Nov 25, swans and houses BLOG #14
From the train, approaching Reading station this morning, I saw as many as thirty swans elegantly floating on the canal. They are such beautiful, enigmatic birds.
I can see how, 50 years ago, this area was mostly farmland and forest. A century ago it was still hunting forest, and it still belongs to the Queen, and was annexed to the royal hunting grounds at Windsor.
Development in the 30’s – 70’s gobbled up thousands of acres and paved the pine-strewn paths and heath, but, around here new houses and developments were generally built 1 storey (bungalows) or 2 storey, and much wide open nature reserves, woods and forest have been left.
Sprinkled in between the newer houses are the ones that have been here for 70 to 200 years, when all around them would have been fields or woods, and “High Street”, Little Sandhurst ,must have seemed like a bustling road! Now it meanders narrowly down to the railway bridge, but, fortunately for us, the old pub still stands as it did in Victorian times. It is called the “Bird in Hand” (referring to a falconer) and has a young chef who cooks really good food! Next door is a whitewashed cottage of the same period with a small painted sign above the front door that says “Two in the Bush”!
Just along the same street is an abandoned, boarded-up Victorian red brick semi-detached cottage. The glass is broken in an upper window and a hole has appeared in the original decorative slate roof. It is sad to see houses let go like that. The yard has waist-high weeds. It is joined to the cottage next to it, which has been cared for and painted, its gardens tended. It is a sweet little house for a couple or small family.
The other side, on a mound called “Mount Pleasant” are 2 beautifully-kept Victorian villas. An old gentleman lives in one, and has plaques of awards for “best garden” on his wall. He is always outside tending to his flowers and plants, and in the summer it was a colourful display.
I spot 1930’s deco-style, white houses with black window trim, and the occasional centuries-old thatched or tiled-roof house with small multi-paned windows, which were likely farms before their land was sold off. Mostly there are red brick houses and cottages from the late 1800’s. Many do not have garages, but those that do (1930’s and 50’s) are so narrow and small that no one can use them for their cars – unless you happen to own a Smart car or original Mini.
I came across a lovely property like this behind a high, thick hedge, surrounded by forest and with about an acre of garden and big barns. My interest was piqued by the large padlock on the crumbling gate and the obvious neglect of the gardens and path leading to the house. A wizened Irish gardener I met early one morning, he trimming hedges, me walking the dogs, tells me that the place was sold for development. I have been past several times and nothing is happening. It would make such a lovely family home, and it looks to be in good repair.
It bothers me to see old properties standing empty.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Mid November
Nov 21st trains and bracken BLOG # 13
On the train today were 4 ladies, early to mid thirties, I’d say, talking loudly to each other, all with the same style white-blonde highlighted hair and geometric cut. All with manicured nails and expensive-looking jewellrey. I was wondering; where were they going? Do they work? What are their lives like?
The train affords a wonderful view of the countryside it passes through, from the forests near where we live to the urban sprawl of Reading, where I change trains, to the congested inner-city of London, as you get closer to Paddington.
The bracken and ferns have turned a reddish-gold brown. The forest looks damp and muddy, and it smells really earthy. Pine trees reach up to 60 foot high and harbour many birds. Now the leaves have fallen on the other trees, you see ivy and vines growing vigorously on many tree trunks, winding round, cladding them tightly like green sweaters.
I always thought of tree trunks as brown, but now that the eye is not distracted by displays of colour, I can see that they are mostly shades of green, as well as silver, white, grey, with beautiful patterns on the bark.
The fields are so green from the recent rain, with deep, muddy patches where cattle or horses congregate to feed. Horses graze, with blankets tied around them to keep out the chill north wind. Temperatures have dropped to around 6 degrees C (42 F).
There was a soft grey sky when I ventured out in the late afternoon with the trusty Scotties, wearing gloves on my cold hands for the first time. When I turned around, to the west the skies were deep periwinkle blue, with grey-lilac clouds and swathes of strawberry, gold and silvery-white. All of a sudden it started to hail (very small round pieces of ice), and a giant rainbow appeared, the whole arch, miles across. Heart-jumpingly beautiful. Like having your own outdoor art exhibition.
“Red sky at night...” my grandfather always told me, “..shepherd’s delight”. So, hope for a fine day tomorrow. It is much colder, with few clouds. Later, I saw so many stars. The street lamps here have yellow bulbs. They aren’t so bright, so you can still see the night sky.
I haven’t come across the fox recently on my last walk at night. I hope he’s keeping warm! We have started putting hot water bottles in the beds at night, so they are all cosy when you get in...
On the train today were 4 ladies, early to mid thirties, I’d say, talking loudly to each other, all with the same style white-blonde highlighted hair and geometric cut. All with manicured nails and expensive-looking jewellrey. I was wondering; where were they going? Do they work? What are their lives like?
The train affords a wonderful view of the countryside it passes through, from the forests near where we live to the urban sprawl of Reading, where I change trains, to the congested inner-city of London, as you get closer to Paddington.
The bracken and ferns have turned a reddish-gold brown. The forest looks damp and muddy, and it smells really earthy. Pine trees reach up to 60 foot high and harbour many birds. Now the leaves have fallen on the other trees, you see ivy and vines growing vigorously on many tree trunks, winding round, cladding them tightly like green sweaters.
I always thought of tree trunks as brown, but now that the eye is not distracted by displays of colour, I can see that they are mostly shades of green, as well as silver, white, grey, with beautiful patterns on the bark.
The fields are so green from the recent rain, with deep, muddy patches where cattle or horses congregate to feed. Horses graze, with blankets tied around them to keep out the chill north wind. Temperatures have dropped to around 6 degrees C (42 F).
There was a soft grey sky when I ventured out in the late afternoon with the trusty Scotties, wearing gloves on my cold hands for the first time. When I turned around, to the west the skies were deep periwinkle blue, with grey-lilac clouds and swathes of strawberry, gold and silvery-white. All of a sudden it started to hail (very small round pieces of ice), and a giant rainbow appeared, the whole arch, miles across. Heart-jumpingly beautiful. Like having your own outdoor art exhibition.
“Red sky at night...” my grandfather always told me, “..shepherd’s delight”. So, hope for a fine day tomorrow. It is much colder, with few clouds. Later, I saw so many stars. The street lamps here have yellow bulbs. They aren’t so bright, so you can still see the night sky.
I haven’t come across the fox recently on my last walk at night. I hope he’s keeping warm! We have started putting hot water bottles in the beds at night, so they are all cosy when you get in...
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Fiery tree, milkman
NOV 15 BLOG #12
The tree in our garden that was afire with colour is now glowing darkly like the embers in a dying hearth. It is still clinging to its beautiful leaves that are currently of russet and faded copper hues.
A Turner-esque sky greeted me this morning, bathing the countryside in that pinkish, pale gold light that could only be a winter morning.
The greens of the grass, holly, pine trees, rhododendrons are a superb backdrop to the show that the deciduous trees and bushes have been putting on.
The wind is persuading the last leaves off the trees, fluttering down on passers-by like confetti being scattered at a wedding.
The countryside looks so different clothed in drabber, more sombre colours, and with tree silhouettes and the glimpses of properties you couldn’t see before. It really feels as if it is going into hibernation in order to renew itself and burst back to life come Spring. You feel it starting to fall into slumber.
Now is the time of luscious-looking (but probably poisonous to humans) shiny berries, cherry-tomato-size rose hips, all for the winter birds. Orange reds, crimson, garnet colours, yellow, and even pure white, they vie for attention.
