{ Under The Bluegums }

What Knitting Gifts Will Really Make Your Crafter Happy?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:30:00 +0000

You'd think it's easy to buy something for the crafting person in your life, but it's apparently very, very difficult. Ask said crafting person what they'd like and they would in all probability say more of whatever they craft with: paint, paper, yarn, thread, notions, beads, patterns... Sure, the gimmicky things are nice, like themed earrings, screen printed shirts, or mugs, are memorable, but for me, if I open a bag of new paints, or fresh paintbrushes, or pretty wool, the happiness quotient feels higher.

So there's this article entitled Hook Your Fave Crafter Up With These Genius Gifts for Knitters, intriguing of course because of its 'genius' reference. But honestly most of them aren't genius, just gimicky.

I must sound terribly picky 😂 but hear me out...

✔️ Subscription Boxes

Subscription boxes are like magazine subscriptions, but absolutely awesome for crafters. Imagine getting your favourite thing via courier once a month. The mystery, the anticipation, the arrival day, the opening...I would love something like this. The Leither Collection Subscription Box features two or three skeins of yarn and multiple patterns a month, while the Southern Skeins box has skeins, tea, and themed stitch markers 😍

✔️ Books

One can never go wrong with a unique book of patterns or stitches, and even a more philosophical one could be great, like Knitting For Good. The collection of Japanese stitches the article shows off has me drooling.

✔️ Truly Useful

These things will be useful and welcomed by any knitters, like this cute nest starter for scrap yarn, or this set of interchangeable needles, or this notion box (although a seasoned knitter would have all these already, tbh...). I like this knitting caddy that hangs over the arm of your couch, especially with the eyelets so your yarn doesn't get twisted, and also this yarn bowl, although it looks terribly breakable 😅.

✖️ Gimmicks

The problem with gimmicky items is that they have to be tailored to your crafter. If you buy this necklace or these earrings for a crafter who doesn't wear jewellery... And this phone case would necessitate a knowledge of the phone your crafter has. And this wine glass would be good for a drinker. Art prints, wall decor, and socks? Fine if you know your crafter's taste.

✖️ More complicated items

Like the previous section, these items may never be used because your crafter may not need them, actually. I received a knitting loom for Christmas years ago. I've used it once since, to make a tiny useless scarf with the 'Skein Included!' I just spend most of my time moving it around and unknotting it from my yarn stash. In this category I include this yarn swift and this yarn winder. Oh, and this yarn storage tote. Why? Well, seriously, any serious knitter would have way too much yarn to fit into one bag 🤣

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If you're interested, this crochet blogger has a much better list of possible gifts.

What would you like to get as a crafting gift? Let me know on the comments, regardless of what craft you do!

Friday Finds: 3 December 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 17:33:00 +0000

I'm sure you've heard this a dozen times by now, but I can't believe it's already December. This week has been crazy for me for reasons. I was also focused a lot on collecting patterns for Christmas tree ornaments, as I wanted to fill advent boxes with them for my daughter, but I've disappointed her, just not being able to crochet fast enough 😂 There's also so much going on in terms of online events that I'll admit to being slightly (ahem...a lot) distracted. But here we are.

Amigurumi of the Week

For the last edition for the year, I chose none other than Santa Claus himself. I thought this amigurimi looks simple enough for you to perhaps for him in among all your preparation. Santa is better than an error on the shelf, if you ask me. Find the free pattern here.

Accessory of the Week

You're stuck with another scarf, this week, but this one in the Hygge style is pretty and simple with an interesting braid. Find the free pattern here.

Crocheted Item of the Week

I love this little hat, and it would make a sweet last minute gift for someone with, well, a small head. Find the free pattern here.

Knitted Item of the Week

I like knitted ties, in theory, but I don't know if I would every wear one, or if anyone I knew would either. But if you wanted to take a chance and had no other ideas... Find the free pattern here.

Events You Should Be Following

I'm skipping the challenge and wildcards this week in favour of sharing some online events you may like to join.

Drops Design has an advent calendar with a free pattern every day until Christmas. Visit the page daily here.

Garnknuten is hosting a mystery Christmas CAL. It's already on part two but you can still join if you have time here.

Marly Bird and Friends is hosting 24 days of quick crochet patterns for last minute gifts here.

The Love and Joy Blanket CAL has 31 squares for you to crochet throughout December. Join here.

Blue Star Crochet is hosting a crochet advent calendar, what you can get a pattern free a day. Visit the site daily here.

DMC is also hosting a daily advent calender, but with free embroidery patterns or specials in its store. Visit daily here.

Me 'n My Hook is hosting 12 easy crochet gift ideas here.

Finally, there's the Winter Wonders Blog Hop. It's quite far along anyway, but there are still some great patterns coming up. Follow along here.

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Merry Christmas to you and yours!!

Friday Finds: 25 November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 06:00:00 +0000

This week's Friday Finds was really difficult. With Christmas speeding up to us, there have been blog hops, ornaments, CALs and so much more! I did my job, though (it was hard) and literally halved my selection to my absolute favourites. I hope you like them! My favourites of them all are the accessory and the wildcard.

Amigurumi of the Week

Who doesn't love Wreck-It Ralph? The villainous (not really), mean (not really), and destructive (really) character from a video game and a Pixar film makes a really adorable amigurumi! Find the free pattern here.

Accessory of the Week

Selecting this art noveau rose scarf by Andreas Banholzer was a no-brainer for me. Not only is it gorgeous, but my dad loved the art noveau style, so it feels like a little tribute to him. Find the free pattern on Raverly here.

Crocheted Item of the Week

C2C, or corner-to-corner crocheting, is all the rage this year. It works up quickly and there are endless possibilities. This koala bear afghan is so cute if you want to try a big project. Find the free pattern on Nana's Crafty Home here.

Knitted Item of the Week

I am so into the chunky and oversized style everywhere, having tried to cover up my whole life and look smaller. This amazing cardigan in Irish Moss stitch has a great texture and length. Find the free pattern on Handy Little Me here. Oh, and check out her blog more if you're an Outlander fan.

Challenge of the Week

I love cables because of their intricacy, and these small repeat cables are certain to be an awesome challenge! Find the free pattern on Ravelry here.

Wildcard of the Week

I can't stop gushing about this gorgeous rose intarsia sweater! I've just finished a skeleton sweater (below), where I really struggled to get the colour changes even and this sweater would not only be a challenge but it will be AMAZING! Get the free pattern on Yarnspirations here, or download directly here.

My terribly done skeleton sweater... :(

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Hope you enjoyed my selection! Which is your favourite, and which will you be doing?

A Journey Through: O'Hagan's Be Near Me Part 4 (p61-90)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 06:38:00 +0000

Having completed Andrew O'Hagan's Be Near Me, I found myself a little lost in terms of some of the places and things O'Hagan makes mention of. In this series of posts, of which this is part two, I'm taking you on a journey through protagonist David's mentions: places, music, food. And maybe a random fact or two.

I hope it will be handy if you're embarking on a first read of the novel yourself. I am publishing in parts so the loading time is less and you can find the post that includes the page number of the item you're looking for as I go. I'm sorry this one's taken so long. I was trying to catch up on a couple of projects, and three posts do take a lot of time to prepare.

Here is Part 1 (p1-20).

Here is Part 2 (p21-40)

Here is Part 3 (p41-60)

And without further ado...

Trident Submarines (page 63)

These submarines were a Vanguard-class of ballistic missile subs powered with nuclear energy in the service of the Royal Navy. They were introduced as part of the Trident nuclear programme in 1994. They are owned by BAE Systems and are located at the HM Naval Base Clyde in Scotland. It is believed that the class will be made away with in the 2030s when Dreadnought models become available.

'The smell was so high it reminded me of the French poet's lily that soaks up blue antipathies' (page 64)

This line is from the poem To the Poet on the Subject of Flowers by Arthur Rimbaud to a fellow poet, Monsieur Théodore de Banville. Rimbaud was a French poet, influencing modern literature and the arts with his tast for the surreal and transgressive. He only lived to the age of 37, dying from cancer.

To the Poet on the Subject of Flowers

And so to Lilies! Pessaries of ecstacy,
Forever tending to an azure black
Where topaz seas vibrate, serving
Their purposes in your night!

This is the age of tapioca.
The vegetation is no longer work-shy.
The lily soaks up blue antipathies
From your religious prose.

-- Kerdrel's monarchist Fleur de Lys,
The Sonnet of 1830,
The lily, the pink, and the amaranth,
Conferred upon the Bard.

Lilies! Lilies! Not that one finds them,
Except in your verse, where
Their white heads stir like the sleeves
Of Fallen Women treading softly. Source

Auchenharvie (page 69)

Auchenharvie is in North Ayrshire, Scotland. The baths to which Mark refers, I think, is the Auchenharvie indoor pool, which was opened in 1973 to 800 visitors on the first day. The pool is apparently one reason the Saltcoats Bathing Pond, a saltwater bathing pool dating from 1932, lost popularity. There was another bathing and yachting pond installed on the site in 1933, boasting the role as the biggest tidal pool in Scotland at the time. It was demolished in 1983.

Nijinsky (page 74)

Vaslav Nijinsky in the Les orientales

David is referring to Russian/Polish ballet dancer Vaslav Nijinsky. He was believed to be the greatest male dancer in the early 1900s, able to dance on the tips of his toes (en pointe), a rare talent at that time, and was also known for gravity-defying leaps.

Entrechat (page 74)

An entrechat is a jump, vertically upwards, in which the dancer crosses and beats the feet together repeatedly.

St Margaret's in Irvine (page 77)

St Margaret's Oratory, located in Irvine, was built in 1976, and extended in 1982 for a housing scheme. The church was closed in 2017, although religious meetings are still held.

Lebanese red wine (page 77)

Lebanon is an ancient wine civilisation, among one of the oldest in the world. It is thought that the common grape vine was domesticated in this Western Asian nation. French grapes, however, are favoured by Lebanese winemakers and use grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rhone, Cinsaut, Carignan, and Grenache. Some of the best Lebanese wines come from the Bekaa Valley.

Royal Botanic Gardens (page 77)

Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh

The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh was founded in 1670 with the aim of growing medicinal plants. It consists of three sites aside from that in Edinburgh, including Dawyck, Logan, and Benmore. The Edinburgh site has over 13,302 plant species and the herbarium is filled more than three million specimens.
{Image credit: Image by Gyula Péter, CC BY-SA 3.0}

Girvan Harbour (page 80)

The harbour at Girvan is located along the River Girvan, located along the east coast of the firth of Clyde. It was originally a fishing port, and the opening of railways at the end of the 19th century inspired a healthy tourism industry. The site is known for the Gray family's collection of fossils on the site for museum display.

Bay of Tonkin (page 81)

Wikipedia refers to the bay as a Gulf. It is at the North-West of the South China sea off the northern Vietnamese town of Tonkin and South China.

Mark is speaking of the bay in reference to the Gulf of Tonkin incident near the Vietnam War, which was a confrontation between the United States and Vietnam, leading to the former escalating operations in the country. USS Maddox, a destroyer, on 2 August 1964 was covertly collecting intelligence when it was approached and attacked by the North Vietnamese with machine gun fire: Mark's 'da-da-da-da-daga-daga'. Two days later, the US claimed another battle occurred in the bay and retaliation was authorised by the US. It was later uncovered that there was no second attack.

San Carlos Bay (page 81)

I believe Mark is referring to the Battle of San Carlos in 1982. Part of the Falklands War, the battle between ships and aircraft lasted four days while the British landed on the San Carlos Water shores. The incident was the first time in history a modern surface fleet, supported by air cover, defended air strikes. Despite the repeated attacks by Argentine jet aircraft, the British consolidated the shore and landed their troops.

Anfield (page 83)

Panoramic view of Anfield Stadium interior

The Anfield stadium is located in Liverpool. It is the seventh-largest football stadium in England, seating over 53,000 guests. It is the home of Liverpool Football Club, having been so since the club's formation in 1982.
{Image credit: Panoramic view of Anfield Stadium by Yurificacion, CC BY-SA 4.0}

'Jellyfish floated past the boat' (page 83)

Barrel Jellyfish

{See Ailsa Craig (page 42) in Part 3 of the Book Journey.}

Several species of jellyfish occur in the south-western waters of the Firth of Clyde. The harmless barrel jellyfish, pictured above, occurs in only the Firth of Clyde, Solway Firth and the Irish Sea. The Blue, the Moon, and the Compass is found along the entire coast of the United Kingdom.

