Resting Places; Take Two
At Tom’s,
I stop to browse the shelves; to see what’s new,
- Browse the shelves
- and see what’s new
to post a letter,
and discuss the weather
and the state of the nation,
and the state of the street, and the theme of the week.

Hairy Maclary, from Donaldson’s Dairy, and Friends “hungrily sniffing and licking their chops, they followed him past the school and the shops”
And catch, if I can, the tales, that Mavis
must tell, of Mrs Carbuncle’s feet.
If I linger long, and lost, in Nancy’s garden of notes,

Roses by Nancy Tichborne
I am bound to hear of Audrey’s Jim, who’s rowed ever so well in the Maadi Cup,
and big brother Ben, who’s working in London and enjoying the slum of his OE* flat,
whilst Susan’s Prudence has had enough and is heading back home, come next June, to give little Johnny and Sam the chance of living close to Nan, and squelching their toes in the soil of the land.
And I will hear Tom say, with wisdom and care, ‘That’ll be twenty, today, Alastair, and Margaret’s magazine will be here next week. See you then. ”
A few blocks north and it’s time to sit,
in an old barber’s chair, where a golden-haired maiden, elegant and thin,
washes and trims this gossip’s, (yours truly 🙂 ), grey mane ,
whilst we discuss the earthquakes, the state of repairs,
and her good young man who knows how to cook and take care of the kids.
And, as we engage in idle chatter, Hamish and Ryan wriggle and squirm on the bench by the door,
waiting their turn (no appointments necessary) for a short back and sides, because Mum, flipping texts and pages, said that they must,
all oblivious to the fact that once, over there, Charlie stood,
and sold a half loaf of bread to Martha and Fred, and a scoop of sugar for Mother’s tea.
Only Mother said could they have it on tick, because baby Mabel is sick, and Pa’s got no work till next Tuesday week.
And kind Charlie nodded, and sighed, with wisdom and care, and allowed them to add broken biscuits for free, because he knew Billy and Annie would pay when they could. Then he secured the safe in the floor,
- The safe in the floor
and went to his home, out the back door,
where his Kathleen played and the dog kept watch. And Charlie was content that, at least, for this day, he had food in the larder, stock in his shop and a place to stop, with his lovely Louisa and daughters, two.
- Charlie’s little girl
- Charlie’s dog
The shop, which is now Madisons for Haircuts, was operated (owned?) by my grandfather for a few years, from 1921. It is one of the few physical reminders of our family history that survived the earthquakes.
[This will be my last post for a few weeks. I will be taking a rest from writing my blog as I will be busy with house guests until early April. I will try, as best as I can, to read your blogs and comments but I may not be as active as usual.]
*OE means Overseas Experience, a little like a Gap Year.
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What a charming post, Gallivanta! 🙂 I’ve often seen your name on comments as I breezed by but don’t think I’ve had the pleasure till today. Thanks for taking first leap 🙂
Thank you for coming to visit me. It’s very hard to keep up with everyone one would like to. Lots of resting places are required to sustain the real life world and the internet one. 🙂
I was really busy and had some visitors too and didn’t check friends blog! Just now I read your post and got you’ve been busy too😃
Happy to see your beautiful posts, pictures again😃❤️❤️❤️
Yes, we have been busy in much the same way. 🙂
The Barber shop is so nice I think! Not so usual nowadays?
Not very usual at all.
Is everything alright, Gallivanta? You were going to organize your spare room and that was the last we heard from you – 17 days ago. I just want to make certain you are well and all is A-OK.
Thank you kindly for your concern GP. All is well. But I can’t believe 17 days have already gone by! I have been busy and happy with wonderful visitors. They leave tomorrow and I shall be sad, for a while, in the quietness of my house. I hope to be back on WordPress by the end of the week. Looking forward to catching up on everything.
Thanks for getting back so quickly – just wanted to be sure you were alright. Glad you’ve been enjoying the company of friends!
