Broken relationships and healing whisky

Vendetta

He makes a relationship 

out of stinging nettles, 

She breaks relationships 

which are set in stone, 

He acts as a defender 

to precious hearth and home 

She plays the vicious aggressor 

tearing flesh from innocent bone 

finally nothing is left but animosity 

and ice-cold anger 

everything is turned to blood 

dripping red onto innocent feet 

until nothing is left beneath scarlet sheets. 

Annie Elliott

Ann has been reflecting on broken relationships. There are several within our family at various levels, but the more we meet other people, the more often we seem to discover that somewhere is some relative who isn't speaking to another in the family. Yesterday we had a reunion lunch with our friends, Rae Malcolm, Robin and Yvonne. We met at the Half Moon Inn in Belchamp St Paul, a fine traditional thatched pub that's been serving the local squires and farm workers for nigh on 500 years. Afterwards, while having tea with Robin and Yvonne, we walked the dogs across the footpath in the field behind their house. Robin declared the farmer "a right old sod. He once squirted me with his sprayer rather than wait till I passed." Even this grumpy farmer has fallen out with his sister, who lives in a cottage on the farm.

Some years ago, we visited The Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb. This was one truly moving experience, both humorous and tragic in the items it displayed. Some reflected merely lovers' tiffs; others death, betrayal, murder, or the tragedy of the holocaust. I still have a souvenir pencil saying "break here in case of anger", and a huge rubber to erase out bad memories. 

 

Enjoying a new whisky

Further to my earlier blog (Items for Sale), we took two lovely mattresses to the charity shop in Haverhill, who'd promised they would take them. They didn't! They even refused the boxes of books we have collected up, saying they just can't sell them these days, so we took the mattresses to the tip and kept the books to give elsewhere. The tips are still demanding booking ahead, with 15 minute slots per car, so they don't get through so many people now. In the days BC (Before Covid), cars used to queue at the gates to get in and it was always crowded. However, Ann urged me to go "on spec", and reluctantly the man agreed to let us in as there was a space (they're still making cars use every other bay, even though people can meet now indoors or out). Thank you kind man. 

I am enjoying a whisky new to me, Cardu Gold, curtesy of Matthew. Described as a "generous" whisky, and easy-drinking nature, it is a well-matured, gently warming brew, ideal for relieving the stresses of the day, and numbing the constant itching over my body. It makes a very good, highly recommended medicine.