Monday 25 November 2013

The tactah woods








A big surprise in the woods.




In the absence of any actual grandchildren
I have taken the liberty of hoping 
to virtually amuse
(who I happen to know likes tractors),
while she is indisposed.

Sunday 24 November 2013

Through leaves 2



This autumn may not have boasted
the finest display of flaming colours
in this neck of the woods,


but there's never been a better year
for soft shoe shuffling through leaves.

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Ripples, ruffled feathers and troubled waters






Calming scenes for me to focus on
as an antidote to a deranged phone caller.

Someone decided to have a wholly unexpected go at me yesterday
and I am having difficulty banishing
the upsetting exchange that ensued, from my thoughts.

(Not family, friend or blog-related I hasten to add,
but a particularly choleric individual
newly arrived on the periphery of my life.)



Thursday 14 November 2013

For one day only -



this garden.




And for one night only -
son and daughter-in-law singing together
in Bach's Magnificat.

Tuesday 12 November 2013

The allure of the past


 I'm not sure what I feel about 
after my second visit at the weekend.

Who is buying the 
Denby and Woods Beryl Ware china
(aka Anglican china)
and ostrich feather dusters?
They aren't cheap here, but elevated to museum status
in their meticulously contrived vintage setting,
they exert a curious pull.
The fact that the same things can be found 
down the road in one of the many junk shops
at half the price means that people must be
 willing to pay through the nose for
the scent of the real open fires and dusty floorboards
if this oddity is to survive.


His window dressing is pitch perfect,


the attention to detail obsessive,



but the place has a haunted,


not a happy atmosphere.



It reminded me of Dennis Severs' house,
another time capsule experience
dominated by the personality of its creator.
I went in with my camera,
and wandered about in a slightly hypnotic state


but came out empty-handed into the chilly street 
with a feeling of relief.

Monday 11 November 2013

Sun salutation




Yesterday. A jewel of a day.








Today. 
 I have been driven to knitting wrist warmers
for my cold, cold blogging hands.
They are the colour of the lichen
on the net hut roofs in Hastings.


Friday 8 November 2013

Looking up




Keeping our chins up
after a difficult week.
Good weather forecast for Sunday.
We will make the most of it.

Tuesday 5 November 2013

The Play of Light on Domestic Objects






A small part of my portfolio 
in support of my application 
for a prestigious new position.*
The Professorship of PLDO is my dream job.
It will be a challenging and high risk role
but I think that I am ready to make the leap
back into full time employment.
The five years I have spent
blogging away in the foothills 
have not been wasted.
Some turned their hands to 
quilting hot water bottle covers,
others to knitting snoods for financial gain,
but I resisted the lure of monetisation.
Now the world of academia, hitherto closed to me,
has come just in the nick of time,
to claim me as one of their own.