Saturday 17 September 2016

Mortality Visited, Briefly

          How to begin? Where to begin? May we just chat for awhile? There is much that can be said about these last three months, but I trust I will be let off going into the details of the house fire. There comes a point when enough is enough. Having said that there is a legacy, one which I find very interesting, to be thought about. It would appear, at least from my perspective, that there are many levels which have been influenced by the recent event. Let me begin with the ordinary, material level.
          I don't know whether it is appropriate to think of a dwelling in terms of mortality. If it is, then our house must be considered to be mortal. Even though there is evidence to suggest that some of its roof timbers may date back to the French revolution, our house will probably outlive its current occupants by many a year, even by many a decade. That makes my life something that is passing at a depressingly high rate. Did I mention I am seventy-nine years old today? But what's in a number? It has truly been a lovely day spent in the delightful company of my two greatest loves, Lucy and Elfie.
          Getting back to the house I was very surprised to learn from Lucy, on one of her recent visits to the house, that the staircase had been demolished and was stacked outside in a neat pile of broken timber. Now this has a rather funny side to it. You see, the electrician is supposed to have completed his repairs before the staircase chappie began his work. That was to be followed by more carpenters to repair the floors and then the painters and decorators. It is fast becoming a "Comedy of Interferences." When these two artisans get to meet, we will be many kilometres away receiving lessons on how to behave with a dog. I think that it is supposed to be Elfie receiving the training, but you know how these things turn out.
          We lost a great deal of our possessions in the fire, many of which should probably have been jettisoned long ago. On the other hand, it would have been more pleasurable if all my Indian spices and other commodities had disappeared at a more sedate rate of consumption. Fire is so quick, and the house stank for days of burnt cumin seeds. We did take this opportunity to "downsize" somewhat, a particularly horrible word that. We ditched stuff. That's the long and short of it, and felt lighter and more relieved as a result. It must be said, however, that it wasn't a painfree operation.
          At this stage I think I will leave you to chat amongst yourselves for awhile. Me? I'm having another glass of wine. Please, help yourselves.

24 comments:

  1. I am, coincidentally, just sitting down with a glass of local pinot noir as I welcome your post. The house has long been considered a psychological analog for the human body and mind. As your home heals --despite unsynchronized contractors-- so will dreams, metaphors and, if you have the time, the electoral climate in my country. But most sincerely and importantly, Happy Birthday!

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    1. Hullo Geo; A quaffable wine forsooth! The use of the house as a symbol does indeed hold out the hope that resolution and healing can be found - and also understanding. As for the electoral climate in your country, I look askance at what is happening there. But it must be said that with Brexit and other uncomfortable movements taking place in Europe, I wonder whether our attitudes can claim any kind of moral superiority. I fear we are all in this together.

      Thank you for your birthday wishes.

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  2. Happy birthday, dear Tom, in this most lovely of birthday times (mine is soon, J's a week later.) I'm so sorry you and Lucy had to go through this house disaster, but it's your spirits that are the most resilient and animate your dwellings, real and virtual. Things, beloved as they are, are just things. Our own move and "downsizing" (yech) were a decade ago, and painful, but I'm now glad for our lighter footprint and smaller, more portable life. xo

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    1. Hullo Beth; Nice to hear from you. Yes, it is too easy to forget that it is the spirit that is more important by far than mere "stuff." I find the allusion to your own experience supportive, and I thank you for that.

      I have always loved September and autumn - or the Fall - a time that follows what for me is the deadening experience of summer. September says that there is more life and movement to come. May I wish you and J all the very best for your forthcoming birthdays. Much love!

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  3. Wonderful to note that you have not lost your sense of irony and humour, Tom! Now with a lighter load you can look forward to a new start in your renovated home, hopefully not too far off in the future. Happy Birthday to you!

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    1. Thank you dear Marja-leena. No point in crying; that just makes more mess to clear up! We will be moving back at the end of the month, although the rather acrid smell still exists. That will continue until the carpenters, painters and decorators weave their joint magic. I sense the onset of much flurried activity as the house is readied for sale. It is all very exciting.

      Thank you for your birthday wishes.

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  4. have a most wonderful birthday, tom! i'm so glad it was a good day surrounded by those you love. what more can one hope for?

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    1. Hullo Agnieszka; We certainly did have a lovely, hilly walk through a wood with lots of dappled shade. Not a cloud in the outer or inner skies. And lunch prior to that was lovely also.

      What more could one hope for? I have that as well; dear friends who visit Gwynt.

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  5. Getting the choreography of repairs right is a much ignored job, sadly. Either there is confusion in a rush to get everything done, or the process backs up waiting for a key worker to have a break in their schedule.

