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Bleanavon - Visit 3

2011-08-05T20:14:00.000+01:00

The Pit Head Baths

If someone had said to me a month ago that it would take me three full day to really explore the heritage town of Blaenavon I would have disagreed. Yet, it has taken my friend and I just that - three trips up the valley and we are considering another one.

The cafe in the Blaenavon World Heritage Centre is well worth a visit. Clean, affordable and delicious food, all cooked freshly; with all cakes home made by the young women who run it.

Much more than just the baths are here.

It is wonderful that all these museums are free of charge. An educational place to take children in the long school holidays with minimum expense to the parents. Literally, a mine of history!

ANOTHER New start!

2011-07-29T17:06:00.000+01:00

Bleanavon Iron works, remainder of the tower.

Stack Square where the BBC series 'The Coal House' was filmed

Having had two very informative visits to Blaenavon Heritage Town recently, I have decided to have yet another attempt at this Blog! Why I don't keep it up I don't know. I enjoyed Blogging for over two years, but somehow I lost the plot! Let's see if I can keep up the momentum this time.

The Heritage museum in Blaenavon is very informative and the food in the Cafe is delicious, all home made cakes and scones and freshly prepared meals at extremely competitive prices. Within walking distance is Stack Square (pictured above). 'The Coal House' series on the BBC was filmed here, but it has now been turned into a museum. The Industrial history is celebrated at this revealing site. It is one of Europe's best preserved 18th century Ironworks. We are fortunate in South East Wales to have such a legacy from the Industrial Revolution on our doorstep to study. I doubt that the people who lived through it at the time thought that though!

New Blog ...

2010-09-06T11:13:00.000+01:00

Hello Everyone,

If anyone who followed missjonesonline stumbles upon this post then please join me again at missjonesjournal.blogspot.com It will be good to catch up again.

Re-opening of the Transporter Bridge 2010

2010-08-29T12:39:00.003+01:00

The re-opening of the transporter bridge was met with much enthusiasm for those of us who have lived in Newport for many years and for people born and bred in the town/city. A few days after the opening my friend and I went over in her car. It is all done electronically now and we were giggling like school girls when recalling the days when it was operated from the gondola itself and we cranked our way over. This is so different. We reached the other side in about 45 seconds. well that's progress I suppose, at least its running again!

I went again as a foot passenger when another friend when we did the dragon trail. It was a blustery day, but I managed to get these photos (below) of the SDR bridge and a view down the Usk from the middle of the river, which you cannot get unless you use the transporter bridge or are on a boat of course!

There is a notice on the Pill side of the bridge showing the charge for the crossing 50p for a car 20p for a foot passenger. Each time I have done it there has been no charge. I wonder why?

Both trips, although very different, were super experiences and long may this wonderful monument stay open!

Revival!

2010-08-29T10:49:00.006+01:00

Having made a decision not to continue with this blog I stood by it for two and a half months! Then friends (followers) persuaded me to start up again. Why? There is nothing controversial ever written here, well nothing that couldn't be challenged anyway, rants about MU and tales of the valleys can get a bit monotonous. Pictures of my very armature pottery is mostly what is on here anyway. Sooo, I will give it another go for a while. It will give me a chance to practise writing as I
am still plodding on with the college creative writing course!

On Tuesdy I did the dragon trail with a friend. What is that,I can here people who don't live in Newport asking their PC screens? Well,it is a celebration of Newport's vibrant art scene (yes, we have one apparantly) and the dragons pictured on this blog, showcase a cross section of work from some of the areas leading artists.

Newport superdragons is the result of many months of hard work from a truly amazing group of people. Sadly after they were placed around the city, seventy of them I believe, some were very quickly vandalised. Predicable in any city I suppose.

I wonder how the sculptors felt about that, and the school children who designed the smaller ones? In society today there is always a small element of people who will spoil it for the rest. It spoiled the trail too. A super idea for locals and tourists to follow the map of where they are situated and read about them or photograph them. But because the vandalised ones had to be removed, repaired and then were put back in safer environments, meant that the printed trail map was not correct. It must be disheartening for the organisers of this event, which is part of the Newport Festival summer, a fore runner to the Ryder Cup. One wonders what will happen when that comes to town. You can bet there will be someone out there waiting to try and disrupt that too.

Raku 2010

2010-06-10T12:34:00.007+01:00

An internal Raku day at pottery yesterday provided three pieces of Raku which are satisfactory. If I don't give up this summer, then next term I need to revive some interest and become more creative. I dislike large pieces (unless they are very large and very good) so I was disappointed that this pot was on the primary list to create.

The blend of water based Raku finishes has worked worked on this piece,giving it a copper lustre look.

The three 'poured pieces' for yesterday session (Pics of the other two to follow).

Above is the mould used for the pouring. It is filled with liquid clay (slip) then left for twenty minutes before the residue of the sli is poured out. The remainder left for a week to set before being carefully extracted from the mold.

The facts of predication.

2010-05-29T17:57:00.006+01:00

The swans taken in February in the snow.

I visited the Wetlands today with Anne my friend. As this was her first visit I was keen to show her the family of swans that I had been photographing over the winter. They were nowhere to be seen. In the coffee shop on the way back I asked where they were. One of the Reserve wardens told me the whole family, with the exception of the cob, had been wiped out, eaten by foxes.

Swans are elegant creatures. We grow up with them on the pages of books, especially fairy tales. Their pure white feathers compliments the lovely curvature of their neck. However, swans can be aggressive birds, and their beating wings can break a mans arm so we are told. They protect their territories from other swans, and from strangers, but it appears that this family could not defend themselves from the urban foxes that prowl the wetlands area at night. They were all wiped out, the pen and the six cygnets. The cob survived the attack - just. We were told he was miserable for a few days but is now making good ground and back on the water.

Anne and I were sad to hear this, but reasoned that predication is all part of the animal kingdom. However, I was surprised to hear that a fox can kill an adult swan, but then I know very little about these things. The Reserve warden explained that if a fox gets the swan by the neck it disempowers the swan. Whatever the circumstances it's a fact of life I suppose, but a terribly sad one.

Cabage leaf bowl

2010-05-26T17:05:00.004+01:00

I was rather disappointed with the way this project turned out. The leaves are super and the colour has come out well, but not the 'whitish' stalk in the middle of the main leaf. Never mind, this is what pottery is all about isn't it - trial and error? At least I got this project fired within a two month period.

Scriffito Dish

2010-05-20T21:08:00.009+01:00

This is called scriffito work. A Sudanese design that was not difficult to do, but time consuming and painstaking.

I finally picked up my sciffito dish from pottery class today. It has been hanging about for five months! Three weeks to make it and four months waiting to go in the kiln!

It makes me quite annoyed that a professional tutor so blatantly puts work forward for firing for those more talented, long serving pupils; leaving those of us that are less popular with her, and not as talented as she would like, to wait at the and of the queue.

My friend has already left the class for this reason after writing to the tutor saying why. She was promptly asked back with promises of more attention. She refused as she felt things would not change. If I leave for the same reason, things might change, but I doubt it unless I write to the Education authority. If I do that she could loose her job and I don't know if I can live with that. Why is it some people have to make things difficult for others and ultimately get away with it? This lady knows exactly what she is doing.

Political Reform?

2010-05-11T18:09:00.003+01:00

These are exciting times in politics - so I keep hearing on the radio and on the visual news! There is much talk about Political Reform (see yesterday's posting)and that such reform must include the alternative vote.

I think the way this whole post election week has panned out is political reform in itself. Even prior to the election there was reform in the shape of the Television debates. There will never be another election in this country without them.. What Prime minister will say no to fighting for his place on National Television? Political Reform in this country has already began. Politics will never be the same for us after this election, its result and aftermath. So what is Nick Clegg asking for? A change to the AV system to give his party a toe hold that they would never otherwise have?

The winds of change.

2010-05-10T22:17:00.003+01:00

I don't know that I approve of the proposed Alternative Vote System (AV). I am unsure about all this. This is how I understand things:

Under AV, candidates are still elected, as at present, from single-member constituencies under the Alternative Vote (AV) system.

