The rain is coming down, & with it the temperature is falling too. The woollies have been dug out once more.
I'm having another lazy morning. The Fox is cooking today. He's doing a risotto so there's nothing for me to prepare.
So far I've finished my current jigsaw, Brueghel's "The Tower of Babel". We're off to the library this afternoon & I'd like to exchange it when we're there. I've enjoyed the jigsaw. I can't help it says something about the society it reflects when you see some of the workmen cowering in front on their lord, hands grasped in supplication to him. The lord must have been very powerful, the workman with none, dependent on the favour of the lord for his very existence. I'm also struck by how the gibbets used for pulleys to lift the heavy stone employed by the medieval workman resemble hangman's gibbets &, at times, the crucifixion cross.
Since finishing the jigsaw I've progressed onto the computer & was pleased to discover a couple of e-mails concerning proposed tours in South Africa. The first e-mail sounded exhausting. The young lass - yes, she sounds young to me - is obviously proud of her country & keen for us to see as much as possible on our trip. However, I think she's forgetting she is dealing with disabled people. Unfortunately for many disabled people, myself included, disability involves fatigue. I'm just not sure how I could cope with a few weeks of non-stop activity, even if some of that activity involves being driven around by someone else. It was with relief that I read the second e-mail which suggested a slightly less hectic schedule. But the all important thing hasn't been broached yet - the cost. Until that comes through it's difficult to come to any decision. But it certainly sounds exciting & potentially a wonderful holiday.
Thursday 31 May 2012
Wednesday 30 May 2012
Trips
We're off to the hospital this afternoon. This time it's related to the Fox's tinnitus problems.We're hoping this time they've got all the results of the tests he had done last year. Last time they were lost, making the visit largely a waste of time. Without the results how could the audiologist possibly give specific relevant advice about his condition? She couldn't even certain whether the best solution was a hearing aid!
As we are on the far side of Lancaster for the hospital we're thinking of a visit to a rather nice garden centre on that side of town. If nothing else we need some compost for earthing up the spuds.
We're even thinking of maybe eating out. By then Lancaster is likely to be getting busy, & Lancaster in rush hour is a nightmare. Even if we do get home to eat we will have a simple ready meal from the freezer. Either way it means I'm having a really lazy morning.
So far I've got as far as a shower - the hot water seems to be loosening some of my ear wax. One of these days I hope to be hearing clearly again!
Then I rang a travel company to get the idea of the price for a winter holiday in South Africa. We've not really decided if it's on or not, but it will be easier to decide once we've got some idea of costs, dates & possible itineraries.
The company is the one we went on the Rhine Cruise with last year. Whatever else they do they are very good at ensuring wheelchair access. If we do go we would like to see some of the country & its wildlife not just a city such as Cape Town, or a beach resort along the coast. Our own self-drive tours no longer seem very feasible since the Fox's stroke but most tour operators are not very reliable when it comes to access. I am particularly nervous when some of the time is spent in safari parks where I suspect some accommodation may well be quite rustic. Tents aren't on these days. We're not up to roughing it.
Meanwhile life goes on quietly at home. The Fox was amazed to notice the behaviour of one of our blackbirds. We were just finishing our wine - yes, we're back inside, too cold out - when he saw her on the bird table. She started feeding. Her head dipped up & down for a good 20 minutes as she scoffed herself. She must have been starving! I suspect she was also filling up to regurgitate to some young back in the nest. Her partner sat on the trellis keeping an wary eye out to let her gorge in peace.
As we are on the far side of Lancaster for the hospital we're thinking of a visit to a rather nice garden centre on that side of town. If nothing else we need some compost for earthing up the spuds.
We're even thinking of maybe eating out. By then Lancaster is likely to be getting busy, & Lancaster in rush hour is a nightmare. Even if we do get home to eat we will have a simple ready meal from the freezer. Either way it means I'm having a really lazy morning.
So far I've got as far as a shower - the hot water seems to be loosening some of my ear wax. One of these days I hope to be hearing clearly again!
Then I rang a travel company to get the idea of the price for a winter holiday in South Africa. We've not really decided if it's on or not, but it will be easier to decide once we've got some idea of costs, dates & possible itineraries.
The company is the one we went on the Rhine Cruise with last year. Whatever else they do they are very good at ensuring wheelchair access. If we do go we would like to see some of the country & its wildlife not just a city such as Cape Town, or a beach resort along the coast. Our own self-drive tours no longer seem very feasible since the Fox's stroke but most tour operators are not very reliable when it comes to access. I am particularly nervous when some of the time is spent in safari parks where I suspect some accommodation may well be quite rustic. Tents aren't on these days. We're not up to roughing it.
Meanwhile life goes on quietly at home. The Fox was amazed to notice the behaviour of one of our blackbirds. We were just finishing our wine - yes, we're back inside, too cold out - when he saw her on the bird table. She started feeding. Her head dipped up & down for a good 20 minutes as she scoffed herself. She must have been starving! I suspect she was also filling up to regurgitate to some young back in the nest. Her partner sat on the trellis keeping an wary eye out to let her gorge in peace.
Monday 28 May 2012
Tricks of the mind
It's certainly been hot. the last couple of ddays we've been dining outside. On the shed wall, behind the Fox's head, I've glanced at the thermometer - 34C, very un-English temperatures, especially for the north! I anticipate us sweltering once more tonght, as I'm planning to cook prawns in a chilli tomato sauce with linguine for dinner.
Over the weekend I've been doing another jigsaw. This time it's been a watercolour of Crail Harbour. As soon as the Fox saw the picture he instantly recognised it. We visied Crail in the 1980s when we went for a few days touring holiday in the Trossachs & Fife. On the way back homeward from St Andrews, our last overnight stop, we followed the Fife coast before crossing over the Forth Bridge to Edinburgh. We stopped briefly at Crail on the way.
I associate it as a place with lots of lobster pots strewn around the harbour. Definitely a fishing port. Small,though. A pleasant quiet spot.
When I chose the jigsaw I hadn't immediately made the association. Most of this artist's work, or at least those that appear as jigsaws, have been of places in the Cornwall / Devon area, places like Padstow, Mevagissey, St Ives, an area of England I've never visited. I'd just assumed Crail must have been somewhere around there.
