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Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
Life outside Ambridge
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Life in Ambridge
THIS POST IS CLOSED "longer off topic comments" - Episode 14 Life Outside Ambridge Have a seat and let's chat.
*** FROM PREVIOUS BLOG ***
ReplyDeleteHILARY - April 10, 2020 at 4:45 PM
I will try not to be too long-winded with my comments on each piece!
1) Mr Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan - takes me back to teenage summers.
2) Chopin Nocturne op.9 No 2 - When I was small I used to ask my mother to play this.
3) Joe Cocker - With a little help from my friends. I heard him play this at a concert in my Freshers Week at Bristol University in 1968.
4) Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars. This was played at my younger son’s wedding. To have friends and family all together, even my father thanks to Skype! - was so very special.
5) Elgar - Nimrod. I just like this!
6) Mozart - Lacrimosa. I was in the Albert Hall when this was sung by a 500 voice choir with the Royal Philarmonic in 2003. Goose pimples!
7) The Who - I can’t Explain. Another trip down memory lane back to the sixties and Thursday evening concerts at Worthing with up and coming groups.
8) She - Elvis Costello. This is on the soundtrack of my favourite film, Notting Hill. I adore the humour, warm friendship and happy ending.
My book would be Ships of Heaven by Christopher Somerville - once mentioned by Lilian in the Archers when she was about to go to the Cheltenham Literary Festival. To take a bit of England with me to the desert island.
My luxury - a notebook and pen.
I would save Chasing Cars to remind me of one of the happiest days of my life.
Thank you so much Hilary! I know (& enjoy) quite a few of these, but will examine the whole list at my pleasure as always...
DeleteThank you Hilary. Interesting choices. I need to research your book.
DeleteHilary.
ReplyDeleteThank-you so much, for yet another very varied set of music. 😍
I am so enjoying reading these, and then hearing + listening , to so much, that I hadn't heard before.
Thanks. 🤗🤗🤗
Mozart's Lachrimosa, always gives me "goosebumps".
DeleteI love it.
I thought how it was done, in the film "Amadeous", was brilliant.
Yes, that film is brilliant!
DeleteMy pleasure Miriam! All these pieces we are being reminded of or introduced to and then listening to thanks to YouTube are giving so much pleasure. Well done, again, Gary, for this brilliant idea and for running this happy blog for us.
ReplyDeleteThe video clip I found on YouTube had scenes from the film as a bonus!
Hilary ..anything by Mozart is ok in my book but the reqiem is a true masterpiece.
DeleteShe is a beautiful song...I love the Charles Aznavour version because I absolutely love Charles Aznavour. The words get me ..they are so beautiful. I look forward to listening your other choices.
Nel frattempo ti auguro una Buona Pasqua cara Hilary.
Spero che ci vediamo presto. Un abbraccio.
Need to watch it..
DeleteAnche .. molti augiri..e una Buona Pasquale per tutti.
DeleteSimply a Happy Easter, to All.
Miriam, I did indeed spot Alfred sat on the bus in "To Catch a Thief" last night! What a fantastic film. I love Hitchcock movies.
ReplyDeleteI also love Audrey Hepburn films...
DeleteSuch as Roman Holiday, Sabrina, Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Nun's Story.
DeleteNow as to Kathryn Hepburn ....
African Queen !
DeleteNever liked Kathryn Hepburn. ..too nervous.
ReplyDeleteI admired her, esp in the film "On Golden Pond".
DeleteOff to cook my salmon, with asparagus, lasagne..with a home-made dill + parsley sauce.
ReplyDeleteI hope it works out.
Autumn leaves, I nearly chose Charles Aznavour’s version but opted for the Costello one because the video on YouTube had scenes from the film!
ReplyDeleteGrazie per gli auguri! Buona Pasqua anche a te. Ci organizzeremo per vederci appena saremo di nuovo liberi! Ti abbraccio.
And a happy Easter to all my Archers friends! The Italians say” Spend Christmas with your family and Easter with whoever you wish!” Rather limited choice this year though!
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe it...
ReplyDeleteas it is now raining here and "puss cat" has just come in through her cat flap, soaking wet.
Where has she gone...strajght onto my bed!! 😻😺
Now light rain here too Miriam! Been out in the garden most of the day getting stuff done in advance of all the plants we ordered online. Fingers crossed they arrive.
DeleteAs promised - the original recipe for Oliver’s Chocolate pudding.
ReplyDelete(Sorry but measurements are all imperial)
Oven on 190 C fan, or Gas Mk 5. Need a 2 pint pie or casserole dish, greased
PUDDING. SAUCE
3oz butter. 1oz butter
3oz castor sugar. 1 dessertspoon cocoa
3 oz Self raising flour. 1 dessertspoon instant coffee (or Camp coffee liquid)
I tablespoon cocoa. 1 tablespoon castor sugar, 1 tablespoon cornflour
2 eggs 1/2 pint boiling water.
