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Monday 16 March 2009

New Light Through Old Windows...

window Pictures, Images and Photos

Salut mes bloggy chums... Today, finds me feeling as if the Goddess Wiki has taken one of her long, pointy temple tools - perchance for lighting lanterns - and has bashed me about the head with it! I suspect that I may be 'coming down with something' wonderful!

So, please forgive the slapdash nature of today's posting, and if confusion creeps in, or if I drift off on a boat of oaken splendours, into the seas of the land of nod... Or if, just like yesterday's piece, I end up copying and re-pasting the same image again and again, because the new changes to Photobucket mean I scarcely know when I am copying an image, or not...

Why do people feel the need to do that? To mess around with what works, in the pursuit of the new, the fresh, la nouveaute?

Goddess of Light Pictures, Images and Photos

Answers on a postcard, please, to:

Fhina
The Rundown Cottage
Home Of The Brave
Neurotica
England, My Lionheart

(and even he were French - Richard I, Richard Coeur de Lion, in fact. Did you know that, mes bloggy chums?!)

These days I live in a house that was built by sugar mice just after the turn of the century, probably just after Queen Victoria relinquished her vice-like grip on the throne... We have wonderful, uninterrupted views across hill and dale, sheep and cows, tractor and tiller...

Quarry Miners used to live in our simple, two-up, two-down, terrace of cottages. They had hard working lives in the local quarry mines, hewing for minerals and in some instances coal. They had the pleasure of living in the countryside, which we so enjoy today, but they would have been dragged up perhaps, rather than brought up...

light Pictures, Images and Photos

Modern extensions to my home offer us additional living and 'being' space and accommodation downstairs, while upstairs the 'footprint' of my cottage stands much as it has ever been. Two bedrooms and what is now our bathroom...

When we first viewed the cottage, almost seven years ago, I had to bite my lip when GJ and I were sitting in the car mulling over the visit, afterwards. I burst into tears, my desperation for a home, after years of living what might be termed a half-life because of conflicts with a minority of embittered, craptastic neighbours, meant that I had connected on some deeper level with this potential future home for me and my family.

Light Pictures, Images and Photos

I know not who lived here before us, other than the sweet old lady we had to convince to sell us the house. We were in a 'bidding war', with lots of people keen to acquire their own little slice of Paradise. Some of the houses have been used as second homes, as holiday properties, and let out to one and all...

It was clear to us that Nancy wanted to pass on her home to a family, happy as hers once had been... To folk who would love the place just as she had done. So, we waited, and time passed, and then I felt as if we had won the lottery, when finally we were told that the house was ours.

One of the many quirks of the property, which has few really original features, for these homes were not built for Victorian Merchants, or Georgian Gentry, or the Landed Classes, is a small original, six-paned window in my kitchen. This window looks into my ramshackle Laundry Room and onto the back door of the house, but it would once have been the little parlour window beside the back door, witnessing all the comings and goings of one hundred years; Barefoot children pattering out, chattering, to tend the chickens, the strong woman of the house now wringing out, and then hanging out sheets and aprons to dry on the line... The miner and his teenaged son, departing at dark o'clock for the day's long shift in the quarry, not half a mile up the hill...

Light Pictures, Images and Photos

This little window means a lot to GJ and I. It is one of the things that endeared this house to us, that sustains us as we look aghast at the next set of works we need to start on... Its charm weaves a little spell over us, and we dream of our painted pine kitchen, and a comfortable seating arrangement in the lee of this window on the past.

So why is it then, that whenever workmen trample through the house, airily mapping out changes and waving their arms to detail their visions, they all ask incredulously, "Is the window staying?", or they proffer, uninvited, of course, "If you bricked up this window, it would give you more scope in the Laundry Room, to put in appliances, etc..."

Even our friend, who helped develop our plans for the bathroom directly above the galley kitchen, whistled through the space saying, "I'd brick this window in for a start... This'll have to go!"

Of course, all of these offers are met with GJ and I exclaiming wildly,

"Over my dead body... That window is not going before I do!"

At least on this, we concur.

Perhaps the window's hold on us is irrational. What exactly are we trying to hang onto, when to see its panes crudely broken up in a skip in the back lane, would mean freeing up additional space to work with, and the opportunity for more cupboards, which we do need...

Of course, you will know, our forebears have studied light and its many life-giving qualities.

They have linked light and its refraction to our wellbeing and energy. We all know that one cannot live happily in a place where access to light is denied us.

I sign cards and letters to friends, "Love and light", and they laugh and make fun of me... Often.

Don't you wish sometimes people would just leave well alone... Particularly when it feels like, "Change for change's sake"...

'If it ain't broke, don't fix it', I say, and all that rigmarole.

The window is staying, my darlings.

goddess of light Pictures, Images and Photos


Come in out of the darkness...

