A Happy New Year.

To anyone who has taken the time to read this Blog during 2008 I would like to say 'Thank You'.

I hope that you continue to join me in my ramblings during 2009 ...... and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Van Gough

Peach Tree in Bloom - 1888. Vincent Van Gough

This afternoon I have been looking at the works of Vincent Van Gough. I have looked at a few others and decided that their work is not for me at this point in time. However Van Gough I like, not necessarily his most famous works, but some of his paintings catch my imagination. I am using today to try and get a feeling for what I like.

There is quite a bit of information around about the artist himself, but not a huge amount more than what most people already know. How he suffered from a mental illness, and how he cut off the lobe of his left ear in 1888 during some sort of seizure. Then of course his tragic suicide after the breakdown of his friendship with Paul Gauguin.

I think if I am going to follow through this newly found interest, I need to know about the painters, what their lives were like, information on their background and so on. Just to identify the picture is not enough. I need to know how they discovered their talent and about their life journey in general.

The picture above is one he painted at a difficult time in his life. I like it, but also I once owned a house called 'Peach Tree House' and planted several Peach trees there. It was at a time when I was very happy, so I would like to own a print of this paintings for personal reasons. I must take my sister up on her offer of a day around the Art Galleries in London where she lives. Maybe I can pick up some decent prints of some of the artists I have been talking about this week.

Michelangelo

Ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, The Vatican, Rome - Michelangelo

After being with my sister last night and speaking with her this morning, I am looking at lots of Great Masters on the Internet, but as I have said before on this Blog I have this plebeian attitude of liking what I like and unfortunately, at this point in time, does not include all works of art.

I wish I had a fraction of my sister's knowledge of such matters, but that cannot be, but what I do have is an excellent tutor in her. I looked up and read about Michelangelo this morning and have actually seen some of his works in the Vatican in the late 1980's when on holiday in Rome. I remember being in awe of the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel with over 300 figures painted on it and the ceiling being well over 5,000 sq. feet. If finances allow I really must try and go there again. I remember a lot more about that visit, but for today's Blog I am tentatively focusing on the Arts.

If there is anyone out there reading this Blog I promise I will return to points of historical interest in Tredegar and the valleys soon, but for now please indulge me in my new passion!

Byeeeee .........

On the sixth day of Christmas .............

A Family Evening .....

My Great Nephews Feet!

All you Blog followers out there are wondering why I have my great nephews feet as my topic picture. Well as you will guess thereby hangs a tale!

My great nieces had received for Christmas 'Dorothy' shoes, identical shoes to the ones Dorothy wore in the film 'The Wizard Oz'. They are delightful, the shoes I mean, as you will read loads more about how delightful their owners are later.

So ..... I took a photo of the shoes as the main picture for this Blog about my lovely family, it was only when I got home and downloaded the photos, I discovered it was a video of the shoes I had taken, with my brother -in-law-providing the unrehearsed commentary in the background! It is so funny! Unfortunately, I cannot upload a video onto blogger.

Now, my great Nephew, aged 2 years, wanted a photo of his feet also. It was just as well he did, otherwise I would not have had a lead picture for this blog!!!

I has such a lovely evening with my sister and her husband, and I was delighted to meet all their grandchildren, some of them for the first time. It was hilarious with four children from 4 years downwards, absolutely charming. I watched my brother-in-law of almost 40 years looking at his grandchildren and saw such love and pride in his face.

The children, as I have said, are delightful, two pretty little girls and two handsome boys, the youngest who walked for the first time tonight when I was there! How about that for a Christmas present?

'Bah Humbug' - for a day!

Christmas tree at Tredegar House - not mine unfortunately!


While I am not a huge fan of the Christmas razzmatazz neither am I a 'spoilsport' about it. However today, I have been a real misery about my Christmas tree, this feeling has been building up for days. You see my real, once fresh Christmas tree is shedding it's needles as if they are going out of fashion!

I have brushed and hoovered, shaken rugs and generally tried to find some enthusiasm for the wilting tree. I have tried convincing myself the tree is lovely and it smells good, I've moved it and talked to it, but still the needles come raining down! So today was the day - IT HAD TO GO!

I got up fairly early and started immediately so that I would not changed my mind; as soon as I took the first bauble off there was no going back, I had induced an avalanche! I thoroughly dislike this laminate flooring in my living room, but today it was just the right medium. It meant that I could sweep the needles into a pile and scoop them up with a dustpan and brush (well dozens of dustpans full actually). I dusted the ornaments and packed them away, returned the Star to it's tissue paper home and then I started to wilt, so I phoned my friend Mrs. H for a chat and some encouragement!

When it was finally all done and the sitting room returned to it's cosy normality ....... I felt sad .... I missed it, the scraggy old half dead thing that it was, for it represented Christmas.

Better luck next year maybe?

First love ..........

Me and HIM - Whitsun 1963

This badly marked, poorly scanned photograph above is of me aged sixteen and my very first love. Taken in Bedwellty Park in Tredegar in 1963.. it was a Whitsun time and my suit was new for the occasion, pearl grey with white accessories. HE had just met me from Chapel.


What is it doing in the Blog you may wonder. Well I found it in with some other old photos earlier tonight. All the photos of me and HIM have always been kept separately in a special place, but somehow this one escaped! It has now been placed lovingly with all the others, but I couldn't resist the temptation to scan it into the Blog and say something.


We met in school when we were both thirteen years old and had some super times together in a very immature way (because that is what we were - immature) no worldly knowledge for us in 1963.


I have asked, when I have visited Tredegar if any one knows where he is now, but no one seems to know where he went after he left Tredegar. He seems to have disappeared! Well I would just like to say 'Thank You ... for a lovely first relationship full of fun and normality, without any of the pressures that young people often seem to have these days. I am glad we knew each other in the early sixties'.