Compass Jellyfish

{Image credit: Barrel jellyfish by Trevor Rickard, CC BY-SA 2.0; Compass Jellyfish by Joebater, CC BY-SA 3.0}

Lisbon Lions 1967 (page 85)

The Celtic Football Club team that won the European Cup in 1967, defeating Inter Milan, are affectionately called the Lisbon Lions. The team in question included Ronnie Simpson, Jim Craig, Tommy Gemmell, Bobby Murdoch, Billy McNeill as captain, John Clark, Jimmy Johnstone, Willie Wallace, Stevie Chalmers, Bertie Auld, Bobby Lennox, substitute goalkeeper John Fallon, Manager Jock Stein, Assistant Manager Sean Fallon, and Trainer Neil Mochan.

Garry Loch (page 87)

The Garry Loch is a small body of water in a glen above Ailsa Castle on Ailsa Craig. Its depth is about 5 metres.

Kennedy's Nags (page 89)

Kennedy's Nags is, as David says, a pillar of basalt rock. It is near the quarries and the mineral line, which was built by the Ailsa Craig Granite Company in 1909. Wagons filled with rock were hauled mainly by horses, but also by hand and winding engings. The company closed in 1928 and artefacts from its short life can be found in the area, included the leftovers of the stone crusher.

Little Ailsa Islet and Basalt Columns

The cave in question is named after a smuggler named MacNall. Two coffins were found when the cave was cleared of guano (I wonder if they chased the bats away?), and there seems to be no evidence that smuggling did indeed take place, although the cave would have been perfect for such a business.

{Image credit: The Islet of Little Ailsa near MacNall's Cave, by Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Valpolicella (page 90)

Valpolicella is a red wine usually made from grape varieties Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, and Molinara. It is made in the province of Verona in Italy, a region that has been making wine since the ancient Greek era.

Dutch Masters (page 90)

Syndics of the Drapers' Guild by Rembrandt

This is a brand of wrapped cigars that have been sold in the United States for over a century. The packaging is emblazoned with the Rembrandt paintin above. The brand currently makes both standard cigars and cigarillos. The brand has, since 2003, only been for sale in the United States.
{Image credit: Syndics of the Drapers' Guild by Rembrandt by Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Cristal (page 90)

Cristal is a brand of champagne, in fact Champagne Louis Roederer's flagship cuvée. It was made for Russia's Alexander II, tsar of Russia, in 1876 after Russian nobility found favour with it. The brand became popular in the mid-1990s after rap artists began to reference the brand.

'lowriding Lexus' (page 90)

Mark and his friends find an affinity with American hip-hop, and the reference to a lowrider derives from this. Lowriding became popular in southern California in the 1940s amongst Mexican-Americans who customised American-made cars with bright designs and changed the suspension so the cars would ride slowly and low to the ground. The subculture was picked up around the US, and the hip-hop industry made it even more popular. Here's a short history of hip-hop cars and here's an article about the lowrider and its connection to hip-hop culture. And if you're interested, a look at how hip-hop cars have changed since they first became linked with the culture.

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I tried not to include so many pages this time around. Please let me know if I've missed something you'd like for me to include? Keep an eye out for Part 5!

Friday Finds: 19 November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Nov 2021 07:20:00 +0000

This week's Friday Finds has a range of items for a change!I hope you like my selection! My favourite of them all is the wildcard.

I've also decided to embed Pinterest pins instead, because I don't want the lovely designers to think ill of me!

Amigurumi of the Week

I know it's not technically an amigurumi because it's neither a doll nor crocheted, but these little hedgehogs really are too cute to resist, don't you think? Find the free pattern on Purl Soho.

Accessory of the Week

This is an easy but pretty pattern for a crochet scarf. You're meant to make it from silk yarn, so that it's soft and breathable for a chilly morning. Find the free pattern by Stitching Together here.

Crocheted Item of the Week

This three-dimensional star ornament by Karolina Eckerdal presents lots of creative possibilities. Make a bunting, or make a dozen to use to decorate your tree, gift them, and you can use them outside of Christmas and make a few to hang from the ceiling in a child's room or use for a mobile for a baby. Download the free pattern on Ravelry here.

Knitted Item of the Week

I love stripes; I really do. They're not supposed to suit someone with my figure, but I love them all the same. This sweater has fine lines and is colourful, and is definitely on my list. Find the free pattern on Joann here.

Challenge of the Week

This is supposed to be an easy pattern, but it sure doesn't look it! It's a lovely festive potholder that's perfect for a gift. Find the free pattern here.

Wildcard of the Week

I absolutely love this drawstring fish bag. I think it would work great for any tiny tools, like crochet hooks as shown, but also pens and pencils, marbles, sculpture tools, erasers, or random stuff (of which I have a lot). I also think it would be super-cute phone holder. Find the free tutorial on Misyel Shin's YouTube.

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Hope you enjoyed my selection! Which is your favourite, and which will you be doing?

Thick

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 16:51:00 +0000

My inability to create something truly mine, something that is unique to me, my own style, my own, is lying thick on me to today like a down blanket. I don't know how to put myself in what I make, in my paintings, my writing. And that's if I ever paint or write. I keep myself so busy with books by others, art by others, patterns by others.

My husband came home with the painting above today. There is no artist name but at least I can see the artist in it. The certain strokes. The planned colours. The attention to the eyes. The time it took. The detail. This woman might not have meant anything to the artist, or she might have meant the world, but the point is that the artist loved her, loved her contours and her colour and the light as it fell on her face and twinkled in her pupils. Loved what she was going to say as her mouth prepares to deliver it, the news, the grief, the happiness.

I sat and stared at it as I patched up some of the loose collage paper. How do I do that? I kept thinking to myself. Where am I when I work?

No Friday Finds :( Here's why!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 09:17:00 +0000

I'm sorry for not being able to do a Friday Finds collection for you yesterday. The week went by so quickly and I can almost say I have no idea what I spent my time on. However, two days were spent trying to spring clean my studio/sewing room/whatever... I say trying because I didn't throw anything out per se, just reorganised and moved things about.

I've also been trying to get through Peter Straub's A Dark Matter, which took me a while to get into - I've never read the author's work before but once I found his rhythm it went smoothly. So smoothly in fact that I'm going to read Black House, a novel by both Straub and Stephen King (I'm sure you know what I think of the latter's books), which is freakin' massive at 625 pages. And which I only discovered now is the second in a series. I hate reading like that. Damn.

Black House was part of yesterday's library haul ...

... on a day when I tried to do a lot of the shopping, went to the library, took stuff in for repairs, bought some Christmas gifts, and scratched around at Hospice. I love the deals at charity stores and managed to score a near-complete copy of the old-fashioned Cluedo, the one I played with. Looking inside made my heart both warm and sad: it's obviously a well-used game and I can imagine the joyful times that surrounded it as its previous family - perhaps a generation or three - moved Miss Scarlett or Colonel Mustard or Professor Plum around Tudor House and suggested and accused suspects.

I also have a couple of projects on the go at the same time, including this skeleton sweater and a miniature amigurumi dragon for my daughter, these adorable miniature sweaters for my family-in-law, which I'm going to monogram, as we visit them for Christmas, my temperature blanket (for which I need more wool. Again), patches for my hubby's Gi, and even more. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I feel like I'm just running on ice when it shouldn't be a wonder at all with everything I load myself with.

I am very good at doing this, finding too many projects to 'keep me busy' when sometimes I really just need to close my eyes and smell the bluegums. Am I right?

Divorced Soul Mates? Questions Raised by A Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +0000

Richard Bach has an intense imagination and his insight is awe-inspiring, making one of his novels, Jonathan Livingston Seagull, one of my favourites: I see it as a metaphor for the different stages of our lives (and maybe our spirits?) The Illusionist is also excellent, and with these two to compare, The Bridge Across Forever doesn't come close. Yes, I said it, despite the novel being praised

The Bridge Across Forever is subtitled 'A Lovestory'. An autobiography of sorts, the novel focuses on Bach's search for love, particularly his soul mate, and on the way he is enlightened by valuable insight into practically everything you can think of, but mostly about life and death and, of course, love. He spends much of the novel looking for his soul mate, and he imagines it would be a sudden, struck-by-lightning realisation. It isn't, and he found that it wasn't simply enough to meet your soul mate: you also need time and growth and learning together. That's valuable insight right there.

However, I found it awfully long-winded, with pages and pages of conversations he shared with actor Leslie Parrish for years before he relinquished his concerns about freedom and settled with his soul mate. One of my criticisms is that there is absolutely no way he remembers every tiny detail of these conversations. I was also inspired by what he realised about soul mates, as did many others who read the novel in the 80s.

But later, after doing some research, I had to question his authority on soul mates, and question my own presumptions on what a soul mate is. He did indeed marry Leslie in 1977. But they divorced after 22 years in 1999, and he remarried that same year (there are alternating reports about the exact divorce year, though). Am I to believe there is more than one soulmate?

He wrote that Leslie suggested they part because their goals were no longer aligned, but as I pointed out before, he remarried that very same year, and then divorced only a few years later. Leslie did not remarry. I know I'm being totally over-judgmental of him, and the sense of betrayal I felt when I discovered that their marriage ended is equally ridiculous: it is the expectation that this man with so much insight and inspiration is perfect. But, after all, he is not - he is just a human, just like me. In fact, the evidence that all was not perfect is right in the text. Bach felt that Parrish, to be recognised as his soul mate, had to meet all the tick boxes in his list. And when she did something he did not expect of her - something idiosyncratic to his idea of the perfect soul mate, like cuss - he was astonished, and pulled away. Parrish accused him of running away from her. Bach's ideal world, in fact, is one where everyone is a planet and we'll all sometimes cross each other's orbit, stay awhile in our shared magnetic fields, but eventually we need to escape from reality and, well, run away.

After my discovery, I felt that everything he had discovered and all the ways he discovered them - all his amazing thinking patterns - were simply for his own benefit, a selfish pursuit to uncover the secrets of life and love and share it with the world. So now there's this part of me that still loves the altruism of his ideas and then a part of me that simply cannot reconcile them with an apparently selfish man.

Returning to the soul mate idea, what has happened to him and his 'soul mate' definitely questions everything we are taught about soul mates. Can you have more than one soul mate depending on where you are in your life? Depending on how you need to grow? Depending on whether you need to suffer? Depending on whether it's now time to breed? And if there is only one soul mate and you leave them in this life, do you get a chance to be with them again in the next life? But then why even bother if there are infinite opportunities to find them and be with them, because that means there are infinite opportunities to do whatever you please to whoever you please?

Obviously the very idea of a soul mate is fed by societal beliefs, and stories we're told as children. We learn when we're young, and through stories and the media, of course, that there is one person with whom we are to spend our lives. Bach himself indicates that a soul mate is somebody who gets you in every way. But then he married three times in his life and if he believed so adamantly in the concept of a soulmate why did this happen? Is meeting a soul mate then about life experience and doing as much as you can with everyone you meet hoping to discover they're your soul mate?

I suggest that we do not follow this downward spiral. As humans, we look to others as authorities on things we fear we will not experience in our own lives. Relationships are simple on paper, but complex in real life, and even then they were a gift. Perhaps Bach's idea - implied by his actions more than his writing - is more accurate: that a soul mate is simply someone you meet every (or maybe in just one) lifetime from whom you learn the most, or whom helps you grow to your full potential? He said himself, "There’s a learning connection that exists between those two souls".

And if that is true, we have learning connections with many people in our lifetimes, and isn't it then rather reassuring to know that everyone we meet who changes our lives and helps us grow is a soul mate?

Friday Finds: 5 November 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 16:56:00 +0000

Welcome to this week's Friday Finds! It's a bit late, but I found myself and my family in Dullstroom for two days.

I hope you like my selection this week! Something cute, something warm, something fancy (and challenging), and something pretty.

I would love to hear what you think of my selection!

Amigurumi of the Week

There's lots of Christmas stuff going around, and this little gnome is my favourite of the week. A cute gift or table decoration, find the free pattern on Life and Yarn's blog.

Accessory of the Week

This pretty crocheted beanie and scarf set would look great in some bright colours. Find the free pattern for the beanie and the scarf on Rich Textures Crochet blog.

Crocheted Item of the Week

This cute cropped cardigan will knit up quick. Find the free pattern here.

Challenge of the Week

This shall had some delicate stitching and uses some delicate yarn. Good luck! Find the free pattern here.

Wildcard of the Week

This crocheted blanket has an amazing cable design. Find the free pattern here.

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Hope you enjoyed my selection! Which is your favourite, and which will you be doing?

