Under the Virginia Creeper

Monet's Garden, Giverny

2011-08-08T14:50:00.003+01:00

On our return to France from a visit to the UK our route south took us close to Giverny, the site of Claude Monet's garden. As we were without Rufus, our dog, we were able to make a visit. We got there about 10.00am and the crowds hadn't yet accumulated which was good.

The garden is comprised of two parts - separated by a road and the Japanese inspired water-lily garden is reached via an underground tunnel. The garden around the house is more formal in design with rectangular flower borders and shrubs. Monet allowed his flowers to ramble freely so the whole effect is a glorious jumble of colour.

Visitors are also allowed to view the house but cannot take photos inside.

Monet and his family lived in Giverny from 1883 until his death in 1926. His first wife, Camille died young and the two Monet children were brought up by Alice Hoschede whom Monet married in 1892 after the death of her husband Ernest.

Pity About the Beard

2011-02-12T20:55:00.000Z

Christmas in Antwerp

2011-01-04T14:20:00.001Z

Our son, Matthew lives in Antwerp with his partner, Saskia and their two girls, Bo and Tess and we were asked to spend Christmas there with them.

We planned to fly Cardiff to Amsterdam and then to catch the train from Schipol to Antwerp. Then the snow came and two days before our flight Cardiff airport was closed. However, all was well and we made the journey with no problem.

Our first morning was shopping in Antwerp for those last minute gifts and then to the girls school for a concert.

Shopping Mall in Antwerp

School children singing carols. Bo, our granddaughter in the pink anorak, front row

There was mulled wine, hot dogs and other goodies available. Indoors, other children demonstrated their progress in the music department.

On Christmas Eve we were creative. These cake stands were made from mis-matched china from a charity shop and Araldite glue. Matthew and Saskia demonstrate.


Firstly, the surfaces to be glued are sanded with an emery board.

Then the selected pieces of china are assembled in a tier and glued

Then homemade cakes and cookies were added


Just testing!

Opening the presents on Christmas morning - Tess models her new wellies.


Just what I wanted!

Opa Tom helps with the tricky bit of getting the toy out of the box

The girls settle down to some serious playing with their new toys . . .

Whilst preparations for lunch take place . . .

Followed by some over-eating

Tess eating strawberries


Saskia, Tom, Olga, Bo and Colin

For some the good food and excitement was too much . . .

But they revived later to play car racing in the Wii.

On Boxing Day we played Charades and Monopoly.

Tess and Matthew

Matthew and Bo

Later, Tess joined the papprazzi -

On our last day we took a trip to Antwerp Zoo.

Monkeys

Another Monkey

Penguins - at home in the cold environment

Baby Elephant


Tigers - The tigers are separated from the public areas by a moat. It was discovered one morning that the moat had frozen over. Quick action was needed to break the ice before a mass breakout of tigers!

We had a delightful week in Antwerp with our family - many thanks to Matthew, Saskia, Bo and Tess and their extended family who made our time there so pleasant. Happy New Year to them all.

Toby's Birthday Card

2010-10-03T20:54:00.000+01:00

This is the birthday card I made for my nephew aged five who lives in New Zealand. Just click on the picture.

FÊTE DES CHAMPIGNONS

2010-09-29T18:11:00.000+01:00

Poster


Programme

Last Sunday, the weather being fair, we went to the Annual Mushroom Festival at Prunet. We last went three years ago with Fennie and J. Fennie blogged about it in September 2007. Then it was raining and the occasion was a dismal affair with few attractions and not many people either. However we could see that it had promise so Jim and I gave it another go.

Sausage stall


Pink and White Nougat


Garlic Man

There were plenty of stalls selling produce and handmade articles. We bought some ham covered in peppers - at least, Jim did.

Sanglier avec Poivres

The Mushoom Omlette Championship

L'association des Mangeurs de Champignons fournit aux participants les ingrédients et matériels nécessaires à l'élaboration d'une omelette

(Oeufs-Huile-Crème-Beurre-Sel-Poivre)
(plat-saladier-fouet-couverts-poële)

Chaque candidat ajoute les produits de son choix à son omelette

And then there was the Mushroom Omlette Championship. Unfortunately, so different from last time, there was a large crush around the tent that it was difficult to see what was going on. I stood on a flower tub to get these pictures.


The first two competitors

The Jury - note the bottle of wine and glasses!

We didn't stay long enough to see who won. We watched some folk dancing in traditional costume.

Then, of course, there were the mushrooms - of mixed quality!

And a nice little dog . .

Ruthie and Roofie

2010-06-12T10:42:00.000+01:00

Do dogs get depressed? Rufus seems to have done these last few days.

Last week we had a young friend Ruth to stay. She had been let down in her holiday plans by her pals and needed to get away. She works in a care home and finds it hard work. She came to us at the Moulin.

She and Rufus took to each other straight away. It was love at first sight. Ruth brought Rufus a present of a squeaky duck. He loves that too.

Ruthie and Roofie were inseparable. She played ball with him, took him for walks around the Moulin when we were too busy. They sat cooched up on the sofa when we watched DVDS in the evening. I was ignored but I wasn't jealous as I knew it was only for the week.

We took her back to Toulouse last Sunday to catch her flight home.

He hasn't been the same dog since. He has mooched about the house looking forlorn. He runs away from strangers in panic. He has lost interest in all his toys except the duck.

Is he depressed or can he be ill? He is eating okay and, in fact, this morning showed signs of being his old, boisterous self. He played with his ball for a bit, throwing it in the air and running after it so perhaps he is over his 'black dog' days.