Update - Boxing Day Hunt!

When I mentioned yesterday about the Fox Hunting, I had not realised what a big event it is in Bassaleg. I picked up the nightly paper this evening, something I haven't done for over a week, and there was a report in there about the Hunt - the Tredegar Farmers Hunt- so named because of it's close proximity to Tredegar house.

It was the 60th Anniversary of the this Hunt over 2000 people tuned out to see them off. It is a traditional Boxing Day event, but what with it being a special anniversary the crowds came out to support tradition, remember and generally celebrate.

The next largest support group was at Abergavenny, where over 3000 people turned out to see the Hunt meeting at Cross Street, Abergavenny. There were other Hunts, also well supported, in surrounding villages. Whatever the debates and issues this sport evokes in people, (of which I personally do not have a view) it was good to see so many people pulling together and supporting a common cause in their towns and villages.

A bit more about Turner!

Ludlow Castle - J.M.W Turner

Having had a bit more time last night, I read some more of my Christmas book on the painter Turner.

In my previous Blog I speculated that he might have come to Wales, as I had found a painting of Tintern Abbey. (see blog dated 25th December 2008). Well he did! He began a series of tours in search of suitable material for watercolours and oil paintings which engravers could reproduce and sell in large quantities. The series that included the Welsh paintings was titled 'Picturesque Views of England and Wales'. There were others of course, 'The South Coast of England' and 'The Rivers of France' and so on .....

No doubt there will be more about this man and other painters in this Blog in the future. I am starting to enjoy all this!

Boxing Day

The Hunt at Bassaleg

Today I went to my friends Mrs.H for the day. We went to see the Local Hunt ride out of the village, something I haven't done since I was married. I have no strong views on the Hunting issues that are around, so didn't mind going.

As far as I can gather, arguments over the rights and wrongs of hunting are still fierce despite being well aired. The anti lobby say it is a cruel and inefficient way of protecting livestock from foxes and controlling their population. However the hunters say that shooting and poisoning would be far more cruel and that hunting with the hounds is an important civil liberty. I reiterate, I have no opinion on this issue.

During the morning I realised that I had left my curling tongs switched on, so I had to dash back home to switch the blooming things off!!! When I got back, having missed the Hunt moving off, Mrs. H had been joined by two of her sons, their wives/partners, some of her grandchildren and another friend.. They all graduated to the local pub where I joined them after I had completed my mercy dash to the curling tongs! The place brimming with people, we all sat at a huge table, and was full of atmosphere and laughter, so totally 'Christmassy'.

We eventually got back to Mrs. H's home where she had prepared a superb buffet before hand and we spent the afternoon there eating (far too much) and chatting. A real traditional Boxing Day. Nice!

A Christmas present

One of my Christmas presents was a book about the painter Turner. I was delighted. If there is anyone out there reading this Blog, you will know that I have developed a belated interest in the Arts. An amateur interest I agree, but an interest never the less. I have said in this Blog previously that I like Turners work. About seven years ago I went to The Tate Gallery and saw 'The Turner Exhibition'. That was probably where my interest stemmed from, but with all the ensuing hoo-ha over my marriage breakdown and all the dross that went with it, that it is only now I am really thinking about such things as the Arts.

One thing I was intrigued with, just leafing through this book, is that Turner painted Tintern Abbey (see picture above). I lived within a few miles of Tintern Abbey (as the crow flies) for several years, and have very many photographs of it from different angles, but didn't know that it had been the subject of a sketch by Turner; but there is a lot I don't know about such things!

I know, through my sister, that Wordsworth had written a poem about Tintern Abbey in 1798, but had no idea that Turner had painted it. It comes from one of Turner's sketchbooks, which were a 'storehouse' of ideas for later paintings. It is dated 1825. I wonder if I can get a nice print of that.

There are other works of his from this part of Wales and across the border in Herefordshire, so he must have spent some time in these parts. I am seeing my sister this coming week, so I hope her knowledge of Joseph Turner is up to scratch!

Mmmmm ........ I must end this little missal or I will be late for my Christmas lunch, and as I am a guest so that will never do!

A Christmas Carol

This is my favourite Christmas carol. It started life as a poem by Christina Rossetti and it was later that it became a much love carol. I though it was fitting for Christmas morning.

A Christmas Carol

In the bleak mid-Winter

Frosty winds made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow has fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid winter

Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When he comes to reign:

In the Bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty

Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim

Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk

And a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels

Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air;

But only his mother

In her maiden bliss

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would give a lamb,

If I were a Wise Man

I would do my part, -

Yet what can I give Him,

Give my heart.

Homeless at Christmas

I know that many people have their own perspective on the homeless, but I have been surprised this year as to how many people, people I know, actually know so little about people on the Streets and in particular the 'Big Issue' sellers. So, after speaking with a vendor this afternoon to make sure my information is still current, I would like to clear a few points up this Christmas Eve evening.

While we all are doing the traditional Christmas things at home, the preparation for Christmas dinner, for Santa Clause to come and going to Church there are actually people local to us that don't have homes to go to. Not all are drunks and tramps, there are people out there that are where they are through circumstance, and not all of them get benefits. Some slip through the welfare net and some don't qualify because they are of no fixed abode.

The 'Big Issue' was launched in 1991 and a lot of people seem to be under the impression that the vendors/sellers are given the magazines free of charge to sell. This is simply not so. They have to buy them for 75p each and then they can be sold for £1.50 meaning that the vendor gets 75p profit. It was set up to give homeless people a chance to make an income. Most vendors are homeless, but they can be ex-homeless or vulnerably housed. The ex homeless can still sell the 'Big Issue' if they are found to be still in need. A homeless person being housed is only the first stage in getting people off the streets. There are many issues to be addressed after that, as for us all who have homes.

