Archive Entries for 2011
Tuesday May 31, 2011
Books in May
- Nemesis and Alexandria Linsey Davis [read by
Christian
Rodska]
Lots of fun, and delightfully read by my hands-down favourite narrator.
In Alexandria, the Falco family go on a jaunt to Egypt to provide Davis with a chance to poke fun at libraries and academia. It's an enjoyable book, but - although the author often uses this technique to provide new interest in the way of a foreign backdrop for her novels, I always feel that Falco is never truly on top form except on home territory in Rome.
Nemesis sees him back in Rome although there is an extensive swampy excursion. Here the novelty is provided perhaps by the crime story rather than the surroundings, where the concept of an ancient Roman serial killer is explored. - Kissing Christmas Goodbye M C Beaton
Surprisingly little to do with Christmas (it puts in an appearance towards
the end). Agatha spends her time planning for the great event, but meanwhile
gest involved with a rather unpleasant family business - o - and there's
a murder. Or perhaps not.
Agatha dreams of that perfect Christmas - yet another concept I can equate to - and yet despite the preparations and the lifestyle books, it can never quite be perfect. The reason? that (however perfect one is oneself..) those around you are not the perfect stuff of daydreams. And despite her obsessive imaginings, by the time her great love James turns up to kiss her under the mistletoe, Agatha discovers that he does not stir her emotions to complete that picture of perfection.
And you know what? She discovers that she's having a great time anyway.
If there is a link between these novels, it is that they both have major/peripheral
characters where I find it hard to put the flesh on the bones. In the
Falco series it's Anacrites. He is presented as Falco's sworn enemy, though
somehow that enmity lacks conviction for me. On occasion we have almost
been given an insight into a deeper character and then it's whipped away
and replaced by Falco's continued assertions about Anacrites low character.
With Agatha, it's James Lacey, and maybe this one is somehow more understandable
as we most often see James through Agatha's obsessed eyes. Mrs Bloxham
provides an apparently objective view, though of course she is very biased
against him in her concern for Agatha's welfare.
Perhaps as these are both enjoyable light-hearted mystery series and I
am simply trying to read too much into them!
Posted on May 31, 2011 at 10:58 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Thursday May 19, 2011
My big brother
Today I had to say goodbye to my big brother. I thought he would always be there, but ... how foolish is that. He always loved foreign places and travelling, and seems to have spent his life doing just that. I hope and trust that after this last journey he will find himself somewhere just as wonderful and full of excitement.
Posted on May 19, 2011 at 3:50 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Monday May 16, 2011
Isabella and the pot of basil
The story of Isabella, has been told by Boccaccio, Keats, and Hunt, in tale, poem and picture respectively. The narrative poem by John Keats was adapted from the story in Boccaccio's Decameron. It tells of a young woman whose family intend to marry her to "some high noble and his olive trees", but who falls for Lorenzo, one of her brothers' employees. When the brothers learn of this they murder Lorenzo and bury his body, fobbing Isabella off with some implausible yarn about his going away suddenly. However, his ghost informs her of the truth in a dream. She exhumes the body and buries the head in a pot of basil which she tends obsessively, while pining away.
The story was popular with Pre-Raphaelite painters, who illustrated several episodes from it - and also with Croydon College, who produced a short film of the story as part of their Digital Film Production degree course. It was shown at the BFI this afternoon and I took a short break from my office to go along and watch.
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 8:49 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Saturday May 14, 2011
Bicycles made for two.
We got bikes! (one each that is).
I'm afraid they are a matching pair, and despite the fact that the girlie versions of all the matching bikes are in girlie colours, I am still very pleased with mine. I was ably assisted by our local bike shop, (B&L Stevens), who helped explain to me that all my life I have been under a complete misapprehension as to how you should size a bicycle, and then, having convinced me with a test drive, they adjusted the saddle to optimum height. (I blame the National Cycling Proficiency Test circa 1965).
Anyway - moving on - George is purchasing a swish new bike rack for the car - so - have bikes, will travel.