Friday Finds: First Edition, 29 October 2021

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 06:32:00 +0000

Welcome to the first edition of my Friday Finds! I've become quite an avid crocheter and knitter, though I'm not amazing at either activity. But, in accordance with my personality flaw of hoarding, I collect patterns. I must have hundreds by now. And since I haven't stopped, I thought I would take Fridays to share my favourites of the week with you. So welcome to the first edition!

I think I'll stick to five a week, because any more than that would be crazy, right? The six categories I'll feature a pattern for every week are: amigurumi, accessory (like hats, shawls, socks, or scarves), super quick, crocheted, knitted, and challenge. And an extra wildcard category for something I just have to share, if applicable.

I would love to hear what you think of my selection!

Amigurumi of the Week

This little Christmas Tree is so cute and perfect for a table decoration or gift. Though technically not an amigurumi because it's not a doll, it fits the category well enough for me! You can find the free pattern on Made by Gootie's blog. Follow her on Instagram.

Accessory of the Week

The floral garden granny square blanket has some intricate detailing that should be fun to try! Find the free pattern on the Crochet for You blog.

Crocheted Item of the Week

I haven't been too fond of the Granny Square cardi, but this little cropped version has a great colour scheme and isn't overly chunky. Find the free pattern here.

Knitted Item of the Week

Don't get me wrong: I think ponchos are ridiculous most of the time. But this one is a perfect combination of poncho- and sweater-ness. Find the free pattern here.

Challenge of the Week

I was going to put this adorable tiny spider under amigurumi, but I think it rightly belongs in this category because it's, well, tiny. Find Anastasia Kirs' free pattern on Ravelry.

Wildcard of the Week

Our first wildcard is this cabled vest from Coco Crochet Lee. I'm not fond of the length, nor of the neckline, but the cabling is gorgeous. Find the free pattern here.

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Hope you enjoyed my selection! Which is your favourite, and which will you be doing? I'd like to try the spider, of course :)

Movie Review: Dune (2021)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 15:24:00 +0000

While Denis Villeneuve's Dune hits the same story beats as David Lynch's 1984 version, it is altogether a very different, and more beautiful, creature.

I feel that as a whole, the film did much better than its predecessor on establishing the history of Karakis and the Great Houses of the Imperium without complications. The exposition and dialogue was excellent, feeling natural rather than weighing the story down with details. The introduction did an excellent job of establishing the basis of the story, and when things need to be explained, like Paul's mother's skills as a Bene Gesserit or the use of the Voice they are done so in an intimate and underhanded manner, not forced at all. I truly feel as though this film does better in explaining the more outlandish concepts, such as the voice, the religion, and the politics.

The visuals are also stunning, with a lot of focus on the sprawling landscapes of Caladan, Arrakis, and Giedi Prime, and the inherent style of their homes, truly emphasising some of the differences between the respective family lines. The space ships are another centrepiece of the film, long seconds taken to show their workings, movement, and visual appeal. There is an almost natural feel to them, the Atreides' moving ships resembling the cliffs surrounding the ocean they rise out of, the streamlined shape of the dragonfly-like Karakis ship that is mobile and aerodynamic, the Emperor's messenger ship floating to meet the Atreides like a soap bubble, and I would imagine they are more like those in the novel (which I haven't read yet) than before.

My favourite things about the film though are the quiet ones that weren't in the Lynch film. Paul enjoying the grassy hills, pebbly wet beach, and sunset of his home planet on the eve of his family leaving it forever; Paul's father Leto's fear of what might befall his family and expressing it to Lady Jessica, who cares for him as he tries to sleep; Paul's visions of the future; the moment he meets his father at the family cemetery and they walk past the family's graves; thoughtful moments of quiet and slowness. For me these moments made the film. I also really enjoyed how much more sinister Baron Harkonnen is, his large, dark form floating and enlarging in the background in one scene was frightening, and overall he feels a lot less campy and more like a villain to be wary of.

My viewing was a bit hampered by unbalanced audio though, so when the music rose up it was sometimes difficult to hear what was being said, but I hope this was a cinema issue. My husband says the music makes the film seem to be taking itself too seriously.

I can't wait to see this film again, though, and, of course, for the second one to grace my senses.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

A Journey Through: O'Hagan's Be Near Me Part 3 (p41-60)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 06:39:00 +0000

Having completed Andrew O'Hagan's Be Near Me, I found myself a little lost in terms of some of the places and things O'Hagan makes mention of. In this series of posts, of which this is part three, I'm taking you on a journey through protagonist David's mentions: places, music, food. And maybe a random fact or two.

Here is Part 1 (p1-20)

Here is Part 2 (p21-40)

And without further ado...

Ailsa Craig (page 42)

Ailsa Craig is an island just in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. The island, now uninhabited, is a bird sanctuary offering a home for gannets and puffins. It is known locally as Paddy's milestone as it's about halfway between Belfast and Glasgow, making it recognisable for Irish labourers heading to Scotland for work. It's name is a Gaelic anglicisation and means 'fairy rock'. The island belongs to the 9th Marquess of Alisa and is leased to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

{Image credits: View of Ailsa Craig from Girvan by Scotch Mist, CC BY-SA 4.0; Ailsa Craig north quarry by Richard Webb, CC BY-SA 2.0}

UEFA Cup (page 43)

I'm sure you know what this is, but I don't, other than that it's a football (soccer to me) tournament. It takes place every year and is organised by the Union of European Football Associations. To me, the most interesting thing about it is who sponsors it: Heineken, Just Eat Takeaway, Hancook Tire, Engelbert Strauss (a German workwear, safety footwear and personal protection manufacturer), Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Kia, Swissquote, and Bwin (an online betting company).

Martin O'Neill (page 43)

Martin O'Neill is a professional Northern Irish football manager, formerly a midfielder in his football career. He led Celtic Football Club to win the 2003 UEFA Cup Final and achieve three Scottish Premier League trophies, along with three others. He was also manager of the Republic of Ireland team in 2013, aiding them in qualifying for the 2016 UEFA European Championship for the third time in its history.

He has received the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to football.

Henrik Larsson (page 43)

Henrik Larsson is a professional football coach. He is assistant manager to Barcelona. He is believed to be one of the greatest Swedish football players ever, having ended his international career with 37 goals in 106 matches. He won a bronze medal at the 1994 World Cup, played in three FIFA World Cups, three EUFA European Championships, and winning the annual Golden Ball for best Swedish football player twice. He was also named the Greatest Swedish Footballer of the Last 50 Years at the UEFA Jubilee Awards and is the leading goalscorer in the UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup.

His son Jordan Larsson plays for Spartak Moscow and his daughter Janelle is a Swedish national showjumping team member.

You'll Never Walk Alone (page 43)

Gerry and the Pacemakers' 1963 song You'll Never Walk Alone, from the album How Do You Like It?, was unofficially adopted as Liverpool FC's anthem after it was sung by Liverpool fans during the club's win over Leeds at the 1965 FA Cup Final. Mark's discussion about he and his dad bonding while singing the song and watching his team play refers to Liverpool fans singing the song at half-time during the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final.

Here is the song on Youtube. And below is a video of the event in question in 2005.

Wallace Stevens (page 46)

Wallace Stevens was an American poet known for his modernist style, and for winning the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1955. And you cannot claim that insurance people are boring: he worked for an insurance company for many years as an executive. He also held a law degree.

He married Elsie Viola Machele in 1909 against the wishes of his parents, who found her a poor match. No members of his family attended the wedding and he never saw or spoke to his parents while his father loved. He also fought Ernest Hemingway in the street, somehow taking issue with Hemingway's realist style, breaking his hand on Hemingway's jaw. He was honoured with a US postage stamp in 2012.

Harmonium (page 46)

Harmonium was Wallace Stevens' first published collection of poetry. It was published when he was 44. It didn't sell very many copies, with critics in 1923 believing he would not be very popular. This proved to be an incorrect statement, as by 1960 his poetry was regularly part of study.

Stars at Tallapoosa (page 46)

A poem from Wallace Stevens' first published collection, Harmonium, which is now in the public domain. The text is below:

Stars at Tallapoosa

The lines are straight and swift between the stars.
The night is not the cradle that they cry,
The criers, undulating the deep-oceaned phrase.
The lines are much too dark and much too sharp.

The mind herein attains simplicity.
There is no moon, on single, silvered leaf.
The body is no body to be seen
But is an eye that studies its black lid.

Let these be your delight, secretive hunter,
Wading the sea-lines, moist and ever-mingling,
Mounting the earth-lines, long and lax, lethargic.
These lines are swift and fall without diverging.

The melon-flower nor dew nor web of either
Is like to these. But in yourself is like:
A sheaf of brilliant arrows flying straight,
Flying and falling straightway for their pleasure,

Their pleasure that is all bright-edged and cold;
Or, if not arrows, then the nimblest motions,
Making recoveries of young nakedness
And the lost vehemence the midnights hold.

there is no moon, on single, silvered leaf (page 46)

A line from Stars at Tallapoosa, a poem from Wallace Stevens'first collection Harmonium.

It is believed to be a poem about the metamorphic nature of the poetic imagination, which allows one to see past the mundane and focus on qualities of life or situations that are delightful and memorable.

Hymn from a Watermelon Pavillion (page 46)

Another poem from Wallace Stevens' Harmonium, Hymn from a Watermelon Pavillion, which some interpret as being a metaphor for the poet, a dreamer who should not sleep but explore the richness of the state. Another interpretation sees the dweller in the poem as the self and the cabin as the body, and the dweller's reality is mysterious even as his body did beside the cabin. The poem below:

Hymn From A Watermelon Pavilion

You dweller in the dark cabin,
To whom the watermelon is always purple,
Whose garden is wind and moon,

Of the two dreams, night and day,
What lover, what dreamer, would choose
The one obscured by sleep?

Here is the plantain by your door
And the best cock of red feather
That crew before the clocks.

A feme may come, leaf-green,
Whose coming may give revel
Beyond revelries of sleep,

Yes, and the blackbird spread its tail,
So that the sun may speckle,
While it creaks hail.

You dweller in the dark cabin,
Rise, since rising will not waken,
And hail, cry hail, cry hail.

{Image credit: Wallace Stevens, by Sylvia Salm, Public Domain}

Blue Star garage (page 46)

For readers not living in the United Kingdom, Blue Star Garages were a nationwide petrol station company in the UK.

Grosvenor Square (page 49)

At this point in the story, David is feeling nostalgic about his youth, where he joined the protests against the Vietnam War in Grosvenor Square, London:

The people linked arms in the afternoon and the horses charged forward, police helmets flying. A hippy offered a bunch of flowers to one of the officers and was beaten to the ground, and we sang our songs and the future was a dream.

The 1968 protests in London were a reaction to the Tet Offensive, a major military campaign of the Vietnam War, which was launched at the end of January 1968. It took place on 17 March, and 86 people injured and 200 protesters were arrested. The mood of the protest - around 10,000 strong - was initially thought to be amiable, but turned violent when the band marched to Grosvenor Square where the US Embassy was housed. Hundreds of police surrounded it and became tense when the crowd refused to leave. Some protestors broke through the ranks, and the anger flared from both sides with police wounded and protestors violently chased down by police on horses. Another protest took place on 27 October, with about 25,000 taking part, but security was better with 1,000 policemen guarding the embassy and lining the streets to prevent a repeat of the March event. Many who took part in these protests believe they helped force the US out of Vietnam. The protests were part of global anti-war sentiment.

References and further reading: 1968: Anti-Vietnam demo turns violent; 1968: I was there; 50 Years On: The Anti-Vietnam War Protest in London; YouTube: Vietnam Protesters Clash with Police in Grosvenor Square, London (1968); YouTube: Vietnam Demonstrations (1968); Wikipedia: Protests of 1968

Heysham (page 50)

A coastal town in England's Lancashire, Heysham overlooks Morecambe Bay and is a ferry port, which is why David and the teens meet here. It is known for the stone-hewn graves at St Peter's Chapel, near the same-named church. The latter's grounds are full of Viking and Saxon remains, and the church has a Viking hogback stone, or a type of carved grave marker that resembled the back of a hog, I suppose. The town also has one of only three Roman labyrinth carvings in Britain.

Stone graves, Heysham

Hogback stone

{Image credits: Cross in a graveyard in Heysham by ChrisGrady1975, CC BY-SA 3.0; Stone Graves, Heysham by Tom Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0; Hogsback tombstone, St Peter's Church by Humphrey Bolton, CC BY-SA 2.0}

Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh (page 50)

Eastern General Hospital was located in Leith's Seafield area. It was built in 1907 and was 100 years old when it was closed in 2007. Its long history includes being used by the military during World War I and was deemed the most advanced in the field of prosthetics. The hospital was demolished to make way for a housing development.