All 'Big Issue' vendors carry an identity badge with a number on it and if you want to complain about a vendor you must telephone the following number and quote that identity number. Though my personal experience is that most of them are polite with plenty of patience, but there are exceptions to the rule as with all walks of life.

If you need to complain this Christmas season please telephone: 029 2025 5670 and quote the ID number.

If you see a 'Big Issue' for sale, try it, it is packed with your local issues wherever you may live ......... and you will be helping someone out this Christmas.

LLwydcoed, Aberdare

This morning I went to Llwydcoed Crematorium in Aberdare to put some flowers on my parents place of rest. It is a long way from Newport and it is always so much colder up there than down in Newport. I was okay wrapped in my warm duffle coat and my long fluffy scarf, but then I have had a lot of practice in the elements at Aberdare! I have never seen so many people there .... and it wasn't raining, which is very unusual!

There was a service in progress when I passed the chapel and that brought back memories, but all in all it was a positive visit. You cannot put too many flowers in the receptacles as they are so small - crematorium plots - it's not like a grave where you have lots of space. Anyway, I did the best I could with what flowers I had, and when I finished I thought it all looked quite nice.

It just started to drizzle when I got to the car, well it couldn't not rain in Aberdare now could it?

Winter Solstice

Daybreak - Winter Solstice over the Bristol Channel

Every year I wait, in my mind, for the 21st December, The Winter Solstice. Why? Because it is the shortest day and the longest night and after it has passed the days, very slowly at first, get longer and I feel we are heading for Spring.

It passed on Sunday and as I have such a wretched cold, I was so immersed in self pity, (not an attractive quality) I forgot about it! Then lying in bed this morning, in the dark, I suddenly realised that it had passed and that from now on the days would gradually get longer and the nights shorter.

The Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) was a pagan celebration and celebrated in Britain long before Christianity. However many of the Winter Solstice customs have now been incorporated into the Christian and Secular celebrations of Christmas.

Isn't it funny how some things that you learn in school spill over into your adult life?

Modern day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Today I had an email from my friend Miss L. It contained the following link.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7789479.scm (all one - no spaces).

BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool is walking from Nazareth to Bethlehem retracing a journey made by Mary and Joseph in the New Testament story of Jesus birth. He is doing it, in 2008, on a donkey, well several donkeys actually, and keeping an online diary. There is fascinating text and video links as he goes about his travels.

It is well worth linking into this. This is what Christmas should be about not 'shopping until you drop'!

Thank you Miss L for sending me the link and I hope someone reading this Blog will pick up on it and will think about what Christmas really means.

Robin White Breast?

Robin with a white breast - taken from a television picture.

I sometimes switch on the visual news in the middle of the day and before it comes on I get the tail end of a Magazine programme, whatever is running before the news.

This morning they were talking about an Albino robin, so I stopped to listen. It seems that Albino robins are unheard of in the wild, this one lives on Hampstead Heath! It seems that Bird Watches all over the country have been asking the RSPB to record the number of sightings of this little chap and asking for more information about this visitor.

The RSPB's response has been to tell people to photograph it if they can and 'savour the moment' because it is highly unlikely that another one will come along again ...particularly at Christmas time.

For my Mother ........

My parents on their wedding day - June 6th 1946

This poem is for my mother who died thirty years ago today .....far too young.

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land:

When you can no more hold me by the hand.

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay.

You tell me of our future that you planned:

Only remember me : you understand

It will be too late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

Christina Rossetti

Money, Money, Money

At Easter this year I bought a pretty china money box from the £1 shop. Every time I had some loose change in my purse I put it in the money box. This Christmas it is full and I decided to count it and bank it.

Before doing so I wrote down what I expected this money box to contain:
Hope - £20
Probably - £12 - £15
Disappointment - less than £10.

I had got some bags from the Bank last week, I have just been putting the task off. Anyway today was the day! I counted it and I had £53.76! I was thrilled. Wow .... that is going towards the service on my car due in March. I bagged the £53 and put the remainder in to start again for 2009.

This Christmas I fancied a money box - a pink pig with white spots on it - when I was out with a friend and was given it, there and then, for a Christmas present. So now I have two money boxes to fill .... The 2010 service is my aim ........... Got to keep the car on the road! I know what it's like to be without it!

Snow in the Valleys

Commercial Street, Tredegar

The old chap from up the road came to hand deliver a Christmas card this morning and was complaining about how cold it is, saying 'cold enough for snow'. I have lived in Newport for very many years and only once did we have what I considered to be a real snow fall and that was in the 1982.

When I was a girl in Tredegar the above picture was the norm. Every winter snow falls such as this were common. Tredegar is approximately 1650 ft above sea level and it is always very cold there in the winter. Snow brought the valleys to a stand still. The snow drifts were so bad I remember my father going out the front with a sweeping brush to get the snow off the front room window. Schools closed for days on end, buses not running and my father making sleighs for me and my sister. That was a snow fall.


The year of 1963 will be immortalised as one of the coldest and most severe snow storms of the century, second only in the valleys to 1947, the year I was born. I was still in school in 1963 when my aunt came up from Cardiff for Palm Sunday to take flowers to the cemetery to her parents grave, and was snowed in with us for three days. So sudden was the snow fall and so much of it.

In 1982 we had that sort of snow fall in Newport, but it is the only one I remember in almost forty years. Lucky Newport? ........that's a matter of opinion!

Newport Wetlands

Wetlands Reserve, Newport, Gwent

I have known about the opening of the new Wetlands Reserved for the three months it has been open, but although it is only approximately two miles from where I live, I have never visited. I should, I am sure it would give me some wonderful photos, another chance to use my new digital camera.

