Afternoon Quiet

 ‘In spite of all the making and mending and all the work that had to be done, with no labour saving devices whatsoever, not even and electric kettle, life was not pressurised in Ashcott, or at any rate in our own home. 

Looking back, I see how almost all the teaching our parents have us was by example rather than in words. It stood us in good stead in later years. One thing Mother always did, and which most of the other housewives didn’t do, as far as we knew, was that once the washing up was done after the midday meal, she would have her own daily wash ( we always washed in the kitchen), take off her morning, working frock, put on a pretty one, and then settle down with her book for the afternoon. Whenever there was any sunshine she’d sit in the sheltered, sun-trap courtyard at the back of the house. She loved the sun. In winter she would sit by the fire. She didn’t get on with her sewing or bending - this she did in the evenings; there were always lots of socks to be darned and other garments to mend. The afternoon was for relaxing and she sat reading, maybe keeping an eye on the youngest child at the same time, but otherwise just sitting there quietly. 

I think this had a quite specific effect on us all. Father would usually be sitting down at that time too, but he never sat in the sun. He’d sit indoors even in beautiful weather. His outdoor time was when he was gardening, or walking. 

All this gave a tranquility to the home, and a great sense of peace and contentment. As we grew older and spent less time in active play, we too would settle down with our books ( I often had my knitting at the same time) and read, or think the long, long thoughts of youth.

- Countryside and Cloister - Reminiscences of a Carmelite Nun - Marie T Litchfield