Unexpectedly a door or window can open or close. What Joy to see Happiness in each moment.
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label England. Show all posts
Wednesday 10 July 2013
Morris dancing
Today was my son's birthday ... but he's not with me. He's Eco building in the Lothian whilst I'm back in Southwold, my spiritual site with not enough time for walking far, as I promised to be with a cousin with a hobbly foot on account of her bunion op. Off we hopped to the local hop and enjoyed a half of Adnams...to watch clog dancers. I was lucky enough to be bedecked with two ribboned spools and dance a column dance to "Nelly the Elephant" ... 1,2,3, hop (forwards and back) 1,2,3, hop....
Saturday 2 March 2013
February
No posts in February as
a) I lost inspiration, motivation and the will to live after making 5 preserve pans of marmalade creating apx 55 jars, some laced with Armagnac, some with ginger, some with cinnamon,, when my blog posting disappeared, as my laptop glitched.
b) I had just under 3 weeks in England. There were:
Attractive accents to listen to; long visits in The Apple Store to correct my computer at no cost.
Brick Lane without a market
Cinema City lunch divine
Daughterly delights
Endless experiences
Fascinating faces and friends
Grand-daughter activities of swimming and gymnastics then she was unwell
Hubbub
Interesting ideas
Jamie Oliver restaurant as a birthday treat for daughter. Nice, but I wouldn't go again.
Keeping calm
'Les Miserables' film and a visit to London
Merlot at The Royal Exchange
Norwich Arcade
Osteopath excruciation - a temporary fix
Plane, Coach and Bus travel takes time yet it's a way from A to B without the car
Quiet frustrations when agreed intentions were not fulfilled and out of my control
Rain-drenched citywalk to look at buildings with my grand daughter's class. I couldn't quite see the point of this school activity for rising 5 year olds!
Southwold pier with a glimpse of heaven. Son at Spitalfields market
Travelling is tiring but a treat
Udon noodles at Wagamama
Visibly happy in Cathedral Close
Walking along Aldgate and cities, coffee at Waterstones, yet I missed a long walk by the coast
Xcessive amount of food consumed
Y I had WHY questions in my head
Zzzzzzzzzz in an expensive London hotel but at a very reduced rate with thanks to laterooms.com
a) I lost inspiration, motivation and the will to live after making 5 preserve pans of marmalade creating apx 55 jars, some laced with Armagnac, some with ginger, some with cinnamon,, when my blog posting disappeared, as my laptop glitched.
b) I had just under 3 weeks in England. There were:
Attractive accents to listen to; long visits in The Apple Store to correct my computer at no cost.
Brick Lane without a market
Cinema City lunch divine
Daughterly delights
Endless experiences
Fascinating faces and friends
Grand-daughter activities of swimming and gymnastics then she was unwell
Hubbub
Interesting ideas
Jamie Oliver restaurant as a birthday treat for daughter. Nice, but I wouldn't go again.
Keeping calm
'Les Miserables' film and a visit to London
Merlot at The Royal Exchange
Norwich Arcade
Osteopath excruciation - a temporary fix
Plane, Coach and Bus travel takes time yet it's a way from A to B without the car
Quiet frustrations when agreed intentions were not fulfilled and out of my control
Rain-drenched citywalk to look at buildings with my grand daughter's class. I couldn't quite see the point of this school activity for rising 5 year olds!
Southwold pier with a glimpse of heaven. Son at Spitalfields market
Travelling is tiring but a treat
Udon noodles at Wagamama
Visibly happy in Cathedral Close
Walking along Aldgate and cities, coffee at Waterstones, yet I missed a long walk by the coast
Xcessive amount of food consumed
Y I had WHY questions in my head
Zzzzzzzzzz in an expensive London hotel but at a very reduced rate with thanks to laterooms.com
Norwich Arcade |
Brick Lane Truman architecture |
Spitalfields symbolism |
Reproducing Aldgate in the eye of The Shard |
According to a plaque,
this structure “Palace on Pillars” was created by STUDIO WEAVE and inspired by
two poems¹ from
Chaucer, who lived in Aldgate 1774 to 1386. It denotes the start of High Street
2012 and the route to the Olympics at Stratford. Interestingly to me: it’s like “Baba
Yaga’s chicken hut” one of the pieces from “Pictures at an Exhibition” by
Mussorgsky: The house of Fame and The parliament of
Fowls
Material contrast |
Relaxing in The Royal Exchange where I sipped a mellifluous Merlot. |
Monday 23 July 2012
En Angleterre
It was rather hectic but I absolutely loved it.
