Madam Butterfly

This really was a spectacular, much-loved staging of Puccini's deeply moving opera that we saw tonight in the Millennium Centre, Cardiff. This is my almost favourite opera, my favourite being Bizet's Carmen. I have seen them both previously, but many years ago. I saw the Welsh National Opera perform them both then and , if anything, this production tonight was more spectacular!


This story of love, hope and betrayal in the Japan of a century ago was brought alive by some fabulous voices, not just from the soloist but the chorus also. This was my first visit the the Millennium Centre and I was impressed. I still fail to see why people rave about Cardiff Bay itself though, as the parts of it I have seen are very uninspiring and bordering on scruffy - definitely a place for the young. However, that did not detract from the wonderful evening , with world class performances tonight.


The WNO are going on tour now but will be back in Cardiff in February and guess what they will be staging - Carmen! A must for me I think!

Apology

The layout of the post below is due to a blogger error. I am still experiencing problems with blogger, so may be unable to post anything until it's sorted.

Raku and Haiku

This is my best raku piece from yesterday. I tried all the copper glazes back in the Spring, so I wanted something different this time. I am quite pleased with this effort and I love working on the wheel; it is so much more professional than the hand moulded pieces. This pot has all the raku 'cracking' that it's famous for, something you don't see with the copper glazes. Having said that, I will probably use the copper glazes again next time, as it really is a startling finish!

I have enjoyed my experiments with raku pottery, I hope there will be more opportunities around next year. It's a pity we can't find any courses in Wales.

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Today in college we discussed haiku's, and had to write a few. I now understand the principle, but it doesn't make them any easier to write. Apart from writing more traditional poetry this week, I have to produce 4 or 5 haikus for homework. They seem so easy when you read them, but they are not so easy to write - even though you don't have to follow the principles strictly for International haiku.

This one I have posted below is from a book I borrowed on haikus:

Glass balls and glowing lights.

Dead tree in living room.

Killed to honour birth.

This is a particularly good example, but mine, when I post it won't be nearly as good Blog Followers!

The Raku Process

The Kiln is carefully loaded.

Another wonderful day in Wrington for the final Raku weekend of the year, only marred by a one and a half hour hold up on the M5 coming home! I have charted the Raku process in photographs below. I took 123 photographs yesterday and only 3 needed deleting during the editing process. That's the best I have done with this camera in the year I have owned it!

Fired up and at a hot temperature with more pots drying off on the top.

Out of the kiln into the sawdust.

This is Bill Moore (above) our lovely tutor. All students had to take it in turn to douse the flame with sawdust, I have some hysterical photos of my two friends trying to do this process! I teamed up with a lady who was on her own and we did well - of course!

The finished product which has been cleaned up - this is not my work.

So, a morning ahead of me cleaning the smoke of my pots. We all got the worse off before we left the craft barn, but they need a lot of attention, and we ran out of time. I will post my own work from yesterday when I have cleaned it up.

Wheel Turning.

Independant of any tutor, I made my first turned pot on the wheel today! It may not be much to look at at the moment, but it's not bad as a first attempt. My next-seat-neighbours also had a go and we all managed one pot each.






I know from past experience that this is when it looks it's worse, but will improve after biscuit firing and painting. After the glaze and the final firing it will be a work of art blog followers!

Poetry Today.

Poetry can be fun! People kept telling me that, not that I ever believed them, but I have to say I did laugh in class today. We had all been given the task of writing our own poem this week, and two of us were doing it for the first time, myself being one. Everybody tried, that is the nice thing about this, and everybody had a go. This is much more relaxed than prose writing where everyone is so serious. Maybe this is reflective of our tutor, who is larger than life and is Mr. Personality Plus!


I had to read my poem first which was awful because I had nothing to measure it against, but I did fine in the end. Some of them wrote funny poems, and the feedback comments were hilarious too. Our tutor got us to relax before the readings by making up silly verses as he was passing out some handouts. For example:

There was a worm that did nothing
but wriggle on his belly.
I felt so sorry for him,
I asked him in
to sit and watch the tele

We were all reasonably relaxed before the readings, and eventually all went well. I really enjoyed this session today.

Cost of Relationship Seminar.

Baroness Ilora Finlay of Landaff.