The great little local train service isn’t so great right now. Twice last week trains were either cancelled or delayed “due to slippery rails” or “due to leaves on the line”. I am not kidding! Hello! England. Autumn, Rain. I cannot believe that they aren’t ready for the weather conditions?!
Oh Joy! A milkman from a local dairy now delivers organic milk in reusable glass bottles! I thought the English tradition of milk delivery to your front door each morning had died out years ago, but apparently it’s alive and thriving. The milk bottles are there by 5am (!), along with free-range eggs, butter, yogurt and bread, should you need it. (Less trips to the supermarket).
Tomorrow is Sunday. One of my favourite, remembered traditions: Walk down to buy the Sunday paper (there’s a choice of 5 or 6) and bring it home to pore over, whilst drinking cups of tea!
I’ll have to go and visit the shaggy ponies. I met their owner, a weatherbeaten, incomprehensible, who knows how old man, lugging bales of hay to throw into their field. He grinned at me with missing teeth and mumbled a few sentences, most of which I could not make out, except that I think 2 of the ponies are in foal. Due in April. I admired his new wooden fence (major improvement over the previous barbed wire) and made my escape.
The tree in our garden that was afire with colour is now glowing darkly like the embers in a dying hearth. It is still clinging to its beautiful leaves that are currently of russet and faded copper hues.
A Turner-esque sky greeted me this morning, bathing the countryside in that pinkish, pale gold light that could only be a winter morning.
The greens of the grass, holly, pine trees, rhododendrons are a superb backdrop to the show that the deciduous trees and bushes have been putting on.
The wind is persuading the last leaves off the trees, fluttering down on passers-by like confetti being scattered at a wedding.
The countryside looks so different clothed in drabber, more sombre colours, and with tree silhouettes and the glimpses of properties you couldn’t see before. It really feels as if it is going into hibernation in order to renew itself and burst back to life come Spring. You feel it starting to fall into slumber.
Now is the time of luscious-looking (but probably poisonous to humans) shiny berries, cherry-tomato-size rose hips, all for the winter birds. Orange reds, crimson, garnet colours, yellow, and even pure white, they vie for attention.
The great little local train service isn’t so great right now. Twice last week trains were either cancelled or delayed “due to slippery rails” or “due to leaves on the line”. I am not kidding! Hello! England. Autumn, Rain. I cannot believe that they aren’t ready for the weather conditions?!
Oh Joy! A milkman from a local dairy now delivers organic milk in reusable glass bottles! I thought the English tradition of milk delivery to your front door each morning had died out years ago, but apparently it’s alive and thriving. The milk bottles are there by 5am (!), along with free-range eggs, butter, yogurt and bread, should you need it. (Less trips to the supermarket).
Tomorrow is Sunday. One of my favourite, remembered traditions: Walk down to buy the Sunday paper (there’s a choice of 5 or 6) and bring it home to pore over, whilst drinking cups of tea!
I’ll have to go and visit the shaggy ponies. I met their owner, a weatherbeaten, incomprehensible, who knows how old man, lugging bales of hay to throw into their field. He grinned at me with missing teeth and mumbled a few sentences, most of which I could not make out, except that I think 2 of the ponies are in foal. Due in April. I admired his new wooden fence (major improvement over the previous barbed wire) and made my escape.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Beautiful trees
TREES STRIPPING Nov 11 BLOG #11
Meanwhile, back in the UK...
The trees are changing their foliage, disrobing slowly and seductively, from the top down, like so many burlesque dancers, revealing different layers of colours as they shed their leafy clothing.
There’s a tree at the end of our garden (the neighbour’s, actually, but it lives primarily over our fence), which has been astounding us for a week or more with its stunning colours. It looked as if it was lit from within, or had the sun shining on it, even when there were grey skies, prompting admirative exclamations from all of us each time we noticed it. Against the dark and shiny black-green of the holly bushes, this tree’s display of russets, yellows and golds were heartbreakingly beautiful. Just today, it has, after yesterday’s windswept rain, muted its colours, like a woman changing her hair dye, to a subtler palette of deep wine and earthen brown- reds.
The woodland is giving up secrets jealously guarded in the summer; as the leaves fall and the trees become less-shielding, soon to be stark silhouettes, there are now glimpses of previously hidden meadows, copses, cottages. The landscape changes. The trees sleep. Now the skies are more prominent – slate grey, or turquoise blue, with portentious black cloud piles, or grey and white slashes across the sky. The wind is capricious and unpredictable. Bent on denuding the trees, it gusts and squalls and whips the foliage up into leafbanks at the sides of the road. The rain comes in showers, suddenly torrential, or drizzling for hours.
This is the time I found out I have a faulty umbrella which turns inside out at the first strong gust of wind, baring me to the downpour! Forget about keeping a great hairstyle. Hats are what counts – against the rain, cold, wind. Flat hair is a way of life! Better to be warm and dry than fashionable, though.
Today white meringue piles of clouds are scudding across a pale blue sky, and the wild birds are eating more and more bird seed that I put out for them.
I was distracted from my walk with the dogs today by the insistent, angry caw-cawing of crows, and as I looked up in the direction of the brouhaha I saw 3 large black birds worrying a crane perched on top of a tall pine tree. The crows dive-bombed, noisily and repeatedly, and the crane flapped its broad wings and bobbed its long thin neck, open-beaked. Finally the crane flew off, its legs dangling.
Meanwhile, back in the UK...
The trees are changing their foliage, disrobing slowly and seductively, from the top down, like so many burlesque dancers, revealing different layers of colours as they shed their leafy clothing.
There’s a tree at the end of our garden (the neighbour’s, actually, but it lives primarily over our fence), which has been astounding us for a week or more with its stunning colours. It looked as if it was lit from within, or had the sun shining on it, even when there were grey skies, prompting admirative exclamations from all of us each time we noticed it. Against the dark and shiny black-green of the holly bushes, this tree’s display of russets, yellows and golds were heartbreakingly beautiful. Just today, it has, after yesterday’s windswept rain, muted its colours, like a woman changing her hair dye, to a subtler palette of deep wine and earthen brown- reds.
The woodland is giving up secrets jealously guarded in the summer; as the leaves fall and the trees become less-shielding, soon to be stark silhouettes, there are now glimpses of previously hidden meadows, copses, cottages. The landscape changes. The trees sleep. Now the skies are more prominent – slate grey, or turquoise blue, with portentious black cloud piles, or grey and white slashes across the sky. The wind is capricious and unpredictable. Bent on denuding the trees, it gusts and squalls and whips the foliage up into leafbanks at the sides of the road. The rain comes in showers, suddenly torrential, or drizzling for hours.
This is the time I found out I have a faulty umbrella which turns inside out at the first strong gust of wind, baring me to the downpour! Forget about keeping a great hairstyle. Hats are what counts – against the rain, cold, wind. Flat hair is a way of life! Better to be warm and dry than fashionable, though.
Today white meringue piles of clouds are scudding across a pale blue sky, and the wild birds are eating more and more bird seed that I put out for them.
I was distracted from my walk with the dogs today by the insistent, angry caw-cawing of crows, and as I looked up in the direction of the brouhaha I saw 3 large black birds worrying a crane perched on top of a tall pine tree. The crows dive-bombed, noisily and repeatedly, and the crane flapped its broad wings and bobbed its long thin neck, open-beaked. Finally the crane flew off, its legs dangling.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Obama is pres!
NOV 5 – After Obama’s win... BLOG #10
Work-wise here...
A is taking his last QLTT exam next week. Has had a few really good meetings re potential jobs.