I will admit the name sounded familiar. I'd even thought about that holiday & this fishing village in Scotland, only I'd got it in my head it was called Crieff. Strange how the memory works.
Saturday 26 May 2012
The warm spell
It looks as though my dream is going to be fulfilled - a prolonged spell of warm sunny weather. I'm already starting to regret it. How fickle can you get! We have a wind - yes, wind not breeze - but it's a warm wind that doesn't refresh much. It's already becoming very airless.
Still, today we're hoping to get the table & chairs out so we can dine out in this warm weather. We just hope the wind won't blow these lightweight plastic items all over the garden.
The lawn is covered with petals as the apple & pear trees, the cherry & willow, all shed their blossoms & catkins. The lawn already has a fair amount of white in it from the daisies growing there. The mowing only takes their heads off for a short time before the next bunch of flowers appear.
I had a shock yesterday. I went to open up the plastic covers over the veg beds. I thought I might as well have a look at the potato bags while I was there. I couldn't believe it. A frog. I don't know how he managed the roughly 2ft jump in, but now he looked stuck, baking in the unrelenting sun with no shade to retreat into. I hastily, & gently, scooped him up & put him on the bog garden where he quickly hopped off, under the cover of the plants.
I'm really looking forward to a quiet weekend of doing nothing very much, maybe a sit in the sun with my book, just being lazy. There will, of course, be some things to do, like roasting the gammon joint for dinner today but that doesn't require too much effort.
Still, today we're hoping to get the table & chairs out so we can dine out in this warm weather. We just hope the wind won't blow these lightweight plastic items all over the garden.
The lawn is covered with petals as the apple & pear trees, the cherry & willow, all shed their blossoms & catkins. The lawn already has a fair amount of white in it from the daisies growing there. The mowing only takes their heads off for a short time before the next bunch of flowers appear.
I had a shock yesterday. I went to open up the plastic covers over the veg beds. I thought I might as well have a look at the potato bags while I was there. I couldn't believe it. A frog. I don't know how he managed the roughly 2ft jump in, but now he looked stuck, baking in the unrelenting sun with no shade to retreat into. I hastily, & gently, scooped him up & put him on the bog garden where he quickly hopped off, under the cover of the plants.
I'm really looking forward to a quiet weekend of doing nothing very much, maybe a sit in the sun with my book, just being lazy. There will, of course, be some things to do, like roasting the gammon joint for dinner today but that doesn't require too much effort.
Friday 25 May 2012
A contrast of chateaux
The thought has occurred to me I haven't written too much about our holiday in the Dordogne. It's time for another episode.
As we've both said in our blogs, it was wet, very wet, so we had to find indoor activities. Among other things we visited a couple of chateaux. Their styles were very different, reflecting the changing times in which they were built.
The oldest chateau was the Chateau de Losse. This was undeniably built as a fortification. It was built on the banks of the Vezere river, giving it protection from attack from that direction.
The Losse family moved here in the 11th century, building this castle. Subsequently it was at the centre of the medieval Hundred Years War & the 16th century French Wars of Religion. As greater peace established itself in the 17th century, the family adapted it to more modern life, building a permanent bridge across what was the moat, using one turret as a dovecote & developing some extensive gardens.
Unfortunately the gardens were not at their best. Not long before the temperatures had got down to -17C during the day, with the result that many plants had died & were having to be replaced. The cold had killed them off.
The other chateau we visited was the Chateau de Hautfort. There was a castle built here in the 9th century. The present castle, though is a complete reconstruction built in the 17th century, when the Marquis de Hautfort was in the service of Louis XIII & First Equerry to Queen Anne as well a counsellor to the King.
This is a place more reminiscent of the many Loire Chateaux, not to mention Versailles. Indeed it used some of the people involved in the design of the latter. It's a true pleasure palace, reflecting the importance & wealth of its owner.
This chateau, too is strategically placed above the village of Hautfort, dominating the countryside for miles around, only this time one suspects it was located for the view from the chateau rather than its defensive qualities.
It, too, had magnificent gardens. There are very formal with elegant box hedges, again very much in the style of Versailles.
The interior was opulent, too, though unfortunately much was lost in a terrible fire in 1968. Much effort has been made to restore it to its former glory.
The Marquis did not spend all his wealth on himself. He also did much to build & support the hospital at Hautfort which I have already written about. and that is probably why the family survived the French Revolution as the family protected them in return.
As we've both said in our blogs, it was wet, very wet, so we had to find indoor activities. Among other things we visited a couple of chateaux. Their styles were very different, reflecting the changing times in which they were built.
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| Chateau de Losse |
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| The gatehouse |
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| View along the old moat to a turret |
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| Knot garden going down to the river |
The other chateau we visited was the Chateau de Hautfort. There was a castle built here in the 9th century. The present castle, though is a complete reconstruction built in the 17th century, when the Marquis de Hautfort was in the service of Louis XIII & First Equerry to Queen Anne as well a counsellor to the King.
This is a place more reminiscent of the many Loire Chateaux, not to mention Versailles. Indeed it used some of the people involved in the design of the latter. It's a true pleasure palace, reflecting the importance & wealth of its owner.
This chateau, too is strategically placed above the village of Hautfort, dominating the countryside for miles around, only this time one suspects it was located for the view from the chateau rather than its defensive qualities.
 | ||
| Chateau de Hautfort, high above the village |
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| The gardens & beyond |
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| Yet more gardens |
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| A tunnel of trees |
The Marquis did not spend all his wealth on himself. He also did much to build & support the hospital at Hautfort which I have already written about. and that is probably why the family survived the French Revolution as the family protected them in return.
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| The Musee de la Medecine in the former hospital |
Off colour
I'm sorry I've not been back before, but unfortunately I've not been well. On Wednesday night, at about 4.30am, I was violently sick. I'm not sure what brought this on. The Fox fears it might be the meal he cooked, but I can't see why his spag bol should have caused such a dire effect on me while having no such ill-effect on him.
Since then I've felt distinctly uneasy. My stomach has been aching badly - I suspect bruised from the retching. I've been very nervous eating for fear I wouldn't be able to keep it down. But I have. My stomach is finally easing off this morning & I'm feeling more like myself.
