May blossom time

I was absorbed by the second legs of semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League (not that I missed much of the first legs) but disappointed by Arsenal’s performance (or rather impressed by Manchester United’s performance) as this semi-final was soon settled with early (“away”)goals. I was convinced after the results of the first legs of both semi-finals that the “away goal” rule would have an impact: and so, although Chelsea put in another fine defensive performance against the stars of Barcelona, I never thought the one goal lead that Chelsea held for most of the game was going to be enough. However, I have always wondered why a top professional side cannot employ tactics to ensure possession of the ball for the very late stages of a game and deny the late goal which seems to settle so many games. I must be missing something. Miss the post match antics of Chelsea I didn’t: as poor as the referee was, I was appalled by the behaviour of Didier Drogba (and of Michael Ballack during the game). Disappointed as they must have been there is no way that this behaviour should be condoned. I turned to “The Times” columnist Simon Barnes as I thought he was bound to make some comment on it all and sum it up so much better than I could. I was quite shocked to read that he had a completely different angle on it (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/columnists/simon_barnes/article6244418.ece), and although I agree with much of what he had to say I still feel that Frank Lampard’s reaction was more suited to a highly paid and high profile professional than some of his team mates.

Sex, drink and debauchery are just the thing for a Saturday night and I was not disappointed with the fine performance by Colston’s Choral Society of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. This opening piece of the 20th century German composer’s work based on a collection of 13th century songs discovered in a Bavarian Monastery will give a taste of the performance. (Not worked out how to upload audio files yet !)


I often marvel at the talent of youngsters (not only at Colston’s) but on this occasion it was the ability of two young members of staff Tom Arrand (baritone) and Rachel Vaughan (soprano) which impressed me. The Chatterton Hall at Colston’s School is a very good venue for a concert such as this.


Rachel Vaughan (soprano) and Tom Arrand (baritone) and Colston's Choral Society

I was a little nervous that afternoon to have to speak at the memorial service for Wally Feiner , a colleague at school for nearly 30 years. In fact it turned out to be quite a joyous affair and I was very pleased to meet up with many ex-colleagues, one of whom I had not seen for 40 years, and many Old Colstonians who represented the whole range of years that Wally has taught at Colston’s. It was also fun getting my thoughts together as it brought back to me all sorts of good memories of the last 40 years.


After the Memorial Service

In the garden the camelias are passing over and now it is the time for the azaleas, and what a picture they are. But not as splendid as those we saw at the wonderful National Trust property at Kingston Lacy which we visited on the way back from a few days in Dorset.


Kingston Lacy


The acers were pretty amazing too!

We had gone to Dorset for a lunch to celebrate the 40th Wedding Anniversary for Graham & Maggie Ferris (I had been Graham's best man at the wedding). It was a fabulous lunch at Gordleton Mill and we really enjoyed meeting all the family and especially catching up with my godson Robin and his wife and 3 daughters, and enjoyed the company of a diverse (ages mainly) group of very interesting people on our table. To avoid staying in an hotel we had booked a National Trust Cottage near Studland and we had very enjoyable vists to Lulworth Cove (in the rain),



Studland, Corfe Castle (including splendid lunch in The Greyhound) and the RSPB Nature Reserve at Arne. Even more rain here but, as well as seeing some birds we came very close to a deer (see video below).






From Corfe Castle

It was even exciting catching the ferry from Studland to Sandbanks on our way to the New Forest. In the evening we had a stroll on the beach at Studland and saw various gulls, oyster catchers and, to our great surprise, another deer.


You might expect to see these gulls on the beach but not this ...




Kingston Lacy on the way back finished off a great 4-day break.

It seems as though this mini-break was non-stop activity but what added to the enjoyment was the fact that we had plenty of time to sit and read. I must confess to delving into the notes of the 3-day Dreamweaver web design course that I did in the previous week but for most of the time I was engrossed in Alison Weir's "The six wives of Henry VIII". Being so ignorant of history it is a real page-turner as I have no idea of what is coming next. I have only got through Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn so far, but it is pretty gripping and enlightening. Alison Weir's style makes it so accessible, just as in her book on Eleanor of Aquitaine and her first novel about Lady Jane Grey "The Innocent Traitor", both of which I really enjoyed.

