I am being really lax about keeping this blog going. So I will take more effort for a bit.
We went to the Warner Brothers studio near Watford to see the Harry Potter studio tour at the weekend. We met up with family so there were 10 of us and we had a really good day. The tour is excellent and well worth the money. There are the original sets for the Great Hall, the common room, bedroom, Dumbldore's office and many more.
The most impressive thing is the attention to detail, and the information about all the technical wizardry which goes into making a wizard world. It was a great day.
I love the Harry Potter books and they are ones I will reread on a regular basis, as are the books of Terry Pratchett. Both are fantasy worlds though they don't have much else in common except that they all tell wonderful stories. They are complete worlds which are internally consistent, so that the characters are real and the situations in which they find themselves are real too. It doesn't matter that there is magic, dragons etc because what happens to them is as real to them as me sitting here. It has taken a long time for Pratchett to gain the respect he deserves and he is now recognised by the main literary fraternity as well as the SF world which has been devoted to him for decades. The literary world hasn't given Rowling the credit she deserves for Harry Potter, and the jury is decidedly split on her new book. I haven't read it yet, though I will at some point out of curiosity. It will be interesting to see if she can make the transfer to a different genre.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
It's been a while......
Oh dear - how remiss of me.
I have been on holiday - 2 weeks walking in Northumberland, walking the middle bit of Hadrian's wall which was just great.
I was concerned - being the least fit of the 4 of us - that I would be huffing and puffing in the rear while everyone else hung around waiting but actually there was only one day when I struggled, and that was the longest, steepest and wettest walk, so all in all I feel proud of myself.
Other great pluses
- 2 weeks off work
- spending a leisurely time with my sister and brother in law
- lots of cake
- lots of excellent meals with lovely wine and (mostly) good cheese
- beautiful countryside
- not too much rain
- sense of achievement
- unexpected concert with one of B's ex students performing
- learning lots about the Wall and the Romans in the truly excellent museums
Had a great time.
Thoughts of Hadrian's Wall
There was a missing of birdsong
only rooks, pheasants, kestrel and a solitary silent coal tit
inhabit Grindon and the Wall.
Marching with shadows of lost legionaries as our steps
lock on gravel
in time
out of time
past and present blurring
in a place where time blurs.
At Whinspear we marvel
and think of the Syrian archer shivering on the Wall,
his short sleeves, short skirt and thin leather boots
while we snug in Goretex complain
about wind and rain.
Only September, only rain,
winter still to come and the snow,
imagine the snow.
We think kindly of our softer Southern homes.
Views stretch and stretch
beyond eyesight
beyond binoculars
beyond words to express the sublimity.
It is visceral, not rational.
Living in memory as well as photographs.
I have been on holiday - 2 weeks walking in Northumberland, walking the middle bit of Hadrian's wall which was just great.
I was concerned - being the least fit of the 4 of us - that I would be huffing and puffing in the rear while everyone else hung around waiting but actually there was only one day when I struggled, and that was the longest, steepest and wettest walk, so all in all I feel proud of myself.
Other great pluses
- 2 weeks off work
- spending a leisurely time with my sister and brother in law
- lots of cake
- lots of excellent meals with lovely wine and (mostly) good cheese
- beautiful countryside
- not too much rain
- sense of achievement
- unexpected concert with one of B's ex students performing
- learning lots about the Wall and the Romans in the truly excellent museums
Had a great time.
Thoughts of Hadrian's Wall
There was a missing of birdsong
only rooks, pheasants, kestrel and a solitary silent coal tit
inhabit Grindon and the Wall.
Marching with shadows of lost legionaries as our steps
lock on gravel
in time
out of time
past and present blurring
in a place where time blurs.
At Whinspear we marvel
and think of the Syrian archer shivering on the Wall,
his short sleeves, short skirt and thin leather boots
while we snug in Goretex complain
about wind and rain.
Only September, only rain,
winter still to come and the snow,
imagine the snow.
