i've lived in the country for five months now and here are some things i've learnt so far:
1. that high heels should be replaced with comfortable walking shoes, because you'll be doing plenty of that.
2. that kindness, generosity and friendship are valued above money and things.
3. that family is everything, every minute of every day. there are no cases of au-pairs raising children here. children are a part of every frame of this beautiful film.
4. that people you don't even know that well will scoop you up and take you into their arms, when you're in the depths of despair.
5. that friendships are deeper. you live your friends divorces, births, marriages, spats, romances, financial problems, good time and bad times. you really live them.
6. that image means nothing - but if you bake a mean cake or throw a good dinner party, you'll win a great deal of respect.
7. that if you're having lunch with a single man, even children in the village will know about it within twenty minutes!
8. that if you're having a bad day, someone will pop around with a bottle of bubbly, because they just sensed it.
9. that your friends will be accepted as one of the villagers, after only a weekend.
10. that your friends will feed your child dinner if he's still playing at their house.
11. that you'll get a phone call asking why you're not at the local garage sale, because the hearts ceramics set you collect is there for the taking.
12. that random strangers will tell you that you're lovely, and really mean it.
13. that you can drink and dance with wild abandon and know that everyone there has done it a million times before.
14. that your friend can do the bohemian rhapsody on a bar counter and will be received with cheers and encores!
15. that your neighbour fixes your washing machine and weeds your lawn.
16. that a story spreads faster than wildfire.
17. that simple pleasures are the greatest joys.
18. that the village will help raise your child.
19. that your home is an open venue for visitors, so everyone will see your dirty dishes / you in a bath towel / you in your pj's / at some point.
20. that an entire village will support a family during a tragedy.
8 comments:
Love this T, i'm glad you've had support in what sounds like a rough time for you. V x
Not nearly as rough as others. Glad you enjoyed xxx
fablefairy: i'm glad they are so there for you! just sorry it wasn't like this in cape town! how can u not feed kids dinner who r playing at your house anyway? how can u get by without friends helping u take on troubles in this way?!
Such an exquisitely beautiful and poetic post. This is a blueprint for living.
Both Luca and his lala think that this is beautiful and so typical of our little village.
absolutely beautiful, how i miss country life! one day soon again i hope... Sending you love in what seems to be a rough time. x
I loved writing this and I look forward to writing another 20 things soon!
Aww, really loved this post. We're packing up our things and heading off into the hills of Ixopo, looking forward to a slice of country living. It really sounds lik eyou've found your soul place :)
Post a Comment