This weekend I have read in the local press that a Lampeter bases artist, Kathryn Harvey, is staging a three month exhibition in the Visitor Centre in the Wetlands. The press report that:

'The visitor centre is a stunning gateway to the beautiful wider reserve, with educational facilities, for field teaching, coffee shop, bird care products etc,'

I have always supported local artistes, wherever I have lived and own some nice works, so what with my new found interest in the arts and the desire to use my camera more, maybe I should make the effort and visit.

The exhibition will open on New Years day - 1st January 2009.

The Arts

Cezanne

After receiving a prod in the right direction, I am enjoying looking at books and Internet information on various painters. I have always 'liked what I like', but now my interest is widening. I quite like some of Paul Cezanne's paintings, and am fascinated by his preoccupation with still life, but I do not like his work as much as Gustav Klimt.

Long may it reign!

Born Again Christians

I spent the lunchtime today with a Born Again Christian. I am just going to record part of the conversation, not comment on it because I don't understand a lot of it.

Born again means Rebirth - namely spiritual birth into the family of God by acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Lord and saviour. I think this is contrasted with the first birth which we all experience.

My friend says : 'Being born again is a conversion experience which involves a personal and sometimes intense encounter of the individual with the power of God.'

Born again does not involve being baptised in water submersion, nor being filled with the Holy Spirit. Born again Christians are often non-denominational.

Regrettably, after listening for the best part of two hours this is all I understood. I just have one question; why do Born Again Christians have to keep talking about their conversion for long periods of time to the more traditional Christians?

Maybe I would understand more if I got shorter explanations less often?

However, they are very committed people, a credit to their faith.

Crucifix Banished ?

I read in one of the daily papers this morning that a new prison chapel built in HMP Lewes in East Sussex, will not have a crucifix in case it offends Muslim inmates. Governors have been told that the traditional Christian symbol , featuring Jesus nailed to the cross, must not be used in the Grade 2 listed Victorian jail's 'multi faith space'.

The £200,00 development has been designed as a multi faith room. It is divided into two sides, one for Christian worship and the second side for other faiths. On the Christian side there is a plain wooden cross and a portable alter, both can be removed if necessary. While all this has been carefully planned, foot baths are being provided on the Muslim side for Muslims to wash their feet before prayers.

I spoke with my former colleagues on the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) this afternoon, and they cannot, of course, comment on other prisons, but the general feeling was that the Politically Correct Brigade have taken over, interfering where they are not needed. I have to say in my own considerable experience in jails, I don't think Muslim or Christian inmates could care less about the provision in Chapels, as such a very small percentage of them attend anyway, and when they do it is mostly to avoid other duties!

The Medieval Ship

Medieval Ship, Newport, Gwent

On the weekend I had a Christmas 'get together' with some people that I have known for many years, all of them Newport people. They were talking about the medieval ship. I took an interest in what they were saying because it is something I know little about. I was living in Monmouth when it was discovered embedded in the banks of the river Usk in 2002, and Newport news is not that big in Monmouth.

It was during the excavations for the building of the new Riverfront Theatre that construction workers discovered the remains of the ship. The ship was excavated by a team of archaeologists and lifted from the mud flats timber by timber.

Supported by a grant from the Heritage Lottery fund, an international team of specialists are now cleaning and recording all 1700 of the ships timbers. The work is uncovering a lot of new information about the ship. Through this work they will learn the original size of the ship and where it was built. What I find most amazing is that it is said they will also be able to tell where it sailed to in the world and what the cargo was.

During 2008 there have been Open Days, where schools and groups from the general public can view the ship and what work has been done to date. I hope they will continue to do this in 2009, for I would really like to see that.

I have always known Newport was a historic town, but I attributed most of the history to the Chartists and John Frost, but that is not the case. It is teeming with history of all sorts. What a shame the local council do not do more to make the city centre more attractive. There is lots going on re-generation wise in the City, but it is all for The Ryder Cup 2010, for the tourists, not for the people of Newport, but we are told we will also benefit. We will see.

Life in a Housing Association?

A typical Housing Association property

Today a had a visit from a Housing Association officer. I was so exited. I tidied up, went mad with the duster, put my 'good' sweater on, and had a tea tray ready for this girl to arrive. What a lot of preparation just to get more personal details from me you must be thinking. No, that had nothing to do with it, I wanted to see how she performed, as I was a rookie housing officer myself in another life and I wanted to see how my long time rival Association performed! That was what the excitement was about, not my interview.

She was punctual, that always goes down well. In possession of all the facts, another good point, explained what an Assured Tenancy agreement was - a basic explanation, but accurate. Too hurried, yes, but we are all guilty of that, when you have six visits in an afternoon. All in all I would score her 7 out of 10. So that's how my once great rivals operate!

There was no explanation as to what a Housing Association (HA) is, but then, I didn't ask, but there are still an awful lot of people out there that are unclear of their role. I will write a few line about it, I don't mind picking up on what she omitted!

Years ago, housing choices were fairly straightforward, you bought your own home, or rented - primarily through the local authority or privately. Since the late 1970's, when Associations became the flagship of the Thatcher government, the options are much wider, helped by local authorities passing the reigns over to Housing Associations or registered Social Landlords (RSL's).

They are not-for-profit organisations, which owns, lets and manages rental housing. Revenue acquired through rent is ploughed back into the acquisition and maintenance of future and current property.

With a HA you pay a market rent set by the HA once a year, this would normally be less than you would expect to pay a private landlord for a property with a similar specification. There is a democratic element to most HA's: They will consult and involve you in decisions likely to affect you, usually through Tenant committee's. There is also automatic right of succession if your spouse/partner passes away. They are accountable to their funding body (the governing body that put up the money for their build or refurb in the first place). Housing Associations may or may not be registered charities.

