Rose, my baby, is moving into a new flat... and this time she’s taking her books. After a year of renting a room in a house (albeit one belonging to a fireman), Rose is setting up home with her boyf, the lovely Si. I’m really proud that my daughters are capable, independent women who have had the courage to make tough decisions; Lily’s path, carving out a life in the city where she went to university has taken her through some hard and lonely times to reach a place of happiness. Rose, too, had to make tough choices when she struck out on her own. I hope I’ve encouraged the girls; certainly I’ve always believed that the sooner you make your own life the more you’ll get out of it. But when Rose asked if I could bring her books with me when Tom and I head back to help with her move, I realised that my daughters had finally left home.
Books have always been special and I know how much Rose is looking forwards to having hers around her, but it still felt strange packing them up and seeing the chapters in Rose’s early life laid out before me; A Necklace of Raindrops, The Dancing Bear, Oryx and Crake, A Book of Middle English, Rough Guide to Tanzania, countless others too – such evocative reminders.
I’ve always been very protective of my own books (okay, you could accuse me of being a bit anal about them). I’m extremely careful with new books (I’m one of those people who never breaks the spine or folds the corners of the pages over) and I like them to be arranged in a particular order (no, not alphabetical – I have my own system, thank you). So when Tom and I moved in to our first home one of the first things Dad did for us was to fit some gorgeous ash book-cases into the recesses either side of the chimney breast. Tom looked at the book-cases, squeezed my hand and said, ‘I’m really looking forwards to putting our books out and seeing them all mixed together’. Unfortunately, I wasn’t quick enough to wipe the look of horror off my face before he saw it, but at that stage I really felt quite faint at the all mixed together bit. There was quite a lot of reassuring to do and a few ruffled feathers to smooth after that, but we got there in the end.
We’re still trying to leave our own home – or at least the old one, although no one seems interested at the moment. In the meantime a series of ‘possibles’, including the pretty stone cottage in the middle of nowhere, have sold, so today we’re off with Ma to see what else is out there. After a wet, cold summer we’ve had some sunshine and it looks glorious out there today. Who knows what we’ll find?
Cardiff Half Marathon Training
Runner’s World SmartCoach Programme Week 11 = 24 miles. Lots of travelling to do over the next few days so I think the schedule is going to take a battering – hope my legs don’t forget what to do.
Image is 'Abstract 1' by Tom Tomos
Comments
lx
Good luck with the selling, a beastly business.
Lovely post today - full of that poignant feeling between loss and pride.
Good luck with the training - and think of me on Sunday at the GNR!
Best of luck with the house hunting, hopefully things will start to move soon.
Love, love the painting.
With you on the non-mixing of each others books on the book shelves, shuddered at the thought!
Good luck with house hunting.
JJ - you are so right - they are fab ;)
Thanks. Liz.
Pip, it's funny how significant the books seem.
gaelikaa, I'm sure anyone reading your blog would know that you are already there. Everything's in place for when the time comes for your children to leave.
Milla, it's Michael Morpurgo. Know what you mean about Margaret Atwood.
Pondside, I think Ma already ditched the Lego so I can't pass it on. Thanks.
FP... hmmm, all that scope to put your own books wherever you liked. We had quite a few books on the old boat but they weren't quite the same after the boat sank!
PM, phew! Glad it's not just me. Yes, I sometimes look at the schedule and think, 'Oh great - only 6m today' - then you know you've made SOME progress (I'm not going to say anything I might regret on 18 October!).
Debs, and to you. Yes, it will be strange when James leaves - good luck to both of you.
bradan - another one, phew! I'm glad your daughter has her accommodation sorted out. Not usually much room for them to store stuff even if they're not kicked on in the holidays. Looks as if her books are safe with you for now.
Brown Dog, I've hung on to 'The Brambley Hedge' collection on the basis that both girls can read it here - but so can I. 'The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark' is another read that brings the memories flooding back so, yes, 'Mr Grumpy's Outing' will be a tough one to let go when the time comes!
Elizabeth, that's very true - I do relish that adult-to-adult time.
SBS - there is a story about that but I can't say here!
Sheepish, thank you for that. You've been so brave, I do admire how you've carried on (sorry, so difficult to write in a comment without sounding glib or trite.)
Must admit to them being all mixed together though! Just about have a separation between fiction and non-fic!
Good luck with all that's going on for you at the moment.
Good luck with propertyhunting! Can't persuade you to ocme to Brittany? Landscape the same and its just as wet here!
As for the house hunting - I believe in fate here. Your new home isn't ready for you yet, that's why you haven't sold. It'll happen when it's the right time.xx
Good luck with the house hunting.
As for books I arrange mine as regards their category or sometimes their colour - well they have to look good don't they!!
Good luck with the house-hunting - maybe you will find another pretty little stone cottage - hope weather continues to stay fine for you too.
Jeanne x
She's still your little girl isn't she. I have it all to come and I already dread the day Idle Jack leaves home (whatever I say about him!)
Best wishes to Rosie and to you. perhaps the househunting will be good distraction?
A time of change in your household. It will be fine, I'm sure.
warmest wishes
xx
Your girls seem strong and capable, you've done the best a mother can do.
I'm with you on the books - can't bear to break the spine. Have you seen the picture of Neil Gaiman's library over on his blog? That's what I aspire to :-)
UPL, you can pretend she still there whilst the books are there. Hmm, good point about the rain in Brittany - and I think my French is about as rubbish as my Welsh so no probs there!
Woozle - I do hope you are right about houses. The ones we like keep dropping off the list and we are now trying to see the merit in the downright ugly places!
Expatmum - but think of all the lovely writing you'll do!
Fennie, that's a very sweet story about the handwriting. No wonder you don't want to part with them.
Jeanne, I laughed at your colour co-ordinated books, but given how beautiful the photos are of your home and garden I'm not suprised. Lovely!
BSM (still want to call you Angel though!) thank you for your good wishes. Lots of changes at the moment, yes, we'll see what happens.
Patsy, it will be lovely when your books come out of storage though, you'll be able to discover them all over again!
Tam, hello! I don't know whether to pop over and look at Neil's library or not... I might spend the rest of the week rearranging all my books!
Changes, the only constant. Ensuring that life never gets boring.