Nostalgia Comp

Bea's Sunday Night Flat

My Grandmother's flat was near Croydon Aerodrome
where travel first flew with a hatbox in a Boeing
to Paris and then Beirut,the Paris of the East
it was a haven of fur coated Dior, Arpege,Chanel
powder compacts enameled in Eau de Nil backed in gold
sat next to jewelry boxes full of treasures
brooch mice with ruby eyes lived in them
tangling their tails with clip -on earrings , hatpins
heaps of knotted nacklaces
mysterious bottles told boudoir secrets to each other
on the dressing table with its skirt and glass top
and on the bed a glamorous satin spread
supported velvet cushions in shades of deeper rose
I could curl up on them and marvel at menus
from ocean liners , mementos from Maiden Voyages
or photographs of the monkey she kept in Singapore

It was all a tiny nest of charm,a Faberge egg
the only crack in it the church next door
where campanologists practiced in minor key
on Sundays
mournfully chiming out peal after peal
of
Monday coming,Monday coming

I would open the Radiogram
its shiny lid smelling of wood
and the bakelite that magic slid onto the discs
moved by an arthritic conjuror
the arm went click swipe and down
to 45s and 78.s, rich and black
heavy with adult allure

"She wore blue velvet"
and Acker Bilk
"Stranger on the Shore"
listened to in the soft glow
of lampshades with tassels
and a fringe

Bea's aura was elegant and light
gleamed like her favourite string of pearls
"always go out ready to meet your
best boyfriend or your worst enemy"
not "as God made you"
she called her kitchen
"The Damnation of Faust"
but was often in it,she also had a sewing table
and knew how to use it
she was a tiny little bird,
looked like Mrs Simpsons prettier sister
her first husband saw her sunbathing age 16 and said
"Who's the fairy?"
before running someones knickers up a flagpole
and heading off to the Somme,and Ypres,Hill 60 etc
life to Bea was always
such fun.
she was never politically correct
but always kind
to everyone
born Edwardian
daughter of a gentleman
and she never lost the knack of it.