Sax practice took a knock and the subsequent lesson was rather disastrous.

The stress of sax and golf

Saxophone practice has been most enjoyable and the incentive of hour-long lessons during the holidays has been quite motivating. However, an element of panic crept in when I couldn't play a bottom C in preparation for a workshop and concert I had subscribed to. It might not have been so serious if I was going to make my debut with a tiny local wind band but the thought of performing with the National Sax Choir of Great Britain (even if it was the most minor part possible) was quite daunting and the whole experience was then not only challenging but stressful. I kept telling myself that it was good for me to be out of my comfort zone but I was not too sure when it came to the day. The National Sax Choir were fantastic and I really enjoyed the concert which was pleasing from an aural and visual point of view and convinced me that I had chosen the right instrument to attempt to play.


Hiding at the back of the National Sax Choir

A good spell of weather encouraged us on to the golf course more regularly and I was gratified by the leap Wendy has made in her performance even if it means she has now beaten me on four successive occasions. Losing to Wendy is less stressful than playing in medals which always reduce me to a quiver. The most recent medal I was 11 over par but didn't lose a ball or go out of bounds once (although having to play provional balls 4 times showed how often I skirted with danger) it was just that my putting was abysmal.

We discovered a new National Trust property (new to us at it was a 15th-century Manor House) at Great Chalfield Manor and enjoyed the garden so much that we returned before the week was out - and we weren't tempted by cakes or teas as there is no catering provided (although The Courts and Laycock are not too far away).


The gazebo and reflection in the Lower Moat at Great Chalfield Manor


The stained glass window at the parish church of St Ann at Great Chalfield Manor


Honeysuckle


Water Avens


The year of the bluebell?

Easter

Easter brings the first of the golf grand slam events. The Augusta Masters is always worth watching for the horticultural display alone. The final day of this year's event was most rivetting. The main attraction for so long was not the leaders themselves but the charge through the field by Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods. When the challenge of these two died away the drama of the three who had been leading for some time - Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and Angel Cabrera - as they reached the 18th and then the subsequent play-off was most enthralling and forced us to stay awake and keep tuned in to the finish. It was also encouraging (to me) to see these three golfers who had the athletic build of so many amateur golfers competing at the very highest level.

More TV drama later in the week with the quarter finals of the Champions League: the second leg of the Liverpool-Chealsea encounter was football drama of the highest quality and even had Wendy fixed to the screen.
I chose to watch Arsenal-Villareal the following day and was pleased with Arsenal's progress in the competition. I must confess that when they were 3-0 up to switching to Man Utd-Porto to watch the excitement of the last 15 minutes. With all the TV I have watched this week I am amazed that I have managed to miss the brilliant goal by Ronaldo. I loved Simon Barnes's article in The Times about Ronaldo.

It's not been all TV, we have had a couple of visits this week. The first to Avon Valley Country Park was very good value with little people. There was loads to do and see and we will need a return visit to do it all. I was disappointed that we didn't see the hawks in flight.





The railway theme is all around



The second outing was to Bath and an impromptu visit to the American Museum at Claverton. Wendy has been doing a "Patchwork and Quilting" course throughout the winter and she was truly inspired by the fabulous collection of quilts.


Claverton Manor

The collection of folk and decorative arts in the museum in Claverton Manor is remarkable and shows the diverse and complex nature of American culture but there is also a very good exhibition centre (currently showing American Folk Art) and beautiful gardens with splendid views of the Limpley Stoke Valley and River Avon. There is also a very pleasant café in the Orangerie (with tastefully built modern extension) and the "George Washington" cake is highly recommended!