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    1. Hi Halle; Indeed that is so. I must confess, however, to wishing to be a fly on the wall when the two artisans meet on Tuesday. The electrician was ready enough to take the work (and a down payment of a third of the costs) before disappearing off on another job, working holiday, and trade fair. So it will provide some wicked amusement if the electrician has to pull his socks up pronto.

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  6. Hope things are soon back shipshape & better than before.

    Boethius, whom I discovered today by accident, in his Consolations of Philosophy holds a conversation with Lady Philosophy. One of the consolations she offers him is that ‘no man can ever truly be secure until he has been forsaken by Fortune’.

    Boethius has the distinction of being thought of as a Christian martyr despite showing no sign of being anything but a pagan.

    After your multiple contretemps, fire + Brexit thingy, may that true security knock on your refurbished door & demand admittance PDQ.

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    1. Hullo Vincent; It seems to have been a long time since last we spoke. I would conclude from Lady Philosophy's comment that Fortune [good or bad presumably] is an illusion. To free oneself, or be freed, from illusion is therefore to find Reality.

      I know nothing about Boethius, but am not surprised that he as a possible pagan could also be esteemed as a Christian, martyr or otherwise, if he sought the truth beyond religion.

      Thank you for your kind wish concerning true security. I will make no further comment about Brexit. :)

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  7. Hi Tom,
    There must be something in the blogosphere that entices wine drinking as I have just settled back also with a glass of Pinot Noir from our local Yarra Valley Winery.
    So cheers to you for 79 years young and for coming through the ordeal so well together with you lovely wife who must have also felt the loss of some familiar possessions.
    Best wishes

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    1. Thank you Lindsay. Lucy has been very supportive through this period, as supportive as I trust I have been for her. Actually, Elfie in her own canine way has been a star. Without her there might have been nothing onto which we could have jointly focused our love and attention.

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  8. Just sat down with a glass of off-dry Riesling and found I am late, late, late with birthday greetings for you, dear Tom. So Prost! Lebe Wohl! I send you heartfelt wishes for a most wonderful autumn (also my favourite time of the year).

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    1. Hullo RW; Don't worry about late, late, late. I'm still settling into the updated year. Thank you for your heartfelt wishes. This could be an autumn like no other.

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  9. Oh Tom! So sorry I missed this update, having taken it for granted that you were absent from GWYNT for an unspecified time. I will not take anything for granted henceforth. First of all, belated but warmest birthday wishes and may the lovely scent of crushed (but not burnt) cumin seeds be forever wafting around your home and may it soon be your home again, restored and rejuvenated.

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    1. Thank you for your birthday wishes. They're much appreciated. It had been my intention to let GWYNT die a natural, if protracted, death. However, with the advent of the house fire and its aftermath, I felt I had something to say which people might find interesting. In any case, I hope it is not overly self-regarding to think that people might like to know what happens to me.

      Ah, the scent of crushed cumin fills one with a transport of delight.

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  10. I'm late to this one too - seemingly having some internet attention difficulties myself these days. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed a happy birthday and wish you many more equally delightful ones.

    It's good to know the house repairs are coming along even if that does mean the electrician has to use a ladder to reach the second storey. As for dog training, we've become convinced that any visiting alien would conclude that canines are the master race and we their humble servants.

    Best wishes :)

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    1. Hullo Susan; Whenever possible I nip in behind the electrician and restore a part of the house structure that he has "investigated" even though that is strictly his responsibility. I have this uncomfortable feeling that if I left it to him I might be letting myself in for a dose of re-renovation.

      On the canine front, I assume it goes without saying that they are the master race. Why else would they be called the mirror image of god?

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  11. My house is definitely alive, in her own way. I think she likes us, especially the two household gods (cats.)

    Downsize vs. Shrink? Downsize vs. Unburden? Jettison?

    House renovation from what I hear is like herding cats. We have a project for next year, and we dread that part.

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  12. Hullo Zhoen; Life is a funny thing. One might conclude that our house was being a little spiteful, considering all the TLC we had give it. But why would it be spiteful? Maybe careless, but a little anthropomorphology can go a long way.

    House renovation can be fun and satisfying. It can also be extremely frustrating, especially when one is trying to 'make good' after someone else's intervention, viz. a certain electrical artisan. (There are other ways of getting access to a duct than hammering through it with a hammer!!) I wish you both all the best with your next year's project.'

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    1. How else would you 'hammer through' but with a hammer?

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  13. Oh, your house was merely unfortunate, I'm sure it wasn't personal, or intentional.

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