Offerings

On the final day at the Cabin, we discover a small shoe box filled with a collection of household fabrics - napkins, tablecloth and finely stitched hankies.  Standing in the kitchen we remember our first visit on a sunny day in late Spring, as part of the National Trust Public Open Day.  On meeting Justin the Ranger we had talked of the fragility of the place, whilst lots of families moved in and out of the intimate space, we stood outside and enjoyed the view. I asked him what was his favourite object, and he said the Quality Street wrappers twisted, folded and stored in a cough medicine bottle discovered on the kitchen shelf.

In celebration of our autumn sojourn, I create a set of offerings on the table - including the foil wrapper filled bottle, a broken blue cup full of sea shells (and a tiny spider) wrapped in cotton wool, the pink book of everything (including maps of the world), the shoe box lid and a tape measure.  The girls gently wrap a set of small incomers and place them to rest for their final viewing.

Offerings - the bottle of sweet wrappers, cyclopedia, 
a measure of cloth, a silver sixpence and a collection of incomers.

Whilst arranging the tableaux on the wooden kitchen table the open door attracted two visitors in, a tall quietly spoken man and a tiny woman.  We say it is our leaving day, and we are sad to go.  I ask where they are from and the man tells us that they live on a narrow boat in Devizes, which is close to our homes.  I asked where they met, "in Hong Kong", said the lady with dark hair and sparkly eyes.  Does this place need painting? he offered, whilst the woman is captivated by the table arrangement. "Oh family!" she cries noticing the small people.  "What are these?" he asks pointing to the sweet wrapper bottle, wrapped in a dressmakers measuring tape... "magic charms?"  Noting the maps in the book of everything, a conversation opens out with Jan (who had travelled to Hong Kong).  They together acknowledge echoes and traces of similar woodland terrains and pathways visited and talk of huge reclining Golden Buddha's, hidden shrines discovered and contemplative places enjoyed. On leaving the small woman says "thank you so much for sharing with us", bows deeply with the sweetest smile and closes behind her the green Cabin door.