Still masses of blossom on the trees and the first bluebells in the woods

A grand day out on a dismal Good Friday

Upton is home to the National Collection of Asters

Even though the weather looked miserable we fancied a day out on Good Friday and so decided on the safe bet of Hidcote. However, en route Wendy spotted Upton House in the National Trust handbook and we altered our bearings.
What a surprise and what a delight! Even the journey through the drizzly Cotswolds proved to be a spectacle with so many variations of green as the new leaves were making their appearance and so much blossom in hedgerows and trees.

The hat is to prove what a dreary day it was.

How come we've never heard of Upton House before? Not much from the outside but you get a taste of country house life as you step into the home of the 1930s' millionaire Walter Samuel, 2nd Viscount Bearsted, who was Chairman of Shell and son of the company's founder. He was a passionate art collector, and there are works by artists such as Hogarth, Stubbs, Canaletto, Brueghel and El Greco as well as a fascinating collection of artwork produced for Shell advertisements. The extensive porcelain collection which includes 18th-century Sèvres porcelain, Chelsea and Derby figures was mind blowing. Upton has all the elements of a millionaire's country home – with swimming pool, squash court (currently being renovated) and a glamourous Art Deco interior in Lady Bearsted's bathroom. Even on a dreary day the garden is worth visiting with the sweeping lawn which gives way to a dramatic series of terraces and
herbaceous borders and descends to a kitchen garden and tranquil water garden.

Blog off the back burner

The last month has been very busy and something had to give - and so it was the blog. So let's try and catch up.

Entertainment wise two events stand out: the first was a concert at St George's - Brandon Hill with Courtney Pine and his Jazz Warriors - Afropeans - the band (and the sound) was much bigger than I had expected with 14 musicians on stage producing a very wide range of jazz music which was quite challenging but very enjoyable; the second was the film "Il Divo" - the story of Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, who has been elected to Parliament seven times since it was established in 1946. It examined the corruption, excess and self-indulgence of the post-war republic, focussing on the particularly turbulent 70s and 80s. Toni Servillo's stylish performance of Andreotti was hypnotic but didn't improve the worldwide image of politicians, many of whom seem to be tainted with a whiff of corruption.

Lots of opportunities for photographs: the most challenging of these was the workshop of the Japanese dance form of Butoh by Marie-Gabrielle Rotie and then her solo performance of her own work ‘Black Mirror’ in the Harry Crook Theatre in the evening.

Hundreds (if not thousands) of pictures of rugby 7s from the following tournaments:West of England (Taunton), Surrey (Richmond) and the Nationals (Rosslyn Park). Great weather throughout and exciting matches and good performances from Colston's (finalists at two - boys at West of England and girls at the Nationals and boys semi-finalists at Surrey and the Nationals).

So many other photos: leavers (lots of editing needed to keep vanities intact), prefects, netball teams, rugby teams, shoe cleaning, readathon, cross-country, house music, castles!

Abandoned the "Northern Clemency" for the moment after 600 pages - still 100 to go. More into factual books. Currently reading a fascinating book "The Discovery of France" - the splurge on the back of the book says "Certain books strain the patience of those close to you. How many times can you demand: "Look at this! Can you imagine? Did you know that?" without actually handing over the volume? This is such a book". It certainly is!

Have dug out all the travel books on France (and invested in yet another one) to prepare for holiday in Corsica in the summer. Have booked hire car and hotel for 6 nights in Tizzano in the south of Corsica (Hotel du Golfe) before spending the second week with Jeanine and Thierry in Bastia and the north of Corsica.

Played some golf. Wendy seems to have broken through a plateau and had her best score ever (111) last week. The course is magnificent in it's centenary season due to some lovely Spring weather and to the talents of head greenkeeper Marcus.

Spent some time improving the garden with even more pots and "potted up" 88 geranium plugs and put in cold frame.

Flowering cherry in back garden - 8th April 2009

Magnolia in front garden - 8th April 2009

Crab apple in front garden -8th April 2009

The garden room is now getting plenty of use, especially for practising the saxophone which is still great fun and for breakfast.

The garden room - 8th April 2009



It would be good if these lemons were ready for G&T this summer!