Joni's Birthday Card - A Robot Visit

2010-02-17T17:48:00.001Z

Spent the weekend with Joni and family to celebrate her seventh birthday. She had two parties - one in local village hall with 14 girls and the other on Sunday afternoon at home for adults both good fun in their own way.
We bought her and her brother, Ben a trampoline. I had a sneaky go on it when I thought nobody was looking - it is hard to remain standing up.
Back home now to the packing and decorating. I think we may need an extra week to get things sorted . . . .

HAMLET - The Comedy

2010-01-29T22:57:00.001Z

This was planned an as entertainment for our drama group's A.G.M. It is always difficult to get members to attend the A.G.M. - perhaps they are afraid they will get voted onto the Committee against their will - a distinct possibility!

It was Fennie's idea and he was the director. The piece was re-written to last forty-five minutes - cutting out the long speeches but the one rehearsal we had lasted two and a half riotous hours.
No one had to learn any lines as it was a 'scratch' effort and read from the script.

My job was to provide bits and pieces of costume and to make the mulled wine for the interval.

As we had about twenty people (including the cast and crew) attend the idea was regarded as a great success and the evening was just as funny as the rehearsal but was condensed into one and a quarter hours. Well done Fennie - a great idea. Next year - the Scottish play! I want to play Lady MacBeth.

Here follow some photos:

A Small Bite of the Big Apple

2009-11-22T19:42:00.013Z

I have been back a week now and am over the jet-lag. Time to tell what my friend, Peg and I got up to in New York.

We stepped out of our hotel (The New Yorker on Eighth Avenue and to be recommended) into the dazzle and cacophany of a New York evening. The first thing to do was to find a show to see later in the week so we wandered along the streets around Broadway.

Most of the shows were musicals which we did not want and narrowed our choice down to three plays. There were no seats to be had for Oleanna by David Mamet or A Steady Rain by Keith Huff (starring Daniel Craig) but we managed to get the last two seats on Wednesday's performance for God of Carnage by Yasmina Reza. Some of you will remember that I recently directed Yasmina Reza's play Art with our local amateur dramatic society. As the seats cost $136 dollars each I was hoping that we had made a good decision.

We had also hoped to take in an opera on the Thursday evening but they were performing The House of the Dead which we were not keen on.

The Metropolitan Opera House

We were then accosted by sellers of tickets on the Gray Line tour buses. As neither of us had been to New York before we decided this was a good idea. We went for the full package of four tours; the Downtown Loop, the Uptown Loop, the Brooklyn Loop and the Night Loop.

7th Avenue at night

We started immediately with the Night Loop. Apart from the journey itself which lasted about two hours with a commentary pointing out the landmarks and historical connections the tour guides tended to be commedians, adding their own idiosyncratic style which we found a hoot.

Over the next two days we completed the tours, hopping on and off to visit places of interest on the way. Up to the Metropolition Museum of Art where we spent four hours. Around the streets of Harlem, China Town, SoHo, Brooklyn, Greenich Village and the rest. We were given facts and figures - mostly now forgotten I regret to say, but always with an amusing delivery that added interest.

Roof Garden Panorama

Anyone visiting the Met should not omit the roof garden. From here you get the a panoramic view of New York.

So, what of The God of Carnage? Did we get our money's worth? We surely did, but what surprised us most was the audience. From the delivery of the first line they were responsive in a way we have not seen before. The laughed at lines that we did not find funny, and at the end the performers got a standing ovation. A good evening and a play I should like to direct one day perhaps although not an easy one to stage.

View of Central Park

We crossed Central Park and it did not seem a scary place at all - mind it was mid-afternoon and groups of school children where to be seen about and dog walkers everywhere. The autumn colours were splendid. We spent the afternoon in the Natural History Museum.

On the Thursday morning - saving this treat almost to the last - we met Frances for lunch at Edgar's Cafe, named after Edgar Allen Poe, who had some connection with the building. The three of us had a delightful time together. Frances is a very attractive lady and such good company. The time just sped by.

We had planned a walk in Central Park to follow lunch but alas the weather was not on our side and Peg and I were ill-equipped for rain.

Frances and me.

Me and Peg

On the following morning we took the subway to World Trade Centre site to look at the rebuilding going on there. Even after all these years there is a sombre atmosphere present despite all the bustle of the work and the crowds rushing by.

The World Trade Centre Site

Later we caught the ferry boat from the Battery to sail around the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Peg had a list of ancestors that were immigrants that she had hoped to find some trace of on the Island but we did not have time to get off and explore before we returned to our hotel in time to catch our flight home. Peg has plans to return next year.

View of Lower Manhatten from the ferry boat to Ellis Island

GITE FOR RENT

2009-11-07T15:42:00.010Z

The Gite is for rent next year 2010 from February.

Here are some pictures and details:

The accomodation comprises: stairs to front door (own entrance), which opens to kitchen/living room with fridge, washing machine and gas cooker. Table to seat 4.

Hall with shower room off with separate toilet.

Two double bedooms, one with double bed, the other two single beds.

The furnishings are basic but cheerful. The rent is low.
€150.00 per week March and April, €200.00 per week May to September, €150.00 per week thereafter. Gas and electricity included.

The house and gite are set in 8 hectares of field, forest, and river which is available to explore. It is quiet and peaceful. Come and get away from the hurly-burly of city life.

Read the rest of the blog: www.moulinduclout.blogspot.com for further information. If you are interested contact: readingdog@mac.com.