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

If it ain't broke....one of my favourite sayings. I am very 'anti' change for the sake of it. Your place sounds lovely and full of character. Chez Nous is also ancient, with 4ft thick stone walls and lots of happy times engrained in the mortar, or whatever it is that holds it together. Richard the Lionheart suppressed a revolt in the Limousin district and resided in Limoges for a time - about 90km north of us and where we go to catch our plane from time to time. There are quite a few Cœur de Lion Restaurants around those parts:)

Reasons said...

I don't blame you, I'd keep it too! I have a couple friends who wish me love and light and I know they mean it. I feel their light lifting me up sometimes, it can sometimes work even better than chocolate ;-) xx

Everyday Goddess said...

The Goddess is the bearer of the soft light of inspiration. At least that's how I see it.

And your post is so softly illuminating. Love it.

blognut said...

Your home sounds beautiful and peaceful. I hope you are not coming down with an illness Fhina, feel well, my friend.

Love and light,
Bloggus Nuttus

Suldog said...

It is the little quirks of a place that truly make it a home. I'd keep the window, same as you, and tell anyone who wanted to be rid of it that they were... well, I'd probably use stronger language than you would.

Anonymous said...

Love and light - magical! And essential in today's world!

Love your description on your quirky little cottage - I'm all for and about quirks!

Diane said...

Oh, do keep your window! Anyone who doesn't understand the effect of light hasn't spent a month without sun... it not only sustains our lifeforce, it sustains our psyche. We need it... can't live without it... not happily, anyway.

One of my favorite things ever to do is to stand in a place (especially an old place) and imagine the people who gone before me - who have crossed thresholds and bridges, traveled roads, looked at landscapes...

Feel better, my friend... xo

Scriptor Senex said...

Your home sound lovely - just the right place for your warm heart to reside.

If only, if only, if only... I have never met anyone other than the developers themselves who want all the new bells and whistles that we get when the technology is updated. They forget when they give us these new things that we actually liked the old ones. And as for the actual process of change and the chaos that causes - the less said the better.

ArtistUnplugged said...

Oh definitely keep that window as attached to it as you are. I have no idea why things are changed when they appear to be working fine. I hope you do not fall victim to an illness. Do take care.....and post a photo of that little window.

Michelle said...

Being space!! I love that. If i had a being space, I would be in it just being ya know?

Light and Love to my favorite lady!!!

Unknown said...

Now Fhina,

Just think of all the fun, excitement and pride you are denying the next generation of occupants of your 'tres chic' abode by keeping the window! These things go in cycles. You rip out all the old-fashioned stuff and put in the hardboard and formica so that the next lot can rip that out and put back the cornicing, beaded panels and leaded lights. What are you thinking of?!

Jewels said...

Love and Light... sounds heavenly to me!

French Fancy... said...

This house of yours sounds so tailor made to your charming bloggy persona, Fhina. Full of love and light and looking out to beauty.

sallymandy said...

Hi Fhina, thanks for these fantastic pictures! I love them. I enjoyed your story about your house so much. Just really like getting to know about the people on the other side of the blog...where they live, what it's like there, all that. Now having visual images to put you in a location. Stick to your guns on that window!! The arm-flinging worker dudes aren't paid for their deep spiritual/aesthetic connection to spaces, I'm guessing--are they? Funny we have the same dudes over in Montana.

Sometimes I have trouble getting on your blog, getting an error message, but glad I could read it today.

Zuzana said...

Ah, I so get this post. I love my house and I will never forget the day when I saw it for the first time. I believe you can fall in love with "things", just like with people. And just like with people, if it is meant to be, it will.
And even if the window only make sense to you, it makes sense enough.;)

Zuzana said...

Ah, and by the way, I loved that Chris Rea album.;)))

Jenny said...

If it ain't broke, don' go fixin' it ... I said it again just yesterday.

I too am a denizen of Neurotica! Perhaps we have seen one another, unbeknownst!

Jinksy said...

Windows let the light and love in - one to the house, t'other to the soul - let's here it for windows! x

Cynthia Pittmann said...

Loss of a window? No! need I affirm it? I'm am with you 100%...sure more space is great but the feeling of the space changes...become dense...love and light all the way, Fhina!

Liz Wilkey (a.k.a. A Mom on Spin) said...

How right you are about light, my friend. . .how could we live without it????

Carma Sez said...

Beautiful post and I'm glad you decided to keep your special window "as is."

carma

Rosaria Williams said...

Hello, and welcome: the old gal we loved when life was breezy and the world took care of itself is back with us. You can tell that we all jumped in the pool with you.

Your house is an extension of your soul, your external parts that navigate the universe.

Anonymous said...

cover a window. NEVER!

Anonymous said...

BTW Thank you for the ever so kind words you left at my blog post, The Winter Bus! TRULY, thank you!

Raph G. Neckmann said...

Hello Fhina, and thank you for following! I really enjoyed this post, your home sounds lovely. I love your pictures.