Kilbirnie (page 52)

In the Garnock Valley in Northern Ayrshire is Kilbirnie, a little town in a region that has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. There were only three houses in 1740 but the population expanded greatly during the Industrial Revolution as it focuses on flax, fish nets, linen, rope, engineering factories, ironworks, and mining. The main industry, steelworks, opened in 1841, quickly becoming the main industry. The closure of traditional industry in the town has resulted in its people being hit hard: the town has the highest bankruptcy rate in Scotland.

The area is home to the 15th century Glengarnock Castle and Ladyland Castle, both ruins. The Kilbirnie Loch also has a crannog, or artificial island, dating to the Late Bronze Age at least.

Florence (page 52)

Florence is the capital city of Italy's prestigious Tuscany region. It was the centre of trade and finance in Medieval Europe and the wealthiest of cities at the time. It is known for the notorious Medici family, who were bankers to the Pope and excessive patrons of the arts at the time. Florence was as such the centre of the art world for many years, inspiring a new way of drawing and painting from artists such as Leonardo da Vinci.

Piazza Santissima Annunziata (page 52)

Piazza Santissima Annunziata

The Piazza Santissima Annunziata is the stereotypical Italian courtyard, replete with A 1624 fountain and three decorative facades surround it: at the East is a wall of the foundling hospital, Ospedale degli Innocenti or the 'Hospital of the Innocents', at the West is the Loggia dei Servi di Maria, and at the North is the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, the Basilica of the Most Holy Annunciation.

Ospedale degli innocenti

The hospital was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1419 and is an example of Renaissance architecture. It was originally a children's orphanage.

Loggia dei Servi di Maria

The Loggia dei Servi di Maria was designed by Antonio da Sangallo the Elder in the 1520s for the Servi di Maria but it's today a hotel.

Facade of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata

The facade of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata was designed by Giovanni Battista Caccini in 1601 and added to the old building.

The piazza is also home to Giambologna's statue of Ferdinand I of Tuscany, which was added in 1608.
{Image credits: Piazza della Santissima Annunziata by Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0; Ospedale degli innocenti, front, by Warburg, CC BY-SA 3.0; Loggia dei Servi di Maria by Ricardalovesmonuments, CC BY-SA 4.0; Facade of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata by Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Duomo (page 52)

Duomo is Italian, referring to a church built to serve as a cathedral or one that resembles a cathedral. The Duomo to which David refers is the Florence Cathedral, known formally as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, or Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flower. It was completed in 1436. The dome is known as Brunelleschi's Dome, since Filippo Brunelleschi was its engineer.
{Image credit: Santa Maria del Fiore by Bruce Stokes on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0}

Giotto's clock (page 52)

Giotto's Campanile is part of the building complex making up Florence Cathedral. It is free-standing and is a Gothic showpiece featuring rich sculptures and marble.

{Image credit: Giotto's Campanile by Erik Drost, CC BY-SA 2.0}

Fra Angelico and San Marco (page 52)

Italian Renaissance painter Fra Angelico was popular for frescoes he painted for his friary, San Marco. He made the altarpiece of the Coronation of the Virgin for Santa Maria Novella and a series of frescoes for San Marcos' Dominican friars. It is these to which David refers. San Marco consists of a church and a convent but is now the Museo Nazionale di San Marco.

Blame not this haste of mine. If you mean well... (page 53)

This quote is from William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night. It is from Act 4, Scene 3. Olivia says it to Sebastian as she urges him to reassure her of his feelings through marriage.

Calvary (page 53)

According to the canonical Gospels, Calvary is the site just outside the walls of Jerusalem where Jesus was crucified.

Frascati (page 57)

Frascati is a white wine, apparently the best in Rome. It is produced in the Roman municipality of Frascati, which is located on the Alban Hills near the ancient Tusculum.

Robert Louis Stevenson (page 57)

Robert Louis Stevenson is probably best known for his novel Treasure Island, but he also wrote the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Kidnapped, and A Child's Garden of Verses. He was born in Edinburgh.

My favourite story of him is that, when he was 41, he gifted his birthday to the daughter of the American Land Commissioner in Samoa. Anne was born on Christmas Day and understandably felt as though no one ever celebrated her birthday. He wrote up a 'legal' document stating that she should use his birthday in moderation, since it was not as young as it was once. Stevenson suffered from bronchial issues his whole life and died only three years after gifting his birthday to Anne.
{Image credit: Robert Louis Stevenson by Henry Walter Barnett}

Guinness (page 57)

The Irish Dry stout Guinness is considered one of world's most successful alcohol brands in the world. It is brewed in nearly 50 countries and is available in more than 120. It is Ireland's best-selling drink.

---

Look out for Part 4!

Book Review: The Haunting of James Hastings by Christopher Ransom

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 08:46:00 +0000

I love a good ghost story, and, unfortunately a good and scary ghost story is hard to come by. Despite the intriguing concept behind The Haunting of James Hastings and its many haunting scenes and events, it failed to really chill. It's also entirely overencumbered by the clever twists, and even by the continued haunting itself.

The Haunting of James Hastings is curiously inspired by Eminem, taking as its starting point the what-if of a body double being taken to task for the opera that is rap music and being held responsible for what some believe inspires disrespect for authority, hatred of parents, violence against others, and the cause of teen and child suicide.

James was once a double for Ghost, a rapper just like Eminem, appearing at events in Ghost's place on occasion. But his wife is mysteriously killed behind their home, and James begins to feel he is losing his mind as he sees things that cannot be there, listens to his own grieving voice call him on the phone from the past, and increasingly feels as though he's not alone in his house. Then Annette moves in across the road, someone who seems to have the answers about Stacey's death. Things just become stranger from there: a battle of ghosts, so to speak.

It's not that the novel is difficult to follow, but as a reader you do feel a little betrayed as you run around the maze, finding open entries only to run into a dead end. The author's acknowledgment should serve as warning: he thanks a friend for trusting him when he said he knew what he was doing and it would ask make sense when he finished (p439). The twist is pretty good and makes for a satisfying ending, but you do become a little tired of wondering who everyone is all the time throughout the book, especially as everyone seems to be crazy or lying or acting, even James himself - who at one stage takes on the persona of Ghost to garner some strength.

Interspersed throughout the novel though are the most interesting writings, thoughtful soliloquies on the state of modern life and its addictions (p 236-7), the true meaning behind rap music and rappers and why it's all so misunderstood (p 299-305, 433), and the idea that people leave some of themselves behind on things they touch or make and you can hear them if it's the right medium (p159-165).

I certainly understand what Ransom was trying to do, and I know that the twists and turns are purposeful and meant to wind the reader up and keep us reading, and maybe it's just my state of mind while reading, but I felt Ransom was trying too hard, putting too much in to express his idea. Kudos👌 to him for keeping everything clear on his desk - it must have been quite a task. I enjoyed the concept of the story more than its telling, I guess that's what I'm trying to say.

The Haunting of James Hastings is not a bad ghost story, by all means. There's plenty of chilling happenings and sudden bangs and noises and screams and hauntings and the certainty that something is coming for you as you hide... But not only do I feel there was too much, it felt as though it should have been a movie script instead, with scares seemingly much inspired by Hollywood horror conventions: loud sounds in other rooms, jump scares, visions from the corner of your eye, and even torture porn.

I wouldn't read it again, though I am curious about the Ransom's first book, The Birthing House, and how his writing compares.

Have you read this novel? If so, what did you think of it?

Book Review: The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Stephenie Meyer is a name that everyone knows and many dislike. I borrowed her 2016 book The Chemist from the library (that accursed place is preventing me from reading all my at-home books...sigh) for four reasons: first, I didn't know Meyer had written anything after The Host; second, the book blurb interested me and the cover was cool; third, I was curious how she made the move from ... whatever Twilight was to spy thriller; and fourth, I realised I hadn't read a spy drama in a long time, if at all. Maybe the latter reason is why I really enjoyed this book. And maybe the latter sentence will make you think less of me, but there it is.

The Chemist's protagonist was once a prize interrogator for a secret government agency defending the United States from terrorism. Her talent is unique: she tortures with chemical concoctions that bring the kind of pain that makes people confess and offer valuable information quickly. However, her division is shut down for an unknown reason and she has been on the run for four years. We meet her in a library, researching ideas for her incognito lifestyle from spy novels (her using books for experience is something I can totally relate to). Her former handler makes an offer that would set her free from her life of running, but all is not what it seems, and Alex is about to find herself in the thick of events and emotions she'd been trying to avoid.

I must have been living under a rock in 2016 when The Chemist was published; either that or the Twilight sickness ruined her name for me. Nevertheless, I stumbled upon the book and it was meant to be: I thought it was great, especially considering that Meyer moved from young adult, gooey, ridiculous romance to something adult, complex, thrilling, and detail-oriented.

Of course, there is still the flavour of young adult in the pages, as well as the sweetness of gooey, ridiculous romance, but it's a complete about-turn for an author who insisted on the purity of her characters. It must have been completely out of her comfort zone and I think her achievement is admirable. The protagonist has such an interesting origin and it must have taken a ton of research (and assistance from her long list of helpers in her acknowledgement) to even get the story into something concise and clear, which I think she achieved.

I've read that many were disappointed that a lot of the twists were predictable, but I found this the least of my concerns. The praise on the front page - 'a compulsive page turner' - was absolutely valid for me, and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Maybe it has a lot to do with the types of books that I'm reading lately (anything and everything) making The Chemist seem so lavish in comparison.

I liked Juliana, or Alex, as well - her effortless blending in, her compulsive self-defences (though unrealistic and ridiculous), and her smallness - hey, us shorties must stick together! - and how she uses her talents to level out this weakness.

It also struck me as interesting that the novel was published in 2016, just four years before an influenza virus like the one Juliana's agency stopped really did put the brakes on the world for more than a year. It just shows that concerns about superbugs and biological weapons are a valid major concern and no longer just items to feature in our fictions.

If your reading list has, like mine, up to now been soft and squishy and without any of the more well-known spy thrillers, I don't think you would make a mistake picking up The Chemist and compulsively turning the pages until you're finished.

A Journey Through: O'Hagan's Be Near Me Part 2 (p21-40)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Here is Part 1 (p1-20).

And without further ado...

Morning Star (page 21)

If I have the correct reference, the Morning Star is a left-wing newspaper focusing on trade union, social, and political issues. It was founded in 1930 as the Daily Worker by the Communist Party of Great Britain.

In the Cold War, the paper made a name for itself by exposing war crimes such as British soldiers decapitating Malayan people and the USA's use of biological weapons during the war in Korea. British wholesalers banned the paper for almost 12 years and has often been the victim of surprise police raids.

It first appeared as the Morning Star in 1966, with Sarah Carneson, South African anti-apartheid activist and exile worked at the paper in the late sixties.
Image credit: Morning Star readers and supporters banner, by Pierre Marshall, CC BY 2.0}

Vladivostok (page 22)

Ruler of the East, Vladivostok, is Primorsky Krai in Russia's biggest city and administrative centre. On the Golden Horn Bay along the Sea of Japan, it was originally a Russian military outpost after a treaty and convention agreement with the Qing dynasty.

Cuba (page 22)

Cuba is an island located where the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic Ocean meet. Cuba's indigenous inhabitants around 4BC were the the Ciboney Taíno, a population decimated by colonisation. However, many Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans have Taíno strains and are direct descendents through female lines.

Cuba has one of the world's only planned economies, focusing on tourism and goods trade, and is ruled by a single-party authoritarian regime. Elections, though not democratic, are held and the country has been listed by Reporters Without Borders as one of the worst for press freedom.

Dresden (page 22)

The German state of Saxony's capital city, Dresden has a history as a royal residence for Electors and Kings of Saxony, resulting in a city that is full of cultural magnificence, even after the entire city centre was destroyed by bombing in World War II. It is a popular city for tourists, housing the Frauenkirche in Neumarkt, the Zwinger, the Semperoper, the Albertinum, and Dresden Castle, as well as the Striezelmarkt, one of the biggest German Christmas markets.

My heart is sore looking at the beautiful German architecture. :(
{Image credit from left: Frauenkirche, by Netopyr, CC-BY-SA 3.0; Zwinger Park photocrome by Adam Cuerdon; Semperoper, by Jacopo, CC-BY-SA 2.5; Albertinum, by Ben Unleashed!, CC-BY-SA 2.0; Dresden Castle, by Kolossos, CC BY-SA 3.0; Striezelmarkt, by LH DD/Dittrich, CC BY-SA 3.0}

Glasgow (page 25)

Glasgow has the largest population of all cities in Scotland. It is also fourth in terms of population in the United Kingdom and 27th in Europe. The word means 'green-hollow', perhaps referring to a ravine on the east of Glasgow Cathedral. It is affectionately called 'the dear green place'.

