Tender is the Night

Episode 18

This is the Last Episode, thank you all for your positive encouragement. Enjoy x


*Rose has just arrived home in the early hours of the morning after not having seen her man for 2 years*

Blond Tobacco is sitting in the conservatory at the back of the house. The lights are off and all that can be seen in the darkness is the red glow in the center of his pipe bowl when ever he takes a deep puff. He is watching the reflection of the glow in the window, he feels sad to his core, his heart feels empty and on top of that the house feels cold. "Another night without sleep" he is thinking and he takes a draw on the pipe. Blond Tobacco is comforted by the darkness and the fact that he can't see his lonely reflection in the conservatory glass.

Blond Tobacco takes his pipe from his lips and raises his head, he can hear the sound of a car door closing. It's late, must be 2.00 in the morning, maybe somebody's car has broken down outside.
He rests back again, about to bring the pipe to his mouth when he is startled by the eerily familiar sound of a key jiggling in the front door. His stomach lurches and his skin prickles. He jumps up as he is certain now that somebody is entering his house.

Suddenly feeling very vulnerable he takes a few steps towards the doorway and reaches for the light switch. At the same moment he sees a light coming through from the front hallway.
"Rose" he calls, his voice shaking "Is that you?".
He walks out towards the light. He sees her silhouette, her familiar form, standing there. He feels his knees almost going from under him as he rushes towards her.
"Blondy" Rose calls to him, throwing her arms wide open and welcoming her sweet heart into her bosom as if he was the one who has come home.
Rose breathes deeply, taking in her Blond Tobacco's warm smell, she can smell his old sweater and the soap that he always uses. Rose holds him until he pulls away.
"Rose is it really you? I can hardly believe my eyes, maybe I'm dreaming." Blond Tobacco reaches up and strokes Rose's face, and then her dark silky hair. "Many's the night I dreamed that you had come back to me." He carries on words tumbling out "Speak to me so I know you are real. Have you come back to me? Rose?" Blond Tobacco is afraid to even ask the question but he must.
"Yes Blondy, I've come back to you" Rose says and she kisses the love of her life tenderly on the lips.

The Home Coming Queen

Episode 17

*Rose realises after 2 years that she wants to go home to her husband*

Rose woke up one Friday morning in February almost two years to the day since she left her husband Blond Tobacco and took off on her journey of self discovery. When she opened her eyes she looked up as she usually did to see a little patch of sky where her skylight roller blind didn't come all the way down. She could always tell if it was raining because she could hear the rain on the roof. That morning there was no rain, and she could see the sky was very dark grey. There was no sound of birds singing and the air was heavy with thunder.

Rose closed her eyes again and thought of Blond Tobacco, she wondered what he was doing now. If he was still the same man she married, Rose knew exactly what he was doing at 8.30 am. He would be sitting in his comfortable chair in the conservatory drinking a cup of coffee and smoking his pipe. Rose felt an overwhelming sense of longing in her heart when she pictured him in her minds eye. She could see him sitting there and she wanted to reach out and hold him.
In that same moment Rose knew that she was going to go back to Blond Tobacco.

Rose stood outside her apartment for the last time and looked up at her window that faced on to the canal, she could see the leaves of her geraniums pressing up against the glass.
Then without further ado she picked up her suitcase and walked in the direction of "The Winding Stairs Bookstore" to say goodbye to her dearest friend Sandalwood.

Rose was sitting on the train when the sky opened and the thunder began to roll, she rested her newspaper on her lap and leaned back to watch the rain make streaming rivers across the carriage windows.

The evening felt surreal as Rose stepped out of a taxi outside the gate of her old home. The sky was streaked orange and black, the house seemed to loom in the darkness and there were no lights on. Everything was much as she remembered it. Rose noticed the door needed a lick of new paint and the windows needed a good cleaning, she would give Lavender a call in the morning to come over and lend a helping hand (both Rose's sisters knew she was coming home but they had vowed not to say a word to Blond Tobacco or any of the men).
The first thing Rose noticed when she stepped inside her front door was the smell of her husbands pipe tobacco.

Angelic Neighbours

Episode 16

Rose was settling in for her first proper evening in her new apartment. Bergamot had gone home in tears earlier, not hysterical tears which might have been easier to handle but rivers of quiet tears which had literally streamed down her beautiful cheeks as she declared that she would never love anybody else but Rose in her whole life. Rose had apologized a hundred times. Bergamot told Rose that she loved her very much and that she always would. She repeated over and over that Rose was to come and see her if she ever felt lonely. B's voice was broken and she was hardly able to speak. Her English was even more confusing "we will drunk some more wine and and we will dance on each others arms".
They walked to the top of the stairs together and said goodbye.

