One Year On:back posting at last!

Good grief! It is just over a year since my last post. This will be a short one to help re-kindle my interest in writing which I have enjoyed in the past.
During the past year there has been so much uncertainty about my job which has been quite stressful. I have quite often found it difficult to concentrate and get down to tasks. Now I have been through the interview and come through the other side with a job, but perhaps not the one I would like !
Anyway foot update :- the second bunion operation has also been very successful and I can wear most of my shoes again!  I am extremely pleased that I had them done - when I look at the awful, ugly feet I use to possess I shudder! They are also much less painful as well as slightly prettier thank goodness.
I was in Paris last weekend with H. The weather was lovely and we saw 2 exhibitions, one on Rubens Van Dyck and others and the other on paintings related to Le Havre, France, many of them from the museum there. There was a circle of collectors and some dealers who between them assembled, commissioned or donated some beautiful works. We also did lots of walking around Paris, just drinking in the city and its atmosphere, of course.
Back to reality and cool wet weather back in London, but never mind. I have decided to make the most of darker evenings and get going on some projects - perhaps more children's ballet tote bags. I made 2 with a pretty material and they look good! I may post a pic of one - and of the trip to Paris. Okay enough for now - there's a lot of ground to be covered regarding the past year, but more anon...

Kenneth MacMillan biography

Obviously, as I have been almost totally immobile for the 2 weeks following my op, I have had to fill my time with various distractions, one of the obvious ones being reading and - at last - I have 'tackled' the Life of Kenneth Macmillan by Jann Parry. For one thing, I simply must finish it and return it to the person who lent it to me - I should have read it earlier, but it is so huge it was rather daunting and it cannot be carried around, especially since I cannot risk its becoming tatty.

I have read a little more than a quarter - it went pretty fast as the author writes well - and it has thrown up some intersting facts and themes. One is that Ninette de Valois - who we already knew helped to encourage and mentored KM - really took quite some trouble considering details of his new works, sometimes writing detailed letters of advice when they were apart. His early formation was almost totally unknown to me, as were the various twists and turns and different names for the 2nd company of the Royal Ballet in the 40's and 50's. I was entertained reading about Nora Kaye - she was quite a tough nut who seems invariably to have had an affair with the choreographer currently making a work for her ( or who she wanted to make her a ballet!)- these included Jerome Robbins, Roland Petit and K Macmillan. Then, once her interest in them waned, on she would go to the next 'victim'.
Margaret Hill was a great friend of KM. A dancer of great expressive ability, he made several roles for her, including the Girl in Solitaire. (Much later, in our 2nd year at the RBs, I was to dance that role (2nd cast) in one of our end of year shows, but ,unfortunately I now believe, I was taken on tour with the RB company instead. Mariona Linsey was the first cast- very lovely she was in it too. It is a beautiful role and I am sorry not to have had the chance to dance it publically).
The bio gives some sense of the choreographic and other influences on KM and others in the early part of his career as a choreographer and also describes the specific ballets well. More on that later as I progress through.
Meanwhile, I am on tenterhooks about my foot which had its first shower this morning since the op. I was quite nervous in view of last year's scar tearing experience, but I am doing everything I can to avoid that recurring this time..Today, the 2nd day since the foot has been much more exposed, I have been massaging E45 cream near the scar, have iced the foot several times and am not yet pulling and pushing the toe up and down. Much as I want to get on with the 'physio' aspect, it is not worth risking the possible consequent setback. The foot is very bruised and looks a bit gruesome - it is quite green or brown in many areas. I certainly felt the surgeon janking the foot like mad during the op - perhaps when the capsule was released? Also, the injections were a bit roughly done - even the fellow who has seen me for both post-op re-dressings remarked on that! However at the moment the scar is very neat.... I do hope and pray that I can get the foot through these next few days well, and then I will be able to start on the road to mechanical recovery. Patience, patience...

One year (plus) on...

