The problem at heart is not the sausages you get from Sainsbury’s but the porkies that we all get, home and abroad, from Downing Street.” Chris Patten
A good Conservative in my books but perhaps a surface judgement on my part. He must feel anguished now as Hong Kong goes under the boot of the Chinese government (Governor of Hong Kong 1992-1997) but in my day he was the member of parliament for Bath.
Today the boys come to take some things into storage in London, I suspect the Japanese furniture will go, I have left Paul's clothes for them to take what they may. The big white bear sits on the hall table, either he will go with them for Leo or will be sat on the dustbin next Wednesday - free to good home.
They are interviewing Richard Wilson on the radio at the moment - Desert Island Discs, and his series of 'One Foot in the Grave' but he says there is only one foot in the grave the other is still in the world! He has Roberta Flack's - The First Time I saw your face which of course reduces me to tears but then Peter Maxwell Davies - Farewell to Stromness has the mood music for all those Scottish Islands I will never visit.
Today is grey and rainy, I was going to clean the car out for taking it to the garage to sell. How on earth do you remove dog hairs from those carpets for goodness sake, I have tried sticky tape, which works to a point but there is still a few thousand left Lucy!!
I can relate to being reduced to tears Thelma - happens at odd times whe one least expects it - sometjing triggers a memory. I never mind it - memories are all we have arent they?
ReplyDeleteYes Pat we have many emotions, tears and laughter can go hand in hand. The house is being slowly dissembled, the great picture of the 'Two Carp Swimming' has been carefully wrapped up by Aethan which was a bit of a shock and as we all discussed their father it brought up many stories.
DeleteI was driving through Rhayader to go and volunteer at a quilt group Textiles exhibition in Llanidloes when they played Roberta Flack. Just fabulous, took me back. I turned it right up and sang along. Obviously it means different things to different people and connects you to Paul.
ReplyDeleteEver busy Jennie, living on the Welsh border will bring you many stories.
DeleteA tightly rolled wet cloth might shift the pet hairs.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that tip Anne, I will try it once the weather clears up.
DeleteChris Patten was my rural next door neighbour for a year a while ago. He was an honourable man and I liked him. So different from the modern politician we have grown to despise. I like Richard Wilson too, but I found the Seegers very irritating. Farewell to Stromness as played on the piano to me was also very irritating. I kept wanting him to bloody well speed up and stop lingering so self-consciously over the phrasing.
ReplyDeleteThe word honourable can easily be used for him, but how many politicians today could use it? Latest lesson from the Hancock scandal 'do what I say but not what I do'
DeleteThe Seegers are simple American singers, pick up a guitar and sing, their message was pertinent to them. As for Davies music, I like the solemnity of it he manages to convey 'the sense' of wild Scottish coasts. Should obviously have picked another piano player for you though!
Thank you for posting the Farewell to Stromness. I remember hearing it one day on the way home from work listening to Classic FM and thought, "I could play that", so purchased the music. Then my daughter's piano teacher chose it as her GCSE Music performance piece. They recorded all the students' work as a concert for parents and she played the piece beautifully on a similar grand piano. She was having such a hard time at school but music was the thing which kept her going. She left after GCSE and went to do a BTEC in music performance at Stratford College and then did a Music composition and performance degree. Now we teach together, I just offer piano and early theory, while she teaches piano, violin and flute. Several more pupils have been introduced to Return to Stromness and we both love it.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that the piece of music evoked memories for you Sarah and that your daughter went on to study music, joining you in teaching. Music escaped me as a child but its many forms have a strong emotional pull as we glide back through our memories.
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