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 3:48 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Saturday April 30, 2011
Books in April
- The Girl of his Dreams Donna Leon [read by Gordon
Griffin]
Another excellent Commissario Brunetti story. The backdrop is a social comment - as usual - this time involving the Romany community around Venice. The contrast is easily drawn between the children sent into the city to pilfer, and the "idle" rich in their far more oppulent surroundings. Differing viewpoints are elicited through the mouths of Brunetti, his colleagues, and family members - some more naive than others. - Forfeit Dick Francis [read by Tony Britton]
Interesting listening to this, as I believe it was the very first Dick Francis novel I ever experienced. From memory, it was serialised on Radio 4 around 1977 in their regular afternoon slot at about 4:30 - frustratingly cannot remember the title of the programme. I don't think it was narrated by Tony Britton. I was addicted to the radio then (while knitting of course - I have precise memory of the sweater - a gift for my Mother from a pattern in Stitchcraft!). They followed it with a reading of Flying Finish. Utterly thrilling, and for all that - still an excellent book, even discounting the knitting nostalgia, with his wife Mary's influence apparently clear.
Posted on April 30, 2011 at 9:56 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Wednesday April 27, 2011
La Pharmacie d'Autrefois
The chemist in St Pois has a lovely display of "old stuff".
Posted on April 27, 2011 at 9:41 AM. Category: France. | Comments (0)
Friday April 22, 2011
Rhubarb
I did not know rhubarb could do this. It's hard to see but it has shot up a flower spike and is now about 6 feet tall. I read now that you should (as I suspected) cut this off if you plan to crop it. As we have not eaten any of it yet - waiting for the poor neglected thing to get established - I hope it makes it feel good.
Posted on April 22, 2011 at 9:36 AM. Category: France. | Comments (0)
Saturday April 16, 2011
Dyeing Day at the Guild
Today we learnt how to hand paint fibres and yarns under the guidance of Jan Blight. We started painting individually with supplied samples, as well a our own fibres. Then we moved finally to making a space dyed skein; this demonstrated, by experiment, exactly how long the sections of colour need to be in order to produce a reasonable sized stripe in the subsequent knitting. Each member of the team went home with a few turns of the resulting skein
Loooong...
Here are the results of our labours hanging up to dry. I think the most interesting lesson for me was the realisation that the type of fibre and the way it is spun influences how it takes the colour. My yarn was highly spun worsted superwash sock yarn and the colours I got were bright and clear. Other people achieved lovely soft muted shades with their fibres.
Posted on April 16, 2011 at 9:12 PM. Category: Spinning, Dying, Weaving. | Comments (0)
Sunday April 10, 2011
Sheep to shawl
OK - I admit - not a shawl.
Some time ago, I was tempted by Lloyd and Marie to pick up a bundle of fleece which they had hand-clipped from the small flock (which came free with their rented house!). Heavy hints - or direct instructions - were given to produce something " a hat or scarf" as it would be much appreciated.
The fleece - although not in a complete fleece shape, but rather an untidy mixed up mess on the barn floor - was exceedingly soft in places, but unfortunately I had "help" picking it up so I got a very mixed bag. It washed to a lovely white colour, and spun up well. I was pleased to be able to make 2 hats and a scarf. The latter I did not think much of - it just used the left overs, but the hats based on my apparently popular fisherman's rib hats were pretty good.
But as is the way of things, I'm not certain that the gifts were in fact much appreciated - I think I am viewed as just a bit of an elderly eccentric and this is just what I "do". My view of myself of course is an artistic artisan in the prime of life. Like Miss jean Brodie, I had hoped my prime would last the rest of my life.
Posted on April 10, 2011 at 9:06 AM. Category: Spinning, Dying, Weaving. | Comments (0)
Saturday April 9, 2011
Wisley
An outing to Wisley to view the spring flowers, gain allotment inspiration, and tour the hot-house.
All the Wisley subjects are so wonderfully photogenic.
