An evening such as I like

Posted on 2006/07/01 10:53:56 (July 2006).

Given the deafening noise caused by the current Jazz Festival, I leave the flat every day at six to spend the night at my stepparents'. I come back every morning at eight.
The house of my stepparents is, I may have said it in a previous entry, a stone's throw away in the nearby countryside. It's a quiet place, all the more attractive that it is provided with a swimming pool.

So last light, I had a late swim with my son Brinsley. I'm pleased to see how at ease he is in water. Our great fear is to let him play alone by the pool. It's not always easy to keep an eye on him, particularly when we have people to entertain. One always believes that the other takes care of him. Accidents happen in this manner. But we are well aware of that and it became a conditioned reflex to ask for his whereabouts as soon as we lose sight of him.

After the bathing, we watched a cartoon together and then I sent my little darling off to Bedshire with a book. It's my policy to let him read as long as he wants, provided he keeps quiet and remains in bed. Usually, twenty to thirty minutes later, he falls asleep. Sometimes, however, he is in a mood for a sleepless night and we have to frown a bit. In this connection, I bought him In the Heart of the Moon (Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté) which gives a very nice insight into African music. It's very soft and I put it when I switch off the light. I sit by my son, stroking his hair and forehead, talking in a low voice, almost whispering, about wild animals in the savanna, and about that little village in the far distance, where people dance around a giant fire, celebrating the stars and the coolness of the night. Brinsley listens quietly, yielding to the soothing power of the music. His head falls on the pillow and he soon embarks on a journey which leads him to the mystical lands of our first ancestors.

So, to resume my account of last night, once Brinsley was in bed I went back to the garden, sat by the swimming pool and read till I couldn't see the lines in my book. Danièle, my stepmother, asked me if I wanted to turn on the lights, to which I replied in the negative. I wanted too to celebrate the advent of the night. Attending its fall is something I always enjoy. Everything gets quieter, except for the nightbugs which start their single scale concert orchestrated by the moon.

This morning, I woke up at six thirthy. The sun had risen and was already turning from orange to bright yellow. I decided to go for an hour jog amidst the fields. I felt reborn. I felt a new man.

I believe I'm becoming one. I know now what I want. And what I want is not inaccessible.

Nice entry to read, Sheri. I really enjoyed that! :) Your description of the sun setting made me feel like I was there...

I will have to try your technique for helping your son sleep. My boy is a bit lively at bed-time. We sit and read to both him and Iobel, but it sometimes doesn't work in making them sleepy. Tim will then listen to an audio-book, often for a couple of hours...

Posted by Nigel at 2006/07/01 17:16:40.

Nice one! It seems that you have had quite a refreshing evening, so now I am left wondering what is the new Sheri like and what is the new path that you talk about.... I am curious! :)

Posted by Lox at 2006/07/02 03:30:25.

This is not a criticism because I am always amazed and envious at your use of English, including odd sayings. However, can I please correct one little one - its "Bedfordshire" after the county of the same name. The whole saying is "up the hill to Bedfordshire". Hope you don't mind me mentioning it.

Posted by Mad Mumsie at 2006/07/02 23:55:40.

Yes indeed, MM ! Bedfordshire it is ! Now I recall ! Heard it in Bridget Jones' diary .

I find it very helpful when you correct me.
You too Nigel. Don't hesitate.

Which makes me think of the title: An evening such as I like. Should I add it or is it all right as it is ?

Posted by Sheri at 2006/07/03 07:55:16.

Lox: hard to define that new man! I just feel it.

Posted by Sheri at 2006/07/03 08:00:43.

Your English is fine Sheri! (Better than most people I see day-to-day!!)

Personally I hadn't heard the "Bedfordshire" saying myself!! :))

And "An Evening such as I like" is absolutely fine! :)))

Posted by Nigel at 2006/07/03 10:10:15.

Sheri: the phrasing of the title is rather stylish as is, for some reason it puts me in mind of the 1920s, when everyone was very dapper and Noel Coward was all the rage (errr, or something like that).

Posted by John at 2006/07/05 13:44:45.

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