12.31.06
Laughter
Chaucer and I like surfing online for anything that makes us laugh, so here is another greetings card verse ~
So your girlfriend is a hooker, she lied to you for ages,
But look on the bright side, it’s really great wages!
We Love Sunshine
Yoelson and I spent this morning sitting outside on the terrace, it is south facing and the sun was shining. It was a wonderfully warm 25c in the sun, not bad for a December day. We have just finished a very tasty roast lunch and now we are off for an afternoon nap, we don’t want to overdo things, it is sunday after all.
I will leave you with this greeting card verse we found online~
My car tyre felt strange,
I thought it was flat,
When I looked at the tyre,
I noticed your cat ……. Sorry!
12.30.06
Something Lighthearted
After reading the news and Chaucer’s entry for today, it’s all very gloomy. So I thought I would write something a little more cheery, but now I am here typing and I can’t think of anything remotely cheerful. We haven’t posted anything for the last two days because we were feeling unwell, we are much better now though. As I am unable to write anything original (is there even such a thing anymore)? I will leave you with a few words from one of our favourite, and possibly greatest British writers, William Shakespeare.
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt. William Shakespeare. Measure for Measure, Act 1 Scene 4.
Saddam Hussein Executed
Iraq’s former leader Saddam Hussein is dead. Apparently he was executed at dawn today at a former military intelligence headquarters in a Shia district of Baghdad at 6am local time (3am GMT), following his conviction by an Iraqi court for crimes against humanity. Apparently Saddam refused to have his head covered, and as the rope was put round his neck he shouted, ‘God is Great, the nation will be victorious and Palestine is Arab’. There is a statement from Geroge Bush in the press, but I don’t want to comment on anything that man has to say about this. Saddam Hussein aparently asked for his copy of the Koran to be passed on to someone, a man called Bander. After Saddam’s appeal was rejected he was resigned to his fate and vowed to go to the gallows a “true matyr”. He also said, “I sacrifice myself, if God wills it, he will place me among the true men and matyrs”. I find it interesting that Saddam was killed on the same day that John Scarlett was knighted. If John Scarlett had not misrepresented the dossier (on Alistair Campbell/Downing Streets) instructions, that justified the war in Iraq, then possibly Tony Blair would not have dared invade Iraq illegally, and he may well have prevailed on George Bush not doing so either. What sets Mr Blair and Bush apart from Saddam Hussein, aren’t they guilty of killing hundreds of thousands of people too, guilty of torture, and don’t they have Weapons of Mass Destruction, and if so aren’t they also worthy of a noose round their necks? Saddam Hussein was a brutal dictator, I am not saying otherwise, but he was undoubtedly groomed for this role by the west, who in the end orchestrated his death. Why wasn’t he dealt with sooner? Could it be because the west was happy for him to use the weapons he had bought from them, to kill his own people. I think so, but only whilst it was expedient for him to do so, only whilst it fitted the subversive objectives of various western agencies. It is so sad that by being an ally to America the U.K. is now as equally loathed as they are. Is that something Britain can really be proud of, being an ally of possibly the most blood thirsty nations in the world. These dictators are allowed to get away with murder, at least for now, as are the U.K. and the U.S.A. but when will they be held accountable? It saddens me to think of the lives lost during this ‘war’, and all to keep the price of petrol at an affordable level for westeners. Will the families of Saddam Husseins victims find peace now? I’d like to think so, but it’s unlikely, and how will life be now for the people of Iraq? I fear there will be many more dark days ahead for Iraq and its people. So many innocent civilians lives have been damaged by this man, Saddam Hussein, and now he is dead, will there be stability in the Middle East? I have a feeling and its not good, I am not optimistic about the future of our planet. Why are we intent on hurting and killing each other? Why can’t we all live in peace? I am not religious but all I keep thinking is … God help us.
12.27.06
British Wine Worrying the French?
Apparently British wine makers are giving their French counterparts cause for concern. We read an interesting article a couple of days ago about Britains thriving wine industry.
