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.
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