Life's Little Pleasures (2)

This is my second post on LLPs (Life’s Little Pleasures) – the first one can be seen by clicking here.

Food

“All you need is love.

But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”

~ Charles M Schulz

To take the bull by the horns, this blog started off as group therapy after my gastric band operation in December 2008.  It was invaluable to me at the beginning, for there is a magnificent sorority in cyberspace whatever your problem is - all going through the same thing and willing to help others.  I was truly grateful and did my best to offer help too.

I did very well in the first 18 months, but less so after that because of the conflict between my pathetic willpower, my type 2 diabetes and the restriction of the band.   One day I’ll feel again that moment of pure joy when some kilos have come off and I can get back into clothes I used to adore wearing.

So referring to foods as being little pleasures is over-indulgent, and yet leaving them off this list is just fooling myself, because (alas) certain foods provide a myriad of little pleasures.  Let me say therefore that 90% of the disproportionate pleasure I get from food is listed in this post (click here) and is food from Argentina which comes with pictures ... (sorry, can’t look!), and to which I would add milk chocolate in any form, sponge cake with copious quantities of butter icing made by yours truly, marble cake and seven-minute icing made by my sister, milky drinks hot and ice-cold, and freezing cold water which hurts as you swallow it.  And if drunk from a mountain stream on a hot day through cupped hands, even better.

Cooking gives me pleasure in a way that is unconnected with eating.  As a skill it can be very rewarding when you are complimented on your preparation of food.  I’m reasonably competent at roasts, paellas and casseroles, enjoying trying out a new ingredient which gives it a twist.  I found it very satisfying when I created a starter combining ingredients I liked and my guests enjoyed it (a salad using traditional elements plus several others, dressed with olive oil, lemon, soy sauce, chopped mint and garlic, topped with strips of parma ham and drizzled with sweet chilli sauce, served with crusty bread).

  

Living within my Head

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

~ Maya Angelou

Writing - I’m never bored there, in my head.  Leave me alone and I’ll read if I can, write, or think, or as a mental exercise try to remember things I’ve virtually forgotten (such as poetry, or songs).  The LLP's come from a story I’ve written which I’m pleased with; the germ of a story when I remember something; blogging - when I think of myself ten years ago before I knew about it, and what a difference it’s made to my life.  The little pleasure that turns to exhilaration is when I’m enjoying the story I’m telling; my mind has soared up into the air and it’s just my disembodied fingers flying over the keys.  I know it because if the phone rings or someone comes into the room to speak to me it’s as if they’ve crashed through an invisible door.  I don’t know if what I write is any more than average, but the pleasure is the same as I’m sure it must be for any writer, aspiring or otherwise.

Loving – I mean this in the broadest sense.  I refer to the little pleasures of loving or being extremely fond of someone (of any age) and being inspired to do something for them when they’re not aware of it.  Perhaps bringing them into a conversation so that they become the centre of attention, choosing just the right thing for a present or planning ahead so that an outing or event involving them goes smoothly.  Noticing when it has been done for me is definitely an LLP.

Beholding beautiful objects

Pliny, about the opal:

“There is in them a softer fire than the ruby,

there is the brilliant purple of the amethyst

and the sea green of the emerald –

all shining together in incredible union. 

Some by their splendour rival the colours of the painters,

others the flame of burning sulphur

or of fire quickened by oil.”

The inherent beauty of jewellery used to give me enormous pleasure, whether my own or in a shop window, particularly the colour and inner glow of precious stones.  I inherited a few and at one time bought myself some little pieces on eBay.  I loved them dearly, particularly the heirlooms, and felt strongly that I was merely their custodian – one day they would be passed down to my descendants. 

When planning to go out, having my hair and nails done was part of the ritual preliminary to choosing which little pieces would match my clothes – earrings, pendant, rings.  Definitely one of life’s pleasures.  But then came the fall after the pride. 

