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Sunday 30 December 2012

Misty, water-coloured memories ...

Isn't is strange how the sight of a simple, long-forgotten object, can unleash a torrent of vivid memories, that you were unaware you possessed?



For me it was a cherry brooch.  It wasn't even the same as the one I had but it just reminded me of that December, many years ago ....

It was December 1973, I was 12 years old and going to my first ever, disco Christmas party at the youth centre I went to every week.  My Mam must have realised it was important for me to look the part, because before then I just wore what she told me to, but not without heated argument on my part!

We went to town and had a lovely day together ... we had lunch in a little cafe, a very rare treat in the cash-strapped seventies, and went shopping for my outfit.  First of all we bought a black, skinny rib polo neck jumper and a pleated, reddish brown skirt.  In the shoe shop I chose a pair of burgundy, sling back and peep-toed shoes with a thick platform and clumpy heels, which I was sure my Mam would  never in a month of Sundays let me have.  But into the bag they went! Just a pair of Pewter run-resist tights and our mission was complete.

The cherries were the icing on the cake ... They finished the outfit perfectly and I felt a million dollars and extremely grown up and sophisticated. With a touch of lip gloss I looked like one of the girls in Jackie magazine ...

I remember buying my Mam's Christmas present too ... she collected Pen Delfin rabbits and I knew she wanted one of the dogs, Pooch was his name.  I had a job helping my Mam delivering Spot-the-Ball charity coupons, so must have saved my wages for this.  We went to the 'Rabbit Shop' and bought Pooch ... he was the last present I ever bought for my Mam because she died 5 weeks after Christmas, aged just 41.

This is for you Mam, thanks for the memories ....

Love, Claire xxx

97 comments:

  1. what an absolutley beautiful post. just beautiful.
    BH x

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  2. Thanks for sharing, it must have been difficult to have lost your mother at such a young age. Being a teenager growing up without a mother. It's striking how objects or music can bring to live memories and feelings long forgotten. Best wishes, groetjes, Gerda

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  3. Oh Claire, your story brought tears to my eyes - thank you for sharing it. So hard to lose your mum so young, but a truly lovely memory to treasure. Be blessed,
    Xx

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  4. Thank you so much for sharing such an emotive part of your life... I feel choked with tears, bless your heart I cannot even begin to imagine just how hard the loss of your Mum must have been for you at such a young age.... such beautiful treasured memories always locked within our hearts.
    Love Jane xx♥xx

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    1. Thanks for popping in Jane and welcome to Thriftwood! xxx

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  5. Such a poignant and touching post.

    Helenxx

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    1. Welcome to Thiftwood, Helen and thank you xx

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  6. Claire, a beautiful, beautiful post, dedicated to the memory of your lovely Mam, It is an honour to share your preciuos memories of her, thank you xx

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  7. Such sweet memories - but so sad too. I'm glad the sight of the brooch brought back thoughts of a special time.
    x

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    1. Hello Alix, thank you for dropping in, and thank you for your kind comments.

      Claire xx

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  8. Beautiful post, what a wonderful memory of a special time with your Mam, I've got to go and put some more mascara on now, you've set me right off!! She'd be very proud of you :) x

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    1. Oh Ada, that's lovely, didn't mean to make you all cry! xxx

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  9. Claire, I am crying writing this...
    Bless you and your dear Mum!
    She was taken far to young, but has passed all her Motherly loving ways on to you, dear friend.
    I remember the cherry pin brooch and the skinny rib sweater!
    Sending thoughts and wishing you a wonderful 2013, love Maria x

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    1. Thank you Maria, I still have lovely memories and luckily I remember a lot! You ave a lvely New Year too xxx

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  10. Oooo more tears here... how perfectly lovely .. such a wonderful tribute to your mum.
    Vicky x

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  11. Such a heartfelt post ... what a beautiful memory to have left you with. Thank you for sharing it with us Claire, and for popping by at knitsofacto.

    You're right, the strangest things can provoke reminiscences ... it's often obscure scents for me ... I only have to catch a whiff of blackcurrants on the bush and I'm transported to my grandmothers garden, and she's been dead for twenty years.

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    1. Hello Annie, very true ... Woodsmoke makes me very melancholy for some reason ... one day it might all come rushing back to me! xxx

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  12. Lovely memory, yet so sad, glad you had that time with your Mother.