Instead of putting a cross next to one person on a ballot paper as at present, voters rank candidates in order of preference. If none gets a majority of first preference votes the candidate who comes last is eliminated. The second preference votes on the loser’s ballot papers are then given to other candidates. This continues until one candidate has more than 50% of votes and is declared the winner.

The main concern regarding the current first-past-the-post system (FPTP) has been the “waste” of votes in those constituencies regarded as being “safe seats”. The “Winner Takes All” system, it is argued, effectively disenfranchises all those people who did not vote for the winner. Most winning Parties will come to power elected only by a minority of the electorate.

I am not a political person, I have no particular knowledge of Politics, but I am worried about these proposals. I can see that with out some kind of reform the Lib Dems will never get anywhere, but perhaps that is just as well the way they are holding the other two parties to ransom this week. A disappointing performance when the country is in crisis. Shabby.

Gothic fiction

2010-04-29T11:34:00.004+01:00

This is St. Brides castle in Pembrokeshire where I am going to set my Gothic story set in the 1990's. It looks delightful in this sunny setting and in a delightful situation (which it is) but I am setting it in a dark late Spring time with foul weather to make it a lot more creepy!

My recent short trip to the area has provided me with all the atmosphere and buildings that I require to commence this writing term. while I shall endeavour to make this lovely place into classic Gothic, it is well worth a visit to the area if any one is planning a short trip. The castle (circa 1874) has now been converted to holiday flats.

Ramsey Island

2010-04-24T12:01:00.008+01:00

Ramsey Island is home to many seals. I was privileged enough to be asked to go for a boat trip around there during the week. I managed to get some good photographic shots, but I had to be quick, therefore they are not all as I would have liked, but seals won't pose!

Ramsey Island is a dramatic off-shore island just one mile off the Pembrokeshire coast.

The caves and beaches around Ramsey are breeding grounds for the largest concentration of grey seals, who give birth to white coated pups during the autumn.

It is hard to think when you are back in the city of Newport that these scenes are just two and a half hours drive away.

The weather we have been having recently was just perfect for the trip!

Volcanic Ash Cloud

2010-04-15T16:47:00.003+01:00

This is the cloud that is Travelling over Britain, disabling our air crafts and isolating us from the rest of the world. It's a weird feeling. It is now passing to Northern France and Scandinavia. I feel sorry for those poor souls that are travelling, but my main concern is what happens to the residue of the dust? We are being told it is harmless to us who are 3,000 feet below it,that it will dissipate but I wonder if that is correct? It has to disperse into something surely.

This was a surprise ...........

2010-03-30T12:12:00.002+01:00

When we pulled it at Membury Services on our way home from Southampton on the weekend, I was surprised to see Waitrose selling their wares in a service station! How the mighty hath fallen - but not so their prices. A sandwich was well out of the reach of a young family of four (or a pensioner for that matter), perhaps that's why their store was nearly empty on a busy, sunny Sunday afternoon.

Beautiful Bruge?

2010-03-28T18:14:00.008+01:00

Yes, Bruge is still very beautiful, but -oh dear, it seems to exist solely for tourists these days. I first visited over twelve years ago and although the carefully cherished architectural treasures from the past are still - well, just that, somehow there is a sense of sadness about it all.

These photographs were taken from a tourist river boat. Since 2000 this City Centre has been on the World Heritage List. The photos I have posted on the blog certainly support that, but commercialism is rife there. To try to get a meal served without chips is near impossible! All the restaurants in the main square are advertising the same menu, Moules Mariniere with chips! It gives a feel of the place being tacky somehow.

There are some wonderful Belgian chocolate shops, all sporting grand window displays like the one posted below and are all in competition with each other.

This was my fifth visit to Bruge and possible my last, as I have no wish to see it again and to witness its disintegration from beautiful heritage to abject greed.

P.O Ship - Ventura

2010-03-28T13:29:00.005+01:00

The photograph above is about the best I could manage while trying to take the 'Ventura' this weekend. This vast cruise ship could not be taken in it's entirety with my small camera!

Above and below are some of the decks. There are 19 decks in all on this ship which was overflowing with people on this weekend cruise. Couples, singles and families were all milling about on their celebratory weekends, and all the the 12 lovely bars were very plush and tasteful. There is an oriental restaurant, flower shop, high class jewellery shops, hair salons, dress shops, gift shops, a small hospital (complete with attached morgue), a wedding chaple and even Marco Pierre White has a restaurant on board. Not that A. and I went to any of these (thankfully with regard to hospital and annex!) but we twice visited the 785 seater theatre to see two shows and the smart casual night and evening dress night, were both catered for by on-board P.O chefs and were superb.

There are self service buffet restaurants and silver service dining rooms both of which we sampled, and both were excellent. There is even a 'Frankies Pizzerias' if that's your choice. Sadly there was not enough time to select one of the 5 swimming pools to have a swim as our schedule did not permit. From Spa's to Bars we were spoiled for choice, but not my favorite way to spend a weekend. A country cottage in Pembrokeshire is far more to my taste, but am I grateful to have had this experience? You bet I am!

P.S We met up with a couple from The Isle of Wight and formed our own team to take part in a Quiz night Friday and Saturday night. We won both nights - to the sound of huge boo's and jeer's the second night!

Medieval/Gothic Writing

2010-03-23T16:18:00.004Z

Medieval Castle

Leaving college this morning put me in a reflective mood. This term has been by far the one that has passed the most quickly since I started this writing journey. Today was about planning for next term - Gothic or Medieval Crime/Insanity with a dash of passion! We have all been issued with a set of guidelines for characteristics of a Gothic story. I haven't a clue where to start!

I have no doubt that over the coming weeks and months something will pop into my head. It should include an element of some of the following: bad, nasty, evil, controlling, dominating, lustful villain (often the lust is perverse) who has the power, as king, lord of the manor, father or guardian, to demand that the female character do something intolerable. No pressure there then!

Shutter Island

2010-03-21T16:24:00.005Z

It's the first time since 'The Omen' was released in the 1970's that I have left a cinema feeling scared! Me, and dozens of others leaving the Newport cinema on Saturday, were frightened for our own sanity. This was a very powerful film, a physiological mystery thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and based on the novel by the same name, written by Dennis Lehane.

The film has received mainly positive reviews, but I think the ordinary man in the street would need to see it two or three times to fully understand it - but it has to be said - it's a brilliant piece of writing, a work of art. Disturbing definitely and it messes with your Psyche.

I went to see it with my friend thinking it was a piece of cross genre fiction for my next module at college - Gothic crime. It might fit that genre, but I could never write anything remotely like that - or want to. This was real creative writing.

An Ice Ring!

2010-03-18T11:38:00.005Z

I was downloading some pottery pictures this morning and had completely forgotten these photos were on my camera. This is an ice ring that had formed on the top of a bucket of water in my garden. This must have been in February as my friend is holding them and I haven't seen her since then.

It is absolutely beautiful, we were both quite entranced by the sunshine reflecting on it and the formation was something that couldn't be manufactured.

The pattern is so intricate and delicate. Nature is a wonderful thing.

It is almost time to put the garden up together for the summer - that's a nice thought, sun umbrellas instead of ice rings!

Past ghosts and new horizons!

2010-03-16T22:07:00.006Z

Bridgend Designer Retail Park

A shopping day in Bridgend. I dislike clothes shopping anyway, but to go to the town where my former husband conducted his affair and lunch next door to the hotel where the liaisons took place (so I was informed in my divorce proceedings) is a statement to women everywhere. You can get over these things, not that anyone would have thought it of me five years ago, its a matter of determination and strength of character over emotion. Oh yes, why was I shopping in Bridgend - or why was I clothes shopping at all? Bridgend because my friend wanted to go there and she is more important these days than the ex, and clothes shopping because I am going on a weekend cruise shortly! This is a last minute thing with the cruise - to Bruge- and I needed some new smart clothes to go. I am really looking forward to it and shall be taking lots of photos to post on the blog at a later date! Who needs a man? A girlie weekend on a P&O cruise will be just as much fun! It will just be different ....

Pleased as punch!