Rose began to add little feminine touches to the flat. She ran down to the flower shop on the corner and bought several potted geraniums for her window sills and she spread a blue and white cotton cloth on the table. It was getting chilly as evening drew in and Rose went to the boiler in the back of the kitchen to switch on the central heating. It looked pretty simple, there was an "on/off" switch and a dial which looked like a timer and another dial for temperature settings. She flicked the switch to "on" and was fiddling with the timer when the rumbling sound started. She told herself that it was just the boiler coming on, and as it got louder she told herself that it was just the boiler heating up, but she wasn't prepared for what happened next. A frighteningly loud banging noise started coming from the inside of the walls and the rumbling sound got so loud Rose was sure there was going to be an explosion. She turned the switch to "off" and then stood back. The rumbling stopped but the banging noise just got louder.
Rose was not good with machinery and she felt very uncertain about what to do next. She tried ringing her landlady but her phone just rang out. She suddenly had an idea, "neighbors!" she thought.
Standing outside the neighboring apartment Rose pressed the buzzer and then waited for someone to come to the door. She could still hear the banging noise coming from her flat. Rose had her back turned and was just thinking of going to the flat across the hall when she heard the door opening behind her. "Hello!" two voices called in unison. A young man and young woman stood side by side. "I live next door..." Rose began but before she could finish the two said "come in!", once again in unison. The man stood aside and the woman led the way and Rose followed, a little apprehensive about leaving her banging walls to their own devices. Rose began again, "My name is Rose, I moved in next door". The woman had long brown hair which came right down to her waist, she put her hand out to shake Rose's, "I'm Coriander, but my friends call me Cory and this is my brother Rosewood...". The man, Rosewood, continued where Coriander left off , "we are students at the art college and live here for only nine months out of the year".
Rosewood also had very long hair but his was tied back with a long dark red leather tie. He had dark soft hair on his face and it looked as if he was cultivating a very slow beard. His eyes were captivating and they reminded Rose of a horse she used to own when she was a child. His eyelashes were thick and black and came all the way in to the tear ducts so that the whole eye was framed in shadow. His jaw line was square and chiseled and he had a high and intelligent looking forehead. Rose found herself staring and completely forgetting her exploding heating system.
His attire was most unusual yet peculiarly it didn't look theatrical as it may have done on anybody else. He wore a loose off-white thick linen shirt which had wide billowy sleeves and was pulled in at the waist with what looked like a swashbuckling belt of soft worn black leather. He was sporting a leather tunic which looked antique. Parts of it were torn and there were small shells and feathers sewn on here and there. Coriander brought Rose out of her trance, "when did you move in?" she asked. Rose noticed that even though Coriander was of a much paler complexion than her brother she had the same thick dark lashes. Rose found the pair very easy to get along with, she told them when she moved in, told them where she came from and she told them about her problem with the central heating.
While she was talking she discreetly took in her surroundings. The walls were covered in pieces of artwork, sketches, collages, unframed canvases stretched and tacked to the wall, silk paintings which had become homemade lampshades and obscene clay sculptures had become ashtrays and kitchen towel holders. There were two large African drums over by the window and a guitar on the sofa.
Smoke hung in the air and Rose spied what looked like a hookah from Alice's Wonderland on the table.
Rosewood explained that the banging central heating thing was no problem and that it happened when the system had been switched off for a prolonged period of time, "old pipes" the pair said in unison.
When they spoke in unison, which was often, Rose noticed that their voices seemed like one voice with many nuances.
She went out on a limb, "are you twins?" she asked. The pair erupted with laughter, which again sounded as though it were coming from one throat. Rose began to laugh too as their laughter was addictive, and to an outsider looking in it would seem as though Rose had been puffing away on the hookah pipe with her new neighbors.
Rose felt entirely at home, she was invited to sit down on the big, afghan covered, sofa and she accepted a cup of "bancha" tea which Rosewood offered her. "Do you play the guitar?" she asked Coriander who was sitting across from Rose on a small wooden stool. Rosewood reached over and took the guitar from the sofa and began to play. He stared into Rose's eyes as he gently plucked at the strings and Rose remembered the old song "Strumming My Pain With His Fingers". After he played a couple of bars on the guitar Coriander started to sing, Rosewood sang in harmony. Rose began to feel as if she were in the presence of angels, she felt hairs standing on the back of her neck. Cory's voice was wild and free and had a husky tone to it that gave it great resonance. Rosewoods voice was a tenor and was as clear and sweet as anything Rose had ever heard. It took all Rose's strength to hold back the tears that she could feel rising, and she was certain that the lump she felt in her throat was clearly visible to anybody who cared to notice.

*Rose and the French waitress Bergamot.

Episode 14

 ...and on her journey of self discovery she met many interesting people...

I haven't told you the story about Rose and the French waitress Bergamot.

