The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple…. Respect for the Lord is good; it will continue forever.
Psalm 19 : 8, 9
How our emotions travelled while working on the cottage.
There were four of us on this journey of cottage renovation. I can only guess how my son and Pachlan Purdy took it.
I made a list of what Roy did. Here are the important ones: taking down a wall, ceiling, cladding from inner walls of the front room and lifting floor boards. Then there was ordering the boiler, radiators and overseeing a carpenter for the stairs. Yes, it was a jump over two rotten steps and then a third step to tread carefully on. This was done as you took the bend in the staircase. Roy also bought and put in the kitchen cupboards. This was all done while working long hours in his real job.
His routine was, come in, eat, and then work on the cottage.
One day, it must have been a Sabbath because we weren’t working, we had been out in the car and parked outside the cottage. Our son was in his seat asleep. We looked at each other and we knew we didn’t want to go into the cottage. My husband was exhausted. The place had a floor and a roof BUT a home not yet. We felt gloomy.
It took courage to go in and we continued together. I can see him bending and stretching up, measuring and cutting. He did it.
To be fully seen by somebody, then , and to be loved anyhow – this is a human offering that can border on miraculous.
Elizabeth Gillbert
Upon reflection on how much we were doing I’m not sure how to say this but I brought up the idea of having another child. That summer our baby was conceived. Yes, the wet cement smell made me feel nauseous but with Pachlan Purdy and my son we spent most of our time in the garden and the field. It was an outside life. I had a friend down the road who had a little girl our son’s age and she was also experiencing a house renovation. We took bus rides to the swimming pool, my pregnancy was hardly noticeable to anyone and I was too busy to notice.
Our most heartsore time was when Pachlan Purdy became ill and did not return. My best way out was to get the room ready for our children’ s shared space.
Our son ate well, slept well, was with me all the time and as our baby became heavier and I was a bit tired, Roy’s brother came for a day to prepare the floors for the carpets. The carpets came just in time.
Your emotions are the slave of your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions.
Elizabeth Gilbert
Thank you for reading. If you want to see something about shapes of stories press this. Kurt Vonnegut on the Shapes of Stories.
Sandy 🙂
Those were the days… One can cope so much better when young. Such a lovely photo of you three.
Thank you! A bit mad to take on a pregnancy but our eldest did enjoy having a brother to play with. I am always grateful mum had you.
Renovations are very hard Sandy yes! You did it! When one looks back you honestly sometimes do not know how you did it and together worth it and precious
Oh, while I wrote that I had a lot more stored memories far more than came out on the paper. It turned out to be a very happy home with a good feel about it. I am glad we did it. Thank you for your sympathy which echoes from a place of knowing.