Remember those stormy photos I showed you last post? If I’d been home yesterday, I could have taken even more dramatic ones, although I think much of the action happened in the evening, too dark for my camera. In fact, it was so stormy that dark became even darker as my little island lost power completely for several hours.
But I wasn’t home, so I didn’t get to snuggle up to my wood stove, heating soup over the fire, reading my book by flickering candlelight, digging out the heavier duvet to snuggle away from the wind’s chilling howl. Instead, I tried my sea legs over a rough ferry crossing to Vancouver. My sister is hosting a gathering of siblings and our partners on Saturday, and I was also able to arrange an almost complete gathering of mine and Pater’s growing clan tonight (we’re trying a new-to-us dosa restaurant, will try to report later). Yes, I do have three sets of essays to mark, but I’ll have some lovely family visits squeezed between to make me believe it’s not all work and no play. . .
If I’d been home, and foolish enough to have gone out in that stormy wet weather, I might have worn my new Hunter boots (unbelievably, on sale for $50, new but returned by a customer who’d worn them and then changed her mind. Generous store return policy worked to my benefit, definitely!) with my old Burberry trench (also acquired on sale, years ago). Honestly, I’m not convinced the Polished finish and the Brick colour work with the metallic of the coat, but sometimes Needs Must, and this combo is pretty storm-worthy…
Makes me think of A.A. Milne’s charming poem that my mother had me memorize decades and decades ago. Do you know it?
John had great big waterproof boots on
John had a great big waterproof hat
John had a great big waterproof mackintosh
And that, said John, is that.
I have, sadly, failed to reproduce the way this delightful verse wends its way down a page, the line breaks much more interesting than I’ve indicated, especially as originally decorated by Ernest Shepard’s whimsical illustrations. But I won’t forget to give you the title of the poem, although I’m tempted to make you guess it first –or to ask how many were lucky enough to already have learned it, from some thoughtful parent or teacher or grandparent. Would you guess “Happiness”? And isn’t that a splendid title, a wonderful claim, a magical equation? To be well dressed for rain, happiness indeed!
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Gosh Hunter boots for $50! I'd buy them too…
It was incredibly windy here last night, the lights were flickering and we got the candles and flashlights out just in case but we never lost power.
Enjoy your weekend!
I know! I snapped them up quickly, especially since I'd just tried on a pair at $140 or something. . . .
Still crossing fingers for more rain:). Enough to wear cute rain gear would be a plus.
It's so hard, here, to imagine that prolonged a drought, although we did have quite a few wonderful (if eventually worrisome — forest fires!) weeks here in the summer . . .
"It was a dark and stormy night." Really. Great buy on the Hunter boots. Have a fun weekend in the big city.
We've def. had some weather! The weekend was fun, and very family-busy.
That's one of the most beloved poems of my childhood, I can 'see' the page! Dressing for rain, then going out, always feels like a minor victory to me. Your boots were a serious bargain.
Weren't those pages wonderfully well designed to lodge in a child's memory?! Honestly, dressing for rain feels so tiresome here, day after day after day of it through long months — but bargain boots help!
I had a scary drive across the Lower Mainland and then an equally scary ferry ride on Thursday evening. It was so good to drive off the boat and onto the island. Line the rest, I am a tad envious of the great boots!
Glad you got home safely — it's been so stormy! And I hope you had a restful weekend — are you in your new home yet?
How do you find the boots? I have been wondering if they are worth the price as mine certainly need replacing and would be glad of an opinion before I go ahead.
They're comfortable and sturdy, Marianne. And I had decided that I'd buy them at the store's 25% off sale (not sure if I'd pay full price, which might be less in England, but I can see they'll last well). At $50, there was absolutely no question! 😉
Thank you! Have a lovely day x