We think kindly of our softer Southern homes.
Views stretch and stretch
beyond eyesight
beyond binoculars
beyond words to express the sublimity.
It is visceral, not rational.
Living in memory as well as photographs.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Busy busy
It has been a bit busy this week.
Unexpectedly I was hosting Bookclub - which means cooking dinner for the 5 of us so that involved cleaning up on Monday night in order to cook and host on Tuesday. And a pleasant evening was had by all.
The following day involved getting up at 5am. Never a good thing. Then catching a train to York for a conference of the National Acquisitions Group - which is a lot of librarians who deal with acquisitions. The trains all worked extremely well and I got to York comfortably by 11.30 which gave me time to have a sit in the sun before the conference started. There is a big London Eye type wheel in York so I went on that and had fabulous views over the city.
The following morning I had time to go for a walk before the sessions started and discovered that you can get into Yorkminster for free at 8.30 in the morning. It was lovely because it was so empty, with only a few people who clearly worked there around. I have been in it before but it is still wonderful no matter how often you go in. York itself is lovely and I had a lovely time pottering round before going back into librarian mode.
The conference was good in parts - some bits I already knew well anyway but there was enough to have made it worth while going.
Now we are getting ready to go and walk chunks of Hadrian's wall in a week. Hurray
Unexpectedly I was hosting Bookclub - which means cooking dinner for the 5 of us so that involved cleaning up on Monday night in order to cook and host on Tuesday. And a pleasant evening was had by all.
The following day involved getting up at 5am. Never a good thing. Then catching a train to York for a conference of the National Acquisitions Group - which is a lot of librarians who deal with acquisitions. The trains all worked extremely well and I got to York comfortably by 11.30 which gave me time to have a sit in the sun before the conference started. There is a big London Eye type wheel in York so I went on that and had fabulous views over the city.
The following morning I had time to go for a walk before the sessions started and discovered that you can get into Yorkminster for free at 8.30 in the morning. It was lovely because it was so empty, with only a few people who clearly worked there around. I have been in it before but it is still wonderful no matter how often you go in. York itself is lovely and I had a lovely time pottering round before going back into librarian mode.
The conference was good in parts - some bits I already knew well anyway but there was enough to have made it worth while going.
Now we are getting ready to go and walk chunks of Hadrian's wall in a week. Hurray
Monday, August 27, 2012
Hamlet on a Bank Holiday
Yesterday we went with some friends to see Hamlet in the open air at St Donats Castle. The production was the Globe touring company(more info here). We got there early and had a picnic supper for which Chris had done smoked salmon salad sandwiches, chicken and salad, and I had done fresh scones, clotted cream and strawberries. It was really lovely. We were so lucky with the weather because it was mild, actually quite warm and (trumpet blast here) dry!!
It was set on the top lawn with the castle behind (Bradenstoke Hall and Lady Anne tower for those who know the place) on a very basic stage which must have been similar to those used by Shakespeare's players when touring outside London during times of plague.
The production was very straightforward as you would expect with an open air play - there are few opportunities for great subtlety when trying to pitch your voice to the back of a very large lawn. There were about 8 actors and the doubling was very well done with changes of coat and hat making a more than reasonable difference. We were sitting quite a distance away but I could hear everything well, though Chris has a bit of a hearing problem so she couldn't hear much.
We had all taken added layers of clothing so added jumper, then coat, then blankets as the evening got chillier, and gradually darker. By the end of the play the bats had replaced the swallows eating the midges and you could hear an owl in the forest, and the sea from down the hill which made it really quite magical.
Earlier in the day we had gone to the Flower Festival in St Illtyd's Church which was, as usual , lovely. That was after a walk down to the beach
Brilliant day
It was set on the top lawn with the castle behind (Bradenstoke Hall and Lady Anne tower for those who know the place) on a very basic stage which must have been similar to those used by Shakespeare's players when touring outside London during times of plague.