It is reputed to have been founded by Saint Mungo in the 500s, who established a church on Molendinar Burn, which was replaced by the cathedral. The Glasgow Fair is thought to have started in 1190.

There isn't a lot of medieval Glasgow in terms of architecture remaining. Cathcart Castle was built in the 15th century, and it is believed Mary Queen of Scots stayed here before the Battle of Langside, where she was defeated. The castle was demolished in 1980 after safety concerns were raised.
{Glasgow Cathedral, marking the site of Saint Mungo's church, by Julesn84, CC BY 3.0}

The Myth of St Ker and Irvine Bay (page 25)

David refers to a myth about a monk from Iona Abbey, named St Ker, leaving the abbey because of gout and whispers to cross the Irish Sea, landing at the river near Dalgarnock. The legend says he found the river flowing one way but made it flow the other instead. I can't find any reference to St Ker having changed the direction of the river, but I did find the story that it was Saint Winnan of Kilwinning, an ancient abbey town, who made the River Garnock change course because it failed to offer good fishing for his friends. Irvine Bay is on the River Irvine on the east of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire. It's known for its sandy beaches and its view of the Island of Arran.

Irish Sea (page 25)

The Irish Sea lies between Scotland and England and Ireland. Its largest island is North Wales' Anglesey. It's known for having the highest radioactive contamination in the world due to 8 million litres of radioactive waste being discharged into it daily since 1952 from the Sellafield reprocessing plants.

Gorse (page 25)

Gorse is an evergreen shrub native to parts of western Europe and Northwest Africa. Also known as furze or whim, the scientific genus name is ulex. The plants have green stems and small leaves, and also relatively large thorns.

Gorse blossoms are (or were) often exchanged between young lovers on May Day in Devon and Cornwall.
{Image credit: Gorse in Edinburgh, by XLibber, CC 2.0}

Irvine (page 26)

Irvine is a town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is ancient, and was at a time the earliest capitals of Scotland, during the rule of David I, Robert II and Robert III.

It is known as being a favourite of poet Robert Burns, with two streets being named after him, and there are rumours that Mary, Queen of Scots, stayed at Seagate Castle. Marymass is still held in the town; the festival celebrates the Queen.

Irvine is also known for the Granny Stone, a boulder thought to be left behind from the Ice Age, or perhaps it is the last stone of an ancient stone circle. It is believed the others were lost when the weir was constructed. The stone can be seen during low tide.

Prestwick (page 26)

Prestwick is a small town in South Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of only 14,901 in 2011. The Open Golf Championship was held here first at the Prestwick Old Course between 1860 and 1872.

The town was originally the farm of a religious house, and the name means 'priest's farm'.

It is rumoured that water from the week near St Ninians Church healed Robert the Bruce's leprosy - the well is still there today.

Ayr (page 26)

Prestwick forms part of Ayr, the administrative town of the South Ayrshire area. It was a royal burgh in 1205 and the 17th-century ramparts of a citadel constructed by Oliver Cromwell sits on the southern bank of the River Ayr. The word Ayr can be traced to the pre-Celtic word for 'strong river' or 'watercourse'.

The suburb of Alloway is Robert Burns' birthplace.

Ayr has been twinned with France's Saint-Germaine-en-Laye since 1984.

Kilmarnock (page 26)

Kilmarnock is the 15th most populated city in Scotland, with around 50,000 people. Located in East Ayrshire, it is the place of the publishing if the first collection of Robert Burns' poetry, in what is known as the Kilmarnock edition.

Johnnie Walker, the international whisky brand, originated in the town in the 1800s, and was still produced there until 2012.

Santa Maria sopra minerva (page 26)

Santa Maria sopra Minerva is one of the central Roman Catholic Order of Preachers, or Dominicans, churches. It was built right on top of the remains of what was thought to be a temple to Greco-Roman goddess Minerva, but was later found to be an Egyptian temple of Isis. The church is in Rome near the Pantheon and is the only surviving example of a Gothic-style church in Rome, all others having been made over in the Baroque style.

The Dominicans are an Order of Catholic Church founded by St Dominic, a Spanish priest. The Order of Preachers were at the forefront of Middle Age intellectual life. It is thus known for producing many intellectuals and philosophers.
{Image credit: Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, by Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Pantheon (page 26)

The Pantheon was a Roman temple but has been a Catholic church since 609. It consists of an excellent example of a portico and a rotunda, which has the largest unreinforced concrete done in the world, supported by 8 barrel vaults in the 6.4m thick sides of the dome. The thinnest part of the done is around the Oculus in the centre at 1.2m. It is so well-preserved because of its constant use as the Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres, or Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs.

Dalgarnock Abbey (page 27)

Visit Part 1 (page 5) for more about Dalgarnock itself.

The abbey at Dalgarnock, called Holyrood Abbey, has been a ruin since the 1700s, though I've it was a thriving place of worship. It was founded in 1128 by David I of Scotland and served as a parish church until the 17th century. It was also a royal residence for a time and it is a national monument. It lies at the eastern end of the Royal Mile (see Part 1, page 2 for more).

Moor at Auchentiber (page 27)

Auchentiber is a hamlet that is part of Kilwinning (see page 25 above) located on the Lugton Water, a tributary of River Garnock.

Auchentiber moss

Mossheads

I can't find a particular reference to a moor, but I suspect David uses the term as a Brit. Known as the mosses, there is a low-lying spot in the Auchentiber area that should be called bogs or mires. They are very rare in lowland Scotland because many have been drained or damaged beyond hope. Heads of moss are a special feature of this moss, and they are common filled with heathers, cranberries, bog rosemary, sundews, cotton and deer grass, and other mosses.
{Image credits: Auchentiber Moss by Rosser1954; Mossheads by Rosser1954}

David's Ancestral Claims (page 28)

David claims some serious religious ancestry.

John Rigby was executed on 21 June 1600. He was a layman and was only caught out for Catholic backsliding when he appeared in the Old Bailey on behalf of the daughter of his master, Sir Edmund Huddlestone. I think he was related through marriage.

Thomas Anderton was indeed a Prior of St. Edmund's in Paris in the late 15th century, and he wrote History of the Iconoclasts during the Reign of the Emperors Leo Isaureus, Constantin Copronimus, Leo IV, Constantin and Irene, Leo the Armenian, Michael Balbus, Theophilus, Michael III, and Theodora, 1671.

Lawrence Anderton wrote The Protestants Apologie for the Roman Catholic Church, 1608, among others, and Robert Anderton was declared 'blessed' in 1929 for dedication to his faith; he was executed on the Isle of Wight on 15 April 1586, now his feast day.

O'Hagan certainly did his research.

Wrightington, Ince Blundley, Hindley, and Wigan graveyards (page 28)

I believe the graveyard in Wrightington refers to that found at the St Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Lancashire. The parish was founded in December 1699, opening at a time when Catholics were persecuted for their faith. The present Church was built in 1805.

The Ince Blundell Roman Catholic Cemetery is located in Ince Blundell, Merseyside, England. The town itself is probably the oldest in Sefton. Curiously, the town's namesake, Henry Blundell, collected 17th and 18th century Italian sculptures, which he housed in a smaller version of the Pantheon. Curious because of the mention of the Pantheon in connected with Santa Maria Sopra Minerva above (page 26).

Near Wigan in Greater Manchester, is a town called Hindley, a name that means a 'clearing visited often by hinds and does'. The cemetery is split between denominations and there are many masonic gravestones found within, offering a rich legacy for the long masonic tradition that remains part of the town.

{Image credits: The Catholic Church of St Joseph, Wrightington by Alexander P Kapp, CC BY-SA 2.0;

Mother Lodge, Main Street (page 29)

David refers to the Masonic Mother Lodge near Dalgarnock. Lodge Mother Kilwinning, or Mother Kilwinning, is believed to be the oldest Lodge in the world, attributing its construction to the 12th century. One can visit the Mother Lodge Museum, which is filled with Masonic artefacts, medals, photographs, and medals, among other things.
{Image credit: Mother Lodge Kilwinning by Secondarywaltz, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Church of St John Ogilvie (page 31)

St John Ogilvie's is a Roman Catholic parish in St Andrews and Edinburgh. It honours John Ogilvie, who was ordained as a priest in 1610, whereafter he went to Scotland as a missionary. He disguised himself as a horse trader, but someone betrayed him. He withstood three trials, where he was deprived of food and abused. He did not name any Catholics, even when on the scaffold.

Dalgarnock Orange Order (page 31)

The Dalgarnock sect of the Orange Order, officially the Loyal Orange Institution, is part of an international Protestant order associated with Ulster Protestants, many of whom are descendents of 17th century British settlers. It is international, and also has lodges in Scotland, England, Togo, and the United States. Its aim is to defend the civil and religious liberties of Protestants, but has been criticised for its sectarianism, triumphalism, and supremacism.

St Andrews School (page 32)

Gerard Manley Hopkins (page 33)

Hopkins was a Jesuit priest and poet, actually considered the greatest in the Victorian age. His style was different from that established texts of the time, and his sprung rhythm concept placed him among innovators in the genre. He is known for work praising God through nature. He burned all his poems when he was decided he'd become a priest and did not write any for a long time; his friend Robert Bridges published what he had written posthumously.
{Image credit: Gerard Manley Hopkins}

Cross of Jesus, John Stainer, and William Sparrow-Simpson (page 34)

Sir John Stainer, an English composer and organist, was popular during his time, setting musical standards for Anglican church music that are still felt today. He composed the tune Cross of Jesus in 1887, to words for Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow by William John Sparrow-Simpson.

The words of the text are:

1 Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow,
Where the blood of Christ was shed,
Perfect Man on thee did suffer,
Perfect God on thee has bled!

2 Here the King of all the ages,
Throned in light ere worlds could be,
Robed in mortal flesh is dying,
Crucified by sin for me.

3 O myster'ous condescending!
O abandonment sublime!
Very God Himself is bearing
All the sufferings of time!

4 Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow,
Where the blood of Christ was shed,
Perfect Man on thee did suffer,
Perfect God on thee has bled!

And here is the tune:

Stabat Mater (page 34)

The Stabat Mater dates from the 13th century. It is a Christian hymn to Mary devoted to her suffering during her son Jesus Christ's crucifiction.

Here are several English translations. And below is an orchestral performance of it in Latin.

Eton College (page 34)

Eton College is an independent boarding school for boys in Eton. It is the 18th-oldest HMC school, having been founded in 1440. It is one of only three boarding schools remaining. Eton is probably most famous for its alumni, which include the likes of Academy Award winners, Nobel laureates, prime ministers, and generations of aristocracy. Price William and Prince Harry were also the first members of the British monarchy to be educated here.

According to Wikipedia (28/09/2021), the school costs US$68,244 per year; that's about R1,019,121.

forfend (page 34)

David's frequent use of the phrase 'heaven forfend' is one of the quirks that makes him unlikeable to many. Most people say 'heaven forbid', but his use of 'forfend' is archaic and - well - pretentious.

Nightmare on Elm Street (page 36)

I'm sure you know what A Nightmare on Elm Street is... but some interesting facts about it will do, certainly? It is considered as one of the best horror films ever made. Its concept is based Hmong refugees in the 1970s who fled to US because of the war in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, but suffered from nightmares so bad they did not want to sleep. Some of them died in the sleep soon after having the nightmares.

Catullus (page 36)

Catallus, or Gaius Valerius Catullus, was a Latin poet writing during the late period of the Roman Republic. He focused on personal life instead of heroes as much other poetry from the region did, and his poetry influenced the likes of Ovid and Virgil. His work is also known for explicit sexual imagery

Lord of the Flies (page 36)

This 1954 novel by William Golding always appears on lists of books you should read before you die or 100 classics or whatever. It follows the events that happen among young school-going boys who become stranded on an island with no governance, showing their decline in morality. I read the novel in school, and saw the 1990 film version in school, too (I would have been seven, then). Perhaps it can be blamed for my penchant for morbidity and horror.

Joan Miró (page 36)

Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish artist, known for his paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. He became internationally renowned for his Surrealist pieces and he was interested in the subconscious and unconscious mind, focusing particularly on the childlike.

Here is a catalogue of his work.

Adamson, Annan, David Octavius Hill (page 37)

David is referring to photographers whose work lined the passageways of St Andrews.

