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!