ENGLISH MUM: A shining star of wonderful gorgeousness

May

Happy, sad and sunny

Filed under: Diary — English Mum @ 3:32 pm

So lovely C obviously had a word with the big fella upstairs and arranged the most beautiful weekend of sunshine for all her friends and family. She was buried underneath the shade of a tree in what is surely the most beautiful place in the whole churchyard and today the boys and I took the armfuls of wild flowers that they’d gathered on their walk with Jen (I’ve stopped calling you J, it’s too confusing - why does everyone have the same initial? Don’t they realise it’s confusing for anonymous bloggers?!) and left them, along with all the other flowers, for C.

Jen had come to stay to give much-needed ’sit down… kneel down… don’t do that…’ support at the church services, and I’ve been lucky enough to have C’s best friend J staying with me this weekend along with her daughter, C’s much-loved God-daughter, L. They’d been buddies since childhood and although I’d heard all about her from C, it was fantastic to finally meet. Jen and I spent many a wonderful hour hearing all sorts of things from C’s past - exploits from their teenage years and all about her wedding day. I’ve cherished every minute. After all the sadness, it was lovely to sit in the sun with a glass of wine, just chatting, remembering and smiling, with someone who I know C absolutely adored. Later, we got involved in some mad game with all the children and as we all laughed, hared about, threw water at each other and generally let off a bit of steam, I knew that C would be delighted to see her kids rushing around having fun in the sun after so many tears and such sadness.

I was reminded about the lovely thing that Sleepy did on her blog about what makes her happy. I had left a little comment, which was something along the lines of: hugs from my 3 favourite men, bitey kisses from Bert when he’s pleased to see me, sunshine, the little ‘incoming!’ Worms (it’s a PS2 game) voice on my phone that signals a text has come in, a phone call from J, shopping, cosmetics (ohh yeah), shoes!, logging on to the blog to find a big pile of comments, walking down the boat road on a sunny day to the lough, baking cakes, stirring a big pot of curry…

And now I can add: that glow that you get right inside to know that you were friends with a really special person, and the added bonus of knowing that, inadvertently, she’s introduced you to somebody new and just as special.

And seeing as I’ve deserted you for a couple of days, it’s over to you…what makes you happy?

21 Comments »

Aw, English Mum, that’s all so lovely, and such a joyful celebration of your friend’s life.

The things that make me happy include hearing my friend’s laughter, my dog snuggling in next to me, being in the garden, spending the love through parcels, emails, and now, blogging, and making omelettes for my family.

Comment by Coastal Aussie — May 6, 2008 @ 4:57 pm
oooh, things that make me smile … (with some humour now …)

A Slovakian voice telling me off from the kitchen
The noise the golf ball makes as it falls into the hole from a long putt
Any dog, any where
the sounds of my sisters cats sliding across the floor
Leather on willow
the sounds of a Ferrari as it pass me on Newport Beach
the sunshiiiiiiine !
life pretty much is making me smile !

Comment by Moon — May 6, 2008 @ 5:21 pm
Aussie: That’s exactly what it was. The sun shining on every one of us. Omelettes? Ooh no. Rubbish at them! x

Moon: ‘A Slovakian voice telling me off from the kitchen’ made me laugh. Oh yes, and I forgot leather upon willow. One of my favourite sounds. You’ll be pleased to know that #1 bowled amazingly well (in his new NCC Colts shirt): 4 overs, 1 wicket, 1 maiden and they only got 4 off his bowling. Good eh? (I hope I said that right) x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 6, 2008 @ 6:14 pm
Just being with my family. You need to be apart to realise how bad it can be.

Listening to the boys describe (no matter how boring it is) they’ve just defeated the ultimate enemy on the X Box.

Walking that waste of space Bertie just so he can see the f***ing Hare AGAIN….

Talkin shite with EM as we down our second or third (who’s counting) Morgan Spiced….

For the purist, hoping Chelsea will win instead of Man U for a change….

Jeees I’m taking over again. Sorry EM…

Comment by Hubby — May 6, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Sun, hugs from my girls, forests-hills-and-streams, Northern Exposure, nonsense conversations that meander with no begining or end but peppered with good humour, a nice glass of whiskey (with a little water, being able to sleep in (a rarety with my hyper babies), an empty todo list, a good book, a job well done.

Hugs to you and yours.