I'm putting it down to one of those blips that happens from time to time. I've been fearing a recurrence & a further trip to the doctors'. It has to be admitted I've had the odd stomach ache ever since I went to the surgery after Christmas but this is the first time I've actually ended up being sick.
As I say, it's hopefully just one of those things & is now passed, or at least passing. Fortunately the Fox has had no such problems. He's just been getting worried about me.
Since then I've felt distinctly uneasy. My stomach has been aching badly - I suspect bruised from the retching. I've been very nervous eating for fear I wouldn't be able to keep it down. But I have. My stomach is finally easing off this morning & I'm feeling more like myself.
I'm putting it down to one of those blips that happens from time to time. I've been fearing a recurrence & a further trip to the doctors'. It has to be admitted I've had the odd stomach ache ever since I went to the surgery after Christmas but this is the first time I've actually ended up being sick.
As I say, it's hopefully just one of those things & is now passed, or at least passing. Fortunately the Fox has had no such problems. He's just been getting worried about me.
Tuesday 22 May 2012
A bit of sunshine
At last the sun seems to be appearing. I'm still not convinced the summer is here but at least it's great to revel in some warmth & sunshine for the moment.
Monday is the day our carer-cum-cleaner, Angie, comes. She was in good mood, anticipating a good day, with all her clients in better mood than usual. The sun seems to have that effect on people.
I managed to get my washing dry. I seem to have had a lot this week so it was a relief to get it out & dry so quick.
This morning it is noticeable that the central heating hasn't come on once - the first time this year. I've done my chore of the morning, preparing some ham & mushroom pancakes for dinner this evening, so I'm contemplating spending the rest of the morning, sitting outside with my novel, with the occasional intermission to watch the blackbirds scuttling across the lawn. How lazy can you get!
There's no denying it, a bit of blue skies & warmth does wonders for the old morale.
Monday is the day our carer-cum-cleaner, Angie, comes. She was in good mood, anticipating a good day, with all her clients in better mood than usual. The sun seems to have that effect on people.
I managed to get my washing dry. I seem to have had a lot this week so it was a relief to get it out & dry so quick.
This morning it is noticeable that the central heating hasn't come on once - the first time this year. I've done my chore of the morning, preparing some ham & mushroom pancakes for dinner this evening, so I'm contemplating spending the rest of the morning, sitting outside with my novel, with the occasional intermission to watch the blackbirds scuttling across the lawn. How lazy can you get!
There's no denying it, a bit of blue skies & warmth does wonders for the old morale.
Sunday 20 May 2012
The first green shoots
The Fox comes in. He's grinning. He whoops with joy. He's just been out to tuck up his veg for the night. At present the tomatoes are in a bed with a plastic cover which we open during the day & zip up for the night. The nights are still very cold & we don't want them to catch a chill.
So what's happened to cause this glee?
While the Fox was out, he stopped to say a few words of encouragement to all his other veg & had been amazed to see the first green shoots appearing in the potato bags. They're on their way. They've clearly got going, though they've a long way to go yet.
So this morning, I go out to feed the birds - some fat from yesterday's roast - & to unzip the covers. While I'm out there I check on the spuds. There is indeed the first shoots appearing.
We'd already concluded the tomatoes are looking bushier & healthier. The peas have started to wind their first tendrils around the netting we put up for them to climb. The beans are just looking healthier as though they've settled into their new homes.
It certainly looks as though the signs are looking hopeful. So far.
So what's happened to cause this glee?
While the Fox was out, he stopped to say a few words of encouragement to all his other veg & had been amazed to see the first green shoots appearing in the potato bags. They're on their way. They've clearly got going, though they've a long way to go yet.
So this morning, I go out to feed the birds - some fat from yesterday's roast - & to unzip the covers. While I'm out there I check on the spuds. There is indeed the first shoots appearing.
We'd already concluded the tomatoes are looking bushier & healthier. The peas have started to wind their first tendrils around the netting we put up for them to climb. The beans are just looking healthier as though they've settled into their new homes.
It certainly looks as though the signs are looking hopeful. So far.
Friday 18 May 2012
All black
There are times when I question whether I still suffer from depression. I've not been on medication for it for a while now, a couple of years at least. My conclusion is yes. Rarely a day goes by that I don't question my life & what the point is in being alive. I feel most of the time as though I'm balancing on a sharp edge, wobbling rather. Wobble too far & I will fall well & truly into the pit of despair, never to come out again. It is very tiring constantly trying to avoid the fall & yet I can't manage to take that step away from the edge where life would possibly be more secure.
Yesterday was a bad day for me. I suppose it didn't start well when I saw just how dark a morning it was. It felt like I was getting up in the middle of the night & yet is nearly 9am, late for me to rise. It was just that the skies were so shrouded in dark clouds & rain descended on the world that the whole world looked black.
The world wasn't helped by the fact that I'm having ear wax problems One ear was virtually blocked so I felt as though I had my head in a balloon or something, all sound being distorted. My eyes have always been unreliable. I was born severely cross-eyed. I had an operation to rectify it when I was about 4. However, ever since, if I'm off colour, my eyes don't focus well. It's not surprising migraines manifest themselves in visual distortions. As a result I've always depended heavily on my sense of hearing so this loss of hearing deeply disturbs me. Unfortunately these days the surgery won't syringe ears & the drops alone don't seem to fully clear them & often cause inflammation in them. Today the hearing's totally gone in that ear & the other one is blocking quickly.
I dragged myself through a shower & got dinner prepared. Then the post came. that didn't help. While we had been away, we accidentally scratched the hire car. Yesterday the bill
for the repairs arrived. Over 1000 euros! As you can see from the photo we didn't even get down to bare metal. It was a five minute spray job. We'd even contemplated buying a can & doing it ourselves before we returned the car. Admittedly nearly half the price is the car hire charge for the holiday, but we have already paid for that once. I'm aware we have a choice of paying up meekly or gearing ourselves up for a fight, the last thing I feel up to doing at the moment. I'm not even sure that the Fox could cope with the stress. But I object to being had & that's what I feel this is.