With guests and sightseeing and meal planning etc I haven’t been able to keep up with WordPress as well. 😦 But you are a good friend to check on me 🙂
Thank you for the lovely post – really enjoyed reading it. Best wishes for your break and time with your guests. 🙂
Thank you, Sharifah. So far we have been blessed with beautiful weather which is wonderful for sight seeing and general guest activities.
I have read it all in a wild round dance of metrical feet now what o.O
A polka? A jig? A tarantella? What do you think? After all, it is my birthday today. 😀
an extended limerick with sonnets and haikus?
yaaaaay! happy happy birthday, dear gallivanta! 😀
And it was a very happy birthday even though no limericks were forthcoming from my ageing brain! Sonnets and haikus were absent too. 😉
we all age once we’re born 😛
glad to hear it was a very happy one. may the new gallivanta year be like a pearl necklace of very happy days.
funny though that I wrote about jewellery the day of your birthday… hehe.
Yes, I saw that. I had a quick peek. It’s lovely to know that some jewellers are taking environmental issues seriously. I must confess I can be very good re the environment concerning clothes, food, cosmetics etc but jewellery is a great weakness of mine. If it’s beautiful, I just want it and I can blot the environment out of the equation. 😦 But I am trying to improve, (with age) on this weakness.
there’s brilliant earth you could consider (link in the post, some place on top). they ship for free to australia and they work with recycled metals and with canadian diamonds which are per definitionem conflict-free.
(sadly they don’t ship AT ALL to germany)
and tracy has a collection called “reflection” (http://tracymatthews.com/reflection-december) – I love those pieces too, somewhat edgy yet glamourous, and I don’t need to pick my auntses old jewels apart to get those ;). have put a few items on my wishlist ^^ my birthday is in may, so I might as well spoil myself, hehe
Brilliant Earth is beautiful. Tracy Matthews too. So spoil away!
what lovely glimpses of your life! I have been scrolling through my reading list, hoping to see one of your posts come up… and this was a lovely one to start with! I hope the last couple of months have treated you well. Looking forward to catching up more now that I am home 🙂 x
Miss Marzipan! How lovely to see you again. I have been wondering about your whereabouts. I am sure you are glad to be home but also missing your Australian family. Hopefully the worst of the Northern winter is over and you can move straight in to a glorious spring :).
Beautiful account of ones daily adventures!! I love Hairy Maclary – as do my children 🙂
Makes me feel like I am there – reading your words and looking at your pictures… the details of so many lives, what provides a community with a sense of ‘community’ Knowing each other, and sharing and caring…. sometimes gossiping, but mostly caring and being there when it counts.
I hope you have a wonderful time entertaining your guests over the next few weeks 🙂
ML
♥
Thank you dear Miss Lou; a caring member of my online community. 🙂
*huggles*
♥
I find your ability to create extraordinary moment within a ordinary day, to be absolutely remarkable. A wonderful post.
“…and it occurred to me, with the forcefulness of a thought experienced in 360 degrees, that that’s really what history mostly is: masses of people doing ordinary things.” Bill Bryson, At Home: A Short History of Private Life
A charming quote Clanmother. And perfectly suited to the past two hours that I have spent on family history. So many ordinary events contributing to my family story, and, to comprehend it all, I felt that I needed 360 degree vision. Perhaps that is why some people prefer to keep their family history in a family tree ring format http://www.familyatyourfingertips.com/the-family-tree-rings.html
Love this! Absolutely adorable, the charming little details of your day. Have fun with your guests – enjoy some tea and tears and smiles and laughter – you see, I know what will happen! 🙂
Yes, the tea and tears, smiles and laughter, are well under way. You know exactly how it is. 🙂
Thank you for sharing a part of your daily life – a stroll, a feeling of being with you and listening to the conversations. A poetic journey accompanied by lovely photos and lovely you! I do wish you a pleasant and entertaining time with your visitors. I know they will have a great time in your care – see you soon!
I am missing our daily communication but have had a lovely time with my first visitor. I am now preparing for my next guests who arrive at the airport on Wednesday.
