Today I am in France*. It is day six of our holiday and it is fair to say that today has been a good day. The sun came out. Oh yes. But not until I had decided that I no longer wanted to sit by the pool shivering. I gathered my belongings and left the others to return to the house. I was anticipating a large pot of redbush and curling up with my latest read. And a jolly good read it is too. I can thoroughly recommend it. To find out more, I should point you in the direction of Wife in the North because it is her book. You could do a lot worse than go out directly and buy it.
Anyway, dans la France, I am strolling under an overcast sky, bag in hand, looking forward to some warmth from a lovely pot of tea. So what happens? Well of course the clouds part, the sun comes out and I am all but dazzled by the resulting brilliance. I bask in the heat and briefly contemplate turning around to rejoin the others poolside. I decide against it on the grounds that instant cloud cover would no doubt follow. I seem to have that effect on the sun.
How to enjoy the sun while not scaring it away … it is one of life’s unresolved mysteries. Unresolved that is until now. I have come up with a foolproof solution. Ironing. Now, I am not one for things domestic. Apart from cooking, that I like. But something happens to me on holiday. I am suddenly overwhelmed by the desire to be a domestic goddess. So out comes the ironing board, the iron and the pile of clean washing I put through in the morning. Bag Lady finds me an extension lead and I stand on the patio at the front of our holiday house soaking up the sun’s rays. Ironing. I know. It was not midday which is just as well because you know what Noel Coward sang about mad dogs and English men, don’t you?
And I would not want to confirm any stereotypes.
It does seem I have given the villagers something of a turn, mind. Apparently it is not everyday a six foot bikini clad English woman irons in the front garden. Can’t think why.
*This isn't strictly speaking true any longer. It was when I wrote it but I got back on Friday and I'm still on catch up.
Monday, 25 August 2008
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8 comments:
I like it -extreme ironing in France, en plein air!
HAHAHAHA!!! I enjoyed that one!
When I was thirteen years old, a new family moved in next door to us and we became friends. Maureen was a young mother, and I used to pop round and treat her like a cross between a surrogate big sister and a second Mum. One of my enduring memories is of her sitting outside in the sun, ironing in her bikini!
Loved the Noel Coward vid too - it's a long time since I've heard him sing that and I'm not sure I've ever seen it!
Ironing? People still iron? And on holiday too! Wow!
Girl - you know how to have fun don't you!
I'm going to Brittany on Saturday - keep the sun shining for me.
CJ xx
Hee hee...I wonder if I'd iron more often (i.e. period) if I had a bikini to wear?
barbara - it may have been a little tame for extreme ironing, sadly.
Jay - good, glad you did!
Aims - what can I say? I am a domestic goddess :)
CJ - I think we left you with far better weather than we had for the most part. Have a great time.
Kimberly - bound to. No question.
Hee hee. I bet you looked fabulous and all eccentric. (Polite way of saying mad.) Sounds like you had a brill time lovely.
i find enjoying the sun whilst not scaring it away usually involves this type of ritual, only i mostly see it performed as a dance. with very odd music. parrots in the background and whatnot.
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