Another View

wordless wednesday - game

2012-02-15T09:23:00.000Z

trees

2012-02-12T21:58:00.005Z

"If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?"

when the lightning strikes

sentinel

greenwich

2011-11-27T14:49:00.010Z

Steve has already written about our day over on Shadows and Light and put up some lovely photos.
Here are a few more from me ...

The Greenwich Observatory

Steve standing on the Meridian

Public standards of length. These British Imperial Standards were first mounted outside Greenwich Observatory main gates some time before 1866, to enable the public to check measures of length. The stated length is the distance between the inner faces of the 2 D-shaped studs.

Ceiling of The Painted Hall as seen in a mirror!

autumn leaves

2011-11-26T23:27:00.012Z

I've spent a lovely couple of days enjoying some unseasonably mild autumn weather here in South London.
The winds have divested many of the trees of their leaves, but some still cling on bravely.

Yesterday A and I took a walk around Dulwich Picture Gallery. The Sweet Gums were changing colour

Earlier today we met up with Steve & Dave and Lettuce & her family for brunch, then Steve, Lettuce and I walked through Greenwich Park, cameras in hand, to see the ancient chestnut trees

and the oaks.

More photos to follow tomorrow.

theme thursday (on saturday) - gourds

2011-11-12T21:27:00.004Z

I've taken liberties and posted a couple of photos of pumpkins here, too

These beautiful gourds were on display in Chelsea Market, NYC in October last year

This colourful decoration was seen on the steps of an old brownstone in Brooklyn

and this big pumpkin was sitting all alone atop a wall in the Cotswolds, England.

if at first ...

2011-11-06T22:08:00.007Z

you don't succeed, try, try again!

So, back to blogging. Can't believe it's been two whole months.

The Theme Thursday picture was taken by my daughter R in Vienna.

As a photographer, there's something very interesting in watching other people taking photos. The girl with the Nikon is R's best friend Jenny (R is on the right.) Jenny is a very talented jewellery designer and photographer - though something seems to be puzzling her here ...

theme thursday - gadget

2011-11-04T00:07:00.004Z

Me with iphone. Daughter's friend with proper camera!

My newest gadget is my iphone.
I love it. It's beautiful (even though it doesn't support flash!!) and convenient and fits in my pocket and has a camera (of sorts) and the internet and ...
But sitting on the desk in front of me is my canon DSLR with pictures not yet downloaded from the memory card.
So, time to find the usb cable, connect and download and post some more pictures.
Time to get back to blogging too.

travels in tuscany 1

2011-09-05T08:52:00.001+01:00

Mosquitoes 12
Liz 0

After an interesting night (woken by massive firework display just after midnight, then at 5.30 when I realised my temporary veneer had come off my front tooth, then finally at 6.30 when my dozen mosquito bites all appeared to catch fire at once) we have had a fabulous breakfast at our B&B and are now sitting outside the local pasticceria. We're eating again. Well, what else can you do in Italy, when there's some of the best food in the world round the corner?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

friday weather

2011-09-02T19:39:00.012+01:00

Busy packing and tidying the house before we go on holiday, yet still time for a blog post!

It's been warm and sunny today after a chilly start to the week.

Off to Italy tomorrow for a couple of weeks. We were hoping to do a fair amount of walking, but I'll have to take it easy as my leg is still healing. The weather forecast is 'mixed' so there's a scarf and waterproof coat in the suitcase as well as t-shirts and sandals.

Whatever the weather is like I'm hopeful it won't be as wet and muddy as it was at Latitude Festival in July! Am uploading some of the photos to Flickr, but here's a few to be going on with ...

This was our view in the morning from our podpad. A little misty ...

and then it rained (though as you can see, even rain will not keep the serious festival goer from his beer.)

Some came armed with wellies and umbrellas

and others with a poncho of sorts.

Fortunately the sun made an appearance so we could dry off between 'showers.'

I probably won't post much while I'm away, unless there's good wifi.

Arrivederci!!

wall art wednesday

2011-08-31T15:56:00.005+01:00

These were taken at Latitude Festival last month. I meant to go back and photograph the finished work, but the weather got in the way!

weather

2011-08-26T17:59:00.002+01:00

Always a topic of conversation at home and abroad.

We're used to changeable weather here in the British Isles, but I must admit I'm feeling a little chilly today and wondering where the summer has gone! It's been raining on and off all day. As a result the lawn is in need of a cut and blow dry at least, and our shrubs and bushes are covered in luxuriant foliage.

There are little muddy footprints on the kitchen window sill ( if anyone knows how to train cats to wipe their paws, do let me know!) and the washing is drying indoors.

Sending good thoughts to all those on the eastern seaboard, who are facing dangerous extremes of weather.

harbour

2011-08-21T23:09:00.003+01:00

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.
John A. Shedd, Salt from My Attic (1928)

vase

2011-08-20T23:51:00.001+01:00

Brief post today, as I'm nursing a torn muscle and am feeling a little groggy as a result of the painkillers and the large glass of red wine with which I washed them down.

The vase is a family heirloom. It stood on my maternal grandmother's mantelpiece in London throughout WW2.