Three More Grandchildren

2009-11-02T15:42:00.010Z

Yes, three, all at once! Aged 18, 15 and 10. A boy and two girls. How did this happen?

Apart from my three natural children Jim and I adopted another child; a mixed race girl aged 11 months. This was in 1963.

I think we were both rather idealistic and a bit naïve. Our previous two children had given us no trouble and we assumed that given the same conditions of love, comforts and attention an adopted child would be no different. We were wrong.

From the start she was nothing like our other two in temperament, development or behaviour. We struggled and, I think, made many mistakes – at least I did. I couldn’t believe that I couldn’t get it right.

In 1965 we had another ‘natural’ (for want of a better word) child, another boy. He was no trouble either, being a very placid child - he still is.

By the time Ellen (not her real name) was in secondary school her behaviour was causing concern outside the family situation. She was the first candidate for the ‘sin bin’ at her school because of her disruption in class and we were having real problems ourselves. We sought professional help and this eventually resulted in her attending a school for maladjusted children and subsequently she went into care.

Our lives now returned to something like normal although I think that the previous trauma has had a lasting effect on the relationship that I have with the remaining three children.

We continued to see Ellen at intervals until she left school when she went to London to work. We lost contact for a few years and then she rang us out of the blue and we exchanged visits. She had matured into a pleasant young woman and we got on well. She told us that she had a West Indian boyfriend and that she was about to visit his family in Jamaica. She said that she would contact us on her return. That was about 1987. We heard nothing.

I made several attempts to find her over the years but knew that if she had married or was living in Jamaica I was going to find it difficult.

A few weeks ago I was messing about on Ancestry.co.uk and turned up her name as having married in 1990 in London. I now had what I believed was her married name and started searching. When I had an address I wrote asking if she was the Ellen I thought she was. I heard nothing for six weeks and assumed that I had it wrong. Then I got an email during the time we were in France telling me that she was our Ellen, that she was married – now separated and had three children.

We are now emailing each other trying to catch up on all the missing years. It is so exciting. I am looking forward to meeting up with my new grandchildren when we can arrange it.

I hope that we can make a better relationship together now we are both older and wiser.

Moulin du Clout - 30th October

2009-10-30T16:00:00.006Z

After We had deposited Fennie and Jay at Rodez airport (about an hour away from the Mill) we sped back as our son, Matthew, the owner of the Mill was flying from Brussels for the weekend. He was arriving in Toulouse about 4.30 and catching the train to Maurs where we would pick him up.

On arrival at Toulouse Matthew found a demo going on in the town with farmers on tractors protesting (I think) about milk prices. Despite the difficulties he managed to catch his train although without a ticket as there was chaos at the station.

We don't often get time alone with Matthew as now he has a family they are naturally his first priority so we like to make the best of these times. We chatted about our plans for our time here next year if he hasn't sold it by then. He doesn't want to sell it but with family committments he finds it difficult to spend much time here and it does need attention. We have scrubbed round the idea (for now) of the tipis and I will try and market the gite for the summer months.

On Sunday we had lunch in Montsalvy and discovered parts of the town that we hadn't seen before. We then went on to the Poterie Le Don, a futuristic- looking pottery run by Nigel and Suzy Atkins.

We make regular visits here and usually manage to buy something. A purchase last year was this splendid garden sculpture - a Raven.

This time I limited myself to a small covered pot although we promised Nigel to consider a large hare next time we visited - €800 - a bit much.

Not wishing him to miss his flight and wanting to visit IKEA at Toulouse we drove Matthew to the airport on Monday morning.

Jim has continued working on the potagers, finishing the first one, planting it with broad beans and garlic and making a start on the second. We should like three altogether. They are just raised beds really - for growing vegetables when we are here next year. As the materials are all to hand they cost nothing.

I have not finished my sewing project - the patchwork quilt for the double bed in the main house. I should have got on with it during the first week. I shall have to take it home now and finish it there. Here are two squares of it. There will be 72 of them joined togther and then bound with another strip of fabric.

Our last outing was to the Chestnut Fair at Mourjou. As it rained on the Saturday it was a bit of a washout but we went again on the Sunday which turned out very pleasant indeed.

On the Monday (when we should have been on our way home) we entertained a prospective buyer. He and his engineer friend spent four hours looking over the property and domaine. I gave them lunch. He wants a place where he and his wife can eventally retire and be fairly self-sufficient. It will just be our luck that he buys the Mill and we won't be able to spend next year there. It is in the lap of the Gods.

Moulin du Clout - 15th October (but written 30th October)

2009-10-30T15:04:00.006Z

The weather has changed from warm and sunny to decidedly cold and sunny. A fierce frost this morning and no heating in the bedroom as the wall heater has stopped working. We have a winter-weight duvet and I am wearing a thick nightie so I am warm and cosy.

We collected Fennie and Jay from Rodez airport last Friday. As we can't leave Rufus alone anywhere he had to make the return journey perched on the suitcases in the back.

On Saturday we made our usual trip to Figeac market. The market is the same as that in Maurs (Thursday) but Figeac is a lovely town to wander around.
We were able to get a new toaster to replace the broken one and have lunch in Bagnac on the way back. Fennie likes this as you get about five courses plus a bottle of wine for about €11 each.

On Tuesday Fennie and Jay said they would like to see the area with the volcanoes (extinct) which are a distance away so we set off early. We had a good lunch in Murat and toured the area.

