“Half memoir, half travel, A Yank Back to England...is an absolutely wonderful book, not only about going home again but also about love and family and tradition and the passage of the years.”
—Michael Dirda, Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic (Washington
Post)
To see the entire quote, click here.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Freaking? Have a cuppa.

“I don’t want to know!” I babbled on, “Oh, Christ. We’re not equipped, I’m not good at this! And if there’s an emergency, the bloody phone doesn’t work! And there’s my parents in there, and the other lot. Oh, God!” I started laughing.
Frances told me to get a grip, but I continued laughing. With thoughtful eagerness, she offered to smack me. I declined her kindly offer and took deep breaths instead.
“Better?” asked Frances, sounding a little disappointed, then asked me to help put out the tea things. Good idea. So that’s what I did, and my hysteria gradually subsided.

9 comments:

M.L. Littlefield said...

Well, you know the old saying: "Keep calm and carry on"!

Best,

Mandy

Maggie said...

Always laugh in the face of adversity!

Anonymous said...

More like "Keep Calm and Put The Kettle On!" Good for Frances, offering to slap you. Ha!

The Prodigal Tourist said...

Mandy--well, I do try.
Maggie--I think this was more hysteria, but laughing is always good.
Melissa--would you believe PW offered to smack me again when I realized we might lose power again--the nerve! Maggie's right--laughing is good!

Expat mum said...

Nowt like a cuppa. Mind you, as my dentist told me the other day, it can really stain your teeth.

Mandy said...

Oh, Frances is sooo funny sometimes! (I assume she is still so witty even though I finished the book!)

parTea lady said...

Laughing in the face of adversity is good, hysterical laughing - maybe not so good. That was very funny, especially Frances offering to smack you. Did the tea help?

Duchess of Tea said...

Well, tea does calm the nerves and is much more pleasant then being smacked. I love this hunour of yours both here and in your book. Wishing you a lovely weekend and a love filled Valentine’s Day.

Duchess

Jean at The Delightful Repast said...

Yes, a cup of tea will set you right! Sometimes I'd rather just give someone a good smack. But, no, I just put the kettle on!