Make sponge in usual way, by creaming butter & sugar, mixing in eggs alternately with sieved flour & cocoa until blended. Put in bottom of baking dish.
For sauce, put all ingredients in a liquidiser and blend until well mixed.
(Could do this in a Pyrex jug with a hand whisk if no liquidiser available)
Pour sauce over sponge mixture in dish
Bake for about 30 - 40 mins
When cooked the sponge, which will now have risen to the top of dish will spring back when pressed & have shrunken from the sides a bit.
The chocolate mocha sauce will be under the sponge.
(I always used to add more instant coffee granules as I like a really mocha flavour)
Enjoy!
Oh Lord., despite me putting the ingredients for the sponge and sauce in separate columns, this blog has mixed them all up which is pretty useless! The first item in each line is for the sponge, the second / third is for the sauce. Hope that makes sense.
DeleteThink even I, as a complete incompetent in the pudding department, could manage to make this, it sounds lovely & would cause a stampede in my house!... If only I had some flour 🙄
DeleteArcherphile - your day is officially here and of course Mr A. 🤣
ReplyDelete“Congratulations for both of you
for your durable rapport
Happy Golden Anniversary
and may you have many more” 🥂
I can’t claim to be the author but it expresses my (and Mr R’s) wishes so well. Have a wonderful day together and “virtually” with family 💐
Happy GOLDEN Anniversary - Mrs & Mr ARCHERPHILE
ReplyDeleteArcherphile - I know what you did there.
ReplyDeleteTried to 'set out ' as we learned in typing lessons and used to do when typing.
But a modern device will not allow it. I know. I've tried and failed many times.
However your intention plus your following post has made it clear.
Will try to make it if I can get some flour.
I've been looking for a reason to celebrate - can think of nothing better than raising a glass later to Mrs & Mr Archerphile on the occasion of their Golden Wedding Anniversary! Have a fantastic day!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Mr and Mrs Archerphile and a Happy Easter to all my friends on the blog. Buona Pasqua a tutto nostri amici.
ReplyDeleteHappy Golden Anniversary, Mr and Mrs Archerphile! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteHappy happy GOLDEN wedding anniversary to both of you. I hope you put on a pretty dress even though you are at home, and I would love to hear about your original wedding day. 👗💖🥂🎂🏅🎈🎁🌞
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Archerphile, what glorious weather for your special day! 💐🍾
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY Archerphile and Mr Archerphile. 🥂🍾💐🎉🎉🎉
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day. It should be very special considering after about 3 weeks of lockdown and being housebound after your op that you’ve not throttled him. 😉
Absolutely ditto!
Delete😂😂
DeleteHave a wonderful day, Mr & Mrs A P, many congrats ! 🍾🎉💐🎂
Happy Golden Wedding Anniversary Mr and Mrs Archerfile.🥂🍾 💐 💐
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful day, and can look forward to enjoying your postponed celebrations later.
Archerphile and spouse, congratulations, I hope you have a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Mr and Mrs Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a wonderful day in lovely weather.
Best wishes to Madame et Monsieur Archerphile and their life together.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you both and have a wonderful golden day!🌞🌞
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Golden Wedding!!
DeleteTo the wife and husband Archerphile’s on this their golden wedding anniversary, I send a slushy Irish blessing.☘️
ReplyDeleteMay the sun always shine on your window pane
May a rainbow 🌈 be certain to follow each year
May the Hands of theses friends always be near you
May this blog fill your heart 💓 with gladness always to cheer you.
May the gift of your love continue into another happy golden yonder.
Anon☘️
Stasia - that’s beautiful. You have made me cry!
DeleteTHANK YOU, THANK YOU THANK YOU EVERYBODY
ReplyDeleteI really didn’t expect so many lovely comments and good wishes after my anniversary grumbling last week!
We have so much to be thankful for.
It’s a glorious day
We are going to see all the family in Dubai and England via Zoom at 2pm
Our daughter just dropped by to collect her eggs and shopping from the laundry basket outside our front door and left a beautiful box of home made (by granddaughter) gold-sprayed shortbread.
We have steak to cook tonight, courtesy of son in law who did our shopping in the week.
We are holding a ‘gate-party’ with our neighbours tonight. Them 2m away on their side, and us on ours. We will share the raspberry cheesecake Ive made and a bottle of Asti Spumante!
So all in all it’s turning out to be a great day for us.
But I almost feel guilty for celebrating at all at the present time, and keep thinking of the worry and agony so many families are going through at the moment. I just wish they could all be celebrating Easter, Passover, Birthdays and Anniversaries as usual at this time of year.
Keep well and safe dear friends.
Plenty going on, then, all set for a great day !
DeleteA belated Happy Anniversary to you both, Archerphile.
Not at all belated Carolyn, it’s still going on! 😄
DeleteHilary, like most of us on here I imagine, I love visiting cathedrals & churches - can't not pop into one wherever in the world I am. Will definitely check out your book choice!
ReplyDeleteMany congratulations on your anniversary, Mrs & Mr A.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you have everything in order to enjoy your special day.