The production was very straightforward as you would expect with an open air play - there are few opportunities for great subtlety when trying to pitch your voice to the back of a very large lawn. There were about 8 actors and the doubling was very well done with changes of coat and hat making a more than reasonable difference. We were sitting quite a distance away but I could hear everything well, though Chris has a bit of a hearing problem so she couldn't hear much.
We had all taken added layers of clothing so added jumper, then coat, then blankets as the evening got chillier, and gradually darker. By the end of the play the bats had replaced the swallows eating the midges and you could hear an owl in the forest, and the sea from down the hill which made it really quite magical.
Earlier in the day we had gone to the Flower Festival in St Illtyd's Church which was, as usual , lovely. That was after a walk down to the beach
Brilliant day
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Long time no blog....
I haven't blogged for ages, because there has been nothing much to write about. I have been going to work, coming home, doing stuff round the house, etc etc. Life as it is lived most of the time.
There have been minor family crises - Nic's car needing over £1000 spending to get through the mot despite it being the newest car in the family for instance, but nothing to write about.
So is there a point in the blog? Not really because only family read it, but although I started it to see if I could keep it up for a year, I actually enjoy doing it, so although sporadic, will continue with it.
Things happening in my life are mostly about work and family, because that is what takes up my time. I am a bit peeved that the new agreement about pensions which means I won't be able to retire till I am 65 instead of 64 ( which is when the state pension kicks in). B will then be 69 and it does seem to me that after 70 there is often less ability to have a completely full life as one gets creakier and less able to do things , so that is a potential disappointment. But as B is having such a good time writing music that even if I was retired I don't think we would spend out time doing lots of stuff anyway.
I have a new guide dog in training for August, called Mr Jeeves, and he is a lovely dog. I have had Saffy for the last two weeks as well because Kate and Carl have been on holiday, and the two dogs have gotten on very well, especially as Jeeves is so young and wants to play, but he learnt on day one not to pester her. This week he is on his own at night and I think he is really going to miss Saffy. She, on the other hand, won't miss him at all!
He may be the last guide dog I get because the trainers are emigrating to New Zealand, and there won't be any trainers living in LM, so that would be sad, as I have enjoyed the two I have had. However I have decided that the ideal size for a dog in a normal house is Saffy sized, not labrador sized. He takes up way too much space in the kitchen and he really, really moults! My black trousers are staying in the wardrobe until he goes!
I am looking forward to going to Hadrian's wall in September, though I haven't got fit(ter) as I had meant to, so I will have to try to do some exercise in the 3 weeks before we go. Otherwise I will be trailing in the rear! Also we took Jeeves for a walk in a heavy shower today and both B's and my cagouls leaked so we were soaked. We need to waterproof them before we go!
This is Jeeves
There have been minor family crises - Nic's car needing over £1000 spending to get through the mot despite it being the newest car in the family for instance, but nothing to write about.
So is there a point in the blog? Not really because only family read it, but although I started it to see if I could keep it up for a year, I actually enjoy doing it, so although sporadic, will continue with it.
Things happening in my life are mostly about work and family, because that is what takes up my time. I am a bit peeved that the new agreement about pensions which means I won't be able to retire till I am 65 instead of 64 ( which is when the state pension kicks in). B will then be 69 and it does seem to me that after 70 there is often less ability to have a completely full life as one gets creakier and less able to do things , so that is a potential disappointment. But as B is having such a good time writing music that even if I was retired I don't think we would spend out time doing lots of stuff anyway.
I have a new guide dog in training for August, called Mr Jeeves, and he is a lovely dog. I have had Saffy for the last two weeks as well because Kate and Carl have been on holiday, and the two dogs have gotten on very well, especially as Jeeves is so young and wants to play, but he learnt on day one not to pester her. This week he is on his own at night and I think he is really going to miss Saffy. She, on the other hand, won't miss him at all!