The weekend was not all about pottery and pleasure. Saturday I traveled to Margam with the MU to a 'Cost of Relationship' seminar, primarily to listen to the main speaker Baroness Ilora Finlay.

I was glad that I did this on several levels, mainly because it taught me that the MU is about a lot more than the Branch that I belong to, which is just a notch up from a social club. There are many Branches out there working hard for a very diverse range of MU programmes all over the world. The MU is working in 78 countries, mainly in Africa, looking after the needs of families. A target of our particular Branch is 'Water for Africa' whereby we are supporting that cause through donations.

It was however, to hear Baroness Finlay that I really attended. The Baroness is a Doctor working in Wales and a Professor of palliative medicine. An Independent candidate of the House of Lords, she was the representative for the proposal of the bill to ban smoking in public places in Wales. She also introduced the Private Members bill to change the current system of organ donation from 'opt' to 'opt out'. three years before it was eventually implemented in the Principality. On Saturday her keynote speech was about ways to promote palliative care and explaining why she opposes legalised euthanasia.

This was a worth while effort to go to listen to someone who, apart from being a good orator, was actually living through what she was speaking about. She used an elderly lady as an example of why euthanasia doesn't work, and it was only after she had left the building we were told that the lady was her dying mother. What does that say about the Baroness, not just being able to speak about something so very personal to her, in a nice, but detached way; but leaving her seriously ill mum to come and talk to strangers to get her point across at such a demanding time for her? There has been a TV programme recently about her work and views which I missed. These thing are usually repeated, I hope so as this is a lady who I can respect and would like to know more about.

The Walled Garden

Pottery items waiting to be fired next week.

Another super Raku weekend at the lovely Walled garden craft barns in Wrington. We had a super day creating our pots and drying them off ready for the Raku firing next weekend. We are hoping that the weather is going to be fine so that the firing can take place outdoors, if it's wet I don't know what will happen, but there is bound to be a plan B! The weather was lovely which makes the trip a lot easier and you can appreciate the picturesque journey when the weather is good. On a wet day when the cloud is low you cannot appreciate the lovely Mendip hills and the setting we are in.

Raku firing, taken in March 2009 - This is what will happen to our pots next week - hopefully!

We made four pieces each, tackled things we have not done before and we all did something on the Wheel. I had a go at the Wheel in pottery class on Wednesday! This was my first time without supervision, and it was really good to feel the clay evolving. What a mess I got in! I was by far the worst of the three of us that tried pottery on the Wheel! I got home and had to consign everything I had been wearing to the washing machine!

It's really me!

My cousin sent me this photograph, it's one that she took on our recent holiday in Pembrokeshire. This is me climbing back up from St. Govan's chaple where I went all the way down and all the way back up! This photo is proof that I did it!

It's roughly 76 steps each way, although legend has it that no-one counts the same number on the way up as they did on the way down!

You can just see the roof of the chaple in the rocks and the beautiful sea in the background. A magical place, but sadly the photograph has not transposed well onto the blog.

Saying Goodbye

I went to Pottery Painting for the last time this morning. Now that the new term at college has commenced and pottery lessons have started again, I cannot do all three as sadly times does not permit. I have enjoyed my time with lovely talented people and have learned quite a bit about the art of painting pottery.



My Holy Family is now finished, there were twelve pieces in all. I photographed some of them for the blog (see above and below) but they were, in hindsight, quite difficult for a beginner. I have done them fairly well but would not advocate starting with something as small and intricate as this to begin. However they are done. The stable has also been built.




All that is left to do is to thatch the roof of the stable and then paint the rest; buy some straw to scatter about and it will be finished. Next year I may consider making some pottery items to go into the stable, but that is really thinking ahead. Let's get this years project finished first!

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I went to my first aqua aerobics this afternoon. It was different, not exactly enjoyable, it was exhausting; certainly more difficult than I had previously thought. I am still considering whether or not to go on a regular basis to supplement my diet - I will sleep on it I think!

Haiku

Poetry, maybe the oldest, certainly the most intense of literature's genres. Before returning to college next week I have to select a poem for discussion, write one of my own and maybe write a Haiku piece. No pressure there then! This is all very well, but I had never heard of Haiku until yesterday, much less write a piece.