In the evening, after an interesting casserole prepared by Fennie and left cooking in a low oven during our trip we watched the film Tea with Mussolini. A great film.

Jim and Fennie have been working hard cutting down saplings and general undergrowth along the leat. The roots are undermining the bank here and destabilising it. This is the sort of maintenance work that should be done regularly but because no one is here often enough it is getting neglected. Jay and I sit and sew, outside in the sun if possible, but we have had frost for several days this week and at this time of the year the sun goes off the terrace in the middle of the afternoon.

Maurs market today and lunch at La Bascule - another favourite, but €12 this time and we were not sure about the braised cabbage.

When I went outside to get the washing in at dusk I saw this little chap:
- a salamander. He was about eight inches long. The photo (taken with flash) doesn't do his colours justice - the yellow patches were bright yellow.
Tonight we watched On Golden Pond.

Tomorrow Fennie and Jay return to the UK via Rodez and Stanstead. Where has the week gone?

Moulin du Clout - 5th October

2009-10-07T10:41:00.007+01:00

We have arrived at Moulin du Clout, safely, after two and a half days travelling.
We have always taken our time over the journey, only driving 5 – 6 hours per day maximum and sharing the load. The first night we spent in Calais, the second in Limôges. On the third day we have time for grocery shopping and a leisurely lunch in Maurs before arriving at the Mill in the middle of the afternoon. This way we have daylight hours to solve any problems that we may find on our arrival. Last spring we discovered a burst pipe in the first floor toilet when we turned the water on which meant finding a plumber quickly. Through our friendly neighbour, Cyprien, in the village, we did so and had it fixed by 9.00 next morning.

Rufus Whippet travelled well. It is his first trip to France and we were keeping our fingers crossed that he was truly over his car sickness. We came via the channel tunnel so that we didn’t have to chance a rough ferry crossing. He behaved well in the hotels, sleeping quietly on his rug and not peeing on the carpets, which was my other worry. His only problem now is that he can’t bear to be left anywhere (including the car) on his own. He gets frantic with anxiety and barks and whines constantly.

The weather is warm and sunny and I am sitting on the terrace opposite the view (pic 1) as I type this. Every few minutes there is the crashing sound of walnuts falling into the undergrowth or bouncing off the barn roof. Away to my right I hear the sounds of the River Cele splashing its way over the stones and the small cascade from the millpond. I can hear bird song although I can’t identify the birds. Only the blue tits show themselves much here – they will come to eat the bits of walnut we put on the terrace wall. The birds are unused to humans and are shy. However in the spring we had a wagtail’s nest on the gîte window ledge (pic 2)and a blackbird nested in the clematis by the steps.

Jim is doing his rounds of the domaine checking the sluices of the millpond etc. Rufus is scavenging for walnuts under the trees. He cracks them open and eats the contents. We shall have to limit this occupation as the terrace is becoming strewn with broken shells and I fear for his digestion – always a bit dodgy.

One of the uses of the Mill was to extract walnut oil from the plentiful supply of walnuts growing on the surrounding trees. The mill equipment is still in place (pic 3) although, unfortunately, no longer working. Cyprien used to work in the mill as a youth and has told us about it.

Two of the walnuts Jim planted in the spring have sprouted so we shall have saplings to take home and the rhubarb is doing well. When we were here in the spring Jim and Fennie created a circular potager from sticks (pic 4). We got the idea from a French gardening magazine and as suitable materials were to hand we decided to make three of these to grow vegetables next year if our plans to spend the year here come good.

All seems well about the property except we have mice in the gîte. Rufus and I found one sitting on the bathroom mat washing his whiskers. Rufus made a dash but the mouse disappeared behind the bidet. Jim will have to set traps. Fennie and Jay arrive on Friday I hope we will have got rid of them by then.

À bientôt.

Solda and Aerial wish Fennie and Happy UnBirthday

2009-09-28T12:03:00.001+01:00

Fennie wanted a robot birthday card like Bo's and Toby's. His birthday was in May and it's a long time to wait for the next one. So I have made him an 'Unbirthday card'.

Brasso and Lever wish Toby a Happy Birthday

2009-09-24T19:38:00.001+01:00

Rivet and Dial Wish Bo a Happy Birthday

2009-08-11T14:54:00.001+01:00

This is a movie card that I have made for my granddaughter Bo who is five on 25th August.

Guardianista and Misandrist

2009-08-04T09:42:00.003+01:00

Cowbridge High Street, Monday morning. Fennie and Lloyd meet. Lloyd is dressed normally.

I wrote my piece on "Seven" before I emailed Lloyd. I just wanted to see what I got if I asked someone. I knew Lloyd wouldn't let me down with his choice of words although I was rather surprised with a couple of them. The word you can't quite make out is 'oozed'. Apparently I 'ooze' kindness.
And, yes, we do eat muesli, wear sandals in the summer and Jim has a beard.

Seven

2009-08-01T13:47:00.007+01:00

Why seven? What's so special about the number seven? Is seven significant?
Well PURPLE is the seventh colour of the rainbow,
There are seven daughters of Atlas,
seven stellar objects in the solar system visible to the naked eye:the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn.
Seven wonders of the ancient world,
7 is the atomic number of nitrogen,
7pH is neutral,
seven days of the Creation - allegedly,
seven days of the week,
seven virtues and seven deadly sins - ah - perhaps this is it - so which of these applies to me? I am not asking anyone, I fear the answers - are they being truthful or wanting to please?

