Hi Francesca, I hadn't thought of it like that, but you are absolutely right: I was delighted to get the new cups but so much of the whole interaction was about people. I agree wholeheartedly with your point that we are losing human connections and I fear for our young people who get so used to text and email and don't spend enough face to face time with real human beings. Thanks so much for getting in touch and I am delighted you enjoyed my writing. Susy
I loved your article on Charleston Farmhouse. It holds too a special place in my heart. It was the subject of my art school thesis back in the eighties and continues to inspire me. The decorations at Berwick Church are also worth a visit. Thank you for all you’re doing with your writing. I’m a big fan! Marcia
Hi Marcia. Thank you for this vote of confidence. Delighted to hear you’re a fan! I also went to Berwick Church when I was last at Charleston in the summer. Amazing painting!
Hi, prior to our upcoming (hopefully😬) house move we have done this. A dinner service has departed as it wasn’t used very much. Christmas China sold because Christmases aren’t as formal as before. I have reduced down children’s memorabilia to one medium box. It’s well worth doing.
Oh good luck with your house move. Now THAT is a REALLY stressful experience! I think they place it second only to bereavement in the anxiety-inducing stakes. Im really hoping I don't ever have to do it again. You are so sensible to sort out and get rid of things before you move. Otherwise, in my experience, they just sit in boxes for years in the new place until you get around to sorting them.
Hi Sue, Really glad you enjoyed my late summer flowers piece a few weeks ago. The pictures were nice and colourful weren't they? Your garden in Italy is going to be so different with lots of new challenges. There is a lovely, rocky cliff garden in the dry South of France where the owner has lots of clipped shrubs and euphorbia characias wulfenii. I just wish I could remember the name of it. I'll get back to you if I do. It just might give you some inspiration. With regard to opening my garden, I just don't feel up to it. I never feel it's good enough and I see it as a very private space. Opening our garden in Hampshire was a big undertaking and I don't think I would want to do it again. Hope you keep reading Home Truths, even when you're further afield.
Hi Madeleine, Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean, and it is especially the uncovering of problems that one hadn't bargained for that cause the greatest angst. My floor sander was just telling me they went to do a sitting room for one customer but when they took the carpet up there weren't any floorboards there - someone had replaced them with chipboard! Our floor sanders - having started two days late because of another job running late, are now working against the clock to get finished by tomorrow night so the carpenter and fireplace man can come in on Wednesday. We are checking into a hotel for tomorrow night and the dog is going to my girls, so the newly painted floor in the hall can dry. Like you, I'm sure, I can't wait for it all to be over and to have the house back to ourselves!
Oh how excellent they preserved the tiles, Sally. I think there is much more awareness these days of just how special these historical items are. In the past, beautiful buildings were demolished and countless treasures destroyed because they were seen as old fashioned and valueless
Hi Jill. Thank you for getting in touch. How interesting to hear your story - life was so much harder for most people in those days wasn’t it? Being left to look after eight children on her own must have made life so gruelling for your great grandmother and it’s .pretty remarkable your Grandpa did so well in those circumstances. All best, Susy
Hi Geraldine. Thanks so much for getting in touch and for saying you enjoyed the post. How lovely that you are so pleased with your cardigan. And funny that it's turquoise - it seems to be a very "in" colour at the moment. It could all have gone so wrong, especially when you crochet and presumably are very particular. Im delighted it all worked out as you'd hoped.
Oh no Denise, what a shame you didn't like the replacement bowl. It's always tricky getting something made, as you're never quite sure what it will be like. And very disappointing, especially when you have to pay a lot for it. We are all too kind really, we should be honest with people, but it is hard when it feels like a personal judgement on their work. Thanks for getting in touch. Glad my writing struck a chord with you. Susy
Thank you Lynne. Glad you like it. NOOO I’m not ready. Got the tree, got the logs, ordered the turkey, but it’s all coming round too fast! Happy Christmas to you x
Thank you so much for this comment. Garden tools - yes - I too have some of my father’s - a hoe, an edge cutter, shears and the most important of all to me is my dad’s garden riddle. I used to watch him driving the soul for his vegetable garden. It now hangs above the back door in my kitchen with a row of several others.
What a fabulous memory to hold onto. Tables seem such simple things and yet, when you use the same one for many years, they can be wonderful reminders of important and emotional times spent with those we love.