David Octavius Hill, a painter, and Robert Adamson, a photographer, are known for being the first to use photography for artistic, self-conscious work. The 'calotype' was patented by William Henry Fox Talbot and he corresponded with John Adamson, then professor of chemistry in experimenting with the process. He taught his younger brother the techniques and he soon became Edinburgh's first professional calotypist. Hill was a romantic landscape painter and decided he would paint a large historical work of the signing of the Deed of Demission (a dispute over the crown and landowners' role in appointing ministers resulted in over a third of those in the General Assembly signing the deed and resigning their positions to establish the Free Church of Scotland) used Adamson to make calotypes of the ministers before they returned to their homes. He was shocked at first, but his subsequent partnership with Adamson helped both men realise the artistic value of their calotypes.

Thomas Annan was the first photographer to record the awful conditions of housing for the poor, though his first interest was architecture and portraits. His images of the slums in Glasgow were used to document overcrowding and unhealthy conditions.

Follow the links to see what David refers to in his mentions, since I can't find the actual plates he was talking about.

Unloading Jute, Dundee Docks (by George Allan Little, ca. 1973)

The forge at Summerlee Ironworks, Coatbridge

Girls in the Dyeing room at Templeton's Carpet Works, 1910

Building of Forth Road Bridge

The new liner City of New York takes shape at Clydebank 1886

East coast fishwives gutting herring, 1900

The men of Cumnock Colliery, 1912

Cleaning fleece before baling, circa 1870

Workers at William Blackie and Co.'s book bindery at Glasgow in 1932

Mother Mary Joseph canonisation (page 38)

The founder of the Institute of the Holy Family, or the Passionate Sisters, or the Sisters of the Cross and Passion, Elizabeth Prout, was also known as Mother Mary Joseph of Jesus. The cause for her canonisation, because of her life and work in the religion, was opened at the end of the 20th century. Prout was venerated in January 2021 for allegedly miraculous cures.

Xeroxing (page 39)

For those not quite as old as I am, xeroxing became the word for making photocopies, since Xerox held the dominant position in the market in the 1960s and perpetuated as a result of its use in film and media. Nowadays, the word is used to refer to copying someone else's style or ideas, and if a music star has been xeroxed, it means they're basically a churned-out copy of previous successes.

----

Look out for Part 3! I would love to know what you think so far?

My Favourite Traditional Afrikaans Desserts for Heritage Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Happy Heritage Day! I thought that, since I'm making a sago pudding today (for the first time - I know, it's a tragedy), I'd share my top five favourite Afrikaans desserts, since I'm part Afrikaans. Sago pudding is actually not on this list! I wouldn't choose it if I had these five as options, as it's too much like frog egg-textured jelly for my liking.

Afrikaans desserts have lots of flavour. From intensely sweet, spicy, and salty, to delicate hints of cinnamon or apricot, everyone has a favourite or two. As you can see from my list though, I favour the softer flavours with lots of sugar 😅

Koeksisters

Believed to be an adaptation of a Dutch doughnut recipe, koeksisters are a plaited doughnut deep-fried in oil and then dipped in chilled, super-sweet syrup.

I've tried my hand at them but I'll never get the quality of true padstal koeksisters.

Recipe here.

{Image credit: Koeksisters, Arnold Goodway, CC BY-SA 2.0}

Rusks

Though not technically a dessert, rusks are in this list because there's nothing like dipping a buttermilk or aniseed rusk in tea after a meal. Also believed to be from the Voortrekkers, who needed non-perishable foods for their journey across South Africa, rusks now come in all kinds of flavours. And you can recognise a fellow South African when they perfectly time the dipping of their rusk to avoid dropping it in their tea.

Recipe here.

Melkkos, or milk food

Oh my gosh, what I would give for a proper, dairy milk melkkos! It's believed this very basic food originated during the Great Trek, when the Voortrekkers had to make the most of the little they carried with them. Basically just milk thickened with flour over a long cooking and stirring time, this used to be a common dessert, and even just an evening meal, in my home. Of course, don't just use cinnamon flavour, use cinnamon sugar!

Recipe here.

Melktert, or milk tart

I could literally eat an entire milk tart on my own. The delicate flavouring of the milk-based custard combined with the soft shortcrust is divine. I've only tried to make a vegan milk tart once, and I won't try again because it just does not do the dessert justice.

Recipe here.

{Image credit: milk tart, DimiTalen, CC BY-SA 3.0}

Pampoenpofferties, or pumpkin fritters

Puffy and naturally sweet, these are usually served as a side dish with meat, but when you eat them you feel like you're eating food and dessert at the same time! A bit naughty! You can make a caramel sauce with them, which I don't like, so just using plain old cinnamon sugar is for me!

Recipe here.

Are there any Afrikaans desserts you like that I didn't mention? Oh, I haven't tried any of these recipes, rather using my trusty old The Complete South African Cookbook, so the links are really just there for your convenience 😏

A Journey Through: O'Hagan's Be Near Me Part 1 (p1-20)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Having completed Andrew O'Hagan's Be Near Me, I've found myself a little lost in terms of some of the places and things O'Hagan makes mention of. I actually found the novel kind of pretentious, not in a bad way, even if that's what the word implies. It's pretentious because that is what David Anderton, the main character, is. He is an educated man, coming from a privileged life and many of the other characters with whom he interacts find him as obtuse as we the readers must do. Be Near Me is full of themes that can be read and reread and examined, I'm sure, including the likes of the separation between politics and religion, the struggles of different religions to be recognised and accepted peacefully, troubled and lost youths, terrorism and the right to defend the world from it, democracy and fascism, the abuse issues within that Catholic Church, and also how difficult it is to understand others. The novel was published in 2006, set in 2003, hot on the heels of not only the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States of America but also on a flurry of attention on sexual abuses within the Catholic Church following The Boston Globe's investigation of continued abuse in the American Catholic Church, making it a story of its time.

But I don't intend to focus on such heavy themes at the moment. So instead I'm taking you on a journey through David's mentions: places, music, food. And maybe a random fact or two. I hope it will be handy if you're embarking on a first read of the novel yourself. I'll be publishing in parts so the loading time is less and you can find the post that includes the page number of the item you're looking for as I go. Let me know what you think!

Edinburgh Castle (page 1)

Edinburgh Castle, one of the oldest fortifications in Europe, stands on Castle Rock, overlooking the city. It has been a royal castle since at least the 12th century until 1633. It is the United Kingdom's second most-visited paid heritage attraction.

The castle is a symbol of its city and appears on the coat of arms of both the City and the University of Edinburgh, while its image is used for everything from banks and stamps to sports clubs.

It is said that a piper who disappeared centuries ago can still be heard playing a mournful tune on his pipe, while many have reported ghostly figures, temperature drops, and clothing being inexplicably tugged. Meanwhile, the only child of Mary, Queen of Scots, James, was to become James VI of Scotland and I of England.

{Image credit: Edinburgh Castle, on Castle Rock by Nacckers, Wikimedia Commons, CC-BY-SA 4.0 CC-BY-SA 4.0}

Firth of Forth (page 1)

Several Scottish rivers join in the estuary of the Firth of Forth. The word 'firth' comes from the Norse word for a 'narrow inlet': fjord. Forth is from the name of the river Forth. The Firth is well-known because of its five bridges: the Kincardine Bridge, the Clackmannanshire Bridge, the Forth Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge, and the Queensferry Crossing. There was also a tunnel under it, the result of coal miners linking the north and south collieries.

The Firth is also known for a its group of 12 islands in the estuary of the River Forth. Several have religious or military connections. There is diverse bird and sea life and only one of the islands is inhabited year-long. One island, Falkirk, plays host to Blackness Castle, which was built in the 14th century and fortified in the 16th. It's been a royal castle, a State prison, and an ammunitions depot, but in 1990 a woman with her two sons claimed to have been chased from the Prison Tower by an angry knight in full armour.
{Image credit: View from the south, by MJ Richardson, CC BY-SA 2.0}

New Town (page 1)

Edinburgh's New Town is known for its original Georgian and neo-classical architecture. Princes Street is the most famous. The city's Newtown is apparently the haunt of a 19th century woman, who speaks her name when asked. Legend says she is the ghost of Jane Vernelt, a woman who was persuaded to sell her shop in the street and then had a degenerative mental illness. She died after being institutionalised.

Princes Street, and Old Town across the former Nor Loch, was declared World Heritage Site in 1995. Nor Loch was a marsh in the natural hollow near the town. It was filled by King James III in 1460 for defence. From the Middle Ages to the 19th century, it was a common spot for suicide attempts and for smuggling. And while it is believed witchducking took place there, there is little evidence of it. The loch was used for execution, and a chest containing the remains of George Sinclair and at least one of his sisters, with whom he confessed to committing incest.
{Image credit: Edinburgh's New Town,by Spike, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Royal Mile (page 2)

Nearly exactly a mile in length (1.6km), the Royal Mile stretches between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Place. It is the busiest street in Old Town and consists of five prestigious streets including attractions such as the Tron Kirk, the Outlook Tower and Camera Obscura, the Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland, St. Giles' Cathedral and the Mercat Cross.

The disappeared piper, mentioned in the summary of Edinburgh Castle above, actually disappeared after being sent to explore the castle's tunnels. It is said he played his pipes as he went underground, but the music stopped halfway down the Mile. No doubt you can hear his melody wailing on a foggy and cold morning along the street.
{Image credit: East down the Royal Mile by Kim Traynor,CC BY-SA 3.0}

Bohemian Glass (page 2)

This glass, also called Bohemia crystal, is glass that is made in Bohemia and Silesia, which are now part of the Czech Republic. It is famous for high quality and beauty, as well as innovative designs and excellent craftmanship. The decorative glassware is hand-cut, -engraved, -blown- and -painted and the items are popular tourist souvenirs. Some glass-making sites in the region date back to 1250.

The finest older Bohemian glass looks like lace, because the lead content allowed fine and detailed cutting. If you strike it with a fingernail, its tone indicates its quality: the richer, the higher the lead content. It also has more sparkle because of the high lead content. The oldest Bohemian glass was green, leading to it being called forest glass, but later it was produced in pink, red, cobalt, amber, green, and light blue.
{Image credit: Bohemian glass set, by Jirka, CC BY-SA 4.0}

Lancashire (page 3)

David is from Lancashire, a county in North West England. It was founded in the 12th century. In the Industrial Revolution, it became a major commercial region due to docks and cotton mills. The first fish and chips shop opened in Lancashire in 1863, and other traditional foods include toad-in-the-hole, fatherless pie (which is a variation of Lancashire hotpot without lamb), and other strangely named dishes like sad cake, parkin, rag pudding and frumenty. The Beatles were active in Liverpool, along with Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Searchers, and Cilla Black.

Obviously the county, being as old as it is, is said to be full of ghosts. Lancaster Castle, with over 1000 years of history above its foundations, is known for witch trials and 265 public hangings, while it is thought Queen Elizabeth I is said to haunt Rufford Old Hall's dining room. Hoghton Tower in Preston is said to be the third-most haunted in the United Kingdom, with the ghostly figures of a monk, a black dog, a little girl, and the Green Lady commonly reported.

Blackpool (page 5)

Blackpool is a seaside resort in Lancashire by the Irish Sea. It was fashionable to visit the town during the summer to improve health issues and became a tourism centre after the 1840s when a railway was built to it from the industrial regions of Northern England. Its attractions, aside from the seaside, include Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Water Park and the Winter Gardens. It is also the final survivor of the UK's first-generation tramway.

A Blackpool woman was plagued by a ghost in 1994, even resorting to calling a priest, psychics and a Mormon missionary to aid her. Her first experience of the ghost was when it slipped into bed with her and pulled off the towel she had on her head. She discovered that putting an ioniser in a room would make the ghost move from room to room. The story appeared in The Mammoth Book of True Hauntings.
{Image credit: Blackpool sea defences, by Alexander P Kapp, CC-BY-SA 2.0}

Ayrshire (page 5)

Ayrshire is a county in south-west Scotland. If I didn't see it in Wikipedia, I would never believe it has a population of just over 300,000. Kilmarnock is its largest settlement. Robert de Bruce is from Ayrshire, believed to have been born in Turnberry Castle and so is the celebrated bard Robert Burns, whose poem Comin' thro' the rye provides Holden Caulfield (from Catcher in the Rye) with the inspiration to become a savior of the young.

