Tuesday, October 23, 2007

if you've got the tea, I've got the sympathy

Some times I think that blogging isn’t really the medium for me (did I mention I haven’t posted anything for ages?) and when I look at some of the struggling diary writers from whom I draw inspiration; Wife in the North, Ann Frank, I just don’t know how they keep it up. Anyway, let’s try and get this show back on the road. I’m afraid I have been unavoidably lying in a dark room recovering my composure lately (Did I mention I’ve been lying in a dark room recovering my composure?) after I came out of the butchers one day ( I always like to get some chicken for the girls and myself during the week as when I offer my husband a bit of breast or leg he just turns his nose up. Ffion gets her stuff there you know. She's lovely and her husband’s away lot too. I must ask her about what it is he does) when someone leaned out of a passing car's passenger window and asked me 'are you local?' She went on to ask which way it was to the northern heartlands and I told her I thought she probably needed to come off at the next junction on the motorway. After the car drove off I’m afraid that having someone even consider the possibility that I was a northerner caused a delayed shock and I came over all unnecessary.

It was just fortunate that my friend the nurse was nearby and she helped me back to her place. I came round in what I at first thought must be the scene of some kind of terrible accident in an MDF factory but then I realised it was her kitchen. ‘Would you like a cup of tea Rilly?’ said the nurse, reassuringly. ‘I wouldn't say no to a double decaf blue mountain skinny cinnamon latte’ I said. ‘Sorry, I seem to be right out of that’, she said, peering into her cupboard. ‘G&T?’ she proffered. ‘Make it a double’, I said, not wanting to be churlish and refuse her hospitality. ‘Nice kitchen’, I said, looking around. Perhaps I had been unconcious for so long that chipboard and formica were making a comeback now. My nurse friend smiled. ‘You know dear, you could get a kitchen twice as big as this one with an aga and an American fridge if you downshifted’. I told her. She smiled and handed me my drink. ‘You just give up work, buy a couple of houses, knock them through, call it a cottage and, err, that’s it’. I noticed some photographs on the window sill. ‘Is that your husband?' I asked. She nodded. ‘We’re divorced’, she said. ‘shift work, you know, takes it’s toll on a relationship’. I felt that now it was my turn to offer sympathy. ‘I know what it’s like’, I said, ‘being alone, I mean’. She nodded. ‘I miss my husband terribly’ I continued. She smiled weakly. ‘I only get to spend time with him at weekends, holidays, Christmas, the children’s birthdays, our anniversary, weddings, Valentines Day…’ I stopped as I could see my nurse friend was unaccustomed to receiving such moral support instead of providing it. ‘Thank you Rilly’ she said. ‘You’re a rock’ . I smiled. I just hoped she meant I was a southern rock, and not a northern one , and I downed my drink and smiled as we both soaked up the descending silence of mutual understanding.

34 comments:

Mopsa said...

Ah Rilly, you are spoiling us with your Ferrari kitchen speak. Thank you, or should I say Ta?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P-nZZkQqTc

debio said...

What a relief to have you back, rilly.

Fun, fun, fun....

Penny Pincher said...

Really Rilly - there is no one like you on the blogosphere. Although the Wifey has managed to get sense of humour back into her posts lately; your humour is less - subtle - and more supple, if you get my meaning.

Welcome back - I hope you're now fully recovered and have your composure back full time and in spades [ or whatever the saying is].

Re your comment on mine - I hope my answer will entice you to partake in the Quiz. It would be fascinating to find out what anwer your fine mind would come up with.

Also - one little point - just a friendly hint but you may not realise that down south the old formica, MDF, 1950's look kitchen is now all the rage ...

Perhaps you shuld think of re-doing yours?

aims said...

Rilly darling - such a good post - I read it twice to prolong the shivery feeling it gave me...

I especially liked - "and I came over all unnecessary."

Eats Wombats said...

Top formica old gel!

Pig in the Kitchen said...

How lovely that you have found a friend dearest rilly. I know what you mean about Ann Frank, so dismal to be locked in a small room, whatEVER does she find to write about?
I hope you are fully recovered. And how good to have you back.
Pigx

Mr Farty said...

Mmmm formica. Takes me back to t'days of t'tin bath in the kitchen, wooden clothes pegs, tripping over next door's t'dog. Happy times!

Mutterings and Meanderings said...

Eee lass, good to see you. Must've made that nurse's year having your understanding shoulder to cry on.

Frog in the Field said...

Poor Rilly,
I shudder at th thought of all that MDF!
You are very funny, so glad you're writing again.

Vanessa said...

Formica?? Horrors! You mean that not everyone has bespoke oak with granite worktops? Grim or what?

Potty Mummy said...