Denbie’s in Surrey, the UK’s biggest vinyard, are struggling to keep up with the demand for their wines after beating the French to win several prestigious international wine awards. Denbies was set up 20 years ago, and is now beating the French at major awards and eating into their market share. Apparently this change is all down to global warming, which is great for local producers because the increase in light helps develop flavours and extends the growing season. French wines ripen earlier, but with the warmer weather English wines are as good as many of the French reds. With the English being the second biggest drinkers of sparkling wine per head in the world, and thanks to the warmer climate allowing Britain to specialise in sparkling wine, there is definitely a boom time ahead. The wine industry in Britain has grown 30% in the past year, and Denbies are planting over 10,000 vines a year just to keep up with the new demand. Denbies wines are stocked in various outlets from Waitrose to Harrods, as well as independent wine merhants. As the quality of English wine rises so do the prices, from £5 a bottle to £19. The French President Jacques Chirac has enjoyed a glass of Denbies wine, so has the Queen, and Prime Minister Tony Blair. Apparently French vineyards are purchasing agricultural land in the U.K. (I bet that’s not something they like to admit to), they plan to produce sparkling wine. I guess with the British being big drinkers, the French are right to be concerned, and buying U.K. land makes a lot of financial sense. It sure is a funny old world, Richard wanted to live on an Indian Ocean island, or failing that Sicily, but was persuaded to move to France by Laura. She lured him with the thought of copiuos amounts of good wine. They could have stayed in Britain …
I fancy a nice glass of red, French of course, but as it is so cold I will make Yoelson and myself some tea.
12.26.06
Another Lazy Day
Yoelson and I have enjoyed a lovely lazy day today. This morning we were messing about with the digital camera taking lots of pictures of various objects in our house. The sun was streaming in through the windows casting lots of weird and wonderful hues and shadows over things, which made us feel very creative. We had a visitor too, a dog. Laura and Richard often feed him, he is a stray dog that roams in and around our village, and today they gave him the leftover wild boar from yesterdays lunch. He is so fussy, he often turns his nose up at food (which is not reflection on Richard’s cooking), but he really enjoyed the meat today. There is also another dog who comes here, she is a pet who lives across the river, but she also gets fed by us and our neighbours. She is not fussy at all, she will eat anything and everything, even your fingers if you let her. The stray dog has been sleeping on the floor in various parts of our lounge for a few hours now, I don’t blame him not wanting to go back outside in the cold. Not much else to write, we are going to have a cup of tea now. I will leave you with this.
The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeing new landscapes, but in having new eyes ……. Marcel Proust
12.25.06
Peace and Quiet
Yoelson and I heard Richard and Laura saying the were going to pop out to Narbonne for a quick drink this morning. We felt like going out too, so we snuck out and hid in the back of the car. It was a lovely sunny morning but cold, when we left home the temperature was 9c, we were happy that the car heater was on full blast. By the time we got to Narbonne the temperature had dropped to 3c ….. BRRRRRRR. Whilst Richard was getting his coat out of the car boot we snuck out and off for a wander round. It was so cold, and the strong wind made it feel more like -3c. After a little stroll we saw Richard and Laura walking back towards the car, complete with a fresh baguette, they looked frozen. Once again we snuck into the back seat of the car whilst Richard was putting his coat back in the boot. Laura was still bundled up in her coat waiting in the car for Richard, she always says she can never be too warm, and even though we have our thick fur coats we quite agree. Thankfully the car was nice and warm and the sun shone brightly for the whole drive home. We arrived home at lunch time, and by now the temperature had crept up to a slightly warmer 11c. We had enjoyed our brief trip to Narbonne, but we were very happy to be back home in the warmth. Richard and Laura ate lunch (wild boar) an hour or so after we returned home and the aroma that filled the house made our tummies rumble. I think we will nibble a little of the leftovers later. Not much else to say, we are feeling a little melancholy this afternoon, probably due to the poems we have been reading (Auden). Yoelson and I are going for a little nap soon, after I have made us a cup of tea.
