Tonight's Menu

Last week, in N. Italy....

I settled for pizza 🍕🙃 

❣

Meanwhile...

...on the train... 

Rydal Water

Here's a shot with the sun shining through from behind the crag, taken from the Grasmere/Ambleside road.  As always, the camera doesn't quite do it justice - even the brilliant iPhone 6S super dooper camera and sensor...

Another tree...and a boat

A weekend in the Lake District to enjoy the Autumn colours. More of those in the next post - meanwhile here's another tree: 

...and that lovely boat... 

There's a tree...

There's a tree, not far from where I live, that's impressive. It may be dead, it may have a unique Tudor mansion 100m to one side of it, & occasionally it may be surrounded by cows...but it's still impressive. Is it not?

These boots were made for walking...

...and another advance New Year's Resolution has to be *doing just what they do*. After separately ruining both Achilles' tendons over the years, and now getting a bit wussy about contact sports, walking would be a good option.

So, 5km, three times a week, timetabled, diarised(!) and a welcome break from being hunched over the keyboard all day. Except for when it's cold, of course. Or raining.

Autumn...

...is here again. A lovely sunny day, not cold, with a few clouds in a deep blue sky. If only it could stay like this until the end of April.

It's late...I really must make an early New Year's Resolution to post here more regularly, even if it's just the occasional photograph. 'nuff said.

Billie Skerratt 4/10/1924 - 6/2/2015

Postscript

During the service, after a reading of 'The Highwayman' by one of the members of Bill's beloved Poetry Society and a beautiful reading of Wordsworth's 'Daffodils' by Robyn, I managed a few final words of goodbye.

It just seems to me to be a fitting coda to her life that I reproduce those here...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'd like to read a short poem by Christina Rossetti

 Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand, 

Nor I half turn to go yet turning stay. 

Remember me when no more day by day 

You tell me of our future that you planned: 

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve: 

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thoughts that once I had, 

Better by far you should forget and smile 

Than you should remember and be sad.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bill led a very full, long and happy life.

I know; I knew her for a long time!

I remember, as a child, growing up in a happy home with her and my dad.

I remember after my father’s death, when Bill was about my age now, how she grew to enjoy every second of her time - spending time with her friends and those she loved, sharing holidays and adventures, painting and literature, excursions and even the occasional gin and tonic...

After their mum died, I remember the days that she spent with Robyn and Mark, helping and encouraging them to grow into the fine young people that I am so proud of today.

Even in later years, with her health deteriorating, she was always looking forward to seeing someone or doing something or going somewhere with somebody. She loved people and being with people.

Billie’s spirit, tenacity and strength of character live on in the hearts and the minds of us all.

Under other circumstances she would have been delighted to see each and every one of you today and chat to you about your news and views.

Unfortunately, she can’t be here in person to do that now.

So, on her behalf, can I ask you all to join me in celebrating the fine long life of my wonderful old mum...

Billie Skerratt…"

Off to the lakes..

Staying in the lovely Wateredge Inn in Ambleside, today the rain kept off until late afternoon offering the chance to visit Beatrix Potter's cottage and the gallery of her work in Hawkshead, which is also run by the NT.

The cottage was small and full of character. Much original furniture and artefacts were on display, and the building is actually a semi-detached house with a working farm adjoining it.

Tea and scones in the highly recommended Minstrel Tea Rooms broke up the Potterfest nicely :)

Then finally on to Dove Cottage, where Wordsworth lived for many years with his wife and children and sister, and where he entertained Coleridge so often. This is also a wonderfully atmospheric place. Small and dark, it originally started out life as a pub, but is now preserved and contains many interesting possessions of one of England's finest and most enduring poets.

Billie loved 'Daffodils' ... occasionally, for fun, we'd recite it together stumbling our way through the verses. Rightly, she'll get to enjoy that one last time at her funeral on Monday.

Thank you for the music

Lars Janasson, Thomas Fonnesbæk and Mr. Svanberg playing some wonderful jazz at The Jazzcup opposite the Botanical Gardens on a cold rainy Saturday afternoon. The place is packed - so packed I can't get to see the racks of vinyl in the record store at the back.

Last night at the Jazzhouse there was a real stage full: 

Some of the polyphonic modern pieces I found a bit impenetrable but it was still a really enjoyable gig. 

Copenhagen - the day after..

Some very bad things happened in Copenhagen yesterday and last night. People died and press reports suggest that police advised people not to enter the city centre immediately after the second shooting. Other press reports about a city gripped in fear could not be further from the truth.

After a fantastic and relaxing evening of food, music and talk, the leisurely walk back through the main streets to the hotel was as enjoyable and carefree as ever. Danish common sense, openness, tolerance, humour and politeness always shines through even the greyest winter's day. I'm particularly proud to be in this city on this morning. Thank you for making me feel so welcome.

My thoughts are with the friends and loved ones of those who were killed and injured by someone determined to try to destroy that spirit. He failed. As would anyone else who tried.

Cafe Sommersko

...for dinner, combined with some fine jazz from the Thomas Clausen trio. Today turned out just fine by me. Totally fine.

The Black Diamond

A walk to the Black Diamond where the National Library lives. The National Museum of Photography is also here with some beautiful pictures of landscape and fashion in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

Now though, it must be time for a beer. Yes? :) 

On the way back, one brave kayaker was kayaking - wrapped up warm against the cold and damp..

Jazz at the Jazzhus

It's so good to be back at the Jazzhus Montmartre again. A lovely dinner followed by some lovely music in the company of some lovely friends. I am a very fortunate young man :)