Rose lived for some time in a cozy apartment overlooking the canal. When she moved in it was only partially furnished and didn't have pots or pans or any other kitchen utensils. One of the first things Rose did was to set up her cooking area, but as they say, "Rome wasn't built in a day", and it took a few days before she had everything just the way she wanted it.
On her first evening in her new flat, feeling hungry, she set off to find some nearby establishment where she could eat. She turned left when she came out the door of the building where she was making her new home and she walked along the waterside. After walking a few hundred yards and passing several little boutiques and quaint gift shops she began to think she should have gone in the other direction. She was turning on her heels when the evening breeze brought the sound of French Canadian singer Felix Le Clerc to her ears with the faint smell of fresh coffee on it's tail. She followed the sound and soon came to a restaurant whose doors were thrown open onto the banks of the canal. Climbing roses and wisteria hug from the eves and a small hedge of bay trees stood to either side. Rose was drawn inside, passed the white cast iron tables and chairs that were positioned in the open air, her eyes took a few moments to adjust to the dimmed light, which seemed to be coming mostly from a big old skylight in the ceiling.
First she saw her smile, broad and cheerful, with a quirky lift to one side of her mouth. Her eyes were almond shaped and lined with thick black lashes. Her hair was very dark too and loosely tied in a bun at the back of her head. "Bonjour, Madame" she greeted Rose, "I am Bergamot, how can I be helping you on this today?"
Rose smiled back at her. "I would like a table for one please. May I sit outside?"
"Of Course!" Bergamot lead Rose back outside and carried a menu with her.
Rose chose the "Pommes Dauphinoises" and Cabillaud aux Courgettes or sliced potatoes baked in a garlic cream sauce and Cod with courgettes (zucchini).
Bergamot was a wonderful waitress, quickly setting the table and bringing a basket of fresh bread. Each time she came to Rose's table the two women exchanged smiles. The food was delicious. Rose ate and enjoyed the scenery, the ducks paddling in the lush foliage that grew along the banks of the canal, a stray cat asleep on the roof and French music playing in the background. Rose was ready to order her coffee and Bergamot was there in an instant clearing the plates away. When she brought the coffee, she asked "Are you well Madame?" Rose was a little surprised and before she could answer Bergamot sat down on the chair opposite her. "You are worried about me?" the French waitress asked, her head was cocked to one side and her eyes were opened wide. Rose didn't understand. Finally Bergamot explained that she was feeling Rose was sad and was worried about her. They both laughed out loud at the way Bergamot had mixed up her pronouns.

Rose found herself telling Bergamot her life story. It was getting late into the evening and the restaurant was very quiet. Bergamot persuaded Rose to crack open a bottle of wine for herself to celebrate her breaking free from the chains of marriage. Rose sipped her wine as she watched Bergamot wait the last of the nights tables. Bergamot seemed so confident at her job, chatting to customers and making them laugh and feel at ease. Eventually she swept the floor after placing all the chairs upturned on the tables. The music played on and Rose was lulled into a trance. By the end of her shift Bergamot's hair had fallen out of its bun and was scattered across her face. It was so black that it blended almost perfectly into her black cotton work shirt, which by now was open at the neck and rolled up at the sleeves. Every few minutes, when she had a little time for a break she would come back a sit by Rose and tell her some funny story about a particular customer or tell her about some problems the chef was having in the kitchen. Her English really cracked Rose up, especially when she tried to curse, "he has a big head full of shit" she said about one leery man who had just left the restaurant having eaten his fill, Rose nearly fell off her chair laughing.

Once the doors of the restaurant were closed Bergamot opened another bottle of wine and invited Rose up to her bedsit which was above the restaurant. Rose thought she should be getting home, but then remembered that she had neither coffee pot nor coffee or a morsel of food for breakfast in her fridge. So in the end she happily agreed.

Half way through the second bottle of wine Rose started feeling dozy. She was sitting on Bergamot's big soft sofa with her shoes off and her legs curled up under her. Bergamot was showing her photographs of her family in France and telling her funny stories about her misspent youth. Bergamot had showered and changed and was wearing a natural off white linen shirt and khaki green linen slacks. She smelled like fresh oranges. Seeing how tired Rose was she offered her to stay the night, "will you like to stay on top of the night?" Rose corrected Bergamot and then they both fell around laughing. When Rose stopped laughing and wiped her eyes she realised that Bergamot had been staring at her. Bergamot's eyes were a gorgeous amber green colour and as Rose's eyes met hers she was sure she saw Bergamot's cheeks blush. Bergamot bit her lip and then she leaned in slowly and hesitantly kissed Rose on the lips. Rose was stunned at first but Bergamot pulled back a little and then leaned in to kiss her again, even more tenderly. Bergamot's lips were soft and full and Rose, not knowing if it was the wine or the heat of the evening, found herself responding to her warm sensual touch. Bergamot pulled Rose to her feet and led her to her bed where they lay with each other and made love. Rose had never caressed another woman's breasts until this night, and she found the sweetness of Bergamots skin filled her with desire. The taste and smell of wine and soft woman's' sex was the last thing in Rose's mind as she fell asleep that night. In the morning she woke up wrapped in strange black silk sheets and found Bergamot had already gone to work. There was a note on the table, "come down to the restaurant for a cup of coffee before you go home", that morning for the first time in her life Rose took cream in her morning coffee.

Rose and Sandalwood

Episode 13

*Rose is basically a wife who has run away from home to "find" herself. She meets lots of interesting people on her journey. One person Rose meets is a man named Sandalwood. Here is the story of their meeting.*