I am still looking in the entertainment sector for now, although a small part of me is pulling to try something completely different (I believe the high-end spa business will weather this economic storm for example!)
I have one consultancy about to be signed, short-term, and will bring me back in contact with L.A.
There's a second consultancy that might be more long-term and interesting.
Otherwise, positive meetings with different music publishers, managers, mobile, TV.
My dog bite wound has finally scabbed over and I hardly notice it except it's an ugly, etched, red scar.
People here are, naturally, and seemingly without grudge, just cutting back and living simpler lives. Walking or cycling, or taking the train, instead of driving; driving much smaller cars; recycling and trying to be less wasteful; growing their own vegetables (more and more people are doing this; I haven't quite got my head around that yet!); keeping the house cooler and wearing a sweater, instead of walking around in a tank top; turning lights off; eating out less and having people round more; giving less extravagant gifts this Christmas..
People are taking more holidays in the UK, although France, Spain, Italy, Tukey, Greece are still inexpensive to get to and very cheap once you are there.
It is affecting the private school sector too. People who would have paid for private education are considering the better state schools, and those are now super super-competitive. For T, unfortunately, state school wasn't an option, because he has so much catching up to do, with the very different curriculum. Only a private school can spend that extra time to help him up to speed, but he seems to be doing well and is embracing Latin, French and all the rest (he got top marks in his class in Geography and Latin last week!!!)
He is now playing rugby, which is fun, and has just started field hockey. They do have a covered swimming pool, which they use more regularly in the Spring and Summer months. It is in need oif repair, especially a new roof (so lots of fun fund-raising events).
We just got - for delivery charge of 60 pounds - a Victorian mahogany bookcase with etched glass lower doors! It didn't sell at auction so a friend who was handling getting rid of it called us and we took it, sight unseen! We also picked up some rather nice Arts & Crafts style small tables, shelves and wardrobe, for next-to-nothing.
The house is still in a mess. I hate living like this and have to keep taking deep breaths. I am not patient, and of course we cannot afford to have everything we need done professionally, so we are having to do a lot ourselves. We paint, A designs cabinets and shelf units and gets the wood cut then we have to put it together, and I end up standing for ages holding the screwdriver! We were just able to put wooden planks in the attic so we could store our suitcases and some big boxes up there, and get them out of the garage. We still need to fence the garden, get a new garden shed, build a porch over the back door, build a whole closet for my stuff (which is still piled up!) and hang window blinds and curtains, paintings and prints.
It all takes SO long, especially when you have to budget carefully for everything. I am not used to this!
There's a kind of spirit of everyone pulling together to get through this downturn economically. It won't be fun, but I think this little island will get through it with spirits high.
At least the US is on a high after Obama's win, and full of hope. I don't envy his task, though. He is inheriting an unholy mess, economically, and in foreign policy. Let's just hope they all play nicely together in Washington to help sort out the mess, as it affects the whole world, not just the States.
Work-wise here...
A is taking his last QLTT exam next week. Has had a few really good meetings re potential jobs.
I am still looking in the entertainment sector for now, although a small part of me is pulling to try something completely different (I believe the high-end spa business will weather this economic storm for example!)
I have one consultancy about to be signed, short-term, and will bring me back in contact with L.A.
There's a second consultancy that might be more long-term and interesting.
Otherwise, positive meetings with different music publishers, managers, mobile, TV.
My dog bite wound has finally scabbed over and I hardly notice it except it's an ugly, etched, red scar.
People here are, naturally, and seemingly without grudge, just cutting back and living simpler lives. Walking or cycling, or taking the train, instead of driving; driving much smaller cars; recycling and trying to be less wasteful; growing their own vegetables (more and more people are doing this; I haven't quite got my head around that yet!); keeping the house cooler and wearing a sweater, instead of walking around in a tank top; turning lights off; eating out less and having people round more; giving less extravagant gifts this Christmas..
People are taking more holidays in the UK, although France, Spain, Italy, Tukey, Greece are still inexpensive to get to and very cheap once you are there.
It is affecting the private school sector too. People who would have paid for private education are considering the better state schools, and those are now super super-competitive. For T, unfortunately, state school wasn't an option, because he has so much catching up to do, with the very different curriculum. Only a private school can spend that extra time to help him up to speed, but he seems to be doing well and is embracing Latin, French and all the rest (he got top marks in his class in Geography and Latin last week!!!)
He is now playing rugby, which is fun, and has just started field hockey. They do have a covered swimming pool, which they use more regularly in the Spring and Summer months. It is in need oif repair, especially a new roof (so lots of fun fund-raising events).
We just got - for delivery charge of 60 pounds - a Victorian mahogany bookcase with etched glass lower doors! It didn't sell at auction so a friend who was handling getting rid of it called us and we took it, sight unseen! We also picked up some rather nice Arts & Crafts style small tables, shelves and wardrobe, for next-to-nothing.
The house is still in a mess. I hate living like this and have to keep taking deep breaths. I am not patient, and of course we cannot afford to have everything we need done professionally, so we are having to do a lot ourselves. We paint, A designs cabinets and shelf units and gets the wood cut then we have to put it together, and I end up standing for ages holding the screwdriver! We were just able to put wooden planks in the attic so we could store our suitcases and some big boxes up there, and get them out of the garage. We still need to fence the garden, get a new garden shed, build a porch over the back door, build a whole closet for my stuff (which is still piled up!) and hang window blinds and curtains, paintings and prints.
It all takes SO long, especially when you have to budget carefully for everything. I am not used to this!
There's a kind of spirit of everyone pulling together to get through this downturn economically. It won't be fun, but I think this little island will get through it with spirits high.
At least the US is on a high after Obama's win, and full of hope. I don't envy his task, though. He is inheriting an unholy mess, economically, and in foreign policy. Let's just hope they all play nicely together in Washington to help sort out the mess, as it affects the whole world, not just the States.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Election coming up
JUST BEFORE ELECTION BLOG #9
We all await news of the election with all fingers crossed.
Poor T; he was sick the whole of the 2 weeks of half term. Started with flu, turned into a chesty cough and he went back to school today, dosed up with antibiotics, but has hardly been outside during the whole 2 weeks off, as he felt weak and chilly.
He did have time to do a project for school about his family ancestry though: Alan cut a wooden shield shape for him, which he painted with fantastic designs representing different branches of his family (dragon for Wales, fleur-de-lis for France, bear for California, etc).
He has also designed a Christmas card with a drawing of the school (a Victorian Gothic mansion) in the snow, with all kinds of activities going on around it, including Santa on the roof.
In the mornings now, my breath comes in cloudy bursts as I walk the dogs - sometimes in bright golden sunshine against a crisp turquoise sky, sometimes in grey damp. The field nearby where the ponies graze is sometimes layered with a light silvery film of dew. When it gets colder, that will become early morning frost and will shimmer and sparkle if the sun is out, until it melts. I remember when I was little, my mother would put washing out on the clothes line, and, if she forgot to bring it in at night, the next morning all the clothes would be stiff and frozen!
Someone said it sounds like my life is a cross between Dickens and a Turner painting! I just tend to notice all the wonderful things, I think, because I have time to stop and smell the roses, and now intend to make sure I always can do that in future, whatever work brings. (Also, I trained as an artist and I notice things). I could dwell on the downsides (not that I see that many) but that's no fun. The economy is horrible everywhere. I feel the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking over here. People are tightening their belts, but that's natural, and they are not all depressed about it.