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  13. What a lovely post, it's strange how the little things can bring back the most special of memories, thank you for sharing xx

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    1. Thank you Tracy, you're very welcome here! Xxx

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  14. You both brought a tear to my eye and made me laugh out loud when you mentioned pewter run resistant tight, my weren't we sophisticates.

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    1. Yes indeed, American Tan wouldn't have gone with Burgundy so well! xxx

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  15. Oh Claire. What can I say. So many happy and sad memories twisted into one brooch! Isn't it funny how it all comes back....where you went, how you felt...what was expected......and then totally eclipsed by your loss. Big hugs. Joan

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    1. Hello Joan, thank you so much, and hope you're making a speedy recovery ... xx

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  16. what a lovely post, i was only 1 in 1973....! I was remembering the other day when I was young and had my dads Rugby socks as my stocking (cos they were long!) i always had nuts and an orange at the bottom. Whatever happened to those days haha

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  17. beautiful post Claire, it brought tears to my eyes x

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  18. I have a lump in my throat. What a wonderfully evocative post. If I don't get back to your blog before the NY then I want to wish you the very best for 2013 - I so enjoy your posts. Love and Light xx

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    1. Hello Kim, thank you and the same to you lovely! xx

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  19. Lovely memories to hold on to - sometimes things trigger them off, don't they, quite unexpectedly. Betty

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    1. Hello Betty, so true ... We never know when it's going to happen, but I'm glad it did on this occasion, because I honestly thought I'd forgotten all that, but it came back in glorious detail! xxx

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  20. Oh Claire! What a lovely, lovely post. It has brought a tear to my eye. Beautiful memories. Xxx

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  21. This is such a lovely post Claire.Like everyone else it brought a smile but also a tear! I love to reminisce and it is funny how one thing, an item such as that cherry brooch, a perfume, a tv programme, item of clothing can trigger off such precious memories. Hope you have a very happy 2013 Love Anne

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    1. Hello Anne, thank you and a very happy New Year to you too xx

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  22. Oh Claire, what a bitter sweet post, it's triggered memories of my last Xmas with my mum too. I love the tiny details you remembered, thanks for sharing and have a wonderful 2013, Sxx

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    1. Hello Sally, so sorry you've lst your Mum too ... Thanks for your kind comments and a lovely 2013 to you too xxx

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  23. You bring the 70s back very vividly. They were cash strapped weren't they. I love that you got to buy your mum that one last pressie. My mum died when I was 15 - so I'm with you on that score. - Lovely post x

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    1. Oh Daffy, I'm so sorry and thank you for your lovely comments ... In the 70s we had no money, but had a lot of fun ... Even during the power cuts my Mam prepared well and we had Jacket potatoes cooked in the gas oven, a coal fire and we payed cards by candlelight ... We always looked forward to the lights going off! xxx

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  24. This has me in tear Claire. Such a moving, heartfelt post. My Mum died quite young too, when she was 49. You never get over it really but good memories help so much to deal with it I think.

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  25. What a beautiful tribute to your Mum ... and such a moving story ... I love the cherries and can see why they evoke such a special memory for you ... thinking of you as you remember ... Bee xx

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    1. Hello Bee, I love these cherries too, but mine weren't like that ... They seem to have been made of thick paper twisted onto wire for the stalks and the cherries were maybe paper mâché, but very glossy! Sound awful but they weren't and I wish I could find some now ... Thanks for your lovely comments xxx

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  26. How many emotions I felt when reading this. Lovely Claire, yet so sad. Sorry for your loss. A have a cherry brooch and I will always think of you when I wear it now.
    Big love x x x

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    1. Oh thank you Gem, that's a lovely thought xxx

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  27. Hello Claire
    Iam so very moved by your words, bless you..
    such a difficult time in your life too, just when you needed her so much..
    Iam glad you can recall and cherish those happy times spent together
    My Dad died when I was 7 it was like a light had been turned off in my life..(his Birthday fell on Christmas Day) so lots of memories
    Yes I can remember those cherry brooches with skinny rib jumpers and the pewter tights (how did you remember them!)
    Thank you for sharing my friend
    Wishing you a very happy 2013
    Speak soon
    Thea xx