I am going to tell you about the meeting of Rose and a lovely man named Sandalwood. It was one of those days, Rose was pining for Blond Tobacco and her old life. It didn't happen often, only when it rained. Those were the days she would sit inside and look out at the world, shrouded in a veil of raindrops, and remember sitting at home with Blond Tobacco. Rose would be knitting a pair socks while sipping on hot, freshly-made coffee while Blond Tobacco would sit and smoke his pipe and reminisce about his childhood. Blond Tobacco told stories so well, he had a deep soothing voice and he spoke slowly and descriptively, Rose always felt like she was going back in time as she listened to his stories.
Well this day, Rose was many many miles away from her husband and had not and would not speak to him for months. She was looking out at the canal and the grey skies and the huge chestnut trees that were dripping with rain.
It suddenly occurred to her that she had nothing to read, and that a good book and a nice cup of freshly brewed coffee was just what she needed on this wet dreary day.
So Rose donned her fancy flowery wellington boots, and her long coat, she grabbed her umbrella and headed for the bookstore which was about two blocks from her flat, walking along by the canal.
It was an enjoyable walk and the only other creatures she met walking out in such weather was a family of ducks.
When Rose got to the book shop, she had to go through the rigmarole of closing and shaking her umbrella before she entered, and and then once inside she began unbuttoning her mac before hanging it on the coat stand to drip. As she was taking off her mac her arm swung out and hit a man right in the chest, it had clearly winded him.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry!" Rose exclaimed, she couldn't believe what she had just done. It looked like the man was in his 70's and he seemed a little frail. He took a moment to catch his breath and then he looked at Rose in the eye and said, "If you don't mind me saying, young lady, that's some right-hook you've got there! " It was many years since Rose had been called a young lady and she couldn't help but smile even though she felt mortified. He had a very soft but deep voice and even though it was pouring with rain he had no hat or coat with him. He wore a thick brown sweater and dark brown woollen pants.

"Rose felt so bad for belting the man that she forgot all about her book and wanted very much to make it up to him. "I really feel bad about swiping you like that but I'm also feeling a bit lonely today. Do you mind if I buy you a coffee?" Rose motioned to the coffee area at the back of the book shop.
"It's been many a year since a young lass like yourself asked me for a coffee, I will have to accept" the man smiled and showed a very well kept set of teeth.

Rose and Sandalwood bonded over two cups of coffee. They shared the same keen interest in classical literature, both had read "A Tale of Two Cities" 3 times. They also shared a love of cooking as well as making and drinking good coffee. But it was more than that that made Rose feel so at home in this mans' company, there was something about Sandalwood that reminded her of Blond Tobacco, a mellow note in his voice, a ancient wise look in his eye, something that told her that Sandalwood was an old man even while he was a boy, something that was definitely true of her husband also.

So they stayed talking until the book shop closed at the end of the day and it was then that Rose realised that Sandalwood owned the bookshop. After that on any rainy day, instead of feeling lonely Rose donned her coat and grabbed her umbrella and headed down for a chat with her new old-friend Sandalwood.

TO be continued...

Róisín (little rose)

*A story from Roses Childhood*

It was spring. Rose and Lavender were out walking in the woods with their mother, (Ylang Ylang wasn't born then). Rose was ten years old and Lavender was about five at the time. Rose's Mother often took them with her on her walks. Sometimes they would find mushrooms (in September) and sometimes they took some bluebells home to set on the table. In fact on this particular day, Rose had lain across her forearm a thick bunch of bluebells. She held them together with her right hand as she carefully picked her way over the broken stone stile while she followed behind her mother and younger sister. The ground on the other side of the wall was very muddy and wet and there were huge holes which had been made by cattle hooves. Most of the stones from the broken stile had fallen and were large enough to poke out of the mud. It wasn't difficult to step from stone to stone.
All of a sudden Rose's mothers foot slipped off one of the rocks, and quickly got sucked into the deep mud. Rose's mother (whose name is also Lavender, so for the sake of the story I shall call the mother Lavender M and her younger daughter Lavender D) Lavender M manged to maintain her balance even though one foot was on the stone and one foot was sunk in the mud.
Rose froze for only a split second before letting go of the bluebells to jump to her mothers aid. The blue bells fell un-noticed onto the ground.
Rose took a couple of short hops on to the dry ground at the side and leaned forward and allowed her mother to grab her hand for balance while she freed her foot from the mud. Lavender M pulled very hard and in the next instant out came her stockinged foot with no shoe. Lavender D started to cry. Lavender M looked at her younger daughter sternly and she was quiet.
With Rose's help Lavender M was able to balance on one foot and lean down to pull her shoe out of the mud with her hand.

Once the hullabaloo was over, Rose turned and saw the bunch of bluebells all scattered on the mud. She went back and was able to rescue all but three of the bluebells. Lavender M cleaned up her shoe on the grass and they carried on home for tea.


The Bluebells smelled divine on the table that evening and Lavender M remarked on the beautiful fragrance as she set the table for Mr Gardens arrival home from work.

Rose Remembers

Episode 12~

*A heartbroken wife has left home to "find" herself. On one very ordinary day Rose, the wife, suddenly has a self realization. Technically this is when the perfume "Roisín" was born.*

Rose Remembers

"The question is, where are we going with all of this?" Rose asks herself one morning as she looked at her reflection in the glass. It was a dark, wet Saturday and she sat alone. It had been a full 9 months since she had seen Blond Tobacco. Through everything Rose could not forget him. He was the first person she thought of every morning as she woke up and last thing at night as she drifted off to sleep.
Rose felt happy, content, and totally independent. She had made a beautiful home in an upstairs apartment of an old house by the canal. She did up the kitchen, painted the shelves duck egg blue and covered the walls in a yellow on cream floral print wallpaper. There was a shiny yellow coffee pot on the stove and it was usually simmering away. The apartment smelled like fresh coffee and apple pie, or fresh coffee and pizza, or fresh coffee and cinnamon buns. Rose had a seat at the window, overlooking the canal. She would sit there for hours in the good light and read.
She had made many good friends in that year, a french waitress named Bergamot, and neighbours, Rosewood and Coriander. There was Ambergris of course and a lovely lovely old man named Sandalwood (tell you more about their meeting again*).
There was Roses' friendship with vanilla ice cream and all the emotional support from that quarter : ) (of a tonne) and her love affair with Jasmine.