I have found a wonderful yoga teacher here in the nearest village!!! He's Indonesian, about 62, I think, and exudes calm and support, He leads yoga retreats to places like the Greek Islands...I can dream. He is a great teacher and so knowledgeable about the internal structure of the body - muscles, organs, skeletal etc, and all the benefits of each pose. I am not practicing at home because we still have no space anywhere (I kid you not - it's still a mess with boxes everywhere - very slow process). But I walk for miles with the dogs every day and do yoga twice a week at Sam's classes.
We all await news of the election with all fingers crossed.
Poor T; he was sick the whole of the 2 weeks of half term. Started with flu, turned into a chesty cough and he went back to school today, dosed up with antibiotics, but has hardly been outside during the whole 2 weeks off, as he felt weak and chilly.
He did have time to do a project for school about his family ancestry though: Alan cut a wooden shield shape for him, which he painted with fantastic designs representing different branches of his family (dragon for Wales, fleur-de-lis for France, bear for California, etc).
He has also designed a Christmas card with a drawing of the school (a Victorian Gothic mansion) in the snow, with all kinds of activities going on around it, including Santa on the roof.
In the mornings now, my breath comes in cloudy bursts as I walk the dogs - sometimes in bright golden sunshine against a crisp turquoise sky, sometimes in grey damp. The field nearby where the ponies graze is sometimes layered with a light silvery film of dew. When it gets colder, that will become early morning frost and will shimmer and sparkle if the sun is out, until it melts. I remember when I was little, my mother would put washing out on the clothes line, and, if she forgot to bring it in at night, the next morning all the clothes would be stiff and frozen!
Someone said it sounds like my life is a cross between Dickens and a Turner painting! I just tend to notice all the wonderful things, I think, because I have time to stop and smell the roses, and now intend to make sure I always can do that in future, whatever work brings. (Also, I trained as an artist and I notice things). I could dwell on the downsides (not that I see that many) but that's no fun. The economy is horrible everywhere. I feel the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and kicking over here. People are tightening their belts, but that's natural, and they are not all depressed about it.
I have found a wonderful yoga teacher here in the nearest village!!! He's Indonesian, about 62, I think, and exudes calm and support, He leads yoga retreats to places like the Greek Islands...I can dream. He is a great teacher and so knowledgeable about the internal structure of the body - muscles, organs, skeletal etc, and all the benefits of each pose. I am not practicing at home because we still have no space anywhere (I kid you not - it's still a mess with boxes everywhere - very slow process). But I walk for miles with the dogs every day and do yoga twice a week at Sam's classes.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bonfire night and end of Oct
END of OCTOBER BLOG #8
I miss our good friends in LA most of all, and the Tennis Club. I am so happy we were lucky enough to live in and enjoy the Canyon for all those happy years, and I feel we made the most of it and really appreciated it. Fortunately, although I know I'll miss the canyon hikes in winter, the countryside here is divine in any season.
The purples and pinks of the heather and gorse on the heath have transformed, as Winter approaches, into swathes of russet, gold and green (as they are all evergreen). Elsewhere the countryside is decked out in flame reds, burnished coppers and all the rich earth colours from the deciduous trees, and the ground is thick with crispy leaves, which gusts of wind sweep up and swirl around, playfully.
It's not quite cold enough for gloves yet, but this morning my breath came in cloudy bursts as I walked the dogs in bright golden sunshine against a crisp turquoise sky. The field where the ponies graze was layered with a light silvery film of dew. When it gets colder that will become early morning frost and will shimmer and sparkle if the sun is out, until it melts. I remember when I was little, my mother would put washing out on the clothes line, and, if she forgot to bring it in at night, the next morning all the clothes would be stiff and frozen!
I think the ponies, which are the shaggy kind, belong to some travellers. I am not sure, but a hastily hand-painted wooden sign appeared recently, leaning against the fence, with the roughly scrawted words "dont put no aples in the feeld"!
I am putting raw sesame seeds and pine nuts out on the patio wall for "our" robin. He has started coming near the kitchen window each morning and looking at me sideways with his beady eye, almost as a signal that he'd like some food. I am sure the other birds are also feasting, but the it's the robin I see most.
We are hoping and hoping that Obama will get in. It is looking better now, isn't it? Can't imagine if he doesn't...let's not think about that.
It sounds as if your children are all getting a good grounding in street smarts, as you say. It's a good thing (as long as they're safe) to have that independence, too. It's just a shame they have to spend so long getting to and from school. That was something we really wanted to avoid in moving back here, and I think we have succeeded.
November 5th is fast approaching. That's Guy Fawkes' Night here. A big celebration, but not known in the US. It commemorates the thwarting of an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder in the 17th Century by a certain Guy Fawkes (although now it is thought he may have been the scapegoat and others were actually the planners of the failed attack). Guy was burnt at the stake as a traitor, and the tradition on Nov 5th became for children to make a "guy" out of rags, old clothes stuffed with newspapers, and collect "pennies for the guy", with which they bought fireworks.
Now of course, safety regulations forbid the setting off of major fireworks, except with permits, but when I was a kid we had bonfire parties where brave dads would precariously set off fireworks in the garden and we'd have a bonfire. Invariable one of the rockets or catherine wheels would go off in the wrong direction (horizontally instead of vertically!) and we'd all have to dive for cover. We'd all drink steaming cups of tomato soup and eat hot sausages. It was always cold and misty, or damp, and there was an unforgettable smell of smoke and leaves and gunpowder in the air.
Nowadays you can still buy sparklers and small fireworks, but mostly people get together at public places and a huge bonfire is lit and fireworks set off. It's more of a community gathering. T's school is doing a Guy Fawkes evening in the field, so we'll go. Mulled wine and roasted chestnuts as well as the soup and sausages!
I miss our good friends in LA most of all, and the Tennis Club. I am so happy we were lucky enough to live in and enjoy the Canyon for all those happy years, and I feel we made the most of it and really appreciated it. Fortunately, although I know I'll miss the canyon hikes in winter, the countryside here is divine in any season.
The purples and pinks of the heather and gorse on the heath have transformed, as Winter approaches, into swathes of russet, gold and green (as they are all evergreen). Elsewhere the countryside is decked out in flame reds, burnished coppers and all the rich earth colours from the deciduous trees, and the ground is thick with crispy leaves, which gusts of wind sweep up and swirl around, playfully.
It's not quite cold enough for gloves yet, but this morning my breath came in cloudy bursts as I walked the dogs in bright golden sunshine against a crisp turquoise sky. The field where the ponies graze was layered with a light silvery film of dew. When it gets colder that will become early morning frost and will shimmer and sparkle if the sun is out, until it melts. I remember when I was little, my mother would put washing out on the clothes line, and, if she forgot to bring it in at night, the next morning all the clothes would be stiff and frozen!
I think the ponies, which are the shaggy kind, belong to some travellers. I am not sure, but a hastily hand-painted wooden sign appeared recently, leaning against the fence, with the roughly scrawted words "dont put no aples in the feeld"!
I am putting raw sesame seeds and pine nuts out on the patio wall for "our" robin. He has started coming near the kitchen window each morning and looking at me sideways with his beady eye, almost as a signal that he'd like some food. I am sure the other birds are also feasting, but the it's the robin I see most.
We are hoping and hoping that Obama will get in. It is looking better now, isn't it? Can't imagine if he doesn't...let's not think about that.
It sounds as if your children are all getting a good grounding in street smarts, as you say. It's a good thing (as long as they're safe) to have that independence, too. It's just a shame they have to spend so long getting to and from school. That was something we really wanted to avoid in moving back here, and I think we have succeeded.