It would seem that it is verse - a form of Japanese poetry- hmmm. Haiku in English usually appears in three lines and there is little understanding of it's principle. Here is an example from a book I picked up I the library today:

After killing a spider,
how lonely I feel,
in the cold of night.


Well, what do you think of that blog followers? Not exactly setting the world alight is it? I guess I can rustle up a Haiku for next week. Even I can do that! When crafted, I will post a Haiku written by me!

Pre conceived ideas.

Goff Morgan. Poet, Boadcaster, Tutor - in that order!

Caricature of Goff Morgan from his Blog.

I don't usually pre-judge people, but when I was introduced to my tutor for this term (see caricature above) in July I did exactly that. I got it wrong. This guy is witty, intelligent and very personable. As the Autumn term commenced this morning I realised what a charismatic, talented young man he is. He doesn't like 'academic speak', and hates jargon (what a bonus!). With his larger than life personality and his Hawaiian shirts, he is quite delightful.

I was contemplating a panic attack five minutes before the class commenced, I was the only woman there. Now, I can hold my own with any man on a one to one basis, and would much prefer a man's company to a woman's any day, but eight of them and me? That was a bit overwhelming! Alas, just as we were about to commence two more women turned up!

With the predominately male class we commenced and what an eclectic mix it proved to be. The whole morning was vibrant, challenging and alive. This is great stuff. I have gone from fear and trembling with my inability to swoon over poetry, to feeling maybe I can hold my own. I am never going to be great in this subject as I am not keen on this aspect of the arts, but I will try and get the best mark I can, and think I may have an enjoyable journey along the way to achieving it.

Poetry preparation.

Richard Poole b. 1946

I have been looking at poetry in general for the last few weeks so that I don't look a complete idiot on Tuesday in college! I thought I may be able to say what kind of poetry I liked if asked, and be able to say something about one or two poems at least. It hasn't quite worked out like that! However, this morning things improved, I read this, and it's something I can identify with.

Separation

Sleeping by myself is curious.

The strangeness isn't the product

of you not being here,

of the cold fact of disconnectedness -

but your refusal in our severance

to be utterly away!

You persist on the edge of perception,

a distraction -

an imaginary sound that turns my head,

a shadow half-glimpsed in mirror-glass,

the wraith of a perfume in a room.

Tonight I shall douse the light,

clamber into the emptiest of sheets,

close my eyes,

and fold myself away into your absence.

Richard Poole

It makes it easier when you understand something that you are reading about, so I guess I like the more modern works and the man who wrote it is close to my own age, with the awareness of a situation that I can understand.


However, my perception of doom is ever deepening. Knowing my luck, I will have to study John Donne or something as secular and divine. This could be a long semester.



P.S I hope my sister doesn't read this blog entry - it was she who bought me the book of poems by John Donne! Sorry A. xx

This 'n' That!

This week has seen me getting 'Ship Shape' for the winter. I bought some daffodil bulbs while I was in Pembrokeshire and that spurred me on to tackle the back garden in readiness for Autumn planting.



Tomato plants were stripped - I am amazed how many pounds of tomato's I had from two plants - geraniums were cut back to half their original height and re-potted for wintering, the three small beds were weeded yet again and eventually the daffodil bulbs were planted ready for the Spring. A friend from Brecon emailed to tell me I could carry over a couple of varieties of fibrous begonias, also some tender Lavender plants as well if I so wished, as well as some of my hardier herbs like Rosemary and Tarragon. So I am feeling rather virtuous!



Other than these domestic things it's been a quiet week. Next week is quite different. College starts on Tuesday and pottery on Wednesday, and then Thursdays will be taken up for a few weeks with pottery painting, as I have to finish off painting my Holy family! So, Merry-go- round, here I come again!

A Russian Prayer.

I picked up a copy of this in St. David's Cathedral, it was free on the Information table. I think it is a lovely prayer.

Too long I have worried about so many things.

And yet, my Lord, so few are needed.

May I today live more simply - like the bread.

May I today see more clearly - like the water.

May I today be more selfless - like the Christ.

Russian prayer.