2010-03-10T16:28:00.002Z

This is my latest pottery effort. I am delighted with this dish, it shows how much I have come on since last year. I can't say that is due to the tutor, it isn't. It is more self - taught with help from other students. But nevertheless, I am pleased with this spotty dish - and it's all my own design, not another one in class! The spots by the way, were painted on with a rubber attached to the end of a pencil!

Old days, old times .....

2010-03-09T22:11:00.005Z

The Mavron String Quartet

Another lunchtime concert. I can't believe all this is happening to me!

I was taken to a lunchtime concert in St. David's Hall, Cardiff by an old friend I had met again recently. It was a 'catch up' after not seeing each other for twenty one years (so I am told). The string quartet was called The Mavron Quartet and they were excellent musicians. The first two parts of the concert they played Hayden and Schubert, but the last piece was by Alfred Schnittke. Not a composer I have ever heard of before and neither had my friend. It was heavy going Blog Followers, I can tell you.

We then went to a very nice (if somewhat pricey) restaurant next to the Theatre and most of the lunchtime concert goers were there too, but it all made for a super atmosphere and another lovey afternoon was spent in Cardiff - and the lunch was a treat from my friend for some long forgotten deed I had done for her over twenty years ago! Wasn't that kind?

Homework - The Maltese Falcon

2010-03-08T14:28:00.003Z

Humphrey Bogard as Private Eye Sam Spade

I seem to find myself doing my homework at the last minute on a Monday afternoon, as I am doing this afternoon, in readiness of Tuesday. This is a shabby practise and I need to get back to basics on this and tackle it when I get home from college on a Tuesday. Last week we were shown the 1941 film 'The Maltese Falcon' and have to write a ctitique on it. What a contrast to Saturday's performance of 'Alice in Wonderland'!

The discovery of the fake falcon

Following the credits in the beginning of this older film, they screened the legend of the fictitious Maltese Falcon and I thought it was going to be a pirate film! It wasn't of course and is considered to be a film noir classic. I was completely facinated with the 'ordinariness' of the filming rather that the story (which wasn't why I was there!) It was a black and white film, shot in a studio with a small group of actors. A total contrast to what is being produced almost seventy years later. I has got me thinking; could the film makers of today bring any more to the story if it was remade for an IMAX cinema, would the story and the characters be more descriptive or more exciting in this 3D era? Somehow I think not.

2010-03-07T08:49:00.002Z

The Mad Hatter - Alice in Wonderland

Yesterday I had the IMAX experience! I went to the cinema in Cardiff with friend A. to see Alice in Wonderland in 3D. It was a great experience. We both felt the need of a fantasy injection into our lives and this did the trick!

We were watching the children as they emerged from the experience and we commented on how much they take all this technology for granted, when we , as adults, had thought it magical. In many ways these are good times to live in, but something of real life is missing for some youngsters today. Complaints of being bored I frequently hear from my own grandchildren and other children around me; children seem to want to be entertained all the time, and yet, when treats like this film are given, it's accepted so easily and then - what's next? It seems that children are chasing the latest technology all the time, whatever happened to chasing rainbows? That's the real fantasy, something to dream about.

Bizzy Bee!

2010-03-03T17:57:00.003Z

It was only when I went to Blog the entry on last night's opera that I realised I hadn't blogged for almost two weeks! I am still here Blog Follows - just as busy as a bee can be!!!

My kitchen tap decided to seize up last week, and yesterday, after a Finance meeting at Church and before I went to the opera, my landlord came to try and fix it. He couldn't, but then sliced the top of his finger right off in the attempt! He wouldn't go to Casualty and went home. He is back now and as I write and the finger is still bleeding, so he has agreed to go to the hospital but not until after he has put the new mixer tap on! It's a man thing!

Pottery was good this morning, only because I do things myself. Our 'Tutor' got stroppy with someone for asking what they should do next, there was almost a scene, but not quite! Her idea of what a tutor should do and ours is poles apart. You think she would have a clue in her job title - Tutor!

I am going to Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Cardiff for lunch on Saturday (I didn't know he had a restaurant in Cardiff), so am looking forward to that, but before I get to that point, I have a whole two days college work to complete (as a result of my full day on Tuesday) and another finance meeting, plus a morning at the parish office. I remember retiring some while back - I think - It might have been wishful thinking!

Bizet's Carmen

2010-03-03T17:43:00.005Z

It was a lovely night at the opera last night. I went with three friend to see Bizet's Carmen. I have seen this opera several times before and it remains my favourite, but last night's production was the darkest I have seen. The set was dark and drab and the clothes were uninspiring until the very end and then it became the brightly coloured spectacle I remember. each production has to be different I suppose to keep attracting the crowds.

Last nights production was at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, not my favourite place, I don't see why people rave over 'the Bay'. It's all a matter of preference I suppose. Overall a good evening - to be recommended.

That is my last trip for this opera season ( I went to see Tosca last week). At almost £40 a ticket it's an expensive night out. Also I am saving for my holidays later in the year, I can't do it all sadly!

Ash Wednesday

2010-02-19T01:47:00.004Z

It was really lovely on Ash Wednesday being in Hereford Cathedral with my cousin. Traditionally a day of repentance, it signals the first day of Lent which occurs forty-six days before Easter (forty days not counting Sunday). It's a different date each year as it is dependant on the date Easter falls. I have decided to give up all things 'sweet and yummy' this year, saving what I would have spent on these frivolous and unhealthy things, and will pass the money to the Archbishop for Wales Fund.

It was snowing quite heavily in Hereford yesterday when we arrived at the Cathedral and has done so here in Newport today, but fortunately, it was too wet to stick. I am personally glad about that, as I really don't want everything to come to a grinding halt again and all classes, college, theatre trips and so on have to be cancelled, so snow, snow, go away!

Thanks from the Homeless.

2010-02-15T22:52:00.002Z

I thought this card was a nice touch from the Newport Night Shelter. Inside there are photos taken of the guests we housed for two months, with little notes saying 'Thank you' for giving refuge to them over Christmas, New Year and over the cold spell we had in January. It makes it all worth while for me. 'Thank you' is something that none of us say often enough I feel. It makes the recipient feel good, and especially if it is said with sincerity.

A lovely birthday party

2010-02-15T22:22:00.004Z

My friend reached a milestone in her life today, she became 40 years old! I wish I was 40 again! Anyway, I was invited to her party and was there when all the flowers were arriving, balloons with cards attached, loads of food and plenty to drink, but most of all it was meeting lovely people and the whole day had a really party atmosphere.

A. thought not so long ago that she may not make 40 years, as breast cancer took its toll on her life, but make it she did, and all of us there today were so glad of that.

I made a quiche this morning to take with me, and after I made it I thought, not for the first time, why do I go and buy these sunken, soggy things from the supermarket when for 20 minutes of my time I can make one that looks so much nicer?

So A's fortieth has come and gone as I have been praying that it would. With the strength of character, determination and sheer zest for life she has, I will wager a little bet we will be celebrating 41 years next year. Please God - let it be so.

Cardiff Coffee Concert

2010-02-07T15:50:00.005Z

Another interesting day today. I went to my first ever coffee concert which was held in Cardiff Museum. I went to see Llyr Williams play Sonatas for piano and what a superb pianist he is. He played three Sonata's written by Beethoven. After Beethoven finished them he said about the piano that 'after all an unsatisfactory instrument'. He couldn't have got it more wrong, the piano is a wonderful instrument and this man made it talk. I was enraptured. I was amazed, as someone who knows very little about music, that I could sit through and hour and a quarter of listening to someone play the piano. This young man, only 33 years old, is really on his way to being a genius. I can only imagine how he will play in 2o years from now.

Sitting and chatting over lunch with my friend, I noticed a fellow diner whom I had known twenty odd years ago. I was amazed to see her and even more amazed that she remembered who i was. All in all a nice day!

A Hungarian Holiday.

2010-02-04T16:23:00.004Z

Debrecen

After much persuasion, I decided to go and visit Miss A when she goes home to Hungary later in the year. The small town where I am going is Hajduszoboszlo, near Debrecen.

