Thursday 3 May 2007

The tale of two mermaids.


Lucy is home today; her school is being used as a polling station and so we shall be doing 'girlie' things - or at least that is what she tells me!

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with my other girlie, Lauren, my beautiful nearly-twenty year-old daughter. We had both realised that neither one of us had remembered Granny Shirley's birthday on the Monday and so we set off with an enormous bunch of lilac, the perfume filling the car with its heady scent, and a pretty home-made gift tag courtesy of Lauren - highly talented in the art department, that one! Of course, neither one of us thought to ring Granny and thus arrived twnty-five minutes or so later to an empty cottage. No doubt, Granny was thrilled with the wizzened posy she found tucked as far into the doorstep shade as possible! Best laid plans and all that...

Having finally dragged ourselves out of the house, Lauren and I decided we really didn't want to go back so soon and drove to Swanpool Beach in search of something to eat (sorry, another beach story but it is Cornwall after all). Once again, the gusty wind was onshore, but the hot sunshine worked its magic as we sat with Isabella on the sand eating huge baguettes of roasted vegetables with melted goats' cheese - yum! The sky was of such a brilliant blue, so pure against the muddier blue of the swirling sea and gleaming sands. Children sat engrossed in the building of sandcastles, a myriad pretty shells decorating the wobbly turrets and brightly coloured buckets holding sea water ready for the moats.

Lauren and I chatted as we sat watching the activity. We chatted about relationships, giggled at the photos we took of ourselves (one of which I have posted above and now wish we had taken it with the sea behind us!) and sat in dreamy silence as the sun warmed and soothed away any troubles. I love these special times with my Lauren, knowing that all too soon she will have flown the nest once and for all to chase her dreams. She has her mother's thirst for independence and a desperation to row her own boat that I recognise and understand as my own. It is only through Dave that I have finally learnt that it is ok to lean a little, to allow someone else to take the responsibilty - I suppose I mean to trust. Lauren, I hope, will find this sooner than I did, but in the meantime I shall watch and worry and be proud as she forges her way and, should the need arise, I shall pick her up and hold her as I always have done when she has stumbled over life's challenges.

But today is Lucy's day and I am off to play mermaids and pirates on the beach once again, the wading into the frothy sea to rescue her reminding me endlessly of the same game played out with Lauren all those years ago - different child, different year, but the same wonderful, magical memories to build.


Hope you all have a lovely day too x

14 comments:

  1. Oh how your description of your independent daughter tugged the heartstrings. one of mine is the same, although now just married and a joy to watch with her man, but for years always refusing lifts and help and determinedly going her own way.
    dont know what you mean about the picture. its great.

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  2. Yes, pic is lovely. You both so pretty! Aren't you lucky living by the sea?

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  3. Oh! Aren't you both gorgeous. I'm staying away from photos!

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  4. You are both lovely. It must be strange and really nice to see all your girls at such different stages of their lives. I was always very idependent, too, and can see it in my Katherine. Have always needed to know that Mum was there to pick me up though! The baguettes sound lovely!

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  5. Oh, isn't it wonderful having daughters to do girlie things with. Such a lovely blog.
    Shame granny was out!

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  6. What's the name of the restaurant at Swanpool? We had a great meal there once on a diving weekend. Lovely pictures. Toady

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  7. Envy you being so near the sea - we are about 25 mins away which is quite near I guess. We have the North Sea though and its not quite so romantic being grey/green/mud coloured! Lovely mother daughter blog. The Heiress arrives tomorrow so I can have some girlie moments again.

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  8. You are both lovely!!

    If I lived just a bit closer to the sea I would have everything.

    warm wishes
    xx

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  9. I knew you would be beautiful! Both of you. Wonderful being able to share your lives as two grown ups too - I am enjoying my time with my mum now more than ever. And yet you have the pleasure of a youngster too - how great is that!xx PS- love the curtains in kitchen (Laura Ashley material perchance?). I have same too and use a thin cafe rod rather than wire and it holds them brilliantly. Available from all good DIY shops, as they say!xx

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  10. No, Silly, I'd guessed the gardening one was not you!! I meant the one on the beach - which appeared on that blog at the time, but now, I see, has disappeared and is just on previous blog. Techhie hell. ANyway, can now see you PROPERLY! Lovely pic of you and your girl - so glad you had a special day together and with Lucy too. Wished I could have been by the sea today. xx

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  11. Pipany you mae me laugh - have just seen your comments on mine! My girl IS Katherine (but she's only 3), so Elizabethm's daughter must be the one who wouldn't accept lifts - in fact glancing to my left as I type I can see her comment and it is! I mix people/comments up all the time, easily done!

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  12. You are so lucky to live near the beach. I don't understand why I moved to the only place in Devon that is an hour from the nearest beach!

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  13. How funny that we both wrote about giving our girls the gift of letting them go! You and your Lauren are beautiful! The day you spent together was really a gift to one another and I know that Lauren will always remember a magical day of just 'being' with you.

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  14. Lovely blog and pics, aren't we all getting brave?!

    So many daughters, am green with envy.

    Don't know exactly where we are staying in Cornwall yet, sounds a bit odd but we're staying in a friend's cottage for a week in exchange for me making her daughter's wedding cake. But she hasn't told me where it is yet, so it's a surprise! I think not far from Helford River. I must get around to asking for some more information, need to start making plans.

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