Hard to believe, but this is the first blog in 1 year, 2 months.
Where has all that time gone?

Be that as it may, I am now at the start of my (I hope ) post op recovery from my 2nd bunion operation. I have 2 more days of almost total non weight-bearing to get through and then will have the 2nd redressing - i.e. the bandage completely off if it follows the same course as last year's. I have been very good - hardly walking most of the time, though very tempted to do more. I borrowed a pair of crutches. I have not relied on them , but when the foot gets very uncomfortable, I have been able to stay off it more. I am determined to do my utmost to avoid the tearing round the stitches that happened before. Quite whether I will succeed is another matter, but I feel positive - it has swollen up less than the other one so far and I am ready to bathe/smother the foot with cream etc etc to avoid the tearing..... More on that in the days to come.

Family, neighbours,friends and colleagues have sent mesasges etc which has been nice and my Significant Other has been good this time with meal preparations etc. especially in view of the fact that there has been an auction during the time and he has had a virus from which he is just really emerging today after 5 days feeling rough.Thank you H !

The wireless internet connection has worked as well - last year there was a running battle and stream of engineers from BT as I couldn't even get a normal connection and I really could not have borne that again.

One way or another I have filled the time, reading, knitting, radio - minimal televsion as it is so dire. I have also been reading every day for half an hour in French as they claim that that is a good way to improve speaking skills in another language.
I will need to get to my GP, probably a week or so after the re-dressing, once we see how it goes, to discuss a return to work date.

The weather has been pretty okay - no real cold - and a few quite nice days which makes the situation much easier to bear. In any case I am so fortunate that I will be back to mobility sooner or later - this is a temporary situation thank goodness - it does make you appreciate how hard it must be for solitatary disabled or elderly people.

Nadia from next door gave me a few pansies yesterday which was sweet of her. She has only been back in her house alone for a week or so and must be feeling very strange without Michael (her lovely husband who recently died), but she has 3 children with families who she sees a lot of, plus all her pupils/colleagues from the piano teaching. We 'borrowed' her gardener to have a blitz on our front garden the other day - so at least that looks reasonably presentable. The back needs some work, but I just have to go with the flow and think of it as a wild garden! I suppose the local bees will enjoy the clover and go back to work on the South London honey I sometimes buy! Well I hope it is local - I just heard a programme on r4 about 'honey laundering' - rather alarming , but it did also throw up a fact of interest to me:- one of my father's few spoken enthusiasms was for bee-keeping (I quite understand it) and they mentioned that one of the major honey blenders and suppliers is based in Wallingford, Oxon, not a million miles from where my father came from and in fact where one of my ancestors was mayor!

Another bit of news today - having written a little note on Stella's facebook wall yesterday, I found an email from her today with attached pics of her, me, Gill, Coralie and Trina from our meeting in July! Quite nice and a lovely memory. It is interesting how easily we pick up a relaxed and completely open friendship again after all these years. Boarding school does bond you so closely. Stella had been there 2 years before I joined the RBS already - she must only have been 9!

I shall post again in less than one year's time, dear reader. See you then

Friend's couple troubles. Toe progress.

A friend is having troubles with her partner who frequently criticises , hectors her and shows little respect. Typical comments from him to her are:-"Women are only good for f***ing"; " You are an idiot/delusional/" and so on "

This has been a pattern of behaviour on his part for many years and, yes, in a way she colludes by staying with him while her self-esteem gets ebbed away. How best to support and help her?

Lots of thought needed here and I often wonder whether one should ever give advice in these situations? It is so dificult truly to know the full picture in any relationship from the outside.

Hmm... Meanwhile, my foot is improving and I now walk quite well. Yay!! I am still getting swelling as is to be expected, but from the 8th week, there was suddenly a radical change. I saw my surgeon last Monday (26th) and he seemed pleased with progress and said that the inserted pins had not moved. I can almost go on tiptoe on it now and hope to start the dance teaching at the start of next term. Should I post a pic yet? Oh why not !- I won't put the 'before' so as not to spoil the meal of anyone who might happen upon this posting! But I'll put one from a couple of weeks ago which shows that the scar had already faded quite a lot. I'll update further later. Have a great weekend everyone.