A cave along Bennane Head, between Girvan and Ballantrae along the Ayshire coast, is also known as Sawney Bean's Cave. While the myth has been told as a scary child's tale, many believe it was based on fact with a man named Alexander Bean heading a 48-member clan of people who committed incest and ate over 1000 people in the 1400s. The clan lived in the cave and would come out at night to kidnap people, who were brought to the cave and dismembered before being eaten. The story goes that body parts were washing up on the beach. The members were executed when they were caught, but it is said Sawney's ghost haunts the deepest, darkest part of the cave and you can hear the sound of teeth crunching on bone.
{Image credit: Ayr Beach, Scotland by Stuart Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0}

Dalgarnock (page 5)

Dalgarnock was once a busy parish near Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland, bordering the River Nith. It was the site of a popular fair until 1601, when the Earl of Queensberry transferred it to Thornhill. Only a churchyard remains as evidence of the site of the parish. It has gravestones dating from around the 17th and 18th centuries, and also a memorial the Covenanter martyrs of the Nithsdale district. The most interesting grave belongs to surgeon John Nivison, who died in 1732: his stone, which also commemorates his wife and four of his children, has a carving of the Green Man on the chest and foliage reaching the ground. This figure is considered a symbol of rebirth in pagan religious beliefs.

A headless horseman is said to ride the peak of Tynron Doon. According to legend, the ghost was a gentleman from the Dalgarnock M'Milligans whe offered marriage to the Laird of Tynron Castle's daughter. He was refused by the lady's brother and he was so angry he mistook the path, instead riding his horse off the steepest part of the hill, breaking his neck. The curses that were the last words to come from his lips have caused him to be trapped and troubled in our world.
{Image credit: Dalgarnock burial ground entrance, by Rosser1954, CC-BY-SA 4.0}

Balliol (page 7)

To those of us not familiar with the use of the word 'Balliol' in general conversation it refers to a college that is a constituent of the University of Oxford.

Balliol College is almost 800 years old and its alumni include Boris Johnson, Aldous Huxley, and John Wycliffe, the man who translated the Bible into English. In 1973, Balliol became the first ancient all-male college to admit a woman. Under some of the Garden Quad are some laboratories, once the most eminent chemical and physical laboratories in the late-1800s and early 1900s. Originator of the atomic number, Henry Moseley, and Cyril Hinshelwood are among those who worked there. The latter is a Nobel Laureate with Nikolay Semenov, receiving the award for his work into how chemical reactions work.

{Image credit: The Garden Quad in Autumn, by Toby Ord, CC-BY-SA 2.5}

Mutiny on the Bounty (page 8)

All I know of Mutiny on the Bounty is what I remember from watching the film long ago when I was a child, which isn't much. The films, of which there were three, and a musical were based on the novel of the same name, written by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, which in turn was a fictionalised version of the true mutiny on the Naval HMS Bounty in 1789.

The three films each had an amazing cast. The 1935 version starred Charles Laughton and Clark Gable, while the 1962 version starred Marlon Brando, Trevor Howard, and Richard Harris. A film that isn't referenced so often is 1984's The Bounty, helmed by Sir Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson.

Potage du Pére Tranquille (page 9)

If you were, like me, too lazy to look up the translation, the title is French for 'tranquil lettuce soup'. The French does make it sound more romantic doesn't it?!

Potage du Pére Tranquille taps into the Roman belief that consuming it promotes sleep. Apparently the milky sap, which gives lettuce it's flavour has lettuce opium in it. It's a very small dose, offering only a millionth of a therapeutic dose, but the French consider cooked lettuce to be calming.

I may make some, much to the chagrin of my family I'm sure.

I thought I'd share a recipe, but I can only find one that actually calls itself Tranquil Lettuce Soup. You can find it here.

Pain de Campagne (page 9)

Again, a French phrase for country bread or French sourdough. It's a round loaf, traditionally made with white flour combined with whole wheat or rye flour, water, leavening and salt. These loaves were once baked in communal ovens, and each loaf could weigh as much as 5.5kg!

Essex (page 12)

An Eastern county of England, Essex is probably most well-known for its deep estuaries along its North Sea coast, or as being home to the first landing spot of the Roman invasion in AD43. It is also home to the Dunmow Flitch trials, a traditional ceremony that tests a married couple's devotion to each other, the reward being a flitch of bacon. In case you were wondering, a flitch of bacon is a pig cut in half sideways. The custom dates to before Chaucer, and can be found elsewhere in England, too.

St Osyth's The Cage has been called one of the most haunted houses in Britain. Once the prison for Ursula Kempe, an alleged witch accused of being responsible for two childrens' deaths and was hung for her crimes in 1582. Owner Vanessa Mitchell claimed to have been pushed around and hit, seeing 'satanic' images around the property, and witnessing flying objects. And, since you surely know about the dreaded black dog, two of them are often spotted on Pitsea Mount where the 13th century St Michael's Church once stood. Known as the Black Shucks of Basildon, and it is believed sighting them is an omen of death - it's called the Grim in the Harry Potter universe.
{Image credit: Clacton-On-Sea, Essex, by Danesman1, CC-BY-SA 3.0}

Lizst's Essay on Chopin's Apartment (page 13)

I tried to find the essay in question, but it turns out the, or a similar, mention was made in chapter 3 of Franz Lizst's biography of Frédéric Chopin, called Life of Chopin:

As the corners of the room were left in obscurity, all idea of limit was lost, so that there seemed no boundary save the darkness of space. Some tall piece of furniture, with its white cover, would reveal itself in the dim light; an indistinct form, raising itself like a spectre to listen to the sounds which had evoked it. The light, concentrated round the piano and falling on the floor, glided on like a spreading wave until it mingled with the broken flashes from the fire, from which orange colored plumes rose and fell, like fitful gnomes, attracted there by mystic incantations in their own tongue. A single portrait, that of a pianist, an admiring and sympathetic friend, seemed invited to be the constant auditor of the ebb and flow of tones, which sighed, moaned, murmured, broke and died upon the instrument near which it always hung. By a strange accident, the polished surface of the mirror only reflected so as to double it for our eyes, the beautiful oval with silky curls which so many pencils have copied, and which the engraver has just reproduced for all who are charmed by works of such peculiar eloquence.

Nocturnes (page 14)

David says he enjoys Chopin's Nocturnes more than Bach. There are 21 nocturnes by Frédéric Chopin, considered the finest examples of solo works for piano. At first, his nocturnes garnered mixed criticism, but they grew in popularity and are now considered significant in any pianist's repertoire.

Alsace (page 15)

Mostly a white wine, Alsace, or Alsation, wine is produced in France's Alsace region, close to the Rhine and alongside Germany and Switzerland. Due to its Germanic influence, it, and Austria and Germany, make some of the driest Rieslings in the world, although sweet wines are also produced.

Aberdeen (page 16)

The city of Aberdeen, which translates as the 'mouth of the river Don', is the third-most populated city in Scotland. Old buildings in the city may sparkle because they're made of local grey granite that shines silver. Aberdeen Castle was under siege by Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. It was destroyed in 1308. The entire city was burnt down in 1336 by Edward III of England. The city was attacked 32 times by Germany in the Second World War.
{Image credit: Aberdeen city skyline, by Chris Downer, CC-BY-SA 2.0}

Bernini's Apollo and Daphne (page 16)

Gian Lorenzo Bernini's lifesize sculpture of Apollo and Daphne represents the climax of their story in Ovid's Metamorphoses. The story is that Apollo was shot with Cupid's love-inducing arrow and comes to desire Daphne. But Daphne will not have him, having been a victim of Cupid's anti-love arrow. To escape his relentless pursuit, she prays to her father Peneus to save her, and he turns her into a laurel tree.

I just had to include this image. Isn't the work ON STONE amazing!?
{Image credit: Apollo and Daphne, Alvesgaspar, CC-BY-SA 4.0}

Ampleforth (page 17)

David attended Ampleforth College, located at Ampleforth Abbey in England's North Yorkshire. It claims to be descended from a pre-Reformation community through its last surviving Westminster monk, Sigebert Buckley. The college separated from the Abbey in 2017, although monks do oversee the College's spirituality program.

David mentions a photograph of himself alongside a tree on a hill overlooking Ampleforth. Maybe this is the tree?
{Image credit: Looking towards Ampleforth Abbey and College, by Ian S, CC-BY-SA 2.0}

Galleria Borghese (page 17)

Of course, the Galleria Borghese is an art gallery. It is in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana in Rome. Cardinal Scipione Borghese was Bernini's patron and I think perhaps Apollo and Daphne were made for this house, meant to be displayed with their faces to the entrance as one walked in so their expressions could be seen.

Lancaster and Marecombe Citizen (page 19)

A regional Lancashire newspaper that seems to have deregistered as a print news paper in 2008. Its link (http://thelancasterandmorecambecitizen.co.uk/) takes you to the Lancaster Telegraph, under which it seems to be publishing online only.

Samuel Johnson (page 19)

Samuel Johnson was an 1800s English writer. It is believed he suffered from Tourette syndrome, but the condition had no name then, so many were disconcerted by his gestures and tics. The quote referred to is a note Johnson wrote to his friend James Boswell (the author of a biography of Johnson's life), who indicated he thought little things were not important enough to be included in journals. Here is the full quote below:

There is nothing, Sir, too little for so little a creature as man. It is by studying little things that we attain the great art of having as little misery and as much happiness as possible.

Look out for Part 2, coming soon (I hope!)

Penguin Books Readers’ Top 100 Classic Novels - How Many Have You Read?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 06:30:00 +0000

I’m certain you’ve seen dozens of reading lists, and I came across this one recently. Penguin Books surveyed their readers and came up with a list of the 100 best classic books, as opposed to the BBC’s list of 100 books everyone should read before they die. What I like about the Penguin list is that it’s a mix of genres and also has some lesser known titles within it. And I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t read as many as I have from the BBC’s list.

I’ve typed out the whole list below if you don’t feel like reading the exceptionally long list on Penguin's website outlining the summaries and appeal of every book.

In the list below, I’ve put a little star alongside those books that also appear in the BBC’s top 100, for interest’s sake, and have highlighted the ones I have read with a green tick, which are embarrassingly few. My favourites have a heart :) I aim to update this post when (if?) I ever read another one from the list.

Here goes:

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen ⭐ ✅ ❥
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee⭐
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald⭐ ✅ ❥
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez⭐
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys✅
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte⭐✅❥
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Secret History by Donna Tartt⭐
The Call of the Wild by Jack London✅
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
Persuasion by Jane Austen⭐✅❥
Moby Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville⭐✅
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis⭐✅
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
The Death of the Heart by Elizabeth Bowen
Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy ⭐✅
Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley✅❥
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov
The Go-Between by LP Hartley
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell⭐
Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck⭐✅ (Book Review; John Steinbeck's Manself)
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Code of the Woosters by PG Wodehouse
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein⭐
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens⭐ (Great Expectations the Novel vs Great Expectations 1998)
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller⭐
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Middlemarch by George Eliot⭐
Midnight 's Children by Salman Rushdie⭐
The Iliad by Homer
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thakeray⭐
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh⭐
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll⭐✅
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
Another Country by James Baldwin
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo⭐
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl⭐✅
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas⭐
Ulysses by James Joyce⭐
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov ⭐✅
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett⭐
Scoop by Evelyn Waugh
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens⭐
The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith and Weedon Grossmith
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy⭐✅ ❥
The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni
Orlando by Virginia Woolf
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Time Machine by HG Wells
The Art of War by Sun Tzu
The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
Women in Love by DH Lawrence
Staying On by Paul Scott
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame⭐
My Ántonia by Willa Cather
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte⭐✅
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind✅❥
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy⭐✅
Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham
Bleak House by Charles Dickens⭐
Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens⭐
Silas Marner by George Eliot
Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf✅
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott⭐
The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch
The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The Castle by Franz Kafka
I, Claudius by Robert Graves
Peter Pan by JM Barrie
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole⭐
The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson
The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy
A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad⭐✅
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood⭐
Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn
What a Carve-Up! by Jonathan Coe
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Hard Times By Charles Dickens

How many have you read compared to me? Yes, that's a challenge ;)

I Folded All 35 Fly Origami Fly Designs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 06:30:00 +0000

I love folding paper and hope one day to have folded the 1000 cranes necessary to earn my deepest desire (whatever that may be) and recently borrowed Fly Origami Fly by Mari Ono from the library (which has become my dirty little secret; I mean, I already have so many unread books...). I decided I would fold every design, despite not having the origami paper that was supposed to have come with the book.

I really enjoyed myself with the designs, some of which were quite challenging. After folding them, I painted my own designs or copied those provided on the binding on my finished products.