November 5th is fast approaching. That's Guy Fawkes' Night here. A big celebration, but not known in the US. It commemorates the thwarting of an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament with gunpowder in the 17th Century by a certain Guy Fawkes (although now it is thought he may have been the scapegoat and others were actually the planners of the failed attack). Guy was burnt at the stake as a traitor, and the tradition on Nov 5th became for children to make a "guy" out of rags, old clothes stuffed with newspapers, and collect "pennies for the guy", with which they bought fireworks.
Now of course, safety regulations forbid the setting off of major fireworks, except with permits, but when I was a kid we had bonfire parties where brave dads would precariously set off fireworks in the garden and we'd have a bonfire. Invariable one of the rockets or catherine wheels would go off in the wrong direction (horizontally instead of vertically!) and we'd all have to dive for cover. We'd all drink steaming cups of tomato soup and eat hot sausages. It was always cold and misty, or damp, and there was an unforgettable smell of smoke and leaves and gunpowder in the air.
Nowadays you can still buy sparklers and small fireworks, but mostly people get together at public places and a huge bonfire is lit and fireworks set off. It's more of a community gathering. T's school is doing a Guy Fawkes evening in the field, so we'll go. Mulled wine and roasted chestnuts as well as the soup and sausages!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Snow in October!
SNOW IN OCTOBER! (Oct 28) BLOG #7
We were lucky enough to have both our fathers here yesterday evening. JD arrived from Texas yesterday morning to stay the week (it's T's half term) and my father drove here on his way home from a London visit. Both of them were in fine form, and put the world to rights over a sherry or two. We persuaded my dad not to drive all the way home in the dark, but to stay overnight.
Luckily he agreed, because it started to snow - the first time it's snowed in England in October for many years! (We had had an unexpected cold snap starting yesterday, but snow was not in the forecast.)
We were very snug in the house,and awoke this morning to 3" of soft white stuff coating the landscape, under a brilliant blue sky and sunshine. Absolutely gorgeous!
It didn't stay on the roads, but the forest is still tipped with white.
2 days later, it was warmer and sunny, and I went for a walk in the woods.
The noise was surprising; thousands of little clumps of ice were falling from the trees. Between the crackling, crunching, and falling of ice, and the piles of wet leaves being rustled by the breeze, it was far from the usual peace in the forest.
The Scottie dogs are fine. Loving the weather here, I think. They were in heaven with the snow this morning. Saint was biting it and tried to roll in it, and Maisy daintily picked her paws up at each step, and would occasionally plunge her nose in as she caught an interesting smell.
There are so many horses around here that I am itching to ride again! (I was horse-mad when I was younger, and rode a lot in Los Angeles). I am glad to see that most of the animals have warm blankets on at the moment, as they stand about, heads down eating, in the brisk air.
A is already on the local tennis team but games are less regular during the winter months, as they are outdoor courts.
T hasn't been playing a lot either, because he's so busy, and he has rugby starting next week.
Work-hunting is going slowly but I am meeting lots of good people so it's a matter of finding the right niche at the right time. Patience is not my strongest virtue! I am raring to get on with it.
I have had loads of good meetings and am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! I have met with (or am about to meet with) TV companies, record labels, publishers and continue meeting with people all the time.
There are a couple of possible short-term consultancies in the melting-pot.
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been diligently pursuing meetings and networking here, re potential job leads, or consultancy work. It's very interesting and quite positive, but I keep having to repress feelings that maybe I should seize this opportunity to do something completely different! Not yet! Maybe if A. gets a job I'll allow myself to pursue that thought more! Right now I am still interested in entertainment. Maybe it's because I have discovered such a joy in life without crazy work schedules over the last 3 months. I was so burnt out after LA. I didn't even realise it. I don't need a huge income. We have a simpler, pared-back lifestyle here, and I love it, but we do need to earn money to maintain it, and to take holidays!
We were lucky enough to have both our fathers here yesterday evening. JD arrived from Texas yesterday morning to stay the week (it's T's half term) and my father drove here on his way home from a London visit. Both of them were in fine form, and put the world to rights over a sherry or two. We persuaded my dad not to drive all the way home in the dark, but to stay overnight.
Luckily he agreed, because it started to snow - the first time it's snowed in England in October for many years! (We had had an unexpected cold snap starting yesterday, but snow was not in the forecast.)
We were very snug in the house,and awoke this morning to 3" of soft white stuff coating the landscape, under a brilliant blue sky and sunshine. Absolutely gorgeous!
It didn't stay on the roads, but the forest is still tipped with white.
2 days later, it was warmer and sunny, and I went for a walk in the woods.
The noise was surprising; thousands of little clumps of ice were falling from the trees. Between the crackling, crunching, and falling of ice, and the piles of wet leaves being rustled by the breeze, it was far from the usual peace in the forest.
The Scottie dogs are fine. Loving the weather here, I think. They were in heaven with the snow this morning. Saint was biting it and tried to roll in it, and Maisy daintily picked her paws up at each step, and would occasionally plunge her nose in as she caught an interesting smell.
There are so many horses around here that I am itching to ride again! (I was horse-mad when I was younger, and rode a lot in Los Angeles). I am glad to see that most of the animals have warm blankets on at the moment, as they stand about, heads down eating, in the brisk air.
A is already on the local tennis team but games are less regular during the winter months, as they are outdoor courts.
T hasn't been playing a lot either, because he's so busy, and he has rugby starting next week.
Work-hunting is going slowly but I am meeting lots of good people so it's a matter of finding the right niche at the right time. Patience is not my strongest virtue! I am raring to get on with it.
I have had loads of good meetings and am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! I have met with (or am about to meet with) TV companies, record labels, publishers and continue meeting with people all the time.
There are a couple of possible short-term consultancies in the melting-pot.
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been diligently pursuing meetings and networking here, re potential job leads, or consultancy work. It's very interesting and quite positive, but I keep having to repress feelings that maybe I should seize this opportunity to do something completely different! Not yet! Maybe if A. gets a job I'll allow myself to pursue that thought more! Right now I am still interested in entertainment. Maybe it's because I have discovered such a joy in life without crazy work schedules over the last 3 months. I was so burnt out after LA. I didn't even realise it. I don't need a huge income. We have a simpler, pared-back lifestyle here, and I love it, but we do need to earn money to maintain it, and to take holidays!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
September rain
SEPT 7 – RAIN BLOG #5
We just had some serious rain (and flooding in certain parts of the UK - west and north), but it didn't last too long and was mostly overnight. Everyone carries on. I see people cycling in the rain, apparently quite happily, including the postmen!
It always made me laugh in LA when people scurried indoors at the slightest drop of rain, and were incapable of driving in it. I used to think; do they think if they get wet they're going to shrink or something? Call me weird, but there's actually something really invigorating about being out in a downpour - as long as you are properly dressed, welly boots. waterproof hat and all – and preferably not going to an important meeting!
I was out with the dogs the other night, after a rainstorm, and a huge frog literally jumped out from the side into a deep puddle in the road, with a splash, right in front of our Scottie dogs' noses. Saint's eyes almost popped out of his head and he lost it, barking like a mad-dog and pulling me along with undreamt-of strength, as he desperately searched for it.
Last night we drove into London to have dinner with friends who live in Holland Park (Notting Hill area). Lovely, classic, higgeldy-piggeldy Georgian houses around a private green square. Then we all took a taxi into Soho to see their son (my godson) in a National Youth Theatre play called "The Sick Room". It was very funny and edgy, basically a string of sketches based on life in doctors' offices and hospitals. Apparently BBC3 has already sent scouts to check it out and to see if it can be developed into a sketch show for TV.