10 telephone engineers later...reconnected at last!

Finally BT has sorted out my internet problem

The latest engineer left half an hour ago and at last I can use the internet when needed... Having recently had an operation on my left foot and confined mainly to lying/sitting, it has been incredibly frustrating to have been without a connection for most of the time since..
So for now just a huge sigh of relief and thanks to Winston who seems to have suceeded where droves of his colleagues have failed over the past weeks!.

My foot has been quite sore since the main dressing was removed, with superficial tears and sore patches, but I think things have improved today and hope that that continues.
I am seeing my surgeon on Monday and will see what he thinks of my progress/not. I had cut back on pushing the toe with the soreness, but have somewhat re-started today.
Fingers and toes crossed that I can't make up for lost time...

Well m'dears, I've spent so long watching the progress with my re-connection that I need a 'nice cup of tea'
More updates later but for now I hope I am not premature in raising a glass to Winston
Cheers!!

Family successes and post Icelandic 'luck of the devil'

Wow! - another blog so soon after the last:- mainly because my partner has been away for a while: - he was lucky enough to travel out by air the first day that flights from the UK re-started after the (Ielandic) volcanic ash crisis in mid/late April...
Though there was 4 hour delay from his original departure time (2 hours of which we were prepared for), otherwise, no problems. He really does generally have fortune on his side (I am glad to say). Another odd example is that he is shortsighted in one eye and long in the other one:- this results in very little change to his eyesight in general as he gets older.
Anyway I digress. What I am getting round to saying is that his being away allows me more time for self-indulgence, one aspect of which is writing here.
I don't exactly go out on the town non-stop, gorge or drink myself silly, etc. etc., but do enjoy being able to eat what and when I wish and generally to follow my mood and inclinations.
Today wasn't as productive as I would have liked, one reason being that a trip to collect something was wasted - the item was not ready ( & I had no contact details to check in advance). However, that got me over to Notting Hill where I lingered, had a coffee in a cool cafe and chatted to a couple of stall-holders I vaguely know there. I then went to collect Eurostar tickets, yipee!, for later this month. A little shopping (food) and somehow much of the day was over before I knew it.
Now.... great news for the family:- my younger niece has been asked to go on a tour with a prestigious ballet company in June this year!! History repeating itself too, as I had the exact same thing happen to me in my 2nd year of studies at the same ballet school. I am over the moon on her behalf. And her parents, my brother and sister-in-law, must really feel that all the input from the whole family is vindicated :-though not many realise it, there is one hell of a lot of input. Neither is ballet is not the glamorous profession some believe it to be, though the working conditions and its profile is now higher than it was in my ('the olden') days. I have started jotting down some memories of my time in a ballet company and as a young student prior to that, which is quite fun to do and which could serve to unravel some of the illusions the public has - or is that a bad idea? Is it preferable to keep 'artists' at arms length? Hmm one to think about. Another angle I am thinking of would require writing a novel(ette?) in order to disguise and combine real characters.... and also might not been looked on kindly by someone close to me!
Another piece of good news this week is that my older niece got a new job which started last Thursday and which so far seems to really please her. She is very good with people and could suit the sector very well I believe:- fingers crossed on that one. It's not so easy for young people in the jobs market right now. Well, I haven't even mentioned the general election in the UK which is a mere 5, no 4 now, days away. I shall leave that to the gazillions of commentators on umpteen TV channels, radio stations, newspapers and internet sites...yawn yawn. Yes I know it's important and yes, I am going to vote of course.