Still at the back of it all, Rose misses Blond Tobacco... her Blondy : (

Later as Rose sits in her lovely "Saturday Morning Bath", she begins to remember herself. Her youth... then her rose bud phase...so delicate, so precious and new. The just bursting bloom of young womanhood, and then the fully bloomed, fully fragrant woman she now seems to have become. All the friends, people places and events that have shaped her life. Rose has found herself somewhere among all the flowers. Rose had finally found herself.

The Pulse of Love

 Episode 15

The Pulse of Love

*The day after Rose's night of passion with the French waitress Bergamot.

Rose didn't have time to nurse a hangover that day. She left "La Vigne Tremblante" (The Trembling Vine) restaurant after she drank her coffee and had eaten a fresh hot croissant and scrambled eggs. Bergamot saw her off with a hug and a deep lingering look which, truth be told, Rose found difficult to bear.

Rose was laden down with bags of shopping when she arrived back at her new flat in the late afternoon of that day. She unpacked her new yellow ceramic coffee pot and her new butterfly print china mugs. She filled the fridge and the cupboards with essentials and found plenty of space for her new set of pots and pans.
Her kitchen window overlooked the canal and on the far side she could see the busy streets leading into the heart of the city. It was Spring and just below her window Rose could see the path was lined with blossoming apple trees. The small street was cobble stoned and had a bollard at the far end so that only pedestrians and cyclists could pass through. This meant that even though Rose lived near to the city center she was not bothered by the usual city noises. She leaned forward to push up the old sash cord window and look out at the world down below. The smell of apple blossoms wafted in on the breeze. She looked up one way and down the other, the area was old worldly and tranquil and Rose considered herself lucky to have found such a wonderful location. She decided to leave the window open even though the breeze was cool and she was just turning away when she heard a voice shouting, "ROSE!" It was Bergamot, Rose looked out and saw B's smiling face looking up at her, she was waving and standing on her tippy toes as if she wanted to fly up to the open window.
Rose smiled and blushed. "I'll come down and let you in!"
Even though Rose had had a very busy day, hardly a moment went by that she failed to think of the antics of the night before. One particular memory made her cheeks burn with embarrassment while another made her feel an ache of desire. She wondered how she would feel the next time she saw Bergamot. Would her heart race? Would her pulse quicken?
By the time she had run down the four flights of stairs to let Bergamot in, Rose knew the answer. It was confirmed when she opened the door. She saw Bergamots fresh face, and her bright eyes, her cute smile and then felt her warm embrace. But there was no pulse of love happening for Rose. Instead her heart sank as she knew she was going to have to tell her new lover that she was not the one for her.
Listen to Heartbeat by Buddy Holly

Rose and Jasmine, King and Queen

Episode 11~

Rose and Jasmine, King and Queen

So the bold Rose has her way with Ambergris, and afterwards she decides that he is a bit over the top, egocentric and not really her type. (I can hardly believe this, it sounds as if Rose is being shallow, not in her nature, until now). After a few early morning coffees with Ambergris she found him over powering, you know, one of those types which one can only take in *very* small doses.

Now if nothing else, over the last few weeks Rose has discovered that her favourite type of ice cream is Vanilla.

Rose was contemplating buying herself an ice cream one evening as she walked back to her small apartment by the canals. She was thinking, maybe it's too late in the day to be eating ice cream. Then she was scolding herself for being so rigid. Spontaneity, that's what she wanted more of, and she would start by buying herself an ice cream on a Friday evening if she wanted to (as if having her way with Ambergis doesn't count as spontaneous).
So she started heading across the bridge towards the corner where she had seen the little ice cream stand earlier in the day. As she walked along, she could feel the warm breeze of the summer evening creeping up around her stockinged legs and under her skirt.  Rose smiled a little to herself and then stopped as she noticed a man had begun walking in step beside her. He was tall, and well dressed. He wore a long light coloured cashmere overcoat. Rose discreetly looked down at his shoes, as was her habit since she was a teenager, her Mother said to her once that "a lot can be told from a mans' shoes". His shoes were light brown moccasins that looked handmade and very soft. They didn't make a sound as he stepped along beside her. Rose was approaching the corner where the Ice cream stand should have been and realised then, that the owner would have packed up and gone home some hours ago.

Rose stopped walking and felt a little awkward, not knowing which way to turn. The man (a total stranger) also stood, they looked at each other, "the ice cream stand is gone" they both said in unison. They laughed out loud and Rose suddenly felt like a child.

The man looked at his watch (Rose looked at his watch too and she noticed it was a very expensive looking timepiece). "There is a lovely place up the street, I don't know if they have ice cream but they do a very nice rib roast" The man said, his voice was deep and hypnotic. He smiled, his eyes smiled, and Rose accepted his invitation. He offered her his arm as a gentleman would, she took it and once again they began to walk in step together, and the sun went down.
The man's name was Jasmine and in the restaurant and afterwards as they walked together Rose was overcome with the sense of familiarity she felt with this man whom she had only just met. When she walked with him, she felt a sense of rhythm and harmony. When he spoke and then she spoke it was as if their words floated together on a song to the sky. When they laughed together it seemed as though an entire symphony opened up in the heavens and played an angels tune.
Rose and Jasmine spent many an evening together after that, walking along the canals, visiting beautiful restaurants and galleries, listening to Mozart in Jasmines penthouse apartment.
Wherever they went and whatever they did, it always felt to Rose as though they were royalty. As though he was King and she was Queen.