Missing you too – but have a great time until we hear from you again!
Thanks for letting us take part in your life, I enjoyed this post very much. Enjoy the time with your guests, have a great time! 🙂
Love, Dina and Klausbernd
and Siri and Selma say hellooooo, too! 🙂
I have had a wonderful weekend with my first house guest. My next guests arrive on Wednesday. Special hello back to Siri and Selma. They would love all the new books that have arrived on my doorstep this week.
Have a lovely time with your guests. 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I’m still enjoying discovering your world – everything from the books to the foods to the lovely notecards. I have no doubt you’ll show your guests the same lovely time you show your blog visitors. Enjoy your time with them. We’ll just poke around a bit while you’re gone….
You are so right. I have just taken my guest for a tour around the city and shown her many of the things I have shown you on my blog. 🙂 We have a beautiful day for gallivanting/sightseeing.
So neat to visit history and see how new ones are being made. Enjoy the time with your guests!
Thank you Mary. I collect my first guest from the airport this afternoon.
Enjoy your guests … ours have just left, meaning I have time for the blogging world again, time to browse and catch up on the news, just like you did so beautifully in your lovely post 🙂
First guest arrives tomorrow. You did well to post so much whilst your guests were with you. I guess it’s a little bit 😦 now they have left.
they are safely back in Paris and I had a quick phonecall from them tonight ….. only 2 months and we will be over there to see them 🙂
How lovely 🙂
What a vivid post, I almost feel like being there myself! I’ll miss your WordPress presence but I do wish you a great, joyful time with your visitors!
Thanks Tamara. I won’t be away too long. Time will fly.
🙂
Thanks Gallivanta for taking, us along in making, this poetic journey! Enjoy your guests, and take a deserved rest, from blogging too. Will miss you.
I feel a little guilty abandoning online friends for real life friends because you are all precious, but I am not a very good multi-tasker, so this blogging break seems the best way to go. Bumble’s story should be here soon, so you will be in my thoughts during my break.
🙂 Have a delightful break!
that was a very beautiful post.
felt like we were inside the NZ version of a Miss Read Novel (in a very good way).
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/apr/12/miss-read
Oh, thank you, *tg*. I feel honoured.
Gallivanta, my dear friend, you are wonderful and I want to send you loads of love and gorgeousness. Lucky house guests to be sharing your time and energy. Will keep you updated xxx
Thank you, thank you. I don’t know how you will have time to let me know, but perhaps Ads could be persuaded to send me an email???
What a great tour with you as a wise docent to fill in the history as well as place. Enjoy your visitors and your virtual friends will await your return.
How lovely to be called a docent. 🙂 Will be back with you all before too long.
What a delightful journey you treated us to. The photos enriched the whole story so well. Enjoy a break with your guests and we’ll welcome you back when you return.
Thank you Mary. I am looking forward to reading your posts when I come back.
Have fun with your house guests! We have a Hairy Maclary book which I had forgotten about 🙂
Thanks Cath. Hairy Maclary is a wonderful character. If you have the book nearby you could read it to your canine boarders!
Alas, it is thousands of miles away! But that’s a good idea to placate a dog missing his owner 🙂
My dog groomer reads to the dogs he has at home. He read to them during the earthquakes!
I bet they needed the reassurance particularly then. What a good idea 🙂
I can see you now, searching for suitable literature for your boarders 🙂 :D.
How lovely to accompany you on your errands today!
Glad to have you along. Did you enjoy your time at the hairdresser’s? 😉
Quite wonderful!
🙂
Lovely post which shows how interwoven our lives are. Enjoy your house guests and please, please no need to try to keep up with my blog. See you in April. 😉
I’ll be looking forward to catching up again. I enjoy your outings.
How perfectly lovely!
Thank you Cindy. 🙂
I found this post really poetic! Good to hear your family will be around the following days. Enjoy the break 🙂
Thanks Virginia. I wish all my outings were that peaceful!
