Kleine Scheidegg
Michael Halfpenny’s stunning pictures of Kleine Scheidegg feature on My Weblog this week. Kleine Scheidegg in Switzerland sits between the Eiger and Lauterbrunnen, and is the centre of the Ski area around Grindlewald and Wengen. There is a rail station and hotels here, and the yearly mountain race in September ends in Kleine Scheidegg
To the south of Kensington Gardens, high above the watchful, glittering towers of the grand Imperial Institute, wholesome breezes fell upon the narrow arboreal road leading to the quiet respectable villas of Dorset Square… Further to the south, the River Thames shone silvery, like the path of a passing snail, in the lowering moonlight… Black of night.
She was late. It had gone eleven. Her daughter was never this late. In the basement kitchen of number 10 Mrs Mansell – The Llewellyn’s cook, fussed over her single seed like a preventive hen. Her eyes darted angrily once more to the small window that looked out over the small stairwell running to the street above. She would know her daughter’s footsteps – she would know them well. She tied the leg of Canterbury Lamb for the tenth time, mindful in one last pull, and looked at the slowness of her mantle clock. It’s tick thundered in the emptiness of a kitchen hung high with large copper pots and wiped her hands in routine on a messy dark apron that clung tightly to her aging thighs. Her beloved was never this late… Never this inconsiderate… Never this… No good! Irene should never be out so late… It was now well past eleven! People could not be trusted in this new age – hungry-found freedoms in young men, were for the best part destructive. Since the war people were different, irresponsible and blameless… And some were damaged goods.
Then she heard those hurried footsteps, chattering and clattering down the worn stone steps, and the recognizable spell of cotton cloth that wisped the blade of window light and framed a thankful evidence. A tiny smile crossed the widow’s face, fractioned only for second or two, and then turned itself down deep into the crevices of her private thoughts. She was replenished, relief was her’s, it governed her once more, and lifted her again into the plateau of satisfied endeavor. At last, she was here… This girl was here!
The door opened slowly into the kitchen with a heavy wincing creak. Her daughter stood framed for a moment in the half light, its pale golden reflection touching and running tiny fingers through the swirls and curls of her chestnut hair. She stepped into the kitchen, her fine body before her… A roll of confidence in her manner. She was a child who was finding her womanhood.
The Household Cavalry Museum in the heart of Horse Guards, in Whitehall, London, is unlike any other military museum, as it offers a unique “behind-the-scenes” look at the work that goes into the ceremonial and operational role the Household Cavalry Regiment.
The Household Cavalry Museum can be found at: www.householdcavalrymuseum.co.uk
The Grove Theatre in Dunstable England
It was a wonderful evening of entertainment at The Grove Theatre Dunstable England; when Marilyn and myself attended The Russian State Ballet Academy of Perm performance of ‘The Nutcracker’ recently.
The Christmas story is based on “The Nutcracker and The King of Mice” written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. It tells the story of Marie, a rather sad little girl, whose godfather Drosselmeier gives her a nutcracker as a present on Christmas Eve. It turns into a prince who invites her on a journey into the Sugar Plum Fairy’s Land of Sweets. Marie celebrates with a sumptuous party together with her godfather and the nutcracker prince.
Michael Halfpenny’s delightful picture reminds me of the famous children’s Nursery Rhyme…
Hickory Dickory Dock
The Mouse ran up the Clock
The Clock struck One!
The Mouse ran down
Hickory Dickory Dock
This Rhyme was first published in 1744 and was intended to introduce children to the basics of time!
Robert Morey is Howling at the Moon this week…
Astride the heavy timbers, the stone grey walls are bare, they echo to my whisper…. As though the dead are there!
I stood outside The People’s Palace on The Mile End road, one hot July afternoon in 1980. Somehow standing there I could feel her presence on that wintry evening all those years ago. She would have been hesitant, afraid, and yet thrilled. She would have walked up those few enlightening steps, gripped tightly and disapprovingly by her mother. Herbert Marks would have stood beside the pillared archway, smiling, his face lit to the cold night air… Dear Herbert who’s stomach ulcers in time would become the better of him… was the most sweetest of men. They would have entered this great hall arm in arm and performed with an exacting elegance under chandeliers that sparkled like a thousand tiny gems. Here gowns would have been filled with paraded ladies of charm, whilst men squinted through solitary eyeglasses and ordered waiters and drinks around.
In my hand was her silver pendant, it gleamed at me from its loneliness. It had hung around her neck that evening… a heart shaped pendant that opened to a tiny portrait of her… later she had added a picture of her beloved Charles.
The stone steps leading to the terraced balustrade were worn now with the progress of time and footsteps, and the archway of pillared marble, chaffed and pitted by the chilling winter winds that rose from the east of the City… and as I stood there with my thoughts… a shiver ran through my veins.
St Paul's on Ludgate Hill
Sitting on the highest point of The City of London is St.Paul’s Cathedral on Ludgate Hill. Established on the grounds of a Roman trading post for the city of Londinium, it is thought to be the fifth St. Paul’s Cathedral built here, and many thousands of visitors pour out from the nearby subway of St. Paul’s each day to marvel at it’s simple beauty.
The Lighthouse Building at King's Cross
King’s Cross in North London was once known as Battle Bridge! Here a bridge once crossed the River Fleet, and it was here that Boudica headed her Iceni tribe in battle against the Roman Army then guarding the city of Londinium and it’s inhabitants.
The name King’s Cross comes from an unpopular monument erected to King George IV and a Cross that once stood on the site of the now King’s Cross station.
Robert Morey continues his camera-walk around Londinium
'Catch Life Collective' - Photography
Well worth a visit is FringeMK 2009 International Arts Festival ‘Catch Life Collective’ – Photography, at The Church Of Christ The Cornerstone, close to Milton Keynes shopping centre in Milton Keynes.
This is an eclectic and diverse mix of visually stimulating and thought provoking imagery, and Milton Keynes is the home to a new photographic art group; ‘Catch Light Collective’. The group is made up of photographic artists from Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas, and “The Collective” includes both full time artists and those that create in their spare time. The calibre of members is high, some having won awards, been published, and exhibited locally, nationally, and internationally.
Those exhibiting artists are: Andra Alexander… Pam Broom… John Credland… Sarah Gardner… Elizabeth Gordon… Wendy Grant… Gem Bonham-Horton… Gordon Tant… And Frazer Waller.
…And if you like their works, they can be purchased.