MasterM helps decorate the tree

MrsM and MissM are decorating the tree
and MrM is doing manly things with bricks
to make the tree stand up straight.

MasterM is helping by lying on the sofa,
wearing felt reindeer antlers,
and giving a running commentary
on the World Darts Championship.

1.
That man is a seriously big human.
How big even is his neck?

2.
Did they just say "Beguiling and Mystifing"?
Those words should not be used to describe darts.

3.
They just called him Big John.
I concur.

4.
We should have a family outing to the darts.
What shall we dress up as?
Bananas?

5.
That man has a chicken round his head.
I've seen it all now.

6.
How do they add up so quickly?
What even is treble nineteen?

7.
Look!
That family is dressed up as crayons.
We could do that.

8.
Guess how many 180s have there have been this year.
Go on, MissM, guess.
No, I am not going to tell you,
you have got to guess.

9.
Big John is pushing out some beads.
He is going to overthrow.
There, what did I tell you!

10.
This is an awesome game of darts.
Real human drama.
His wife is even crying.

11.
Right. That's over.
I am going to watch the film
about the sperm whale which goes mad
and attacks a boat of whalers.
Daddy, would you resort to cannibalism?

12.
Meanwhile MrsM and MissM
untangle the tree lights,
drape the silver beads,
hang the silver baubles,
unwrap the decorations,
find the wibbly-wobbly people,
and wake up the sleeping Christmas fairy

It's a typical family evening
and we all feel very festive.

what the commuter saw

It is my last day at work before Christmas
so I thought I would share my December photos.

DECEMBER

I set off in the dark
but I arrive at sunrise.

9 December
Royal Festival Hall from the Jubilee Bridge

5 December
Westminster Bridge

12 December
London Eye from the Embankment

I am becoming familiar with my route,
aware of the light, the people who walk,
presence and absence of the normal.

11 December
Waterloo Bridge in the fog.

16 December
Nelson's Column, Trafalgar Square

9 December
Hawk Patrol, Trafalgar Square

9 December
St. Martin-in-the-Fields, landmark church, centre for the homeless

London is ready for Christmas:
decorated, sparkling and busy.

2 December
Christmas Tree - a gift of the people of Norway, Trafalgar Square

2 December
Southbank Centre

It is dark as I walk home
and the great buildings lining the river are lit up.
I wonder sometimes if I will ever tire of the sight.
I hope not.

17 December

Nerja Redux

MrM
Well, that's done then.
Flight booked.
Accommodation booked.
You will be in Nerja in January.

MrsM can't help herself.
She squeaks with excitement
and does a teeny weeny jump of joy.

Four days with Geographers...
what could be nicer?

Enhancing the Christmas Experience

MrsM feels quietly pleased with the decorations.
The theme is simple, homely and yet stylish,
designed to enhance the Christmas experience.

MissM arrives homes and immediately notices
the amount of red and white everything.
MrsM thinks she can tell MissM is impressed.

MrsM casually mentions that
she is planning to make pomanders
in a variety of designs.

Just because she wants to.

MissM decides to test MrsM

"Look"
says MissM
"Look at these crazy wrapping ideas..."

MrsM is enchanted...

"Monochrome wrapping : what a great idea!
Gingerbread cookies as gift tags : that's so cool!
Map wrapping paper : I really want to do that!
Strips of tree bark : that would be perfect for spring!"

MissM looks worried,
the situation is much worse
than she had realised...

"I think you are spending
way too much time
on Pinterest."

"Maybe..."
says MrsM
"but can I just show you
this amazing idea for
snowflake marshmallows?"

*****

Apologies for the phone photos
and the weird angles which
the landscape format requires...
my laptop is still sick.
Aaaargh.

Meanwhile...

...in South Africa...

MasterM has graduated.

MrM and MrsM open a bottle of champagne
and toast their son and his degree
in accountancy, economics and law
which was taught in Afrikaans,
a language he does not speak.

They are so very proud of him,
this exceptionally determined young man
who makes his dreams come true
by hard work and self belief.

Who knows what will be next?
There will be more adventures,
you can be sure of that,
but now is a time to celebrate
and recognise this achievement.

MrsM falls in love

Phineas Finn
Illustration by Millais
reproduced from first edition (1869)
published by Virtue and Company

MrsM is besotted by Phineas Finn. She wasn't sure for the first 15 chapters but then she fell in head over heels in love and devoted herself to him for the next 62 chapters. Phineas Finn is not her usual type - he is very interested in politics and a little indecisive in matters of the heart but he is comely, good natured and quick witted. Now that MrsM has come to the end of her relationship with Phineas Finn she dabs her eyes with her handkerchief "Oh Mr. Finn" she says "I do wish I didn't have to leave you." Sorrowfully, MrsM downloads "The Eustace Diamonds" and plugs in the iron.