Not everyone wants to own their own home, or can afford one, especially in expensive locations. So if you want to rent, or part own, your local HA is the place to start. They are guaranteed to be good value for money.

My Sister

If my sister ever reads this Blog, I hope she will be duly impressed that I am 'having a go' at the Arts, in my own way. I can never be like you Annie, but you know that I do the best that I can.-

The Reverend Eli Jenkins Prayer by Dylan Thomas.

Every morning when I wake,

Dear Lord, a little prayer I make,

O please to keep thy lovely eye

On all poor creatures born to die.

And every evening at sundown

I ask a blessing on the town,

For whether we last the night or no

I'm sure is aways touch-and-go.

We are not wholly bad or good

who live our lives under Milk Wood,

And thou, I know, will be the first

To see our best side, not our worse.

O let us see another day!

Bless us all this night, I pray,

And to the sun we all will bow

And say, good-bye - but just for now.

The Boat House, Laugharne

The Boathouse and estuary, Laugharne

Having spent some time scanning photographs in this morning, I came across a lot of Laugharne ( for any English reading this Blog it is pronounced Larn). The most famous resident of Laugharne was the writer Dylan Thomas. Born in nearby Swansea in 1914 Thomas' long term affinity with Laugharne began in 1934, four year later he moved there and lived there on and off until his death.

The Boathouse (photograph above) Thomas' last home, is set in a cliff overlooking the Taf Estuary and it is here that he wrote many major works including 'Under Milk Wood'. It is a very beautiful and peaceful place. Of course, these days it is a Heritage Centre. I suppose we should be thankful for that, because with it's audio visual presentations, original furniture and memorabilia we get a taste of life as it was for Thomas, a slice of history that we otherwise could only imagine.

I went to the cinema, by myself actually, in the summer months to see the film 'The Edge of Love' which was set partly in Laugharne. That's the main reason I went, to see the Welsh coastline scenery. I am not a huge fan of Thomas' work, but the film was about his love life not directly about his work, but I have a deep fondness for 'The Reverend Eli Jenkins Prayer' from 'Under Milkwood'. When my eldest son was twelve he wrote it out for me, by hand, so that I could learn it. I still have that hand written poem and wouldn't part with it for the world.

If anybody reading this is planning a trip in the Spring, as am I, this is well worth a visit. Dylan Thomas died whilst on a lecture tour of the USA in 1953 and is buried in the nearby St. Martins Churchyard. His grave is marked with a plain white Cross.

The area is popular with tourists, artists, writers, fishermen and bird watchers. If any of these is your particular hobby, this is definitely the place for you.

Christmas at Tredegar House

The Edney Gates, Tredegar House.

I have been wanting to do the tour of Tredegar House at Christmas for some while, but for one reason or another I could not seem to instill any great interest in any of my friends. I did it eighteen years ago and the memory has stayed with me.

Saturday night a friend rang and said she was going with her sister on Sunday and would I like to go, so I jumped at it. I invited another friend and we all met up. Sadly it was much more commercialised than previously and as this was a daytime visit there were lots of disinterested children on the tour, but nevertheless it was well worth the effort.

The 'Friends of Tredegar House', dressed in period costume, were very knowledgeable on the history of the place, which makes all the difference, and that combined with what I already knew made it interesting.

Tredegar House is largely a creation of the late 17th century: between 1664 - 1672 it was rebuilt when a sequence of state rooms was incorporated into the building. At this time the estate was some 1,000 acres of which 90 acres remain to this day. All this I learned yesterday. What I did know was that the Lords of Tredegar are no more, the last one dying in 1962 and the estate was long sold off at that time and all that was left was the title.

The house was sold and it's contents dispersed in 1952 and for 23 years it was a school. I asked how much damage had been done when it was a school and the reply was 'surprisingly little'. The then Newport Borough Council took it over in 1974 and began restoring and refurbishing the property, and buying back the artefact's from all over the world with the help of the fundraising efforts of 'Friends of Tredegar House'.

The house is famous for the Edney Gates, (see photograph above - taken through a closed window yesterday) They were made and erected between 1714 and 1718 for John Morgan, the then owner of Tredegar House, they are an exceptional example of early 18th century decorative wrought ironwork and made by the Edney brothers, gatesmiths of Bristol. These are the only known example of their work this side of the Bristol Channel.

The Lord Mayor of Newport was being shown around yesterday, so we were following in his wake ...which was amusing! So, a good informative day. We finished the tour with Carols, mince pies and mulled wine. There were also lots of stalls in the forecourt where my companions did some Christmas shopping.

One friend asked me how it compared to eighteen years ago. I was unable to answer honestly. Eighteen years ago I went with my former husband and we had just bought a house and were planning to get married ...different circumstances altogether! Back then I could never have predicted my circumstance of today.

Mistletoe

Making the second visit to a garden centre in a week, not Chepstow this time, I was paying for a plant and the lady at the check out, who wasn't busy, started chatting. She asked me if I wanted any mistletoe, as the was a huge mound of it stacked up nearby. I didn't want mistletoe but we had a chat anyway.


I asked her if they got it locally, and surprisingly the answer was 'No'. They get it from Brittany and Normandy. With the decline of the apple industry it has become increasingly difficult to find home-grown mistletoe.


When I lived in Mitchel Troy in Monmouth, the old chap next door had a huge growth of Mistletoe on one of his apple trees and I was very covetous of this. He explained to me that mistletoe reproduces itself with the assistance of birds, such as the mistle thrush, that eat the berries. Their droppings, which contain the seeds, then land on the tree bark and germinate. Now I don't know how accurate this is, but knowing H, who has been a gardener for some sixty years, it's probably quite accurate. The germination rate is quite low, usually only one in ten seeds become a plant. The garden centre lady verified this part and said I was lucky to have lived next door to such a knowledgeable gardener. Sadly, I no longer live next door to H and he now has Alzheimer's disease.


