Friday 24 August 2012

The train now leaving the station…


A couple of facts about Andrew

  1. He loved trains
  2. He was engaged, about 10 years before I met him, in his early twenties
His love of trains was lifelong but his engagement ended when his fiancée went away to university and met someone else.

Before she decided switch platforms for another train in a different direction she started a tapestry of a train for Andrew.

Now I can’t honestly say how much she did but the story goes that although she started the project she never completed her handiwork and Andrew’s mum finished it off. It was framed by Andrew’s not-to-be father-in-law who always had a soft spot for him and it has always hung in our house.

When we moved I decided if it was staying it should be professionally framed. Andrew loved it too much to part with it.

Oh the things we do for love.

I even cross stitched my own train masterpiece while we were “courting” and I admit to liking some of the train pictures on our walls, particularly a black and white photo of some train points that we chose together, very arty!

However the large train tapestry, now beautifully framed, has been taken down for good. It was always going when we moved, a gift for Andrew’s brother to remember Andrew by. Now the house is off the market I have decided to make the home my own. A splash of paint here and there and a change of artwork to reflect my taste. 

It’s amazing how refreshing it is and how much of a lift I get titivating my own home and adding personal touches.

I always had a lot of say in the decorating. I usually won Andrew over with my choice of paint colours but now I have complete free reign and don’t have to consider anyone else in my decisions. OK so the boys still live here but ultimately it’s my house, my money and cushions and paint charts don’t excite them as much as they do me.

It’s one of the delights of being on your own and I’m going to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

One day I hope I’m not single but married again, then I shall live in the land of compromise once more. However I want to be satisfied that for this season I have coloured the world with my own unique style. Why? Well to borrow a well known popular phrase “because I'm worth it”!

So far it hasn’t involved a great deal of expense, I’ve just been moving things around a bit and hanging a couple of pictures I already had – just the joy of hammering in a nail is exhilarating.

As is painting and stripping wallpaper ... there are so many ideas in my head and I promise there will be more pictures to follow.

For now here’s a photo of the old train departing for pastures new...

off the wall and waiting on the floor in the hall!

... meanwhile it’s full steam ahead for my own new adventures, even if they are taking place in the comfort of my own home!

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