So many things we do now are ‘for the last time’. Yesterday we waved goodbye to our visitors for the last time. We should go up the Mont d’Or today or tomorrow to look at the view for the last time. The cupboards are practically bare so perhaps we’ll have one more supermarket visit before we leave next week. They’re digging up our bit of the road outside, so it looks like we won’t be negotiating the narrow streets again.
Mat went out to the boulangerie on Monday and was amused to find our car stranded between two ‘road closed’ signs.
5 responses so far ↓
Larry // 4 April 2007 at 4:59 pm
We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
Through the unknown, remembered gate
When the last of earth left to discover
Is that which was the beginning;
At the source of the longest river
The voice of the hidden waterfall
And the children in the apple-tree
Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half heard, in the stillness
Between the two waves of the sea.
Quick now, here, now, always–
A condition of complete simplicity
(Costing not less than everything)
And all shall be well and
All manner of things shall be well
When the tongues of flame are in-folded
Into the crowned knot of fire
And the fire and the rose are one.
Lesley // 4 April 2007 at 5:03 pm
Oh dear, that sounds rather sad -but of course those of us in U.K are looking forward to your return now. Do you think Theo and Cara have any conception of coming back – it might be interesting to see how much they can remember about Oxford, their house and their friends, after 6 months absence. Good luck with the packing!
Lesley // 4 April 2007 at 7:16 pm
I have to add that my comment starting ‘Oh dear, that sounds rather sad’ was referring to Jasper’s blog. There was NO other comment as I pressed submit, and then suddenly Larry’s poem interspersed itself between Jasper’s and my comment. Cyberspace is weird.
Becky // 4 April 2007 at 7:39 pm
Lesley/ Mum – It’s mainly not sad. We’re ready to come back; just anxious to cram the right things into the last week – and nostalgic. You’re right, it’s fascinating talking to Cara and Theo about coming back to Oxford (and Grandma and Grandpa’s house). Much of the time they seem oblivious, then suddenly one of them will do something that makes it clear they’re thinking about it a lot. For example, Cara came round the supermarket with me (Theo was in the car in disgrace) and she suddenly shouted ‘Back! Look!’ She was pointing at a ball that we absolutely MUST buy for Sam the dog, to give him when we get back to Oxford. They remember that Kate and Adrian’s garden has a swing and a trampoline; that our house is white (correct), has a yellow door (wrong – that was 11 Edgeway Road) and is in Sunningwell Road (correct); and they don’t want to go to Lake Street Playgroup without me.
Larry – ‘In the mountains, there you feel free.
I read, much of the night, and go south in the winter.’
Larry // 5 April 2007 at 7:44 pm
Chris and I really feel for you all as you prepare to leave. What you have done is so wonderful. Thanks for giving us an insight into your world there with this blog. Will you leave it hanging in cyberspace or will you close it down?