Don't feel guilty about any of it - It's nice to hear something happy and positive is happening.
You won't forget this anniversary in a hurry, that's for sure.
Oh, and I'm going to make your pudding tomorrow, being blessed with half a bag of SR flour, and a FULL BOX of cornflour.
ReplyDelete(Don't tell Stasia...)
That’s splendid Mistral. I hope you have managed to sort out the sponge ingredients from the sauce ones, or it won’t work! Don’t hesitate to ask if not sure.
DeleteArcherfile, there will be other Easters, Passover’s, birthdays and anniversaries for everyone but this is your one and only fiftieth, golden day so celebrate without feeling guilty! 🥂😊👏👏🎉🎉
ReplyDeleteCarpe diem.. sieze the day archerphile. Never have 2 words meant so much..this is for everyone mind...i'll never take things for granted again..enjoy every moment.
DeleteFelicitations Mrs and Mr A🌼💫🎂🥂
ReplyDeleteEnjoy every moment of your day and hoping it is as memorable as 50 years ago. Good news at this time is more than welcome - thank you for sharing it with us.🤗
PS Looking forward to trying out your pudding recipe - I have a few ounces of plain flour and some bicarbonate of soda, so I might improvise, if I can work out how much of the latter to use 👩🏻🍳
Mistral
ReplyDeleteThe word has got around, you have cornflour. 🤔🤭
No secrets on the blog.🤫
Happy Anniversary Mr & Mrs Archerphile!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the steak and the gate-party!
Hilary, DID.
ReplyDeleteHave just spent a pleasant couple of hours listening to your choices.
Definitely a trip down memory lane. Bob Dylan, I can only listen to the early stuff reminds of school, protest and early venture into politics.
Also Joe Cocker and the Who, I have been to Woodstock and it is still hippy dippy. Even though the event was not actually in Woodstock but several miles away.
Chopin is relaxing. Although I always feel a bit sad when I listen, we played the funeral march at my mother funeral.
If there ever was an Anthem for what is happening in the world during this pandemic, then the Mozart has got to be top of the list.😥😥😪
I live with a medieval Historian and ‘Ships of Heaven’ is sitting in the study waiting for an opportunity to be taken to a cathedral. It is nice having my own guide so I don’t have to read the book.
Would it be your intention to write a book of your desert island experience?
Thank you.
Archerphile.
ReplyDeleteI am late joining in today, but I want to wish you:-
Congratulations to you + hubbie -
on your Golden Wedding Anniversary.
I am sure it is not the day you had originally planned, you both will remember it, for very different reasons. In 10 years time, when you are celebrating your Diamond Wedding, you will remember this.
I hope you are having a great day, and are making the most of the wonderful sunshine and quiet roads, along with your wonderful memories of April 11th, 1970.
PS I was still in school, doing O-levels, wearing a blazer, a skirt (as short I could get it by rolling the waistband over) and a straw boater.
I was in a quandray.
ReplyDeleteI have been sitting in the garden, sunglasses on with my reading ones linked in, reading a lovely book..
As the sun moved and the shadows increased, I needed to move my chair..but this meant I would be less than 2m away from some neighbours in their garden...so have come in.
Is this going too far??
The book I am now reading is...
DeleteThe Telephone Box Library, by Rachael Lucas. It is a lovely, no major plot, just life in a village.
I can relate its characters to Ambridge, in a wierd way. I am only half way through, but I am enjoying it.
I now know I need another costly pair of prescription sunglasses. The ones I have are for driving, but I need another pair of sunglasses, which are done to my reading glasses prescription, to save having to try + wear 2 pairs of glasses, at the same time.
DeleteAfter lockdown, I will visit my wonderful opticians, to see if this can be done, as photochromic lenses don't go dark enough for me. 😎
“The Red Telephone Box Library” my kind of easy read Miriam (checked it out on Amazon where you can look inside) and have taken note 👍
DeleteTake Care All....wherever you are, and with who-ever, you are with in "lockdown"
ReplyDeleteThings are so strange now, and are not going as planned eg Archerphile's Golden Wedding, Easter families get togethers etc..
But.. We Can, + will Survive...
Keep strong, all who only read, + those that contribute to, this wonderful site.
✔️✔️✔️👏🏻
DeleteMiriam, have you tried varifocal lenses? I changed to them a few years ago. I'm lucky not to need glasses for reading but they mean I can use them for close and distant vision. Before I had them I had to take off my glasses to see close stuff, eg car dashboard and other relatively close stuff.
ReplyDeleteI had 2 pairs made up, one as sunglasses.
I have found it so much easier since getting varifocals for both
Expensive , but well worth it
😎🤓 👓 🕶️
Thanks. It is another thought to think about, but I need quite dark sunglasses to drive in and read with..
DeleteIt is definitely something to discuss and then decide on.
