A pain in the head

We are back to fairly normal routine now, after the holiday long weekend and unfortunately part of that routine recently has been a recurrence of migraine headaches.  These had eased off for me over the last few years, but recently they have increased in number and strength.  

Yesterday afternoon was a classic demonstration of how a migraine can take over your day.  I'm lucky in the respect that the migraines I experience don't have any visual disturbances attached.  The throbbing pain behind the left eye and the nausea that accompanies it are very unpleasant and there is no other option for me but to lie down and try to sleep.  Over the years (these began when I was about 9 years old) I've realised that there is no way of diverting a migraine once it has a hold.  Lying down in the dark is the only course and IF I'm lucky I won't get sick.  

Yesterday I just about made it home from work at 3.30 pm and lay down.  I finally surfaced at 8.45 pm feeling a bit woozy but ready for a cup of tea.  So much for all the plans I had for yesterday afternoon!  

I think that the reason I've written about this at length is that there is often confusion between a bad headache, which is very unpleasant and a migraine, which is often completely debilitating and in some cases can need hospital treatment.  Generally with a migraine it's impossible to do anything while you're suffering from it - light hurts your eyes and movement makes you sick.   I find it difficult to hold my head upright when in the grip of a migraine, because it hurts too much and makes me feel, and often be, sick  So, that was my Thursday afternoon!!  

There may be an upside to migraine for some sufferers, however, as this treatment has just been approved.  

Anyway, on to more pleasant things and while we were away at the weekend, we visited various places around the Antrim Coast, including the Walled Garden at Glenarm Castle.  It's a very peaceful, tranquil place to spend an afternoon - there's something about a walled garden that really takes you back in time and creates a sense of the rightful order of things.  The photograph at the top of the post shows one of the displays - I haven't identified all the plants yet from my trusty RHS Encyclopedia, but I thought the colour contrast in this part of the garden was beautiful.

There are wonderful borders of mint, which is quite rampant and attracting butterflies.  

The mint is also trying to invade the old greenhouses that run the length of the front wall.

The layout incorporates variations of themes that probably would have been seen in 18th or 19th Century gardens, including hedged walkways, water features, a herb garden and a sundial.

There's also this statue, which I loved.  I haven't been able to find out who the artist is or when it was made, but I'm still looking.

There are plenty of flowers, with many varieties of rose 

 and fruit trees which were producing fruits very enthusiastically.

We also came to the conclusion during that afternoon that slowly but surely we were turning into our respective parents!  How do you get from rolling your eyes at the thought of going out for a run in the car to look at a garden, to actively enjoying it?  We've become the people we never believed that we would be!  Thank goodness we're enjoying it.

Getting the hang of this blogging lark.

Having now got a few posts completed I decided to explore a little further to find a template that I like and feel comfortable with.  And here it is!  I like the look of it and it's clearly set out for my old(ish) eyes that have never really functioned very well - I began to wear glasses when I was seven!

Any way this is a short post just to explain to those (anyone?) who may have stopped by and wondered how come the pages looked  different everyday for a couple of days. It was because I was feeling intoxicated by being able to change the template without resorting to either my son or my husband for a simple explanation.  (I can understand most technical matters - I just don't want to!)

Just a couple of pictures today - at the top a dandelion from our little part of the earth (our backgarden) and below looking over at one of my favourite places in Northern Ireland, the Mountains of Mourne - you know, the ones that sweep down to the sea.


















Let me know what you think of the new layout :)

Clear blue sky and a camera

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds,  I would pick more daisies.

 Nadine Stair

Over the last few years, I've that found looking into a blue sky is the surest way to help lift my mood if I'm feeling low.  

The last few days have been gorgeous and have been heaven for me - the same day to day niggles still crop up, I still worry about my teenage son and his exams, work carries on with all the little petty annoyances that can arise when you're working closely with other people - but being able to look out and see blue skies, or go out with my camera and be under the blue sky means that none of those things weigh heavily on me .  I feel that I can face anything, go anywhere, do anything!  

Here are a couple of  pictures I took in the garden today, while making the most of the weather.

A snail safely camouflaged in a shady spot 

3 Cornered Leek looking good enough to eat

And to finish as I started, with bright blue sky

A sparrow looking for insects in the Buddleia.

