Flannelette by Dr Paul Carter

 

Flannelette
by Dr Paul Carter

 

Last weekend, and perfectly legally,  we stayed over at the in-laws.  Like us, they are Storm supporters, and the main reason for our visit was to watch the NRL final on their newly acquired TV, which is of such a size that I wondered how it fitted through the front door.

It was a lovely visit for a number of reasons. Not only are the in-laws really nice people, but the right team made it over the line.  After the game, we sat around having a pleasant chat about this and that, and then we finished off our late-night tipples and all headed off to bed.

At home we sleep between sheets of the finest starched Egyptian linen, on a bed that is wider than it is long, and we rest our heads on the very best of Hungarian goose down. If it is chilly, we pull up a vast and sumptuous fur bedspread.

In the guest room at the in-laws, to my very pleasant surprise, Gilly and I  snuggled up for the night encased in flannelette. I don’t think that I have slept in flannelette since I was allowed to stay at my grandma’s as a small child and, as I wriggled ever deeper down into the warmth and softness of it all, I was transported back in time. It was like getting into bed with an old friend who you’d completely forgotten about, but who you suddenly realise still cares very much about you.

Lying in my flannelette cocoon I felt warm and loved. I asked Gilly if she would read me a story, but she told me not to be  so ridiculous.  I did manage to get her to tuck me up and kiss me on the forehead, however, and then, having curled myself into a foetal position, I quickly fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.

Sitting up in bed the following morning, having a cup of tea, I shared how much I had enjoyed the comfort of the night.

‘You like flannelette?’ Gilly asked.

‘I do. Could we get some for home?’ I asked cautiously.

‘So you don’t you like what I’ve got for us?’ Gilly queried.

‘Of course, Of course,’ I hastily replied. ‘It’s just that this did feel rather nice.’

‘Patterned?’ Gilly asked with just the slightest hint of sarcasm.

‘I was thinking of astronauts, or maybe dinosaurs,’ I said quietly.

‘What about helicopters?’  Gilly asked.

‘Yes, helicopters would be okay,’ I replied

The next night, at home, we slipped back into the absolute best that Egypt can come up with,  and rested our heads on Hungarian excellence.

‘Don’t you think that this is really nice?’ Gilly asked as we lay there in the dark.

‘Yes, yes, of course. It’s fabulous,’ I replied,  feeling  just the tiniest bit disappointed with her reaction to my suggestion. Then I remembered how long it had taken me to talk her into a swinging garden seat, so I drifted off to sleep at peace with the world, and determined to give it all another go in the morning.