A BUTTERFLY TRAVELS

On the 24th of August, a few days after my birthday, my grandmother passed away. I haven't felt much like blogging or tweeting but Vera, my grandmother, loved my blog and used to sit with my ipad and 'catch up' on a year's worth of missed posts when she came to stay. She lived in Vancouver and spent her summers in England. Which meant we almost always spent our birthdays together, unless she was on the razzle in London, as opposed to her quieter, gentler, oh let's face it, more boring days in Cambridge. But she would have approved this birthday of mine...

There was a picnic by a pond, there were loved ones who brought food and drink and a very chocolatey cake... there was a beautiful spaniel - my grandmother loved dogs...

The twins visited briefly, incognito, but highly fashionable in their Aunty Shai's hot pink and neon green pashminas (there were marauding wasps hovering nearby)...

And my mother sent flowers despite being thousands of miles away at her own mother's bedside...

I was taken out for drinks and dinner by dear cousins and at night, under unseen stars and a cool rain, I slept in the gypsy caravan on the farm...

Vera had visited the farm a few years ago and would have thoroughly approved my temporary living arrangements. A kettle, albeit decorative, a cosy bed, and thundering rain all around...

In the morning, with a hot cup of tea, bread and cheese, I opened my beloved friend Mary's gift (I like saving birthday presents to leak into the next day) only to discover the same book I had taken the night before to read in the caravan! Mary often knows my mind before I do. Luckily mine was a library book, so I now have my own copy of Barbara Pym's 'Jane and Prudence'...

 

The day of my grandmother's passing I met two ladies on the farm, who through a very rapid exchange of conversation, asked if I would teach their Creative Writing class, their usual teacher having just left. I think my grandmother was trying to get me a job! Happy travels darling Vera. Know you will continue to be loved.