Posted on April 9, 2011 at 5:44 PM. Category: The Garden. | Comments (0)
Friday April 8, 2011
War Horse
Last night we went to see War Horse at the New London theatre. It was as fantastic as everyone says - though it is a childrens book with very adult content, and the audience was full of sobbing little girls (and some big girls as well...).
Prior to the show, at Tony's suggestion, we ate an excellent meal at Sophies Bar and Grill in Covent garden.
Posted on April 8, 2011 at 9:25 AM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Monday April 4, 2011
Natural Dyes
Getting in the mood for our workshop later this month, I tried home dying some Portland fleece. These are not all natural dyes, but the grey green is - from nettles. I was quite pleased as the colour I got - while some might say it is not very inspiring - is exactly the colour my dye book shows: a grey green. I followed the instructions, adding a pinch of iron, and managed to get green rather than yellow.
The other colours are OK but not what I was looking for. I tried mixing the French reactive dyes (red and blue) to make purple but got a very dark red colour, (top); the pink mauve at the bottom is a second dip in this same bath; and the blue mauve in the centre is a Dylon all-purpose dye. I think I badly mistreated the fibre in the process, and it is hard, matted, and singed. However, I have managed to selectively card it to make some usable batts.
Posted on April 4, 2011 at 6:29 PM. Category: Spinning, Dying, Weaving. | Comments (0)
Thursday March 31, 2011
Books in March
Bedtime listening. Yawn.
- Fresh from the Country by Miss
Read [read by Gwen
Watford]
I really enjoyed the gently humorous homely tales in "Over the Gate". However this book is not written in the same mould at all. It's an account of a newly-qualified female teacher's experiences in the early 1960s, and I found it rather tedious with little substance. I also disliked the representation of the "perfect" and patronising head teacher who was clearly the potential role model for the heroine; one can only hope that the very tiny intimations of romance might swiftly blossom into the traditional marriage proposal and acceptance, thereby rescuing her from such a fate for good (!).
One of the problems may be that I cannot relate to the story in the same way that perhaps those in the teaching profession could. Nonetheless, I think some of her other stories are much more pleasing and fun. - Depths by Henning
Mankell [read by Sean Barrett]
This is a very gloomy book - all icy wilderness and barrenness bleakness, set during the First World War. It was hard for me to empathise with this hero, and as it's told from his point of view, (and he is clearly psychotic), it's hard to get to grips with how others view him. He is deeply disturbed throughout, and entangles himself in a web of deceit, leading to multiple murders, and fairly inevitably, as his duplicity is unravelled, his own demise.
(It reminded me a little of Zola's "Thérèse Raquin", and to confirm me as a Phillistine, I did not like that much either.)
And yes - I am one of those idiots who thought this would be a Wallander novel.
Posted on March 31, 2011 at 9:56 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Sunday March 27, 2011
More birthday delights
Helen dropped by on her way home from a trip to Italy, so I was able to present her with the woolly gifts. Unfortunately the cushion pads didn't turn up in time, (in case you were wondering), so she'll be collecting them on another visit.
Posted on March 27, 2011 at 8:57 AM. Category: Knitting. | Comments (0)
Saturday March 26, 2011
Cheese Scones
I am always trying to make cheese scones - I love them. But mine always seem flat and mean looking. This recipe proved most successful to date, involving: an egg, handling the dough as little as possible, and rolling out the dough quite thickly and cutting out larger scones (the latter most obvious I suppose). I think using buttermilk instead of milk can help activate the rising agent in the flour.
Cheese Scones
Ingredients
- 6 ozs self raising flour
- 1-1½ oz butter
- pinch of salt
- pinch of English mustard powder (or less if you like)
- a good pinch of cayenne
- 3½ ozs grated Cheddar cheese
- 1 egg
- 2-3 tbsps milk (as needed)
Method
- Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 7, 425°F (220°C)..
- Sift the flour into a bowl along with the mustard powder, salt, and cayenne pepper; mix together.
- Rub in the butter with finger tips until well combined. Mix in most of the grated cheese leaving the remainder (about a tbsp) to use later.