Thank-you...🤗😎
My "driving" presciption sunglasses are perfect. Another pair of sunglasses - as vari-focals might just sort things out 🤞🤞
DeleteTo add..as a quick extra, the male robin is so busy in my garden...and going back into the nest, which is in my beech hedge (along with a blackbird nest.not far away)
ReplyDeleteI hope my "Puss Cat" doesn't learn where thesr are, but at nearly 15yrs old, she is not as active ..I know that feeling 😂
Miriam, re glasses again - before I got the varifocal prescription sunglasses, I was using ordinary sunglasses for reading or being in the sun.
ReplyDeleteThe prescription varifocal sunglasses 😎 opened up a whole new world 🌍😎
Gary, I hope you like the book. There’s a bit of everything in it really.
ReplyDeleteStasia, I am glad my music choices took you on a pleasant trip to days gone by. As for writing a desert island journal, well, I would doubtless have plenty of time, even more than now in this lockdown so who knows!
Miriam, I used to do exactly the same! When school was over I too would roll the waistband of my olive-green pleated skirt over (and over - what it must have looked like!) before meeting my friends for coffee across the road from Chichester cathedral. Happy days!
I did the rolling over the waistband on school skirt way back in the fifties.
ReplyDeleteI see now, that my granddaughter does it too.
Lady has surpassed herself this evening.
We have been doing sections of the Cotswolds Way recently and did a walk this evening on a lovely gentle grassy path and as it was nearing six, I wasn't surprised to see a rabbit ahead. It sat on the path ahead for some time before Lady saw it. She spends much of the time on her walks with her head down rabbit holes smelling them out, and sometimes digging deeper into the hole.
This was the first time that she had seen one.
It was quite some way off, but once spied she took off at lightning speed.
It was impressive to see, but very sad. It was only a baby.
In five minutes there was not a sinew left.
She received a top up of kibble only for her supper.
Flat out asleep for the rest of the evening.
I couldn’t do rolling over of school skirt waistbands in the 50s
ReplyDeleteOur uniform was a horrible bottle green tunic with a heart shaped neckline under which we had to wear horrible cream vyella blouses with school tie. You couldn’t shorten them at all as they didn’t have waistlines! When we reached the dizzy heights of 6th form we were allowed to ditch the tunics and wear sunray pleated green skirts - very unflattering for a fat girl like me. Our only way of trying to look trendy was to push the sleeves of the school pullover up to the elbows. We thought it looked ‘modern’, but the staff were always on at us to pull the cuffs down to our hands. Spoil sports!
I was at grammar school from late fifties to mid sixties. We went into skirts in the fourth form after gymslips. Yes we rolled up the waistbands and then came a fashion for thick black ribbed stockings held up by suspenders! The headmistress said they weren’t allowed but we carried on wearing them en masse so in the end she admitted defeat! In the sixth form we wore mufti so we all cut up and later ditched our awful berets!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter everyone 🤗🌼🐣🌈
ReplyDeleteJoyeuses fêtes de Pâques ! 🐣🐑🐇💐
ReplyDeleteNo joy here, no Easter 🥚 eggs = no 🍫 chocolate.
DeleteWe completed an on line delivery with Waitrose four weeks ago and still no available spots.
Yet they continue to send emails advertising chocolate eggs, bunnies and other tempting goodies.
Parsley are you making a chicken, lamb and rabbit casserole with edible flowers and puy lentils.? Sounds wonderful.
Seriously folks, please have an enjoyable stay at home 🐣 Easter.
In the same situation here Waitrose wise stasia. Apparently they have stated that they are getting up to 2 million visits a day to their website😱 if we leave our orders in the basket we may be first inline in time for Christmas 🤣
DeleteTo be fair to date I have not been an online shopper of theirs but spend a lot in their local store and M&S (pity they did not join Ocado last September) our neighbours daughter has an Ocado slot for Tuesday and has kindly ordered substantially for us and her parents bless her 🥰
My primary school uniform was a chocolate brown gym slip, white shirt, brown and orange striped tie and the blazer was edged in brown and orange striped, twisted shiny braid
ReplyDeleteA rather un-Easter comment but this is somewhat different to other Easters!
Was that the Licensed Victuallers School in Slough, by any chance? They had a uniform exactly like that some years ago.
DeleteCome to think of it, it sounds just like the uniform at Malory Towers, my beloved Enid Blyton series! Which, apparently has now been serialised but the BBC.
Well if it was chocolate brown that's Easterish! Happy Easter everyone. I found getting Easter eggs problematic this year so I melted down some dark chocolate bars yesterday and used a mould to make little chocolates, with either nuts, glace cherries or grapes in them.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we have Easter eggs ?
ReplyDeleteGenuine question. I must have once known the answer, but no longer.
I haven't had one for decades.
To make us fat! At least, that’s what they do for me!
DeleteI've just read of the death of Tim Brooke Taylor.. a great friend of radio listeners with I'm sorry I haven't a clue. Seemed such a nice man😟😟
ReplyDeleteOh no!! One of my favourites from the days of the Goodies to ISIHAC.