Of course reality and cloudy weather reassert themselves, but the memories of blue skies and photographs that I 've taken can be almost as good, until the next blue sky appears, and my energy levels, enthusiasm and enjoyment of everything around me surge again.

Elections, seriously

In honour of the election I give you my favourite political quotation, taken from Hancock's Half Hour of March 1958 - "The Election Candidate". Discussing the two contenders for the seat of East Cheam, Tony says

"I shall show my contempt by going down to the polling booth, taking my form, crossing both their names out and writing "get knotted" in."

Tempting, no??

Hancock's Half Hour, The Classic Years has eight scripts from the radio series, including "The Poetry Society", "Sunday Afternoon at Home" and "The Diary", part of which is better known as the "test pilot".

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hancocks-Half-Hour-Classic-Years/dp/0563206101/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273517224&sr=1-1

Incidentally, "The Election Candidate" also has one of my favourite bits of dialogue involving Griselda Pugh. Griselda is Tony Hancock's secretary, a woman of forceful personality. During the episode, Kenneth Williams comes to see Tony to invite him to stand as a candidate for the East Cheam Liberals! Kenneth rings the doorbell and the door is opened by Griselda:

Kenneth Oh good morning, are you Mrs Hancock?
Griselda Do you want a punch in the nose?

Only Hattie Jacques could be rude so politely!

I've included some images that I've made from photographs that I've taken at different times. At the top of the page you'll find the imaginatively titled DandelionDaisy. I find it hard to think of either as weeds as they can both be so lovely.

Below is a celebration of all the cats that we have ever owned called we've always had cats




Moving on, I just wanted to mention another book that I've read recently. Very far removed from Hancock and light years away from election or democracy, "Colours of the Mountain" by Da Chen is the memoir of the author's childhood in rural China in the 1960's and 70's.

His family were landlords and following the revolution they were treated as outcasts by the other villagers. As a description of childhood and adolescence it is eloquent and remarkable. As a description of growing up in the midst of a harsh regime, in which humiliation and fear are often present, it is truly inspiring. Da Chen gives a wonderful picture of his family, communicating the love and strength he gained from his parents to us through the strength of his own character.

Throughout the book Da Chen describes some truly savage treatment at the hands of the Communists in the village, and gives a clear idea of the grinding poverty that his family was forced to live in for much of the year. He also tells stories of bravery in the face of cruelty and of adolescent misbehaviour that clearly is common to teenagers all over the world.

Da Chen's lack of self pity throughout is remarkable and he is so likeable that it is easy to warm to him and to share in his (and his family's) joy as he leaves to take his place in Beijing's Language Institute, in the English department.

I think it is probably easy to tell that I enjoyed and admired this book. I was sorry when it ended, and was delighted to learn that there are sequels which continue Da Chen's journey. That will be part of my holiday reading this year and I look forward to becoming re-acquainted with Da Chen.

Give it a try, or if you have already read it let me know what you think. :)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colours-Mountain-Da-Chen/dp/0099298007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273519433&sr=1-1

The last image is of a feather that landed in our garden called, curiously, Feather

Well, I've done it now!

I've read blogs, and commented on blogs, and admired blogs but for a long time I've resisted the temptation to join in by writing a blog. So, what has changed my mind? Two thoughts immediately spring to mind -

• I take a lot of photographs and whilst my family and friends are sympathetic, they are really at the point of viewing overload, so thoughts of a new audience are very persuasive (I also have a flickr page).
• I'm getting older and consequently the number of things I want to draw to the attention of others, express an opinion about, become sentimental about and just plain rant about is growing larger by the day

Actually the two main interests I have are reading and taking photographs. So really these will be the subjects that will be mentioned most often in this blog.

As this is the inaugural post, I will make it relatively short and just mention that currently I am reading Dracula by Bram Stoker for what is probably the third time. The first few chapters build up tension, suspense, anxiety and fear of a nameless terror - it's a great, great read.

For the photographic theme, here are a couple of pictures I took this weekend at Carnfunnock Country Park in Co. Antrim:






And one from my in-laws garden:




PS - to clear up any misunderstandings, my real name is not Griselda Pugh. This is the name of the secretary in Hancock's Half Hour radio show. She was played magnificently by Hattie Jacques. I chose the name because I love the character, however, as a recent photograph of me proved, it is growing more apt with every passing year!