"On Tuesday from the cliff top one could see the whole width of Lyme Bay set out under a pale blue sky; from the flat shadow of Portland in the east to the dark smudge of Start Point in the west. The sea flat calm, local fishing boats moving slowly through the grounds."
These beautiful words brought tears to my eyes, June. Lyme Bay has a special place in my heart.
And I'm a fan of moules frites, so the mussel farms were good to read about too!
How lovely to read about all that beech folklore - they have been my favourites for years, I grew up in chalk country so have always been surrounded by them but I didn't know any of these stories! We're about to move house and our new place has a beech wood right outside the front door, I can't wait... Glad to hear you are (somewhat) on the mend too!
A lovely post to read and do hope you soon feel stronger. ( As soon as I saw the picture of Tom Daley draped liked a Roman centurion in a bizarr wollen concoction, I knew it wasn't for me...)
The beech is my favourite tree of the woods and the plane tree is my favourite urban tree. It sheds bark which helps it resist the challenges of a polluted environment. And it makes the trunks look beautiful.
I did. I was really struck by the personal tragedies in their lives. It’s easy to forget the death that accompanied Victorian life. Also, what happened to business altruism/philanthropy? These days the wealthy are so much wealthier, but there seems so much less ‘greater good’. Half a dozen of the world’s billionaires could try to solve a great many of the world’s problems if they would just put their money into it.
I too much admired Sarah's book, that abiding sense of a MORAL purpose - as you say - within the Macmillan venture. Made me long for something of the kind to return. Moral rather than political.
Here's to your returning strength! Sorry you had such a bad go of it.
I learned things about the beech tree that I never knew and your photo of that London plane tree is gorgeous.
As for Game of Wool I couldn’t agree more… and yet I too keep watching in the hope that it will get better. I do find Holger quite entertaining amongst the contestants but that is about its only saving grace!
Thanks for another great post, June. I’m looking forward to reading Literature for the People which has pride of place on my coffee table.
"On Tuesday from the cliff top one could see the whole width of Lyme Bay set out under a pale blue sky; from the flat shadow of Portland in the east to the dark smudge of Start Point in the west. The sea flat calm, local fishing boats moving slowly through the grounds."
These beautiful words brought tears to my eyes, June. Lyme Bay has a special place in my heart.
And I'm a fan of moules frites, so the mussel farms were good to read about too!
Thank you so much. I’m glad it is meaningful to you.
How lovely to read about all that beech folklore - they have been my favourites for years, I grew up in chalk country so have always been surrounded by them but I didn't know any of these stories! We're about to move house and our new place has a beech wood right outside the front door, I can't wait... Glad to hear you are (somewhat) on the mend too!
When I looked, there was so much! Who knew? Yes, thanks, I am slowly, but noticeably, on the mend.
A lovely post to read and do hope you soon feel stronger. ( As soon as I saw the picture of Tom Daley draped liked a Roman centurion in a bizarr wollen concoction, I knew it wasn't for me...)
Exactly that, but I am still strangely drawn to it. I guess I’m hoping to be surprised…
Perhaps you might be but not in the way you hope!😄
The beech is my favourite tree of the woods and the plane tree is my favourite urban tree. It sheds bark which helps it resist the challenges of a polluted environment. And it makes the trunks look beautiful.
Yes indeed. There are beautiful old plane trees where we walk and I love to see them.
I remember the chewing gum. Very vivid packaging. I also avoided the knitting programme. I was curious to see how it would work. Turns out it didn’t.
Nope. It’s shocking.
Thank you so much, June, that's a really thoughtful piece. I'm delighted you enjoyed it.
I did. I was really struck by the personal tragedies in their lives. It’s easy to forget the death that accompanied Victorian life. Also, what happened to business altruism/philanthropy? These days the wealthy are so much wealthier, but there seems so much less ‘greater good’. Half a dozen of the world’s billionaires could try to solve a great many of the world’s problems if they would just put their money into it.
I too much admired Sarah's book, that abiding sense of a MORAL purpose - as you say - within the Macmillan venture. Made me long for something of the kind to return. Moral rather than political.
Here's to your returning strength! Sorry you had such a bad go of it.
Absolutely. Where are today’s billionaire’s programmes for the greater good? I know people like anonymity, but gosh, so many issues could be resolved…
Yeah, Covid has been a bitch. I recovered superficially quite quickly, but the fatigue…
I learned things about the beech tree that I never knew and your photo of that London plane tree is gorgeous.
As for Game of Wool I couldn’t agree more… and yet I too keep watching in the hope that it will get better. I do find Holger quite entertaining amongst the contestants but that is about its only saving grace!
Thanks, Gina. I think I watch every week to see who else really shouldn’t be knitting more than a garter stitch scarf….under supervision…
😂