We ended up going up to Pub in the afternoon. PD earned our friendship by making us laugh a bit, & certainly distracting us. We had an excellent dinner of home-made Steak Wellingtons - a delicious treat that should have put us in better spirits. Nonetheless by the time I was ready for bed I'd concluded I needed to take a sleeping pill. I needed to escape into oblivion & the state I felt I was in was guaranteed to be a night of tossing ahead if I didn't take a pill.
The sleeping pill worked but the stresses haven't gone away. Now I've also got to contend with a residual mugginess from the pill.
I'm telling myself I'm just going through a bad patch. Just cling on. I will get through this. I'm off to disappear into a jigsaw featuring two playful kittens. Hopefully when the jigsaw is done I will be back to my more normal self. Hopefully I'll be more my cheerful self when next I write.
Yesterday was a bad day for me. I suppose it didn't start well when I saw just how dark a morning it was. It felt like I was getting up in the middle of the night & yet is nearly 9am, late for me to rise. It was just that the skies were so shrouded in dark clouds & rain descended on the world that the whole world looked black.
The world wasn't helped by the fact that I'm having ear wax problems One ear was virtually blocked so I felt as though I had my head in a balloon or something, all sound being distorted. My eyes have always been unreliable. I was born severely cross-eyed. I had an operation to rectify it when I was about 4. However, ever since, if I'm off colour, my eyes don't focus well. It's not surprising migraines manifest themselves in visual distortions. As a result I've always depended heavily on my sense of hearing so this loss of hearing deeply disturbs me. Unfortunately these days the surgery won't syringe ears & the drops alone don't seem to fully clear them & often cause inflammation in them. Today the hearing's totally gone in that ear & the other one is blocking quickly.
I dragged myself through a shower & got dinner prepared. Then the post came. that didn't help. While we had been away, we accidentally scratched the hire car. Yesterday the bill
for the repairs arrived. Over 1000 euros! As you can see from the photo we didn't even get down to bare metal. It was a five minute spray job. We'd even contemplated buying a can & doing it ourselves before we returned the car. Admittedly nearly half the price is the car hire charge for the holiday, but we have already paid for that once. I'm aware we have a choice of paying up meekly or gearing ourselves up for a fight, the last thing I feel up to doing at the moment. I'm not even sure that the Fox could cope with the stress. But I object to being had & that's what I feel this is.
We ended up going up to Pub in the afternoon. PD earned our friendship by making us laugh a bit, & certainly distracting us. We had an excellent dinner of home-made Steak Wellingtons - a delicious treat that should have put us in better spirits. Nonetheless by the time I was ready for bed I'd concluded I needed to take a sleeping pill. I needed to escape into oblivion & the state I felt I was in was guaranteed to be a night of tossing ahead if I didn't take a pill.
The sleeping pill worked but the stresses haven't gone away. Now I've also got to contend with a residual mugginess from the pill.
I'm telling myself I'm just going through a bad patch. Just cling on. I will get through this. I'm off to disappear into a jigsaw featuring two playful kittens. Hopefully when the jigsaw is done I will be back to my more normal self. Hopefully I'll be more my cheerful self when next I write.
Thursday 17 May 2012
To go or not to go
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| A rainy day in Montignac |
Since we've been home, & since we had so little sun on our holiday, we've been debating another holiday before too long. There is an urge to go back to France. The Fox fancies Burgundy or Alsace. I'm fancying the Camargue or the Sologne. I've looked up a few places, found a few possibilities, but now we're back to the old problems, plus a few new ones.
The new ones are that we've now planted all these vegetables. If we leave them untended they are not going to flourish. The tomatoes, potatoes, green beans & peas all need regular watering, feeding & harvesting at the appropriate time. If we're away, that won't get done. Any harvest will be minimal. I see places with vacancies in the more north of France, even in July & August. The weather is likely to better then, the temperature higher. But there's those veg. I think, in all honesty any holiday will have to wait until the end of August, if not September.
The anxiety over my benefits still remains. They are due for renewal next month. I've still not received any forms to fill in which presumably means I will continue to receive the money until I do get one & they've had chance to come to some decision on it. But it also means I'm reluctant to be away for long as the forms will need filling in fairly promptly when they do arrive. But that could be any time, even September.
No, immediately the only time I can see us getting away is for a weekend, somewhere in England, or possibly Scotland or Wales. I just hope we get some sun in this country soon. Today we're back to rain. It was forecast for snow once more in Scotland. Is the summer never to arrive?! I distinctly feel the need for a sustained spell of blue skies & some warmth on my skin - the former for my spirits, the latter for my physical well-being.
Wednesday 16 May 2012
The Haywain
I've finished my jigsaw of Constable's "The Haywain". I have to confess it's made me appreciate the picture more.
As a schoolgirl, I once went to a French school while I was staying with my French penfriend in the suburbs of Paris. The English teacher, herself a Frenchwoman, wanted to take advantage of me as an authentic English speaker. One class I read a passage for them to take down as dictation. In another I had to answer their various questions about England, English life & what I found different in France. Among other questions I was asked was who I considered the best, most typical, English artist & name a painting by that person. I chose Constable's "The Haywain" as I thought it captured something very English. I still think so. The teacher was a fan of Turner.
Anyhow, back to the jigsaw. While you are doing a jigsaw, you inevitably look at the image in great detail.
While doing this I grew to appreciate the fact that the sky behind the trees was not the usual simple wash. In parts blue peers through the leaves, in other more grey-white. The clouds billow from dark rain-filled to white in clear blue sky - something we seemed to have a lot of since we returned home - yet the transition from one to the other is subtly done. I noticed, too, a gentle breeze must have been blowing, just turning some of the leaves up to reveal their silvery undersides.
I found a certain pathos in the curve of the back of the driver of the haywain, a strength in the great horses pulling it, humour in the spaniel running alongside the stream with a stick in its mouth.
I discovered, too, the fisherman sat in the midst of undergrowth on the right hand side of the picture. And what's that in the water near the boat in front of the fisherman? A float from the rod? A bird diving?
On the left, near the cottage, a woman stoops down, her arm in the water. Is she washing? Or just collecting water?
Then there's the other man on the haywain, his arm outstretched. Is he calling to the dog which is looking his way? Or is he trying to attract the attention of the woman? Or is he just pointing something out to the driver of the haywain? Or is he trying to verbally encourage the horses to move on?
