New Book: Life in an English Village – Inexpensive Progress
I once lived in Essex very near to Great Bardfield. You would think that Essex is the home of showy youngsters according to what you see on television but in actual it fact has many beautiful villages.
So this book interests me it is the time of many painters in the war years. Some would say an idyllic period of the quiet simple agricultural landscape before the first World War, and then also the hiatus between the wars. As a paperback it is expensive and I notice it has been out for two years, the nudge comes from 'Inexpensive Progress' which I subscribe to.
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Yesterday I had a panic attack, they do not happen often but suddenly they arrive. It had been simple enough I had sent an Amazon digital sum of money to my son for Xmas. He is in his forties but unfortunately has type 1 diabetes which I worry about. So yesterday I sent an email to him to see that it had arrived, no reply. Fair enough he is working on his computer said I. but when late afternoon no reply, I started phoning, again no reply. Then I began to imagine him unconscious on the floor. Well the story goes on from there and then yes, the phone rang, 'what's the matter mum?' The phone is upstairs and I am making lasagne downstairs. All explained and me feeling foolish - they are still children in our minds for goodness sake and the watch on his wrist keeps him informed of his levels.
The Xmas tree is up, my daughter and Andrew have done their work parties, off for the weekend down to Chiddingfold* and Lillie back for the holiday. The next door neighbour came in the other night and was told of the upcoming renovations. The geese have just flown over, it almost feels springlike.
Jack's Jungle Garden in Chiddingfold
"upcoming renovations..."? Maybe I missed something but it sounds like your neighbour should request some ear protectors for Christmas. Bang-bang-bang! Also, is there such a place as Chittingford? Do you mean Chiddingfold?
ReplyDeleteNeil leave the schoolmaster role at the door please;) Upcoming renovations still have to be cleared by planning office. I'm being consigned to the basement after it has been 'tanked' big job as each floor will be renovated. Next door said, 'why don't you swap with number 8, their house is bigger than yours.' Yes of course it is Chiddingfold, will write it out a hundred times.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about smart young people in Essex, but I do know it is a home county full of people who are 'comfortable'.
ReplyDeleteI've only had one panic attack and that was earlier this year. Pure logic and proper thought went out the door. Quite interesting and while is was minor, although it didn't feel like that at the time, I do have an understanding now.
Some heavy snowfalls will stop your spring weather thoughts.
There are a lot of 'comfortable' people in England Andrew, sadly there are the opposite as well. As for snow, they keep promising it, and true it is happening in Scotland and on the high ground but mostly we are having rain and the news pictures are of rivers rushing furiously in Yorkshire.
DeleteI like Eric Ravillious better than Bawden I think, but have some postcards and pictures of both in my scrapbooks. I've got Long Live Great Bardfield by E R's wife - no pictures. The book you've mentioned looks good but a 'bit' pricey!
ReplyDeleteEssex has some very up-market villages near the Suffolk border, some very run down coastal towns and all sorts in between.
and I meant to say - thank goodness your son was OK
ReplyDeleteThank you Sue, yes he was, I have had a few scares but he is a very logical person and does a lot of walking. Which again scares me, has he got his glucose sweets ;) Yes Essex is a mixed bag, wander down long country lanes and then enter true Anglia to visit the great barrows at Sutton Hoo or Seahenge in Norfolk.
DeleteOur children are always our children, however old they are.
ReplyDeleteEssex is much under-rated - as you say, there are some beautiful villages there.
I love the pargetting on the houses, all down to the fact that you couldn't build with stone and so used plastering. Also flint with which you could make pretty patterns.
DeleteHello Thelma,
ReplyDeleteThe work of Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious has always held a great appeal for us. Perhaps they reflect a time past when living in the countryside seemed so bucolic and wonderful. However, they have now become very collectable and rather too expensive to own. However, we do have an engraving by Tirzah Garwood, Ravilious's wife, which we like very much. It is of a 'crocodile' of schoolgirls in uniform. Such fun!
I remember the illustration well, it always reminded me of when we 'crocodiled' from the convent to the church - being quiet and behaving ourselves ;). Tirzah is such an unusual name, she was a good artist as well.
ReplyDeleteI've had that exact feeling of panic about my own children in similar situations when you can't reach them. I'm a worrier anyway and always imagine the worst things happening. My sister and I always say we get it from our Mom who was a great worrier. ;)
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ReplyDeletethere you are Ellen, nothing to be done about it but continued worry.