Whilst their house wasn't bombed, the neighbours' was and the vase remained intact.

Don't think it's worth anything much, but it has great sentimental value. There's a small bead stuck halfway down the narrow neck, put there by my brother when he was little!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

props

2011-08-19T23:34:00.003+01:00

Don't know the last time I flew on a small(ish) plane.
Last weekend a Cityjet Fokker 50 flew me to and from France. On board I saw a sight I've not seen since 9/11 - the inside of the cockpit. Sorry I couldn't get a photo of that.
But as we wandered across the tarmac to board I managed a shot of the propellors.

theme thursday - tree

2011-08-18T11:39:00.000+01:00

So, I'm a week late for Theme Thursday. Never mind.

I found a banana tree growing in a garden in Normandy. Not sure if the little green fingers will ripen. It was a very hot day, but I think it'll take more than a day or two of sunshine.

Is this a sign of climate change, I wonder, finding tropical fruits growing in northern Europe?

wall art wednesday

2011-08-17T21:57:00.004+01:00

Saw this in Galway earlier this year. I think she's rather lovely. Seems to have a look of the young Audrey Hepburn about her.

les pommes

2011-08-16T18:38:00.001+01:00

Last day of my brief stay in Normandy. Am headed for the airport and home to London tomorrow.
Lovely relaxing stroll around nearby Honfleur earlier today. Pictures to follow later, as they're on my camera.
It looks like there will be a bumper apple crop in France this year. We saw them ripening in the sunshine as we walked back to our B&B.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

normandie

2011-08-15T16:59:00.002+01:00

Have taken a couple of days off to see my cousin, who lives in Normandy. We're staying in a lovely b&b in quiet countryside. The only sounds I can hear right now are geese honking and the high-pitched call of the swallows as they swoop past the window. We drove to Rouen for lunch and I took a picture of the rather splendid clock.

This is the view from my window

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

rubbish

2011-08-14T13:03:00.000+01:00

Who would have thought there would be so many different colours, textures and patterns in a heap of rubbish?

galway bay, ireland. june 2011

dublin

2011-08-13T17:23:00.007+01:00

June found us in Dublin for a few days.

We checked out The Temple Bar for a late night of raucous singing and beer.

The next day we headed down to The Point.

Dublin Docklands was being regenerated until the recession hit hard. The promised 'Point Village' hasn't happened yet. Several large buildings stand empty. The only place we could find to get a cup of tea (it was raining and quite cold) was a business hotel, which seemed pretty empty.

But we took a ride on the Dublin Wheel

and enjoyed the views

Walking back into town, this caught my eye

Off to France tomorrow ....

enjoy

2011-08-12T10:32:00.001+01:00

“The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live.” Avn Rand

I like that thought.

snap!

2011-08-11T21:19:00.000+01:00

Photography can be a very serious business

It can be great fun

frustrating

but ultimately satisfying (sometimes!)

1. concentration in la cimetière du père-lachaise, april 2011
2. family fun in sussex, august 2011
3. lighting disaster in chatsworth house, april 2011
4. the B train, coney island, october 2010

wall art wednesday

2011-08-10T14:00:00.001+01:00

All taken in Paris in April this year.
If anyone can identify the artists, please do!

(theme thursday) - bridge

2011-08-09T22:00:00.000+01:00

It's always worth checking under bridges.
This was taken in Paris.

wonderful world

2011-08-08T23:46:00.007+01:00

There's not a little irony in the title of this post.

I have no idea what to blog about this evening.

Less than 3 miles from me buildings are on fire and shops are being raided by looters. It's happening in many places across the city and I'm feeling sad and rather helpless.

I've had worried messages from my brother in Kent and my daughter in Oxfordshire. Glad that I was able to assure them we're all fine here.

Louis Armstrong's (What a) Wonderful World came suddenly to mind. The song was one of my Mum's favourites and I've always thought it a hopeful song.

It wasn't hard to find some photos to go with it. These were taken in Galway on the west coast of Ireland in June.

echoes

2011-08-07T18:20:00.007+01:00

Overhead the albatross hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
The echo of a distant tide
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine.

And no-one called us to the land
And no-one knows the wheres or whys
But something stirs and something tries
And starts to climb towards the light

Strangers passing in the street
By chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand the best I can

And no-one calls us to move on
And no-one forces down our eyes
And no-one speaks and no-one tries
And no-one flies around the sun

Cloudless everyday you fall upon my waking eyes
inviting and inciting me to rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning

And no-one sings me lullabies
And no-one makes me close my eyes
And so I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky

photos taken on winchelsea beach in sussex on 06/08/11

lyrics by pink floyd

every picture

2011-08-06T21:54:00.000+01:00

tells a story ...

roofscape

2011-08-05T16:28:00.001+01:00

I lean from my window

Smelling the bitter smoke

From the chimneys

And,

My feathers clattering in the breeze,

I soar toward the blue.

