Anna Karenina

We went to the Tyneside Cinema to see Anna Karenina this week; Keira Knightley is such a clothes-horse in costumes for period dramas- I wonder why producers and wardrobe mistresses don't ask me  to help out? I could swan around in velvet and silk though I would draw the line at fur. Of course I would have to be forced to take a young lover.... but I would ' take one for the team'.

Funny how you don't think of yourself as getting old (well I don't- I will not go there graciously!) until someone states it. For me who is so active it was a bit of a slap in the face when I asked the optometrist at RVI's eye A and E, she told me that the cause of my PVD floaters was that I had had 'too many birthdays'- she was being kind but for the first time I think it hit me that this was time and tide waiting for no man. C'est la vie.......

The wind blew the bird table over during the night before last; it is now in pieces and awaiting H1's attention and dubious DIY skills. I planted the Helianthus (Lemon Queen) and a Gaura (Rosy Jane) and half (with D3) another perennial whose name eludes me........

I haven't slept well and for long; behind us had a party in the garden till well after midnight- very loud chat so I closed our window completely to reduce the noise; I do like fresh air and always have the window locked on the sneck to allow air to circulate so got a bit of a head this morning. Of course it could be that I have not drunk much alcohol for probably a year cos I enjoy a lot of nonalcoholic wines/pressed raspberry and apple juices/lime and lemon water etc, but last night I shared a bottle of red wine with L- red is always dicey for me and this morning my head does not have its usual clarity!
I am away for a glass of water and a cup of tea.

Dilemna?

Yesterday's dilemna caused another! We discovered that H1 and I are still different people after all these years of being maritally joined at the hip- we spell dilemna differently- he has a dilemma and I have a dilemna- it seems to be a bit of a discussion point on the internet too.

The dilemna actually was not of major importance- do not laugh! Whether to change the summer duvet to the autumn one? Ever the optimist I always think we might get an Indian summer in September so I have left the summer weight one on and inspite of the drop in temperature and the wind lashing the trees outside, this was the right answer to the dilemna.

We have been gadding about again-
The Little Theatre's 'Blythe Spirit' production was absolutely fabulous- so professional; Saturday's trip to the Theatre Royal to see 'Relatively Speaking' was also laugh a minute- Felicity Kendal was, rather unexpectedly (after Rosemary and Thyme?) hilarious, though we were not so impressed by Kara Tointon's acting skills. A lot of our social life (of the Indian, Italian, pub variety) missed by busyness and holiday is being caught up on.
We also seem to be spending time in medical circles- I am not into this getting older! For those of my readers in the USA (I have checked my stats and there are some!! excitement!) our NHS is wonderful. It does not come free as we pay in via salaries all our working life BUT these 'taxes' fund the NHS at local (General Practitioner) level and hospital level; no paramedics checking your documentation before they will even load you into an ambulance here (I am remembering D1 and D3's experience in New York). People say there are things wrong with the NHS but there are so many things right about it! We could not do without it- well my right eye could not have done without it this week.

Inspite of the wind (gale type not flatulence!) I am going outside to plant- I must get 'Rosy Jane' in before the sun drops.

Jesmond Dene House

I think Jesmond Dene House was formerly the residence of the Noble? family- somewhere in the back of my mind I recall a greengrocery.... Barry Noble? Was it the same family? A bit like Bookless' small chain of shops- and Woolworths- those are names that have just disappeared off the High Street. I used to visit  for fundraising events when it was a special school.
Enough of the musing..... we ladies who lunch actually missed lunch and went for afternoon tea; I have been several times with friends but this was a family outing. I forgot to show you in pixels, what was on offer as it looked so good we wolfed three, china tiers down before remembering the camera!!

We howled with laughter at the demolition job we did as we let loose from the diet-filled lives we lead.
Hmm! Something is amiss! H1 actually remembered our anniversary.

Hmm!

The Hearth, Horsley

When the rain prevents me from gardening, a flower festival is the next best thing- I'd love to work on arranging.... my friend, S always has wonderful creations whenever I call in to see her- not even an announced visit so she has these floral, arty things there all the time- not arranged specially for me coming! My spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Alongside the festival at the Hearth was a display of crafts by local or resident artists; gorgeous glass and ceramic works by a girl from Bardon Mill; chairs adorned with sunflower backs in glass, pheasants hidden in camouflaged ferns and the most beautiful 'picture' in glass of Linhope Spout; H1 asked for it for birthdays , Christmas et al but his regular spending waved that £700 gift away from adorning our walls.