When we left the theatre at 11pm, the London streets were humming with life – people in cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, walking, and public transport running very late, sometimes 24 hours. It's an exciting city. I loved living there when I did, but was ready to try a different pace.
We're going to the Stevie Wonder concert at the O2 stadium on Thursday. T gets to stay over at school and pretend to be boarding.
Did I mention that our mail delivery man (postman) cycles round, and is wearing short navy shorts and a peaked cap? I swear, he looks like Angus from AC/DC!
We just had some serious rain (and flooding in certain parts of the UK - west and north), but it didn't last too long and was mostly overnight. Everyone carries on. I see people cycling in the rain, apparently quite happily, including the postmen!
It always made me laugh in LA when people scurried indoors at the slightest drop of rain, and were incapable of driving in it. I used to think; do they think if they get wet they're going to shrink or something? Call me weird, but there's actually something really invigorating about being out in a downpour - as long as you are properly dressed, welly boots. waterproof hat and all – and preferably not going to an important meeting!
I was out with the dogs the other night, after a rainstorm, and a huge frog literally jumped out from the side into a deep puddle in the road, with a splash, right in front of our Scottie dogs' noses. Saint's eyes almost popped out of his head and he lost it, barking like a mad-dog and pulling me along with undreamt-of strength, as he desperately searched for it.
Last night we drove into London to have dinner with friends who live in Holland Park (Notting Hill area). Lovely, classic, higgeldy-piggeldy Georgian houses around a private green square. Then we all took a taxi into Soho to see their son (my godson) in a National Youth Theatre play called "The Sick Room". It was very funny and edgy, basically a string of sketches based on life in doctors' offices and hospitals. Apparently BBC3 has already sent scouts to check it out and to see if it can be developed into a sketch show for TV.
When we left the theatre at 11pm, the London streets were humming with life – people in cafes, bars, restaurants, clubs, walking, and public transport running very late, sometimes 24 hours. It's an exciting city. I loved living there when I did, but was ready to try a different pace.
We're going to the Stevie Wonder concert at the O2 stadium on Thursday. T gets to stay over at school and pretend to be boarding.
Did I mention that our mail delivery man (postman) cycles round, and is wearing short navy shorts and a peaked cap? I swear, he looks like Angus from AC/DC!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Summer in Sandhurst
END AUG/SEPT 3 BLOG #3
T officially started at his new English school, this morning. Smart in his simple uniform of navy cord trousers, crisp white shirt and red tie, he ducked through the hedge opening at the end of our garden, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the copse, through to the cricket pitch and the school beyond it. From our garden, or with the kitchen windows open, we can hear the children laughing and playing in the fields between our house and the school,during their breaks..
T’s class teacher this year is Mr Edwards, and T is in the “Harriers” group (they all have bird names: - Kestrels, Merlins, Kites, Ospreys are the other groups). There are about 5 full-time boarders in his year, and the children come from the UK, Spain, Japan, India and Italy. There's also a family that just moved back here from Alaska.
The boys are playing football (soccer) first, then rugby and hockey in the Spring, and finally cricket and tennis in the summer. All year they do athletics and swim (as they are lucky enough to have a covered pool - being refurbished next year, but fine for them now).
T will be plunged into French lessons (we have done an introduction to it over the summer together) and Latin, as well as all the usual subjects, plus Comparative Religion, which all the schools here seem to teach.
We have to go to a wedding in New York in October, and Tristan will get to board at the school for 5 nights! Should be a lot of fun for him. Very Harry Potter - he wishes!
We heard a screech owl last night. We are lucky that there are many very tall oak and pine trees at the end of the gardens in the road, and the houses are divided by thick, high hedges, which harbour masses of wildlife. We see foxes almost every night, sometimes deer venture into the garden, and we currently have dozens of little green frogs, and large frogs and toads, of tan, brown, beige colours, with all kinds of interesting patterns. It has been wet lately, but there are underground springs all along the road under the houses and gardens, plus a large lily pond by the school.
There are a couple of friendly robins who visit us every day too and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing. It’s unusual to see two, as they are very territorial, but one appears to be older, with slightly greying and scruffy head feathers.
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
T attended a week-long day camp on the nearby lakes. He learned to sail, and tried windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as raft-building. They all wore wetsuits and, although it rained quite a bit and was quite chilly at times, they were getting wet in the lake anyway, so it didn't seem to matter and they all had a great time!
They say it has been the wettest August since 1902 or something, but frankly it hasn't been THAT bad, so if this is the worst, it can only get much better! The rain is often in showers, between sunny spells, or drizzle, and it really hasn't stopped us doing anything. You learn to “read” the skies, smell the air, and of course look at the weather forecast! One thing I notice is that people here are so thrilled when it's a nice sunny or warm day that there is a palpable atmosphere of overt joy, with everyone outside, appreciating the nice day. The parks are full, people bike everywhere, or walk, and it's quite festive!
We have become avid users of the local library, to which we can cycle within 10 minutes. We have lots of books out, or on order. It's so convenient, especially as I have time to read them for the first time in years.
T officially started at his new English school, this morning. Smart in his simple uniform of navy cord trousers, crisp white shirt and red tie, he ducked through the hedge opening at the end of our garden, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the copse, through to the cricket pitch and the school beyond it. From our garden, or with the kitchen windows open, we can hear the children laughing and playing in the fields between our house and the school,during their breaks..
T’s class teacher this year is Mr Edwards, and T is in the “Harriers” group (they all have bird names: - Kestrels, Merlins, Kites, Ospreys are the other groups). There are about 5 full-time boarders in his year, and the children come from the UK, Spain, Japan, India and Italy. There's also a family that just moved back here from Alaska.
The boys are playing football (soccer) first, then rugby and hockey in the Spring, and finally cricket and tennis in the summer. All year they do athletics and swim (as they are lucky enough to have a covered pool - being refurbished next year, but fine for them now).
T will be plunged into French lessons (we have done an introduction to it over the summer together) and Latin, as well as all the usual subjects, plus Comparative Religion, which all the schools here seem to teach.
We have to go to a wedding in New York in October, and Tristan will get to board at the school for 5 nights! Should be a lot of fun for him. Very Harry Potter - he wishes!
We heard a screech owl last night. We are lucky that there are many very tall oak and pine trees at the end of the gardens in the road, and the houses are divided by thick, high hedges, which harbour masses of wildlife. We see foxes almost every night, sometimes deer venture into the garden, and we currently have dozens of little green frogs, and large frogs and toads, of tan, brown, beige colours, with all kinds of interesting patterns. It has been wet lately, but there are underground springs all along the road under the houses and gardens, plus a large lily pond by the school.
There are a couple of friendly robins who visit us every day too and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing. It’s unusual to see two, as they are very territorial, but one appears to be older, with slightly greying and scruffy head feathers.
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
T attended a week-long day camp on the nearby lakes. He learned to sail, and tried windsurfing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as raft-building. They all wore wetsuits and, although it rained quite a bit and was quite chilly at times, they were getting wet in the lake anyway, so it didn't seem to matter and they all had a great time!
They say it has been the wettest August since 1902 or something, but frankly it hasn't been THAT bad, so if this is the worst, it can only get much better! The rain is often in showers, between sunny spells, or drizzle, and it really hasn't stopped us doing anything. You learn to “read” the skies, smell the air, and of course look at the weather forecast! One thing I notice is that people here are so thrilled when it's a nice sunny or warm day that there is a palpable atmosphere of overt joy, with everyone outside, appreciating the nice day. The parks are full, people bike everywhere, or walk, and it's quite festive!
