Monday 30 January 2012

Sometimes, there is no right answer

My mother asked me what I'd like especially of hers after she died.  I wasn't going to be caught that way.  I said I couldn't possibly think about it.  She tried several times to persuade me, but I refused.  Not too long afterwards, Wink and her husband came to stay.  After they'd gone home, she was a bit indignant.  Apparently, she'd asked the same question and they assumed she meant it and earnestly suggested a few items.  I pointed out that she had asked and said she'd meant it - but people don't always mean what they say.

On another occasion, she asked what I thought each of the children would like as a memento.  Caught on the hop and hoping to please, I suggested that Weeza might like her (my mother's) grandmother's glove box.  "Oh.  I thought you'd want that."  Impossible to get these things right.

Anyway, when she did die, no one wanted to think about that sort of thing.  Ro was newly at university, Weeza had a tiny flat, Al moved into her place anyway so was surrounded by quite a few of her possessions, and we packed a lot of stuff away.  Nearly nine years on, I'm finally dealing with them.  And so it was lovely that we were able to look on with a fresh eye.

The Sage, having done a lot of box-shifting (no turning out as yet) had found some things that he brought out to show.  "All these years that I've known him," said Phil, "and he's only just showing me his train set?"  At one point, while I was cooking, Weeza came to ask me for some methylated spirits.  I went straight to the cupboard under the back stairs and fetched it, which impressed everyone mightily with its unexpectedness.  This is what the Sage had found -

And here it is in action -




9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Heavens, a Dampfmaschine! As a child I always wanted one. They were operated with Spiritus to heat the water. My mother refused to have such a thing in the house, while my father played with the idea, I think he had one himself as a child.
I will patiently wait for the video.

LẌ said...

Like Herr Mago, I also wanted one of these. I had plans to connect it with the Erector Set.

Rog said...

*worrying concept from LX*
I always wanted a steam engine but fortunately my job in the recycling industry Lets me get hands on.
I hope the meths is never imbibed in the Z kitchen

Z said...

One of two vids up, I've got to go out now. Baksun.

Sir Bruin said...

I see a trend developing here - I, also, always wanted one of those. I think the moment may have gone now and I will stick to my little electric trains now. Anyway, I'm not allowed to play with matches.

Rog said...

Wow - excellent! R sounds v. excited!

Z said...

Refuse to have it in the house? Goodness, I encourage that sort of thing. It's such fun!

The train set is a clockwork one, of course. Electricity is a bit advanced for the Sage.

I've put up the second video now, but to tell truth, it's much of the same.

luckyzmom said...

Wonderful!

Anonymous said...

That's wonderful! We'd have had to fight my dad to play with something like that!