Art Gallery Exhibition

Sir Peter Blake and Pop Music


Unfortunately the juke box was awaiting repair...there were some great 45rpm titles...to listen to those and look at the art work would have been amazing.  A dream is to organise motivation and start creating art when I have never ever done any outside of a primary classroom.

The pirate and the princess

 

This is not a brilliant photo but the best I have so far of the happy couple on board.

  

This is better. I stole it from my son and daughter-in-law's blog!

Read about the wedding adventure of the two aboard the Wendy Ann 2 

Here WAS the wonderful cake!

 

Moth

What was hitting the window last night whilst I read in bed?  It was a huge moth about as large as my handspan which is relatively small. Probably a Hawk moth but I'm sure I've not seen one that large.

Delight

A French lady whom I had not met for 18m interrupted me as I looked at refrigerators. She was radiant and as I like to get people to talk about themselves, she talked about her husband and his project and she was in raptures.  I loved listening to her.  Then she asked about my house and my friends and so it went on...all the time I kept hearing her use the word 'ravi'.  She was delighted to see me and I could see she meant it.  I was also delighted to see her.  I hope that we can meet up again for I am very fond of her.  She's cultured and funny but serious and correct. 
Nobody in my lifetime, to my knowledge has ever told me, they have been delighted to see me!!! Nobody has ever come rushing up to me so pleased to see me quite in the way that she did!!! Wow..... I like living in France!  I know this report sounds rather arrogant but the incident made me feel full of self-esteem.

Date and Almond Buns or Slices

• Rub 110g butter into 225g flour sieved with 1 teaspoon of baking powder and the same of salt. 
• Add 110g or just less of brown sugar 
• plus 85g chopped dates (in France buy a paste of dates) 
• plus 85g almond slivers (substitute walnuts)
• Mix all with one egg and a slosh of milk to get the required consistency to form sticky balls.
• Place on a greaseproof sheeted tray or spread into a circular Victoria sandwich tin.

It's all very simple... bake in a hot oven for about 15 minutes....smelling to assess if it is ready!!!!!!!
YUM... Photos were not taken!!!!!!! Next time j'ajouterais.........

Days like these

It's such a surprise when 'Unexpected' opens a door. 

The late start of the morning was kicked into action when an acquaintance phoned to say she could come that afternoon.  Debris of two days required a whirlwind of major domestic duties with the decision to bake a cake!  Springsteen's energy helped amazingly.

Nervousness to entertain in my own house became a surprise when she arrived.  It seemed illogical for I am proud of the work that my friend has achieved in difficult circumstances over the last two years.  Oh how I wish things were different.  To digress: Many were the times when I was required to speak ad lib to more than 100 parents, or lead an assembly for 120 children plus adults with 5 or fewer minutes to prepare or present a class assembly or concert for parents and never ever felt nervous.  Nor did I ever become nervous when playing hymns for daily assemblies but to perform as a musician in a concert used to de-salivate my mouth for it was something that I could never achieve.

Having explored my property we descended stone steps to the river, strolled where artists with easels were creating beautiful artwork, stood on the bridge to marvel at the perfect view and climbed to the hub of the village.  Warm tea was served with date and almond buns.  The cold wind seemed to sap my energy despite the sun trying to warm the world.

Fatigue set in before 6pm but I decided to visit the village shop for raw vegetables.  Not more than 20 metres along the lane I stopped to let the large white van pass.... Cuckoo... it's my pottery teacher. "Was I going to the concert?" "Was I going to the vernissage?  I became invited. The latter I did not know about and the former I thought I would skip on account of being tired and cold.  
Amused by surprise events I nipped back to change into something more glamorous.
I realised it must be the formal opening of the clothing exhibition where the creatrice using natural material dyed with plants had worked at threadwork called "Les Jours" which my village is famous for.  Quite stunning clothes influenced by Spanish flamenco were expensive but if one counted the hours that her needle and thread had counted then the price seemed justified.  The general message from villagers at the exhibition was of HOPE, that this was the first time in many years when new life blood was being poured into "Les Jours d'Angles". Those who practise the technique are becoming older and there is the fear that the craft will die completely. One could say it has been hanging on a thread! I felt proud to be there. Her work was exquisite and even pants and bras were available at maxicost.

The two ladies who invited me to share a picnic salad al fresco set off for the next village in DM's new Jumper van in which she has installed a bed and storage space so she can travel to exhibitions and sell her pottery.  It was great fun to eat with them and accompany them to the concert in a church.  Moi, l'anglaise et eux.  It was an excellent professional performance of piano and violincello works by Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Chostakovitch. In England we write Shostakovitch.

 I love days like these when LIFE seems worth living and I feel young again!
The payback was followed by a less active day!

Time to enjoy!

Apart from a bath screen and a few minor but important details the bathroom has arrived!
As always, nothing is ever finished and sometimes one learns to live with it as it is.
I ran out of paint of one colour. A little more silicone is required. I am sure that the extractor fan is not powerful enough. I WOULD rather have a stronger fan than one that has to be on 24/7!

It's going to feel very strange to have my very own toilet where it is not necessary to sit eye to eye with spidery creatures or fiddle with a water cistern mechanism to prevent water continually gushing into the pan or use the modern equivalent of a potty, i.e. a bucket, when it is wet, cold or dark outside, or use the natural environment of my garden. However, the latter I intend to continue because it will save water in the closet!  I have urinated in the garden for the last 7 years of living in France.  I lived in a fairly remote area and there were always places to hide!  We also wished to conserve clean water as well as preserve the delicate workings of a fosse septique.  I see nothing wrong with Mother Nature.  Urine when diluted makes an excellent fertiliser and when not diluted makes an excellent weedkiller in the right quantity.  Mine also used to deter moles at one time but we won't go into my health history!