I fly to Budepest from Bristol in July and then take a pre booked car to Hajdusobozolo, which is cheaper than the train. Miss A will already be there of course.

One of the many Water Parks in Hajduszoboszlo.

I am told the small town of Hajduszoboszlo is 13 miles South West of Debrecen (pop. 24,260). In 1925, after boring down 3,580 ft, water with a temperature of 73 degrees was discovered, as a result this small town was transformed into a popular Spar resort. Today nearly one and a half million tourists flock to the town to the baths.

Not the kind of holiday I had planned, but it will be a different experience and interesting to see a former communist country.

I hope to go back to Pembrokeshire again with my cousin later in the year, so its good to have things to plan for.

Another Musical Evening.

2010-01-31T19:22:00.003Z

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!

2010-01-24T15:15:00.008Z

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.

2010-01-23T22:33:00.005Z

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.

2010-01-17T18:52:00.006Z

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!

2010-01-17T18:30:00.003Z

'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

2010-01-16T10:37:00.005Z

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.

2010-01-16T09:48:00.008Z

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 !

2010-01-07T14:56:00.006Z

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

2010-01-06T15:06:00.007Z

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!

2010-01-01T20:48:00.005Z

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.

Sleeping Beauty Ballet.

2009-12-29T23:40:00.006Z

Photographs taken from the programme

It is odd to think that I have never been to a ballet in my entire life, and I have been to three in the last six weeks. This one tonight was a spectacular visual experience, but it is not my favorite story, that has to be the Nutcracker followed closely by How Green is My Valley. Whilst the latter is the better story, it did not lend itself to a dance routine as well as the other two, but so cleverly done. That was danced by a different ballet Company though, The Welsh National Ballet, while the other two were danced by The Russian State Ballet Of Siberia.

The Opera season begins in January and we are booking for Tosca - and my most favorite of all time - Carmen. I am looking forward to the New Year - for the first time in over five years.

A surprise evening!

2009-12-22T09:50:00.005Z

Having stayed in the valleys on Sunday night, woke up to 3" of snow Monday morning, had to be dug out, skidded on black ice during my journey back to the city, (no damage) I arrived home to find my phone ringing furiously. When I eventually thawed out enough to investigate who was calling, it was another friend from the valleys asking if I would like to go to the ballet that same evening!

The person she was going with was snowed in (I'm not surprised) and would I like the ticket - no charge. I said that I would be delighted and that's exactly what we did. The ticket had cost £40 and the seat was in the third row from the front, right in the middle of the stage. We were almost in the orchestra! It was a lovely production of The Nutcracker by The Russian State Ballet of Siberia. This has to be one of the worlds most famous ballets and it was performed by a very young company just starting out on their careers.

The ballet was in two acts with prologue and apotheosis. The set design and lighting was magnificent. It was all set in an old German town in the 19th century where snow is falling and the whole town is filled with cheer for Christmas eve. All superbly done and was magical for me and my lovely companion. A really great evening.

On a sadder note, my friend has cancer and she looked pale and frail tonight. It almost broke my heart.

God speed you my lovey friend through Christmas and through 2010. I am cherishing all these lovely moments together as you help me to rediscover the world of the arts. Thank you xx.

The accidental sack!

2009-12-17T09:32:00.003Z

This little pottery sack pictured above is my pride and joy! Not only was it made by yours truly, but is was an accident - a fluke! It is made of paper clay, the first time that I had used this form of clay, and it started life as a holder for a tea-light to use over Christmas. I moved it from the modelling board to the desk, gathered up the cloth from the modelling board,which unbeknown to me had a stray thread which was stuck to the clay. I pulled the cloth to fold it and the candle holder fell to the floor.

When I retrieved it, this is what I found! The tutor decided to fire it and I painted it. This is the result. I have filled it with chocolate ormaments for Christmas for the grandchildren. I could never had modelled a Santa sack like this - 'I'm not clever enough!!!

The Mayor's Parlour.

2009-12-07T23:25:00.003Z

Having coffee at the Mayor's parlour on Saturday was a really nice experience. Having visited the Civic Centre many hundreds of times over the years for business meetings etc. this was my first visit to the mayoral chambers and parlour. It was a more intimate gathering than I first imagined, and they Mayor and Mayoress had time for a chat with all their guests In the surrounding galleries were sales of work, thrift stalls and local arts and crafts on sale to support a charity of the Mayors choice which this year was St. David's foundation Hospice Charity.

A nice way to spend a Saturday morning and good to support a very worthy cause.

Newsy bits!

2009-12-04T09:28:00.003Z

Around £4,000 has been raised for the new homeless charity Newport Night Shelter after 26 volunteers slept outside last weekend. Although our Church is part of the joint venture between the Teen Challenge and the Church to house the homeless during the two most difficult months of the year I did not sleep outside, but well done to all that did!

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A new valleys comedy film called 'A Bit of Tom Jones' has been filmed all in Tredegar! The independent film which was shot in just four weeks, centres around a man who buys a body part belonging to singer Tom Jones in a bar. I bet this film is hilarious and I bet the cast were glad they only had to spend four weeks in Tredegar too!

A night at the ballet.

2009-12-01T22:25:00.007Z

I couldn't envisage a ballet performance of the time honoured story of 'How Green is my Valley'. However, this was performed at the Millennium Centre in Cardiff on Saturday night and I was in the audience. It was superb!

The performance was by the award winning company 'The Independent Ballet - Wales' who were excellent. This was a breathtaking version so I am told by people who have seen the performance before. I thought the whole evening was special, and this was my very first trip to the ballet.

I always had it in my mind that for all ballets the company wore tutu's and tights; this could not be further from the truth, they were in costume to suite the production. The music was played by one single cellist on stage and some background music from Newport Male Voice Choir. When they sung the closing piece 'Myfanwy' the whole of the audience was in tears, me included. What a stark contrast to the tale as it was written by Richard Llewellyn in the 1930's about that dirty substance that was the life blood of Wales - coal. I wonder what he would have made of this interpretation of his dire tale of a poor, but respectable Welsh valley family?

A reflection in November!

2009-11-28T17:52:00.003Z

Why do people put up their Christmas trees in mid November? There are some homes around here that have had them up for weeks, and this weekend more have gone up in peoples living rooms!

I know times have changed, but when I was a girl our tree went up Christmas Eve, and with my own children the tree went up the Sunday before Christmas, whenever that was. You never saw many trees up before then in anyone's home, so what's changed?

I know it is disregarded by millions as a Religious festival now and it is the season of Father Christmas etc, but this has long been the case, so why are people bringing things forward to stretch out a season that thousands cannot afford? Unless, they are enjoying the cheer for more weeks than is necessary with coloured lights and so on - how sad it has all become!

Finished pottery pieces.

2009-11-25T17:11:00.005Z

This is the Christmas candle vase taken from above.

Christmas candle vase.

Rennie Mackintosh style dish with crystal glaze which gives the 'blob' effect,

Pot 1 - done on the wheel all by myself!

Pot 2 -done on the wheel - again all by myself!

I am particularly proud of these two coloured pots.

Homelessness

2009-11-22T08:24:00.005Z

Homelessness effects many families. In many cases, in all walks of life, people leave home after some altercation, and sleep rough. Many of them just need help, support and assistance during a rough transition time.

Sadly, we as a society see them all as drug addict or alcoholics, and yes, they are out there, but all homeless people should not be tarred with the same brush. We should ask ourselves, how we we like to be categorised by society? 'They have too much money' or 'they have not enough to join our circle' - we wouldn't like that, but it's happening every day on the streets.

Over 45% of people on the streets in Newport are transitory homeless. Which means that within a short period of time they have come from their family homes and have nowhere to go. It could happen to us or to one of our children or grandchildren. Why am I writing about this this morning? It's because I have agreed to join a homeless project in our Church, whereby one night a week (a Saturday in our case) we open the doors of the Church hall to homeless people, for them to sleep and eat for one night. There are seven Churches involved in this project, so that each night of the week, through the two worse months of the year, the homeless have food and shelter and emotional support over the emotive seasons of Christmas and New Year.

