Another Musical Evening.

St. David's Centre, Cardiff

Friday evening was a really super evening. Yet again I had the opportunity to go to the theatre because someone else had dropped out. This time I was seated up in the God's but to hear a symphony orchestra play it really doesn't matter as you go for the music, and you can hear that wherever you are.


The programme consisted of Elgar and Mendelssohn conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy which was wonderful. The violin concerto was superb (can't remember the name of the musician who played it.) It was a truly fantastic evening for all who attended.

Vladimir Ashkenazy

Still studying Mr Holmes!

Sketch of 'Sherlock Holmes' as portrayed by Sidney Paget.

I have spent most of Sunday writing up my comparisons between the original Sherlock Holmes and the one portrayed in the film I saw yesterday. The more I wrote, the more I realised that the character hadn't changed at all , it was the portrayal of him, his character, that was different. Instead of being an upright citizen, upper class and considered a gentleman, he had been portrayed more recently still as someone with a brilliant mind, but of some dubious character.

Holmes occasionally used addictive drugs when lacking stimulation in cases, and is a regular user of of morphine, but is strongly opposed to using opium. All three were legal in the late 19th century, and this comes over particularly in this latest film, whereas in earlier films and books these is just a hint of this.

Conan Doyle, Holmes creator, said that the character of Holmes was inspired by Doctor Joseph Bell, for whom he had worked for a while as a clerk in Edinburgh infirmary. Bell, like Holmes was noted for drawing large conclusions from the smallest observations. I sincerely hope I can get my Detective to do the same as Holmes, because I have only 1500 words to tell a tale of murder, then describe the characters and victim, while explaining how the detective and side kick pull their clues together. I think I might need a little help from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle!

* I cannot seem to get Blogger to recognise the parpgraph spacing this week. Sometimes it happens like that - so apologies!

Studying Mr. Holmes.

This term at college the subject is crime fiction, and this weeks homework is to draw a comparison between the original perception of Conan Doyle's 'Sherlock Holmes' against how the modern generation see the character. There was only one way to do this and that was to go and see the new film 'Sherlock Holmes'. I mentioned this to my friend who came kicking, screaming and protesting to the cinema with me. (She didn't actually - she offered quite readily!)

At first I thought I wasn't going to like this movie as the opening scenes were very violent (The Director is Guy Richie - I'll say no more, it was typical Richie) but once I got the hang of it being a very modern take on Conan Doyle's character by giving it a good modern twist, I settled into the plot. This adaptation portrays Holmes eccentricities as a genius perfectly, but makes him seem more like a street fighter than a detective. My friend commented that it was more of a James Bond plot than a Sherlock Holmes mystery!

Robert Downey Jr. is superb as Sherlock Holmes, and Jude law is - well, just Jude Law! Oddly enough the villain, Lord Blackwood, is a double in looks for actor Basil Rathbone who played one of the earlier Sherlock Holmes, which was confusing in the beginning, but once I got the hang of the characters it was okay - but how uncanny? Overall I would say I have read much better Sherlock Holmes stories, but I think the acting in this film came through as it's major success rather than the plot.

Homelessness Project.

The reality of homelessness

I have finished my duty rota for cooking and caring for the homeless. The project that we started at the beginning of December has now successfully been completed, and the good news is that it might continue through February and March with seven new Churches. This is marvellous news. Winter can be bitterly cold as we have all just experienced, and it is wonderful that these people have a regular place to eat and sleep in the bleakest months. With seven Churches on the rota, it means that people know they have somewhere to go every night of the week, and with their bedding packs being transferred for them by Teen Challenge, there is a sense of continuation and familiarity for them, at whatever Church they are directed to.

This was a new initiative in South Wales built on similar projects set up in London and adapted by Teen Challenge (South Wales), thus creating the Newport Night Shelter. Lots of prayers will go out to Jade Holtham and the Teen Challenge team as they extend the project to other denominations and different Anglican Churches in Newport.

If anyone reading this would like to support in any way please contact:

Jade Holtham 07814689634

All aboard!

'Myrtle' - Shoreham - on - Sea, Nr. Brighton

It is with some sadness that I blog this post. My friend J. has finally left Wales and is settling nicely in Brighton. You Blog followers that have met J. have emailed me and asked me if I have a photo of her boat 'Myrtle' - well here it is! It is moored in Shoreham-on-Sea in the midst of a small house-boat community with an eclectic mix of people. J. will fit in well there are this is an 'arty' district and my friend is a very accomplished person.