Hanging mistletoe was originally done to ward off evil spirits, but the Victorians used it in doorways and ceilings, when rules were relaxed enough for the socially acceptable 'mistletoe kiss'. So as you hang your mistletoe this Christmas ponder the myths and save the berries that you pick off after each kiss, because according to my garden centre source, you can also try spring planting of berries in the usual way!

Farm Shop

During the summer months I discovered the farm shop attached to Chepstow garden centre. I was suitably impressed by the whole presentation and the range of locally produced food stuffs. I decided to go again this week, to see what they had on offer in the way of Christmas fayre.


We're all constantly reminded of the benefits of eating fresh fruit and vegetables - not only easy on the finances but good for the environment too. So, if you are looking to cut your carbon footprint and want something different in you weekly shopping trolley, why not pay them a visit.


With the festive season in mind, this is a great place to stock up on all those Christmas day treats. They also stock a good range of Christmas goods such as wreaths, for those of us that don't live in the country and don't make our own, mistletoe, holly and logs. Well worth a visit. They are not cheap, but if it is something different you are looking for I would highly recommend this Farm shop.


The range of chocolates are to die for. They are set out under glass and you can select them individually and they will box them for you. They have a huge selection from truffles to sugar mice for those all important stocking fillers. These people have really made an effort, something the local shops fall down on. So, for your locally produced Christmas it really is worth putting business their way if we are to retain this kind of retail outlet.

Leisure by W.H Davies

Statue 'Leisure', Commercial Street, Newport.

What is this life if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see in broad daylight'
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at beauty's glance,
and watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait until her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare
.

W.H Davies - Welsh Poet

W.H Davies - Tramp poet and writer from Pill, Newport

I went out earlier to the main Post Office in town to post a parcel to a friend in East Anglia. Due to heavy traffic heading out of town I took a different route home and found myself coming through the Pill area of the city, passing the now boarded up 'Church House Inn'. When I got home I phoned my friend of forty-0dd years, LC, and asked how long the 'Church House' had been closed. 'About two years' was the reply. Hmm, That's how long it is since I was in that part of Pill. The thing is, with the new SDR bridge open, from my side of town you need not go near Pill any more.

What is the point of this? Well 'The Church House Inn' is the childhood home of the Welsh poet W.H Davies. I vividly remember having the ruler across my hand in school in the early sixties, for talking in class when I was suppose to be learning about him and learning to recite his famous poem 'Leisure'.


William Henry Davies was born in Pill in 1871, in fairly lowly circumstances I should imagine, his father died when he was 2 years old and when his mother re-married he went to live with his grandparents in 'The Church House Inn'.

Davies was a badly behaved teenager according the local history, and was very dissatisfied with life in Newport. He left for London eventually, and then Bristol and finally went to America in 1893. He spent the next six years intermittently working and begging his way across North America, catching rides on the steam trains which had opened up this huge continent. He was the classical hobo, regularly being jailed for vagrancy. On one occasion he tried to mount a moving express train and was dragged under the wheels, suffered serious injuries which resulted in the loss of his leg below the knee. It was as this point, when he could no longer do manual work, that he turned to writing and poetry. Once back in London it is said that he mixed with the Bohemian set, literary giants such as George Bernard Shaw & W.H Auden to name but a few.


W.H Davies wrote many notable poems and essays during his literary career the most well known being 'The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp'. However, with regard to his most famous poem 'Leisure', the opening two lines are known by most of us - even though people cannot bring to mind the author.


At the age of fifty he married a prostitute thirty years his junior. Davies continued writing and an account of his marriage was published in 1980 titled 'Young Emma'.


He last returned to Newport in the 1930's for the unveiling a plaque in his honour at 'The Church House Inn', but he was unwell. His health had deteriorated, not helped by the weight of his wooden leg and he died in September 1940 at the age of 69 years.

A statue inspired by his poem 'Leisure' can be seen in Commercial Street, Newport. (see next Blog).

The story of the Christmas Tree.

I thought I would write about the Christmas tree. We are all either putting them up, thinking about it or rejecting the idea, but the thing is they are a fact of life at this time of year. Why do we have a decorated Christmas tree? The following is what I read up on earlier today.

It seems the story begins around the 7th century when a Monk from Crediton in Devon went to Germany to teach the word of God. Legend has it that he used the triangular form of the Christmas tree to describe the Holy Trinity. God the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

In Europe in the 12th century, on Christmas day, the Christmas tree was installed upside down, hanging down from the ceiling! At the middle of the 16th century, in Germany, Christmas trees appeared for sale in the markets, these markets also specialised in selling presents for Christmas, usually food or objects of practical use.

Much later in 1846 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert who was born in Germany, appear in 'Illustrated London News' along with their children , all around a Christmas tree. The popularity of the Royal family meant that this custom spread very quickly among the people. The Christmas tree became fashionable, not only in Britain but also on the eastern coast of America. Decorations were usually handmade then. Young ladies spent hours cutting paper snowflakes and stars and making paper supports for sweets/candy.


In 1882 the electric light bulb is invented and in 1892 is adapted for the Christmas tree. So, we get to our present tree that combines all the elements presented above in the most ingenious and creative mixture.

I have to confess that putting my tree up yesterday, I had the most serious attack of disinterest half way through. I had to force myself to finish it, but I did and I am glad now that I persevered, especially after reading this potted history earlier on, I was sort of glad I kept up the tradition.