Pembrokeshire - Day 3

Day 3 took cousin W and I to Bosherton. This small place is most famous for it's lilly ponds, but as time was short and we had both seen the lily ponds previously, we went in search of St. Govan's Chaple. This is a small hermit's chaple, built right into the cliffs, is dated around the 13th centuary. After such a long time, what we know of St. Govan is limited and has now become encrusted with legend.

To enter this picturesque little chaple it is necessary to decend a long, extremely steep flight of steps. Again legend has it that they cannot be counted the same going down and coming up by any mortal being. I counted 76 on the way down, but I was too busy gasping for breath to count them on the way back up!

A stone alter stand in the chaple, (I did take a photograph, but it did not come out clearly enough to print it)and it does have the remains of an inscription, but all that can be deciphered now is the figures 6 and 0.

We finished up our time by walking the length of Broad Haven West's lovely beach. We were the only two people on it apart from a small family who were playing over the far end. It really was a supberb break and a lovely time of year to go to pembrokeshire, when the holiday season is not quite over, but not teeming with people.

This was a good four days, very enjoyable. It has given me the confidence to travel about again, something I have been lacking since my divorce. Who knows where this will lead.

Pembrokeshire - Day 2

The Monastery which currently houses sixteen monks.

A visit to Caldey Island was a must for cousin W and myself. We took a boat across in fairly calm waters on the second day of our break. The Cistercian monks of Caldey continue a tradition that began there in Celtic times. There have been more that 1000 years of prayer and quiet living which has made this Island a haven of tranquillity and peace.

Caldy Island Private Beach.

This lovely tranquil place is self sufficient and relies hugely on tourism during the summer months. The monks there produce perfume and chocolate, both of which are on sale at the local shop for purchase by visitors. The island is supported by a small team of locals on Caldey who help the monks with the upkeep of he Island and share in with their jobs of work.



There is a mass celebrated every day at 2.45. If you are a visitor you are invited to join in but it is no way mandatory. The peace and sense of community there is something I have not experienced elsewhere. The brothers are very aware of our changing world, and are doing all they can to live within their own boundaries, while interacting with modern life. The balance for them must often be difficult.

Mid sea transfer! This looks like a black & white

photograph, but it's not!

On our way back to Tenby harbour, the tide had gone out so we had to board an army sea-tank, complete with camouflage on the sides, and be 'driven' out to our boat. When our boat came alongside people had to transfer. This was fine until the current caused the boat to start drifting! This meant the boat hand had to circle again and re-group with us. It was all high drama on the sea!!! We eventually got everyone safely transferred and continued our journey back to Tenby quite safely. Another, lovely day ...

Pembrokeshire Pictures.

Newgale Beach - before the sun came out.

Newgale Beach -after the sun came out


Near a small 1920's working wollen mill that we
stumbled across on our travels.

Pembrokeshire - Day 1

St David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire

Returning from a four day break in Pembrokeshire with cousin W, writing about it will be a pleasure. It was a delightful four days!. We began our journey amidst predictions of four days of gales and storms for the whole of our trip, so we left Newport gritting our teeth and with stiff upper lips.

Inside the Cathedral

We drove all the way down with just the odd spot of rain, but then the heavens did open when we arrived in Pembroke - and boy - did we get wet! However, the following morning we woke to bright sunshine, the temperature was lower but dry and sunny.

We took ourselves off to St David's and spent almost a whole day there, looking around the delightful tiny city and paid a visit to it's famous Cathedral. This very small Cathedral city is built on the site of a monastery founded by St. David in the 6th century. The Cathedral itself is set in a backdrop of farms and fields in an area of rich Christian heritage. This is also the place where St. Patrick is said to have set sail when he went to convert Ireland to Christianity.

Although the season is winding down this time of year there were still a lot of tourists around (ourselves included of course). The whole atmosphere in the Cathedral felt more like a museum intent on making money than a place of worship, and I found that quite disappointing. I hadn't been there for almost five years when I attended an evensong service there, and that is how I want to remember it, not this overcrowded, business-like place where they were asking for money at every turn! Cousin W and I finally found solace in the Lady Chapel where we spent some time in quiet and prayer.

However, the bustle outside was quite enchanting in this small city and we had a really nice lazy, late lunch, before heading back along the craggy coastline and on to the next part of our small holiday adventure .....