot said…
Sounds like a hectic few days Chris - hope you have a peaceful (?!) and very happy Christmas. Glad that Lily and her partner have a roof over theor heads. Will make anote of that book - sounds good but I know what you mean about the teeth gnashing bit....!! Take care xx
24 December 2008 at 09:06
Fennie said…
Hello Chris!
Glad the renting story worked out. And I am with you in saying that everyone needs to be noticed. Everyone is worthy of respect. Every job is valuable. Do hope they get that bond sorted out though. Never been to the Museum of Modern Art - is it in Aberystwyth?
Jordan is not just a pretty face or a pretty anything else! But good for her I'd say.

Happy Christmas. Fenniexx
24 December 2008 at 09:49
Pondside said…
Well that one left me huffing and puffing - what a lot of ground you covered, Chris!
I'm glad to hear that your Lily's rental woes were a glitch and that she is still housed. Our Lilly is between apartments and getting worried that she might have to spend the next semester in her old bedroom. At this point she'd be looking with interest at anything - even a stable!
24 December 2008 at 15:37
CAMILLA said…
Hello Chris,

I am so pleased that Lily and Russ deposit for flat was eventually sorted out for them, that must have been such a worry for them.

My friend's son in London and his partner have rented their house out only to discover recently that the tennants have not paid the rent for over 5 months.

I love Tom's painting Chris.

Wishing you and your family a very Happy Christmas.

Love Camilla.xx
24 December 2008 at 17:44
Jenny Beattie said…
Wow! Hope you have a lovely christmas and new year. JJx
24 December 2008 at 19:36
Kitty said…
Happy Christmas and New Year Chris! And I hope you are now having a rest after all that frantic visiting and socialising. And hope that Lily's flat is sorted out now. x
28 December 2008 at 02:51
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My First Book Signing!

It’s a fine, dry day and there’s an Italian market in the square outside Waterstone’s. Good for a book signing? ‘Bad,’ says Tim. The stalls are blocking the view of the shop and the fine weather’s keeping everyone outdoors. Hmm, that must be why they’ve only put one small poster up for my event, I mean why waste the Blu Tack? Tim demonstrates handing off the marauding hordes After much refolding of a black tablecloth and a rummage around for some books, I’m invited to take up my position at the author table somewhere between ‘fantasy and horror’, children’s books and a poster of the next author, Bobby ‘Iron Duke’ Windsor who’s signing on Monday. Once Tom, Lily, my lovely daughter, and her partner, Russ, are all sure I’m not going to run away, they leave me to it, taking it in turns to make sure I’m all right and bring me tea. Very soon, I notice a small boy watching me. When he returns with his family I learn that he would like to be a writer. His method, he tells me, is to rewr...
42 comments
Read more

Since You've Been Gone

Well, Ma Mère, There have been so many times when I’ve gathered up all the little shiny moments I’ve collected during the day, ready to present to you in our evening phone call and then I remember all over again that you’re not there. But, Mum, so much has happened since you’ve gone - maybe you know, maybe you don’t - that I’ve decided to write to you instead.  A few days after you died, we sold our house! After all those months! We even joked about you rattling cages somewhere. At first, nothing happened and then suddenly everything happened at a breathless pace and the next thing I knew I found myself driving (yes, me, driving!) along the M4 to Bridgend and the Time Capsule House, the one you said you and Dad would have bought. I remarked, when we first viewed it that if it was meant for us, it would come to us. Over a year later, when it had been under offer twice, we moved in. Oh, Mum, you and Dad would have loved this house; it’s peak Seventies and the decor - the pampas ensu...
6 comments
Read more

Forever Young

Looking at the blurb for my new Lacura WrinkleStop from Aldi, I see that its active ingredient has been ‘proven to help • Reduce forehead wrinkles by 52% • Reduce crow’s feet by 24% • Restrict 82% of wrinkle muscle activity’ That’s quite a claim, isn’t it? Frankly, after years when my face looked like a lunar landscape thanks to the joys of acne, these days I’m just grateful to see a fairly blemish-free skin. Part of me wants to believe that the wonder cream’s making everything looking a bit smoother and tidier, but, hey, there’s also a lot of ‘aqua’ and ‘glycerin’ in the stuff, too. Besides, I could tamper with my skin as much as I like (and I don’t), but I’ve only got to stand next to my beautiful daughters to see the difference. Ma has wonderful skin, so the chances are there are some helpful genes in the mix, but my dad died far too young of cancer, so it’s not all good news. My dad was a carpenter. ‘You can’t get age from a tin, Miss Chris,’ he’d say when rubbing his hands o...
26 comments
Read more