Priceless and poignant family heirlooms: A most unusual house clearance

Hard to believe how long it has been since I last wrote here - but better later than never...
Several trips later, to Paris several times and also once to the Kempinski spa hotel near Frankfurt, I am back home for the next few weeks at least I believe.
A recent small venture has been to take a course in making cosmetic creams and other items such as lip-slaves and shampoos, all using well-sourced ingredients and certainly avoiding mineral oils and other 'no-no's'. Initially my products will be for myself and those close to me should they be interested. Yesterday I made a face cream which includes good quality vegetable oils and a herbal infusion of my own making. The result has been quite good, but needs some modifications next time. As my instructor wisely recommended, I shall be noting down the ingredients and results each time I make something to refer back to. I even have plans to harvest and dry a herb which I have in my garden as it contains elements beneficial to the skin. A fascinating hobby in which I have always had an interest : already many years ago I used to make cosmetics. My plan is to experiment for some months after which I shall go to take the intermediate course with the same company. They sell many base ingredients many of which have been worked on to ensure that ethical and health concerns are met.
This is all trivial compared to a chance discussion today. I visited an antiques market to collect a piece of jewelry being mended for me. During my visit I also bought a pretty fan of ivory and paper - somewhat the worse for wear and in need of attention, but basically sound. I spoke for some time with the fellow from whom I bought it who clears houses. After a while he told me that much of what he had on his stall today came from the house of a very elderly recently deceased man (RIP)- 93 or 94 I think. That would not be so terribly exceptional, but he told me that the man had been an Auschwitz survivor and that a documentary about him is currently being produced by a television company. We had already spoken of our own love of objects from our families which, whilst not of great value, we treasured:- in my case some furniture made by my maternal grandfather, and in the stall-holder's some gold minatures made by his father from dust/shavings that jewellery apprentices were allowed to keep and use... How precious and priceless such objects are. To get back to the old man, apparently he had kept a razor with a note that it had been his father's and his grandfather's before that... Terribly poignant. There were papers which I presume have been saved :- awareness of this life which must have included many terrible experiences, must not be lost. I also heard of an almost unbelievable way in which some inmates of that terrible death camp wrote:- but I will leave that until the documentary comes out. The stall-holder, who I must add was very sensitive to the situation and dying to tell someone about it, showed me an example which will haunt me....

Poor Haitians. Asking and braving rejection...Baby steps made

Not confident enough to ask something in case one is rejected...

Asking favours/pushing myself forward has never been my strong suit, but inspired by some of Nick Baylis's words, I forced myself to follow up on a recent visit to a museum with a telephone call and offer my services in a voluntary capacity. It is a venue where my background knowledge can certainly come in handy and about which I am sooo enthusiastic.

Happily it may well be that I will become involved in the organisation - musn't count my chickens - but their reaction sounded very positive and on a recent visit there, I bumped into 3 people from my past who it would be a delight to work nearby again!

Okay, so a baby steps only, but Nick and others' thoughts on the ways we hold ourselves back by not venturing in life are already proving useful, especially the idea that even the act of asking/attempting something new etc., can in themselves encourage our self-belief and courage.

I have recognised that like so many others, some of my behavioural traits come from a somewhat childish fear of not being perfect, not wishing to be seen to fail and so on.

My small 'problem' (how dare I utter that word seriously in view of the Bosch-like hell of the poor Haitians) re the un-wanted attentions of someone reared its head ago recently. Fortunately my partner knows about the situation ( we all go to the same gym) and we talk about it which helps, but I find it quite tricky and annoying . It is quite strange that someone cannot see that I am clearly not interested and wish just to be on friendly terms.

And on to Haiti - it is almost unimaginably ghastly and nightmarish over there - made so much worse by the destruction wreaked on the infrastructure. Poor poor souls.

Pursuing well-being. Inspired by Dr Nick Baylis

Happy New Year of course!!

