My mind wanders to my tea cup...

Tea always tastes better when it's from a tea cup. Isn't that what they say? I have just enjoyed my first 2 cups from my new, antique, china cup. Looking at it now has got me wondering. What stories would this tea cup tell if it could? Who had this tea cup before it was sold to the shop? Were they the original owners? How much gossip, heartache and laughter was spilled over this delicate duo? I wonder when it made it's journey from across the other side of the Earth. "Marcissus Bell Fine Bone China England," it has written on the underside....How many total cups of tea has it hosted? All unanswerable questions....The imagination soars.

I came home to find this waiting for me along with a note from my husband. He bought it from an antique store today after reading yesterday's blog. : )

Arrr...I"m sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. My kids seem to know I'm weak and like hyenas they are circling and tormenting me. Nothing is simple. Instructions need to be repeated continuously and often yelling ensues. Regretfully often my own.

I find in times like this I long for a small house in the country with only the sound of birds and the occasional distant farm animal. My house would be clean and ordered and smell like fresh flowers or home cooking. I would sit on my veranda in a big swing chair with a book or a journal to write in, sipping my Earl Grey from a china tea cup. White with delicate pink or light green floral design. I can hear the clink of my cup coming to rest on the saucer.....My happy place. Ha! how mummsy of me.

He arrived...

I was with my friend all Sunday (literally) while she was in labour. I met her and her partner at the hospital around 1:30am. By midday Sunday it was decided that the baby was never going to come out naturally so she went in for a C section. When I saw her all drugged out in her room in the maternity ward after the surgery, I was so overwhelmed with the relief that she and her new son were alive and well. Watching my best friend go through so much pain was horrific...And for so long. She never once complained. I can't believe she remained to calm through it all.

I still can't quite put into words all my thoughts. What an intense experience. The memory of her writhing in pain is all I see now when I see a pregnant woman in the street. Hopefully this memory will fade as did my memories of the births of my sons. Now when I think of my child birth experiences I only think of the joy and relief at the end. I hope the same will be so for her.

Seeing her son on her breast was amazing. He had know idea of all the drama that had surrounded his arrival. He looked so at home and at peace. It was at that point I remembered all those feelings of intimacy and motherhood I had felt too. It's something I hope I will never forget.

But I still hope I never have to go through another labour. I'm glad I've "been there, done that." Just need to make that more permanent now. Because i was at the hospital all night and day I didn't take my "pill". Just need to remember that...Because that would be an irony wouldn't it?

Waiting for the phone to ring

I'm waiting by the phone. My best friend is about to give birth. (She is not the women in the photos below...That is another friend.) The reason I'm waiting so tentatively is that I am to be there with her. She texted me this morning to say her contractions have been 10 minutes apart since 4am. Today could be the day. Valentines Day. I'm excited and scared....This is her first child. She needs me there. It's so humbling to be needed like that. I remember when I needed her that badly too. She slept with me the first night on my own after my first love died. The death of my boyfriend was a near fatal blow to my 17 year young life. She held me all night. So tonight could be the time I have the chance to repay the favour....She deserves to be happy. I hope I can be the support and confidence she needs from me.

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