CREATIVE
This covers a multitude of sins and virtues but in general I am considered creative with the needle. I learned to sew by making clothes for my dolls by hand and progressing to my mother's hand operated Singer and making things for myself and others. It is very satisfying producing well made articles and does wonders for the ego when others declare your efforts wonderful. Other creative PCooers will testify to this.
This is my most recent creative effort - it is a mantle-piece cover - much loved by the Victorians:

The photo does not reveal the true colours. There is a lot of gold in the fabric and the row of beading gives it a glittery effect. The baby pic is Fennie's grandson Theo.

SENTIMENTAL
I cannot bear to get rid of anything that has the least attachment to a person, place or occasion that I wish to remember. I keep theatre programmes, letters, (even email printouts), children's paintings, dog collars and balls belonging to dogs long gone, any gift however naff or kitsch. Thus the house is full of boxes labelled 'mementoes' or 'souveniers'. I am aided and abetted by Jim in this habit so goodness knows what our family will think when they have to clear the house in the event of our demise.

CRITICAL
Very. I have an opinion on nearly everything and everyone. I know best how to do things and you should have listened to me. This attribute comes in handy when directing a play but is generally resented elsewhere by most people especially by Jim when he has just done something that is not to my satisfaction.

DROLL
Someone, years ago, once described me as droll. I think he may have confused the words, 'doll' and 'troll'. I checked it out in the dictionary which defines the word as having a dry, witty humour. I certainly have a gift with the 'bon mot' often in a cruel way. The 'victim' does not usually find me funny.
I cannot tell a joke but often irritate Jim by coming out with the punchline when he is telling one before he has finished. I don't know why I do this.

SOCIABLE
I love a party, a gathering, a night out, dinner with friends, bridge, whatever. I like being with people, talking, laughing, showing off and generally having fun. I particularly like a fancy dress party as the creative skill as mentioned in attribute no. 1 comes in handy.
The only social event that I'm not very keen on is a coffee morning. This is far too staid and usually involves juggling a cup, handbag and several useless items that have been bought at the 'bring and buy'. I also have to watch my 'p's and q's' by not being critical of anything. (see above)

INDOLENT
Of course, I am not really lazy. I just select the thing I want to do out of a long list of things I am supposed to do. So doing the Guardian Crossword might come before cleaning the kitchen floor. At the moment writing this blog is taking priority over doing the VAT and walking the dog. The dog will be next because he is making a nuisance of himself. The only time that I am actually idle is when I am asleep.
I have just designed and printed the posters for 'ART'. Perhaps this fact should come under 'CREATIVE'. Here it is:I am now making the tickets when I should be doing the ironing and cooking the dinner.

NEGLECTFUL
I think that this is the personality trait that irks me the most. It is linked to procrastination and laziness. It results in missed opportunities, annoyed friends and family and dead plants amongst other minor disasters. I don't get round to doing things when the time is ripe. 'Strike when the iron is hot' and 'a stitch in time saves nine' would be good mottoes for me.

Well that is seven but I could go on. I haven't mentioned untidy, greedy, shrewd, happy, intelligent, versatile, bad-tempered etc.

Mother, mother!

2009-07-25T19:02:00.001+01:00

Mike is at the theatre rehearsing his long speech. It is rather windy . . .

Life Imitating ART

2009-07-12T15:48:00.003+01:00

Rosie and Fennie are taking a tea break during a rehearsal of ART.
Is ART imitating life imitating ART or what?-
The rain, of course, drums on.

For those of you interested the two videos referred to can be found here:
French - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x66105_art-de-yasmina-reza-la-piece-aux-2_fun
American - http://www.vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=4089686

Mugs on Monday

2009-06-29T11:14:00.006+01:00

This seemed like a nice idea so I have taken a few photographs of some mugs that I have.

The mug on the left is a china mug to commemorate our town twinning and is inscribed 'Cowbridge - Clisson 1991'
The other is a Victorian mug with the message 'God Speed the Plough'. On the other side it says:
'Let the wealthy and the great
Roll in splendour and state.
I envy them not I declare it.
I eat my own lamb,
My own chickens and ham
I shear my own fleece and I wear it.
I have lawns, I have bowers,
I have fruits, I have flowers.
The lark is my morning alarmer.
So jolly boys now,
Here's God speed the plough.
Long life and success to the farmer.

Here we have a cheap mug with a black and white picture drawn by Jim to sell during our Market Theatre's Jubilee production of 'The Knight of the Burning Pestle'in 1996
On the right a mug bought as a souvenier of the Glasgow Garden Festival 1998. I have several others in the same series but I didn't get to see all 5 of the Festivals - I missed out on Gateshead. For further information on the National Garden Festivals look in Wikipedia.

The brown mug is one of three we have thrown by a friend who was at college with us during the fifties. She graduated as a potter. If you are reading this Sally Vincent - we still have your mugs!
On the right is a King Charles III Coronation mug. They were produced by 'Private Eye' many years ago and we are still waiting!

The left one is a musical mug which plays the tune 'Ovaltina' when raised to the lips in use. I have three different ones and they were all produced by various companies as 'gifts'. They are light activated. They are not in regular use but I get them out occasionally for the delight of well-behaved children.
The other novelty mug was produced in the sixties and was part of a series of mugs, jugs and teapots with feet.

Bag of Peas

2009-06-28T22:32:00.001+01:00

Amy and Jo are in the Market Theatre bar. It is not raining and someone has shot the pigeons but there is a disco in the youth club next door.

