To provide a break from packing and sorting, Mr C and I took a trip along to Shaw's Corner, the former home of George Bernard Shaw. We've been there a couple of times before and always enjoyed the peace and quiet and lovely gardens. This time was no different.Although, my macro photography skills do seem to be improving. One thing that all visitors must see though is GBS's revolving Writing Hut at the bottom of the garden. This is where he wrote many of his famous plays, with telephone connectivity back to the main house. The hut was designed to rotate to allow it to ... read more
A life of lists
With just two weeks to go until we move I feel like my whole life is controlled by lists at the moment. Lists of people that we need to inform, lists of things that need to be packed up and lists of things that I just mustn't forget!Progress is being made though. The final pieces of legal paperwork have been signed and returned to our solicitor. The forms for a postal redirect have been completed and tomorrow I'll queue up at the post office to submit them. I've also put things in place to move our telephone and broadband services to our new address. In these modern ... read more
Eden Close – Anita Shreve
I was lucky enough to find a copy of Anita Shreve's Eden Close on a book case at my Father in Law's cricket clubhouse a couple of weeks back and just from reading the cover was intrigued to read more.Eden Close was the daughter of Andrew's childhood neighbours. They grew up together as childhood companions. Tomboy Eden accompanied Andrew and his friends as they went about doing the things that boys of that age do.One night everything changes. Eden is blinded by the same gun that was used to kill her father. They went their separate ways until Andrew returns ... read more
Sea Glass – Anita Shreve
Yet another Anita Shreve novel that I picked up from a charity shop, but Sea Glass is really quiet different to many of the others that I have read.Set in the US in 1929 this book looks at the impact of the Wall Street Crash on the mill workers of Ely Falls and their families. This is a period in American history that I have to admit to not knowing much about at all, but its impact on day to day living has so many parallels to the current impact of the "credit crunch" on many people. The story of Honora Willard setting up home with her ... read more
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Mr C's parents invited us to join them on Thursday evening to see the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (apologies if that link doesn't work as their website appeared to be down as I wrote this). I've heard of these guys before, but I had absolutely no idea just how funny they are! I've certainly now seen the ukulele in a completely different light and I wish Mr C could play his at this level.They do some brilliant takes on classics songs that we all know and also some more modern stuff. My absolute favourite has to be their rendition of Kate Bush's Wuthering ... read more
Found possessions
One of the problems with having to have a bit of a clear out before moving is that I keep finding things that I'd forgotten I own and then spend ages looking and playing with them. Tonight's find were these old handkerchiefs that I think belonged to my Gran. I fully admit that the white one on the left is a tad dusty and could do with a good wash, but despite the grey sheen it's beautiful all the same. The embroidery on the middle one adds a lovely splash of colour to an otherwise plain household item that many women like my Gran would have always had in their pocket. ... read more
Part of the Furniture – Mary Wesley
After my previous Mary Wesley experience I felt a little flutter of concern as I pulled Part of the Furniture out of my bag whilst undertaking our long journey home from Tallinn. I think my fears were a little unfounded though.In 1941 the wonderfully named Juno Marlowe accompanied two of her childhood friends to Euston station as they went off to serve with the forces. As she then tried to cross central London on foot she finds herself caught up in an air raid. I kind local man takes pity on her and brings her into his home to shelter from the ... read more
Countdown
If all goes according to plan Mr C and I should be moving house a month tomorrow.I'm anxious and excited in equal measure at the moment. Anxious as I've suddenly realised that the next month is going to be full of packing boxes, writing lists, remembering things that need to be done and notifying people of a change of address, and in between all this I also need to go to work every day. Exciting because in just over a month Mr C and I will have our first proper family home, complete with a garden and enough space to do all the things that we want to do. The next thirty days are ... read more
An Imaginative Experience – Mary Wesley
I'm pretty sure that I read some Mary Wesley several years ago, but unfortunately I'm completely unable to remember which books, or much more about them than the cover style from the mid 90s. An Imaginative Experience starts off quite strangely with a woman halting an InterCity train so that she can run into a nearby field to right a sheep that was laying on its back. What follows from there is actually quite a standard modern novel. A well written, but slightly predictable, love story. A good read, but nothing stands out to make it spectacular. ... read more
Tallinn
A post of few words today.Mr C and I spent a lovely weekend in Tallinn with his work colleagues. Most of our time was in or around the Old Town which is a fine example of a medieval town complete with fairy-tale towers and town walls. Strong Russian influences were also very prominent. This cathedral was built to remind Tallinn of the Tsarist rule from Russia in the early 1900s. As you can see though the weather didn't always oblige for my photographs. The journey up to the top of the Town Hall tower certainly made my legs burn, especially since the depth of some of the ... read more