- Beat the eggs with 2 tbsp milk and add to the dry ingredients. Mix together to form a soft dough, adding a little more milk as required if the mixture seems dry. Try to avoid working the mixture too much.
- Gently roll out the dough on a well-floured surface, as evenly as possible to a thickness of ¾ - 1 inch. Pat the dough into a square shape as you roll and cut into 9 square (ish) scones (3 x 3) with a knife.
- Place evenly spaced on a baking sheet, allowing a little room for rising. Brush the tops with a little more milk, and sprinkle with grated cheese.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes (or a little longer if necessary) until the cheese has started to bubble and the scones are browned. Cool on a wire rack.
Serve warm or cold with or without butter but the scones are best eaten the day they are cooked. [You can freeze them, but reheat in an oven after defrosting].
Posted on March 26, 2011 at 5:45 PM. Category: Kitchen and food. | Comments (0)
Sunday March 13, 2011
Birthday at the Swan
Notable quote: "I'm sorry we don't do bread pudding any more - customers complained that it was very bready". .....er...hello?
Posted on March 13, 2011 at 5:45 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Saturday March 5, 2011
The Friends - in Chichester
This year it was Chichester, which was sufficiently close for me to make it a day trip. We may have had a few informal pre-dinner drinks (below) - followed by the traditional curry (above).
It was a lovely afternoon, so prior to meeting everyone, I took a walk around the walls - which I don't remember doing very much (if at all) when I lived here.
There was great excitement in East Street where there had clearly been a fire - apparently affecting Fat Face and the accommodation above.
I finished off my sight-seeing by visiting the cathedral and the Bishops gardens. I tried to photograph the Chagall window but with limited success. (Hard to get the correct angle and a stable position in which to focus).
Posted on March 5, 2011 at 11:43 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Monday February 28, 2011
Books in February
- Silks by Dick Francis and Felix Francis [read by Tony
Britton]
I always felt I had a problem with Tony Britton reading Dick Francis novels, as they usually feature relatively young men (20s-30s) - and Tony Britton, though a great reader, has a very mature upper middle class voice. That's what I thought. But I had no problem with this one. Maybe it's because the hero is a barrister (Tony sounds like one of whatever age - no problem) - or maybe this is just a stronger novel than ones I have read recently. Anyway - a fine read - and nicely encompassing a bit of horseyness too.... 
Singing
the Sadness [read by Christian Rodska] and
The Roar of the Butterflies [read by Rupert Farley]
by Reginald Hill
A very different detective created by Reginald Hill. Jo Sixsmith is an ex machine operator turned private detective living in Luton, though his adventures take him elsewhere.
It is almost an old-fashioned style of book, with very ordinary old-fashioned style people but yet set in our very contemporary world. Full of charm and humour, but for all that does not sacrifice the a very real sense of danger and the thrill of the whodunnit.- Love, Lies and Liquor by M C Beaton [read by Penelope
Keith]
An Agatha Raisin novel, in which experience triumphs over hope.
O no - my mistake - got that the wrong way round.
Agatha thinks she will rekindle the romantic flame by going on holiday with ex-husband James - poor James' idea is a nostalgic trip to a coastal English resort (but seemingly in the dead of winter!), which, funnily enough, lives up to the expectations of neither party.
It does seem like she might really be cured of James this time...
Posted on February 28, 2011 at 9:55 AM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Sunday February 20, 2011
Family Lunch
This time meeting my sister and having an "almost" New Year lunch with my Uncle David (as opposed to my cousin David) at the George and Dragon in Dragons Green.
Posted on February 20, 2011 at 2:17 PM. Category: Days Out. | Comments (0)
Saturday February 19, 2011
Passementerie
At the guild meeting today we had a workshop run by Anna Crutchley to make a mixed fibre tassel . It was a very full day and most of us took "homework" to finish off at the end of the day.
This is my tassel - finished off at home, but you can see I have not brought myself to cut the ends of the strands yet (you need very sharp scissors).