The Painting, The Laugh and Prompt

2009-06-20T18:33:00.004+01:00

These three movies are linked. It is only possible to shoot the movies using two characters so I have made three episodes using 4 characters.

Removed to reduce size of file - if you want to watch the videos try my other blog:
www.art-themovieandotherpastimes.blogspot.com.

Bad Language (and it is!)

2009-06-13T11:07:00.003+01:00

Rosie, the Director talks to Mike about his role of Yvan in 'ART'. The rain is still drumming on the roof . . .

Video removed to make the file smaller. It is available on my other blog:

www.art-themovieandotherpastimes.blogspot.com.

Clowning Around

2009-06-04T23:16:00.002+01:00

Fennie and Lloyd are discussing the rehearsal of 'ART'. The rain is drumming on the roof . . .

Video removed to make file smaller, if you want to see it please go to my other blog:

www.art-themovieandotherpastimes.blogspot.com.

'The First Rehearsal' - The Movie

2009-05-27T22:52:00.005+01:00

This is my first effort at movie making. Apologies to Fennie for 'using' him and to others who fail to understand the 'in' jokes.

Rosie and Fennie are in the theatre waiting for the rest of the cast. The rain is drumming on the steel roof.....

Video removed - if you want to view it please look on:

www.art-themovieandotherpastimes.blogspot.com.

Elma Mitchell

2009-04-18T13:37:00.006+01:00

Several Cooers write about poetry, so I thought I would too despite having a small list of other subjects to blog about but never quite getting down to it.

I often design and produce score cards for ‘party’ sessions of bridge. I decorate the front with a picture or photograph and inside insert a shortish poem alongside the score table. Here is an example – Outside and Inside:

INSIDE

I was recently asked to recite at a ‘Poems and Pints’ evening arranged by our local Twinning Group. I was given a poem to read by someone I was not familiar with – Thoughts After Ruskin by Elma Mitchell.

Elma was born in in Airdrie, Lanarkshire. She won a scholarship to Somerville College, Oxford, where she took a first in English in 1941. She went on to take a diploma in librarianship at University College London, and spent her earlier working life as a librarian and information officer for the BBC (1941-43) and for the British Employers' Confederation. She won several prizes for her poems and there are several books of her work available. She died in 2000 aged 81.

Thoughts After Ruskin by Elma Mitchell

“Women reminded him of lilies and roses.
Me they remind rather of blood and soap,
Armed with a warm rag, assaulting noses,
Ears, neck, mouth and all the secret places.
Armed with a sharp knife, cutting up liver,
Holding hearts to bleed under a running tap,
Gutting and stuffing, pickling and preserving,
Scalding, blanching, broiling, pulverizing,
-- All the terrible chemistry of their kitchens.

“Their distant husbands lean across mahogany
And delicately manipulate the market,
While safe at home, the tender and the gentle
Are killing tiny mice, dead snap by the neck,
Asphyxiating flies, evicting spiders,
Scrubbing, scouring aloud, disturbing cupboards,
Committing things to dustbins, twisting, wringing,
Wrists red and knuckles white and fingers puckered,
Pulpy, tepid. Steering screaming cleaners
Around the nags of furniture, they straighten
And haul out sheets from under the incontinent
And heavy old, stoop to importunate young,
Tugging, folding, tucking, zipping, buttoning,
Spooning in food, encouraging excretion,
Mopping up vomit, stabbing cloth with needles,
Contorting wool around their knitting needles,
Creating snug and comfy on their needles.

“Their huge hands! Their everywhere eyes! Their voices
Raised to convey across the hullabaloo,
Their massive thighs and breasts dispensing comfort,
Their bloody passages and hairy crannies,
Their wombs that pocket a man upside down!

“And when all’s over, off with overalls,
Quickly consulting clocks, they go upstairs,
Sit and sigh a little, brushing hair,
And somehow find, in mirrors, colours, odours,
Their essences of lilies and of roses.”

The pink section I was requested to omit in case of giving offence to some elderly sensitive ladies present. No one seemed to think that I, at 68, fell into this category. Last week I was asked to reprise my performance by Cowbridge Rotary at their monthly entertainment to a local sheltered housing group.

It is a great poem to read aloud and although not being a regular performer I quite enjoyed it.

I have chosen the following poem also by Elma Mitchell for my next score card – a charity bridge event in May.

I’m Middling, Thank You by Elma Mitchell

Oh, the middle, the middle’s the right place for me,
Thirty-eight round the hips, voting Lib/SDP,
My job is the devil; my God’s C. of E.
I believe in His weather, on His BBC.

I’m neither a saint nor excessively vile,
My style has no life, and my life has no style.
No marathon runner, I manage a mile,
I won’t love you for ever - but quite a long while.

I plod after fashions, but never set trends,
Don’t know who matters, but still, I have friends,
My means may be golden - I’m frayed at the ends,
I accept, with loud grumbles, whatever God sends.

My successes were modest, and few, and belated.
I was neither adored nor distinctively hated.
My silver’s not solid, but just silver-plated.
My sexual urges are now dehydrated.

No crazes, no phrases, not hooked nor enthused,
Occasionally beery, nor thoroughly boozed,
Not acid, quite placid, not totally tee-
I’m reasonably happy - and dull as can be.

And here is another one that I like:

This Poem by Elma Mitchell

This poem is dangerous: it should not be left
Within the reach of children, or even of adults
Who might swallow it whole, with possibly
Undesirable side-effects. If you come across
An unattended, unidentified poem
In a public place, do not attempt to tackle it
Yourself. Send it (preferably, in a sealed container)
To the nearest centre of learning, where it will be rendered
Harmless, by experts. Even the simplest poem
May destroy your immunity to human emotions.
All poems must carry a Government warning. Words
Can seriously affect your heart.