Hi Francesca, I hadn't thought of it like that, but you are absolutely right: I was delighted to get the new cups but so much of the whole interaction was about people. I agree wholeheartedly with your point that we are losing human connections and I fear for our young people who get so used to text and email and don't spend enough face to face time with real human beings. Thanks so much for getting in touch and I am delighted you enjoyed my writing. Susy
I loved your article on Charleston Farmhouse. It holds too a special place in my heart. It was the subject of my art school thesis back in the eighties and continues to inspire me. The decorations at Berwick Church are also worth a visit. Thank you for all you’re doing with your writing. I’m a big fan! Marcia
Hi Marcia. Thank you for this vote of confidence. Delighted to hear you’re a fan! I also went to Berwick Church when I was last at Charleston in the summer. Amazing painting!
Hi, prior to our upcoming (hopefully😬) house move we have done this. A dinner service has departed as it wasn’t used very much. Christmas China sold because Christmases aren’t as formal as before. I have reduced down children’s memorabilia to one medium box. It’s well worth doing.
No surprise Ruth. You seem to dovetail with me on so many subjects!
Oh good luck with your house move. Now THAT is a REALLY stressful experience! I think they place it second only to bereavement in the anxiety-inducing stakes. Im really hoping I don't ever have to do it again. You are so sensible to sort out and get rid of things before you move. Otherwise, in my experience, they just sit in boxes for years in the new place until you get around to sorting them.
Hi Sue, Really glad you enjoyed my late summer flowers piece a few weeks ago. The pictures were nice and colourful weren't they? Your garden in Italy is going to be so different with lots of new challenges. There is a lovely, rocky cliff garden in the dry South of France where the owner has lots of clipped shrubs and euphorbia characias wulfenii. I just wish I could remember the name of it. I'll get back to you if I do. It just might give you some inspiration. With regard to opening my garden, I just don't feel up to it. I never feel it's good enough and I see it as a very private space. Opening our garden in Hampshire was a big undertaking and I don't think I would want to do it again. Hope you keep reading Home Truths, even when you're further afield.
Hi Madeleine, Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean, and it is especially the uncovering of problems that one hadn't bargained for that cause the greatest angst. My floor sander was just telling me they went to do a sitting room for one customer but when they took the carpet up there weren't any floorboards there - someone had replaced them with chipboard! Our floor sanders - having started two days late because of another job running late, are now working against the clock to get finished by tomorrow night so the carpenter and fireplace man can come in on Wednesday. We are checking into a hotel for tomorrow night and the dog is going to my girls, so the newly painted floor in the hall can dry. Like you, I'm sure, I can't wait for it all to be over and to have the house back to ourselves!
Oh how excellent they preserved the tiles, Sally. I think there is much more awareness these days of just how special these historical items are. In the past, beautiful buildings were demolished and countless treasures destroyed because they were seen as old fashioned and valueless
Oh wow, Ruth, that sounds really special - how amazing you should discover it was in your family.
Hi Jill. Thank you for getting in touch. How interesting to hear your story - life was so much harder for most people in those days wasn’t it? Being left to look after eight children on her own must have made life so gruelling for your great grandmother and it’s .pretty remarkable your Grandpa did so well in those circumstances. All best, Susy
Hi Geraldine. Thanks so much for getting in touch and for saying you enjoyed the post. How lovely that you are so pleased with your cardigan. And funny that it's turquoise - it seems to be a very "in" colour at the moment. It could all have gone so wrong, especially when you crochet and presumably are very particular. Im delighted it all worked out as you'd hoped.
Oh no Denise, what a shame you didn't like the replacement bowl. It's always tricky getting something made, as you're never quite sure what it will be like. And very disappointing, especially when you have to pay a lot for it. We are all too kind really, we should be honest with people, but it is hard when it feels like a personal judgement on their work. Thanks for getting in touch. Glad my writing struck a chord with you. Susy
Thank you Lynne. Glad you like it. NOOO I’m not ready. Got the tree, got the logs, ordered the turkey, but it’s all coming round too fast! Happy Christmas to you x
Thank you so much for this comment. Garden tools - yes - I too have some of my father’s - a hoe, an edge cutter, shears and the most important of all to me is my dad’s garden riddle. I used to watch him driving the soul for his vegetable garden. It now hangs above the back door in my kitchen with a row of several others.
What a fabulous memory to hold onto. Tables seem such simple things and yet, when you use the same one for many years, they can be wonderful reminders of important and emotional times spent with those we love.
Thank you Jane. So pleased you enjoyed it. Sounds like you have a pretty extensive collection there despite not having your Grandma’s mint roller!