DeleteHope it was from natural causes and not Covid19, not that it will make any difference to his family or many, many fans. A great loss to British Comedy.
Sorry Archerphile - it WAS Covid 19.
DeleteI was brought up on the Goodies and loved him on ISIHAC.
And I have just heard of another death today - Stirling Moss. This is particularly sad for me as my brother was a friend and actually dated Stirling’s Sister a few times years ago.
ReplyDeleteBoth my brother & I were huge motor racing fans and often went to see him race at Goodwood and Silverstone. He was a real British hero back then, when motor racing success was due to the skill of the driver more than the engineers as it is today.
Mrs P, re why Easter eggs: they are a symbol of new life, of Christ emerging from the empty tomb, of rebirth and resurrection. I think also they weren’t eaten during lent so it was a breaking of the Lenten fast and the beginning of the Easter feast.
ReplyDeleteMy Gran would boil eggs in onion skins to colour them, and sometimes put our names on them by greasing the shell to stop the dye taking in places.
When I lived in a community with a number of German folk we would hang our decorated egg shells on a branch to make an Easter egg tree. I also learned how to make Easter bread which was a fruit dough plaited and glazed with rum, and the plait was wound into a circle so that coloured eggs could be placed in the middle. This made a centre piece for the breakfast table, which was covered with straw.
I think the chocolate eggs are a much more recent commercial offering instead of ‘real’ eggs. Not that I am complaining 🍫😋
DeleteYes, we used to make patterns on eggs with the end of a candle and then boil them in onion skins for a nice tan colour.
DeleteThanks Basia, I thought it was candle wax but I couldn’t quite remember.
DeleteThank you Seasider.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten the origins since I ignore the commercial aspects of most of these things.
I did by chance have some Hot Cross Buns this year however.
I have always thought the Easter Egg a symbol of the rolling away of the stone from the tomb where Jesus was laid...🤔
DeleteYes, Lady R, I am sure you are right. I had forgotten that part of it.
DeleteTerribly sad to hear of yet more deaths. Brighter news that Boris has been discharged from hospital.
ReplyDeleteNo hot cross buns for us this year 😪 not a tradition here & my baking skills are nul, but yummy chocolate rabbits thanks to the local boulangerie /pâtisserie ! & sorry to disappoint you Stasia, but supper is a veal casserole with olives!
ReplyDeleteSupper will be Champagne for me. Why not...?
DeleteAlso v sad to hear of the deaths of Stirling Moss and Tim Brooke - Taylor. Oh dear, what times.
ReplyDeleteNot forgetting Peter Bonetti, the legendary Chelsea & England goalkeeper who died today too. It's all becoming too, too much...
DeleteA sad day. 😣
DeleteYes a sad day indeed.
DeletePleased to hear of Boris' discharge from hospital.
And the death toll has reached ten thousand today.
ReplyDeleteGrey clouds all day, very much cooler, and I think rain will appear soon. Big Sis 23miles away (in Wales) already has rain.
ReplyDeleteI am going to enjoy my Easter Sunday meal - Welsh lamb chops, a red wine gravy with mint sauce + red currant jel (with port) and veg:- runner beans, cauli, carrots, brocolli, not forgetting the roast pots.
I have had a long soak in the bath, washed + styled my "shaggy" hair, and I have now dressed up, wearing smart trousers plus top.
I felt I needed to perk things up, even in "lockdown"..
👏🏻 🤗
DeleteLadies - The smart tailored navy trousers, I am now wearing, are from M+S (the only place I can get trousers to fit. Their size 8, regular length, are the only ones which fit me).
DeleteThe top, I am wearing to match my trousers, is from one of my favourite places - Phase Eight, though I only buy when there is a sale on.. ££
Miriam - I bought a lovely dress in Phase Eight for my daughter to wear to a wedding. Lovely stuff in their sale.
DeleteAndrea Bocelli is performing live from The Duomo in Milan at 18.00 (BST) alongside an organist - it is being streamed live on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteYouTube address is - "Andrea Bocelli : Music For Hope - Live From Duomo di Milano"
Wow 😢
DeleteI cried.
DeleteI finished the book I mentioned, yesterday.
ReplyDeleteIt was just a lovely read, no plot as such, but was just about village life.
It was not my normal type of book, but I really enjoyed it.
How lovely. As TA finished, an archive episode of "Just a Minute" started, with the late, great, Nicholas Parsons.
ReplyDeleteMuch better than the TV. 😁
OMG - I am hearing thunder, but no lightning yet.
ReplyDeleteOne of the eagles, a female, has just returned after a six day jaunt to East Anglia! She is half of a hopeful pairing with a male here on the island. Apparently it is part of the growing up period that they go on journeys to get the lie of the land. Lovely that she has come back home!🦅
ReplyDeleteAll I've had to eat for the past two days is a cup of soup yesterday and another today as am feeling really sick at the smell of food. Middle son had to eat his roast lamb alone in the kitchen. I haven't even been tempted by my giant Guylian Egg bought by youngest son! 😪
ReplyDeleteDear Spicy, that is so sad, not to even fancy your lovely Easter Egg. I do hope your appetite picks up in the next few days. I’m sure the medics would say you need to keep your strength up.
