Needing a 'pick-me up' pair of earrings today, I immediately reached for the 'cupcake' drops Pauline Crogan and John Bishop gave me as a birthday gift in 2013. They come with a wonderful matching beaded necklace; they always attract compliments when I wear them. It's not just that the earrings are fun, but they bring with them a burst of of happiness, thinking about all the special times I've spent with Pauline and John over the years.
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Pauline and I and a stranger, East End pub, 1986
me wearing Pauline's earrings |
I'm 'related' to Pauline through a slightly complicated route. Her wonderful brother Pete is married to my Aunty Suzie, Mum's sister. So we're not blood relations, but have developed a deep bond over the years that feels familial. Pauline grew up in Australia, but has been London-based most of her life. With my sister Ree, she gave me my first introduction to London in 1986, welcoming us to her rambling terrace in the yet to be gentrified Hackney.
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| Celebrating Pauline's 50th, Notting Hill, 2002 |
Later moving to Notting Hill with the divine John Bishop, Pauline and John have been the most generous hosts to our family. We were fortunate to be in London in 2002 for John and Pauline's wedding at the Chelsea Registry Office, followed a few days later by Pauline's fabulous 50th birthday party. In the past decade we've also celebrated three Christmases at their beautifully renovated house in Lasalle in the Languedoc region of France - including in 2008 with Suzie and Pete.
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| John and Pauline coaxing on one reluctant walker, 2002 |
Pauline has made a great impression on my life at many levels. She's a wonderful cook and has introduced me to new culinary sensations - my first taste of prosciutto and melon in her Hackney kitchen, delicious cheeses and french treats, fabulous wines - especially the local Languedoc reds and Kir Royales at the Uzes bar! She has also introduced me to a new world of authors - at 19 she gave me the Maya Angelou collection, at 39 she told me about William Boyd - 'Any Human Heart' remains one of my favourite novels ever. An intrepid walker, Pauline has encouraged me to be more of an outdoors girl. Before my recent Coastrek jaunts, my longest walk was an 8 hour trek in the Cevennes Hills with Pauline, John and Rob - in the pouring rain! I love Pauline's infectious laugh and irreverent sense of humour. There's always dancing, regardless of the occasion.
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| Dancing with Suzie and Pete, Pauline's lounge room, 2008 |
Having a boxing day birthday means I've also celebrated a number of birthdays in France at Pauline and John's in the past few years. Each time I've been treated with an artfully inscribed bouef en croute and delicious cake from the local patisserie - the ordering of which is always a hilarious test of John and Rob's French speaking skills!
Pauline has the most impressive jewellery collection of anyone I know, and has generously passed many things on to me over the years. The first pair of earrings she gave me, back in 1986, was a punkish asymmetrical pair - a fly stud for one ear and a spider on a chain on the other - sadly lost among my many moves. I love this photo from 2011 of Pauline showing John and me her Christmas loot!
In recent years, Pauline and John have lived a peripatetic life with John's legal expertise in high demand in Hong Kong, Beijing and Dubai. Pauline has used this time to refine her amazing artistic talents. Undertaking a masters in fine arts, she has developed an intricate style, reminiscent to me of the work of Brigid Riley. Her patterns reflect her amazing colour sensitivity, and the grids reflect the logical, accountant-trained side of her mind.
Pauline's work has already been shown at the Royal Academy in London and the London Art Fair. We're fortunate to have two of Pauline's prints now hanging at home.
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| James, big and small Angus, Christmas 2013 |
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| Alastair, Laura & Lou, Lasalle Christmas 2011 |
A golden web runs through our relationship with Pauline and John too - back to the Crogan clan of course, and forward to an entirely new web of Glaswegian friends, Alistair Morrison and Laura Docherty and their gorgeous son, 'big' Angus, then through Laura to Bryan Kane and his wonderful family, all of who have sent me messages of support over the past weeks.
Day 24 and the queasiness continue - thank goodness for the additional drugs. I can feel the bone marrow doing its job, but the panadol is keeping most of the pain away. The heat has returned, not quite so searing but a bit too much for me nonetheless. I filled my day with an excursion to Broadway for some shopping, and a lovely visit from my sweet brother in law Chris. Chris brought me a gorgeous gift of a pair of earrings- combining them with my other obsession of owls - to be on view soon
Needing a 'pick-me up' pair of earrings today, I immediately reached for the 'cupcake' drops Pauline Crogan and John Bishop gave me as a birthday gift in 2013. They come with a wonderful matching beaded necklace; they always attract compliments when I wear them. It's not just that the earrings are fun, but they bring with them a burst of of happiness, thinking about all the special times I've spent with Pauline and John over the years.
Having a boxing day birthday means I've also celebrated a number of birthdays in France at Pauline and John's in the past few years. Each time I've been treated with an artfully inscribed bouef en croute and delicious cake from the local patisserie - the ordering of which is always a hilarious test of John and Rob's French speaking skills!
Day 24 and the queasiness continue - thank goodness for the additional drugs. I can feel the bone marrow doing its job, but the panadol is keeping most of the pain away. The heat has returned, not quite so searing but a bit too much for me nonetheless. I filled my day with an excursion to Broadway for some shopping, and a lovely visit from my sweet brother in law Chris. Chris brought me a gorgeous gift of a pair of earrings- combining them with my other obsession of owls - to be on view soon
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