Reminds me of the time I was in my husband's home town in the South of Holland and a tourist asked me the way to the herring shop. Oh, the shame that she thought I looked like I would know the answer...

@themill said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
@themill said...

So glad you're back, Rilly. I was beginning to worry that the builders had bricked you into the arches.
Sorry about the deleted comment above - too many spelling mistooks - must be bedtime.

Flowerpot said...

we've missed you rilly, as you can see. Hope your sojourn has been fruitful and so glad to see you havent gone all teetotal on us.

Mopsa said...

Rilly - I have just seen your comment on Chippy Dale's book review - It has taken me a while to wipe all the tears and snot off my keyboard. Laugh? I nearly bust a vital organ.

Swearing Mother said...

Hiya Rilly, nice to read you again. Coming over all unnecessary is nasty, glad to hear you've regain your balance!

Catherine said...

I'm so glad you've got a nice friend Rilly, even if she doesn't have the right sort of kitchen. And being, divorced, she'll make you appreciate how lucky you are to have a husband at all, even if he is never there ... and has such a close relationship with his assistant. But lets not carp.

toby said...

Would it be impolite to request a post about your charming daughters' almost-half-brother?

I am slightly shocked by the lack of curiosity from your readers about the stain on your wedding dress. Or is that normal behaviour in posh circles?

Anonymous said...

Cakey Pig! Donkey!

Anonymous said...

Rilly, please can I scrounge a little favour, if poss ? You have reminded me, in your post about Ffion, that Welsh and Yorkshire couples, backed up by the fact that those two helped each other out in the Wars of the Roses, are destined to get on well.

So do you know any scrummy single Yorkshire lasses up there that you could put a 'word in' for, on my behalf ? Obviously my first choice would you be your good self, but I see that sadly you are already taken..sigh..

I hope you can help, and you know what they say, hope springs eternal...

Ms Baroque said...

Rilly dear, you are a genius. I may just downsize, you know; I knew there was a creative solution just round the corner... that nurse is very silly if she doesn;t listen to you and do the same.

lady macleod said...

I know just what you mean darling about the 'finer' things; I just had as many Starbucks Lattes as I could fit into two weeks, and those must last until Istanbul..but that's a whole other kind of coffee yes?

I can't comment on the kitchen, you KNOW I never go into that room of the house...

Chris at 'Chrissie's Kitchen' said...

Rilly, I'm quite concerned. You & me both have been a bit overtheway lately. Thanks for your 'keeping in touch'. Appreciated. Somehow I feel that maybe you're a teenieweenie bit depressed (or bored)or something. (I am a (white) witch after all)
I'd love to give you my contact address - any ideas?

Love Lizzie xx

Penny Pincher said...

Now all at once - to music. Cue >

Oh Dear what can the matter be?
Dear old Rilly's not been seen since Saturday?

Pig in the Kitchen said...

Donde estas Rilly?

Milf Gone Wild said...

Darling just found your blog and I think we are kindred spirits. I am going through a rather dark spell myself.

Mr Farty said...

Hellair? Rilly?

Liz said...

Well, wife in the north may not be your cup of cappucino or cocoa, but at least she is a little original. How galling for you that that she is the one with the book contract. What is it they say about imitation? Pastiche a fairly easy form for anyone with GCSE English, and that you have so many admirers reminds me of those same six formers who snigger at the newcomer. Too easy.

Anonymous said...

rilly - where are thou?

rilly super said...

mopsa dear, I know it's taken a month to reply but thanks for dopping by. I have emailed the ambassador to offer to let him hold his parties at my house in case he runs out of space at the embassy

debio, good to be back too

lady thinker, oh dear, it seems that I have been up north too long. I wondered why there were all those london tourists looking into the skip when I did my kitchen up, now I know

aims darling, you always give me shivery feeling too, and I'm sure it's not just the rather wintery scene that accompanys your comments

eats wombats, formica top old chap, not top formica!

thanks PITK, jolly nice to see you too. that Frank girl doesn't fo anything for me but she has got a film and musical out of it so she must be doing something right, sigh

my farty, takes you back to the days of tin baths and wooden clothes pegs you say? that only takes you back to last Tuesday around here you know, sigh

Penny Pincher said...

Well Rilly - as soon as I found your note on mine I rushed over. what a huge releief to know you are alive and well. For a couple of weeks there I thought the WITN had knifed you in the back. Take care dear.

Single Mother on the Verge said...

ooo be careful of MDF, it can give you cancer, you know.

Sparx said...

Well perhaps if you downshifted to some cottages you'd see more of your husband? Have another double dearie, it all looks better that way

Chris at 'Chrissie's Kitchen' said...

Oh, Rilly. What to say? M.Y.D.
Love Lizzie xx