Christmas Nativity Plays

I had an email from my friend this morning to say she was going to see her 5 year old grandson in his school nativity play today. Another friend went last week to her grandsons. I am glad to hear that they are still going on.

With grandchildren from twenty years downwards to eleven years you can imagine I have done my fair share of this!

When I lived in the Cotswolds, my daughter-in-law rang and said 'J is in the school Christmas play - will you make his costume?' The answer was of course, I have made many a shepherds outfit, and wise men and my eldest son was Angel Gabriel once. I was an old hand at this. Then the second phone call came. 'J.is going to be a cabbage!' That took some imagination I can tell you. However, one Boy Scout green sweater, green tights and hundreds of green serviettes later we made a cabbage. I have photos somewhere, but I am fairly certain they are still in the attic.

This all brought back many happy memories for me. I wish my grandchildren were still small. I obviously peaked too soon .......... having grown up grandchildren at 61 years old!!!

The Meridian Line.

The Meridian Line - 2001

Much has been said about my new digital camera and the digital imaging that I have been doing this last few months. What I have not yet talked about on this Blog is photography and the two year course I did at Coleg Gwent and obtaining my ONC in Photography. I loved this time, when I felt the world was my oyster.

On being given the subject for my first year exam I felt quite exited. The tutor told us all to go out and photograph TIME. What a challenge! We had three weeks to do this before presenting it to the tutor who would give an opinion on it before submitting it some weeks later to the examining board. One thing was made quite clear to us is that photographs of clocks would not be acceptable. I instantly knew what I wanted to do. Go to time itself and photograph the Meridian Line (see black and white photograph at the top of the page). As this was a black & white photography course in year one, I not only had to take the photographs but develop and enlarge them too.

Upon my arrival in London, I took the Docklands Light Railway to Greenwich which was teeming with tourists, giving it the lovely feeling that only Greenwich has (one of my favorite parts of London) However this was not helping my cause as I wanted to photograph the Meridian Line tourist free if possible!

Anyone reading this will remember from school that due to this early dedication to the pursuit of knowledge in astronomy, Greenwich became known internationally as the centre for the observation of time (GMT) and space. The Meridian Line, sometimes known as the Zero line of Longitude, runs from the North Pole to the South Pole directly through the observatory in Greenwich. Visitors flock to be photographed straddling the brass line inset in the cobbles to be photographed with feet firmly set in different time zones, thus being on two sides of the world at once. This was my problem that morning, something I hadn't foreseen! I didn't want the tourists in my exam photo!

I hung about all the morning until gradually the good tourist folk made their way down the hill in to Greenwich for lunch. There were still some about, but eventually when some people saw I was seriously trying to capture this image they stood back while I took the shoots I wanted.

Back to class. I couldn't wait, the developing and enlargement bit had gone pretty well. (I had my own Dark Room at home). I presented them to the Tutor and she said, in front of the whole class 'This is not what I want!'. I cannot describe how I felt at that time, but she went on to say she wanted the passage of time, not time itself. There were a few arguments breaking out about the Tutors instruction, but I distanced myself from that and went home to re-think this through.

Some of the photographs that had been accepted by the tutor were of flowers dying over a period of weeks and candles burning down, all depicting the passage of time. I choose to place a small table and chair under a loggia type thing in my garden and photographed the shadows throughout the day. It got me the mark I needed to pass the exam. I thought I had learned from that experience not to 'think outside the box' but sadly for me I still do, always looking for that unusual angle. Some of us never learn!

The Lysaghts Institute, Newport

Lysaghts Social Club, Corporation Road, Newport

As I drove to the local supermarket this afternoon, I saw some people looking at the old Lysaghts building and wondered if at last there might be some movement on a sale there.

The building is just around the corner from where I live, the most distinctive building, it was for many years one of the best architectural buildings in the City. I pass it almost daily and I have seen over the period of time I have lived on Corporation Road that it is just being left to deteriorate, the roof coverings have been removed from large areas by vandals (no doubt sold for scrap) slates stripped away and the removal of fittings and parts of the interior.

The adjacent land has long been sold and a new B&Q store is due to be completed in the New Year, but the Lysaghts building has never sold despite being up for auction earlier this year with a reserve price of £800,000.

A housing developers proposals for the site included potential use for it, but as it is a listed building it was thought to be too costly to refurbish it according to the specification required.

I find it so sad to see this lovely old place just being left to decay because red tape and bureaucracy is preventing a way forward. It is good it has it's 'listed' status, and good there are protective conditions that come with a sale, but all the restrictions sadly mean that potential purchasers are struggling to know what to do with it. In the meantime the vandals have no such qualms about that; they will destroy it, piece by piece for paltry gain.

Paintings of Gustav Klimt

Schlob Kammer on the Attersee 1v - Gustav Klimt

To get to the point of writing about this painter I have to confess that 36 hours ago I knew nothing of him. I was advised to look at his works on the Internet, did so, and then my friend sent through a different web link and I discovered more about him. Thank you to all involved, because I have actually grown to adore what works I have seen of his so far. It was 'Love at first sight' for me, and I am not an 'arty'person by any means.

The paintings showing on the Blog are the ones I like best so far. I feel I want to know about this man, and will be reading more about him. So watch this space ....I will be writing about him and using his work in the Blog in the future.

I once felt like this about the poet Christina Rossetti 25 years ago, and still read her work to this day, and yet no other poet has captured my imagination.

Perhaps that is how I am meant to be, just 'liking what I like'!

The workingmans club - Last orders?

Sign of the times?

My friend Mrs H and I went out on Saturday night , by invitation again, to hear our friend Mr.D sing (or Tom Jones 2 as he has been christened by another friend). We went to the social club that Mrs H has just joined as a member. It is a very smart club, unlike some that we have been to this year!

