On a recent visit back home to see my mum, I sat out on the verandah of her home everyday after a leisurely breakfast, to soak up the gentle sunshine, smell the first blush of orchids and sprouting pine cones and have relaxed conversations with mum and catch up on all the family news and gossips I had missed out on.
And these mornings were interrupted on a daily basis - by neighbours passing by, who seeing us on the verandah would pop in for a quick hello and chat - or my sisters on their constant mad rush between dropping kids off to getting groceries and on the way to or back from gym - interruptions that were welcomed and became highlights of our time spent on the veranda. And the magic didn't stop there because out of nowhere one of my mum's helpers would make tea and bring it out on a tray, proper brewed tea is a teapot covered with teacosy which tasted so much better than the quick kettle and tea bags I am used to at all other times of the year. Time spent on that verandah made me appreciate the unhurried, relaxed way of living, which sadly is missing from most of our lives these days.
I remember my dad insisted on this very verandah when this house was being designed, despite the architect's persuasion that it was wasted space that could be utilized so much better indoors all year around - but dad wouldn't hear of it - he refused to slash its dimensions by even an inch - and this was his favorite place to sit, weather permitting - with his newspaper and pipe right until he became too ill to leave his room...
So here's to verandah's all over the world - a disappearing space in architects drawings and vocabulary - and here's to all the people who are lucky enough to have and enjoy this versatile space.
And these mornings were interrupted on a daily basis - by neighbours passing by, who seeing us on the verandah would pop in for a quick hello and chat - or my sisters on their constant mad rush between dropping kids off to getting groceries and on the way to or back from gym - interruptions that were welcomed and became highlights of our time spent on the veranda. And the magic didn't stop there because out of nowhere one of my mum's helpers would make tea and bring it out on a tray, proper brewed tea is a teapot covered with teacosy which tasted so much better than the quick kettle and tea bags I am used to at all other times of the year. Time spent on that verandah made me appreciate the unhurried, relaxed way of living, which sadly is missing from most of our lives these days.
I remember my dad insisted on this very verandah when this house was being designed, despite the architect's persuasion that it was wasted space that could be utilized so much better indoors all year around - but dad wouldn't hear of it - he refused to slash its dimensions by even an inch - and this was his favorite place to sit, weather permitting - with his newspaper and pipe right until he became too ill to leave his room...
So here's to verandah's all over the world - a disappearing space in architects drawings and vocabulary - and here's to all the people who are lucky enough to have and enjoy this versatile space.
