The best of my summer reading has been William Boyd’s “Restless” an intriguing Second World War spy story which promised so much but didn’t quite have the ending to match.
Kate Atkinson’s sort of crime novel “When Will There Be Good News?” was quite gripping, complex and enjoyable. It was well crafted but seemed rather too contrived at times.
“The Other Hand” by Chris Cleave also features in most best-selling lists and dealt with a worthy subject matter. The story was quite powerful and I was able to romp through it but somehow the dialogue didn’t engage me and I felt disappointed in the end.
The best TV has been Jimmy McGovern's drama series "The Street", although I haven't yet seen the last episode which I have recorded and am waiting for the moment to savour. I continue to enjoy "Coast", especially the one on Norway. I was initially disappointed with Griff Rhys Jones's "Rivers" but have warmed to it. I thnk the success of "Coast" is that it has several different presenters.
I discovered a new album by Van Morrison "Down The Road" (new to me as it was recorded in 2002) and on one hearing I have been very impressed.
Tuesday 1 September 2009
Summer holidays come to an end
A celebration of someone’s life at a funeral is not easy for close relatives as emotions often overwhelm them. The family of Ray Baxter - the father of Wendy’s close school friend Rita and old friend of Wendy’s mum and dad – did him proud at his funeral which we attended recently at Bramcote Crematorium in the East Midlands. There was a mixture of loving memories and tributes from Rita’s brother, Rita herself, a teacher colleague of Ray’s and Rita’s two daughters. They all spoke well and illustrated his full and notable life. The splendid occasion was completed by Ray’s great -grandson who sang Ave Maria and Nella Fantasia so impressively.
Wendy was able to support her friend and have a few words with Ray’s widow Friedel at the reception which followed at Beeston Fields Golf Club. It was good that Wendy could have time to recall some of the memories from her earlier days in this part of the world.
Wendy was able to support her friend and have a few words with Ray’s widow Friedel at the reception which followed at Beeston Fields Golf Club. It was good that Wendy could have time to recall some of the memories from her earlier days in this part of the world.
The Peak District is very pretty but this was about the best of the weather
We took the opportunity to spend a night in the Peak District. The Charles Cotton hotel in Hartington was a good place to stay. It was comfortable and we had a good meal in their restaurant. We had a chance to have a look around the quaint village of Hartington in between the showers and the next day visited Bakewell before going on to spend the weekend with another of Wendy’s close school friends Chris, and her husband Andy, in Sheffield.
This was a special treat for me as Andy is a Sheffield United supporter and he had got me a ticket to see the home match against West Brom. Both sides were unbeaten and although United had to come from behind twice they deserved the 2-2 draw. It was an entertaining match and I really enjoyed the spectacle of a live match in front of more than 25,000 spectators at Bramall Lane which is a fine stadium. From the experience of this match I do not subscribe to the thinking that football is the preserve of the middle classes – there was a good social mix at this match and, very encouragingly, there were many families. Although the walk to the stadium was through an immigrant area of Sheffield there wasn’t however much of a racial mix at the match.
I felt just as grumpy as Arsène Wenger when we watched Manchester United against Arsenal on the television in the early evening. Arsenal again played great football but I could not believe my eyes when Arsenal gifted Man Utd two goals to lose a match they should have won. A lovely meal cooking different fish and meats on a hot stone at Chris and Andy ‘s was fun and accompanied, as always at their house, with lovely wines.
On Sunday we enjoyed a walk at the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate, on the edge of the Peak District, although the weather was cold and dreary. The colour of the heather was not as impressive as I have seen at this time of year but the streams were interesting with their strange treacly colour due to the local peat.
Andy fighting off the hover flies on the old packhorse route on the Longshaw Estate
When we returned from Corsica at the beginning of the summer holidays I thought that I wouldn’t like to spend all summer in such heat. Having had a really miserable spell of weather throughout July and August, I am now thinking differently.
We took the opportunity to spend a night in the Peak District. The Charles Cotton hotel in Hartington was a good place to stay. It was comfortable and we had a good meal in their restaurant. We had a chance to have a look around the quaint village of Hartington in between the showers and the next day visited Bakewell before going on to spend the weekend with another of Wendy’s close school friends Chris, and her husband Andy, in Sheffield.
This was a special treat for me as Andy is a Sheffield United supporter and he had got me a ticket to see the home match against West Brom. Both sides were unbeaten and although United had to come from behind twice they deserved the 2-2 draw. It was an entertaining match and I really enjoyed the spectacle of a live match in front of more than 25,000 spectators at Bramall Lane which is a fine stadium. From the experience of this match I do not subscribe to the thinking that football is the preserve of the middle classes – there was a good social mix at this match and, very encouragingly, there were many families. Although the walk to the stadium was through an immigrant area of Sheffield there wasn’t however much of a racial mix at the match.
I felt just as grumpy as Arsène Wenger when we watched Manchester United against Arsenal on the television in the early evening. Arsenal again played great football but I could not believe my eyes when Arsenal gifted Man Utd two goals to lose a match they should have won. A lovely meal cooking different fish and meats on a hot stone at Chris and Andy ‘s was fun and accompanied, as always at their house, with lovely wines.
On Sunday we enjoyed a walk at the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate, on the edge of the Peak District, although the weather was cold and dreary. The colour of the heather was not as impressive as I have seen at this time of year but the streams were interesting with their strange treacly colour due to the local peat.
Andy fighting off the hover flies on the old packhorse route on the Longshaw Estate
When we returned from Corsica at the beginning of the summer holidays I thought that I wouldn’t like to spend all summer in such heat. Having had a really miserable spell of weather throughout July and August, I am now thinking differently.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)