DeleteSo sorry to hear that Spicy it sounds wretched and 🤞your appetite will increase a little soon. I am thinking of you 🥰
ReplyDeleteI hope you start feeling better soon, Spiceycushion.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile 1.32 pm: My primary school was Roseacre in Blackpool. Curiously, I am reading a book called Chronicles of Fairacre about a village primary school in the fifties which vividly reminds me of those sweet days of infancy.
Ahh another book to make a note of ✔️ 🤗
DeleteMiss Read of course, so I have read them all!
DeleteBy Miss Read, Hilary! I read all of her books and loved them and actually met her at a book signing. I think her real name was Dora Saint.
ReplyDeleteYes, I still have all her Fairacre and Thrush Green books. She lived not far away in Newbury and had been a village school teacher herself.
DeleteI really loved the little pen & Ink illustrations by John Goodall which made the books so special.
If you really enjoy the one you are reading Hilary, there are plenty more. The Thrush Green series is very similar, about a village but not concentrating on the school.
Yes, they are just perfect right now to escape to a safe and gentle place.
DeleteThank you for reminding me about the Chopin Nocturne ,Hilary..
ReplyDeleteIt is a piece of music I haven’t heard for a while.
I didn’t realise that Elvis Costello had such a lovely voice .
It is a lovely feeling, Lanjan , to have caused been able to cause pleasure. I absolutely adored FOUR of your DID choices!
DeleteActually I had never even heard of Elvis Costello - or Snow Patrol, my DID number one - Before either!
*** DESERT ISLAND DISCS ***
ReplyDeleteAnd the next name out of the hat is......... Janice! Enjoy!
The YouTube clip of Chopin’s nocturne has my second favourite painting as the cover picture: Starry Night by Van Gogh!
ReplyDeleteHilary, talking of Van Gogh’s Starry Night painting has reminded me that one of the discs I had to weed out of my DID selection was “Vincent” by Don Maclean . I just love the tune and words referring to “Starry, starry night”. Used to know them off by heart but would probably struggle now!
Delete
ReplyDelete1 Russ Conway Roulette
Mum played honky tonk music with a real swing. As children we encouraged her to play faster and faster.
2 Hauser Pas de Deux (cello version) from the Nutcracker.
Two sisters retired to our village. Mother discovered they had once run a ballet school and before I had time to say " not likely" I found myself having ballet lessons. Eventually horses won out but I have fond memories of these two ladies with strange accents, one playing piano and the other attempting to turn me into a ballerina.
3 Maddy Prior The Padstow May Song
May 1st is for me the beginning of summer with the day and night long Mayday at Padstow - with two teams of "Osses", drummers, accordionists and dancers. The constant beat of the drums reverberating through narrow streets together with the rhythm of the movement is trance inducing. It celebrates the death of Winter and the coming of Summer, and is also partly an ancient fertility rite (socially acceptable A.I. in times gone past ) with women being taken under the skirts of the "Oss". Wherever I was away working about 3 weeks before May 1st the drums would start beating in my head calling me home.
This is Maddy Prior singing the daytime song, but without the loud drums.
4 The Dubliners Fields of Athenry.
My time of growing awareness of social injustice, protesting, and also Nationalism (Cornish).
5 Mike Rowland The Fairy Ring.
His music has been with me since my 20's. The time of meditation/exploration of deeper consciousness/ and the realisation of an underlying unity. "We are all one or none" Bronner.
6 John Denver Annie's Song
Sorry Stasia, couldn't leave it out.
7 2Cellos ( Hauser and Sulic) Moonriver
Probably my favourite instrument. These two play from the heart and are very versatile musicians playing both rock and classical concerts. If you look at this on YouTube the official video is very nice with a shadow ballerina in the background.
8 Enya If I could be where you are.
Book to take would be " The Complete Book of Self-sufficiency" by John Seymour.
The luxury. Assuming this is a tropical island with bright sunshine then I am going to play with light. I would like to take with me a lifetime's supply of stained glass - both smooth and textured, and of every shade of colour including dichroic; and all the equipment needed to work with it. I am going to fill that island with paths, pools and sculptures of coloured light. In the centre of the island and on a high point I would create the equivalent of a stone circle but in glass and aligned so that each solstice sunrise has a different beam of colour, green for Spring, gold for Summer, red for Autumn and blue for Winter, and in the centre would be a slab of dichroic glass.
Music to take will be the 2Cellos but please can I take a whole album?
Thank you Gary for giving us such a fun thing to do.
My post to Spiceycushion last night appears not to have been published.
ReplyDeleteI was commiserating on yet a further miserable condition on top of everything else.
Namely nausea.
I think you have been dealt the most awful situation Spicey and I am really so very sorry that you are going through this.