Enjoy a wonderful time with your guests! 🙂
Thanks Sheryl. It will be fun.
Lovely illustrations!
Thank you 🙂
A perfect post for this morning’s blogging time…I feel like I was right there (maybe in a corner) watching it all. Have a lovely blog break, enjoy your guests and (I guess) Happy Birthday…
Thank you! I wondered if that was you that I caught in the corner of my eye 😉 . Yes, another birthday soon. I will try to keep calm and enjoy it.
Lovely meanderings.
Meanderings; the perfect word for what I do. 🙂
Have a lovely visit with your guests.
🙂
What a lovely day around town! Have a wonderful break and enjoy your guests!
It will be strange not to visit WordPress every day :(. I will miss you all.
Feel like a leisure day you had. Wonderful to follow along 🙂
Please have a nice break…
Thank you YC. If the weather is good, I will be doing some sight seeing with my guests, so I should have some interesting new photos when I get back to blogging.
That sounds very good. I am looking forward to see the photos and the stories 🙂
🙂
I loved it!
Seems like several of us are busy with projects. I found I was starting to get stressed, something I avoid at all cost. I want blogging to stay a fun journey, best to break when needed.
Thank you for the birthday wish. It’s so much nicer being able to share it with you. You have a lovely birthday, too. Sounds as if you’ve already invited your birthday guests… Should be perfect! 🙂
That’s true. It wasn’t really planned that way, but it just happened to work out that one of the visits coincides with my birthday.
Fabulous story, very very creative and extremely charming, well done 🙂 ps have a nice bloggy break 😉
I will, thank you. But I am sure I will check in a few times just to see what everyone is up to :).
No matter what the hardship, your people are strong and your country survives – in the meantime, you supply us with interesting posts!
I think we have inherited a little resilience from our pioneering ancestors. 🙂
The genes are there.
🙂
What I like best about your post is the sense of interconnectedness, among family, generations, townspeople. It’s a special feeling to live where your family has a history and deep roots, and you convey that so well!! Have a fun break with your guests! I’ll miss you.
I am touched that you find that I convey history and deep roots. I have struggled for years to know where my roots are and have often felt very alien in my surroundings. Perhaps, at last, in a quiet way, my feet are finding a foothold and maybe my heart too. Thanks for missing me :).
Very poetic. Glad to see you’re a Nancy Tichborne fan as well.
Oh, absolutely I am. I love her work.
I always love your posts they are always for me so calming and interesting. You enjoy your guests and give them your full attention as they deserve. I can already smell the goodies you make for htem in your kitchen……..
I’ll miss you but I now you will be back. Enjoy every moment and stay in the presence. Much love Ute x
Thanks Ute, and I am already thinking about what I will bake. I will probably start with a rhubarb cake because I still have lots of rhubarb in the garden. It’s nice to know I’ll be missed 🙂 but you may see me pop up in a few comments now and again!
It was nice sharing your day and memories with you. Enjoy your houseguests!
Thank you April. I am going to spend the next few days preparing the spare room. It has been out of use for awhile and needs some organisation!
Loved the gentle rhythm of your chores, so much more exciting than mine!!! Have a lovely rest and time with your guests x
Mmmm….well….they probably aren’t all that exciting but, these days, I much prefer visiting shops where I don’t have to hurry and where there’s friendly customer service. Thanks for your good wishes. I hope I can offer my guests better weather than what we’ve been having so far this autumn.
An old meaning of gossip is ‘talking comfort’, which I suspect is what you were doing.
Yes, Ruth, you are quite right. I love the old meanings for the word gossip. I think they are wonderful.
What a delightful taste of your neighbourhood, your day, and your life. Have a good break. I’ve been occupied with the big project, so have not been such a regular visitor or blog poster over the last few weeks. We bloggers need to find our rhythm, don’t we?
Thank you Juliet. Your big project sounds exciting. I am not very good at doing lots of things at the same time, so I have decided I need to reduce my concentration on my blog and be fully present for my guests. I will keep checking in from time to time. 🙂