I returned home one evening three years ago to find that we had had burglars while John was in the house or the garden, and they had taken all my jewellery, except that in their haste they had left several single earrings behind.  I grieve for the individual pieces still as though they were lost friends,

Aquamarine heart, given to my mother

by her godmother when she was a little girl

...and cannot bear to even think about wearing any jewellery at all, never mind talking about the subject generally.  All I’ve got left are the three things I was wearing on the day of the burglary, (a tiny garnet cross round my neck, my gold hoop earrings and a gold ring for my little finger with the face of a cat on it) which I’ve never removed.  Unfortunately there are still times where I’ll suddenly remember one, forgotten up to that moment, and it hurts all over again.

Some pieces from youth which I had had photographed

 in the 80s for insurance purposes.

“They’re just things” says John.  Not to me they weren’t.  I think this is a gender divide, and women tend to feel more emotional about such objects.

-oOo-

Photo Finish

from Lonicera's non-digital archive

More pictures of Bowood,

country mansion in Wiltshire,

which is open to the public

A Photoshop experiment -

choosing a section of a picture and allowing the grain to show,

and exaggerating the colours slightly

to make it look as if it has been painted. 

(No filters used)

I quite like the result.

-oOo-

Tales from Argentina - Of Mores and Manners

These anecdotes dating from over a hundred years ago highlight some of the differences that existed between European immigrants to Argentina and the local population, the latter usually being former immigrants too who had already settled generations before and become assimilated.  There was a certain amount of disdain on both sides and their attitudes could make you flinch, but there was common ground - they had all worked hard both to make a decent life for themselves and at the same time acquire a bit of status. 

Throughout the nineteenth century there was a steady stream of Europeans emigrating in search of better prospects to other parts of the world.  They were prepared to toil from sunup to sundown, whether it was as shopkeepers, doctors, schoolteachers or farmers.  My ancestors chose Argentina as their new green and pleasant land, and on my mother’s side it was this very element with which they strove to earn a living. 

When they could afford it, they purchased vast tracts of land and eventually set themselves up as landowners and local gentry.  Those that could not, either rented or managed it for absentee landlords who were living it up in Buenos Aires.  Failing that, they took employment as foremen on farms owned by others; but whether as owners or employees, tilling the soil and tending to cattle gave meaning to their lives.

My mother’s paternal grandfather Edward was German, and after a very strict upbringing and an unhappy childhood he got away as soon as he could and travelled the world.  It took him to interesting places such as Fiji and New Caledonia by way of Australia where he met British born Agnes, his wife to be.  They were living in New Caledonia ...

This was their house

...with several young children when he decided to buy land in Argentina and he migrated there with his young family towards the end of the nineteenth century.  A shrewd businessman, it wasn’t long before he owned farms in various locations at a time when the country was going through an economic boom prior to World War I.

The first years were tough but Edward ensured that his family were as comfortable as possible despite the enormous logistical problems of transporting items such as building materials and furniture to locations where there were few roads.  One great aunt describes in a letter the hazards of transporting a pianola through the prickly bush on the hillsides and across streams, with teams of sweating workmen taking it in turns to bring the instrument to its final resting place, fortunately the sitting room of the farm rather than the bottom of a muddy river.

The home farm – or estancia – eventually had a large and elegant house built in the rolling hills of the province of Córdoba 800 km (500 miles) north of Buenos Aires, with very pleasant vistas all around.  Here the growing family were raised until it was time to send them to boarding school in England, for Edward had become an Anglophile and his native language was never spoken.

My great grandmother Agnes seated second from the left,

my great uncles standing behind,

with my grandfather being the only clean-shaven one,

in the middle.

The only social life was to exchange visits with families from other estancias, and the conversation was mostly gossip and farm talk.  Later when foreign newspapers became available long after their dates, one could discuss the events going on in Europe.  Books were gold and circulated round the family so that everyone could read them.   Decorum was preserved at all times; it was unheard of not to dress up for dinner, and pregnancy was never mentioned in letters. 