He may be the last guide dog I get because the trainers are emigrating to New Zealand, and there won't be any trainers living in LM, so that would be sad, as I have enjoyed the two I have had. However I have decided that the ideal size for a dog in a normal house is Saffy sized, not labrador sized. He takes up way too much space in the kitchen and he really, really moults! My black trousers are staying in the wardrobe until he goes!
I am looking forward to going to Hadrian's wall in September, though I haven't got fit(ter) as I had meant to, so I will have to try to do some exercise in the 3 weeks before we go. Otherwise I will be trailing in the rear! Also we took Jeeves for a walk in a heavy shower today and both B's and my cagouls leaked so we were soaked. We need to waterproof them before we go!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Eisteddfod
We went to the National Eisteddfod today.
This is a cultural event organised every year in Wales and it moves round the country every year and this year it is here, so we went.
If you want to find out more about it you can do so here
There are lots and lots of competitions, for singing, reciting, brass bands, poetry, etc etc which go on through the week - all in Welsh and is something a lot of Welsh speakers get very involved with from a very young age. We just went to look round, get the feel of it, and had a very pleasant few hours. B attended a talk about some country poets which he sort of understood enough of to make it worth attending, and I trolled round with Jeeves.
Jeeves is the new trainee guide dog, and he was being a bit of a labrador while we walked round, attempting to hoover any food on the floor, but he does get people talking to you. It was lovely.
I'm glad I went.
This is a cultural event organised every year in Wales and it moves round the country every year and this year it is here, so we went.
If you want to find out more about it you can do so here
There are lots and lots of competitions, for singing, reciting, brass bands, poetry, etc etc which go on through the week - all in Welsh and is something a lot of Welsh speakers get very involved with from a very young age. We just went to look round, get the feel of it, and had a very pleasant few hours. B attended a talk about some country poets which he sort of understood enough of to make it worth attending, and I trolled round with Jeeves.
Jeeves is the new trainee guide dog, and he was being a bit of a labrador while we walked round, attempting to hoover any food on the floor, but he does get people talking to you. It was lovely.
I'm glad I went.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Comedy of Errors
I went to see the Comedy of Errors performed by the RSC in Stratford today, Brian and I meeting Boo and Trev at the theatre. It was brilliant.
The story is basically a farce based around the premise that two pairs of identical twins were separated as babies and end up in the same city. And it was hilarious. The actors who played the two Dromios (the servants) were absolutely wonderful, and the actress who played the wife of one of them was equally good. There is a bit towards the end where she is describing all the mix ups of the day to the Duke which was a tour de force. The timing and the use of changes of tone were so expertly done, and the timing thoughout - superb.
We laughed and laughed. But the director had also given it a darkness because Ephesus (where it is based) had a Duke who will put to death anyone who comes from Syracuse (where the twins father comes from) and the father is at threat of death through the whole event, although he is saved at the end. By setting it in a modern location, and making the threat of death real it gave an additional depth to what is otherwise a very light play. It was very effective.
Then we went and had a cream tea which was excellent.
Now we are home and I have a glass of wine, Brian has a beer. Brilliant.
The story is basically a farce based around the premise that two pairs of identical twins were separated as babies and end up in the same city. And it was hilarious. The actors who played the two Dromios (the servants) were absolutely wonderful, and the actress who played the wife of one of them was equally good. There is a bit towards the end where she is describing all the mix ups of the day to the Duke which was a tour de force. The timing and the use of changes of tone were so expertly done, and the timing thoughout - superb.
We laughed and laughed. But the director had also given it a darkness because Ephesus (where it is based) had a Duke who will put to death anyone who comes from Syracuse (where the twins father comes from) and the father is at threat of death through the whole event, although he is saved at the end. By setting it in a modern location, and making the threat of death real it gave an additional depth to what is otherwise a very light play. It was very effective.
Then we went and had a cream tea which was excellent.
Now we are home and I have a glass of wine, Brian has a beer. Brilliant.
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