Monday 6 March 2017

Memos, Mail, Me: Sticking It All Together


Monday: let's leave unpacking the weekend bag for the moment (though I know my knitting is in there somewhere and I'll be ready for a few rows come lunchtime..). We skipped away, on the spur of the moment


(how did you persuade Dad to try life on the edge? The (Not So) Small One asked) on Friday night: we drove south, away from all the talk here about elections and hard borders and Brexit. It hasn't happened yet, so the border is still a soft one, and it's easy to slip from one side to the other, from green fields and grazing, on past the toll road, to the grey stone of the Big City, and we were in Dublin.

We'd been texting each other - the four of us - about politics before we left, by Saturday we were sending selfies (Mum! I've never seen you do that before! Not the two of you! Now I know the world has gone mad!) and snaps of lobster pots and the sea; and as we walked along one shoreline, our girl and her new beau (new squeeze? doesn't sound quite right, even if he does do an excellent hug) walked along a different beach closer to home; and the wonder of the world now is that we could stay in touch as we did it. 

Back to our hotel, via a knitting shop found with a phone, to message our lad about sports results. Even a rugby match now we can watch from different corners and talk it over as we do it. We had a wonderful break, just the two of  us, made all the sweeter by the scraps of conversation with two grown up children. I like this chapter, this not quite parenting.

We got back last night. I drove home thinking about what I'd write today, and about how my mail hadn't served me well, and when I walked through the door I spotted a packet. An order I'd forgotten. A couple of dozen rolls of double sided sticky tape. Just right


for a sticking together kind of a weekend.

How about you? Anything new? Any interesting mail? How about making a memo? We'd love to hear..

  Deb, Ruth, Jane, Barb, Mitra, Mary-Lou, Ladkyis, Fiona, Maggie, Krafty Karen, Melissa, Honore, Karen and Mardi shared last time round. Go on, give 'em a wave! And have a good week!

19 comments:

Susanne said...

Isn't it wonderful to be away and still be in touch. Wishing you many more spur of the moment excursions!

Julie Kirk said...

Your break sounds so lovely Sian - I love the idea of soft borders, there's something very poetic about that.

As for my mail ... I had a missed parcel note waiting for me when I got back in today. It may well be something zebra-ish that someone kindly offered to send me ... but who knows? I'll find out tomorrow when I collect it from the depot.

Have a lovely week ahead. xx

Patio Postcards said...

What a fun way to spend a weekend - an adventure & good conversations. That is quite a jolly hat you are wearing. Happy week ahead.

alexandra s.m. said...

I raise my glass to you and to the "spur of the moment" trips!
In my book, it is the best way to hit the reset button.
It is lovely to see a picture of you...look how smart you look! Love the colors and how much info the picture gives us about our time.
Thanks Sian~

Maggie said...

A new Beau! That does sound interesting. I know exactly what you mean about this being away but being there. The benefits of such cheap mobile phone charges to stay in touch while in Europe meant all sorts to me this weekend. I can ring farmer husband left on his own, check my mum was ok with a phone call, see how one of my girls was doing in Newquay and commiserate with younger daughter who was left at uni writing an assignment! Oh AND keep tracks on all 7 of us in Prague when we splintered into groups.
Do I soun Like a phone advert?
Glad you had a good weekend.

Susan said...

A spur of the moment trip is always a lovely thing and Dublin?! That's a destination on my bucket list. Sounds like a relaxing getaway of wandering and new discoveries - hope it left you refreshed and ready for a new week.

helena said...

a wander around Dublin sounds a perfect weekend break. Have a good week

alexa said...

What a lovely read this has been; so nice to hear you are navigating new family territory with style. And isn't it nice to confound the expectations of one's children? A lovely mix of sea and city - and such a great hat :).

Lizzy Hill said...

Sounds a wonderful weekend. See, right there is the advantage of NOT having an animal to look after. Get one & no more spontaneous weekends away.... so glad you're enjoying your time together & the internet technology certainly is a boon for keeping in touch these days!!!

Ruth said...

Ha, I knew it wouldn't take long for TNSSO to acquire a 'beau' :)
Yay for spontaneous weekends away!

Theresa said...

Sounds a great weekend, and yes to "soft borders"! The last couple of years, I've embraced my mobile phone more, for it's ability to keep me in touch with loved ones that I miss, as a replacement for my camera, and as a source of inspiration. I've even been known to photograph my fish and chips....
enjoy the rest of the week, sticking things together :-)
Theresa xx

Karen said...

I started a comment yesterday, and don't know quite where it went! We've been in that "almost parenting" role now for many years, and have come to love it, particularly because of the ability to stay connected no matter where we (or they) are. As grandparents of children 10 hours away, we'd be lost without Facetime! I love those spontaneous road trips, too. We're about to take off on one, but it's hardly spontaneous---been in the planning for weeks.

Honoré said...

I love your weekend and observations/take/assessment...true enough, modern tech does allow us to pull away and yet stay connected with the ones for whom we care. T'is especially GOOD to get away from the politics...so good!
We should all have a spontaneous getaway now and ten- refreshes the soul.

Cheers~

Fiona@Staring at the Sea said...

The men is this family don't really do spontaneous, but I live in hope.....one day. Sounds like the perfect weekend.

Jo said...

It sounds like a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

Mitralee said...

oh goodness! I do think that sounds delightful! So sorry the whole politics thing has gone mad at the moment. Perhaps it's like a cold and we passed it to you guys or vice versa...here's to hoping they take some cold meds and everything gets better quick!

Barbara Eads said...

First off, the small one! I can't believe she's so grown up. When I started following you, she was just a little girl. Time sure does fly! And secondly---a dozen rolls of redline tape---my you must use a lot! That's a lot of stickiness!

Mardi said...

I love when you talk about travel... I can build the scenrio on a little map in my head...like a little memory tester from our trip...keeps me from going copletley rusty... also loved that lovey "almost parenting" reference.. so true....its a wonderful place to arrive at.
Mardi x

Gail Thompson said...

How delightful - a weekend for just the 2 of you. The wonders of modern communications never cease to amaze me - we can skype/facetime with John's sister in England or Turkey and not even leave our house. So great to actually be able to see them as we're talking. Mind you the calls usually last a couple of hours. :)

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