My mother no longer wants to take the 2 flights, 3 cars, one golf cart and a boat journey in order to spend Christmas with me, she says her 86 year old knees object. This makes me very sad, especially as we are both Christmassy people, who like to do Christmassy things together. So this year I flew to her, for a few festive days.
After a weekend at home in the countryside, with roaring fires, Sunday roast and a certain amount of family madness we set off for London.
Lunch at The Wolseley had been planned, and a funny little party consisting of a wise older cousin, my mother, brother and new American sister-in-law who dazzled the whole restaurant in her Louboutin heeled booties and haute couture cape.
Getting my mother out of the car and across two lanes of traffic and through the grand doors did not go as speedily as I had anticipated. Choosing between the walking stick or the umbrella for one thing and then the wind catching that formidable 1960’s bouffant which went whoosh up and away and in order for it to be reversed into place she had to walk backwards down Piccadilly.
We went across to Albany afterwards. This is London’s oldest private residence, a set of apartments built more than 200 years ago and home to Prime ministers, poets and film stars ever since. My parents had an apartment there for many years and we had to be smuggled in as neither children, dogs nor whistling were allowed.
My brother inherited it when my mother decided she wanted to live full time in Oxfordshire. Being an artist, architect, designer and aesthete my brother’s ‘set’ as the apartments are known, is ablaze with color and excitement, in stark contrast to some of his more monastic strait laced neighbors.
As we left my mother stopped to shake hands with the top-hatted tail-coated porters whom she had known so well, “Nice to see you M’lady,” they said just as the Fortnum and Mason clock across the street chimed three, and broke the calm of that rarefied world. It was also my prompt to join a conference call with our leader team back in the States, 18 of our extraordinary top Ambassadors, building strong businesses for themselves. “Where are you?” asked one of them, “Hard to explain,” I said, looking back down the Albany stone hallway, where women were only permitted after 1880, “but I feel I’ve come a long way.”
“Never let one meal interfere with another,” said my mother firmly as we sat down to tea and chocolate cake in The Beaumont. My mother read the newspaper as I Skyped into a tricky meeting discussing forecasting figures. My mother tapped my shoulder, I took off my head phones. “Very good cake, there is jam in the middle.”
That evening my niece Maddison May spent the night with us, three generations in one room between two beds. I sat in the bathroom catching up on emails and doing calls so as not to wake anyone. When I came out Maddison was waiting for me, recently having found God she had her bible open and wanted to share a special passage she had just read. We knelt on the floor peering at the bible in the dark with our torches as my mother gently snored beside us. My phone buzzed as an email from the CEO in our LA office came in. “Where are you?” he asked, I emailed back, “Hard to explain.”
The next day we drove back to the countryside, but not before my mother had met her 17 year old self, which is certainly another story for next time because that is hard to explain.
So, lovely. You are blessed to have a mother that you want to spend time with….
I love your stories, you are a wonderful story teller…
xo
Melissa Lee
Can’t wait to read about your mum’s rendezvous with her 17 year old self, especially since India Remembered fascinated me!
What a lovely story about two truly inspiring people. I can only imagine what a treat it is to share a roast dinner and a conversation with your Mum. Roast dinners! Even though we are many thousands of mile away from where we grew up, my husband does his best to cook a roast for most Sundays in the winter-time.
Fascinating to hear about Who your niece has discovered. And so her adventure begins. ❤️
What a lovely read to remind us of the magic of Christmas!
What a truly charmed life you’ve led. Wonderful that you spend the time with your mum and are obviously juggling lots of balls in the air. Have a fantastic Christmas wherever you are and to you mum too.
Hi…love UK!!! Your story instanttly set me in the English countryside!!!
Wish I were there…
THANKS
As a long time reader and a new expat in England I can appreciate your stories even more now! Your descriptions are so idyllic yet spot on and a trip to The Wolseley is on the docket for my birthday in March. Merry Christmas.
P.S. Would LOVE to see pics of your brother’s set!
How exciting about your niece and really special she wants to share Him with you. It’s too good not to share!! We celebrated the millinium in Harbour Island and conceived our first son on that trip. Your posts take me back to that amazing trip. Thanks for sharing your adventures.
I truly love how you write as if you were sitting right next to me…it’s so fun to read your life and empowers me to keep on going and living life even if things get busy. I know you do not sleep much and yet you (seem to) do everything with such grace and exude happiness. Thank you for sharing! Wishing you and your family a beautiful holiday season!
My mother just died last month. She was only 69. I thought I had gobs and gobs of time left with her. Do not take a minute of your time with your mother for granted. I had no idea of how much of my personality and strength, character and style all flowed from my magnificent mother. I loved her with all my heart, but took my time with her and her towering (in a good way) influence over me for granted.
Lovely story! Your Mum is still so beautiful!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You and Yours!
You are so lucky to have a mother who loves to do Christmas-y things. Nice to see how much you both enjoy being together.