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  28. Hello Thea, so sorry about your Dad, Chistmas will be sad for you too ... My Dad died in December so it's a bittersweet time xxx

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  29. Dear Claire,

    Such a beautiful poignant post you have shared and you must find comfort in the happy memories you have shared of the precious times with your dear Mother. A really wonderful tribute to your Mum.
    I also loved my cherry brooch and skinny rib polo neck jersey I wore too - we are probably from the same era.
    happy New Year to you and your family and wishing you good health and happiness for 2013. Thank you for visiting and your friendship.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. Hi Carolyn, thank you for your lovely words ... And have a great New Year ... Think you're there already! xx

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  30. Oh Claire, I had a lump in my throat all through this post, you wrote it so beautifully. So sad that you lost your Mum so young but you have written a lovely tribute to her.
    We must be about the same age as I remember realising that pewter tights were the way forward not american tan!

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  31. Hello Jay, thanks for your lovely comments! I used to get my tights from the co-op ... American tan, mink, sable ... Pewter was always my favourite though ... Never black, that had to wait until iwent through my femme fatale stage at 15, along with my pencil skirt and beret or pillbox hat my Mam would have had a fit!

    Love Claire xxx

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  32. oh my gosh Claire, I have a lump in my throat! What a beautiful but sad memory. I love that you had that very special day out with your Mom xxx Happy New Year to you and yours, here's to 2013! Hazel x

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  33. Thanks Hazel, Happy New Year to you and yours too! xxx

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    1. Hi Claire, I've nominated you for a Liebster award. If you would like to accept it, you can hop on over my way for the details :)

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    2. Thank you so much Hazel! Very touched that you thought of me, and will post in due course, but may take a while to get organised!

      Lve Claire xxx

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  34. Aw nice but sad memory Claire....your mam died way too young !!

    Happy New Year !
    Gail x

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  35. Happy New Year Gail, thanks for dropping in! xx

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  36. What a lovely memory of your Mam. I think it's wonderful to know that she got to see her daughter looking all grown up. She must have been so proud. Off to grab a hanky.
    Hope you and yours have a lovely New Year.
    Ali x

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    1. Oh Ali, that's lovely, thank you! You have a lovely New Year too, and look forward to catching up in 2013

      Love Claire xx

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  37. Dearest Claire,
    best wishes for a new year
    full of many beautiful things.
    Love Susy x

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  38. Beautiful hopes and wishes for you too Susy! Have a wonderful 2013 and look iraard t catching up soon

    Love Claire xx

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  39. That is so lovely, what a great memory to hold so close. I'm so sorry you lost your mother so early on in your life but it is heart warming to hear you still hold her so tightly to you.
    Happy New Year!
    Kate x

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    1. Happy New Year, Kate, and thanks for dropping in and for your lovely comments ... You're always welcome!
      Lve Claire xx

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  40. Claire, what a beautiful post and what a beautiful memory. It brought tears to my eyes and I know you cherish this memory. I hope 2013 is year filled with wonder and love and happines for you.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  41. Oh thank you Grammy Braxton ... Hope all your dreams come true too!

    Lve Claire xxx

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  42. Claire you wrote of some wonderful memories that I took to be just a step back to the past. What a dreadful thing to learn of your loss at such a young age. I'm so glad that you did have those wonderful times with your mum to look back over.

    Wishing you a good and Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your lovely comments and apologies for me being fairly dreadful at ever getting round to visit.

    Lisa X

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  43. Thank you Lisa, lovely of you to drop in! Thank you fir your kind comments and hope you have a great 2013 xxx

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  44. Such a lovely post Claire..you have brought back a lot of memories for me too...Wishing you a wonderful 2013!
    Susan x

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    1. Hello Susan would love to know what memories this brought back for you! Happy New Year, xxx

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  45. Oh Claire. Just sending my heartfelt hugs to you. What a lovely post. I, like others, can't imagine growing up without my mum but this made me cry because I lost her only two years ago when I was 43 and at any age its the worst feeling in the world.
    You can be sure your mam would have been proud of you though. You are a fabulous mum and have amazing talents and warmth exudes from you - a credit to the short time you had with her.