Thus a new visitor not encountered before was the subject of much advance speculation, present scrutiny and later de-briefing, and perhaps subsequent gossip for many years afterwards.  The first two of the anecdotes survive from old letters written by one of the daughters in law to her parents in England, and the last purely from word of mouth, from generation to generation.

A letter from 1916 survives from one of my great aunts to her mother in England, in which she describes a visit by neighbours one summer.  My great aunt Winifred, her husband Bertie and several of her brothers and sisters-in-law were all staying at the big house.   The Montes family had written from their estancia several hills away to ask if they might visit a local beauty spot which was on Edward’s property.  My great grandfather replied immediately that they would be most welcome, and would they like to stay for lunch.  The Montes accepted the invitation but did not state how many of them were coming.  Just in case, Agnes had a lamb and some ducks slaughtered; there was much frantic preparation and cleaning carried out in advance and from dawn onwards on the big day. 

The Montes turned up late morning in not one but several carriages.  There were thirteen of them – the entire household and some friends plus children.  Edward and Agnes bustled about serving them their home-made ginger ale and the host family put their best foot forward and made polite conversation.  My grandfather and great uncles were serious farmers not given to very much small talk; they tried to adjust to the very noisy environment in which they had suddenly found themselves, as the Montes chatted and called each other over to view every novelty they saw around the house.  They had clearly never encountered ginger ale before, and it soon became apparent despite the exclamations as to its deliciousness and wonderfulness that they did not like it and would not be venturing past the second sip.  

René and Jermyn, sons of my great uncle Ted,

taken at about that time.

When lunch was announced the adults turned to their hosts in (probably mock) horror and exclaimed that they couldn’t possibly impose upon their hospitality in such a manner.  They had a picnic in one of the carriages, no, they wouldn’t hear of it.  With the possibility of Agnes’ organisation and work going to waste – not to mention the sacrifice of the lamb and birds – Edward stepped in, forced to argue strenuously with them in favour of staying to share their repast.  Some of them graciously gave in, and later stayed for a siesta, while the rest went on to visit the beauty spot and promised to be back for tea.  Fortunately Agnes had put by enough fresh bread and cake against such an eventuality, but she was by now beginning to flag, as she had had a very early start.

However there was no time for her siesta and once the guests woke up the high decibel incessant chatter started again, and this time her men had disappeared to “see to the horses/cattle/the hole in the roof of the barn” – whatever sounded most convincing – so it was up to the women to carry on with the hospitality. 

And it was all so jolly that nobody knew where the time had gone.  Twilight was upon them and the horses would have difficulty in picking their way back across the dark hills to the neighbours’ home.  Could they impose once more upon their hosts and stay the night?  Why of course, everybody responded politely.  But Agnes had had enough, and it had been a strain having to converse in Spanish all day.  Winifred says in her letter.  Pleading a headache, “...poor Mamita has gone to lie down quite exhausted with all the noise.”  History does not record what happened after that.

My great grandfather ("Taíta") and great grandmother ("Mamita")

in later life, taken in about 1925.

.

Two years passed.  Winifred and Bertie were now living on their own farm several hours away, with their four year old daughter Rachel, a sweet and articulate little girl.  Like most farmers, Bertie's day started before daybreak and apart for a short siesta after lunch he worked very long days; when he returned home he was usually too tired to do much more than have his supper and go to bed.  Winifred’s Spanish was fluent, but there was no one nearer than several hours’ ride away with whom she could converse about anything other than cooking and childrearing, and though she enjoyed reading and sewing and there was plenty of work to do around the house, sometimes she felt as though her brain had gone to sleep.

The farm belonging to Winifred, Bertie and Rachel

.

