No Regrets

No Regrets

Watching a late night talk show whilst knitting the other night, I looked up to see a beautiful young actress perched on a chair telling the story of her latest movie.  She was stunning.  But then I noticed a tattoo, and not a very good one, emblazoned on the inside of her arm.  A blight, at least to my eyes, and a distracting one at that.  I couldn’t help but wonder if she ever regretted getting it done.  But then, I noticed another on her other arm, so I supposed not.  As for myself, I cannot even imagine having something permanent etched into my skin.  Of course, this is coming from a person who refused even to have her ears pierced, so make of my opinions what you will.

Her tattoos got me thinking about regret.  We all have them.  I’m not talking about the big regrets that have lasting effects on one’s life, but the little ones that irritate and make us cringe just a wee bit.  You know, the “why on earth did I wear that to the wedding?” ones.  The “did I really say that?” ones.  The “why on earth did I waste X$ on that movie...those shoes... that mustard-coloured shirt?”.   I look at the dress that smiling woman is wearing in the top photograph and wonder if she ever regretted that one.

I began to look back over the last year and rather than focus on those things I wish I hadn’t wasted my time or money on, as is my wont I turned it around a bit and started to recount all the things I did not regret from the last twelve months. 
 Oooh, this was fun.  

Hope you enjoy it and will perhaps share with me those things you’re glad you did

... or purchased...

 or saw.

1.  The Perfect Coat

The photograph above was taken below Tintagel Castle, years ago. 

  Notice the long black coat, which I will say unabashedly that I loved.

See this photo, above?  

Some years later, on the streets of Edinburgh.

Yes, same coat.  

As The Songwriter and I tend to travel in the fall, I tend to reach for this coat and my passport simultaneously.  That is until this past trip to Scotland when it dawned on me that, if you only went by my photographs, you couldn’t tell which trip I’m on.  All of them look the same, because in each I’m wearing “The Coat”.  So... time to get a new one.  This proved much more difficult that I’d counted on.  I tried on coat after coat, in store after store.  I patrolled the online sites.  Nothing seemed to suit.  It needed to be warm.  Had to be waterproof.  Not too heavy.  And a coat with a hood was preferred.  Fake fur trim, a bonus.  Just as I was about to give up and take “The Coat” to the cleaners in preparation for our trip, a catalog arrived in my mailbox.  From a London shop called Poetry.  And there... on page three... was my coat.  I ordered it immediately and kept my fingers crossed that it would be as perfect as it appeared.  It was!!  I Adore It.....and if you remember.... on our wild Scottish adventure... I actually had to sleep in it for three nights, so it passed a rather strenuous test with glowing marks.

I just checked the website.... it’s still there.

Find it HERE.

*********************************

2. Redgrave and Dench

I was fortunate enough to see both these great actresses on stage in London this year.

Breathtaking.

************************************

 3. Pink Streak

In the summer, I had my long time hairdresser put a bright pink streak in my hair. 

Yes, I did.

Right at the back of my neck, a little on the right side,

 under most of my hair so it really isn’t visible unless I want it to be,

 which I occasionally do. 

It looks wonderful when my hair is up.

Always good to keep people guessing, don't you know.

***********************************

4. Those Boots

I’ve wanted a pair of Dubarry boots for ages.

Well, this year after a particularly prolific month of book sales, 

I sprung for a pair just like the ones above.

I swear ... what did I wear on my feet before I got these??

Love them.

So glad I got them.

******************************

5. The Cuckoo’s Calling

So happy I took this book on holiday with me in August.

It was the perfect beach read.

Creative, engrossing, entertaining.

Yes, J K Rowling is much more than Harry Potter.

Find it HERE.

*************************************

6. Scotland

Yes we had some wild adventures in Scotland in September.

(You can read about them HERE, if you haven’t already.)

But those adventures gave us both entrance into the backstage world of Scotland, one tourists rarely see.  We found the Scottish people to be the most caring, accommodating, and efficient souls.  They took such good care of us both.  From doctors to cab drivers, inn keepers to perfect strangers, we have never seen a country perform with such incredible kindness.  If our journey had gone as planned, we would have never seen this side of the Scottish people in such detail and I can only hope we Americans would be half as stellar to strangers as they.

We cannot wait to go back.

Oh, I stopped the car to have a conversation with the fellow above

on my solo journey back up on the Isle of Mull.

Gorgeous.

************************************

  

7.  Traveling, Once Again, With Wilmont

I’ve written before about Wilmont, our little stuffed monkey that, more often than not, accompanies us on our journeys.  That’s him above in a fabulous hotel in Scotland a few years ago.  Yes, he was with us on our Scottish adventure last year and Lord knows we appreciated his comic relief.  He provided a good bit of levity, even for the doctors and nurses who insisted on bandaging his leg to resemble The Songwriter’s cast. 

We left it on until The Songwriter was mobile again. 

Both he and Wilmont are now all healed and ready for another journey.

***********************************

8.  Knitting Wands

The haberdashery at Liberty of London is a place of great temptation to me. 
 Skeins of wool, unusual buttons, ribbons, fabric, needles, paper flowers, feathers...
 I could, and frequently do, lose my ever loving mind.  
And yes, I purchased these knitting needles that resemble magic wands.  

So happy I did.

************************************

9. Leaf Pillows

I finally sprung for the Cowtan and Tout tartan wool plaid 

that I’ve been drooling over for years to recover two of my favourite chairs.

  And so happy I knitted these two leaf pillows to sit in them.  

Find the pattern HERE.

***********************************

10.  Berwick Church
It was late in the day and we were getting tired.
We'd already explored Sissinghurst Garden and Monk's House.
Already wandered the rooms and gardens of Charleston Farmhouse.
So we almost didn't go to Berwick Church.  But I'm so happy we did.
Totally alone, we stood underneath the incredibly lovely wartime murals
painted by Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell.
Totally inspiring.
Totally amazing.
***************************************

11.  Taking it Easy

Everyone told me that having hip replacement surgery a mere eight days before Thanksgiving would mean a scaled down holiday for me.  I would.... the dreaded words... have to “take it easy”.  These admonitions were delivered with stern doubt.  Seems no one thought I possessed the ability to actually do as I was told.  Ha!  I slept, I dozed, I sat.  Yes, I still gave a few parties, but I actually ordered in fabulous cakes instead of making them myself.  I accepted help.  I read, I knitted, I watched The Bishop’s Wife.  I strolled, rather than charged, through the holiday season and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  And now, completely healed, I’m back to walking Edward at a fast clip, something he’s very happy about.

What DON'T you regret?