Well into another decade as well as year, so Something has to be done with myself. Yes, it is that time of year where all sorts of resolutions are made, only to be broken a few days/weeks later, but I determined to continue to head in the right direction, albeit little by little. Though I have made strides in clarity of thought, not procrastinating nearly as much and so on, there is much more to be done on this front. I have had the serendipity 2 days ago to have come across a cool book by Dr Nick Baylis who lectures on the skills of well-being at Cambridge University (UK). I am now part of the way through it and am already benefitting! His definition of happiness seems very good to me. Evidently it is not possible nor even desirable to be in a constant state of unquestioning 'happiness' which can frankly be almost bovine, but what I have found useful to think about is Dr Baylis's take on how we can also utilise to positive ends what are considered negative emotions such as feelings of loss, frustration, anger etc. It sounds rather trite and simplistic put like this in my stumbling way, but he does it in far more depth and much more convincingly of course. I have already identified some patterns of behaviour in myself from his writings and genuinely believe that I will be able to make changes and improvements by having done so. I'm not expecting to turn my life around rapidly, but hope that gradually I will come to see myself, my life and what is merely fantasy more clearly. I have, since starting the book, already embarked on a small new project which may or may not succeed, but as I now I recognise that one of my failings is being so keen not to fail, or be seen by others to do so, that I have talked myself out of many things and opportunities which may have led who knows where over the last several years, I have determined to employ a more 'nothing ventured' approach to my whole life. Thank you Nick!!.

Aiming for happiness in the US, Orson Welles on infringements of privacy

Aiming to find happiness in their lives...That is the right of all Americans as set down in the Constitution.
How wonderful!
And, judging by many of the the blogs from the States I sometimes read here, that aim -for US citizens to fulfill their dreams and aspirations -is often achieved. It certainly appears that a positive attitude to life is alive and well over the pond. Bravo!!
On another tack, there has been a short season of films and documentaries on or by Orson Welles shown on UK TV by BBC 4. I have seen some of it, including a short televised talk by Welles shown yesterday on the infringement of privacy threatened by many of the unnecessary questions constantly asked of us (as it was even at that time). He suggested the setting up of a society for the protection of the individual, representatives of which should be present at places such as country borders etc. Certainly food for thought, and Welles put the case fluently, succinctly and most importantly I think, in a most humane way. And that has come across in much of what I have watched:- that he was a caring individual of extraordinary intelligence and talent. I was, of course, aware of his stature before, but this has helped reinforce my admiration of the man and his work.

Dita at Waterstone's Piccadilly, Watching ballet classes

This evening I did something I've never done before ! I stood in line to get a signature on a book:- in this case the uber-feminine Dita von Teese who was to sign one of her newer publications at Waterstone's in Piccadilly, London. My fellow queuers were fun and even the security folk supervising those waiting were in good spirits and did their work tremendously well. To my shame, I even relented and had a photo taken 'with' Dita !! I may post it here later... I didn't stoop so low as to have a dedication to myself added to her sig., though she did ask. I freely admit that I am a fan though have not as yet managed to catch one of her shows. I had intended to ask her when next she will be performing for the public, but forgot in the general mayem.
Well, she looked much as I had expected:- glamorous and was sweet enough to thank me for waiting ! I had had no. 146 of the 150 available tickets allowing people to get a signature, so just another few minutes and I would have missed the chance. I had glimpsed her arrive and be whisked - flanked by security men - into a lift at a back entrance as I passed by on my way to the 'happening'!

A fabulous day in fact, as I had earlier watched dance classes at a prestigious London ballet school during which the invited 'audience' was shown different classes. The last one I elected to watch but had intended to stay for only part of, had the students performing solos selected and practised mainly on their own (from well-known ballets) to be shown for a competition in December. The choice criteria included that the solos should suit their own style/dance personality and interpretative powers. This is such a good idea - rather than just concentrating on pyrotechnics and 'gymnastic' prowess. In the event I remained till the end, very impressed by the artistic quality of the students' performances. After that, I went on to the Dita event and then home sweet home.
Strangely, the 2 seemingly un-related events are not entirely, since Dita did study ballet earlier in life and has credited this fact as being fairly important to her acts and also to the poise that ballet can help engender in its participants.