On the subject of 'it if ain't broken, don't fix it' - I wish Google had left the Following widget as it was, because I now can't see my followers any more - except for a few minutes just now!

Kate Coveny Hood said...

I LOVE the idea of a seller looking for buyers to cherish their house. It's rare - at least where I live. And I would never change that window.

A Woman Of No Importance said...

Henry the Dog's Mum: Your place sounds lovely and very old, Henry's Mum, you must miss it when you have to be back in the UK. Such character, not least in Henry himself!

I have just gathered more about English history, and we should probably be speaking French, so much of what we know stems from the Normans, or the Germans, or another European community - I find it fascinating! x

Reasons to be Cheerful 1,2,3: I am so pleased you say that about Love and Light, Reasons, it means a lot to me and it is meant, but I know some people who pooh-pooh it, to be fair - Unbelievers! Mind you, nowt works better than chocolate for me! x

Comedy Goddess: Bless you for stopping by CG and for leaving such gentle and light-filled commentary!

Bloggus Nuttus: Thank you so, BN, I think it is just a viral thingie, which should go soon, I hope. It is just slowing me down even more than usual, and that's saying something! xx

Suldog: Too true, Sir! I have been known to use strong language around tradesmen, for it is all that some of them appear to understand, but never, never anywhere else! I have a reputation as a lady to consider (ahem! If you believe that, you'll believe anything)...

ladyfi: Quirky is as quirky does in my 'umble opinion, m'lady! x

Diane: Would you be surprised to read that I like to be on my own in a historic or significant place (with no other influences or folk around, if I can manage it) to see if I can 'feel' those who have walked the rooms, touched the doors, leaned against the stones? I know you won't be surprised! xxx

Scriptor Senex: Bless you, kind, noble Sir Scriptor! You are so right, don't these IT Devpt folk understand that unless you're 19, it takes longer and longer (it seems to me) to learn new things and retain them, particularly bloggy implements?!

Artist Unplugged: Thank you for supporting me, as ever! As soon as I procure my own digital camera and work out how it all functions, I shall be boring you to death with pictures, sans doute! x

Michelle: Hi, you! Bless you for your goodness - I see you are quiet on the running front, madame, are you afraid I will come over there and confiscate your running shoes?! xox

Derrick: I know - Even my son (who wants the house after us!) is keen to do away with the three original doors we have upstairs - He is keen on modern doors, not quirky ones that don't fit properly and have been wedged through time with bits of wood so that they fit the door frames! The child is a heathen! I am determined to restore some what would have been original features, such as an arched brick fireplace, the doors, and keeping the wee window! I shall be lying in front of those bulldozers (again!)

Jewels: Bless you bright jewel!

French Fancy: I know, it is very much me, although suffering a little from long years of neglect - but it is home and I have a strength of feeling for it that cannot be denied... as I know you will have for your lovely blue and white abode en France! x

sallymandy: I agree, blogging is so like eavesdropping, or peering into someone's front window - With their permission of course! I love living vicariously through other folks' lives! What else is there that gives so much fun, and insight?! You are so funny and so right, thank you! 'Arm flinging worker dudes' is so clever! I think they are the same all over the world! Montana always sounds so wonderful. I am sorry you can't always get on my blog, I have tried to simplify things, but I'm a little in the dark about what else I might to do make it better for folk - Any advice? x

Protege: Z, you are such a wise woman! And you are so clever to get the Chris Rea reference - I thought that album title was just so cool! x

Jenniferw: You must be the citizen of Neurotica that lives 'across the way', rarely glimpsed behind those lace curtains! Sometimes it's nice here in Neurotica, is it not?!

jinksy: I have always, always felt that windows were the soul of a house, and I hate to see good houses standing with their windows boarded up. It's just so sad and soul-destroying for me - I'm sensitive and a softy like that for windows! x

Cynthia: Hellooo precious! Hope you are feeling the love and light where you are, C? :)

lizspin: Spinstress, welcome again - You are so right!

Carma: Thank you, dear Carma. There is no fear of the window going before I do!

lakeviewer: Bounding around like Tigger, I am, well, not quite yet! I like the image of a pool crowded with bloggy friends, chilling! Your words always stun me, LV! x

The Things We Carried: Meredith, you are so welcome - Your writing is just incredibly involving and warm... x

Raph G. Neckmann: Now, to have giraffe friends here is just incredible! Your wife's artistry and your words are very dear - I hope you achieve wider and wider recognition for your skilful arts, dear Neckmans! And, not one of us appears to like the new follower widget thingie!

Kate Coveny Hood: It was so strange, and yet, we knew we were being 'vetted' by Nancy, who was lovely. I even said I'd take over looking after her chickens with the house - She was a bit worried about them, and could not take them with her - We loved them dearly, my husband especially was obsessed with them, and I even heard him once call out "Chickies", in his sleep! I always came second to the chickies, and never once minded... x

Something I wrote earlier...

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