My shadow whispering across the slates.

flowers in the rain

2011-08-04T12:32:00.002+01:00

After moaning about the heat in London yesterday, today it's pouring with rain.
I'm not at work (time back from a very busy on-call last night) and have sought refuge in a local cafe.
Sitting by the window, there's plenty to see

And afterwards a wander past the churchyard

So much for daily blogging. Like the weather, yesterday was a write off! :)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

galway bay

2011-08-02T21:09:00.001+01:00

Taken in June on a trip to Ireland. The quality's not too wonderful as the battery in my camera had run low so I was using the little camera in my iPod touch (forgive me, I'm starting to sound like Steve Jobs' PR woman!)

Galway was beautiful. A bar on every corner, amazing seafood, good craic... The sun even shone. A little!
Not so on the day I took these. Shortly after I'd taken the photos the heavens opened.
Never mind, the nearest bar was a short walk away.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

new

2011-08-01T22:22:00.007+01:00

New month
New computer
New resolution
New post

Will try blogging daily again for the next month.

That may be a vain hope. It may even be fiction, but we'll see.

The new computer (not the mac I was hoping for, but a very speedy HP) has meant that I can download a large number of photos which had been lying dormant on the SD card. I've treated myself to Photoshop, but haven't got to grips with that yet.
All in good time.

The photo was taken in Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris earlier this year. The roses are scattered on the grave of Edith Piaf.
I found this simple tribute very moving

summer's here

2011-07-30T16:16:00.001+01:00

Finally a weekend off, so we've come up to north London, where we lived when we were first married.
We used to live in Stoke Newington, which, at the time was quite a poor area with a big hassidic Jewish community. When we moved here in 1981 there was a great deal of tension between the police and the black community just south of here in Dalston. I remember picking up the police communications on short wave radio. Cars were burnt and shops were bombed.

It's peaceful now. Quite gentrified in fact. The various communities seem to be living together comfortably.

It's nice to be back. And there's even a Banksy!

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all or nothing?

2011-05-08T21:25:00.008+01:00

Seems I'm an all or nothing kinda girl. I either blog every day or not at all!
Life is a little chaotic at present, what with studying and working full time. I'm still enjoying my course, but will be so glad when it's finished (mid July) as I'm really tired.

Last Monday A and I escaped to the seaside for the day. Namely Brighton.

It's a really vibrant university town on the south coast of England, with lots to see and do.

The wall art was fabulous.

We watched a game of beach volleyball

chilled out and looked at the sky

and just generally tried to get a different perspective on things

thameside tuesday

2011-03-29T16:55:00.002+01:00

Well, that was a rather longer blog break than I intended! Apologies for not even visiting your blogs. I've been entombed in the black hole of work and study for most of this month and have decided to come up for air today. Having spent the day at college, I'm now sitting in a cafe enjoying a slice of warm tarte tatin and a latte. Lovely!!Still can't figure out how to add photos if I'm blogging from an iPod / iPhone. So will have to add a pic later. Will also drop by and say hi :)

thameside tuesday

2011-03-01T23:46:00.004Z

This was taken by the Royal Festival Hall today. I like the fact that everything is monochrome apart from the woman's hair and the man's hand.

Z is for ...

2011-02-28T21:24:00.005Z

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

2 months of daily blogging have taken their toll and I'm planning to have a (little) rest in March

evening shadows in avranches, france

Y is for ...

2011-02-27T12:09:00.000Z

You.
You know who you are.

You do something to me - Paul Weller

X is for ...

2011-02-26T10:01:00.003Z

xxx kisses xxx

My lovely R is 22 today.

Happy Birthday!

enjoying the view on the golden gate bridge

shopping in san francisco

enjoying the view (again!) ravello, italy

W is for ...

2011-02-25T13:38:00.004Z

Windows

So many photos of windows in the archives, it's hard to choose ...

tucson, arizona - apr 2009
volterra, tuscany - june 2010
san gimignano, tuscany - june 2010
avranches, normandy - apr 2010
fort worth, texas - apr 2009

V is for ...

2011-02-24T20:23:00.006Z

Vortex

We saw this dramatic sculpture by Richard Serra at The Museum of Modern Art in Fort Worth, Texas.

Made of 2" steel slabs 10' wide and 67' tall, twisted, curved, and assembled with a 10' opening on top, the total weight is 230 tons.

When you stand inside your voice echoes round and round

U is for ...

2011-02-23T11:05:00.000Z

Umbrella

Made me think of a film I haven't seen in a long time, with a very haunting soundtrack ...

(Yes, I know it looks as though several men are standing on ladders with hosepipes, but still ...)

T is for ...

2011-02-22T22:27:00.002Z

Thameside Tuesday
Back at college today ...

Last week I posted about this wonderful baker. I have to walk past the shop to and from Waterloo East Station.

This week I went in there and bought some spiced apple cake.

This is what it looked like before I ate it!

S is for ...

2011-02-21T13:35:00.000Z

Salisbury

On the way back from the family wedding in Devon two weeks ago, we stayed the night in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

Did our customary Wandering The Streets thing and found this ...

... next to which was a plaque with the following ...

An important timely point of interest to the passer-by ... In the Year of our Lord 1752 the reformation of the Calendar took place - see the wall dial above dated 1749. This Julian calendar made the year too short, thus the accumulated error amounted to eleven days. England adopted the Gregorian or Reformed Calendar, so the next day after September 2nd 1752 became September 14th 1752.

