From Ancient to Modern

Warkworth Castle, home of, among others, Sir Harry Percy, aka Harry Hotspur after whom Tottenham Hotspurs  was named. A smart des res, refurbished in the 19th Century but looking rather draughty now.

Return of the Vikings. Coble Quay development on Amble Harbour. A resdential factory themed implant from Scandinavia, hi-tech living with a spectacular view across the North Sea. All apartments sold out now but plenty of traditional stone built terraces left in this coal port resort.

Going North

We are heading north to spend a few days with Steve's family in a cottage by the North Sea.  We stopped to eat lunch by the Angel and discussed the tricky question: Where is North?

Certainly the North is north of Watford, but is Sheffield in the north?  Does the Angel's gaze extend that far? I chose to live in Sheffield because it seemed to be in the middle of England and therefore as easy or as difficult to reach my scattered family and friends, but it doesn't feel to me like the Midlands.

There is a view that the River Don splits the country and that Wincobank Hill stands on the southern frontier of the Beautiful North.  That will do for me.  I am a Londoner, a migrant to the North.  I am a visitor but it feels like Home.

I am driving back in time, passing my past home, over that iron bridge over the big river and onward along the long road I travelled every day to work, further north than even the Angel can see.  To the north of North.

The leaves are golden, flame red, sunshine yellow.  Winter is coming and the sky is blue.

A Remarkable Day in June

Two notable actions occurred on Saturday 4th June 2016:
1, Fran and Tom married.
2. I met Vivien for the first time.

The year-long build up to the ceremony had run in parallel with Tom's PhD deadline. Now both have passed. My mother once showed me that when she left work to be married in 1935 an elderly Polish colleague had written in her autograph album "This too, will pass". A strange wedding blessing, but one that she clung to through all the ups and downs of her life - the war, the birth of six children and the loss of two, the unexpected terminal illness of my father and the myriad trials set by we four remaining children.

Tom did not relish the prospect of a religious ceremony as he thinks of himself as aestheist, but he entered into the process with integrity, declaring his concerns from the start.  He said that he could not stand up and say words he did not believe, but it seems there was no need for anxiety. The marriage service was surprisingly simple, recently revised and beautifully choreographed by a smiling Catholic priest.

Words rang true, voices sang strong and Tom's own music resounded from the church organ sending tingles down my spine. Such powerful uplifting music composed by my first born, once the tiny fragile premature baby I was so scared would fall ill, who nearly drowned when I dropped him in the sea, whom I nearly ran over when he pedalled behind my car as I was reversing. And now I saw a man, his university work complete and a new life ahead with a beautiful wife who spoke her vows clearly and earnestly. I am so looking forward to seeing the rest of the story unfold.

If  Tom and Fran had not married, I would not have met Vivien.  For eight years I have had to imagine her, snatching at shady clues dropped in passing references.  And now I have sat and made polite conversation and I don't need to imagine any more. It is so lovely to see Rosy with her dad and we were all pleased to see him again and I hope I will see them both again from time to time.

Steve came too so there was a perfect symmetry. I feel a relief that another milestone has been passed and a bridge has been crossed.

And now that I am a mother-in-law as well as a granny I feel really free. My shoulders feel light so I can play and have fun.  There will be trials ahead no doubt, but those too will pass. Oh lucky me. I am so alive.

Daisy Villa

Goodbye Ransley Oast, Hello Daisy Villa.  Today Ian and Brad from Stranks Removals, Ashford unloaded Rebecca's much  increased worldly possessions into her  new home in Shrewsbury. And a new chapter opens.