Well, a wonderful and satisfying day. How lucky I am:- a thought that often comes to me as I lie warm, well-fed and safe in my bed. Count your blessings, those of us in this happy situation. On that note , goodnight to one ('and all 'is probably overly optimistic!) J xxx

Agent Zigzag

I'm reading - amongst other books as I always have more than one on the go - Agent Zigzag about Edddie Chapman, a double agent during the 2nd WW. There are many amazing aspects to his time as a double agent for the British, not least the incredible thirst for danger and ability to manage the strains maintaining his cover to the Germans. However, one thing I find particularly interesting is his protective attitude to his women :- yes, he had one in the UK by whom he had had a child, and another in Norway who he also insisted be set up in comfort by his German masters. Well, that may seem a trivial aspect of his life to many, but it intrigues me! Amongst the other characters in the story is a staunch Nazi - who had an immense interest in Morris Dancing which he had come across during his years studying in England. Yet another - the main German controller of Chapman - was aristocratic and frankly rather cool on the Nazis. So much so that one wonders just how much he may have suspected the double nature of Zigzag's activities... But I speculate (I think, as I have not finished the book yet!)
Much more I should be writing about but instead I shall say goodnight and sleep tight J x

Paris in the Fall !!

Just back from a fabulous weekend in Paris with my partner.

We enjoyed relaxing, drinking in the atmosphere and just living without watching the clock... Lazy mornings taking time to get up and out of the apartment, delicious meals and wines and walking around this beautiful city are a tonic for the soul as well as one's physical well-being.

Vive Paris!

...At Last!

Here I am back at last - two months since my previous effort and now autumn is well underway. The days here start with a bit of a chill, and my morning walk to work through St James's Park is enlivened by the glistening golden and vibrant orange-coloured leaves and my senses further awakened by the evocative smells of this season. One morning last week the pelicans were on the lake just by the side of the bridge I was walking on and a couple of black swans were swimming serenely by.... What a start to a day!
However, there is more to life than idyllic scenes such as this one and some small shadows were cast by the ongoing BT Customer 'non-service' saga. More long frustrating telelphone calls trying to avert more hiatuses (hiati?) to my mother's telephone servicehave been made today. Well no need to dwell further on such mundane matters.
In the last couple of months I have been to Paris again and seen a couple of super exhibitions there:- One on Tiffany and another dealing with works by the couturier Madeleine Vionnet. The latter was absolutely wonderful. I already knew a little about her clothes - I had already seen a couple of her gowns and had bought a small V&A museum book on her for my mother (a very keen seamstress) some years ago. The exhibition shows many of Vionnet's dresses and has interesting computer animations of how the pieces are put together. Highly recommended! The only criticism was that - strangely- all the descriptive labels were at the bottom of the display cases which meant one had to crouch down to read them! I can see that a purist might not have wanted to clutter the view of the frocks at all - but there is a limit! My knees did not like it one bit and i'm fairly fit. Anyway I must see if i can get a link or picture of one of the dresses to put into this post. On the foodie front my partner and I tried a couple of new restos - one of which was quite impressive. Whilst on that subject, we drank a wonderful quite old Cloudy Bay white wine with our meal at home the other evening - Nectar!
Also back in London I have been to see the ballet Mayerling - one I used to perform in years ago! Though there are faults with it, I find it quite powerful and very moving. greatly helped in this instance at the Royal Ballet by superb performances by Johann Kobberg and Leanne Benjamin. Johann as Rudolf was really terrific - it is an exhausting role for the man both physically and emotionally and he came through with flying colours in this writer's humble opinion. The story is not one which would normally evoke thoughts of ballet in the general public , but the audience the night I went seemed really to appreciate its power and tragedy. Well folks that's it for the night. Good night to you all J xx

Royal Ballet School matinee - slightly fuller 'review' !