Questions, questions, so many questions. I feel a simple jigsaw has made me see so much more in the painting, given me so much food for thought trying to answer so many questions. A very satisfying experience. Over forty years on, I still remain a fan of John Constable, though I have grown to appreciate the work of Turner more than I did, all those years ago.
As a schoolgirl, I once went to a French school while I was staying with my French penfriend in the suburbs of Paris. The English teacher, herself a Frenchwoman, wanted to take advantage of me as an authentic English speaker. One class I read a passage for them to take down as dictation. In another I had to answer their various questions about England, English life & what I found different in France. Among other questions I was asked was who I considered the best, most typical, English artist & name a painting by that person. I chose Constable's "The Haywain" as I thought it captured something very English. I still think so. The teacher was a fan of Turner.
Anyhow, back to the jigsaw. While you are doing a jigsaw, you inevitably look at the image in great detail.
While doing this I grew to appreciate the fact that the sky behind the trees was not the usual simple wash. In parts blue peers through the leaves, in other more grey-white. The clouds billow from dark rain-filled to white in clear blue sky - something we seemed to have a lot of since we returned home - yet the transition from one to the other is subtly done. I noticed, too, a gentle breeze must have been blowing, just turning some of the leaves up to reveal their silvery undersides.
I found a certain pathos in the curve of the back of the driver of the haywain, a strength in the great horses pulling it, humour in the spaniel running alongside the stream with a stick in its mouth.
I discovered, too, the fisherman sat in the midst of undergrowth on the right hand side of the picture. And what's that in the water near the boat in front of the fisherman? A float from the rod? A bird diving?
On the left, near the cottage, a woman stoops down, her arm in the water. Is she washing? Or just collecting water?
Then there's the other man on the haywain, his arm outstretched. Is he calling to the dog which is looking his way? Or is he trying to attract the attention of the woman? Or is he just pointing something out to the driver of the haywain? Or is he trying to verbally encourage the horses to move on?
Questions, questions, so many questions. I feel a simple jigsaw has made me see so much more in the painting, given me so much food for thought trying to answer so many questions. A very satisfying experience. Over forty years on, I still remain a fan of John Constable, though I have grown to appreciate the work of Turner more than I did, all those years ago.
Tuesday 15 May 2012
A spot of medicine
As the Fox mentioned in his recent blog, while on holiday in France, among other things we visited the Musee de Medecin at Hautfort.
As you can see, downstairs, life in the wards were brought alive. There you saw drills used to bore holes in your head, saws for cutting off limbs, all done without anaesthetics - a truly horrific thought. I'm surprised anyone survived the operation - certainly not something done except when essential.
The most disturbing sight though, to my mind, was the dummy dressed as the plague doctor.
I should think he was a very troubling sight when you were sick, feverish, probably delirious. Just imagine what it must feel like to have this pointed white cone of a mask, topped with its great black hat, peering down at you. I should think you would wonder if you hadn't already died & in some sort of hell or courtroom to decide whether hell or heaven was your rightful place.
Upstairs there were sections on dentistry,
scientific discovery, surgery & anaesthesia. Unfortunately I could not get upstairs to these sections, but the Fox took some pictures so I could have an idea of what was there.
Downstairs was also the hospital chapel. The hospital was nursed by nuns, so this chapel would have been the centre of their spiritual life. The chapel is still in use, though these days it is only used for weddings.
Altogether it was an interesting visit. It even had free entry. It was certainly out of the rain, a blessing indeed this holiday.
As you can see, downstairs, life in the wards were brought alive. There you saw drills used to bore holes in your head, saws for cutting off limbs, all done without anaesthetics - a truly horrific thought. I'm surprised anyone survived the operation - certainly not something done except when essential.
The most disturbing sight though, to my mind, was the dummy dressed as the plague doctor.
 |
| The Plague Doctor |
I should think he was a very troubling sight when you were sick, feverish, probably delirious. Just imagine what it must feel like to have this pointed white cone of a mask, topped with its great black hat, peering down at you. I should think you would wonder if you hadn't already died & in some sort of hell or courtroom to decide whether hell or heaven was your rightful place.
Upstairs there were sections on dentistry,
scientific discovery, surgery & anaesthesia. Unfortunately I could not get upstairs to these sections, but the Fox took some pictures so I could have an idea of what was there.
Downstairs was also the hospital chapel. The hospital was nursed by nuns, so this chapel would have been the centre of their spiritual life. The chapel is still in use, though these days it is only used for weddings.
Altogether it was an interesting visit. It even had free entry. It was certainly out of the rain, a blessing indeed this holiday.
Sunday 13 May 2012
The mystery & the wonder
Now we are most definitely home. We settled down to our first roast dinner - lamb as it happens. I couldn't help thinking there's something quintessentially English about the roast. And yet why should this be? After all, putting a bit of meat, fish or fowl, on a spit over a fire must be one of the most basic methods of cooking, known by earliest man once he'd discovered fire. And yet, too, I know nowhere that does a roast in the way the English do, except that is in former colonies where the English took their roast dinners with them.
I suppose the French do do their roasts but they end up tasting totally different from the English version. I can't explain the difference. Even in these days, when many English people add other flavours, garlic, spices, herbs etc to the basic joint, the meal still remains English. Indeed yesterday our version had garlic & rosemary added to make it a little different.
I suppose part of it is that we have a tradition where good quality meat at reasonable prices was readily available, unlike in some countries where it was well out of the range of the ordinary working man. And you do need a good quality of meat for a roast. The success of the dish depends on it. But maybe this availability means that we, the cooks of old England have kept in practice. Whatever the reason, it remains a mystery & a wonder.
While the salt marsh lamb was in the oven, we hastily got the tomatoes planted up. At the moment they are in a covered area. We suspect it is rather cold at night for such tender plants. I've duly gone out this morning & rolled up the cover so they can enjoy the milder daytime temperatures. The cover will come down again this evening. Today the Fox is hoping to get a few other veg, some peas & beans,planted out, weather permitting while I get on with bed-changing & sorting out the washing. He will be in charge of dinner as I will want to just collapse when I'm done.