The room was filled with cheerful, chatty people all high on Bingo of which we were part .... well Mrs H was, I certainly had the tickets (five ... all joined together!) far to much for my poor brain to cope with. Mr D, still in casual clothes before his performance, came to my rescue, he marked my tickets for me and tried to show me how to take a logical approach to it all. Meanwhile, Mrs H was methodically crossing off all her numbers like a trouper. Mr. D was amused at my efforts, while I was totally bemused!! After all that, no money was won on our table, which seems to be about par for the course in this game!

The last time we were there, a woman who was really drunk, verbally 'insulted' us (and others I suspect) so we sat as far away from that side of the room as we could in case she showed up again (which she did, but she didn't spot us ...thankfully) we had enough trouble on our hands with our neighbours when they took their seats. A really weird married couple, not too young, who were 'three sheets to the wind', but not abusive ..... in fact they were quite funny. They danced every dance. He looked like a 'daddy long legs' and moved like Lurch from the Adams family, she could hardly stand, but managed to stay on her feet ....well almost, it was compelling viewing I can tell you, Even poor old Mr. D had to do a Frankie Vaughn 'kick' to get our attention! By the end of the evening we were their best friends. A committee member that Mrs.H knows suggested that the next time that we go there, we stay away from any weirdo's ......... well we don't invite them, they just seem to be drawn to us!

Mr. D had more time to spend with us last night as he had a back up act, so I mentioned to him that there were not so many people in the club as I had seen previously. He replied that the smoking ban is dragging business down. Regulars are turning their backs on the clubs, instead they are choosing to drink at home where they can smoke in peace.

Across Wales membership has plummeted as the price of supermarket alcohol gets cheaper and cheaper. Originally the government was in favour of making private member clubs exempt from the no smoking law, which would have meant members could have carried on smoking in Workingmen's/Social clubs, but the House of Commons threw out the idea before the legislation was passed.

Whatever anyone thinks of the 'No Smoking law', good or bad, I feel it is a great shame that we are seeing this long tradition of Workingman's/Social clubs diminish due mainly to Government legislation.

To Mrs. H ............

It is with some considerable pride that I write that my lovely friend Mrs.H went dancing. It is with some concern that I write that she had a little slip. It is with much relief that I write that she is now doing okay. It is with some admiration that I write she is going out to dance again soon.

I know that she is an avid reader of this Blog, so Mrs. H. keep your chin up and ...................

Get well Soon!

P.S That will teach you to go boogieing without me!

BBC One Wales Documentary.

On Wednesday evening of this week a very old friend of mine telephoned and asked if I was going to watch the documentary 'The Archbishop' later that evening. We have both worked for the Church in Wales for very long periods of time in the past and after spending sometime discussing the current issues that are around in the Anglican Church, we closed our conversation to watch to the programme.

The documentary was following The Archbishop of Wales throughout a whole year. It was an excellent (and accurate) insight into C in W covering topics which have caused widespread division in the Anglican Church.

The issues of the consecration of gay bishops and the ordination of women bishops were the main topics of discussion and fair and frank views were exchanged throughout the documentary with each of the parties retaining their dignity at all times. Dr Morgan also spoke publicly about the resignation of the Bishop of St. Davids last year over issues in his private life.

In front of the cameras Dr. Barry Morgan argued that the ordination of women was the next logical step for the Church. However, he looses the argument at the Church's governing body earlier this year. The programme was well defined, to the point, while also exploring Dr. Barry Morgan's personal views on a year which will surely define him for his tackling of issues that generate a huge amount of opposition.

Suitably Stupid!

Mama Mia

When my friend (her of Police car fame - see my Blog of 9th Nov) asked if she could come for an overnight stay and suggested that she bring her CD of Mama Mia for us to watch, my reply was that although I did Have a DVD it wasn't working. Being a qualified scientist and having an analytical mind she replied 'Have you got instructions?' I said that I did and her reply was that two intelligent women could sought this out!

After spending over half an hour searching for these instructions and proudly producing them we proceeded with the 'repair'. My friend was quite sure that every plug was in the right socket and that everything was in order; she could not fathom why it wouldn't work. So she pressed the start button and the thing sprang into life, then she pressed the eject button and the CD holder slid quietly out to meet us, she placed the CD in it's holder, pressed the button on the remote and BINGO! ...... the film started! My friend took one look at my face and collapsed laughing. I was in shock! I have been sitting here for nearly two years looking at that, wishing fervently that it would work and all the time it did! Well, what gave me the idea that it didn't? One of those mysteries that will never be solved, but it made my friends night even if I did feel suitably stupid!!!

A sad day .......

The lovely lady in the photograph is my auntie Doris, standing next to her is her brother, my father. They were both born in Ebbw Vale and together with their older brother and their parents lived in Brynheulog House, Ebbw Vale.

I absolutely adored my auntie and from a little girl right up until last Christmas I wrote to her regularly. She was one of the last genteel ladies left, well mannered, well spoken, had high standards and an inspiration to me all my life. Like us all she had her faults ... but then who doesn't?

An amazing lady, an Anglican for many, many years and worshiped in Hereford Cathedral. When in her 80's she converted to Catholicism and then became a regular worshiper at Belmont Abbey on Belmont Avenue in Hereford, not far from where she lived.

Just before she died in January 2008 she returned to the Anglican faith and her funeral was held in the Lady Chapel at The Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Ethelbert in Hereford where she had spent so much time. She was 97 years old. Today would have been her 98th Birthday, that is why it is such a sad day for the family. I miss her, her guidance and her love for me.

They say it takes a minute to find a special person,
an hour to appreciate, a day to love them
and an entire lifetime to forget them.'
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