Rose meets Ambergris

Episode 10~

Rose meets Ambergris

"Ambergris, have you and Rose been introduced?" The host asks. Rose has ended up at a dinner party, and for once she hasn't cooked a morsel of the food that the seven at the table are putting into their mouths. Sitting across from her, looking devilishly handsome is a man Rose has never laid eyes on before. He has a noble grace about him and seems quiet, yet when he speaks everyone seems compelled to listen. His eyes are the colour of a pale sea, his lips are full and when he smiles, which is often, he has the whitest teeth Rose has ever seen. "I have not had the pleasure" Ambergris flashes a killer smile and Rose almost swoons.
Later, after the food, Ambergris sidles up to Rose on the sofa in the living room. Rose notices the rich smell that seems to embrace her as he sits down. Subtle and at the same time catching her in the pit of her stomach, first one butterfly, then another, completely taking Rose by surprise. Rose can feel herself melting, maybe it's just the food she thinks. Then she looks up into Ambergris's eyes as he turns to face her. He smiles again, his eyes have changed colour, still the sea, but now a deep aquamarine with flecks of gold. Rose finds herself blinking, as if in slow motion, she breathes deeply. At once Rose feels a flood of heat rising through her body and without a shadow of a doubt she knows she wants this man.

The unearthing of Rose's psyche begins today

Episode 9~

The unearthing of Rose's psyche begins today~

Rose, a flower that is more than a flower to me. The Rose is a queen, a symbol of womanhood & love, a healer and nourishment for the soul and the heart. The Rose, in our love story, got over the shock of her husband leaving her and then she got over the shock of him coming back. She said she would take him back and in her heart she knew she would, but first she has a little self discovery of her own to do. Stand on her own so to speak. Find out what she likes and what she doesn't like. Find out what suits her and what clashes with her. Find out what nurtures her and what smothers her. So her journey of self discovery begins today.

*On the morning after Blond Tobacco comes home from his gallivanting*

When Blond Tobacco awakens from his sleep the next morning Rose is already dressed, she is standing facing the bedroom window, looking out at the garden through the lace curtains. Blond Tobacco can only see her silhouette. Her calls out her name sleepily. He also notices the absence of the smell of fresh coffee brewing, something that he has smelled every morning since he began his life with Rose. Rose makes the best coffee in the world, nutty, rich, aromatic and never ever bitter.
Again he calls her name. Rose turns around and Blond Tobacco notices for the first time that she is dressed to go out. She is wearing a dark green woolen coat which is buttoned up to her chin and a soft pink head scarf. She is wearing her black leather walking boots and has a small brown leather suitcase in her hand.
The sight of the suitcase makes Blond Tobacco sit up in the bed, he shields his eyes against the light. "Where are you going Rose?" he asks. "Rose comes over to the bed and sits on the right side of her husband. She looks grim, "I have to go away Blondy" she says "to think about things, some place away from home, away from all the memories. I need to find out who I am." Blond Tobacco takes her by the shoulders and looks at her square in the face, by this stage he is fully awake. "What about us, what about me, you can't just go" his voice is stressed and his eyes look frightened.
Rose gets up, she looks sad, but her eyes are quite clear, "I'm going Blondy, I have to live a little, I don't know when I'll be back" she leans down and kisses his lips, which don't respond, they are frozen in shock, cold and pursed. She takes her case up, turns and begins to walk out of the room. "Bye Blondy" she says, she looks back only briefly but she doesn't wait for him to reply.
Today Rose's adventures begin, her life, her longing, her passion, she will know it all.

"Rose please take me back"

Episode 8
"Rose please take me back"

Well, I have news on the Frangipani and Blond Tobacco affair. Sadly it just didn't work out. Frangipani was just too...well...weak! She didn't quite cut it, when it came to the long haul that is. And Rose, what became of her? Well, she carried on cooking for a few days. As she was cooking food she was also cooking on the inside, she was processing all those hurt feelings inside.
To take you back to the night Blond tobacco broke the news of the affair. Rose did ask and he did show her a photo he had of Frangipani. Rose commented on the fact she thought Frangipani's hair looked dyed, and how she had a very good figure. She asked Blond Tobacco if Frangipani was good in bed and Blond Tobacco took the photo back and Rose could have sworn he smiled. Rose cried, it seemed so cruel. Blond Tobacco and Frangipani were going to move to Paris and Rose was going to be alone. For one last night the married couple did sleep together. Rose slept in her husbands arms, she could hardly bear to smell his smell and think that it was the last time. In the morning the bitter separation took place and Blond Tobacco said good bye. Rose crept under the covers of the bed, she buried her nose in his pillow to smell his warm mellow smell before it faded for ever.
But like I said Frangipani just didn't cut it. Blond Tobacco soon tired of her constant need for attention and he missed Rose and her wonderful cooking. Blond Tobacco also found himself cooking while he was with Frangipani, but there was little appreciation for the food as Frangipani was constantly counting calories and complaining that the food he cooked was fattening.
And all the while Rose was alone, she cooked! She was bringing baked alaska to the neighbours on her left and baked salmon in hollandaise sauce to the neighbours on the right. When her sisters came to visit her they left with pots of sea food chowder, aromatic curries and savory quiches.
They knew that Rose missed her husband.

