leaving home

When we moved to France nearly four years ago most of our worldly goods were packed into a huge (and as it turned out, leaky) lorry and we set off to drive the 800 miles in the car . We, being the three of us and an enormous cat travelling cage for our two not terribly impressed cats. It took up the whole of the boot so we were able to take very little else with us - overnight stuff, important documents and a small box of things I put together to help us feel at home as soon as we got there. It was a bit like a Desert Island Discs exercise! I took, in no particular order of preference, our blue teapot, my own personal cup, the candlesticks we use every night, a framed photo of my mother which is on the desk beside me now, a plastic, wind up, glow in the dark angel (!) and three Jane Muir little ceramic men. Oh and British Rail teabags of course!

The tea pot was made by my brother John and makes two perfect cups of tea. When life is uncertain you need a good cup of tea. I admit to being sentimental and the fact that my brother threw this pot with his own hands adds greatly to my enjoyment of it. The cup has been my favourite for years - how it has lasted this long I don't know. I don't know the name of the potter and have never seen other work by him/her. I bought it at the Clode Gallery in Bridgnorth which has closed down now. Then three little men.. I love Jane Muir's work. I used to sell it at Twenty Twenty and each new delivery flew out the door. I think the little men started as glaze tests and then people starting buying them at Jane's occasional studio sales. They're now one of her staples. They make me smile. I have another larger piece of hers but I'll leave that one for another day.