Autumn Cottage Diarist

Fifty Memories of Six Days in France

11-16^th June 2009

 

Chez Russell

The first view, the first steps, into the Magic Garden

The beating sun on the patio

The swish of the pool filter

The “chuk-chuk-chuk-chuckAH!” of the hens next door when they laid an egg

The incessant birdsong with no break for lunch

 

The skitter of the lizards from beneath-the-bergenia-and-up-the-wall

The humming bird moths in the lavender bushes

The red squirrel – dropping his nuts!

The walnut tree, the walnut tree, the spreading, verdant walnut tree

The soft patter of rain on the terracotta tiles

 

Ancient churches on a route to Santiago

Wall paintings discovered – and washed away

Cross-legs, fork-beards, musician-figures... on the western arch at Avy – who are they?

Ceramic flowers on marble tombs

The bedroom in a cupboard!

 

Poterie de Baignes on windowsill and wall

Baby hedgehog on an evening ramble

Elaine and her sister on a wineglass perambulation of Bran

Crumbling old buildings - dreams and fantasies – buyable for 10,000 Euros?

The dog, the sun, a ramshackle shelter and more than one tear in my eye

 

Sweltering lunch in the shadow of the Donjon in Pons

Precarious descent to the Lower Square in St Emilion

The tiny-train tour of the Vineyards and Chateaux

Roses planted at the end of vine rows- “to give warning of diseases”

Downloading David by his desk at dawn!

 

 Vin rouge Lestac in a box

Fine wines in many bottles

Accordion music floating through the garden on Sunday morning

Croustade - Gascon filo and apple pudding splashed with Armagnac

Eroding limestone everywhere

 

Chateau de Clerbise

A chateau lost in time

Sunlight filtering through muslin-hung windows

Leather embossed walls

A huge ceramic stove

A ruined chapel still hiding many mysteries

 

Sarcophagi and graffiti

Lavender and Roses

Oleander and Wisteria

A swan gliding beneath us as we dined at the Moulin de Sorgues

Glassy surfaced, lily-studded river, reflecting golden lamps on the walls above

 

A goat being chased by a pony, a bunny and a goose – all on the other bank!

Naughty Elaine, Camp Christophe and far too much XO Cognac!

Rain coming down, a pile of books and my journal – another sort of bliss.

Last-night -leftovers-supper – good bread, good wines, great cheese

Mist-covered vineyards, aquamarine sky at dawn departure

 

Strutting Norman soldiers along the Bayeux “tapestry”

Thomas a Becket being beheaded - again - in the cathedral

A heavy heart for the boys who landed on Sword Beach, Gold Beach, Juno Beach

Millpond calm English Channel crossing

The winking Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, to welcome us back home.

For Good food, Good wine and Good Company – Godde be Thanked!

The well is well and truly filled - for now.

(Each one of these lines holds a story - a List of Memories is a great way to capture your holiday if you don't have time to write much when travelling...I'll be expanding each of these, along with more of the 700 photographs, over the next few weeks).

 

Come into the Garden, Maud!

Who would not be tempted by the cover of this book - "Ther Morville Hours" by Katherine Swift - who made a home and garden at Morville Hall in Shropshire and then wrote about the experience using the structure of a medieval Book of Hours. What could be a more delicious combination? I am anticipating the advent of warmer weather towards the weekend, so am already imagining myself listening to the buzz of the bees on a hot summer's afternoon, with this book in hand. I'll report more when more has been read!

The Passing of a Trouper - Farewell, Danny La Rue

I have just heard this sad news.

He was my fathers hero(ine) - the one upon whom Dad modelled his glamorous interpretation of the Pantomime dame. Danny La Rue's stage dresses were legendary (I was commanded to make Dad's as close as possible to "the real thing" - but without the resources of La Rue's budget) - his stage presence was even greater.

He paved the way for the modern "glamorous" drag act...though like many others of his generation and inclinations who have found refuge in the accommodating world of the theatre, he struggled to come out as gay until late in his life. Thankfully, so thankfully, the world is a different place now.

He brought joy and tears of laughter to millions - and even provided material for one of my essays! They don't make many like him any more -  a true professional, the world will be a slightly less joyous place tonight without him.

I hope he is at peace now - though in my imagination, I'd love to think of him and my Pa, on fluffy pink clouds somewhere, (studded with MILLIONS of sequins, naturally!) playing Mother Kelly's Doorstep on their harps, a glass of gin in their hands, having the most wonderful time, comparing frocks, frills, feathers and furbelows.

Rest In Peace, Danny La Rue.

Celebrating the Ordinary

Every Sunday  - at the margins of the day, 6 am in the morning, or 11.30 at night, there is a half hour of concentrated pleasure to be heard on BBC's Radio 4 in the form of "Something Understood" - a programme of poetry, prose, and observations interlaced with both scared and secular music, each week on a different topic.

The theme today was "Ordinary Time" - a variation on the theme of my virtual friend Fran's blog "Sacred Ordinary" - of finding fulfilment in the acts and events of our own lives which we may  find ordinary in the moment-by-moment... but which may sometimes be far from ordinary to other eyes.

You can "Listen Again"  to today's programme and browse other themes and playlists at the programme archive. Give yourself a treat - kick back and discover half an hour of "Something Understood" - I think you will be pleased that you did.