The poem inside the score card is good too - it is by Roald Dahl and as the print is rather small I reproduce here in a larger font.

A HAND IN THE BIRD

I am a maiden who is forty,
And a maiden I shall stay.
The are some that call me haughty,
But I care not what they say.

I was running the tombola
At our church bazaar today,
And doing it with gusto
In my usual jolly way . . .

When suddenly, I knew not why,
There came a funny feeling
Of something crawling up my thigh!
I nearly hit the ceiling!

A mouse! I thought. How foul! How mean!
How exquisitely tickly!
Quite soon I know I’m going to scream.
I’ve got to catch it quickly.

I made a grab. I caught the mouse,
Now right inside my knickers.
A mouse my foot! It was a HAND!
Great Scott! It was the vicar’s!
Roald Dahl

OUTSIDE EDGE - The Market Theatre

2009-03-30T22:37:00.011+01:00

Striking a set and clearing up afterwards is not nearly so much fun as putting a play on and this fact was reflected in the number of folk who turned up to do these tasks on Sunday morning – seven out of a possible nineteen people from the cast and back-stage crew. Despite this we managed the chore by lunchtime with good humour.

Outside Edge by Richard Harris was a great financial success for our Society and was a hit with the audiences although not my choice of play. It is a comedy with a cricketing theme and husband Jim as stage manager and set designer had to produce a run-down cricket pavilion. I had to find five sets of ‘whites’ and an inappropriate dress for the cast.
I bought the cricketing clothes at a bargain price from an online sports retailer although what we are going to do with them now I don’t know (anyone want five pairs of polyester trousers in various sizes and two sweaters?) The inappropriate dress for Sharon I made.
Your very own Fennie is in one of these pictures.

We had full houses on the last three nights, which caused a bit of a panic as we had to turn several people away who had hoped to get tickets at the door. This is very hard to do and it rarely happens that we sell all the tickets, but we have to be careful not to infringe our license by selling more tickets than we have seats for.
The assistance stage manager (prompt) was kept busy on the final night as at one critical point a certain actor missed a line, which affected subsequent action and the dialogue had to be back-tracked. Those of us within hearing exchanged startled glances as we realised that things were going awry but quick wits saved the day and Sharon managed to escape the ladies loos. (You need to know the plot).

We are now beginning to plan the next show. I hope to direct ART, a play by Yasmina Reza, sometime in August. This play won several awards and had very successful runs in London and New York.
I have two of the characters cast (Fennie being one of them) but am scouting around for the third. Any offers considered.

Where I Live

2009-03-11T17:28:00.010Z

I live in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan. We have been in the Vale in 3 different houses since 1967. Our first house was a Wesleyan Chapel situated in a small village. It was being lived in at the time by the Welsh/Italian artist Andrew Vicari. We bought it and finished converting it to a family home where we lived for nearly 20 years.

After the children had left home we decided to build our own home (husband is Architect) and planned to move into a smaller house in Cardiff to enable us to do this. We had a small plot in Heredfordshire, but without planning permission. Our plans did not work out. The recession caught up with us and we lost a lot of money so we sold the land and stayed put in Cardiff for 13 years where we were, in fact, rather content.

During the year 2000 we got back on our feet again and could afford to move to Cowbridge where a good deal of our social life already took place (Drama, Bridge etc).

Our present house is one of two attached Edwardian villas on the main street. They were built in 1906 on the site of a larger, much older house.

View into the dining room showing prints on walls
and costume on dummy. Conservatory beyond.

Without altering the character too much we made a few structural alterations – an en-suite bathroom/dressing room, knocked the two reception rooms into one, added a conservatory, new kitchen and finally converted the attic into an office.
I am particularly proud of my hand stenciled paper in the living room and our collection of prints and water colours done by Jim.

Jim's prints of Vale of Glamorgan and my
stencilled wallpaper (gold oak leaves)

In various places of the house are some of my costumes on dressmakers dummies.
The bust in the picture above was used in a shop display to model bras - it is now a lamp.
The punk head is called Sam and we bought him at Winchester Art College's Graduation Show.

On one wall in our bedroom is what I call ‘my Wedding wall’ – photos of family weddings throughout the decades and in the conservatory a similar ‘Baby Wall’ – our grandchildren.

My mother, self and two sisters

But which one is me? Clue I smocked the dress.

Left - a view down the garden and below - Algy's
Garden (where Staffie is buried)

We are fortunate to have a reasonable sized garden which I redesigned and developed almost from scratch – only the old Bramley apple tree and a heather bed are left from the original. It is divided loosely into ‘rooms’ which include a gravel garden, a pond etc. We love it and think that we are privileged to be able to live here.

Cowbridge is generally thought of as an expensive place to live and is regarded as one of the ‘gems’ of the Vale.
Cowbridge has a webcam: www.cowbridge.co.uk/shopping/cowbridge-web-camera if you want to see a view of the High Street.

We know a lot of people here and are well settled into the community. I belong to two bridge clubs, U3A, (University of the 3rd Age) , and am on the committee for ‘Cowbridge in Bloom’.