... then this in the Cathedral Close...

The Walking Madonna.
This was Elisabeth Frink's only sculpture with a woman as subject. She usually concentrated on men and animals.
I'm not that familiar with her work, but I love this. I can see she was heavily influenced by Giacometti.

Also in the Close were these balloons, straining against the nets, waiting to be released into the cloudy skies. They were all tagged for a balloon race in aid of a local charity.

R is for ...

2011-02-20T13:32:00.000Z

Rain

The cupboard was getting bare yesterday, so we headed out to the supermarket to restock.

It was raining ...

The snowdrops in the churchyard were getting a good watering ...

I liked this ...

As well as being wet, it was cold and I was wrapped up with plenty of warm clothes. Comfort won over glamour - unlike this lady in the rain in Siena last year!

These reflections caught my eye in Washington, DC a couple of years ago ...

and this was taken during a downpour in New Orleans ...

Q is for ...

2011-02-19T16:23:00.001Z

Question

I'm not sure what the question is, but the answer is almost always chocolate!

Two recipes for chocolate lovers ...

The first is from Delia Smith. Lettuce's sister makes this for special occasions. It's wonderfully rich - a little goes a long way

Delia's Chocolate Truffle Torte

Ingredients
3 oz (75 g) Amaretti biscuits, crushed finely with a rolling pin
1 lb (450 g) dark chocolate (75 per cent cocoa solids) – the best quality possible
5 tablespoons liquid glucose
5 tablespoons rum
1 pint (570 ml) double cream, at room temperature

Method
Start off by sprinkling the crushed biscuits all over the base of the tin. Next, break the chocolate into sections and put them in a heatproof bowl together with the liquid glucose and the rum. Fit the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water, then leave it until the chocolate has melted and become quite smooth. Stir, then take off the heat and leave the mixture to cool for 5 minutes or so until it feels just warm.

Now, in a separate bowl, beat the cream until only very slightly thickened. Fold half into the chocolate mixture and then fold that mixture into the rest of the cream. When it is smoothly blended, spoon it into the prepared tin. Tap the tin gently to even the mixture out, cover with clingfilm and chill overnight. Just before serving, run a palette knife round the edge to loosen the torte, then give it a good shake and turn the whole thing out on to a serving plate (don't be nervous about this – it's very well behaved).

To serve, dust the surface with sifted cocoa powder and, if you like, mark the top into serving sections. Have some chilled pouring cream to go with it; if you have any, a couple of tablespoons of amaretto liqueur makes a wonderful addition to the cream.

The second is an old favourite - from a cookbook I bought when we were first married. My father-in-law loves this.

Chocolate Up and Over Pudding

Grease a deep, oven-proof dish approx 1 litre capacity
In a bowl mix together 100g soft margarine, 100g granulated sugar, 2 beaten eggs, 75g self-raising flour and 25g drinking chocolate powder. Beat well to make a smooth mixture. Transfer mixture to greased dish and level the top.
Mix together 25g cocoa powder, 40g chopped nuts and 50g demerara sugar and sprinkle over sponge mix.
Make up 300ml hot, strong, black coffee and sweeten with 50g demerara sugar. Pour over sponge mix, then cook for approx 50 mins at gas 4 (350F or 180C)

When cooking the sponge mixture rises over the coffee, giving a thick fudgy sauce underneath.
Serve hot. Good with cream or vanilla ice cream.

P is for ...

2011-02-18T18:31:00.000Z

Primula

plus a few more random Ps for your perusal and pleasure ...

Pansy

Pink Floyd (at Live 8 - some of the vocals are a little shaky, but hang in there for Gilmour's guitar)

Paris

and parrot

O is for ...

2011-02-17T11:29:00.000Z

orange

N is for ...

2011-02-16T13:51:00.000Z

New Orleans

What a wonderful city!

We stayed there for a couple of days on our road trip in 2009.

Ate at Herbsaint (if you've never had absinthe in your soup, this is the place to try it!)

Listened to music,

sat and dreamed by ol' man river,

took a boat ride on the bayou

and watched the wildlife.

Wandered through the garden district

and rain-washed streets

until the sun set.

M is for ...

2011-02-15T10:06:00.000Z

Manhattan

Further digging in the archives brings the following pics from last year's trip to the Big Apple (like I need an excuse!) ...

1. reflections in glass from the high line
2. cathedral of st john the divine
3. flags after the blessing of the animals at st john the divine
4. street art, SoHo

L is for ...

2011-02-14T14:49:00.005Z

Love.

In my weekly email from my local yoga centre (the place to get a massage!) were some wise words I'd like to share ...

Love it… love it not… it’s Valentine’s Day on Monday. For some of us it’s exciting, wondering whether a certain person might make us feel special, for some of us it’s actually a time of great sadness because of a love that is longed for or lost. For many, a time of reflection, for some a time of irritation… “all that fuss for one commercialized day” and all that. For some, a time of loneliness, and for many, a time when we want to blinker ourselves from the fuss in that “hey… let’s not rub it in” kind of way.

and some wise suggestions ...

Let go of unloving thoughts

Judgements, criticism and blame, whether directed inward or outward, come from an unloving place. Choose to release these and practice focusing on acceptance, compassion and forgiveness of self and others.

