I nearly trip and fall into his house as soon as the door opens. The paving is uneven and I don’t factor this in as I ring the doorbell upon arrival. He is rather surprised by this strange woman looking at him and seemingly wanting to come into his house without even so much as an invite. Before I can gain my balance or say who I am, he haltingly, with a weary tilt of the head states that now is not a good time because he has guests for lunch. The silence hangs for a suspended minute.
I very quickly regain my balance, explain who I am and apologise for nearly falling into his house. I re-assure him that crashing a leisurely Wednesday afternoon lunch is not high on my priority list. I notice a slight relaxation in the shoulders at this point. Slight being the operative word. He hurriedly gives me a brochure with portraits on, starts closing the door and asks me to call him. I walk away wondering if I will ever get to meet this man properly. I grouse at myself for tripping over the paving. I would also not be impressed if someone fell into my house!
Fast forward two phone calls and two weeks: 11am at No 18 Lombard Street West.
I walk back to the house, note the uneven stone and step over it. I straighten myself out and ring the doorbell.
“Well hello there my darling!”
His voice floods over me as he opens the door and ushers me inside. Mental note to self: things are off to a better start than last time. Deep breath.
I immediately notice that somehow an extra floor has been built into the house: forming a homemade sandwich if you will. I know this because of the style of No 12 Lombard Street West where the ceiling is very high. The staircase forms the middle of this arrangement. Half of it leads upwards and the other half leads downwards. Both above and below, I look out of windows where green shrubbery abounds! Before I can stare any longer, I am ushered into the living room area. Ian meets me with a formal handshake. I am shown the seat by the window. The cat stares at me, daring me to place my bottom on her favourite cushion. I stare her down and smile sweetly at her owners.
The conversation unfolds itself: stilted at first because this girl is not quite sure if she fits in with all the poshness. These are two very gentlemanly men. Both Ian and Jim have retired from advertising and now pursue quieter, but no less busy, lives. Pleasantries are exchanged. The usual questions about my reasons for leaving sun and exchanging it for rain are asked. Then the cat makes an appearance, arching her back and breaking the ice along with it.
Jim is an artist of distinction who has returned to his first love: the mixing of charcoals, smudges, lines and chalk. He has sketched the famous, the rich and the beautiful of Ireland. His artistic artillery lies scattered throughout the house, a beautiful chaos that catches my eye around every corner when I am given the grand tour.
Ian is a lover of classical music and is a producer on Lyric FM. I am led into his recording studio. The space has been fitted out to accommodate walls of CD cases and music accoutrements. Sound is not merely sound to this man. It is a place, a sacred place where he comes alive. We talk about my deep love of piano music and he vividly retells his stories of the International Piano competition that takes place in Dublin. I make a mental note to book tickets for the next one.
The conversation turns to South African politics, racism and Gay Rights. Ian and Jim have been together for close on 30 years. They have been through a few wars of their own which mimic my Apartheid laden childhood memories. The comparison makes for fascinating conversation.
It is the kind of conversation that leaves deep marks in one’s soul, the kind that will only unravel in time.
Fast forward two hours: the tears are running down my cheeks from laughter and the tea cups lie across the tray with stained lip markings. I have to drag myself away. I really don’t want to go. I am invited back for homemade lasagna and an evening with all their friends. I know it will be served at that evocative table that literally caught my breath. The one that stretches beyond the old Aga, down down down deep into the back part of the house. The table that welcomes guests at any hour of the day. The table that can seat 20 people.
I cannot wait.
Photos and post by Claire Burge.
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Check out our historical novel, set in Ireland!
“A powerful saga of love and survival.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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L. L. Barkat says
Can I come? 🙂
Lasagna, good conversation, and a house that has a sign like that out front. Ah.
This especially made me laugh…
“I grouse at myself for tripping over the paving. I would also not be impressed if someone fell into my house!”
You are welcome to fall into my house if you come to NY 🙂
Claire Burge says
Of course you can come. Remember I always tuck you into my pocket?!