The courtyard of 'The Bear' for 'Cowbridge in Bloom' competition

Jim has recently joined Rotary and we both belong to the Town Twinning Group and our local Amateur Dramatic Society – this since 1972. I am the wardrobe mistress and Jim the set builder/scene painter/stage manager. He was also Chairman for ten years. Our lives are not dull and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Cast and set from Arms and the Man by Bernard Shaw - directed by Jim and costumes by me

Christmas Comes to Cowbridge

2008-12-18T17:07:00.010Z

I love Christmas in Cowbridge. The season begins with many of the shops having Christmas trees put up on their facades in special holders. Coloured lights are then added which gives the whole street a sparkle. I tried taking a picture of this but it wasn't successful.

The church then has a Christmas Tree Festival. All the Clubs, Schools, Societies and Groups are asked to contribute a tree with a relevant theme. Our local drama group decorates one (well me, actually). This year our theme was "Costumes". I took photos of various costumes used over the last few productions and mounted them on card. This is the result.
It was not an unqualified success as I dropped it on the way to the church and lost various items. It is also rather small. Altogether there are over 50 trees in the church.

Finally Santa Clause comes to town in a sleigh drawn by several small reindeer. The children love this and the whole street is lined with families to watch the procession.

They are led by a band followed by the 'elves' who collect money for various local charities.

The reindeer are then corralled so that they can be fed with carrots and the children can pet them. Santa leaves for his grotto where his dispenses gifts to 'deserving' children.

There is a hog roast in the church grounds and many of the restaurants set up stalls outside selling hot soup and snacks. Although it is a Sunday many of the shops are open and there is a lovely festive atmosphere.

Later in the evening there is music and fireworks.

The Fortunate Isles

2008-11-16T14:47:00.009Z

We weren’t the only ones. It was about nine-thirty in the morning and several mostly grey-haired couples were making their way down towards the quay. The day was bright and clear with a light breeze but we were dressed for a sudden turn in the weather wearing sensible shoes and anoraks. Some were festooned with binoculars and cameras. We were all on our way to one of the ‘off islands’ that together with St Mary’s make up the delightful group known as the Isles of Scilly. Scillonians do not like their home to be referred to as the Scilly Isles!

If time travel interests you this is the place for you. Time seems to have been held back here – it is perpetually about 1959 or thereabouts. We were last here four years ago so things may have speeded up a bit since then but it will be a shame if they have. The place is unspoiled and lacking in sophistication and the better for it. No Club Med or Stag and Hen parties to drown out the bird song.

Scilly consists of five inhabited islands, St Mary’s, Tresco, Bryer, St. Martin’s and St Agnes with many smaller islands and rocky islets. St Mary’s Boatman’s Association run daily boats to these islands. There are also excursions around the islands looking at birds and seals, or fishing trips.

To enjoy your holiday in the Scillies you have to really like the outdoor life. Boating, walking, bird watching, sketching and painting, that sort of thing. If it’s an exciting nightlife you want you have gone to the wrong place. There is evening entertainment, amateur drama, a concert, or a game of bridge but a popular event is the slide-show! These take place in a church-hall and include a variety of subjects; flora and fauna, the history of the Scillies and stories of shipwrecks but our favourite (now sadly no longer running) was given by a couple of teachers who interspersed their talk on events on the Islands by playing ancient hand-made instruments.

One of the unforgettable attractions of The Isles of Scilly is the Abbey Garden on Tresco. This is a subtropical paradise designed by Augustus Smith . He planted trees to form tall wind-breaks to channel the weather up and over the network of walled enclosures around the Priory ruins, and he carved the three terraces from the rocky, south facing slope looking towards St Mary's. The garden boasts over 300 plants in flower during the winter months. There is an outdoor tearoom where wild birds come and take crumbs from your table – even from your hands if you are quiet and patient.
Within the garden is a small display of figure heads from shipwrecks.

The other inhabited islands each have their own attractions – from artists studios, small workshops, organic smallholdings and tearooms to award-winning hotels set in spectacular surroundings. They all have quiet sandy beaches and interesting walks. Forget the Spanish Costas and the Seychelles try The Fortunate Isles for your next holiday.

The Leaves Have Gone From the Virginia Creeper

2008-11-09T17:09:00.006Z

So, today is the day I write my first blog. It wasn't going to be like this. I was going to write about the Isles of Scilly which are worth several good blogs. Or about the history of bathing costumes as that is one of my interests - well historical costumes, not necessarily swimwear, as I regularly make costumes for an amateur theatrical group.

But somehow these topics have not been written about as yet. Writing is not really 'my thing'. Talking is. But I have to get to grips with writing this blog.

Husband and I have just had a very good lunch with friends and enjoyed several glasses of wine. I then took the dog for a wet and blustery walk during which I decided to write this blog - about whatever came into my head. The wine was good. The writing probably less so but it is a start.

I have to confess I am a bit frightened of grammar. It is inhibiting to good writing as it makes one self-conscious. So I will keep it short. With pictures to distract the eye

This is the cast of Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, a recent production directed by Husband for our local amateur group. The costumes are all my own making. They are constructed mostly from old curtains and cans of spray paint.

The 'bathing belles' photo is my sister and I, Bournemouth about 1949, costumes made by our mother.

Presently I am making costumes for Lettice and Lovage by Peter Shaffer, on in ten days time. Pictures to follow with an account.

The effects of the wine are wearing off now but I feel I am committed to this blog having got so far. Actually, it is not quite my first effort as those of you addicted to the 'black box' may have come across Moulin du Clout, my blog about my son's mill in the Auvergne. The cat is now out of the bag!

2008-09-18T19:57:00.002+01:00