Monday 12 October 2009

Freedom (or just getting away for the weekend)


I've been away. For the weekend, just 48 hours. Not long I grant you but a bit of an excitment for me.You see, I haven't been away in eight years. Well, I have but not on my OWN. There has always been hangers on until this weekend.
This weekend I drove North on my own - got there all in one piece, didn't get lost once, which is not exactly surprising as I was staying at my Mums' house but niether she nor my Dad were there so I still count it as a proper trip away.
It was odd really, I felt rather lightheaded and definatley unencumbered. But I was slightly edgy about it. I imagaine a wild animal, that had been kept for a while in captivity, might feel like I did over the weekend when finally  released.
And what did I do with my freedom? When I wasn't galavanting around Harrogate in the company of some very disreputable* but highly entertaining ladies, I was in my mother's clothes cupboard trying on dresses and shoes and  jackets and things. It was rather heady. I pranced and flounced about and giggled at myslef  in the long mirror and smacked great big red and magenta kisses on it in lipstick. But who was there to tell me off, no one. There wasn't anyone there to say I couldn't nor was there anyone there to laugh at me and say how silly.
It was just me.
I of course didn't spend the whole time in her wardrobe, I did check out the larder too. And oh, what a wonderful cornucopia it is. All the food I am forbidden by conscience to buy lined up in rows and stacked in piles. Heinz Macaroni Cheese - the smell of which I find so much more appetising than the taste. Hot dog Sausages, Kettle Crisps, Bahlsen Choco Leibniz biscuits, heavenly stuff. I had to keep sliding the door open and shut just to get that wonderful waft of forbiden-ness.
I draped my clothes everywhere and didn't bother to pick them up and I luxuriated in a bath of exotic smelling bubbles until my toes wrinkled.
I opened doors and drawers and boxes, poked and pried wherever my fancy took, which wasn't exactly far and for a moment before I had to rush around frantically trying to remember where everthing was kept before I had to rub out my presence from every room leaving it exactly as it was before,  I was a child again with no burden of responsibility. Free to do as I pleased.
And do you know what?
I HAD A BALL but the best bit was returning home again and being told I was missed. Of all the Birthday presents one could have had that was possibly the most precious I have ever been given.
(*I didn't say that did I? What I meant of course was delightlful, startling, amazing, entertaining company. And it was one of the best Birthdays I have had in years if I say so myself. So thank you Mountainear, Snailbeach Shepherdess, Withy Brook, Bodran, Faith, Patsy, Tiggywinkle, Elizabethm and the ever so stylish Kittyb. It was fab!)

22 comments:

Expat mum said...

Glad you had a fab time with the lassies. Wondering why you felt the urge to raid your mum's wardrobe though?

mountainear said...

I had a great time too - quite an odd experience in some respects - almost as if we had walked through the wardrobe into another, parallel crazy-mad world.

Lovely to meet you - was it really, really your birthday?

Tattieweasle said...

Expat mum - Hate to admit it but my Mumm is far more stylish than me and the opportunity was there! I should be ashamed really I should...
mountainear - you're right a bit like a parallel world but a fun one! And yes, it really, really, was my Birthday on Saturday 10th October. I won't say how old I was this time but let's say I won't be seeing 42 again!

Elizabethd said...

Sounds like you had a very good time! It must have been fun to meet up with everyone.

Kitty said...

Didn't we have fun? I loved it too.
Glad you had a lovely birthday. I do agree that pottering about by yourself is sometimes as nice as being fussed over by everyone!
Really hope to see you again soonish x

Pipany said...

Sounds like bliss Tattie. Time just to be x

Milla said...

yes, it does sound great, sorry to have missed it. Ended up having an ultra packed weekend down here so it was never really going to be a goer, sadly.

Frances said...

Happy belated birthday to you, Tattie. It's grand to read about how much you really enjoyed that getaway.

xo

Maggie Christie said...

I love the idea of you ransacking the family cupboards! I'm glad you had a great weekend.

Faith said...

Oh Tattie, was it your birthday - you should've said! Glad you enjoyed yourself - it was great fun wasnt it.