Two weeks is all the "honeymoon" lasted. Blond Tobacco arrived home early on Sunday morning. He said he had come to take the rest of his belongings. Rose offered him tea, and when he accepted she filled the table with the banquet she had been craming into into the fridge.
Blond Tobacco was hungry, but as Rose filled the table, and she moved quickly between the fridge, the cooker and the table, he watched her, he watched her round hips, he watched her full bosom and her capable hands. He could smell her floral scent as she past and his heart was filled with deep love and regret for what he had done to her.
Blond Tobacco reached out and took Rose's hand as she leaned over to place her home made mayonaise on the table. Her hand was cool, Blond Tobacco stood up and pulled Rose towards him. She yeided easily, for her love for him had not waned. Blond Tobacco began to shake and cry. He begged Rose to take him back. Rose kissed him and told him she would.

"Rose I love Frangipani"

Episode 7

"Rose I love Frangipani"

A few weeks ago I got a surprise package it contained 15-20 tiny glass vials of aromatic botanical oils, absolutes and tinctures. Among them was frangipani absolute. I just love the deep rich buttery floral note of this exotic essence. You see I am still searching for a new note for my work in progress "Match Made in Heaven" and there is something about Frangipani I think would be a perfect accompaniment to Blond Tobacco, although I am wondering how Rose will feel about that? Do I introduce Franginpani as "the other woman" or do I remove Rose completely from the blend and let Frangipani take her place. First lets try and find out a little bit about the exotic flower herself....then I can tell you what my nose picks up in her character that I feel suggests she would marry so well with old Blond Tobacco.
So what have I learned about this fair and fragrant beauty Frangipani:
She is native to Mexico, Central America and Venezuela.
The flowers can be white/yellow or yellow/pink.
The flowers also grow abundantly in Hawaii.
The common name Frangipani honors a 16th century Italian family who invented a plumaria scented perfume (plumaria is the frangipani genus)
Other common names exist for example "champa" in India or "Kalachuchi" in the Philippines, or "dead man's fingers" in Australia.
Frangipani is fragrant at night so that the sphinx moths will pollinate them. The plants are easily propagated by cuttings.

So what happens, does Blond Tobacco come home one night late smelling of another woman and confess to Rose that he loves Frangipani? That he wants to divorce Rose and marry his new love? How does Rose take it? Faithful steady Rose, Rose who is always there waiting for her husband to come home, with a meal ready to put on the table and a warm smile and a hug. How does she react, do they spend the night together one last time? Does Rose want to know all about Frangipani? How old is she? Has Blond Tobacco got a photo of her. Is she more beautiful?
All these questions, but what attracted Blond Tobacco and Frangipani in the first place. Well from what I know of Frangipani she has at first a buttery innocent and exotic floral scent, but when you really get to know her there is something like tobacco there, something moist, something warm and honey like, irresistable. That's what it is. Blond Tobacco, while himself a very quiet and seemingly innocent man, has a streak in him not many people know about, least of all his wife Rose. He was always a little mysterious and when he met Frangipani for the first time it was as if she saw right through him, saw the adventurous streak in his character and brought it out in him. I also must quietly tell you that she was more passionate than Rose in the bedroom (Rose while sweet would rather be at the stove than lying on her back being made love to) Frangipani couldn't boil an egg but when it came to sex she could certainly cook up a storm between the sheets.
So thats' it... now I'm off to my blending studio again, where the separation shall take place, where Rose will pack her bags and Frangipani will move in.

Episode 6: The Wedding Rings

**In perfumery the word 'marry' is used when we talk about essences left alone for a time so they can blend together and sometimes form something completely new. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't.
 
Episode 6

The Wedding Rings

Each couple needs a ring, something to marry them, round them off, bring them together forever. I think I found one ring, that's the Ambrette, nice round and sexy! That'll make them last, but which couple will it tie together? Who's wedding band is Ambrette? The other wedding band is Frankincense, it's round and binding, rich, opulent and true, but again, who's wedding band is Frankincense? The third wedding band I will try will be Ambergris, pure gold of the sea, can't get anything that is rounder! But who will take this ring? Ah questions that must be answered. I shall 'retire to my studio' for a few hours and see if I can find the answers.
I think this is how it might work out, Ylang Ylang and Cepes will be married with the band of yellow gold Ambergris. Lavender and Oakmoss will be bound by the ring of silver Frankincense and Rose and Blond Tobacco will be joined with the ring of Ambrette.



To be continued...