So here she is LA SALLE DE BAIN waiting to be used.  I am immensely proud. Indeed I am more than extremely grateful for the motivation, dedication, commitment, hard work and patience given by my friend in creating the style and ambiance that I hoped for.  It looks like a piece of cake but behind the scenes of this and any worthwhile project, the knowledge, skills, talents, techniques of what we have learned and what we need to learn become apparent.  They are there along with frustrations, mishaps, mistakes, nightmares, laughter, and heavenly moments which are all too soon forgotten!

 THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND FOR KEEPING ME ON TRACK

Time to enjoy when looking back

It's early in the morning

Arriving at the computer to research some early morning thoughts I eventually am led to the news.
The diamond igniting of the beacons was very theatrical and oh it must be marvellous to be part of such a world event. I can feel how wonderful it is to be British.  I am proud of being English,  I admire Charles' strong speech.  He has changed for the better, becoming emotionally literate and not so restricted in his speech and mannerisms, becoming more relaxed, personable, likeable, showing humanity, having his glory for he knows not the future.
I can see that the 4 day party has provided a wealth of reason for people to have fun and enjoyment in times where there are many other concerns.  I feel the events may give hope and promise when austerity, far from Britain's elite, is present for many people who face financial struggles. In 2012 it seems to be a  time for wonderment. There is struggle in Britain and elsewhere. Let us hope that tables turn for those who experience poverty of emotion as well as financial support and for those who experience struggle in adversity.  The world is changing.

A year ago today

It was a year ago today I moved house completely and after all was done and I was ensconced in my very own French property I sat on the kitchen sill in the sunshine with a cup of tea in my hand, thinking that I would like to knit!!!!!! Actually, I prefer crochet.
Postscript: Miss Monkey was finished in July 2012 after 4 years in the making! She only needed stuffing and her features added! I think Grace liked her!

Pomp and Pageantry

I love  P & P & Circumstance. Even though I disapprove of the public cost of Royalty,  I believe that in a modernist world they probably do help charities. However, there are so many people who could have benefited from the cost of those seats on the barge that the Queen would not sit on!
The public fund in UK has been slaughtered and yet who knows how much the 4 days of celebrations for the Queen have truly cost.  This could have helped pensioners, those with disabilities, children and what do we hear??? Oh yes cut the taxes on Granny flats!!!!! It's only those who are more rich who have Granny Annexes!   So the flagrant use of public funding does make me boil!

Since Diana's death magnified an emotional outpouring of the Nation, giving a public outlet for bereavement and loss, I confess, I became fascinated by some members of the Royal Family.  I believe that because we have a Land of Hope and Glory (thank you, Sir Edward Elgar) it is better to keep a Monarchy than to have a Presidency.   Rule Britannia  is what I say!  And all the music that has been generated for Royal events.  We've been lucky with the type of Monarchy that has been created and established over the last 60 years.  In my opinion, England / UK has been fortunate since 1952 and after WWII.  I am grateful that the Monarchy / Government / World  produced freedom and peace in Europe and that I have been lucky to have experienced the kindnesses of humanity.  I love my country. I like the fact that I am British and that the United Kingdom is the home for so many international peoples. Yet I love France and Europe too. I love the diversity of people, culture, places and systems of celebration.
 
However, I wonder as to where all the clothing goes once worn.  I wonder about the cost to the private person like me and what the minor royals do to justify their existence.  Perhaps the Jubilee has given people an opportunity to communicate with each other and be friends and develop community.  However, a previous neighbour who promoted such street parties and bon homie became very bitter, rude and spiteful after breaking through a Georgian stud wall into my property.  Therefore, I am left to wonder about the "street party bash" and the degree that it can help to transform neighbourliness.

Without a television, it was a pleasant surprise and pleasure that I could watch the flotilla live on my Apple Mac whilst living in France. Thank you BBC and those who dreamt up the idea and organised it! But again wouldn't the funding have been better utilised?

I really don't like the coinage of the term "New Elizabethans" and I nearly vomited when I heard CAM oron, woops spelling mistake M. Cameron sycophanting about her Majesty! If perhaps it was Neo-Elizabethans I could cope!!!!!

A cucumber sandwich made with my home-made poppyseed and mint bread was enjoyed with Saumur demi-sec bubbly! Very nice and as equal to a Cremant de Loire or Cremant d'Alsace which I prefer to champagne, unless it's an expensive one, of which I rarely have imbibed!

NOSTALGIA
Tomorrow I might make a "Victoria sandwich" for nostalgia, you understand!!!!!!! I rarely make one preferring to make other types of cake. It was my version and with pineapple!!

I remember being 3 and sitting at long tables at the Coronation party in what was eventually my High School,

I remember the Queen's Silver Jubilee when my son won first prize in the village fancy dress competition. We still have the Jubilee sovereign. A tea-towel, wrapping paper to make a hat, a windmill, a flag, his blue school jumper and trousers! It was one of the only fancy dress events my children have ever participated in!

ADDENDUM June 4th
It's not surprising that Philip is ill... We saw the Queen go downstairs... but he did not, me thinks. Conditions were perishing and even I would have required several toilet breaks, hot tea and a hot water bottle.  They did not wear suitable warm woolly blankets to keep out the rain and chill and at their age more consideration should have been given to that than Pomp and Pageantry. The lady would not sit down and so neither could anyone else. 

I promised some bathroom photos

 Sink area is complete apart from light above and mirror. I daren't clean my teeth over this glass bowl!

 It's all so pretty!

The bathroom now has 3 spots but the wrong extractor fan unit!!!!!! My fault! The bath screen will arrive late summer! The suspended wc cannot be seen here. Doors and doorways are finished and final coats of paint on all surfaces are required. Luxury after all chaos can well be appreciated!