Photo opportunities

Photo opportunities since half term have been restricted to indoors. The first of these was in the Sports Hall which presents a huge problem with the strange lighting (it's obviously not tungsten!). Pupils in years 7 and 8 had great fun taking part in a martial arts workout during their lunch time and raised over £1200 for Lepra. It's amazing what difference this amount of money will make to so many people - see lepra.org.uk .


Martial Arts workout

The second was a talk given to year 8s from an illustrator of children's books. Marc Vivyan-Jones was a very interesting speaker and fun to photograph.


Marc Vivyan-Jones

I just caught the tale end of Dave Alred, Jonny Wilkinson's kicking guru, but he seemed to captivate his audience of boys and girls who are about to embark on sports tours. Dave leads the field in mental preparation, skills acquisition and performing under pressure. It must be very rewarding working with sportsman and women in so many different sports. I didn't realise how many he worked with.


Dave Alred

Looking forward to better light conditions outdoors and to get back to some sports photography.

A French Day

When you watch a television series or a film about an area of experience of which you have some knowledge (i.e. your profession) they are so often cringingly off-target. This was true of the TV series "Teachers", even though it was quite good entertainment. I am sure lawyers would have felt the same about "This Life” and "North Square” which I also enjoyed. However, the French film Entre les Murs (The Class), which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes this year, portrayed so many of the situations that Wendy and I have experienced as teachers and have discussed during our professional careers.

In the film teacher and novelist François Bégaudeau plays a version of himself as he negotiates a year with his racially mixed students from a tough Parisian neighbourhood. I know that I (and probably Wendy too) would not have had to cope with the conditions that a teacher in the Paris banlieues would have to cope with, but in this film by Laurent Cantet, there were so many situations that we have experienced that we could empathise with so much of it: the teachers and head teacher were credible (a varied non-glossy bunch, all with different views and yet generally supportive of each other and "the cause"); the class teacher, François Begaudeau (who originally was a teacher and who wrote the original novel and co-wrote the screenplay) was someone we could identify with, was a positive and sympathetic teacher who fell into the traps that most teachers might fall into in such circumstances; the parents had traits that we could recognise from parents we have encountered; and the children reacted with the teacher and with each other just like children we have taught. I loved the way it showed the workings of a French school and I thought how brilliant a resource this film would have been when I had to teach about the French educational system to English students.

I loved too the way in which the camera was used and how it strengthened what was for me the most impressive aspect of the film which was the dialogue: the dialogue between teacher and student, student and teacher, student and student, teacher and teacher, teacher and parent. The camera work was not jumpy but always had you in the right place to take in fully who was communicating with whom. I thought the camera shots at the end were so simple and yet so artistic. I thought the film gave fair credit to the pupils, although focusing on their foibles, showed their strengths too. The acting was top class, especially amongst the students. Who was my favourite? I think I would have to go with Esmeralda, although there were so many strong characters.

This film was so different from Slumdog Millionaire but, because of the personal reflections, more enjoyable. I found the French more accessible than the English in most American films and the subtitles were good.

The French theme continued when we went for supper at Bordeaux Quay Brasserie. We shared an interesting mezze of hummus, courgettes and Baba Ganouj (made from roasted aubergines). Wendy had a lamb tagine and I had an Italian fish stew. Would have liked to have had the very reasonably priced Chateau Beau-Site St Estèphe but, not surprisingly, it was sold out and so went for an Argentinian Don David 2007 Malbec from the Cafayate Valley - concentrated aromas of red fruit, spices and toasted notes from the oak; rich and complex with supple tannins and a long finish (not my comments but I agree!)

French day concluded by reading Midi Olympique which Martin had kindly sent me . It was very interesting to read about the dispute between Guy Novès, coach to Toulouse (the top team in the Top 14) and the national team. It seems that the FFR don't have the sort of accord that the RFU have made with the Guinness Premiership which is quite a worry when so many English players are considering moving to play in the Top 14 in France - also reported in Midi Olympique. This edition of the MO was interesting as it was not an international weekend and so featured news of the French clubs which I don't know much about.