The initiative is being run by Newport Night Shelter (NNS) in conjunction with the Teen Challenge initiative, that has existed in Monmouthshire for many years. It was they who approached the individual Churches, through the auspices of Newport Churches Together
and then passed the project over to those Churches who wanted to partake. We needed seven Churches before we could go ahead, one for each night of the week. The information will be advertised through NNS, who will phone ahead with the names and dates of birth of our guests, so that we know how many are coming and who they are when they arrive, If the place is not pre-booked then there will be no access allowed. This is for our own safety and for the comfort of those actively seeking help. We are all volunteers, and apart from myself and two people who will be advising from NNS, no other volunteer has worked with the homeless before. There will be no alcohol or drugs allowed into the hall, and while people will not be frisked before entry (this will be carried out on trust - and this fact established before booking) they will be turned away immediately if they do not hand over what they are carrying. All possessions will be returned to guests before they leave. The most important part of all this is that volunteers do not sit in judgement on the people asking for help. Who are we to judge?

This is a challenge from God and we are raising to that challenge just as Jesus did. I do not make this a religious forum as you Blog followers are aware, your beliefs are your own, but if you are a Christian please pray for us and our guests as we embark upon this difficult challenge through the next two months. I will keep you posted as they say!

Local Pottery Class

2009-11-19T09:34:00.002Z

Me and my young pottery friend tried out a local pottery class last night. Feeling pretty fed up with the Local Authority class we are currently attending, we decided to try one more local (well, local to me that is) class.

It was pretty good, different ideas and certainly more tuition, which is why we went, and a mixed class; men and women, which is always better in any adult education class. I have never been one for moving around with a gaggle of women - I get bored with that!

We managed to make two item each last night, under guidance, which we don't do at the regular pottery class. We were given suggestion as to what to do and shown examples, again this is not done in the Risca class. The cost however is greater, but then I suppose it's the old adage 'you get what you pay for'! There were lots of paints to choose from, colours galore, and we learned last night that there are many types of clay, which after ten months at Risca we thought there were only two or three!

What does that say about local council tuition? It needs to step up it's act. They say there is no money for local authority education, but I get masses of literature through the post from Risca. Who pays for the producing and printing, much less the postage and admin time of this advertising blurb that goes straight into the bin?

More attention should be paid to provision of supplies in these classes and the quality if the tuition. Lets have less focus on advertising a class that does not do what it says on the tin! To me it is all the wrong way around!

Saint Govan

2009-11-17T12:39:00.011Z

In poetry class this morning we all had to read out some of our favourite verse. I choose 'The Journey of the Magi' by T.S Elliot for the imagery it creates, especially in verse three, but one student choose something entirely different to the rest of us. He chose 'Saint Govan' by A.G.Prys.

This was of particular interest to me, as my cousin W and I, had been to look at Saint Govan's Chaple (The cell referred to in the poem) back in September when we had our break in Pembrokeshire. I didn't know this piece of verse existed until this morning, but it has already become one of my favourite pieces. Not a great work, like T.S Elliot, Byron and Shelly, but appeals to ordinary folk like myself.

Saint Govan

A.G. Prys- Jones

Saint Govan, he built him a cell

by the side of the Pembroke sea,
and there, as the crannied seagulls dwell

in a tiny secret citadel,

he sighed for eternity.

Saint Govan, he built him a cell

between the wild sky and the sea,

where the sunsets redden the rolling swell

and brooding splendour has thrown her spell

on valley and moorland lea.

Saint Govan still lies in his cell

But his soul, long since, is free

and one may wonder and who can tell

if good Saint Govan likes heaven as well

as his cell by the sounding sea.

I think this is a nice little verse, as I said previously, not up there with the greats, but nice and simple, especially if you know the place! This will always conjure up images of a cloudy September morning to me, on the side of a cliff in Pembrokeshire, with my cousin awaiting my return at the top.

Interesting things

2009-11-15T18:53:00.003Z

I love meeting interesting people and today I met a guy who forages for food - not to supply his own needs, but for restaurateurs! He was extremely interesting to talk to, and I suspect a very intelligent guy - he speaks six languages!

The party I was with were all firing questions at him, but that's what happens to interesting chaps when you sit around a table with them. I don't know if foraging is the kind of thing I would like to do, it seems a bit perilous to me, grubbing around for food on the woodland floor, but it sure tasted great. I realise you have to know what you are doing which he was careful to point out.

This guy was on the BBC programme Autumn Watch a few weeks ago talking about his subject, and the guy who's restaurant we were in, Matt Tebbit, who owns and runs The Foxhunter near Abergavenny, has a regular spot on Saturday Kitchen, so I was mixing with the famous this lunchtime!

I am assured that locally sourced foods are more popular in restaurants than organic because it's cheaper. Well, most people have to think twice before putting organic Coriander in their supermarket trolleys in this present climate, and we all have had to start shopping in Aldi's for heaven sake, so why shouldn't restaurants cut back? What nobody was prepared for is that the taste of wild produce is so much better and fresher of course, and therefore foraging is one of the few industries where there is growth. Long may it reign!

A Day in London.

2009-11-13T21:01:00.005Z

Having had a delightful day in London yesterday with a friend I decided that my poem for poetry homework this week would be about City rain. For most part of the time we had a dry, if somewhat damp day, but when it started to rain, it poured down. We, of course. did not have umbrellas.

'We can pick up an umbrella in a £1 shop', said my friend before commencing our journey. Well, I can assure you blog followers, there are no £1 shops in Knightsbridge!

Despite the pouring rain and the huge crowds, walking down Oxford Street in the rain, in the heart of this throbbing city made me feel alive. I was glad to be back. I have not been to London since the break up of my marriage, when I spent a huge amount of time there. I thought it may make me nostalgic, or thoughtful at the very least - it didn't. I am just glad I survived that period and will continue to visit London, and many other places for a long time to come I hope!

Now - to put pen to paper on my thought for a Free Verse poem about 'City Rain'.

Slow Going!

2009-11-11T14:15:00.005Z

This is my gargoyle, finally finished, that I made earlier in the year. I know I didn't make it in this class, and I guessed it would be put at the back of the queue for firing, but nevertheless, six months is a long time to be hanging about. Poor old boy, lying around on pottery shelves for such a long time!

I was pleased that we had the two minute silence in class this morning for Armistice Day, I was quite surprised, but very glad.

Remembrance Sunday

2009-11-08T14:42:00.009Z

With the news this morning that there had been another young man killed in Afghanistan, it made the services around the country all the more poignant.

The Veteran

We came upon him sitting in the sun,

Blinded by war, and left. And past the fence

there came young soldiers from the 'Hand and Flower',

asking advice of his experience.

And he said this, and that, and told them tales,

and all the nightmares of each empty head

blew into air; then, hearing us beside,

'Poor chaps, how'd they know what it's like?'

he said.

And we stood there, and watched him as he sat,

turning his sockets where they went away,

until it came to one of us to ask,

'and you're how old?'

'Nineteen on the third of May.'

Margaret Postgate Cole.

The Vagina Monologues

2009-11-04T22:20:00.009Z

This performance tonight was excellent. The three actresses on tour at the moment are Sally Lindsay, Lisa Riley and Lesley Joseph. Fabulous performers. It takes some guts to perform this in front of a live audience! Especially a raucous crowd in the Welsh Valleys!

Based on author Eve Enslee's 'Vagina Interviews' conducted with women from all around the world, this hilariously funny, witty and moving collection of tales tells lusty, yet outrageous stories from women everywhere. They were all very human stories, some poignant - but it's not for the prude! There were women from eighteen to eighty years in the audience, all sharing that same knowledge of men or life. It's a riotous evening, billed as 'The Ultimate Girls Night Out' - as it was!

All Saints and All Souls

2009-11-04T14:38:00.004Z

This is how All Souls is celebrated in America, we British are a little more reserved.