Warm and Mellow, Hand in Glove

Episode 5

Warm and Mellow, Hand in Glove

Ah! Rose and Blond Tobacco, truly a match made in heaven. Rose brings Blond Tobacco out of himself. A hand in glove match. And a warmer couple you could never meet! Masculine and feminine personified. Rose the ultimate in receptive, needing only the tenderest touch of warmth to bring forth her beauty. Blond Tobacco is mellow and deep, warm and quiet, with a smile that would light the heart of many a thousand people. Well, Blond Tobacco's first impression of Rose was as he was approaching the house where the three sisters lived. He couldn't help but notice the wonderful aroma that wafted passed him. Somebody was cooking! He could smell fragrant spices, onion, tomato, ginger, garlic corriander spice, fresh ginger, chilies and paprika, caramelized, dark and sweet. Blond Tobacco's mouth began to water even though he wasn't hungry. Rose had been standing facing the large black stove at the far side of the room. Already she was smiling broadly and walking to greet Blond Tobacco and his brother with her hand extended.
That was it for Blond Tobacco, love at first sight! And as for Rose she basked in his love and opened her petals to full bloom and her heart to him.

Cool and Strong, the Perfect Couple

Episode 4

Cool and Strong, the Perfect Couple

First there were three old brothers, Oakmoss, Cepes and Blond Tobacco...in a new perfume I matched them up with three spinster sisters. This is the story of how the second pair of lovers met...

Lavender and Oakmoss met each other as a direct result of our first couple, Ylang Ylang and Cepes getting together.

Oakmoss will never forget the day he met Lavender. It was his brother Cepes birthday, the three brothers were at the local bar celebrating. Ylang Ylang arrived with her sister Lavender. Lavender didn't like pubs, but Ylang Ylang was very persuasive and Lavender said she would go but she promised herself she would avert her eyes from the dirty ashtrays and the horrible scum around the swill sink. The one thing she couldn't avert her eyes from was the man who was seated to the left of Cepes. His eyes were dark green, almost brown and his hair was thick and pure white. Oakmoss remembers how Lavenders cool hands refreshed him and how her pale blue eyes soothed him. When Lavender sat down beside Oakmoss she felt like she never wanted to leave his side. Oakmoss had such a strong manly smell, no aftershave, just 100% pure man.

Getting Caught in the Rain

Episode 3

Getting Caught in the Rain

Once upon a time there were three old brothers, Oakmoss, Cepes and Blond Tobacco...in a perfume I am calling "match made in heaven" I teamed them up with three spinster sisters.

The first couple to get together are Cepes and Ylang Ylang, the youngest brother and youngest sister. This is the story of how they met.

Cepes was out walking, he likes the rain as we know (well he likes a bit of a soft mist if the truth be known) but on this day there was a downpour, a deluge, and he stood in under a linden tree to get some shelter. Ylang Ylang was standing under that very same tree. Cepes had in his bag, as was his habit, a most delicious sandwich and the smell of the bread Cepes had baked that morning was floating into the air. Ylang Ylang (who wasn't in the least shy) said "that's a lovely smell of fresh bread I am getting from your bag"! Cepes, being an absolute sweetheart as usual, smiled and offered Ylang Ylang half of his sandwich. Together they ate, while the rain still came pouring down. Eventually the rain eased off, but not before the trees' canopy had started to leak. Huge drops of water showered down on top of them. Cepes removed his big woollen overcoat and threw it over both of their heads. Soaked to the skin they began to walk in the direction of Ylang Ylang's home, where she lived with her two grown up sisters...Lavender and Rose.

A Match Made In Heaven

Episode 2

A Match Made In Heaven
I have found three spinster sisters for the three brothers.

Ylang Ylang is the youngest of the three sisters. She is thoughtful, independent and yet very feminine, she likes writing and keeps a daily journal. She is tall and thin and wears her brown hair tied back. She smells sexy and warm. She wears soft colors and cashmere sweaters

Rose is the eldest sister, she is old fashioned and loves to cook, Rose never wears trousers. She likes reading, embroidery and flower arranging. Rose smells very feminine and has a full figure and dark thick hair.

Lavender, the middle sister, is blond haired and blue eyed, she looks like her mother. She smells of fresh soap and water and is *always* spring cleaning. She loves the color blue and her hands are always lovely and cool. Lavender wears white blouses with crisply ironed collars.

Now to try the match making.

I think that Ylang Ylang would best suit the youngest brother Cepes, he likes cooking, she doesn't, she knows how to occupy herself while he goes on his long walks.

I think that Rose, the eldest sister will best suit Blond tobacco, Rose can cook amazing meals while her husband reads and smokes his pipe.

I think that Oakmoss and Lavender would be a great match. Lavender can help Oakmoss clean up his act a little and she will be well able for his strong personality.

Well I'm going to try it...

The Love Stories Begin: The Three Brothers

Episode 1
The Three Brothers

I have been exploring my essences again today. I am holding in my hand 3 scent strips. The first is cepes, the next is blond tobacco and the third is oakmoss. I am calling them The Three Brothers... well The Three *Old* Brothers actually. Cepes is the youngest and sweetest brother, he loves cooking and baking bread. Cepes smells of yeast and mushrooms. He is bearded and wears a long woollen overcoat and likes walking in the rain.
The second brother is Blond Tobacco, he is quiet, aloof and likes to read. He wears a tweed cap and smokes a pipe.
The third and eldest brother is Oakmoss, he is also the strongest of the three, he is white haired and wears neither a cap nor overcoat, even on the coldest winters day. He wears a woollen sweater and a shirt, during summer and winter and usually a light jacket.
None of the brothers are fond of bathing, and instead they like to have a wash at the sink with some plain soap and water.
I like these old boys, Oakmoss in particular reminds me of my own father.