Process and release emotions

Emotions are the body’s way of expressing itself. When acknowledged and felt they release, allowing inner happiness to bubble forth. When they are suppressed or repressed for that matter, they become more painful. It’s healthy to acknowledge and release this stuff, bearing in mind “what the mind surpresses, the body expresses”. Feeling and processing emotions is a nurturing way to express self-love.

Release the past

Look at the lessons and growth opportunities from past experiences, be grateful for them, forgive where you need to, let go and move into the present where all possibilities for happiness exist.

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

shop window displays in crystal palace, london

K is for ...

2011-02-13T13:12:00.000Z

Konditor and Cook

Conveniently sited about 2 minutes walk from the college where I'm studying. It's a bakery which makes the most heavenly cakes.

They do some pretty good charitable work too.

J is for ...

2011-02-12T16:53:00.000Z

I said I would stick to places this month when blogging alphabetically, but that felt too forced and restrictive, so I'm keeping things random.

So J is for ... what? Jam? I like jam (jelly in the US, I think?) My brother-in-law makes great jam. I have a jar of last year's raspberry in the fridge.

J is also for (winter) jasmine. Even on a dull day like today it brings a little bit of sunshine to the garden.

There are other early signs of spring. The hellebore is flowering

and the crocus.

A word I associate with spring is joy. That begins with a J too.

I is for ...

2011-02-11T20:25:00.003Z

Ink

theme thursday - spiral. H is for ...

2011-02-10T21:58:00.015Z

Helix.

This is the Franklin-Wilkins building, part of King's College, London where I'm to be found every Tuesday, trying to get my head around complicated stuff.

The building is named in honour of Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, two of the scientists who collaborated with Crick and Watson in the discovery of the Double Helix.

I found some spirally photos in the archives

1.sculpture in the brooklyn museum
2. barbed wire
3,4. glass sculpture by chihuly

G is for ...

2011-02-09T11:43:00.000Z

G is for goodbye

Goodbye to Gary Moore (4 April 1952 – 6 February 2011)

Rest in Peace

thameside tuesday

2011-02-08T19:30:00.005Z

Sunshine on the South Bank today!!

Still pretty chilly, but nothing that a coat, a pair of warm gloves and a latte couldn't deal with.

Looking west (upstream) towards Waterloo Bridge - the Houses of Parliament are out of sight around a slight bend in the river. Waterloo Bridge is relatively young - opened in 1945.

Looking east (downstream) towards Blackfriars Bridge, with the City of London, a permanent construction site, to the left of the photo and the Oxo Tower to the right. The white building beyond the Oxo Tower is Sea Containers House.
Consisting of five wrought iron arches, Blackfriars Bridge was opened by Queen Victoria in 1869.

F is for ...

2011-02-07T23:06:00.008Z

Fishing boat

We stopped off in West Bay, Dorset for a coffee on our way to Salisbury yesterday morning.
While wandering around the harbour these ropes caught my eye

F is also for floats and flags

and for fish!

E is for ...

2011-02-06T00:19:00.001Z

Experience

Well, that was an interesting day!

Lovely ceremony in an old mansion house near the sea. The bride looked gorgeous, the groom looked proud and the majority of the wedding party and guests were to be found in the bar before the ceremony began.
After said ceremony we drove off to the rugby club for the reception. Unfortunately the person who had been given the job of transporting the newlyweds, forgot! So someone else had to go back for them.

Beer continued to flow with no sign of food. A couple of female guests had an argument which involved some pushing and shoving. The sweet smell of weed wafted in from outside every time the door was opened....

On the up side I caught up with my aunt and 2 cousins, who I've not seen for over a year and watched two young people start what I hope will be a very happy life together.

When the disco had got going we hugged our goodbyes and escaped into the wind and rain with my brother and his family in search of dinner. Had a great evening in a wine bar, tucking into fish fresh from the sea. Fabulous!

Right now I'm drinking tea in a lovely hotel in Salisbury, Wiltshire and looking forward to exploring the town and cathedral tomorrow.

D is for Devon ...

2011-02-05T07:29:00.005Z

Rolling hills, sandy beaches, red cliffs tumbling into the sea, crab sandwiches, cream teas, soft west country accents. These are all things I associate with Devon. Right now we're driving through misty rain and those rolling green hills have become invisible.
My cousin's son is marrying today and we're invited. That means a 200 mile drive, so we're making a weekend of it.

I can't work out how to upload photos from my iPod touch onto blogger, so this will have to be a pictureless post.

I have found out something interesting about the area, however, and that's it's association with the poet Ted Hughes. There's a poetry trail near here dedicated to him. If the weather looked a bit more promising tomorrow we might consider walking the trail.

Anyhow, we're almost at the venue now, so time to don the high heels and the smile and get back in touch with family I've not seen for ages.
More tomorrow.

C is for ...

2011-02-04T21:04:00.000Z

Croydon.

Butt of jokes and home of the Croydon facelift

Also home of The Hospital of the Holy Trinity

founded by Archbishop Whitgift in 1596 to be a hospital and abiding place for the finding, sustenation and relief of certain poore, needy or impotent people, to have continuence for ever.