All Souls day is traditionally marked on 2nd November directly after All Saints day. We had a really lovely service in our Church on Monday night, conducted partly by candlelight. This celebration is mainly an opportunity for the Church to commemorate the faithfully departed, and many people have the names of their loved ones read out during this service. The reasoning behind this stems from the notion that when a soul leaves the body it is not entirely cleansed from minor sins. However, the power of prayer from the faithful left on earth maybe able to help these souls gain the beatific vision they seek, bringing the soul eternal peace. Well, that's what Anglicans believe, and who am I to say different. I only write here what I hear in Church.

Whatever, the tradition, it's a lovely service and well attended. There were no seats left in our Church on Monday night and we can seat over 200 people. That indicates how popular this celebration is. I was thinking on Monday how sad it is that we won't see the majority of these people again until this time next year. I am not sure if the problem lies within the Anglican Church or within the people themselves, but something is wrong when people only turn up for high days and holidays! I suspect both sides need to adjust their thinking. The people should be telling us what is wrong with Church worship and we definately should be taking it on board.

Halloween & Pottery

2009-11-01T20:07:00.011Z

Halloween was spent with the girls from pottery class who came to my place for the day to practice some pottery. This is my effort (pictured above) just a small occasional dish. We rely on our pottery tutors goodwill to let us do the firing in class. It was an enjoyable day and my friends had not long left for their various homes when the doorbell started ringing and the 'Trick or Treat' children were out and about. This year was not too bad as they were younger children all accompanied by mums and dads, but other years I have had some very sinister looking teenagers knocking the door and I don't like that. It's quite a threatening thing when you live alone.

The house across the road actually decorated the house externally for Halloween, I have never seen that done before in the UK. They had orange and brown fresh flowers laid on their windowsill outside. When the children went 'Trick or Treating' in the evening, a bunch of theses flowers were left on the doorsteps of the people who did not give them sweets or fruit!

This is all big business now. I have spent Halloween in America in the past, and it is very big over there. This country is sadly becoming more and more like the American style celebration. When I was a girl in the Welsh valleys, and my children youngsters in Newport, we had Ducking/Bobbing Apple night. This involved fishing apples out of a bowl of water with your mouth! Far more satisfying than walking around the streets dressed up as skeletons, scaring people and asking them for 'goodies' in my opinion!

Exam results.

2009-10-29T17:48:00.002Z

Two postings in one day! I write tonight to boast that I have had the result of my final term results from my first year in college. I got a B13, which is in the outstanding performance category. Am I pleased, you bet I am!

Another one mark and I would have got an A - ah well we can't have everything! I certainly won't be getting anywhere near this is the poetry examination.

The Big Read

2009-10-29T07:51:00.002Z

Hello Blog followers. Did you think I had deserted you? It's this dam poetry that I am doing, I am really not very good at it, and the main thing is my lack of interest in the subject. No matter how hard I try, much help I get, I can't quite bring it off! I need all the support anyone can give me, and many thanks to those of you that are helping me through. No working for high marks this term, just a pass will do!

I went to a day organised by the college yesterday, called 'The Big Read'. It was an excellent day. Multi talented poet and short-story writer Phil Carradice was reading and discussing his work. What an orator. He was wonderful, I could have listened to him all day, but I had to move on to the next session called 'Between the Black and the Green' which was a talk given by Professor Dai Smith on notable Welsh authors whose works have been republished in the acclaimed Library of Wales editions. There were some mediocre sessions in between before the last session for me which was Professor Bernard Knight, the master Medieval crime writer. My friend A. from pottery joined me and the college group for this last session as I was taking her to Cardiff for some scan results immediately afterwards.

It was a good day, well worth the contribution of £8 including a buffet lunch. If any one reading this who is of a literary leaning, sees something like this advertised it's well worth the effort to attend.

Poetry Today - again!

2009-10-20T15:25:00.003+01:00

Last weeks poetry, written by me, was read out in class this morning! It's was never going to be a masterpiece, as I didn't understand the guidelines, but it was received well and the tutor was pleased.

Now this poem was not a production about eighteenth-duelling pistols, but about a humble mouse! I fulfilled the technique - even though I didn't interpret it exactly as told. I have this theory that talent is inborn and technique is learned. I will get there!

This week we have moved from rhyming - thank goodness - to narrative poetry. I think I am going to like this better. At the end of the day it's part of a course, people do this for a hobby, so let's start to have some fun with it!

Licensings and Commissionings!

2009-10-15T09:54:00.004+01:00

It's all change in our parish! The curate has moved to the parish I actually live in where she is now vicar. Our vicar has become Area Dean and the ordinand that was licenced in June of this year, has become our curate! What has all this meant to me?

Firstly, it has not been user friendly to my diet! All these licencing 'Do's' have meant that I am having rather too many wonderful buffets put before me - which on one occasion - at least - I have been tempted, but the others I declined to eat - only because my weight loss has slowed down in Weight Watchers!!!

We are all duly proud of the three people involved and think it was a brave decision by our vicar especially to accept the post of Area Dean as he does have health issues.

The office of area dean (formerly Rural Dean) was an important one in the middle ages, but the office went into disuse after the Reformation until it was revived in 1836 ( so I read ) and is now reorganised in the constitution of the Church in Wales. As Deaneries become more significant in the modern church, this office has again become an important one. It was interesting to hear these facts at the Service of Commissioning.

Congratulations and best wishes to all those who are tackling new challenges, in and outside of the Anglican Church. I will say one thing for our Vicar, he does not shy away from a challenge, he is tackling quite a few in the city at the moment. He has the support of his parishes and I personally wish him all the best.

APSailing for charity!

2009-10-10T16:19:00.010+01:00

The long climb to the top

There were a group of young people apsailing down the side of the transporter bridge this afternoon for charity - The St. David's Cancer Hospice Charity, a very worthwhile organisation that is struggling for funds like many other charities. . I went along to support. I could not have done apsailing, even when I was younger, I never had much of a head for heights even then!

The start.

He's off the top!

It's a long way down!

Done it!

Well done to all those who took part. I hope you enjoyed supporting this worthy cause.

Pottery and Birth days!

2009-10-07T17:32:00.008+01:00

This is my plugged and strapped mould ready for pouring.

For the first time in ages pottery was a really busy this morning. I took in my gargoyle that I had made in Bristol back in March. Our pottery tutor showed me how to 'stress' it and I was quite pleased with the result.

Strapping the two halves of a mould together with bands

as demonstrated by our tutor.

Although I have 'poured ' a few times before, we were shown how to do it correctly this morning by the tutor. First you seal all the cracks in the mould with clay until no daylight is showing, and then the slip (liquid clay) is poured into the mould, left for 15 minutes and then poured out. A outer layer will have formed inside, which is left for a week. Next Wednesday we turn the moulds out and they will be bisque fired prior to painting, next they will be glazed. When this is done the final firing will take place.

The stressed gargoyle ready for firing.

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Other things happening today. My eldest son is 42 years old - Happy Birthday N. Almost an ancient monument x!

My nephew and his wife have a new baby girl. We are all in shock over this, as we were told the baby was a boy. I have often wondered if these predictions are ever wrong - well now I know!

A spare morning ......

2009-10-06T10:43:00.003+01:00

Having been informed that our tutor for creative writing class is unwell and unable to take the class today, I had a morning free. I went to check out the new Asda Stores that had opened in the city. What is it with these shops? Once inside, you could be in any of their stores. I realise that they are going to carry the same lines, but the same layout, the same design, the same everything except it's location! I realise the advantages for Asda, same plans, same shop fitting designs etc. but I wonder how many people get fed up of all this?

The new B&Q in the city is exactly the same as the one in Sutton in Surrey and the one in Cambridge, except for a few hundred miles up the M4, you could be in the same shops.

It's the same with clothes shops. All this for me takes away the thrill of going out shopping for the day as we used to twenty years ago. These days we may as well save the fuel and pop around the corner!

Well I am off out to lunch in a very nice hotel, and that's not 'samey'! I had better go and get ready. Hallelujah for individuality!

A week of culture.

2009-10-02T21:07:00.005+01:00

All week I have been telling people that I am going to see an amateur production of a Terrance Rattigan play, when in fact it was Arthur Miller! Old age etc. ?

