Yesterday was the first day of a week without my partner.

He’s in Brighton for a conference, leaving lad and I at home. We are missing him.

But, in some ways, it is nice.

There are half as many socks to wash, and only one person to tidy up after apart from myself (and I never make any mess, obviously).

Plus, I won’t have to listen to any Leonard Cohen all week.

Popping out to the shops yesterday to get supplies in for lad and I, I couldn’t resist a quick poke around in the charity shops en route.

It was a bumper day for bargains.

This gorgeous bit of cross stitch, for one. And…

An enamel mod-floral cooking pot. A coffee pot and cup set in a lovely murky-green textural pattern by an Irish maker I hadn’t heard of – rather like Portmeirion Totem. A gravy jug with a single big black mod flower on it. A really cheesy-looking cross stitch tray cloth, with a Dutch girl’s face embroidered at each end.

But you know what?

I left everything except the red roses behind.

True, I was weighed down with shopping. But that doesn’t usually stop me.

No, I just didn’t have the heart for it somehow.

I think we have enough things in our house already. Anything more and I’m in danger of turning our lovely home into a vintage graveyard of clutter.

The most important things in my home are the people I love.

One thing’s for sure…

Being apart really does make you appreciate what you have. ♥