Lynne O’Rourke: ‘The eldest one’s room doesn’t look too bad - I find that strangely disconcerting’

Published on Sunday 29 January 2012 16:08

HAVING been at a work event one evening I returned home late to a quiet house. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t been there though, all I had to do was look around and the night’s events were laid out before me.

Pencils had been sharpened at the kitchen table, so homework had been done – good; the poem that was supposed to be memorised was lying on the kitchen floor – not so good. Supper had clearly involved chocolate spread; while the Peppa Pig game had been played in the living room – Suzy Sheep and Danny Dog were still there beside a variety of discarded socks, cardigans, books and fairy wands. (Not, might I add, the expensive Disney shop wand Santa brought, but the cheap plastic one and the broken one.)

I follow the toy trail upstairs and tiptoe into the littlest one’s room. It’s dark, so I can’t really gauge the level of destruction, although as I creep out a tiny Pocahontas becomes impaled on my foot. I wince, stifle a cry and remove the offending princess. It’s another clue. It must be bad in there.

Once I’ve picked up her school uniform, I survey the eldest one’s room. It doesn’t look too bad. I find that strangely disconcerting. I take a deep breath and open the bathroom door. The relief is palpable. I can still see the floor – clearly bath night had been put on hold.

This week we take a look at a beautifully extended traditional bungalow with a surprisingly contemporary interior on page 4. Interior designer Anne-Marie Sinclair keeps things light-hearted on the home front, starting with a Vespa scooter parked in her hall on page 8. The founder of organic range Willow Beauty, Sue Stowell, shows us round the period property she has spent the last 20 years restoring on page 18. And on page 24 we have a bit more history with our feature on Guthrie Castle gardens.

Logged in as:

Comment here. Start typing your comment here:

Post comment

Please adhere to our Community guidelines

Your view

Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.