We have become avid users of the local library, to which we can cycle within 10 minutes. We have lots of books out, or on order. It's so convenient, especially as I have time to read them for the first time in years.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Autumn and Paris
SEPT – Change to Autumn BLOG #4
We are loving this change to autumn, with the hint of winter in the air.
We have had 2 weeks of glorious weather; cold in the mornings and nights, and slightly misty, but really warm in the sun later, and blue skies with scudding clouds.
I notice that people here really rejoice in and appreciate whenever it's a nice day, and that is so lovely. To have the countryside so green, you have to have rain! It's the trade-off.
T likes his new school and seems to be settling in well. They have "flexi-boarding" so he's a day student, but can stay overnight if needed (like when we have to go on a trip).
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been meeting with loads and loads of interesting people; all good meetings and I feel I am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! Without exception, people have been very welcoming, open and positive.
I do feel hopeful, but it will take some time to find the right fit.
You'd love all the birds! We have the large ones:blackbirds (black-brown with yellow beaks), jays (pinkish brown heads and backs with black wings, turquoise-blue flashes and a distinctive white circle on the wings), crows and wood pigeons. Then there are many little tits of all colours, and a pair of orange-red-breasted robins who visit us every day and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing.
It's all very Laurel Canyon - but a lot wetter and greener!
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
We are often out on the heath-land, walking the dogs. It is sandy, gently hilly ground aflame with purple, lavender and pink gorse and lilac heather, with small clumps of pine trees. It is really pretty.
(Of course I get to notice and enjoy all this in so much detail as I am not working yet! Making the most of it. Now that the summer is over, I can really ramp up the job search efforts.)
It's lovely to have my family on the same time zone and all of Europe so close: 2 hours and you're in the south of France, or Spain, Italy...
In fact I am off to Paris today for a long weekend to visit my sister there and to attend a big birthday party of a very old friend.
We are loving this change to autumn, with the hint of winter in the air.
We have had 2 weeks of glorious weather; cold in the mornings and nights, and slightly misty, but really warm in the sun later, and blue skies with scudding clouds.
I notice that people here really rejoice in and appreciate whenever it's a nice day, and that is so lovely. To have the countryside so green, you have to have rain! It's the trade-off.
T likes his new school and seems to be settling in well. They have "flexi-boarding" so he's a day student, but can stay overnight if needed (like when we have to go on a trip).
Even though London is easy-access via the train, it's still an hour each way, and I am thinking how great it would be to not have to go in EVERY day!
I have been meeting with loads and loads of interesting people; all good meetings and I feel I am sowing seeds for the future, although no actual jobs have come out of all this - yet! Without exception, people have been very welcoming, open and positive.
I do feel hopeful, but it will take some time to find the right fit.
You'd love all the birds! We have the large ones:blackbirds (black-brown with yellow beaks), jays (pinkish brown heads and backs with black wings, turquoise-blue flashes and a distinctive white circle on the wings), crows and wood pigeons. Then there are many little tits of all colours, and a pair of orange-red-breasted robins who visit us every day and are very keen when I do any digging or grass-mowing.
It's all very Laurel Canyon - but a lot wetter and greener!
We don't have the wonderful lemon and orange trees in the garden that we had in LA but we do have apples and pears to be picked, and blackberries growing wild everywhere you walk.
We are often out on the heath-land, walking the dogs. It is sandy, gently hilly ground aflame with purple, lavender and pink gorse and lilac heather, with small clumps of pine trees. It is really pretty.
(Of course I get to notice and enjoy all this in so much detail as I am not working yet! Making the most of it. Now that the summer is over, I can really ramp up the job search efforts.)
It's lovely to have my family on the same time zone and all of Europe so close: 2 hours and you're in the south of France, or Spain, Italy...
In fact I am off to Paris today for a long weekend to visit my sister there and to attend a big birthday party of a very old friend.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Aug Sept and dog bite
DOG BITE STORY SEPT 3 BLOG #2
A friend in LA complained to me that they have no life, it’s all work, work, work. I know what that's like. I did it for 20 years and part of why we moved back was I really wanted a change of pace, and different priorities. It's all fine when you are young and have no family. Then all sorts of things come in and tug at your priorities, and it gets very stressful.
The story of the dog bite I suffered in France a couple of weeks ago: I went down, from the terrace, into the garden of the house we stayed in with our friends (near Cahors) to shoo off 3 dogs who had wandered in and were trotting around, peeing against bushes and generally putting their noses into everything. We had left the doors open to the bedrooms in the converted barns, AND we had young children staying ,so I didn't want dogs pooing on the grass or getting in the rooms. I had had a glass of local rose, so maybe would have thought twice if I hadn't, but I had not noticed, from up on the terrace, that they were pit bull mixes.
As I waved at them (from about 20 feet away) and shooed them, one of them turned around and started barking and snarling and advanced towards me, head lowered, followed by the really big dog. I knew I couldn't turn and run, but I also knew this wasn't good! I tried to stay calm and not look them in the eyes, but they circled me and the smaller one lunged at my leg, grabbed it, made me lose my balance, and I fell down. I screamed out, and A. had started down the steps at a full run, yelling at them. Luckily for me, they turned and ran out of the property and he chased them all the way to the street. He knew that if HE stopped they would do the same thing to him. I had by this time limped to the house with blood pouring down my leg, knowing it was bad. But I was SO lucky. Between A, the guardian angel looking over me, and the fact I was wearing baggy floaty linen pants. So the dog couldn't see my leg, and when he lunged, he got a mouthful of pants and slashed about 4 inches of my calf with his teeth, but didn’t get his jaws around the whole leg.
Anyway, ambulance, emergency room at the hospital in Cahors, stitches, tetanus and then police report the next day, followed by the mayor of the village visiting to apologise. It was "The Incident of the Dog"! The whole place was abuzz, and it turns out that those dogs have been aggressive with several people before, just not bitten them, so they want the owner to fence them in or get rid of them - or move. I'll be Ok, with an ugly, ragged scar, and I can't walk properly, or very far yet, as it's in an awkward place to heal easily, and I cannot put much pressure on it .
Oh well. Much excitement! Of course A. just says it was completely my fault for going down when there were 3 dogs (i.e. a pack). Always so sympathetic, my husband!
That's my news!!!!
Other than that I am setting meetings and networking like mad for possible work...
It's unfortunately not all leisure, as the house needs much finishing-off work (no shelves, closets etc, so we have to find carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers) and we cannot unpack everything until we have somewhere to put it all. The result is that the rooms and garage are STILL piled with cardboard boxes. We have been doing some work ourselves, which is very time-consuming and hard!
In between I have been on the computer and phone and setting up meetings and have gone into London a dozen times and met with some great people. Doing the rounds...
A friend in LA complained to me that they have no life, it’s all work, work, work. I know what that's like. I did it for 20 years and part of why we moved back was I really wanted a change of pace, and different priorities. It's all fine when you are young and have no family. Then all sorts of things come in and tug at your priorities, and it gets very stressful.
The story of the dog bite I suffered in France a couple of weeks ago: I went down, from the terrace, into the garden of the house we stayed in with our friends (near Cahors) to shoo off 3 dogs who had wandered in and were trotting around, peeing against bushes and generally putting their noses into everything. We had left the doors open to the bedrooms in the converted barns, AND we had young children staying ,so I didn't want dogs pooing on the grass or getting in the rooms. I had had a glass of local rose, so maybe would have thought twice if I hadn't, but I had not noticed, from up on the terrace, that they were pit bull mixes.