Blackwood Little Theatre is just that - little! A far cry from the very modern and elegant Millenium Centre, where we were on Wednesday night, but this small place has a charm all of its own.

The play 'Broken Glass', set in the 1930's, is a complex play about a married couple who have personal issues, which are triggered by political events. It appears to be a play about sexuality, but it's also about the hatred of Jews by other societies and individuals - it also tackles the issue of a Jewish males' hatred of his own Jewishness.

The production was a sell out, but the majority of the audience were students studying 'Broken Glass' as an exam text. My friends and I felt a bit overdressed and 'aged' among such a youthful gathering of denim jean clad budding academics! However, it took away none of the enjoyment of the evening, and we all agreed that we would keep an eye on forthcoming events. What a cultural week this has been!

Madam Butterfly

2009-09-30T23:50:00.004+01:00

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

2009-09-30T08:48:00.002+01:00

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

2009-09-28T22:53:00.003+01:00

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

2009-09-28T08:34:00.015+01:00

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.

2009-09-23T23:26:00.002+01:00

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.

2009-09-22T17:40:00.005+01:00

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.

2009-09-22T08:41:00.005+01:00

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

2009-09-21T15:24:00.003+01:00

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!

2009-09-18T22:27:00.002+01:00

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

2009-09-17T21:39:00.008+01:00

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

2009-09-16T21:07:00.005+01:00

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.

2009-09-15T23:09:00.006+01:00

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.

2009-09-13T18:46:00.010+01:00

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!

2009-09-12T11:31:00.004+01:00

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.

2009-09-07T14:55:00.002+01:00

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

2009-09-06T18:01:00.004+01:00

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

2009-09-06T13:20:00.004+01:00

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.

2009-09-06T13:05:00.006+01:00

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

2009-09-05T22:15:00.008+01:00

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 .....

An amazing maize maze!

2009-08-31T21:35:00.005+01:00

What an amazing place! This picture above is my friend in a maize field, which was designed and planted as a maze. It was a hoot walking around there; the maize is so tall we were given tall red flags so that we could lift them if we got lost!

We went for a Bank Holiday day out, four of us. We had discovered this place in early summer through attending their craft barns where pottery classes are held. The guy that teaches us pottery actually designed this Maze - he really is a versatile guy. The maize will be harvested at the end of September; the cows in the neighbouring fields will be eating it! Then new plants will be planted next year to create the 2010 Maze!

They were telling us today that before they harvest it, they are going to hold Torchlight Nights - get lost in the dark! You can buy supper of corn-on-the-cob and chilli in the cafe and then when darkness falls navigate your way around the Maze with flashlights. Sounds fun!

Binding together.

2009-08-30T19:04:00.014+01:00

Invitations from the Church in Wales

The Church in Wales invitations for 'Back to Church' Sunday were given out this morning. This all happens on Sunday on 27th September. Anglican churchgoers are preparing to invite thousands of people 'back to Church' thereby joining in the UK-wide evangelism event.

The Family Fun Day this afternoon (which did go ahead) is all part of a big initiative to bring the Church and the local communities together; it's also part of the mission mandate for our Church. Today was a forerunner for the commencement of Street Pastors in the city and the aforementioned event on 27th September.

These are huge urban challenges for us, as sadly there is little influence from the Church in the daily lives of the communities in cities all over the UK. This is sadly not a local issue but a world wide issue. The event this afternoon wasn't terribly encouraging, not in the sense of lack of support for the fun events, but certainly there was a palpable disinterest in anything 'Church'. It leaves me wondering how successful any of the initiatives will be, but as Christians we have to try; if we don't, then the question is raised 'What's the Church is doing'?

I don't know the answer as to how we get a wider acceptance of the Church within a community, but I personally feel the Church is a solid foundation for my own generation, but what will happen to future generations? This is why it is important to keep trying to make the general public more aware of the human face of Christians, not just the Sunday 'do gooders' that, sadly, is all they see.

A birthday celebration!

2009-08-30T08:54:00.005+01:00

A spectacular display of fireworks finished off the evening at the family celebration last night. We were all gathered together to celebrate the fifth birthday of one of my little great nieces who was born in Wales. They say a star does not die without getting noticed; well the second half of this firework display might have frightened the starts half to death! They were very pretty, super, but also loud. I bet we were popular with the neighbours!!! My brother-in-law told me afterwards that the most spectacular of the fireworks were the cheaper ones of all the ones he had bought. Isn't this often the case?

It was a super afternoon and evening, just 22 of us in all, including the four little ones and some of my own grandchildren, a nice enough number to still appreciate socialising, conversation and a sense of 'being together' in recreation. My sister and I spent some of the time preparing and cooking before the others arrived, and my nephews were putting up colourful decorations in the form of balloons and streamers. A birthday cake duly arrives and candles were place. This, much later, was brought into the room for the Birthday Girl to blow out her candles (with a little help from her cousins who needed to get in on the act!).

Driving home at 1am this morning was a quiet and thought provoking time with virtually no traffic about until I reached the outskirts of the city. It was a reflective and peaceful time.

This afternoon there is a Family Fun Day locally, held jointly by the Police and local Churches, to promote recreation for young people. I am supposed to be manning a stall with the vicar’s wife, but as this is an open-air stall I don't know if it will be running in the rain. It's raining at the moment, so watch this space folks!

'A' level student ....

2009-08-27T12:32:00.004+01:00

My granddaughter telephoned this morning with her A level results. Mostly A's, a few B's and 3 A *s. Am I proud? You bet I am. What a clever girl!

Congratulations ... my lovely girl, you have made your Grandma so proud!

Off Line and 'Off' week!

2009-08-26T16:31:00.009+01:00

Just about how I feel this week!

Why is it sometimes we have 'off' weeks? It's not that we are doing anything different, all the chores are the same old ... same old ... yet some weeks, they are a HUGE chore and everything goes wrong. Is it our minds are not on the job, or that we are not mentally or physically ready to tackle small problems. I really don't know but this has certainly been an 'off'' week with everything I have touched going wrong.

This computer went down for no obvious reason Monday night, giving me the message Disk boot failure, insert system disk & press enter. What does that mean to me? After almost an hour of searching I found the original start up disk and inserted it. Nothing. So I went for a swim, switching everything off before I went, in the vain hope that when I returned it would have righted itself. My luck's not like that!

So, this morning I had to take it to a local computer repairers. A second hard, drive that I had forgotten had been installed for me, was not allowing the recent update from Microsoft to register on the original hard drive. The second hard drive was removed when it was discovered that it had been wiped clean during installation (that's why I couldn't get my Publisher docs off it!). The machine was then cleaned as a courtesy and BINGO I am up and running again!

I am not going to bore you with the other things that have gone wrong, we all have weeks like this not just me, but it's so damn frustrating when we do, everything takes twice as long. Perhaps now that I have put it all down 'on paper' as it were, I have eased my frustrations and exorcised the jinx!

Christmas Crackers!

2009-08-23T16:34:00.005+01:00

This weekend I felt as though I had been whisked up from my life, probably by an alien from DR. WHO and planted back down again four months in the future! Ms.A and myself walked into a pub Saturday night to be greeted by some very skimpy skirted Santas, a beautifully Christmas decorated pub, a Christmas tree with presents underneath and plenty of Holly and Mistletoe.

No. I haven't lost the plot - but I thought I had Saturday night. There we were dressed in our short-sleeved summer outfits, admiring the beautiful hanging baskets outside and we simply stepped inside, into another world. I am one of these people who tear my hair out because of early advertising and piped Christmas carols in September. It was still August wasn't it - well I thought it was when I left home? All this should come after Harvest Festival, after bonfire night and ducking apple night. Logical, yes, but when was capitalism ever logical I ask myself?

Soooooo, Ms A asked at the bar what on earth was going on? A Charity event. This soothed our thinking no end, and our sanity! We were given rather smart Christmas hats to put on and if we took them off we had to pay a fine. It was a fund raising event for the Church next door. We were both okay with that and entered into the spirit of the evening - or Christmas - however you want to look at it! We had a really good evening actually, there were two guys there, mature in age, just like us, playing sixties music which is why we had gone there in the first place! We had a super evening.