I stayed a few days with my cousin's daughter and family and tried to support them in their latest angst. Then onto Sussex and the most delightful of cottages. I was lucky. It was a beautiful thatched cottage which I highly recommend to rent. The owners were lovely and apart from a few mosquitoes I had a lovely time.....but then my own home is pestered with mosquitoes! Difference is I have a mosquito net! I loved Arundel and Chichester. So pretty, calm and assuringly steeped in history. I also visited Rye on my journey from Ashford to Littlehampton. What an exquisite village.
Maybe I will tell you more about these villages in a later posting.
Apart from the prep for and clearing up of my son's wedding at which I did not help as much as I would have liked to .... (everyone did their bit)... and apart of course from attending the lovely ceremony, I walked on a lovely SSI beach in Sussex. Then in Suffolk another SSI beach and how wonderful to be free from litter.
The next two weeks disappeared as quickly as the first two! Suffice it to say there was Englishness :
A day's journey to visit mother and brother
Barbecues and bunting
Crabbing buckets with bacon
Dunwich 10 miles there and back
English scones and raspberry jam
Fish and chips, flying kites, flag on the sandcastles
Gigs in pubs
Hula hoops
Ice creams
James and Katie
Laughter as we climbed the lighthouse up and down the spiral staircase
Meals in pubs with Ad
Nams
Olympic torch flame carried past the cottage
Picnics in the dunes, paddling in the sea, promenade on the pier,
Questions from little ones and those who are so tall
Running along with wind in our hair
Shared meals
Tired people
Union Jack flags wherever we go
Umbrellas abandoned when rain stopped
Vicky and co aboard a river boat
Walks along beach to harbour, across common and marshes,
X,Y, Zee and Camarderie,
Thank you England and despite the weather I had a whale of a time and laughed for 4 weeks!
I stayed a few days with my cousin's daughter and family and tried to support them in their latest angst. Then onto Sussex and the most delightful of cottages. I was lucky. It was a beautiful thatched cottage which I highly recommend to rent. The owners were lovely and apart from a few mosquitoes I had a lovely time.....but then my own home is pestered with mosquitoes! Difference is I have a mosquito net! I loved Arundel and Chichester. So pretty, calm and assuringly steeped in history. I also visited Rye on my journey from Ashford to Littlehampton. What an exquisite village.
Maybe I will tell you more about these villages in a later posting.
Apart from the prep for and clearing up of my son's wedding at which I did not help as much as I would have liked to .... (everyone did their bit)... and apart of course from attending the lovely ceremony, I walked on a lovely SSI beach in Sussex. Then in Suffolk another SSI beach and how wonderful to be free from litter.
The next two weeks disappeared as quickly as the first two! Suffice it to say there was Englishness :
A day's journey to visit mother and brother
Barbecues and bunting
Crabbing buckets with bacon
Dunwich 10 miles there and back
English scones and raspberry jam
Fish and chips, flying kites, flag on the sandcastles
Gigs in pubs
Hula hoops
Ice creams
James and Katie
Laughter as we climbed the lighthouse up and down the spiral staircase
Meals in pubs with Ad
Nams
Olympic torch flame carried past the cottage
Picnics in the dunes, paddling in the sea, promenade on the pier,
Questions from little ones and those who are so tall
Running along with wind in our hair
Shared meals
Tired people
Union Jack flags wherever we go
Umbrellas abandoned when rain stopped
Vicky and co aboard a river boat
Walks along beach to harbour, across common and marshes,
X,Y, Zee and Camarderie,
Thank you England and despite the weather I had a whale of a time and laughed for 4 weeks!
Sunday 22 July 2012
La Tour de France
I could watch LIVE on http://www.francetv.fr/sport/tour-de-france/direct Merci beaucoup.
Felicitations a l'equipe d'angleterre. WELL DONE Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
Felicitations a l'equipe d'angleterre. WELL DONE Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.
Tuesday 5 June 2012
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.
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.
Sunday 3 June 2012
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.
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.
Saturday 10 December 2011
Backtrack - May to July 2010
Between May and July 2010 although I was energised by the owning of a property, evidently demonstrating vim, vigour and enthusiasm for renovating and wallpaper stripping, sanding down woodwork, clearing out junk, digging and filling trenches, rubbing down large beams, baking bread on a building site, helping to organise what might have been the start of a Midsummer ritual in my garden, after 7 weeks of what could be perceived as almost a kind of trauma about what I had done in buying my house, I decided to have a break and Do Something Different. So at the end of June and the beginning of July I decided to visit family and friends instead of or in addition to the months of March and November. Reflection and Meditation were necessary.
It was gloriously wonderful weather in England. Sunny days with privet blossom, scabious flowers and poppies by the wayside, cereals growing golden in their English gated fields surrounded by English oak trees and hedgerows. Yet though the beauty in the East Anglian fields was very marvellous I missed the French stone walls and lanes.
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