Posted on February 19, 2011 at 1:17 PM. Category: Crafts. | Comments (0)
Friday February 11, 2011
Hearts
The Louisa Harding cardigan, Puzzle, that I knitted some time ago is supposed to have heart shaped buttons around the hem as a decoration. I had been looking for some time to find buttons that were suitable and within budget (I needed 36 of them). Suitability is hard to define but the cardigan is folksy in yarn texture and arty styling. So I cannot tell you how delighted I am that my friend Felicity went to the trouble of making me some pottery buttons, all laboriously cut out and coloured by hand. She was actually apologetic (!) that they are not all identical and that the colouring is not consistent - but those very features are what makes them so very perfect.
Thank you so much.
Posted on February 11, 2011 at 4:00 PM. Category: Knitting. | Comments (0)
Monday January 31, 2011
Books in January
These are the lovely books I received as gifts - a lovely start to the New Year.
- The Knitter's Year by Debbie Bliss
As is often the case with this type of book, I look at the projects and think "why - these are simple little things - I could have made this up myself".... but then you didn't did you? For a book like this, (knitting projects all year), they need to be quick fun things, - which they are - and this book is beautifully styled and produced, providing the motivation and desire to knit the "little projects" and also then make some up yourself! - Around the World in Knitted Socks by Stephanie Van Der
Linden
You'd buy this book for the cover alone wouldn't you? It's all so colourful and lovely, I wanted to start them all right away. I felt that Rowan felted tweed would provide the look I was after but the 4ply weight is discontinued (and the patterns would be hard to adapt due ot the patterning); plus I think the felted tweed might not be robust enough for socks. So - I guess I'll have to try that new territory and use the recommended yarns... - Nordic Knits by Martin Storey
This is the sort of book that non-knit-lovers (as well as knitters) would like projects from. Perfect gifts for those not keen on hand-knit clothing - though you need to check out their liking for folksey! I think it's packed with pretty tasteful stuff and immediately knitted the cushions on the cover for Alison to decorate in her new "cabin" (house to you and I).
Posted on January 31, 2011 at 4:01 PM. Category: Books of the Month. | Comments (0)
Saturday January 29, 2011
The Mousetrap
George organised the most wonderful birthday treat for me as a surprise. We went to see the "Mousetrap" - I was absolutely delighted. The show is older even than I am - 2012 will be its diamond jubilee (and not mine!) - and I have never seen it before. The plot is a sort of amalgamation of Agatha Christie favourite themes including blizzards and locked rooms, so it made it possible to make a stab at who the murderer was, but the implausible coincidences and relationships between the characters made it all the more interesting and charming. I felt like I wanted to dress in costume - not a mouse costume... - but would have looked an idiot so luckily suppressed the urge.
Following the theme: we had "stored" our apple crop (about 4 Bramleys) in the attic - and I found that the mice regarded them as winter fodder. They did not eat them all at once you understand, just came back for another bite from time to time. We don't have "house" mice but pretty little brown wood mice who prefer to live outside except in the coldest weather when they come in - and eat anything they can find. I managed to exclude them from the downstairs area and kitchen by preventing entry (anything in the lobby is fair game for them), but the attic is impossible to make mouse-proof.
I'm afraid I had to "deal" with them. And remove the apples.
Posted on January 29, 2011 at 4:02 PM. Category: Art and Culture. | Comments (0)
Friday January 28, 2011
Clapotis
My fantastic gift from Alison. I love it. I love the soft yarn, the colours, the shape.... I love it.
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 10:29 AM. Category: Red Letter Days. | Comments (0)
Thursday January 27, 2011
Toby Craftery
A new knitting group has started up on Thursdays in Redhill (at the Toby Carvery). I am keen to join in. However, the meetings are every 2 weeks - and with other commitments I seem to keep missing the dates.
It is great to see other people's projects, which are often things I am interested in but not planning to knit myself. Sort of vicarious knitting...
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 4:03 PM. Category: Knitting. | Comments (0)