I suppose the French do do their roasts but they end up tasting totally different from the English version. I can't explain the difference. Even in these days, when many English people add other flavours, garlic, spices, herbs etc to the basic joint, the meal still remains English. Indeed yesterday our version had garlic & rosemary added to make it a little different.
I suppose part of it is that we have a tradition where good quality meat at reasonable prices was readily available, unlike in some countries where it was well out of the range of the ordinary working man. And you do need a good quality of meat for a roast. The success of the dish depends on it. But maybe this availability means that we, the cooks of old England have kept in practice. Whatever the reason, it remains a mystery & a wonder.
While the salt marsh lamb was in the oven, we hastily got the tomatoes planted up. At the moment they are in a covered area. We suspect it is rather cold at night for such tender plants. I've duly gone out this morning & rolled up the cover so they can enjoy the milder daytime temperatures. The cover will come down again this evening. Today the Fox is hoping to get a few other veg, some peas & beans,planted out, weather permitting while I get on with bed-changing & sorting out the washing. He will be in charge of dinner as I will want to just collapse when I'm done.
Friday 11 May 2012
Settling down
I think we're about on top of the chores from the holidays.
Wednesday afternoon we got to the garden centre. Now the Fox is ready with compost & tomato & other plants. Unfortunately the rain came yesterday so, at the moment, all remains to be done. The plants are sitting on the patio wall during the day, coming inside at night as it is still very cold at night. However, this morning, it has stopped briefly at least. I've hastily planted out some chervil in the herb garden & had a general tidy up in the front. I'd love to tidy up the bog garden & add some extra bark we bought to discourage the emerging weeds. However, the bog garden is not a bog at the moment. It's more of a lake!
I managed to get all the ironing done yesterday so that task is done for this week.
In the afternoon we ventured down to the library. It's ages since I last looked around a library for general fiction. I've been to look up specific info but that's it. For years the Fox did the library hunt while I did the food shopping. And a very good job he did of it, too. Since I've become disabled & unable to do the food hunt by myself, we've just abandoned the library & depended on our own bookshelves for reading matter. Of late the Fox has also downloaded some out-of-copyright books on the net.
It's a strange sensation being surrounded by so many strangers, authors I've never even heard of. Our local library is a very small library so the range of book is rather limited. There seem few of the classics. Most of the books seem to be written by authors post my regular library days, many of them in the Aga saga genre. There is a section specifically on crime & a very small sci-fi section. Still it ought to be fun discovering new books & authors.
Having finally got on top of things, after dinner last night, I let go of the adrenalin that was keeping me going & collapsed into bed before 8pm, not to arise again until 7.30 this morning. I've a quiet day ahead as the Fox has already prepared a paprika chicken & chorizo meal, ready to be warmed up later. I'm looking forward to it.
While we were at the library I also got a couple of jigsaws out. So I'm off to put together Constable's "The Haywain". I expect to be lost in dark foliage & rolling clouds.
Wednesday afternoon we got to the garden centre. Now the Fox is ready with compost & tomato & other plants. Unfortunately the rain came yesterday so, at the moment, all remains to be done. The plants are sitting on the patio wall during the day, coming inside at night as it is still very cold at night. However, this morning, it has stopped briefly at least. I've hastily planted out some chervil in the herb garden & had a general tidy up in the front. I'd love to tidy up the bog garden & add some extra bark we bought to discourage the emerging weeds. However, the bog garden is not a bog at the moment. It's more of a lake!
I managed to get all the ironing done yesterday so that task is done for this week.
In the afternoon we ventured down to the library. It's ages since I last looked around a library for general fiction. I've been to look up specific info but that's it. For years the Fox did the library hunt while I did the food shopping. And a very good job he did of it, too. Since I've become disabled & unable to do the food hunt by myself, we've just abandoned the library & depended on our own bookshelves for reading matter. Of late the Fox has also downloaded some out-of-copyright books on the net.
It's a strange sensation being surrounded by so many strangers, authors I've never even heard of. Our local library is a very small library so the range of book is rather limited. There seem few of the classics. Most of the books seem to be written by authors post my regular library days, many of them in the Aga saga genre. There is a section specifically on crime & a very small sci-fi section. Still it ought to be fun discovering new books & authors.
Having finally got on top of things, after dinner last night, I let go of the adrenalin that was keeping me going & collapsed into bed before 8pm, not to arise again until 7.30 this morning. I've a quiet day ahead as the Fox has already prepared a paprika chicken & chorizo meal, ready to be warmed up later. I'm looking forward to it.
While we were at the library I also got a couple of jigsaws out. So I'm off to put together Constable's "The Haywain". I expect to be lost in dark foliage & rolling clouds.
Wednesday 9 May 2012
Our holiday - general
The time has come to say a little about our holiday. I'll start today with a few general comments. Once our pictures are out of the camera & in the computer I'll maybe write about some of the specific places we visited.
Undoubtedly the dominant feature of the holiday was the weather. It was wet, very wet. The first week it rained every day. And I mean rained, not light showers in between bright spells. The only break from the rain seemed to be a brief couple of hailstorms. The second week didn't start off much better. Eventually we had a couple of sunny days. By the third day the day started well but clouded over, returning to torrential rain by the evening.
All this rain had a dramatic effect on our holiday. Much of the time was enforced idleness as we hadn't gone prepared with fully waterproofed clothing. It meant we had to resort to indoor places to visit, or at least predominantly indoor attractions.
The fields around us were soon lakes, especially once the rivers started to flood their banks. I had thought we might have had one of the river boat trips along the Dordogne. However, when we turned the corner of the bend to where the boats were moored, we soon discovered the ticket office was 100 yards or so across a lake, let alone getting to the boats. Admittedly we were rather sceptical about the possibility of a boat trip when we had seen how swollen the river was & how fast its current. Certainly no one was attempting any canoeing in the rivers in the region despite it being a very popular past-time - far too dangerous, I would think, for all but the most experienced canoeists.
It also meant on those few good days we ended trying to pack an enormous amount in, rather than spreading our activities over the fortnight. I suspect that is partly the reason we are so tired now. We did so want to see the most exciting bits, which also happened to be the furthest from where we were staying. Still it says something that the Fox even managed so much driving in so short a time, day after day, though he is paying the consequences now.