We like W. H. Auden, even though he was a British subject who renounced his nationality in 1939 and took up American citizenship, each to his own, so I will leave you with this poem.
Funeral Blues
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.
Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message He is Dead. Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.
He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.
The stars are not wanted now; put out every one; Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood, For nothing now can ever come to any good.
W.H. Auden
12.24.06
Today’s Geography Lesson
It’s Christmas Eve, even though we don’t celebrate Christmas we do apreciate the lull in activity it brings to our village. It is spookily quiet outside, we haven’t seen or heard another person all day. Not one single vehicle has driven by, it’s great as we like it being quiet. It is very cold and dull outside, we haven’t even poked our noses out of the front door. We are doing everything we can to keep warm, we had a lovely hot bath full of Chanel No 5 bubbles, and then we snuggled up under a couple of blankets on the sofa, watcing tv and surfing online at the same time.
Laura had been online before us and she had left this on the desktop, it made her chuckle, and it made us laugh too.
GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN ~
Between 18 and 22 ~ a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, naturally beautiful, and fertile.
Between 23 and 30 ~ a woman is like America, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with cash.
Between 31 and 35 ~ a woman is like India, very hot, relaxed, and convinced of her own beauty.
Between 36 and 40 ~ a woman is like France, gently aging, but still warm, and desirable to visit.
Between 41 and 50 ~ a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all-conquering past.
Between 51 and 60 ~ a woman is like Yugoslavia, lost the war and haunted by past mistakes.
Between 61 and 70 ~ a woman is like Russia, wide, with borders that are now un-patrolled.
After 70, she becomes Tibet ~ Wildly beautiful, with a mysterious past, and the wisdom of the ages.
Only those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge visit there.
GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN ~
Between 1 and 85 ~ a man is like Iran … ruled by a dick ….
We are still feeling so cold, the heating is all on full blast, which just leaves a nice warming drink to help keep out the cold. All I have to do now is decide between a nice cup of tea, or a naughty Hot Toddy!
12.23.06
William Wordsworth
I have been reading a few poetry books lately, and I liked this poem very much.
PERFECT WOMAN
by: William Wordsworth (1770-1850)
SHE was a phantom of delight
When first she gleam’d upon my sight;
A lovely apparition, sent
To be a moment’s ornament;
Her eyes as stars of twilight fair;
Like twilight’s, too, her dusky hair;
But all things else about her drawn
From May-time and the cheerful dawn;
A dancing shape, an image gay,
To haunt, to startle, and waylay.
I saw her upon nearer view,
A Spirit, yet a Woman too!
Her household motions light and free,
And steps of virgin liberty;
A countenance in which did meet
Sweet records, promises as sweet;
A creature not too bright or good
For human nature’s daily food;
For transient sorrows, simple wiles,
Praise, blame, love, kisses, tears, and smiles.
And now I see with eye serene
The very pulse of the machine;
A being breathing thoughtful breath,
A traveller between life and death;
The reason firm, the temperate will,
Endurance, foresight, strength, and skill;
A perfect Woman, nobly plann’d,
To warn, to comfort, and command;
And yet a Spirit still, and bright
With something of angelic light.
I wish I could write something as beautiful and thought provoking as this. Time for a nice cup of tea and maybe some biscuits.
12.22.06
Sleeping Beauty
We love being in bed. We have a real struggle just to get up every morning, it’s so tempting to hide under the covers where it’s nice and warm. Lately we haven’t managed to get up in the mornings … it’s been way past lunch time by the time we venture from under the bed clothes. We have to arise in stages, gently easing ourselves into the day.
First we open our eyes but remain under the covers. Then we gently peer out over the covers, hoping that there will be at the very least a small ray of sunshine lighting up the bedroom. Lastly we have a good stretch before throwing off the covers and rushing into the bathroom, where we perform our daily ablutions.
Once we have begun the day in the most peaceful and gentle manor possible, we are happy to wander downstairs for the best cup of tea of the day. Why is it that the very first cup of tea of the day always seems to taste so much nicer than any of the ones that follow throughout the day?
Mmm, tea, time for a cup now, perfect.