Venice in Winter

The academic who has just turned 40
went to Venice for a special birthday weekend.

The Doges Palace
Edward Seago

I recommended our little hotel
near the Accademia Bridge

The Grand Canal from Accademia Bridge
Edward Seago

and told him to ask for the room at the front
which overlooks the canal.

The Doorway, Venice
Edward Seago

We arrived by watertaxi at night
when Venice was shrouded in fog
and nothing could have been
more magical or romantic.

Venice at night
Edward Seago

The academic told me of a tiny restaurant
hidden among back streets
and I longed to return.

Maybe in the Spring.

*****

Edward Seago (1910 - 1974)
started his artistic career in a travelling circus
but went on to develop a Impressionistic style
which he used to explore the effect of light and shade
in various locations from the Antarctic to the Norfolk Broads.
His paintings were much sought after and he enjoyed
the enthusiastic patronage of the Queen Mother.
I look forward to the Centenary exhibition
at the Portland Gallery in February 2010.

New Windows Open

Thirtythree, 30 sycamore keys and 3 red berries
Eileen Postlethwaite


These pictures were a gift from Milly
as an unexpected consolation prize
in a giveaway post.
Thank you, Milly.

I am grateful to Lucille
who introduced herself in the summer
and pointed me towards Milly
and her beautiful drawings.

Lucille writes Useful or Beautiful
full of lovely images and perceptive insights.

I am always delighted
when a new reader introduces themselves,
opening yet another window
onto that sunny courtyard
where the community of blogging friends
generously share their lives
and support each other's creative endeavours.

5 oak leaves and 6 acorns found by Coniston Water
Eileen Postlethwaite

better late than never...

A nest of mixing bowls
given by as part of
a generous wedding present
by MrM's Granny.

You might be surprised to know
how many Coffee and Walnut cakes
have started their lives in these bowls.
A number significantly greater
than the rather pitiful comment yesterday
might have led you to imagine.

A belated contribution to Kitchen Poetry
which was hosted by FancyElastic.

'just a chocolate cake'

When MasterM and MissM were little
I would conscientiously make a birthday cake
to match the party theme.

Pirate Island,
Fairytale Castle,
Treasure Chest,
Teddy Bears Picnic,
Creepy Crawly Paradise.

It was something I never reconciled myself to
especially when I realised that the hours of creation
were reduced to a muddy heap
at the bottom of a party bag.

After the Pirate Island experience
I developed an overpowering dislike
for strongly coloured icing
which remains to this day.

Then came the liberating moment
when I was asked for
'just a chocolate cake'
and that is what I have made ever since
using a recipe from wonderful family friends
who live in Little Eversden.

It is now a real pleasure
to make the cake for the special day
and our birthday photos
feature a succession of identical chocolate cakes
each of them with that special fudgy icing
that I can remember from my own childhood.

MissM, 18.

MissM has brought us joy
from the moment that she was born
18 years ago.

On Saturday we braved gale force winds
to celebrate her birthday.
It was difficult to know what to give her
because she always assures us
that she doesn't need anything
but there was a laptop for A Level essays
and an antique gold heart-shaped locket;
a teacosy which she had aspired to
for her much-loved teapot
and a little Japanese charm doll
which promises luck and prettiness.

And a huge bunch of flowers.
Of course.

Drinks in the Interval

MrsM and MissM admire the woman
with the hand embroidered turquoise coat.

MrsM
Do you think it is an asymmetric cut?

MissM
No, I think she has made a mistake doing the buttons up.

MrsM and MissM ponder the lifestyle
which has enough money to buy designer coats
but not enough time to look in the mirror.

Perhaps it is true...
money can't buy everything.

On a Grey Day

1.
New pea-green salt bins
for car parks that were ice rinks.

2.
A wool coat of Papal purple
which I call a Duffle but
she calls a Montgomery
because she is Italian.

3.
Metallic green polish that flashes
as tiny, manicured gestures are made.

4.
Flaming Titian hair.

5.
A bowl of orange clementines
among brown paper parcels.

6.
Patent purple sneakers.
A brave choice.

7.
A long scarf of rainbow shades
which drapes and folds and drags.

8.
Fresh yellow Mahonia spikes.

9.
Peacock blue scooter,
iridescent with raindrops.

10.
A pink velvet bow
of extravagant proportions.

11.
Red poppies,
sombre against black

a single rose

one day I discovered
that a single rose
on my bedside table
gives pleasure
out of all proportion
to the cost.

I see the rose
last thing at night and
first thing in the morning.

for a fleeting second
I focus on shape
and colour.

floral meditation.

it works for me.

The Doorstop

Goodness me
what are you all like?
I thought that we had a relationship
built on truth and trust.
Obviously not.
Here is THE doorstop
and before you even ask
my edition of How to Eat
is signed by the author.
But the Shakespeare is not.

Wolf Hall changed my life...

Look at this pitiful blog!
It is reduced to pictures of leaves and bread rolls.

This is not giving the right impression…
there is more to me...
much, much more...
I have critical contributions to make to Blogland
and I am starting right now...
with Wolf Hall and what it has meant to me:

1.
It is hardback.
Big BIG Hardback
so it looked impressive when I was reading it.
No-one could miss the fact that I was reading
A Serious Book.
Excellent for Image.

2.
My daughter could see me reading a book.
Which apparently will help her confidence with reading.
It may be too little, too late but I’m doing my best.

3.
For the first time in my life
I have read the Man Booker Prize winner
BEFORE it is announced.
I am IN with The Literary Crowd.
I understand what they are talking about on Radio 4.
I can practically lecture on Modern Literature.

4.
I can discuss it casually with Hilary M.
When I next see Her.
(she is a friend of a friend...
Not that I am dropping names)

5.
I know how to pronounce her surname
ManTEL
(c.f. MANtel which is how I have pronounced it until now.
How embarrassing is THAT!)

6.
When the guide at Hampton Court
gives erroneous information about Cardinal Wolsey
I can gently correct him
and sound annoyingly authoritative.

7.
I can refer to the renewed interest in the Reformation
AND the reassessment of Sir Thomas More
I am sure that the History Department
will be contacting me any day to act as guest lecturer.

I am telling you
there is SO MUCH that is good about
Wolf Hall
that if I was the sort of person who did book reviews
I would give it 11 out 10.
It is THAT good.

Oh, and...

8.
We have a new doorstop for the dining room door.