Comment by thriftcriminal — May 6, 2008 @ 9:21 pm
Sun, especially in Ireland..and the smell of laundry that has been in the sun.
My girls and my man sitting around the dining room table having a laugh, or playing Eye Toy or singstar…
Good friends at my house.
Wine wit good friends.
A lunch date with a friend
Clean sheets after a long day.
Comments on my blog, newsy emails from friends and letters that are NOT bills!!!

Comment by Natalie — May 6, 2008 @ 9:43 pm
It sounds as though your lovely friend had a good funeral. I think that a celebration of the life of the person who has left you is absolutely the right way to go, and it seems that’s exactly what happened for you all. How wonderful that her life has left you all with this warmth and gladness for having known her! She must have been special indeed. Hugs to you.

Things that make me smile?

Taking my Princess in her role as PAT Therapy dog to see deaf-blind people and Alzheimers victims and seeing her light up their lives. The sound of birds, the hum of insects .. seeing the Pirate, bum in the air, rubbing his face on the grass after a good meal (yes, he’s a dog, folks!), a bunch of flowers, listening to Paganini … oh, and staring at Johnny Depp!

Comment by Jay — May 6, 2008 @ 10:06 pm
Your description was a lovely tribute to your friend, EM. That’s how you celebrate someone you love.

What makes me happy? Looking at a fridge full of food so that I know I won’t have to go to the market, getting a package in the post, puppy kisses, comments on the blog for sure, watching a good film, and later this week when I get to go shopping at Sephora.

Comment by Medbh — May 7, 2008 @ 2:42 am
Right now, being in the last stages of flu makes me happy because I know it’s almost over. My dogs, family, friends and SO. My wonderful bloggy friends and everything I learn from them. Great weather, like today. Sleeping in. Eating a great meal. Laughing until I cry. A genuine smile from a stranger. And being reminded that my life is good.

Great post EM. Really, great!

Comment by SleepyJane — May 7, 2008 @ 6:19 am
“Any dog, any where” Common ground Moon! You just typed yourself out of an ass whuppin’.

Hubbs - come home this instant! And feck off slagging my dog!

Stuff that makes me happy…

*The smell of my sons hair when I sneak in for a kiss when he’s asleep.
*Putting my cold feet on Cs warm back when I come in at 4am from a night shift
*Looooong gossip sessions with my best mate EM, over a glass of wine, albeit too often seperated by a phoneline
*The squishy bit in the middle of a jaffa cake.
*Beating the union guy in an argument (ahem! debate!) in work

LOL! I’m sure your neighbours thought the loonie bin had a day release programme when we went to get those flowers, EM. I had the legs walked off the lads so we sang ‘marching songs’ at the top of our voices to spur us home. Nothing like two 10 year olds shrieking Clash tunes at the top of their voices on a summers day…

Rock the Casbah!!!!

Comment by Jennynib — May 7, 2008 @ 7:35 am
Hubs: How true - if this separation tells us anything it’s that we quite like being together!! Lots of dog walking and Morgan’s Spiced sounds just perfect to me xxxx

Thrifty: Ahhh, I love your happy things. And your girls sound just wonderful. Talking of a job well done, how’s the climbing thingy progressing? Hugs back atcha x

Medbh: Oh doggy kisses for sure. Have fun at Sephora, you lucky beaver xx

Nats: Ditto, ditto and ditto! My boys have missed their Daddy SOOOO much it’s untrue. And even though, as he says, they bore him to death with their latest X-Box adventures, he always has the patience for a game of something with them. Unlike me!

Jay: Yes, she was very special. Thanks. Oh I’d love to see the Princess doing her PAT dog duty. I bet it’s fantastic x

Sleepy: I’m so glad you’re starting to feel better. Yes, I love a cheery greeting from a passer by. One lady stopped me at the funeral and said ‘oh, you’re the dog lady - I didn’t recognise you without your pink wellies’!!!!

J: Wasn’t that funny when the lady next to you said ‘oh, I heard children singing - so that was you was it?’!!! Clash songs down the boat road is a definite first!

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 7, 2008 @ 9:25 am
So sorry to hear about C, have just got back from hols and catching up with your blog. She sounded a lovely person and both of you were lucky to have met and formed such a great friendship.

What makes me happy is the greetings from the dogs when I get home from a long hard day at work - William with his doggy kisses and windmill tail and Taffy with his chattering teeth.
My 2-year old niece laughing and her own way of saying words (until she learns how to say them properly).
The sun on my face and the birds singing in the trees and the first flowers of spring to tell me that summer is coming.