As I waved at them (from about 20 feet away) and shooed them, one of them turned around and started barking and snarling and advanced towards me, head lowered, followed by the really big dog. I knew I couldn't turn and run, but I also knew this wasn't good! I tried to stay calm and not look them in the eyes, but they circled me and the smaller one lunged at my leg, grabbed it, made me lose my balance, and I fell down. I screamed out, and A. had started down the steps at a full run, yelling at them. Luckily for me, they turned and ran out of the property and he chased them all the way to the street. He knew that if HE stopped they would do the same thing to him. I had by this time limped to the house with blood pouring down my leg, knowing it was bad. But I was SO lucky. Between A, the guardian angel looking over me, and the fact I was wearing baggy floaty linen pants. So the dog couldn't see my leg, and when he lunged, he got a mouthful of pants and slashed about 4 inches of my calf with his teeth, but didn’t get his jaws around the whole leg.
Anyway, ambulance, emergency room at the hospital in Cahors, stitches, tetanus and then police report the next day, followed by the mayor of the village visiting to apologise. It was "The Incident of the Dog"! The whole place was abuzz, and it turns out that those dogs have been aggressive with several people before, just not bitten them, so they want the owner to fence them in or get rid of them - or move. I'll be Ok, with an ugly, ragged scar, and I can't walk properly, or very far yet, as it's in an awkward place to heal easily, and I cannot put much pressure on it .
Oh well. Much excitement! Of course A. just says it was completely my fault for going down when there were 3 dogs (i.e. a pack). Always so sympathetic, my husband!
That's my news!!!!
Other than that I am setting meetings and networking like mad for possible work...
It's unfortunately not all leisure, as the house needs much finishing-off work (no shelves, closets etc, so we have to find carpenters, painters, electricians, plumbers) and we cannot unpack everything until we have somewhere to put it all. The result is that the rooms and garage are STILL piled with cardboard boxes. We have been doing some work ourselves, which is very time-consuming and hard!
In between I have been on the computer and phone and setting up meetings and have gone into London a dozen times and met with some great people. Doing the rounds...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Back in the UKKKK
JULY BLOG #1
We are living amongst 200 boxes and trying to have shelves and hanging space built so we can unpack everything. We do have beds, a couch, a table and chairs though! We even bought a barbecue (very optimistic of us).
The hot weather we were having unexpectedly suddenly broke, and now we have mixed weather - gorgeous today but cooler, and yesterday it drizzled and we are having the famous UK "scattered showers from the West".
T. is a little at a loose end right now as everyone seems to have gone away on holiday. He is really missing his LA friends and is quite emotional, especially at night. It's been a big disappointment for him that one of his best friends hasn't come over to visit as was promised...hard to explain to him that people have a lot going on in their lives and plans change. He'll be a lot better when he is on a schedule and back at school.
Neither A. nor I have jobs yet (it's early days and also slow here due to the summer, and everyone away), but we are looking...I have had some really good meetings and there are a few possible things to follow up on, but nothing definite yet.
A. is just back from a week in Oxford, studying for and taking his UK law exams - as back-up in case he wants to go in-house at a law firm. He said that the other students taking the exam were mostly 45 year old New York lawyers!
T. was at a day camp last week at the lakes nearby (Horseshoe Lake). They learned windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and raft-building. He had a great time and got wet every day either from the lake water or the rain!
I drove down to the south coast (Dorset - 1 1/2 hrs) see my father last weekend. It's a huge plus to be able to do that frequently. He is preparing for a big Roman weekend (with his legion - exhibitions, battle reenactments etc) in Dorchester on the last weekend of August, and this time we'll be able to go. Check out www.theromansenator.com.
We bought bikes and are cycling around everywhere. It's really pleasant, as there are many bike paths and so much forest and heathland, and protected areas. We have 2 villages within 5-15 mins' walking or bike, and 2 local train stations. It's about 1 hour from our door to central London.
The wildflowers in the fields and along the roadways have exploded into colour and are shoulder height in some places. There are butterflies everywhere - you have never seen such giant buddleia - it grows as a weed here!Of course it is light still until 10pm, but that is to be replaced in winter with agonisingly short days.
Made a quick trip to Paris/EuroDisney with T, and met up with my sisters, and T's cousins, from London, Paris and Spain. It was the first time in 7 years that all 4 sisters and the kids had been together, and we had a lot of noisy fun.
It was pretty amazing: London to Paris in under 1 hour on a high speed train.
Eurodisney wasn't bad, either. I expected to hate it but didn't at all. T made me go on some of the rides and I lost my voice from screaming.
We spent the last half day in Paris wandering around to see the Eiffel Tower and banks of the Seine.
It's a beautiful city still. The streets are just full of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. It's been 25 years since I lived there!
Soon I really will have to get back to work, but I am loving this summer basically off...
We are living amongst 200 boxes and trying to have shelves and hanging space built so we can unpack everything. We do have beds, a couch, a table and chairs though! We even bought a barbecue (very optimistic of us).
The hot weather we were having unexpectedly suddenly broke, and now we have mixed weather - gorgeous today but cooler, and yesterday it drizzled and we are having the famous UK "scattered showers from the West".
T. is a little at a loose end right now as everyone seems to have gone away on holiday. He is really missing his LA friends and is quite emotional, especially at night. It's been a big disappointment for him that one of his best friends hasn't come over to visit as was promised...hard to explain to him that people have a lot going on in their lives and plans change. He'll be a lot better when he is on a schedule and back at school.
Neither A. nor I have jobs yet (it's early days and also slow here due to the summer, and everyone away), but we are looking...I have had some really good meetings and there are a few possible things to follow up on, but nothing definite yet.
A. is just back from a week in Oxford, studying for and taking his UK law exams - as back-up in case he wants to go in-house at a law firm. He said that the other students taking the exam were mostly 45 year old New York lawyers!
T. was at a day camp last week at the lakes nearby (Horseshoe Lake). They learned windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and raft-building. He had a great time and got wet every day either from the lake water or the rain!
I drove down to the south coast (Dorset - 1 1/2 hrs) see my father last weekend. It's a huge plus to be able to do that frequently. He is preparing for a big Roman weekend (with his legion - exhibitions, battle reenactments etc) in Dorchester on the last weekend of August, and this time we'll be able to go. Check out www.theromansenator.com.
We bought bikes and are cycling around everywhere. It's really pleasant, as there are many bike paths and so much forest and heathland, and protected areas. We have 2 villages within 5-15 mins' walking or bike, and 2 local train stations. It's about 1 hour from our door to central London.
The wildflowers in the fields and along the roadways have exploded into colour and are shoulder height in some places. There are butterflies everywhere - you have never seen such giant buddleia - it grows as a weed here!Of course it is light still until 10pm, but that is to be replaced in winter with agonisingly short days.
Made a quick trip to Paris/EuroDisney with T, and met up with my sisters, and T's cousins, from London, Paris and Spain. It was the first time in 7 years that all 4 sisters and the kids had been together, and we had a lot of noisy fun.
It was pretty amazing: London to Paris in under 1 hour on a high speed train.
Eurodisney wasn't bad, either. I expected to hate it but didn't at all. T made me go on some of the rides and I lost my voice from screaming.
We spent the last half day in Paris wandering around to see the Eiffel Tower and banks of the Seine.
It's a beautiful city still. The streets are just full of sidewalk cafes and restaurants. It's been 25 years since I lived there!
Soon I really will have to get back to work, but I am loving this summer basically off...
Friday, May 23, 2008
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