The High Street

Old buildings

and new

B is for ...

2011-02-03T23:55:00.000Z

Brixton

and

Band of Horses

Just back from Brixton Academy, seeing Band of Horses, supported by Mojave 3. Awesome gig. (Can't believe I have to go to work tomorrow morning. Eek! Better head for bed.)

Later ...

A is for ...

2011-02-02T22:24:00.008Z

Austin

Newsflash!!
I enjoyed daily blogging so much in January, I've decided to continue into February.
The main reason is the theme. It's 'character' and, as was so helpfully pointed out on NaBloPoMo, this can mean characters of the alphabet. I thought I'd try to blog about 'places.' It figures, as I love to travel.
I still plan to continue with Thameside Tuesday. I enjoy that.

Some blog readers will know that A and I went on a Road Trip across the USA almost 2 years ago, to celebrate our 100th birthday ( we were both 50, in case you were wondering.)
It still remains in many ways the best 3 weeks of my life.
One place we visited that we have promised ourselves we will go back to was Austin in Texas

Live music on every street corner, it seems. Very tempted to try to be there for either of the big festivals - SXSW or City Limits.
We'll see ...

thameside tuesday

2011-02-01T23:12:00.005Z

Long day today.
Studied in the library at work this morning, then college in the afternoon followed by pizza and a film with a friend this evening.
Phew!!

It was a foggy, grey day by the Thames and the skies were threatening rain (just for a change!) But I had lunch on one of the many benches by the river.
This was the view.

monday

2011-01-31T22:38:00.004Z

Speaks for itself ...

il dolce far niente

2011-01-30T10:55:00.000Z

It is sweet to do nothing ...

Relaxing weekend so far with only a mere nod in the direction of studying and most energy and time being invested in planning a holiday.

Because of one thing and another (mainly this course I'm doing) this year's main holiday will be in September, which feels like a long wait. So planning feels good.

We thought about France for a while and then realised we just wanted to go back to Italy. So, Tuscany it is again - though a different part from where we stayed in June last year.

It was probably the most restful holiday we've ever had.

We stayed in a b&b on a hill with wonderful views of San Gimignano...

...checked out the market...

...wandered the streets of Volterra...

...marvelled at the Duomo in Siena...

...and smelt the roses...

Can't wait to go back.

nyc

2011-01-29T15:52:00.004Z

Any regular reader of my blog will have gathered how much I love New York. My younger daughter came across this on facebook. It brought back happy memories of my visits.

NYC - Mindrelic Timelapse from Mindrelic on Vimeo.

R & R

2011-01-28T10:27:00.004Z

Another day for studying. And feeling a little more positive this morning.
Not least because A & I are looking forward to a gig this evening.
I Am Kloot are playing in Shepherd's Bush tonight. We happened upon them at the Summer Sessions in Greenwich last year and were keen to see them again.

This is their single from last year

learning curve

2011-01-27T11:28:00.007Z

Day off work today. And what better way to spend it than in study? Concentrated study. In front of the computer, concentrating, ignoring all distractions, soaking up knowledge, learning the difference between sensitivity and specificity in relation to the performance of a binary test. I kid you not.

So far, I've hung up some washing, emptied the dishwasher, eaten breakfast, drunk tea, checked facebook, and twitter, looked at pictures of snow, checked out a couple of music festivals this summer, made another cup of tea, checked emails, fed the cats, blogged ...

... and found some curvy photos

1. marble in the duomo, siena
2. paving
3. charlie
4. helter skelter, london

wordless wednesday

2011-01-26T10:26:00.001Z

thameside tuesday

2011-01-25T19:09:00.007Z

As promised, I took a camera with me today when I travelled up to town for college.
Sat by the river in the misty rain, tucking into homemade soup for lunch.

This was the view

After lunch I went for a brief stroll along the south bank and joined the small crowd watching this guy

Further on I came across a shiny Airstream far from home

As I turned away from the river to head for college, I took a look back

I'll try to remember to take a camera with me every Tuesday while I'm on this course.

theme thursday (on monday) - flip

2011-01-24T15:52:00.000Z

caught on London's south bank, where there's always something going on.

green

2011-01-23T14:03:00.004Z

Was sad to read on Roy's blog on friday about religious bigotry. We should all hate bigotry, whether it be political, religious or whatever (should we be bigoted against bigots??)

Anyway, I found this poem by RS Thomas and thought I'd copy it here.

It's especially for the Grahams and Bentleys of this world who are convinced only they have the answers to life's big questions and seek to exclude others from their own private little heavens if they're not prepared to jump through all the hoops in the 'right' way.

The Kingdom

It’s a long way off but inside it
There are quite different things going on:
Festivals at which the poor man
Is king and the consumptive is
Healed; mirrors in which the blind look
At themselves and love looks at them
Back; and industry is for mending
The bent bones and the minds fractured
By life. It’s a long way off, but to get
There takes no time and admission
Is free, if you purge yourself
Of desire, and present yourself with
Your need only and the simple offering
Of your faith, green as a leaf.

weary

2011-01-22T00:04:00.000Z

On call last night and had very little sleep. This has left me weary with little energy for blogging. Time to hit the sack now. I can hear Himself in the kitchen, loading the dishwasher, turning out the lights. The TV is off and the candles on the mantelpiece are smoking lazily as the wicks' orange glow dwindles and goes out.