I hope that she will find peace and be happy. As for me, I shall miss our nights out, the giggles, the trying to compose Hiku's over candle light, trying to teach her to jive and the long companionable silences, but life moves on. It will be a different relationship now, but our journey together is one we will both remember for lots of different reasons, and who knows what the future will hold?

Holst's - The Planets

I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra of Wales playing at St. David's Hall in Cardiff last night. They were playing Holst's The Planets, known to most of you reading this I am sure. It was wonderful. It was a live broadcast for Radio 3, so therefore only one and a half hours of music, but well worth listening to. My friend tells me that the Welsh Orchestra for Wales has an extensive discograph and have recently been playing the music for the Doctor Who Christmas special. For me I loved it all, it brought back lots of nice memories.

Caring for the Birds.

The savage winter we have been experiencing is pushing Britain's wildlife to the brink of a crisis. Appeals made on TV recently to feed birds and help them survive in this cold snap can make the difference between life and death in many cases.


At another recent visit to the Wetlands, my second in just over a week, we were speaking to the staff about this issue. They are walking the thirty acre site to distribute food for the birds who cannot forage for food in the usual manner.





These pictures show iced over waters, ten days after the first fall of snow, but we can all do our bit. Grated breadcrumbs, nuts etc. can be left out, preferably on walls or roofs, can help birds obtain food. Often food just thrown onto the garden is taken by animals that live above the ground, so to put it somewhere accessible to the birds is essential.





It's thawing here in the city today and raining quite heavily as I write, so maybe the worst is over for now. I am told another cold snap is forecast, if this happens look out for the birds Blog followers!

Shopping for a skipping rope !

The Wetlands - January 2010

The picture I have posted today has nothing to do with what I am writing about - well, indirectly it has I suppose, the subject of the snow!

While traffic in Newport is still flowing freely on main roads, the side roads are still treacherous, as they are everywhere else. This morning I had a call from Miss A to say they had skipping ropes in a store near me which had been advertised in local leaflet drops. It was my job to go out and secure us one each as we have been looking for a good skipping rope for almost 6 months!

As long as people drove carefully it was okay. When I got to the Retail Park, the roads hadn't been gritted. I was slipping and sliding all over the place! There was only me and a few other shoppers about, so I asked the manager of the store why the approach road and car parks hadn't been gritted. He said the City council won't grit private roads and car parks (fair enough I suppose) and that retailers would do it themselves, but the council won't sell them the grit because they are very low on stocks. Where else could this happen? Only in the UK ? My friend rang from her Holiday destination in Spain and said they were in the middle of a cloudburst, and another texted from Tenerife to say the weather had been wet all week. Not all sunshine and holiday fun then?

The Wetlands in the snow

With a fall over over 4" of snow here in the city I felt that it could not pass by with me recording some of the scenes. It is unusual for us to get any 'real' snow as Newport is coastal. I have only known a heavy fall twice in forty years.

I have a friend staying with me at the moment so we decided to go down the Wetlands. The cafeteria & shop were closed to the public due to the inclement weather, so we were the only two people there, in this vast space of sheer beauty covered in snow.

The picture above is my favorite, I might even convert this one and the one of the Robin (of which I have many - it was as if he as posing for me) also above, to Christmas cards for 2010.

It was a refreshing walk and we managed a good few miles even though the snow was fairly deep in parts. Hands and faces tingling when we got back to the car - what a lovely start to a New Year!

A Happy New Year!

A Happy New Year to all you blog followers!

I had a nice evening with the lovely Miss A last night in the city. We bought some raffle tickets and Miss A won. The first prize was this beautiful Christmas cake, which is the size of the bottom tier of a wedding cake! It is homemade and icing decorations created by hand, a really lovely thing to win, but everyone is all eaten out now and no-one wants it. It has been decided to give it to the Salvation Army in Newport as they feed the homeless most nights of the week whereby Newport Night Shelter (St.John's branch) only does that once a week.

I hope you all get what you are hoping for in 2010. Stay positive and maybe you will find that hope triumphs over experience.