I wish there was more we could do other than to send words of comfort and virtual hugs.
And hope in spades, for your recovery.
I have just spent my first experience of Face Time with my family.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and granddaughter were re using cards and turning them into Christmas and birthday cards for the future. Towards the end grandson and other granddaughter joined them to say hello.
Janice, I've just listened to the cellos and Moon River.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely.
Thank you
Janice, I loved the vivid explanations for your choices, so rich in significant memories.
ReplyDeleteAs for your brilliantly creative luxury - how inspiring ! ( I bet the coloured lights streaming from the island would ensure rescue before you'd finished playing all 8 pieces...)
Haven't started listening yet to the music, too much to catch up on. Maybe I should start with yours & go backwards to Hilary, & then others' choices, the pieces I've missed...
Janice I.have just been singing along to John Denver's song. My mum loved him. He died tragically when his private plane,which he was flying, crashed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice! I love, love, love Moon River.
ReplyDeleteJanice, your choice of luxury is inspired. I could do without music or books to experience the wonderful works of art you would create on the island (if I was marooned after you!)
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant choice by Janice.
ReplyDeleteThere is so much to listen to again, but in a new + different way, and many to listen to, for the first time.
I am also an "Annie's Song" lover, and I found recently a short video of James Galway (flute) dueting with John Denver (with guitar) in a break of a rehearsal, for a John Denver concert.
The two greatest performers of this lovely song together, for this one-off, simple duet.
This just shows, how interesting, that this wonderful DID is inspiring us all so much.
Thank-you GG.
It is so inspiring.
Janice. I have just travelled through a time machine of emotions.
ReplyDeleteI love Maddy Prior but found a different version recorded in Padstow in 1945 by the BBC and used in a film made in 1953 explaining the tradition of the song and OSS. Absolutely fascinating. I think it was originally collected by the EFDSS. Twenty minutes of a time past. You might have heard of some of the characters.
The J Denver song Annie I found difficult to listen to as it was chosen by my brother for his funeral, a love song to his wife. He was 34 when he died.
I first saw the Dubliners when I was 14 in Belfast and they were the original group. They stole our skipping songs.☘️
I also find the cello very relaxing and Edna’s haunting voice is extremely ethereal.
I had to look up Dichroic glass, had never heard of it.
Your island sounds like a haven of tranquility and relaxation.
Thank you so very much.
To add, my "Little Sis" had a very positive S/bury's "Click + Collect" collection today. She ordered it on-line, had a set pick up time, with a security code. The collection point, was well away from the main entrance with a separate door + designated parking. She punched in the security code in a keypad. Her shopping appearead in a trolley, all bagged up. There was no personal contact, so all she + her daughter had to do, was to put it into the car and place the trolley in a designated place, to then be disifected.
ReplyDeleteThe only things she didn't get, was J-cloths + baked beans, but everything else, was as ordered.
I mention her experience, as it might be an alternative for those, who are having problems, with on-line delivery slots.
She lives in north Norfolk, which is very quiet. There are no holiday lets, be they cottages, caravans, boats etc. and those with weekend cotrages, holiday homes are not appearing.
DeleteHer own rental cottage, in a village not far from her main residence, is empty + all bookings are cancelled. She is not at all worried, as she is trying to sell it, and it is mortgage-free.
Her poor hubbie, goes there once a week, to check it out + maintain the garden.
This is not within the lockdown rules, as such, but he keeps himself isolated and just wants to check this property is OK.
They also own a flat in Leeds (where a daughter lived - but relocated to Mum + Dad). This is now left empty and they hope it will still be intact, with no damage, when they can see it again - whenever that may be.
I have just read, how many more calls to "domestic abuse" call lines, have recently been made.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sad and awful situation, to be in.
Janice, THANK YOU 💕
ReplyDeleteJanice....thank you for introducing me to Hauser. 😍 you made a middle aged woman very happy!! Loved both cello pieces and the mike rowland piece. Can’t go wrong with Annie’s song.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately for me, the Enya track is what I’d call “ music to slit your wrists to”.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY” 🎂 💐 Mrs P we your virtual friends will all be with you in spirit. Some amongst us drinking them too I’ve no doubt - no names no pack drill you understand they know who they are 🤣🤣🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteWe are all now set fair for our hand washing ritual today 😉
Happy Birthday indeed, Mrs P. It'll probably be the strangest one you've ever experienced, but including good, celebratory moments too !
ReplyDeleteCheers 🏝️🏖️🎵🎶
Happy birthday to you
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear Mrs P
Happy birthday to you.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Happy Birthday Mrs P - I hope Lady and Puss make your day special.
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day Mrs P! It will be a rather different birthday this year but hopefully just as enjoyable for you, perhaps in different ways. Sending many congratulations & love on your special day . 💐 🍰🍸
ReplyDeleteMrsP Happy Birthday!
ReplyDeleteYes, have a happy day, Mrs P!🎂🥂🎉
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday MrsP! 🎂🍸🎈🎁
ReplyDeleteFrom me too.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Mrs P.