Time for bed.

And if tonight my soul may find her peace
in sleep, and sink in good oblivion,
and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower
then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.
~D.H. Lawrence

mining the archives 1

2011-01-21T23:50:00.000Z

With grateful thanks to Betty C for the post title and the idea.
A scroll through the E drive on my PC has dug out the following ...

all taken in new york last october.

1. view from the high line
2. view from central park
3. graffiti and a precariously placed water tower
4. reflections on w 13th
5. coffee shop in brooklyn

poems on the underground

2011-01-20T11:40:00.001Z

Once upon a time somebody had a really good idea.

To brighten the day of Tube travellers, they decided to put up poems inside the carriages in place of some of the adverts

This is my favourite.

Whalesong

I boom-mumble I bass-blow
I hull-heavy I big/slow
I boat bump I limpet-skin
I soft-sink I sky-swim
I sea-search I salt-swallow
I bone-backed I fluke-follow

I gulf-cross I listen-talk
I moon-map I wave-walk
I tail-turn I time-keep
I ship-wreck I song-seek
I blue-blood I grumble-sing
I fish-heart I dream king

Sophie Stephenson-Wright

You can find more poems here

wordless wednesday

2011-01-19T12:44:00.002Z

belonging

2011-01-18T23:49:00.008Z

Back at college today. Not so good. I won't bore you with the details, but I found some of the things the lecturer said, professionally quite offensive. I kept quiet - wasn't in the mood to challenge her - and when the lecture was over I decided to go for a walk rather than catching the train straight home.
What an idiot! No camera. The late afternoon sunshine illuminated the Victorian terraced houses in the narrow streets behind Waterloo Station. As I walked on towards London Bridge I passed small cafes, art galleries, a community theatre, all in a fabulous, eclectic mix of architecture. I stopped feeling stressed and upset and started to smile.
I love London.
Next week I'll remember my camera.

photo taken in new york last year

friars court

2011-01-17T11:48:00.000Z

At the weekend we visited the venue where our older daughter and her partner are planning to marry next year. Even on a cold, wet January day there was something magical about Friars Court.

The house has a moat

The 'garden of reflection' has strategically placed mirrors

Just perfect for catching the bright colours of wedding finery.

The house is built of cotswold stone and is over 300 years old, but 'there have been buildings on the site since 1149 when the Monastic Knights of St. John founded the first 'Hospitallery' in Oxfordshire. Here the resident friars would have offered rest and refreshment to the weary medieval traveller.'

Jeffrey, our host, was an absolute delight. He fed us with tea and homemade cake while he regaled us with stories of previous weddings. We came away with plenty of helpful ideas to make the day go more smoothly.

I'll keep you up to date on progress.

And, no.
I will not be wearing a hat!!

light and shade

2011-01-16T22:25:00.006Z

1.lake garda, italy
2. olive leaves, italy
3. from the high line, nyc
4. doors, home

sitting

2011-01-15T17:33:00.007Z

new york city, oct 2010
1-4 the high line
5 brooklyn

be seated

2011-01-14T14:58:00.005Z

new york city, oct 2010
1,2 the high line
3-5 coney island

in peril

2011-01-13T14:03:00.002Z

Saw this in Manhattan last October.

Compared with what's going on elsewhere in the world, London seems to be relatively peril-free at the moment.
But I did hear that Tube workers are threatening a strike on the day of Prince William's wedding in April.
Whilst I can't quite see myself up there standing in the crowd, waving a flag, I think it's a shame to want to spoil people's day. Never mind the message it gives to our tourists.
Bad idea. Witless, in fact.

wordless wednesday

2011-01-12T14:30:00.003Z

wall art on lower east side

sweet thames

2011-01-11T11:10:00.006Z

The college where I'm studying is situated on the fashionable South Bank of the Thames in London. There are a couple of TV studios nearby as well as concert halls and theatres.
Yesterday, as I was wandering in search of lunch, I passed a small gaggle of photographers surrounding a heavily made-up, diminutive blonde woman. She looked vaguely familiar.
I found out later that it was Kerry Katona and that she'd been rehearsing for a programme called Dancing on Ice. Apparently after I'd passed by she bared her bottom for the photographers. A bit unwise, I thought. It was pretty chilly by the river yesterday.

Fortunately there are more pleasant sights on the South Bank.

Sweet Thames, run softly till I end my song ...

theme thursday - stairs

2011-01-10T10:20:00.001Z

Today I climb back on the stairs of higher education by going back to college at the grand old age of 52.
And I'm scared.
But a bit excited too.
(It's nothing amazing, but my work are sponsoring me to become a qualified nurse prescriber.)
Wish me luck on the climb!

tucson

2011-01-09T20:44:00.005Z

It was with great sadness that I heard about the shootings in Tucson.
Beautiful city. Lovely people.
I took these photos when we were there in 2009.
My thoughts are with those who are injured and with those who grieve.

midwinter

2011-01-08T23:14:00.006Z

The snow seems to be keeping away from London and the south of England at the moment. I took these pictures on 27th December when we took a walk around our local park (desperately trying to work off all that rich food!)