I have been somewhat remiss in writing here of late - mainly because much of my spare time has been taken up with helping with my mother's move - before during and after.

I have enjoyed that - apart from BT's abysmal lack of service which has meant my mamma's phone has still not been re-connected at the new property 19 days later!

Much, much more could and may still be written on that depressing subject, but I'll refrain for now and instead concentrate on the annual Royal Ballet School matinee which I mentioned in an earlier blog. I was happy and inspired to find a comment today on that blog from someone from the US whose friend is at the school! So, dear reader from the U S of A, this one's particularly for you! As I'm not a critic this will only be some impressions that I can recall about the pieces, but hopefully they may be of some interest anyway.

One of the pieces in the programme was 'The Dream' by (Sir) Frederic Ashton. It is based on Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', as you almost certainly already knew, and is a charming evocation on that tale set to Mendelsohn's score. It was beautifully danced by all concerned. I have seen it many times in the past danced by the Royal Ballet and this was a very impressive performance by the young students. The programme also included a splendid piece just for some male students - this was by (insert name) and I loved the way it displayed their athleticism and energy so well. It is the first time I can remember an all-male piece being in this end of year show and it was a brilliant idea. I will edit this post and add more details after I look at the programme to jog my memory, but in case anyone looks at this before I do so, I'll mention another strong memory of the show and publish for the moment anyway! Every year since Gailene Stock took over as head of the school, the very last piece of the annual matinee has been the 'Defile', a most exciting and tear-jerking piece which makes use of every member of the RBS, from the tiny dear Junior Associates to the fantastic 'final products'. I really defy anyone not to be moved by this, as - to incredibly rousing music by (insert name), swathe after swathe of dancers , starting from the JA's upwards, come on stage and do their piece - of ever-increasing difficulty as they move up the classes. I always cry, utterly overwhelmed, and this year was no exception! When I edit this piece, I will include what I can remember of the outgoing chairman's comments about the Defile. So to be continued.... Good night all, J x

It's done!!... well nearly

Some furniture is now in, after....

...the keys are handed over!!!

On 30th July my mother moved into her apartment from the family home and I went down on The Day after some of her things had been delivered to me in London. I got a lift back with one of the removers in his white van after helping unload and position the pieces (tables/gardenpots/valet - of the wooden, not human ilk, etc).

Fortunately, he was definitely not one of the infamous White Van contingent and drove well and safely. We arrived at the house around lunchtime while the final pieces were still being loaded into the larger removal van.

Well, perhaps more on that later, dear non-reader, but we had the almost inevitable nail-biting wait whilst the monies were transferred (or nearly not in one case - the cause of the hold-up) , thus allowing completion to take place - otherwise the move would not yet have been final and legal. Grr. However, once action was at last possible, my mother, elder niece, Camilla and I went over to the new property which thank goodness is just a few minutes walk along the street!!

The keys were handed over as well as the other necessary rituals performed and off we went at full pelt. I really have to commend the removal men who had been at it all day with a horribly frustrating wait - till around 5pm even 5.30 I think..... And so the day went on with all furniture and boxes in and not badly arranged by around 6.30 if I remember.

Anyways, not to drag this out too much, I then stayed in the spare room for two nights and helped my mamma with various paperwork, box emptying, key cutting and arranging, visits to do-it-yourself places etc etc !! Phew - I came back this evening and am glad I have one day of the weekend left to do some of my own things. But it seems that the move is a great success and it is a delight to be in the new place with its few, but spacious rooms. I just hope that my mamma can relax a bit and start to unwind after the marathon house clearance she has been through. Well, mazel tov, God bless all who go in there, or any other appropriate saying or felicitation anyone can think of ! I'm knackered, so goodnight all xx

Sir Edward Downes' and his wife's death

Another startling piece of news this week was that Sir Edward Downes and his wife had chosen to end their lives together at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.
How very sad, but how brave of them and also in an odd way very beautiful and touching.
What more can one add really except to wish their son Caractacus well in this difficult time for him and to salute Sir Edward and Joan's quiet, dignified exit from this world.