Claire Burge says
lol! you know i so often feel clumsy here in ireland. i am so tall in comparison to most of the people and especially the men. it is one thing to be taller than the women but to be taller than most of the men: that takes some getting used to and i am not there yet.
so falling into your door might not have the same affect ; )
but if there is lasagna in new york then i will happily fall into your door often!
Will Willingham says
And Claire, feel free to fall into my house as well. Here in South Dakota, we grow them far taller than the Irish. In fact, though I am a hair taller than you, I am the shortest in my house.
Love this idea that sound is a space in and of itself.
Claire Burge says
I hope Laura won’t mind if I fall into your door first then! I need to feel what it feels like to look up again : )
The way Ian spoke of sound was incredible. I actually wish I could record the conversations rather than share them through my own eyes because these people share such profound wisdom.
michelle ortega says
Claire, this gift of conversation and intimacy and connection, such a beautiful expression of humanity…THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I look forward to what else you discover behind those doors. And if you are visiting LL in New York…there is a red door nearby in NJ that would eagerly open as well!!
Claire Burge says
Michelle, thank you for reading and sharing in the gift which these people pour into my life.
Mental note made: two doors to visit (or fall into) in New York.
Claire Burge says
And I must add that the Jersey Shore is on my list of travel destinations. It intrigues me …
michelle ortega says
As well it should! And, although my ex-married name belies me, I am 100% Italian and cook a mean tray of manicotti…
Claire says
sold. i will let you know my ETA 😉
Maureen Doallas says
The admonitions on the door and iron fence crack me up. I want to know, do they work? Here, we have signs out back that have no words, just a thick red slash through the forbidden activity.
You have such wonderful adventures behind doors. I do want to hear all about that Irish lasagne.
Claire Burge says
Doggy Poop is a very serious matter in this country and interestingly the signs are actually taken seriously. I do not often see it lying around unless I go into very run down areas where the signs were never put up to start with.People are generally very good about carrying bags around with them.
But yes, the sign totally cracked me up! It is the first one I have ever encountered on someone’s personal fence!
SimplyDarlene says
Miss Maureen,
Interestingly (or maybe not), earlier this week I posted a story about a lady using my yard as her pooch’s personal pooping spot.
http://simplydarlene.com/2013/01/21/i-aint-no-proper-church-lady/
SimplyDarlene says
I meant to say…
Miss Maureen and Miss Claire
(my bad)
Claire Burge says
this part:
At this point, some sort of synoptical connection must have successfully fired because as her eyeballs ’bout popped out of her head, she scooped her pooch under one arm and high-tailed it out of my yard. The last I saw her; she was heading for my lone neighbor’s yard up the hill.
had me in stitches…
SimplyDarlene says
Miss Claire,
Note: the sign says nothing about cat crap.
All that aside, you word-painted quite the contrast from feeling like a fool to becoming a friend. And as always, you brought your side of the ocean right here, to my house. Thank ye for the enrichment.
I, too, extend the lasagna invite. 😉
Blessings.
Claire Burge says
Nah, lasagna at your place doesn’t work for me. I want the home baking please? 😉
And … what about horse manure signs? Sure you have more of those around your place?
SimplyDarlene says
Home baking: yes.
Horse manure signs: ours can’t read. They poop anywhere.
Donna says
This was such fun to read! The stumble. The conversation. The long table. The future plans for lasagna. All of it was so much fun! And, you might be interested to know that (having listened to your terrific rendition of The Novelist Chapter 1) in my mind your voice was threaded through the entire piece. 🙂 So glad I clicked on TSPs tweet today!
Claire says
Donna this made me smile. Thank you for taking the stroll with me!
Diana Trautwein says
As another tall (and sometime extraordinarily awkward) woman, I loved this story, right down to the door knocker. More, please.
Claire says
So so happy to hear that there are more of us out there. It really is a comfort to my gangly legs. 😉