Then when I got to Church this morning, the chap that has been helping me with my nativity project had put the finishing touches to my stable (see picture below). This is the basic thing; I now have to decorate it, which is the next step

So what with Christmas festivities Saturday evening and my stable making it's debut in Church today, it's been a real Christmassy weekend. For someone who doesn't even like the Christmas season, I thought I handled it all very well.

Now back to August, a summer Songs of Praise in Church this evening - that's more like it!!!

P.S It was dark when we left the pub and it was extraordinary to see it from the outside with Christmas trees twinkling inside and beautiful hanging baskets in full flower cascading down the walls outside - and I didn't have my camera with me!

Funereal Experiences

2009-08-21T17:14:00.003+01:00

A lady whom I sit by in Church thought it was not quite right for me to go for this mornings echo cardiogram on my own, despite assurances that I would be fine, and usually did these things on my own. My appointment was 9.50. I set off in plenty of time to find parking as this is a nightmare when visiting the RGH. This sweet little lady flagged me down as I approached the meeting place and instructed me to park in the local undertakers, opposite the hospital. As I started to protest, she said she was a friend of the family and it would be fine. I snuggled in between two big shiny hearses and we walked over to the hospital. It was only 9.30. I was settling my new friend into the waiting room, when my name was called. I hadn't even sat down!

The echo cardiogram completed, I returned to my chaperon and we duly returned to the car. It was exactly 9.49! We had parked, walked to the cardiology, had the procedure, returned with a minute to spare before my scheduled appointment time.

The undertakers waved us off from their office window (Why did I ever doubt this lady?) and I soon dropped her off home before going into the office. Before we parted I thanked her for accompanying me and said I would, of course, inform her when I needed to go again and would be glad of her company!!! You must never look a gift horse in the mouth, and with parking at the RGH at a premium, I would be silly to refuse her offer. Mercenary I know!

When I got to the office, there was a funeral scheduled for this morning. Part of my duties is to provide all visiting undertakers with tea & coffee. All was going well, when into the side room where they wait went a young woman who started to breast feed her baby! I had about three minutes, to round up these sedate undertakers, all smartly dressed in their top hats and tails and herd them around to another part of the Church. My fellow office worker was in stitches with laughter and said I looked like a demented 'Bo-Peep'! Thank heavens we were well out of sight of the mourners - I think!

The edge of my seat .....

2009-08-21T16:54:00.003+01:00

I went to the cinema last night with friend Bee. We went to see a horror film - ORPHAN. This film is a recent release and it IS violent, but it kept me in suspense all through the film. Those of us watching it had no idea which direction the film would take. It was realistic in as much as the adoptive parents were credible, they could have been your neighbours or mine. You take a liking to them and that made it hard for the viewer when things were going badly wrong for them.

The orphan herself is called Esther and you can't help taking a liking to her initially. I would think this is one of the better thrillers you will see this year on the big screen. Even if you are not too keen on horror films I would recommend ORPHAN.

During the day I met my cousin W in Monmouth. We managed to dodge the showers, by finding coffee shops ( and subsequently loos!) when it rained, but most of the time it was dry. Where is this Bar-B-Q summer we were promised? It's getting a bit late now!

Family History

2009-08-19T20:18:00.002+01:00

Miss L and I spent the morning in the County Records Office. When I agreed to help her with her searches I didn't think I would find it fascinating! One of her hobbies is Family History, so we found ourselves in a 'search room' in the CRO, looking through numerous listings which the staff there make available to you. This service is actually FREE! We were looking for information about people who resided in the geographic area of the former County of Monmouthshire.

We eventually got some of the information Miss L was searching for. I left after three hours or so but Miss L stayed on and ultimately got what she wanted, which will enable her to go forth to the next part of her research.

I admire her tenacity, I couldn't do it. I am not sure whether I haven't got the patience or simply don't have enough interest in my ancestors. Either way I believe that it becomes a hobby somewhere along the line, which is fine, but it's not for everyone, like all other hobbies, it's an individual thing, personal to yourself.

The sea wall

2009-08-18T20:44:00.004+01:00

The sea wall at Goldcliff - looking East.

After supper tonight I went out for a ramble on my own. Now that I have started doing this, I would like to continue, so I took myself down to Goldcliff and walked along the sea wall. It certainly blew the cobwebs away down there.

I was chatting to one of the locals who was telling me of the concerns regarding the sea defences. It appears that they need to be raised due to the projected effects of global warming. Uskmouth to Chepstow in particular are at risk. I am told £70 million is required to complete all the work before rising sea levels over the next 20 years destroys the area. Homes, farms, schools, indeed whole communities could be wiped out.

I asked what the Environment Agency's views on all this were, and was told they are aware of the potential threat but currently the cost is prohibitive. So much for my peaceful walk for some time to think. I did a lot of thinking alright, but about climate change. My own problems seemed small after that!

Although it has been a nice day weather wise, nice enough to spend the afternoon sitting in the garden with a friend, but this evening there was a rather fresh sea breeze that kept peoples coats firmly on their backs! The whole evening felt like an 'end of summer' evening and I felt somewhat melancholy coming home. We must look for the positives in the Winter months, not the negatives, as we endure the dark cold season. Easier said than done I think!

Sirhowy Valley Walk

2009-08-16T19:02:00.007+01:00

After lunch today my friend and I decided to go for a walk. We decided to explore the Sirhowy Valley Walkway. Rather than explore the obvious we took the flatter, straighter route to see where it would bring us out. It was a lovely route. We found ourselves about forty feet above the Sirhowy river which was flowing quite fast below us. It was so clean, like drinking water to look at. Beautiful!

We came across this seat (photo above) and when we saw it in a distance thought we would have a half way sit down. This was not to be, as the seat had no seat!!!

I used to walk a lot for recreation, but due to this wretched arthritis in my right knee I can't do so much now, but this weekend I have made a start. I must try and walk two or three times a week. It certainly is a pleasure living in these parts. My walking is more of a ramble, but you see more when out rambling.

Every twist and turn on our route we were discovering something different. It was a super afternoon, but then the whole weekend has been pretty good!

A coastal walk.

2009-08-16T00:01:00.012+01:00

Teasel's growing along the embankment.

Miss L and I went for a walk along the old coastal road between Newport & Cardiff today known locally as 'The Lighthouse'. The lighthouse is still there, disused now, and is well known as Bed & Breakfast accommodation. It's has recently been featured in the television programme 'The Hotel Inspector'.

Yellowy-orange Lichen growing on the rocks.

All nature is there on this coastal walk, and unfortunately so is a fair amount of rubbish. Why don't people take their rubbish home?

Driftwood - March 2009

Further evidence of vandalism was this superb piece of driftwood taken earlier in the year and photographed by me extensively last year (2008). Today it's gone. All that was left was some pieces of hacked up driftwood. It's presence was distinctive on the skyline, now it is as if it was never there.

....... as if it had never been - August 2009.

The sun came out for a while just as we were leaving, but even though I have pointed out the not so good things about the area, it is still a lovely place to walk. Miss L and I called into the Lighthouse Inn for a drink before heading back to the car. Although the day was more akin to a late April dull day, rather that a mid August afternoon, we enjoyed the ruggedness of the area and enjoyed our walk.

The West Usk Lighthouse Bed & Breakfast.

Print Exhibition

2009-08-13T17:13:00.003+01:00

Chris Jacobs 'Lancaster Montage' print.

Met up with a friend from pottery this morning. We went to the Museum & Art Gallery in the city where there is an exhibition of famous prints on at the moment. I thought I wouldn't enjoy it as much as I did (I was just going for company for her) but it was excellent.

There was nothing there I could afford, but at least three I would like to own if I had the money. The ones I liked were all by the same artist and all limited editions. They started at £795! My friend was saying that both her sisters own prints by at least two of the artists on display - lucky them.

Newport City Centre hasn't got a lot going for it, but to be fair there are several extremely noteworthy art galleries to please lovers of exhibitions and all things art related. The surrounding Gwent countryside is magnificent, so why is the City centre such a mess all the time? It's exasperating!