Great and quite delightful read this week Hannah! I really giggled out loud at " carrying the cauliflower like a benevolent severed head" heh heh!
Yes, when I was a Nursing Sister many many moons ago , most of the staff in those far off days were women. We carried Everything! Moved whole wards about to accomodate extra beds , not to mention the pushing and pulling of wheelchairs,patients to and from Operating theatres and any amount of paraphanalia throughout the shift in hand.
Becoming a writer in my mid forties, was bliss! Just a large notebook and two biros were my constant companions. Plus my two gorgeous children and all of their stuff.
Awwwr how can Babs be four years old! I remember her so well as a gangly wonderfully affectionate pup.
Have a great time in Guensey . Look forward very much to your next pen friend x
Definitely draw the cauliflower severed head! I will frame it and hang it in the kitchen to laugh at in merriment and think fond thoughts of you ,Bekes and Babs! Xx
What a beautiful desk with a beautiful origin story. Virginia would be delighted! Loved having you as a podcast guest and have had messages from listeners to tell me how much they enjoyed it 💛
There is something special with some objects or furnitures that represents différents period of our lives. I love that you brought your desk back to France and that you are not scared to ask your Female friend to help you carry this desk , there a sort of symbol or am I playing therapist here ?
Anyway, reminds me of this little coffee table that I found in the street of lavender hill in south London 10 years ago. It has been my bedside table ever since… thanks for this letter Hannah 🤍
I recently got my office and standing desk back (which seems to be permanently at seat height) after about 6 months or so of being relegated to the dining table and various seats in and out of the house. It's a very pleasing feeling, even though it's just an Ikea wooden kitchen work top on a standing desk base, to be back at that piece of wood with its ink stains and cup-worn spots.
Ahhh I so understand! I found I was constantly stacking papers and removing them from the dining table. It's so good to have a desk space just for desk things.
Thank you very much for reading and for writing back :)
I love those Maira Kalman images, going to look up the book! I have one of hers about dogs which I should revisit now I have Rusty... but it's in storage, of course!
I didn't know Kalman's work before discovering this book from a philosophical letter I read called The Marginalian by Maria Popova (another recco) . And now I am going to look up the dog book! I
Ahhh thank you for your kind words. The desk thanks you too. xx
Is a bum bag anything like the bag a hobo carries on a stick?
I'm very pleased for your desk to be back around companions.
Women holding things is amazing. I was amazed at my wife all through my life the things that she could carry; especially how she and other women keep a child on their hip and then go about their business doing everything else? I have a feeling it's been like that since the days of our earliest ancestors. Really I don't know how men got to dominate so much of History because women are exponentially better equipped to lead, to nurture, to carry on. And to do all that peacefully and seamlessly.
Really enjoyed this! Love how this desk you’ve had obviously symbolises something for you, and how you not only made space for it, but also all the versions of yourself that have written on it. Also loved how you linked it to the idea of women holding things, including by supporting each other.
Great and quite delightful read this week Hannah! I really giggled out loud at " carrying the cauliflower like a benevolent severed head" heh heh!
Yes, when I was a Nursing Sister many many moons ago , most of the staff in those far off days were women. We carried Everything! Moved whole wards about to accomodate extra beds , not to mention the pushing and pulling of wheelchairs,patients to and from Operating theatres and any amount of paraphanalia throughout the shift in hand.
Becoming a writer in my mid forties, was bliss! Just a large notebook and two biros were my constant companions. Plus my two gorgeous children and all of their stuff.
Awwwr how can Babs be four years old! I remember her so well as a gangly wonderfully affectionate pup.
Have a great time in Guensey . Look forward very much to your next pen friend x
Heheh, maybe I will draw the cauliflower severed head!
I love those stories of the nursing sisters carrying EVERYTHING!
I can't believe Babs is four either -- a young lady!
Merci merci, see you soon, H x
And thank you for reading and writing back! I really appreciate it
Definitely draw the cauliflower severed head! I will frame it and hang it in the kitchen to laugh at in merriment and think fond thoughts of you ,Bekes and Babs! Xx
What a beautiful desk with a beautiful origin story. Virginia would be delighted! Loved having you as a podcast guest and have had messages from listeners to tell me how much they enjoyed it 💛
That's so nice! Thank you! <3 And thanks for confirming re. V-dubs.
There is something special with some objects or furnitures that represents différents period of our lives. I love that you brought your desk back to France and that you are not scared to ask your Female friend to help you carry this desk , there a sort of symbol or am I playing therapist here ?
Anyway, reminds me of this little coffee table that I found in the street of lavender hill in south London 10 years ago. It has been my bedside table ever since… thanks for this letter Hannah 🤍
Oh definitely there's a symbol there! I have also helped Anna to put up a filing cabinet for her office. Women helping women <3
Ahhhh I love that story about your coffee table! There's something very special about objects like these.
Thanks so much for reading and replying
I recently got my office and standing desk back (which seems to be permanently at seat height) after about 6 months or so of being relegated to the dining table and various seats in and out of the house. It's a very pleasing feeling, even though it's just an Ikea wooden kitchen work top on a standing desk base, to be back at that piece of wood with its ink stains and cup-worn spots.
Ahhh I so understand! I found I was constantly stacking papers and removing them from the dining table. It's so good to have a desk space just for desk things.
Thank you very much for reading and for writing back :)
I love those Maira Kalman images, going to look up the book! I have one of hers about dogs which I should revisit now I have Rusty... but it's in storage, of course!
Your desk is lovely. Thanks for your letter! x
I didn't know Kalman's work before discovering this book from a philosophical letter I read called The Marginalian by Maria Popova (another recco) . And now I am going to look up the dog book! I
Ahhh thank you for your kind words. The desk thanks you too. xx
Is a bum bag anything like the bag a hobo carries on a stick?
I'm very pleased for your desk to be back around companions.
Women holding things is amazing. I was amazed at my wife all through my life the things that she could carry; especially how she and other women keep a child on their hip and then go about their business doing everything else? I have a feeling it's been like that since the days of our earliest ancestors. Really I don't know how men got to dominate so much of History because women are exponentially better equipped to lead, to nurture, to carry on. And to do all that peacefully and seamlessly.
A bum bag is what Americans call a 'fanny pack'!
Love your description of your awe at your wife's carrying.
Thanks so much for your reading and writing back.
OMG!! A "bum" bag!! I completely forgot that you are British! And I am thick! It was a swing and a miss on my part!
Really enjoyed this! Love how this desk you’ve had obviously symbolises something for you, and how you not only made space for it, but also all the versions of yourself that have written on it. Also loved how you linked it to the idea of women holding things, including by supporting each other.
Thank you Ehae! <3