Ingram Valley up in the Cheviots is where I have heard the cuckoo every year...

Cuckoo comes in April
Cuckoo sings in May
Changes tune in the middle of June
and then he flies away.

I used to go up Ingram Valley with students to  do river studies. It is also a great place to build dams across the Breamish no matter what your offsprings' age! In summer sunshine, steely-nerved local youths leap off the top of the waterfall and plummet into the perfectly round plunge pool below.

Our visit was made through a fine mist. We stalked across the moor while, as in days of yore, the 'Scots' tried to evade our visit! Our trousers were tugged at and damp trainers suggested we should have put our walking boots on after all.

 

We strode upvalley to find the peaty, brown beck nosing noisily through a verdant vale.

A frothing cascade tipped over the rocky edge and, like a foundling, transformed through white lace roughness into the dark,silent and sinister depths below.

Our presence was observed by the local inhabitants!

Vindolanda

Regardless of the weather we had to keep up to date with the dig at Vindolanda- fort and vicus. This year only the former is being dug. Maybe this was a good year to miss out wheeling me barrow as it was so clarty!
I was thrilled to find 'Amanda's well' preserved for perpetuity in the fort.

I have heard that Housesteads has improved tremendously -it would take some doing to beat the film and displays at the Roman Army Museum (buy a double, cheaper ticket at Vindolanda as the museum is not far west along the Military Road).
What is it about the Roman Wall Heritage sites that I can sense the former inhabitants moving through the mist with me? Perhaps it is that glass of wine at the Hadrian Hotel at Wall (village)?

Staycation 2

Before I look back again over a summer which was so busy, let me keep you up to date first. As well as a journey down to York and another to see friends in Hexham (yes! Me doing all the driving... thereby hangs a tale)- we went to the Live Theatre to see 'The Prize'- go! go! go and get a ticket! Personal stories of the efforts Olympians and Paralympians make to get to the Games- just down from the Fringe- and such acting!
Our walk to the Live on Friday night was frothing with the screechs of power boats racing between the bridges- what was taking place?

I strode out along a favourite walk with the Ladies in July- following the Ouseburn through Jesmond Dene (great scones in the tearoom!), Heaton Park, Shieldfield, past the Cluny (but call in at the Byker City Farm en route), round the back of  Seven Stories (Britain's National Archive and gallery), down to the River Tyne (ahem! via the Tyne Bar near the barrage- You must think we eat and drink our way round the North!).

The Quayside is an interesting place to be! I spy with my little eye...... (click on the photos to see them enlarged)

 The Blacksmith's Needle is adorned with all sorts of symbols connected with the city and the river.

Ships from the Tyne travelled all over the world, mainly with coal from Newcastle- thus the phrase about there being no point taking things to places which already have those things- it would be like 'carrying coals to Newcastle'. Most trade was done with the Hanseatic League mainly round the Baltic  so the Art Gallery on the south side is named the Baltic; apparently the powers that be want the old Rank flour store just called Baltic -how pedantic-but we Novocastrians ignore that request and everyone sticks 'the' in front of it. Irreverent names like the 'sea slug' are given to the Sage but as the 'skin' reflects the colour of clouds above, thus changing its appearance with every weather mood, folks now regard it with affection. It is said the window panels of the Sage which overlook the river, represent the Tall Ships which have visited the Tyne twice- check it out!

There is a sandy beach built on the north bank now- bring your deck chair.....we HAD to call in for lunch at the Pitcher and Piano; often you can see the Millennium Bridge go up by looking over the rim of your glass (oops! Have I given you the wrong impression again?!)

Slowly and reluctantly we then had to make our slovenly way up to the Haymarket for a bus.

Men!

I never fail to be surprised by men. I have been married to one for over 35 years and he still manages to perplex me.

Last night the Paralympics Opening ceremony was on television. As D3 said,
"This is totally random but I love it! Science lessons have never looked so good".
I have no idea what the rest of the world made of our scientific history and 'The Tempest' but I agree with the general opinion- great!

However watching that and recording 2 other programmes on our Humax ( maybe a little elderly but.....) sent the recorder haywire; today I went out with a friend while H1 played golf- and I returned to find H1 was home and had been playing around with the Humax- he had wiped all MY recorded programmes off the Humax- not his- just mine- you work it out because I cannot under any circumstance.

How many words can I find for angry?
furious
stotting
irritated (not big enough!)
mad
spitting tacks
blowing a fuse?


Grr!