A New Perspective

The door to my office is propped open
with a block of Icelandic lava
as soon as I arrive in the morning.

All day students and academics walk past
and I hear snatches of conversation
and gusts of laughter.
It is impossible to feel alone.

Today I heard the young Visiting Lecturer
talking to two students from his class
in the corridor outside my office.
He said "Why didn't you do it?
Were you afraid of making a mistake?
That is why we are here...
to make mistakes and learn from them.
Go away...be brave...make mistakes."

His words lingered in my mind all day.

MissM : Update

Cinderella
Illustrated by Arthur Rackham (1919)

MrsM
What time did you get in
from the party?
MissM
I got back at 3.30am...
and I had a seminar at 9.00am.
I made it - and I contributed!
MrsM
That's my girl

*****

Thank you all
for your sparkling comments this week.
We are off to see MissM tomorrow
I'm very 'cited.

Have a lovely weekend.

MrsM goes punting

We all have a secret Super-Power.

MrM's secret Super-Power is punting:

he can make a punt obey his every command

while young whipper-snappers look on with admiration.

This means that MrsM has cultivated the ability

to lie gracefully in the punt,

admire the scenery

and wave to small children on the bridges.

Back off, ladies, he's mine.

don't mention spandex

MrsM strolls nonchalantly into the designer sports wear shop as though she has been doing it all her life and holds informed conversation with lithe shop assistant wearing extreme lycra. Lithe shop assistant asks MrsM “What sort of runner are you?” MrsM wonders what she is talking about but replies confidently “Improving”. Lithe shop assistant says “Oh! I envy you! I have reached a performance plateau.” MrsM acknowledges this is a problem for all runners and makes gentle, encouraging noises. Lithe shop assistant recommends compression leggings for enhanced muscle tone and MrsM goes into the changing cubicle. The compression feature is significant. MrsM cannot get the leggings off. They are moulded to her legs like spray-on paint. MrsM is absolutely stuck in black spandex. MrsM hears the lithe shop assistant saying "How is the fit? Would you like the High Visibility version?" MrsM panics...there are three options: she can summon MrM from the nearby bookshop, she can ask for help or she can extricate herself. MrsM starts peeling. When MrsM eventually leaves the shop she swings the plastic bag ostentatiously. It was worth the pain because it has a picture of runners on the outside. MrsM plans to reuse it frequently.

The Backs

On a quiet autumn morning

we walk from Silver Street

along the Backs

and the copper leaves are thick underfoot.

There are so many memories

in these bridges, gates and avenues

that the past walks alongside us

in the bright light and cold air.

A Dog-Shaped Hole

MrsM takes time
to consider her next dog...

Portrait of Wife
Boris Kustodiev (1878–1927)

Should she have an elegant setter
like Poshyarns?

Woman with Dog
Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947)

Or maybe a dachshund like Vanessa?

Woman with a Dog
Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806)

Only Eurolush can have
a small white dog

Self Portrait with Dog
Gustave Courbert (1819-1877)

but a loyal little black spaniel
is a possibility

It will be well behaved in boats

Elegant Woman with Her Dog
Albrogio Alciati (1878-1929)

never drop hairs
on MrsM's black skirts

Young Woman on a Striped Sofa with her Dog
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)

and only sit on the new sofa on Sundays.

Woman with Dog
Christian Schleisner (1810-1882)

It will also keep MrsM company
when she is cooking.

(it is not happening soon
but there is no harm planning ahead...)

*****

This post is for everyone who has a dog
but especially for Jen, Diana, Rachel and Jackie
who generously share their dogs with me.

Fosco Maraini (1912 - 2004)

Fosco Maraini was an Italian anthropologist

mountaineer, writer
and photographer.

Through his eyes we see
forgotten lives in Tibet, Japan, Italy
in the early twentieth century.

His photographs speak of curiosity
but also compassion and respect.

They are windows into lost worlds.


*****

We should all remember that our photos
are windows into other worlds,
particularly domestic and family life,
and that by conscientious archiving
which we achieve by blogging
we are safeguarding precious memories.

Moorish tile love

It is dark and wet outside
and there is evidence that somebody
has been feeling sorry for herself.

Let's change the subject...
what about Spain in January?
Does that sound fun?

The Deputy Exams Officer owes me a drink...
I'm hoping it will be
a tisane in the Moroccan Tea Rooms;

Jenny can entertain me
her mad twitter skillz
from the almond groves

and the Young Academic
is planning a trip to Ronda
with the Professor of whom we spoke
so I will try to hitch a lift.

It's only 81 sleeps until Nerja...
the countdown has started.

*****
tiles : Damascus (1420 - 1450)
images : ©Victoria and Albert Museum, London

making a difference

The security guard at the entrance to campus
has been there since the start of term.
He is supposed to check car permits
and direct visitors to the car parks
but after a while he recognised staff
and waved to them as they drove past
and soon people were waving back
and opening their windows to greet him.
This morning the relief security guard
stood there with his hands in his pockets
and I missed the smile and friendly wave.
I had not realised how important it was to me.

Joie de Vivre

This photo was rescued by Granny
from the bottom of a drawer in her kitchen.

I am sitting with MissM on my lap
in a country churchyard after a wedding.
MissM is wearing a tiny pink seersucker dress
and I know that it is before she could crawl
because her knees are dimpled and clean.

I think of the photograph MissM has just sent
of new plum suede shoes with 4" heels.
She will wear them to two parties this weekend.
They are dancing shoes.

I am sure that if you had asked me then
what I wished for my tiny daughter
I would have been unable to articulate my dream.
There are so many sensible things to wish for:
happiness, health, intelligence, common sense.

But what I wanted, more than anything else,
was a daughter who had the confidence
to go dancing in a black Karen Millen dress
and pair of plum suede shoes with 4" heels.

I think you will agree that I have been lucky.