my sort of nothing

 

I have always maintained that I am a fundamentally lazy person. So it's a mystery to me that I do so much when my basic instinct is to do nothing at all. I spend a lot of time imagining how it would be to have a day, a week, a month, doing nothing. But then I remember that by 'nothing' I mean cooking and baking when I feel like it, reading as much as I like, watching films when it pleases me, talking to Simon and the children without actually moving too much, going for a stroll round a beautiful garden. And so on.

The trouble is that I don't allow myself many such days (but my current year plan does incorporate many more than I've had in the last few years) which is why yesterday's Bank Holiday Monday was such bliss. The children were happily back from Canada/Reading Festival/Wales/Italy/GCSE results. Simon was happily cycling some long distance. I was happily in the house and garden and it was warm and sunny and quiet; the perfect day for doing nothing at all.

I had a lovely time baking and cooking after two months' without a kitchen (the new one is almost finished but usable) and tested out all the appliances making cake, biscuits, quiche, pasta. I knitted with soft alpaca wool. I read Julia Child's recipes, about Julia Child and Julia Child's accounts of living in France (having just seen the film Julie and Julia I'm a newly, Childishly inspired). I listened to the fantastic Beatles programmes on the BBC Radio 2 Beatles Bank Holiday.

Later, we found an unlabelled bottle of Riesling in the wine-rack; we know it's from Dr Loosen but the classification and vintage were a mystery so the wine was an absolutely delicious, serendipitous surprise. And in the evening we basked in the warmth and late summer light with our glasses of wine, and did nothing. Well, my sort of nothing.

Comments

[Catherine]

Perfection!

[Fran]

ooh have you seen the film now? I've been looking out for it showing nearby - loved the book of Julie and Julia. Sounds like a perfect Bank Holiday!

[Pomona]

Sounds like a very good day - I agree that for me doing nothing is doing just what I want with no deadlines, no time pressures and no sense of duty - and it usually involves sitting on a sofa knitting!

Pomona x

[Ikuyo Kiyuna]

Saying about Love, Zen, God, throgh knitting, cooking, "doing nothing"........
By the way, I loved so sweet flowers of sweet peas of other post.

[Sinda]

I agree, Jane - heaven is being able to putter around my house, doing exactly as I like, with no worries about time or what I "ought" to be doing. Your holiday sounds perfect.

[Lean Ni Chuilleanain]

What a lovely way to spend a day. Very topical for me this week, too, as I'm trying to develop a healthier relationship with doing nothing (at which I am very bad). "Mindful purposelessness", I'm calling it, because I'm pompous that way. Even with the fancy handle, it still gets deferred.

[Rhona]

A tribute to your good taste - and anything by Dr Loosen should have been very good indeed - according to my German husband. A blissful day, combining the wine, the weather and the indolence.

[SmitoniusAndSonata]

Precisely . Pottering , drifting , re-finding treasures you'd forgotten , time to bake ....or not . Perfect weekend day .

[Amy]

Sounds divine. I wished I had days like this, and luckily, I have had them lately. It has been a busy time jamming and canning, but in a way relaxed purposeful tasks. Jelly and jam take a while but are low on energy. Good wine is also a must, and Riesling is my favorite!

[Gemma]

Are we going to see new kitchen pictures? I love a good makeover!

I haven't seen Julie/Julia yet but am considering a treat visit mid-afternoon one day next week!

[Rebecca]

Suddenly, I want to go knit with alpaca and make guacamole!

[lucy]

A certain amount of time should be allocated for daily "pottering" a habit I have picked up from my older and wiser other half x

[wonderwoman]

thats definitely a blissful nothing sort of day!
x

[Daisy]

That sounds totally blissful.

[Kathryn]

If you only knew the affect these descriptions have inspiring me to recreate the same here!
My oldest and I went to see J/J. We both loved it, went in halves on the cookbook and created Beouf Bourignon (spelling is atrocious) this past Sunday (it was to die for good). I'm now reading Julias book about Life in France and am falling in love with France and she and Paul.

[Ruthanne in Seattle]

Love your descriptions Jane - they are so fitting. I am having a slow paced day today, but it will have to have a little "attic cleaning" as part of it, then a wind down including knitting. Thank you so!

[catherine]

I like that sort of nothing very much - not having to go anywhere or do something particular is key. I'm looking forward to Julie & Julia very much.

[Desiree]

I've always wondered what perfect nothingness was...

[Jude]

That sounds fabulous! I'm off work with a head full of cold and a sick 6 year old in a cartoon haze beside me. It's rainy and the end of winter here and I'm itching for the warm weather to come. I want to sit with my feet in the pool and a glass of wine in my hand after work...soon!

[catofcuriosity]

Sounds wonderful - my sort of nothing too! I missed the Beatles day so might have to give that a go now - thanks!

[Aoife]

Sounds lovely. Unfortunately my two are too young to let me do nothing for very long. The photos are beautiful too - a very definite autumnal light. Thanks for popping over to my blog - I am utterly star struck!! The Gentle Art of Domesticity is my all time favourite book. Aoife x

[Anna]

I love your posts these days, Jane. Thank you :-)

[Nancy]

what a pleasant way to while away the hours! I'm not sure if you've also read it, but I adored Julia Child's book, My Life in France. It so, so inspiring to hear Julia's own description of discovering her passion.

Off to check out Appetite for Life from our library.

[Pom Pom]

Nice. I am lazy that way, too. I had a glorious summer of "I mights" and "maybes" and without really PRODUCING much, I completely nourished my creative soul. Your photos are so artistic, so inspiring. I think I need a Jane Brocket camera.
I am newly "Julia inspired" as well. I can't wait to buy the movie on DVD. The Julia parts were delicious.

[Bee]

Your idea of "nothing" is exactly my idea of nothing.

It's funny, but I just discovered your blog because I had Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer at the foot of my desk and I suddenly noticed your blog info under your author's picture. I also have My Life in France at my feet -- and Cleaving, Julie Powell's new book. I could name several other things, too . . . I find it strangely comforting. When I read your posts, I find myself thinking "me, too."

[CJW]

My mother always used to call me lazy as I was growing up, but these days her favourite phrase is 'I don't know how you can be bothered to do that'! She is not a reader, a knitter, a crocheter, a sometime-writer or follower of blogs. I always feel she is missing out on so much.
Now I am pregnant for the first time and suffering from PGP I can't move too far - and the writing and crafting and reading is keeping me amused and endlessly inspired.
Thank you for validating all your fellow 'Lazy' creative readers - *nothing* is never wasted time to the truelly imaginitive soul :)