Comment by Taffy's Mum — May 7, 2008 @ 10:16 am
Every f—— day makes me happy sis,just being lucky to be here is enough,rock on !

Comment by Ali — May 7, 2008 @ 3:33 pm
Things that make me happy include:
Hearing a cat purr.
Snuggling into a warm bed on a cold winters day.
Seeing the daffodils in the Spring - they always remind me of my Grandad.
Hearing my husband laugh - it just doesn’t seem to happen enough these days.
Watching dogs play.
Stroking my cat after she has been sitting in the sun.
Any wildlife encounters, especially if it is cute and cuddly or big and dangerous.
Seeing all the people that have visited my blog - oh no, wait a minute, that’s something that I think would make me happy……..
Friends, family, food and drink.

Comment by Don't Bug Me! — May 7, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
TM: Thanks, ah yes, there’s nothing better than a greyhound that’s pleased to see you (although I also have whippy tail bruises!).

Alg: We should all have your attitude. You’re absolutely right xxxx

Bugs: Ditto to all of those (apart from I don’t seem to have many wildlife encounters - unless you count the teenage kind). And I visit your blog, honest!! xx

Comment by Englishmuminireland — May 7, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
A lovely tribute to your friend, EM.

Things that make me happy:

- My husband, family and friends
- Food in all its wonderful forms. Especially cake.
- Rummaging around in a 2nd-hand bookstore for buried treasure.
- Sniffing new books - they smell amazing!
- Lots of good food and sunshine on holiday.
- Sleeping in my own bed - and having a long lie-in
- A good bottle of red. Or just a bottle of red - I’m not fussy
- An endless supply of Kettle Chips to go with that wine
- Crate and Barrel - my new favourite shop (along with all the others). It’s the bees’ knees
- Cranking up the music and dancing round the house like a mad thing
- Clifden. That’s a good place. Sitting on the cliffs and looking at the sea
- On that note, the Dingle Peninsula. I’d move there tomorrow if I could.
- A great big dirty cup of tea, curled up on the sofa and reading/watching something trashy

Oh, I could go on…

Comment by Wee Jen — May 7, 2008 @ 11:40 pm
fabulous weather over here too - everyone seems so much happier now

Comment by conortje — May 8, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Soooo romantic what hubby wrote.
“Talkin shite with EM as we down our second or third (who’s counting) Morgan Spiced…”
No, seriously! It’s lovely to see couples who’ve been together for ages, still enjoying each other’s company. Sounds like you guys are a great team.

Oh, and yes, THAT is something that makes me very happy these days.

Comment by Sandra in Maryland — May 8, 2008 @ 9:49 am
Wee One: Ooh I LOVED all your happy things: cake, books, sleeping, red wine, food, sun, dancing…I think you should write a book on how to be happy. Clifden is amazing. Me Ma and the kids went there last summer. Beautiful. We stayed at the Abbey Glen and ate ourselves silly, practically drowned in giant bathtubs and slept in four poster beds. It was just fab. But, Crate and Barrel? Explain! x

Con: Isn’t it beautiful to be in the sun? This is the longest stretch of sunshine I’ve ever experienced and I’m ashamed to say I actually burned my arms whilst mowing the lawns. Usually very little need for sunblock here in Cavan!!

Sandra: I know. I miss him so much. We have lovely rambling conversations over a couple of drinks once the kids go to bed, and it really is my favourite time. I miss him very much. And I miss THAT too. Heh.

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 8, 2008 @ 10:48 am
My husband, my boys, my friends and family.My ability to hoist my keester out of my lovely new bed of a morning to stroll to work along a country lane with a stream on one side and a stone wall (west of Ireland) on the other.Knowing that the burren is thirty minutes in one direction and Connemars forty minutes in the other.
The fact that I’m here and able to enjoy these things.
These things make me happy and thankful and I’m and ungrateful little cow.

Oh and EM’s blog.
Mwah X

Comment by Isitjustme? — May 8, 2008 @ 9:09 pm
Isit: Hear hear: gorgeous, gorgeous things. Can’t wait to hear all about the house by the way. Hope you’re settling in. Oh and Mwah backatcha x

Comment by englishmuminireland — May 9, 2008 @ 9:13 am