Ruth’s cousin Mary, had had a daughter, Tiggy, who together with her husband, Freek a painter, would come to stay at Duff House, from time to time. They had lived in the Netherlands, Freek’s home country, but later settled in Portugal. Ruth adored their visits, as there was rarely a dull moment. Mary had been like a sister to her as they grew up and Tiggy was a wonderful link to that glorious childhood. Josse remembers the giggling and screams of delight, as the two of them recalled those happy memories.
These truly were some of the happiest moments in her later years. Tiggy would get her out of the house and more importantly out of herself, taking Ruth around the charity shops and encouraging her to treat herself, to buy on impulse and to stop worrying about what Derek might think. They would returning with little trinkets, scarves, shoes, a jacket perhaps, all secondhand and Ruth would feel quite elated. But it didn’t stop there, for Tiggy would help Ruth with supper that evening, either chopping and preparing the ingredients along side her, the two of them chatting all the while, or by banishing Ruth from the kitchen altogether.
Ruth loved these times, because everyone was happy. She didn’t feel the urge to hide away, far from it in fact, these were the days she might indulge in a glass of wine and relax. And relax all the more, because she knew Derek was happy, he was in his element, sitting on the terrace and discussing art and philosophy with Freek.
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