Ryanair proved far better than we feared. With having to print boarding passes before you went to the airport, & many people opting for just hand luggage, it did mean the queues for checking in were much shorter, & therefore, quicker. Although we weren't allocated extra legroom, as is usual for disabled passengers, there was more room than on some aircraft. The flights were prompt. We even got back to Liverpool early!
The property itself was remarkably accessible. I say that because we've stayed at so many where it has been essential to be able to walk a bit at least. The rooms were spacious with plenty of turning room for wheelchairs. The bathroom had grab rails & a walk-in shower with a proper wheel-in shower chair, the toilet grab rails & a frame around it. Great!
Our hosts, too, were very welcoming & hospitable. They provided a welcoming back of food, including homemade bread, two bottles of wine, cheeses & a large box of English teabags - in France it is almost impossible to buy boxes of more than 50 teabags, the French preferring tisanes (herbal teas). When they discovered it was the Fox's birthday while we were staying, they gave him a bottle of Saumur sparkling wine to celebrate with.
Our biggest niggle with the property was the heating. The place hadn't been heated up since it was last used, at Christmas. With such a long period of emptiness it felt cold & damp. The only heating was a small electric oil-filled radiator, a heated towel rail in the bathroom, & a wood-burning stove. So we had to grips with the wood-burning stove if we were ever to get warm.
After the first couple of days we finally managed to work out how to load it, adjust the ventilation etc to keep it going 24 hours a day. Only then did the property really start to warm through. We remain convinced, though, wood-burning stoves are not something we would ever give houseroom to. They seem to necessitate so much work. Logs have to be brought over. The glass front seems to need cleaning most days. The ashes need emptying. When you open the door to add more wood, half the time smoke billows out, impregnating your clothes & spreading ashes all around. Even the need to keep adding more fuel regularly necessitates a certain keeping your eye on it, especially when you are just first lighting it or trying to revive it in the morning. No it's too much hard work for us. Give us our gas fire & central heating any day.
The other problem with the property was the distance to the nearest shops, bars, restaurants etc. In theory it was 7km to the nearest amenities. I think they must measure the distance by how the crow flies, not as the country lanes twist. It seemed nearer 7-10 miles! A fact we were convinced of, when later in the week we noticed the roadsigns stated the same distance even though we had been on the road 10 minutes or so already. When we were younger, & healthier we wouldn't have thought twice about these distances. But now, we are older, & not in the best of health, it seems a long way to go just for a loaf of bread. And in France you do need to go & buy your baguette on a daily basis. They just don't keep very well.
Being right in the midst of a maze of country lanes, often unsigned, meant that there were no street lights. Again not a problem if it's your home & you are familiar with the way. But when you are a stranger, & it is pitch black by the time you are ready to return after an evening meal, it is a bit worrying. It wasn't until we were confident of finding our route to and from the bigger roads without a map that we felt we could hazard staying out late.
As a result, between the distance & the darkness, we didn't eat out as often as we'd hoped. It was easier instead to stay at the property & make a quick salad, a quick bit of fish, a risotto, something easy to do.
Despite all the problems that came with the holiday, it was on the whole a relaxing experience. It probably did us good, though at the moment we're still feeling the backlash of those last few busy days there, the 5am start to drive back to Bergerac airport, flight & long drive back from Liverpool to here. I'm telling myself, give us a few days to recover, & we will bounce back. At the moment we're still rushing around catching up. Washing's done but not yet ironed. The larder's been restocked. The seed potatoes have been planted though we could do with a trip to a garden centre for more compost, bark, tomato plants etc. We've just about got around to responding to the mail while we've been away - bills paid etc. We've done a bit of catching up with the news, communicated with friends, even seen some, discovered our neighbour Dave is once more back in Blackpool hospital with complications, found out one friend had an overnight hospital stay while we were away & his wife has been celebrating her 60th birthday as best she can in the circumstances. Life goes on & we will soon be able to relax again, and enjoy the blossoms on our fruit trees, the first emerging leaves of the nasturtium seeds I planted before we went away just popping through the soil, appreciate our avian visitors, & feel the benefit of our holiday.
Roll on.
Undoubtedly the dominant feature of the holiday was the weather. It was wet, very wet. The first week it rained every day. And I mean rained, not light showers in between bright spells. The only break from the rain seemed to be a brief couple of hailstorms. The second week didn't start off much better. Eventually we had a couple of sunny days. By the third day the day started well but clouded over, returning to torrential rain by the evening.
All this rain had a dramatic effect on our holiday. Much of the time was enforced idleness as we hadn't gone prepared with fully waterproofed clothing. It meant we had to resort to indoor places to visit, or at least predominantly indoor attractions.
The fields around us were soon lakes, especially once the rivers started to flood their banks. I had thought we might have had one of the river boat trips along the Dordogne. However, when we turned the corner of the bend to where the boats were moored, we soon discovered the ticket office was 100 yards or so across a lake, let alone getting to the boats. Admittedly we were rather sceptical about the possibility of a boat trip when we had seen how swollen the river was & how fast its current. Certainly no one was attempting any canoeing in the rivers in the region despite it being a very popular past-time - far too dangerous, I would think, for all but the most experienced canoeists.
It also meant on those few good days we ended trying to pack an enormous amount in, rather than spreading our activities over the fortnight. I suspect that is partly the reason we are so tired now. We did so want to see the most exciting bits, which also happened to be the furthest from where we were staying. Still it says something that the Fox even managed so much driving in so short a time, day after day, though he is paying the consequences now.
Ryanair proved far better than we feared. With having to print boarding passes before you went to the airport, & many people opting for just hand luggage, it did mean the queues for checking in were much shorter, & therefore, quicker. Although we weren't allocated extra legroom, as is usual for disabled passengers, there was more room than on some aircraft. The flights were prompt. We even got back to Liverpool early!
The property itself was remarkably accessible. I say that because we've stayed at so many where it has been essential to be able to walk a bit at least. The rooms were spacious with plenty of turning room for wheelchairs. The bathroom had grab rails & a walk-in shower with a proper wheel-in shower chair, the toilet grab rails & a frame around it. Great!