I am not resigned

2011-01-07T21:52:00.004Z

At the end of December a young woman I didn't know, died.

Let me explain: Erin was the Community Editor of a Bulletin Board, of which I've been a member for nigh on 11 years.
Her death was sudden and a huge shock to all the members.
She and I had never met, never spoken, never emailed, yet I am left with a great sense of loss.

So, for all of us dealing with the death of someone we love - or might have loved, had we known them...

Dirge without Music

I am not resigned to the shutting away of loving hearts in the hard ground.
So it is, and so it will be, for so it has been, time out of mind:
Into the darkness they go, the wise and the lovely. Crowned
With lilies and with laurel they go; but I am not resigned.

Lovers and thinkers, into the earth with you.
Be one with the dull, the indiscriminate dust.
A fragment of what you felt, of what you knew,
A formula, a phrase remains, --- but the best is lost.

The answers quick & keen, the honest look, the laughter, the love,
They are gone. They have gone to feed the roses. Elegant and curled
Is the blossom. Fragrant is the blossom. I know. But I do not approve.
More precious was the light in your eyes than all the roses in the world.

Down, down, down into the darkness of the grave
Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.

Edna St Vincent Millay

epiphany

2011-01-06T21:28:00.004Z

Epiphany - when tradition states we should take down the tree and every Christmas decoration.
Think I'll break with tradition for a few more days ... :)

2011-01-05T11:30:00.000Z

RIP Gerry Rafferty (16 April 1947 – 4 January 2011)

brothers

2011-01-04T11:54:00.002Z

The saying goes that you choose your friends, but you don't choose your family. Isn't it good when it works out that you can be related and be friends.

The photo is of my husband and his brother walking on the beach in Suffolk.

And the song speaks for itself.

friends of friends

2011-01-03T22:53:00.004Z

Last New Year we were at a houseparty in Aviemore in Scotland, celebrating our friends' 25th wedding anniversary. We were a little unsure of what to expect and wondered what their friends would be like. We needn't have worried. We ended up with more friends than we started with!

(Dunno how long I'm going to be able to keep this friends theme going ...)

you've got a friend

2011-01-02T19:14:00.004Z

Found this version of one of my favourite songs from my early teens: James Taylor and Carole King

The photograph is one of my father (front row, 3rd from right) with friends, taken in India during WW2

nablopomo - friends

2011-01-01T10:50:00.001Z

So, Christmas is over, as is the Old Year.
I've rung in the New (sat at home watching crap tv, eating left over Chistmas pud and drinking a rather fabulous New Zealand pinot noir) and have decided to try blogging a bit more often.

The theme for January's nablopomo is 'friends.'
31 days worth of friends.

We'll see ....

happy new year!

2010-12-31T20:54:00.000Z

theme thursday - relax

2010-11-14T17:21:00.018Z

cats know how to relax

so do daughters

friends

and other people

so do I!

1. charlie at home
2. happy cat near half moon bay, ca
3,4. in sausalito, ca
5. old friends
6. botannical gdns, brooklyn, ny
7. greenbelt festival, cheltenham, glos
8. san gimignano, tuscany
9. ravello, campania

good day

2010-10-27T22:57:00.007+01:00

Long time no write. I think Facebook has made me a little lazy!

Good day today. Our older daughter has just got engaged (hooray) and we spent the day wandering around Selfridges looking at hideous Vera Wang wedding dresses (sorry, but we thought they were awful) and cooing over wedding stationery and ideas for table decorations.

All this talk of weddings has obviously softened my brain. I would normally be complaining at the fact that the stores were full of Christmas decorations in October, but all I did was smile. This has ruined my reputation of being something of a humbug re the festive season.

Selfridges has hung giant mirrorballs in the atrium. As well as slowly spinning round, they moved up and down on long chains. I could have travelled up and down the escalators all afternoon, watching the play of light against the walls.

Took this with my ipod, so it's a bit blurry, but still pretty.

in memory

2010-09-11T14:35:00.001+01:00

remembering all victims of terror & violence
especially those of 9/11

balloon

2010-09-08T13:56:00.020+01:00

I love this time of year, when summer takes one last bow, while autumn waits in rustling anticipation in the wings and maybe throws the odd hint of fall colours onto the stage.

Today it has been raining heavily, but last weekend the sun was shining and A finally took the balloon ride that the girls and I had got him for his 50th (almost 2 years ago.) It had been cancelled 3 times, due to wind or rain, or both. But this was 4th time lucky. I stayed on the ground, took photos and then went for a walk while he and 11 others drifted through the evening sky.

connecting the uninflated balloon to the basket

there seems to be a lot of balloon

filling it full of cold air

then hot air

almost ready

up,

up and

away

end of august ...

2010-08-31T10:46:00.003+01:00

... and I've managed to blog everyday.

Will have a few days break now and leave you with some images of summer.

1. at the water's edge
2. beer!
3. summertime, and the livin is easy ...
4. you're never too young for a festival
5. purple