Who do you think you are?

The older you get, the more you resemble your parents. This saying is true for the most of us. I don’t think we have teenager readers, but just in case: I’m sorry to freak you out. Richard is often comparing me to my mum, and no, we do not have terrible fights. My husband actually loves my mum, believe it or not. Anyway, I prefer to believe it over the possibility he is just trying to sweet-talk me ….. Naaahhh, he wouldn’t do that ….. And besides, who wouldn’t love my mum?

Now, me taking after my dad, that’s a slightly different story; because if I take my inherited hobby to collect books like a squirrel [does nuts] any further, Richard is – as his beloved mother-in-law – sentenced to live on 1 m2 surrounded by beautifully ancient smelling walls of paper.

So when we were strolling about Darling Street in Balmain last Saturday, Richard knew he would lose me ór to the famous and even delicious looking pastry shop of Adriano Zumbo, ór to the colorful market stalls, scattered like patchwork behind a most charming little yellow sandstone church. At least three enticing trestle tables loaded with second (or third; or fourth) hand classics, old time favorites and newly discovered treasures caught my eye. So much to choose from; and would I get the bonus of a dedication written on the index page? Old ones are the best.

As much as I am drawn to book stalls, churches (and ancient buildings in general) are an irresistible magnet to Richard. It was the perfect Saturday afternoon: a caressing early-summer sun, a couple of great picture opportunities and two new (old) books to dig into during the rainy week to come. Adriano Zumbo’s lustrous macarons make today's (a grey Tuesday) picture even prettier. Richard won’t even miss the sun and the church when he gets home tonight.

And next weekend the clouds will have passed by and we will just find another church. Hopefully there’s a little authentic market on the side, with books as far as my eye can see. Stalls with dresses, hats, jewelry, food and arty stuff are okay too.

PS Due to all this obsessing about markets I would almost forget the punch line, where the title and the first paragraph were supposed to lead to. To cut a long story short: lately I've become interested in family history and discovered the documentary Who do you think you are. British and Australian celebs are going on a search to discover their roots and are often surprised and/or shook up by their ancestor’s past. Fascinating! My brother pointed out there is a Dutch version too: Verborgen Verleden. Enjoy.