Withy Brook said...

A good description of the 'through the looking glass' experience that we had! A very belated happy birthday - will drink your health in gin tonight!
I love your account of rummaging in your Mum's wardrobe and larder, with no one to catch you at it. I understand why you did not appear earlier on Saturday morning now!
It was great to meet you - and the others. A lovely escape.

Dorset Dispatches said...

You and Metropolitan Mum. Living the life without small people. Weird isn't it!

Elizabeth Musgrave said...

It was really good to meet you Tattie. So glad to have had the chance and lovely to know you had such a reception when you went home again too. It is part of the pleasure of going away!

Tattieweasle said...

Elizabethd - it was marvellous fun. Hopefully we'll do it again!
Kittyb - careful what you wish for! Up North again before Christmas I found far too many shops with lots of perfect Xmas pressies.
Pipany - it was that glorious juxtaposition of the be bit and being with people. It made it a wonderful w/e.
Milla - there's always Bath (not sure if that's an opportunity or a threat). Good to hear you had a great w/e.
Frances - Thank you it was a pretty cool way to spend a Birthday: all the elements were there, freedom but not loneliness company but not crowds.
Preseli Mags - I can't help the cupboard thing. I have no idea why. I think it is a closed door that HAS to be opened thing!
Faith - you are kind and it definatley was worth it!
Withy - Cheers! You noticed I was late on Saturday...oops. Sometimes these things just have to be done. It was a priviledge to meet you and we'll do it again!
Britin Bosnia - it was wierd without them and I thought of them lots - far more than I thought I would!
Elizabethm - it was wonderful to meet everyone in their infinite varieties. I think I was very lucky. And yes the best part of going away is definitely the return.

bodran... said...

You never mentioned your birth day!!! Naughty girl.
Lovely to see you again and i had a great time xx

Tattieweasle said...

Bodran - I didn't want anyone to know as I felt that the w/e warranted the focus to be on us all meeting and me announcing my birthday would just get in the way - but I had a brill time. Next time I'm on for every charity shop going - I mean I like gardens but not ALL the time! Really looking forward to seeing you again...

Fred said...

Tattie, how could you not tell us it was your birthday?!! It was fabulous meeting you, even if you aren't the 6ft tall willowy blonde I was expecting to see. Perhaps it's the avatar:) And yes, it was a little like stepping through the back of the wardrobe. No white witch though, thankfully....

Tattieweasle said...

Fred - It was a very hard thing not to blurt out on Saturday perhaps I was startled by your appearance. You do scrub up well you know I hardly recognised you from your Avatar! Seriously it was wonderful to meet you at last. Hopefully it won't be the last because as much as I love my parents staying with them can get a little tiring and any excuse for a day trip out will be lightening the load so to speak. So you never know who may be dropping by...

Nicola said...

Sounds like you had a fantastic time. Have just discovered your blog and love it (the peeing alfresco story had me in stitches.

I am also 42 and also have 2 boys - just 6 and 4 - who are also obsessed with peeing outside with wild abandon. Funnily enough it is more my ex than me who has a problem with it. Mostly I am just jealous that they can do it at all. And I am telling you first hand - that it is a darn sight better than them weeing into their cereal bowls without your knowledge until you unwittingly pour their warm urine all over yourself on your way to the sink...) Maybe if Grandma and Grandad had suffered that indignity they would be encouraging the whole alfresco lark. Just a thought.

Who's the Mummy said...

Happy birthday (belatedly) - there's a meme tag over at my place if you feel like sharing your thoughts with us - would love to see what you come up with!

sally

Tattieweasle said...

Nicola - nice of you to drop by! I get abit jealous too as whenever I do try to pee alfreso I always forget which way the wind is blowing and...perhaps that's a little too much information!
Slighty worried about the cereal bowls - I mena just what does go through their heads sometimes??!!
Who's the Mummy - Thank you! You've really go me thinking now and of course censoring there are some dreams which, well, shall remain ever private as I'd hate to make Dear Charlie jealous!

Iota said...

This sounds so fabulous. I am jelaous!

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