I made a video of the end results, which you can watch below.

The best part, of course was giving them all to my daughter to play with, and the kites - particularly the Hawk - were the biggest hit.

Do you like doing origami? I would highly suggest you try, especially if you have kids. It teaches patience and also helps with fine motor coordination.

Loosening Up: Taking Photos With Just One Lens?! Eek!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 06:30:00 +0000

Letting go of control over my art is something I'm trying to do in my photography, too.

I wonder sometimes how negatively my vision was affected by what I learnt during my photographic studies, then through my first digital camera, and finally with my smartphone.

In the first instance, learning photographic techniques and standards may have some sway over what one considers a 'good' photo. In the second instance, digital photography does away with the possibility of something remarkable happening to the film that you don't expect as you take a photo. And finally, smartphones do everything automatically, from focusing to adjusting the final exposure. There's really no place, or chance, for accidental beauty any more, and, once again, photography has become something controlled, something I could control.

Usually I'll go somewhere, say on a hike, with a few lenses so I can get exactly the shot I want at the time. I've been wanting to go out with only a 50mm or 28mm, to seriously limit how I can take photos with the purpose of opening myself up to opportunities. I haven't done it yet, but I did it recently with my fish eye lens (Okay, I'll admit I cheated a little because the range on the lens is 10mm to 17mm) and it was fun trying to get the shot I wanted with a lens that really wasn't appropriate for what I wanted, meaning that I had to change my perspective. Do you see where I'm going with this? I hope you do; I think I may have lost myself there a little...

I've ended up pleased with what I managed to capture last weekend, even with struggling with exposure because the fish eye has wide aperture by default. It was fun!

I still feel I have a long way to go, and I'm focusing too much on the whole boring picture, but I managed to get my images the majority of the time. These are just general photos from the hike. Not my favourites. Let me know if you'd like to see them. This next one is one of them, though.

Clematis seed pods lit up by the sunrise

View of Sandton

Walking into the sunrise

Primrose Hill in the background

Below is a panorama of the valley south of Linksfield Ridge. Ordinarily I would have filed the images away because it's curved, damnit! But it's fine, right? Right?

The valley south of Linksfield Ridge

How have you got yourself out of a control rut, whether it's photography based or just in general? Believe me, I need the advice 😅

Loosening Up: I'm Trying To Not Control My Art

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 06:30:00 +0000

The Head of Leda
by Michelangelo

I have been drawing for a long time. And I don't know when it started but at some point I wanted everything to be perfect. And if it wasn't, to my eyes, it was awful. This perfectionist in me is officially in danger!

I'm focusing on loosening up, on worrying not about the details but how I'm feeling while I draw and what feelings are inspiring it.

I haven't been doing much drawing in the last few months, but the need has come back with a vengeance after some soul searching, the same soul searching that has uncovered the reasons I aim for perfection, and unhealthy reasons at that. But I know that art and creating things is as necessary to me, as necessary as writing (my superpower, you know). Hopefully the latter will return to me soon, too. 🙏

And necessary to my growth is letting go. You know already I have struggled with it, still struggle with it, but where better to start than the place that can truly reflect, possibly, me.

So I started with a painting kit. No pressure to be unique. And I aimed to stop worrying about getting it to look exactly the same. I struggled with this, still painting over places and being cross about the wrong colour mix. Then one day, it left. I started to enjoy myself again, no pressure of perfection, just going with it.

This week, I did some copying. I read a book about artists in Florence and copied some of their work out in my sketchbook, aiming to loosen up my lines and try forget about the detail. Florentine artists were all about the detail, I know, but their work looks so free (and no wonder: they were introducing a completely new style to the art world!) And it made a great point to start, don't you think?

Male Portrait - Leonardo da Vinci

The Sacrifice of Isaac - Michelangelo

Madonna studies from Madonna and Child by Michelangelo

My lines are still a bit hard, but it will get there. Even saying that is an achievement: before I would just be disappointed regardless.

So here's to loosening up! Maybe my anxious neck and shoulders could join the party?

BBC’s 100 Books to Read Before You Die - How Many Have I Read?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 07:44:00 +0000

I've done a lot of reading throughout my life, and sometimes I think I've failed when I haven't read a lot of official lists like the one below. Well, semi-official because I can't actually a recent official list actually published by the BBC. I've used this list, but I took out The Kite Runner and added The Wasp Factory instead because it's a novel I highly recommend.

There's a listicle that you can also check if you prefer, though it's also a little different.

Here are the 100 Books apparently recommended by the BBC to read before you die. I have linked each book to its Goodreads profile. The key for the symbols is as follows: ✅ Read ; ❥ Favourite. Alongside some of them I've included links to previous posts I've made about the books in question. It's embarrassing how few posts I've made. Lol.

As of 22 July 2021, I have read 39 out of 100. EEK

I intend to keep this list updated, but I would love to know how many you've read!?

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen✅
The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkein✅
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte ✅ ❥
The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling✅
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee✅
The Bible
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte✅
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell✅
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman ✅ ❥
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens✅ (Great Expectations the Novel vs Great Expectations 1998)
Little Women by Louis May Alcott✅
Tess of the d’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy✅
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
The Complete Shakespeare by William Shakespeare
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by JRR Tolkien
Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War by Sebastian Faulks
The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger✅
The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch by George Eliot
Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ✅ ❥
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck✅ (Book Review; John Steinbeck's Manself)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy✅ ❥
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis✅
Emma by Jane Austen✅
Persuasion by Jane Austen ✅ ❥
The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo✅ (Book Takeaways Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coehlo; Special Guest Post: 5 Great Books We Could All Learn Something From)
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Winnie-the-Pooh by AA Milne✅ (How I Discovered that Winnie-the-Pooh is Good, Actually)
Animal Farm by George Orwell✅
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy✅❥ (Book Review)
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Atonement by Ian McEwan✅ (Book Review; Movie Review)
Life of Pi by Yann Martel✅
Dune by Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen✅
A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon ✅ (Book Takeaways)
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov✅
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold✅ (Book Review; Movie Review)
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
On the Road by Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick or, The Whale by Herman Melville✅
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
Ulysses by James Joyce
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome
Germinal by Émile Zola
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thakeray
Possession by AS Byatt✅ (Book Review)
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert ✅
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web by EB White✅
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (Book Review: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection by Enid Blyton
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad✅
Watership Down by Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
A Town Like Alice by Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks✅
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl✅
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo

My Top Breaking Benjamin Songs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 07:34:00 +0000

Facebook/Breaking Benjamin

Breaking Benjamin isn't a popular band in South Africa, at least not since 2007, the year the single Breath from Phobia hit number one in the United States, and even then it was only among a small minority of listeners. I don't get around much to be honest, but I never hear their music on the radio.

According to AllMusic.com, the band's alternative sound defined mainstream rock in the early part of the noughties. I was still (well, technically I still am) wallowing in the depressing tones of disillusionment of Silverchair and Placebo at that stage, and very occasionally overindulging in the brazen outrage of Fiona Apple before someone bought the CD (a CD, can you imagine!?) for me, saying they thought I might like it. And I did.

It's still my go-to band for singing (off-key and terribly, of course), a song for every feeling, and smart lyrics, seeped in the likes of despair and heartache and grief and jealousy and destiny - all those happy things that make life so interesting. But their songs are also filled with hope, because there is always a way out of the darkness, right?

If you haven't heard them before, I hope you'll give some of my favourites a listen, even if you're not into rock/alternative. If you have heard them before, then maybe we can compare notes; you are allowed to tell me my taste in music is terrible.

My favourites featured in the playlist below include You and Evil Angel from Phobia (2006); The Dark of You and Torn in Two from Ember (2018); Angels Fall, Hollow, and Ashes of Eden (this one's beautiful) from Dark Before Dawn (2014); I Will Not Bow, Without You, and What Lies Beneath from Dear Agony (2009); and their lovely cover of Queen's Who Wants to Live Forever from Shallow Bay: The Best of Breaking Benjamin (2011). What I also love is the artwork for the albums; they're all eye-catching and interesting, although the jury is out whether they have anything to do with the titles and overall theme of every album. I also like that each album has the same title style. So sue me.

Let the Earth Speak to You

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 16:56:00 +0000

Be still, and the earth will speak to you. - Navajo proverb

My Projection Isn't Real - Is Yours?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 09 Jul 2021 18:38:00 +0000

I have been thinking a lot lately about Fred Botting's ideas about us creating ourselves with our surroundings and I've realised something about my little box.

I've struggled with the past for a long time to be honest, and although I've never let it particularly bother me in a regretful way, it became pretty bad for the last few years.

But I'm wondering if I wasn't setting myself up for disappointment - my own and that of people whom I care about. You see, my little box, my surroundings, are filled with things from the past. I have a really difficult time letting go of things. Physical things, and emotional things, too, I guess. I have a cupboard full of clothing that I don't wear but keep just because. I have jewellery from when I was little. I have soft toys that I kept for my kids one day, but it's obvious that this was untrue since if my daughter doesn't want it I feel sick to my stomach at the thought of giving it away. I have ornaments and boxes and old paintbrushes and books. A good friend - one of those whom I disappointed and never intended to hurt as much I did - insisted that it was time to rid myself of my grade 10 biology notes.

It's ridiculous really, the way I put up posters I displayed in high school and pack all these silly trinkets around the room as though they mean anything to anyone but myself. I hate to say it but it feels sometimes like I'm making up for something with these little valueless trinkets; in reality they're supposed to be representative of me, of who I am - or at least who I think I am, or what I suppose I'd like myself to be seen, in a world that doesn't really pay true, subjective attention. They're a curated version of me, like those social media feeds referred to in my previous post. These little projections of myself are all aimed at projecting some fantastical idea I have of myself, or how I'd like to be thought of, but it's not real (maybe the correct word is genuine?). It's based on someone that doesn't exist anymore. And if this way that I want people to see me is not real, am I?

{Image credit: Unsplash/Jakob Owens}

{ Under The Bluegums }

What Knitting Gifts Will Really Make Your Crafter Happy?

✔️ Subscription Boxes

✔️ Books

✔️ Truly Useful

✖️ Gimmicks

✖️ More complicated items

Friday Finds: 3 December 2021

Amigurumi of the Week

Accessory of the Week

Crocheted Item of the Week

Knitted Item of the Week

Events You Should Be Following

Friday Finds: 25 November 2021

Amigurumi of the Week

Accessory of the Week

Crocheted Item of the Week

Knitted Item of the Week

Challenge of the Week

Wildcard of the Week

A Journey Through: O'Hagan's Be Near Me Part 4 (p61-90)

Trident Submarines (page 63)

'The smell was so high it reminded me of the French poet's lily that soaks up blue antipathies' (page 64)

Auchenharvie (page 69)

Nijinsky (page 74)

Entrechat (page 74)

St Margaret's in Irvine (page 77)

Lebanese red wine (page 77)

Royal Botanic Gardens (page 77)

Girvan Harbour (page 80)

Bay of Tonkin (page 81)

San Carlos Bay (page 81)

Anfield (page 83)

'Jellyfish floated past the boat' (page 83)

Lisbon Lions 1967 (page 85)

Garry Loch (page 87)

Kennedy's Nags (page 89)

Valpolicella (page 90)

Dutch Masters (page 90)

Cristal (page 90)

'lowriding Lexus' (page 90)

Friday Finds: 19 November 2021

Amigurumi of the Week

Accessory of the Week

Crocheted Item of the Week

Knitted Item of the Week

Challenge of the Week

Wildcard of the Week

Thick

No Friday Finds :( Here's why!

Divorced Soul Mates? Questions Raised by A Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach

Friday Finds: 5 November 2021

Amigurumi of the Week

Accessory of the Week

Crocheted Item of the Week

Challenge of the Week

Wildcard of the Week

Friday Finds: First Edition, 29 October 2021

Amigurumi of the Week

Accessory of the Week

Crocheted Item of the Week

Knitted Item of the Week

Challenge of the Week

Wildcard of the Week

Movie Review: Dune (2021)

Further Reading

A Journey Through: O'Hagan's Be Near Me Part 3 (p41-60)

Ailsa Craig (page 42)

UEFA Cup (page 43)

Martin O'Neill (page 43)

Henrik Larsson (page 43)

You'll Never Walk Alone (page 43)

Wallace Stevens (page 46)

Harmonium (page 46)

Stars at Tallapoosa (page 46)

there is no moon, on single, silvered leaf (page 46)

Hymn from a Watermelon Pavillion (page 46)

Blue Star garage (page 46)

Grosvenor Square (page 49)

Heysham (page 50)