J

Where to start?....Natalya Estemirova's death.

Well so much to write and not enough private time in which to do so.

On a personal level, today was very frustrating - a journey to my mother so as to be there when her removal men come to give a quote, had to be abandoned after multiple diversions,road closures (all to frequent in London nowadays , sadly).

However - to put things in some sort of perspective, I started to read about the poor political activist (I believe), Natalya Estemirova, murdered in Chechneya - someone whose only crime was to voice her political opinions (as I understand it)
I shall have to read about the matter more thoroughly, perhaps in the New York Times, but it makes one realise that we are incredibly fortunate to live somewhere with freedom of expression. What price can be put on that ?...
I had a strange experience recently on a London bus where a woman started to talk to me about her fears for her families safety in a certain Middle-Eastern country - she seemed genuine enough and I was quite unable to make any useful suggestions as to where she should turn for help. The only names I could think of at the time were John Simpson (Foreign correspondent) and Terry Waite (ex-hostage).
She asked me to pray for her.
Well, she may have been another deluded, paranoid person - we have our share in London after all - but I had to give her the benefit of the doubt - and if what she told me was true, I hope to goodness she and her family get some help.

On that rather sombre note I'll say good evening.J xx

Royal Ballet School performance

I must make a start on this as I am so enthused after seeing a wonderful matinee at the Royal Opera House in London!
My niece was involved in a modest way, but the whole show was super and I enjoyed my time in the Opera house from the first to last seconds!!

Having been a ballet dancer myself, I am not always easy to please when in the audience, but here I was impressed by the high standards both technically and artistically speaking.
I will add to this later, but just had to write at least a little while I still tingle from the experience...
Bye for the moment then... J xx

Petit Palais,Paris, mother's big decision and more...

Here is a pretty view inside the Petit Palais, Paris which I visited this weekend on my trip to Paris. I just love the wrought iron in Paris and particularly on staircases. The palais looks so good and much brighter since it was renovated. Although I only had time for part of the permanant collection after seeing the special exhibition (William Blake, ironically!), that was enough to see some fantastic 17th c Dutch works - eg one of my favourites, van Mieris.
More to write on that, but a quick word on the weekend in general which ,though I had looked forwards to, I had slightly worried about, as a male friend colleague of my partner stayed in the appartment where we were. This went off far better than I had hoped with minimal disruption and we caught up with him and went for 3 meals together, one especially good - in a resto just around the corner.
My partner and I had some time together despite his being on a business visit, but I also spent some time alone - during which I allowed Paris to happen to me as it were though I, of course , had a few tasks to do and things I wanted to see. I find that that works well... discovering Paris's multitude of beautiful spots, small boutiques and so on as one goes along. Fabulous! and with great weather it was a gorgeous break. I returned yesterday - Sunday- and had time for some gardening back at home. I was literally the first off Eurostar, and got onto a mainline train home within about 9 minutes of having got of the train !
Onto my mother's hoped-for move which is exciting. She wishes to move from the family home with it's many rooms much-loved and tended (by her) garden etc... This is no mean decision, as she has put so much into the house, lived there for many years and has, of course, many memories, as do we. Since she didn't want to move into something poky, she hadn't been inspired by any properties, BUT, finally, she found a super flat with few but huge rooms just along the street from her ! It sounds lovely and ideal for a tall person who is used to high ceilings and plenty of space in rooms. Well it may well go though - fingers crossed - and I am going to see the flat this Thursday.
I need to get on and go to work, so this will need editing later, but as I haven't blogged for a while, I'll publish this in the meantime and work on it later... Have a great day one and all wherever you may be.! J xx