As was the case at her in-laws’ estancia, visitors provided a very welcome break, though here it was a mixed blessing.  The guests were generally members of the local farming community passing through, and the average length of their visits was approximately five hours, generally stretching through two meals.  It posed an extra burden for Bertie because he felt compelled to forego his siesta, and the men obviously preferred to talk to him about their farming problems.  Sometimes he was away at the village collecting groceries, and Winifred had to cope alone – on one nightmare occasion a taciturn man and his son stayed for two hours and she had run out of things to say after the first ten minutes.

Little Rachel and their house behind her.

An occasion young Rachel would never forget was when an old man came to tea.  After helping herself to some jam on her plate to have with her bread and butter she passed the pot to her visiting aunt, who in turn did the same and passed it to the older guest.  With enthusiasm he dipped the spoon in the jar and put the contents in his mouth.  As the others nibbled at their bread to conceal their shock and pretend it wasn’t happening, he repeated the action several times. 

Rachel didn’t know about these social niceties.  She stared at him with horror and burst out “But he’s eating all the jam, and he SUCKS the spoon!”  Winifred was glad the man did not understand English and she commented in a letter “... so that pot of jam had to go out to the kitchen and the rest of us did without.” 

Almost a century later I can see as if in a scene from a film the instinctive behaviour of the old man who may not have tasted jam before, and the horrified reaction of the others, all of which we might find comical today, but it’s Winifred's final comment that I find the most interesting.  Curiously, her response was completely instinctive too, since eating jam from the same jar would have done them no harm.

The final story took place around the same time as the others at the beginning of the last century, and was told to me by my mother on several occasions throughout my life; she had heard it from her father Manfred, who was my grandfather and another of Edward and Agnes’s sons.  He was staying with his parents at the big estancia house when they were told one morning that a local farmer would be joining them for lunch because he had business to discuss with Edward.   This meant they would all have to speak nothing but Spanish while he was in the house.

Agnes presided over the soup toureen as usual at the head of the table, and when the meat course arrived and the platter was offered to each person by a serving maid, the farmer ignored the beef which had been previously sliced for their convenience and tackled the main joint with the mighty facón which he drew from his belt behind him.

The "Facón" carried by gauchos, and its sheath.

This looks like an expensive version. 

(Google image)

How the facón is worn by the gaucho.

(Google image)

.

He sliced a large chunk from it and put it on his plate; proceeding to eat it in the way all gauchos still do today when there is no cutlery around.  Jabbing the whole piece with the tip of his facón he put it in his mouth, using his left hand to steady the meat and his right to hold the facón as he sliced it off very close to his mouth.  He must have noticed that the others were eating differently, but it appeared not to worry him, and when they had finished, he picked up the corner of the damask table cloth and wiped the long blade with it, before lifting the fabric and deftly slicing a splinter off the polished wood beneath of roughly the same shape as a toothpick.  He then picked his teeth with one hand while discreetly shielding his mouth with the other - standard practice in some sectors of polite society. 

The men had managed to carry on talking naturally, (although I'm sure there would have been the odd cough and splutter) but Agnes was transfixed by what she had seen, and had been speechless up to this point.  She had been brought up not to show her feelings, which was considered ill mannered; however this was more than she could bear.  Using the body language of British disapproval she gathered herself up, straightening her shoulders and forced her eyebrows down from their surprised arch into a straight line and narrowed her eyes.  She permitted herself one word.

“Heavens!” she expostulated.

I have no way of knowing how the farmer might have viewed the airs and graces of the family offering him lunch, but I can’t help wondering whether his actions were not in part deliberate, and that he too had a very good story to tell when he got home.

-oOo-

Photo Finish
from Lonicera's archive

The swans and ducks are local (digital), the rest are pictures
taken in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands (non-digital)

-oOo-

Life's Little Pleasures (1)

I was exceptionally tired one day last week, but still determined to change the bed linen before brushing my teeth and falling into bed.  I had found a duvet cover that had been lying at the back of the linen shelf for about a year (I’m not very tidy) and it was like bumping into an old friend.  It has a blue background with a palm tree and various unidentifiable shapes around it in gold and green, but all in muted colours – nothing bright. 