*****

If you have not read any novels by Anthony Trollope I can highly recommend the unabridged audio books narrated by Timothy West. They have been a revelation to me because I am not an enthusiastic reader of Victorian novels and avoided Trollope after plodding my way through Dickens. Now I completely understand why there are people who read nothing but novels by Anthony Trollope. He draws his characters with such acute observation and understanding of the multiple weaknesses that are to be found in men and women, the plots are so ingenious and the writing so economical that the whole experience is quite delightful. Thank heavens he was such a prolific novelist - many, many more hours of listening and reading pleasure to look forward to.

wreaths : home + away

These are the wreaths in my life

Work

I congratulated James in Reception
on the Christmas bling
and he looked a bit shocked.
I forget sometimes that I am working
in a more formal environment.
I don't think the British Academy
is ready for a Daniel Craig grotto.

Home

Look!
A willow wreath
made by the lovely Val
to beautify my little kitchen
I love it!

Thanks to all the lovely Made & Found crew.
I had a great day out on Saturday.
MrM was thrilled that I had done
so much Christmas shopping
with so little inconvenience.

(There is a holly wreath on the front door too...
the more wreaths, the merrier.)

the leaves of the trees

The leaves of the trees in the park
have fallen. The green of them is gone.
All that joyful spring, exuberant summer,
glowing autumn, is blown in scurried eddies,
caught against railings, trodden underfoot.
Discarded, grey-yellow orange-brown drifts,
crushed remnants of remembered sunlight.
There is a new silence, unfamiliar absence,
and there is no knowing the end of it.

Alice Christie
7 xii 13

Robben Island

Robben Island is the bleakest place
that I have ever been.

It was a place of banishment
for lepers and criminals
for centuries before it was
a prison for political activists.


You are driven around the island
and your senses are assaulted
by grim grey buildings,
wind-twisted low bushes
and the limestone quarry
where manacled prisoners laboured.

There is no colour, no sound.


In the maximum security jail
a former political prisoner
acts as your guide to the buildings.

It is a great privilege to meet
these men, imprisoned for their beliefs,
who all wear sunglasses
because their eyes were damaged
by the glare of light
in the limestone quarry.


Sobu Sokwe was only 20
when he was imprisoned for membership
of the African National Congress.
He had been on Robben Island for 5 years
when he was released in 1989,
the same year that MasterM was born.

He stood in the middle of the dormitory
detailing with great dignity
the brutal routine of prison.


He also explained how the structure of the ANC
created a community within the prison,
supporting the youngest prisoners,
educating each other
and understanding political developments
in the changing world outside
from scraps of smuggled newspaper.


He took us to Nelson Mandela's cell
shown as it was in the 1960s
with only a bucket and sleeping mat.

It was impossible not to be moved.


All along the corridors there were other cells
and each one had a story,
and the spirit of a courageous man.


Our guide had told us
that the kennels for guard dogs
were twice the size of the cells
and it seemed extraordinary
that human dignity could overcome
such physical and emotional deprivation
and create a new nation
striving for equality and opportunity.


This cairn is at the entrance to the quarry
and the first stone was laid by Nelson Mandela
at a reunion of political prisoners.

It symbolises the foundation
of modern South Africa.


As we were leaving South Africa
the passport officer asked me
if I had enjoyed my stay
and I told him that we had visited
Robben Island on Freedom Day
He was very impressed

"That must have been something...

I am so proud to be South African
it is a wonderful country."

*****

Nelson Mandela
casting his vote in 1994

Nelson Mandela
18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013

*****

description of Robben Island
originally published 10 May 2012

3 things and a SECRET

1.
These photographs were taken at
The Olive Branch in Clipsham near Stamford
Totally delicious food - do go if you are in the area.

2.
I saw the lovely Jenny last night
and she was wearing burgundy nail polish.
I was struck by a bad case of the wanties.

3.
I am missing my laptop.
*sad face*
although MrM has sprinkled some magic dust
to organise a SUPER surprise back-up.

4.
TOP SECRET
I am going to Made & Found THIS Saturday.
I am only telling you this on the following conditions:

* You must arrive AFTER me so I get first choice at the stalls.

* Dottycookie has made all that willow stuff for ME. Back off.

* Do NOT interrupt me when I am buying china.

* This is not Christmas shopping...
 it is TREATS for me MWAHAHAHA

* I get first choice of the cakes.

* Also second choice of the cakes.

Right then...
now we have sorted out the ground rules
here are the details...

See you there
XXXXX