    Yours is my favourite blog and look forward to every post. Thanks and best wishes for 2013 x

    Julie

    (mrsmarsa)

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  46. Oh Julie, I'm so sorry about your Mum, it's so very new and raw for you. I have been overwhelmed by the kind comments I have received on this post, I really was not looking for sympathy, I was simply telling my story! Your comment has really humbled me, thank you so much, I must be doing something right ... Hope you have a great 2013 too, and please start blogging again ... I've missed you! xxx

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  47. Hello Jooles thank you for dropping in ... 41 is very young isn't it, and I'm sorry about your Dad too. I sadly don't have the brooch any more, the one above is just an image I found. I saw someone wearing a cherry brooch on tv and the memories just came flooding back so powerfully. I hope you have a fabulous New Year

    Claire xxx

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  48. I can only manage to say"Oh Claire" with a big lump in my throat,you are sooo lovely I bet your Mam would be sooo proud of you.A BIG HUG with love from Pam xx

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  49. Aww thank you Pam, you're very kind xxx

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  50. Gosh, I wasn't expecting that. 41 is no age at all. What a lovely memory you have of that very special day together and, of course, it gave your mum as much pleasure to buy you those things especially the shoes which you didn't think you would be allowed to have. Sometimes something will trigger a memory and a huge rush of emotion overtakes us, doesn't it?
    I hope 2013 is a good year for you.

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  51. Hello and thanks for popping in, you're very welcome xxx

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  52. Hi Claire, this post brought tears to my eyes. I lost my Mum almost a year ago and she was in her 70's so I can't imagine what it must have been like losing your Mum at such a young age. One of my last shopping trips with her was a few weeks before when we were Christmas shopping. I helped her choose a dress for my daughter....I can't go into that New Look store now without welling up. Like you say, it's the simple things that can stop you in your tracks isn't it? Thanks for popping by to my little blog! I'm looking forward to reading yours, Claire xx

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  53. Oh Claire, we both have lovely memories of Christmas shopping with our Mums ... but years apart. So sorry about your Mum, it is all very fresh and new for you. Thank you for following me and welcome to Thrftwood! I'm really looking forward to getting to know you, Claire xxx

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  54. What an absolutely charming post Claire. You write so beautifully. I love how something quite simple can evoke such precious memories.

    Heather xx

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  55. Thank you Heather, lovely to have you drop in ... you're always welcome!

    Love Claire xxx

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  56. Do you what Claire I think that I read that Jackie magazine with you on the front cover!!! All sounds lovely and it is great that a few bits and bobs can make you feel so good.
    Very happiness for the forthcoming year Claire and every best wish to you and your family
    It has been lovely reading your blog over the past year and I look forward to 2013
    Best wishes
    Jenny

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  57. Hello Jenny, lovely of you to drop in ... Hope you and your lovely family have a fabulous year too and look forward to your future posts xx

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  58. Hi claire ,what a lovely story and im sure happy memories im so sorry you lost your mum its such a terrible thing to happen ,my dear ma passed away 10 years ago this year and not a day goes by when i dont think about her and wish we had had more time xxx

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  59. Thank you so much for visiting, and although years pass the missing never goes away, in fact I think it is worse the older I've got, when I've had my children and they've missed out on a lovely grandma too.

    Take care, Claire xxx

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  60. Just popping back Claire to let you know that the circulating novel, The Fine Colour of Rust, is on it's way to you next, if you could please let me have your address (you can email me via the blog). Happy Reading :D

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  61. Thank you Annie, have emailed you the details

    Love, Claire xxx

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  62. Just doing a bit of blogging catch up and now have tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. A lovely and lasting memory of your mum but so sad to lose her at such a young age.
    Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year. M x

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  63. Thank you M for your lovely words, good to see you again and Happy New Year!

    Claire xxx

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  64. Gosh! Claire I missed this post how wretched of me!!! It is soooo sweet and sad and sweet! Sweet because of the sweet memories of what you shared with your mother....sad because she passed on much too young and your loss and sweet again because you offer a tribute to your mother by remembering and hence lives on in your memories. :-)

    Amanda xx

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  65. Oh Amanda, thank you! Such lovely words xxx

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I love to hear what you think of my ramblings and value all your comments ... I will try and get back to you, but am sorry if I don't always manage this ... sometimes real life just gets in the way! Claire xxx