And it was heaven – the feel of the clean, cool sheet and duvet cover against my skin and my face on the pillow slip smelling of lavender.  I’m sure I fell asleep within seconds with a smile on my face, and awoke the following morning feeling totally refreshed. 

As I drove to work I was remembering this and it struck me that there are so many things in our lives that bring us small nuggets of pleasure; why not try to list them?  The big pleasures in life are the same for most of us, I thought, but the little moments that seem to make everything else seem better, brighter and more comfortable are also worth recording and could be different from other people's.  I reckoned I should be able to come up with a dozen or so, and could write a post about it.

Since then my brain has bombarded me with LLPs (Life’s Little Pleasures) – all day, every day, ever since.  I scribble them on the backs of envelopes, the spaces on the back covers of magazines in between the ads, e-mails to myself from work, and in a little notebook I also carry around with me. 

Having now assembled them into some sort of order, I’ll see where this leads me.  It will take several posts, but I probably won’t make them concurrent, since each one can stand alone.  I’d love to know what other bloggers think of my choices, and if they have any to add themselves.

Home and Hearth

“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”

~ Jane Austen

Sleep – I love that brief moment before I drift off, then waking in the middle of the night to the reassuring sight of the digital alarm-clock which tells me I have a few hours’ more sleep before it screams into life.  And if you can add to that the thrumming sound of rain outside and the combined warm and reassuring bulk of John’s back and the cats on the bed... bliss.  Please share with me this lovely little poem by Robert Louis Stevenson.
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A Hot Bath – sinking into the hot sudsy water with a sponge to support my neck and a ten-minute read before my ginger cat Rusty’s curiosity has got the better of him and he’s jumped onto the rim of the bath.  He sways slightly to regain his balance as I hold my breath – the water would be too hot for him if he were to fall in.  He just manages to edge his way round two of the sides, fascinated by the bubbles, and then keenly interested in the feet beneath, which he tries to reach with his paw.  Getting braver he leans cautiously into the water, determined to catch the ‘things’, but eventually gives up and jumps off with his whiskers covered in foam.

The cats – I’ve written regularly about them on both blogs, but the small pleasures come from suddenly realising that I understand what a look on the little face means – something around the eyes, the tilt of the chin.  And it makes me laugh with delight at its pragmatism:  that’s my chair, get off it… you haven’t fed me for hours… I’m lying on your side of the bed because I feel like it, so lump it… I’m purring because I must ensure you like me enough to feed me on demand… .  Occasionally they lie on the bed purring while I stroke them, and yet there’s no food in sight.  They may be reaffirming their bond with me, but I resolutely ignore it and assume it’s because they love me.  Cuddle time is one of life’s best little pleasures.

Non-Housework - I’ve already admitted that I’m untidy, and there’s another pleasure to be gained from this.  Good housekeepers keep their houses tidy because they couldn’t bear to live any other way, whereas the unique pleasure I derive from seeing my garden and house tidy and clean once a fortnight is because I haven’t had to do it myself.  Certainly there have been times when I tackled the garden and enjoyed planting and watching the flowers come up, but what it made me feel was fierce pride and satisfaction and even a hint of obsession, because I couldn’t sit still to admire it if there were still weeds around to be pulled up.  Or if having vacuumed the house and dusted the furniture I’d see red if anyone walked on ‘my floor’ or put a teacup down on ‘my coffee table’... The pleasure was in there somewhere, but it was altogether a stronger and possessive feeling, far more complex than a simple pleasure. 

My list has only just begun.  Watch this space.  And tell me what your little pleasures are.

-oOo-

Photo Finish

from Lonicera's non-digital archives

A visit to Bowood House, Wiltshire

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