Our hosts, too, were very welcoming & hospitable. They provided a welcoming back of food, including homemade bread, two bottles of wine, cheeses & a large box of English teabags - in France it is almost impossible to buy boxes of more than 50 teabags, the French preferring tisanes (herbal teas). When they discovered it was the Fox's birthday while we were staying, they gave him a bottle of Saumur sparkling wine to celebrate with.
Our biggest niggle with the property was the heating. The place hadn't been heated up since it was last used, at Christmas. With such a long period of emptiness it felt cold & damp. The only heating was a small electric oil-filled radiator, a heated towel rail in the bathroom, & a wood-burning stove. So we had to grips with the wood-burning stove if we were ever to get warm.
After the first couple of days we finally managed to work out how to load it, adjust the ventilation etc to keep it going 24 hours a day. Only then did the property really start to warm through. We remain convinced, though, wood-burning stoves are not something we would ever give houseroom to. They seem to necessitate so much work. Logs have to be brought over. The glass front seems to need cleaning most days. The ashes need emptying. When you open the door to add more wood, half the time smoke billows out, impregnating your clothes & spreading ashes all around. Even the need to keep adding more fuel regularly necessitates a certain keeping your eye on it, especially when you are just first lighting it or trying to revive it in the morning. No it's too much hard work for us. Give us our gas fire & central heating any day.
The other problem with the property was the distance to the nearest shops, bars, restaurants etc. In theory it was 7km to the nearest amenities. I think they must measure the distance by how the crow flies, not as the country lanes twist. It seemed nearer 7-10 miles! A fact we were convinced of, when later in the week we noticed the roadsigns stated the same distance even though we had been on the road 10 minutes or so already. When we were younger, & healthier we wouldn't have thought twice about these distances. But now, we are older, & not in the best of health, it seems a long way to go just for a loaf of bread. And in France you do need to go & buy your baguette on a daily basis. They just don't keep very well.
Being right in the midst of a maze of country lanes, often unsigned, meant that there were no street lights. Again not a problem if it's your home & you are familiar with the way. But when you are a stranger, & it is pitch black by the time you are ready to return after an evening meal, it is a bit worrying. It wasn't until we were confident of finding our route to and from the bigger roads without a map that we felt we could hazard staying out late.
As a result, between the distance & the darkness, we didn't eat out as often as we'd hoped. It was easier instead to stay at the property & make a quick salad, a quick bit of fish, a risotto, something easy to do.
Despite all the problems that came with the holiday, it was on the whole a relaxing experience. It probably did us good, though at the moment we're still feeling the backlash of those last few busy days there, the 5am start to drive back to Bergerac airport, flight & long drive back from Liverpool to here. I'm telling myself, give us a few days to recover, & we will bounce back. At the moment we're still rushing around catching up. Washing's done but not yet ironed. The larder's been restocked. The seed potatoes have been planted though we could do with a trip to a garden centre for more compost, bark, tomato plants etc. We've just about got around to responding to the mail while we've been away - bills paid etc. We've done a bit of catching up with the news, communicated with friends, even seen some, discovered our neighbour Dave is once more back in Blackpool hospital with complications, found out one friend had an overnight hospital stay while we were away & his wife has been celebrating her 60th birthday as best she can in the circumstances. Life goes on & we will soon be able to relax again, and enjoy the blossoms on our fruit trees, the first emerging leaves of the nasturtium seeds I planted before we went away just popping through the soil, appreciate our avian visitors, & feel the benefit of our holiday.
Roll on.
Tuesday 8 May 2012
Home again
We're home! At the moment we're very weary & rather shattered.
We actually got home on Saturday afternoon. So far, time has been spent recovering from the rather harrowing return journey. It took us nearly an hour to cross through Lancaster, the Bank Holiday traffic was so horrific.
Since then it's a case of trying to get on top of things, the mounds of post & of washing. Today will be the food shop. We've hardly got any fresh veg in the house. Fortunately we had a couple of largish potatoes in which we had yesterday. Sunday was pasta day & Saturday was a quick trip to the chippy. We couldn't face the Bank Holiday supermarket crowds so we've left it as long as we could.
Instead, yesterday we popped off to the Pub, partly to see PD again & partly because the Fox always appreciate some good old fashioned English bitter beer, even if the price has gone up in our absence. There's nothing quite like English bitter in France. They only seem to do the lager type.
At the moment it's almost too soon to evaluate the holiday. We're just too tired.
And I've had trouble with the computer already today. I started by updating my freezer contents file to discover the file had disappeared somewhere. Just what I needed! I have managed to refind it though I still don't understand what happened.Then I tried to send birthday greetings to our dear friend in Harrogate. I'm just hoping I found the right e-mail address. Now I'm having to contend with this new format blog site, while I'm not even really thinking straight!
Still I just wanted to reassure you all that we are safely home, even if I'm drained & aching & the Fox is also drained with his leg & hand playing up. A few days of quiet will no doubt rectify the situation. When it does I'll tell you more.
We actually got home on Saturday afternoon. So far, time has been spent recovering from the rather harrowing return journey. It took us nearly an hour to cross through Lancaster, the Bank Holiday traffic was so horrific.
Since then it's a case of trying to get on top of things, the mounds of post & of washing. Today will be the food shop. We've hardly got any fresh veg in the house. Fortunately we had a couple of largish potatoes in which we had yesterday. Sunday was pasta day & Saturday was a quick trip to the chippy. We couldn't face the Bank Holiday supermarket crowds so we've left it as long as we could.
Instead, yesterday we popped off to the Pub, partly to see PD again & partly because the Fox always appreciate some good old fashioned English bitter beer, even if the price has gone up in our absence. There's nothing quite like English bitter in France. They only seem to do the lager type.
At the moment it's almost too soon to evaluate the holiday. We're just too tired.
And I've had trouble with the computer already today. I started by updating my freezer contents file to discover the file had disappeared somewhere. Just what I needed! I have managed to refind it though I still don't understand what happened.Then I tried to send birthday greetings to our dear friend in Harrogate. I'm just hoping I found the right e-mail address. Now I'm having to contend with this new format blog site, while I'm not even really thinking straight!
Still I just wanted to reassure you all that we are safely home, even if I'm drained & aching & the Fox is also drained with his leg & hand playing up. A few days of quiet will no doubt rectify the situation. When it does I'll tell you more.
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