Birthday wishes from me too. I hope you have some treats lined up 🥂🎂
ReplyDeleteThis is your day, celebrate as best you can.
Delete🥳🎂🧁🍰💥
Happy birthday MrsP.
Happy Birthday Mrs P from me too.
DeleteBefore I get locked out again - Happy Birthday Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteHello Minty! Long time no hear - hope you and yours are well!
DeleteThank you Gary, yes we are fine at the mo, hope you and Mr GG are well. For ages I couldn't log in / publish and was constantly locked out, but still enjoyed popping in to read all the comments - became a lurker!
DeleteI felt I had to make a serious attempt to log in on the Anniversary blog for such an auspicious occasion and to say Thank You - and of course now I have the time to apply myself to Google recovery codes, verification emails, ID checks etc - and I'm in again. I wonder how long it will last.
I wish I had the answer to people's logging in/out problems Minty - it does seem to drive some of you mad! Fingers crossed that you can remain connected to us this time.....
DeleteI have just heard that a new craze is in vogue across the land. It’s called the Mary Beard look, very fashionable.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately it doesn’t come with extra brain cells.
I’m definitely working towards emulating the look.💇🏽♀️💇🏽
Happy Birthday, Mrs P from me too!
ReplyDeleteHappy happy birthday and hope Lady makes a big fuss of you today! 🎂🎁💐🌻
ReplyDeleteArcherphile, 6.29, thank you for mentioning Don Maclean’s Starry, Starry Night. I have just listened to it on YouTube, complete with lyrics and many paintings. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it Hilary. It’s one if my favourite non-classical discs, along with Neil Diamond’s ‘Song Sung Blue’.
DeleteHope you have a lovely day Mrs P.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday🌹🌹
Happy birthday Mrs P. I hope you manage to celebrate via video link with your family. We did that for my son's birthday last week.
ReplyDeleteGianna you should have said because as these special days arrive we can sing to the birthday person every time we wash our hands that day 🤣
DeleteTrust you enjoyed your day all the same 💐
Thank you all for the multitude of birthday wishes.
ReplyDeleteActually, this day will be little different to most of my birthdays. I have invariably spent many of them alone.
Because my B day has almost always fallen at Easter or during the Easter holidays I was never at school as a child. As a consequence I made it my business to book that day as a day off when working. I never revealed it was my birthday, just had a day off.
In the years when my mother and I were both alone and living on opposite sides of Wimbledon Common we would meet up on the common with our dogs and have breakfast together. It was nice to be able to say thank you for giving birth to me.
My favourite day out would be a visit to a zoo, but with Lady and the lockdown not possible, I shall visit Chester Zoo website, and break ( bend) the current rules and drive the few short miles out to the Severn to drink in the vast expanse of water, and walk a section of the Severn way.
Stasia 10:12, glad I'm not alone! Starting to resemble one of those Merino sheep gone AWOL.... 😱🐑😂
ReplyDeleteI cut my fringe and hair and even others say it looks good.
DeleteI don't enjoy going to the hairdresser's any more (I'm not alone), *to me* it now feels like going to the doctor's, but may do so some time in the distant future without an appointment.
Joyeux Anniv Mme P ! 🎉🎉🥂
ReplyDeleteHeads up
ReplyDeleteThe wonderful Neil McGregor with One Hundred Objects
Being repeated on R4 - 1.45 pm M-F.
Another jewel in the crown of the BBC
Absolutely, Mrs P.
DeleteReally admire Neil McGregor, a superb promoter of galleries & museums. Before he took over the British Museum ( think he's now over in Germany ? Perhaps the Pergamon, or retired?), He was an excellent director of the National Gallery here.
Re Stasia post re the Mary Beard look.
ReplyDeleteCome to Stroud and every second middle aged woman resembles her.
But I bet she surpasses them all in intellect, engagement with subject, & energy!
DeleteI am just been sent a poem.
ReplyDeleteI cannot forward it, but is worth looking for.
It will bring a smile to you.
This is titled:-
"A Time For Us Girls",
by Pam Ayres.
Males will also appreciate this, I am sure. 😆
I am not doing the Mary Beard look, I am the "Dulux Dog" look.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Janice + Mrs.P.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I only have just now realised, but:-
"Happy Birthday".
I also am having logging in. I cannot do this on my main PC, as shows my "comment as.." my normal e-mail account and not the one, I originally logged on with. I have tried to sort it, but end up, exactly the same.
When I use my phone (android), I come onto an old page, which I have to change quickly, to then finally find, the current ones!
At least I can still join in, with a bit of difficulty, so I will to continue to do what I am doing, as I don't want to lose access, completely.
I meant, that I also having trouble finding this site, especially as I have never "logged out".
DeleteJust had a go at putting our wedding day photo on my profile to share with you all, but it’s so tiny there’s not much point!
ReplyDeleteSo I might try to find something a bit more suitable, if I can.
Delete