I managed to persuade Jacquie to let me publish her account of our Nivernais holiday on my blog. She wrote it with particular criteria in mind, thereby avoiding my usual rambling style.
On the Nivernais Canal, June 2008
There were four of us on this trip, all recently retired teachers, revelling in the prospect, for the first time in our adult lives, of a summer holiday in late June, at a time when our ex-colleagues and their charges would still be sweltering in under-ventilated classrooms. Our plan: two weeks on a canal in Burgundy. The solution: a boat called Sophie, rented from France Afloat, travelling the Canal du Nivernais from Vermenton to Châtillons-en-Bazois, and back.
Sophie, being both home and transport for two weeks, inevitably became a kind of fifth member of the party. She met all our essential requirements – affordable, a loo and shower per couple, and a large deck with parasol – but pretty she was not. A four-square barge, she had the elegance and manoeuvrability of a bathtub. By the end of the fortnight we were patting her big red rump affectionately, but for the first day or so she was a challenge. She was difficult to steer (and stop); the slightest breeze or a passing fish would send her heading apparently unstoppably for the nearest bank/bridge/lock/moored boat. But we learnt her ways fairly quickly, and soon we were negotiating locks and bridges with hardly a scratch. We were able to relax and enjoy. And there was so much to enjoy: profound country silence at a quiet evening mooring, broken only by the plop of a rising fish or a pulled cork; lingering glowing sunsets at the end of these longest summer days amid fields and woods at their most lush and full-blown; lock houses tended with eccentric and loving care in a riot of flowers, gnomes, dogs and art-work; the extraordinary sequence of sixteen locks, three tunnels and a deeply-wooded, shadowy, winding cut that leads to the top of the canal at the Étang de Baye. And, of course, food. We did most of our own cooking on board, partly for the fun of it and partly for economy, but also because restaurants are relatively rare on this stretch of the canal. Those we did find were usually very small, simple, and often very good. Having reached the lake at Baye on a blazing afternoon, we went in search of rewarding refreshment. A twenty minute walk to La Coloncelle took us to a tiny bar/shop/restaurant called le Martin Pecheur, whose owner was happy to come and collect us for an evening meal. The crudité, steak and frites were excellent. Even smaller – with only four tables, and a disconcerting line in anti-immigrant cartoons on the walls, but with a surprisingly varied menu, was the Bar Sur Soleuse, at the Chavance locks, accessible only from the tow-path. And the very friendly owner of Le Snack at Chitry-les-Mines threw in a free bottle of wine.
The Nivernais canal is one of the smaller, perhaps less well-known of the French canals; quiet, beautiful and well-maintained, it must be one of the most delightful. And the four of us are still good friends.
(Copyright 2008, Jacquie Penrose)
Jacquie has also written a couple of ghost stories for the Havant Ghost Walk (see havant literary festival website). I am commissioning other writers as well. If you're reading this blog with a ghost story already written or the potential to write one let me know before september 10th as I have a deadline to meet. I will worry about how to make it fit but just need good stories.)
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Endurance
We have stripped the old kitchen out and taken down an internal wall that used to separate the dining room and kitchen. It was all done very quickly in about a day but we did produce enough dust to re-enact the smothering of Pompeii. We had some friends arriving that very day to stay for a couple of days - either they and we are hardy or just plain foolhardy. At first I was so glum as to be despondent - not a natural state of affairs with me - but a couple of hours with Norman and Allyson I was back to normal. Allyson has known the Best Beloved for 37 years, which pre-dates even me. You see, this Saturday marks our 33rd wedding anniversary. I still find that an amazing milestone to have reached. I read somewhere that a sign of a man's toughness is not speed, stamina, strength or power but endurance! I may be sending out the wrong vibes there, in so far as I find it no hardship being with the Best Beloved - she still fascinates me! As I have often said, I can understand why I married her and why I have stuck it out so long, but why she married me???
At a recent social event the Best Beloved was asked if she ever wanted to go on holiday with just the girls and leave the old man behind. To her great credit and my enormous satisfaction, she said, "I really like going away with my fella, and that can't be bad after thirty three years, eh?"
Anyway, back to the house alterations, as I am forcibly reminded by the sound of the electrician's drill carving out new conduits for the cabling in the kitchen. What with new appliances and plinth heaters and possibly underfloor heating, there is lots to employ the electrician before the new kitchen units arrive next week. He did make me smile as he solemnly informed me that there was a fault somewhere in the system. Before he discovered it, I had guessed where it might be. On the day of my heart attack, back in January 2007, I was installing a rack on the kitchen wall from which to dangle saucepans and frying pans (this was at the height of my domestic revolution). I realise now that I shouldn't have been doing so as I was more than a little out of it. Anyway I did manage to twice hit a cable with my drill before I realised I really wasn't in the mood for DIY. I remember distinctly thinking I would return to it afresh the next day and turned my attention instead to the stew I was slowly cooking in preparation for the Best Beloved's return from her school day. I am pleased to say that after I was installed in the Assessment Ward at QA, my family did return home to find a stew to eat for their supper prepared by their absent father. Well, suffice it to say, the new kitchen and its wiring will be in perfect condition from now on. I can say that also applies to my heart and its new wiring as well.
At a recent social event the Best Beloved was asked if she ever wanted to go on holiday with just the girls and leave the old man behind. To her great credit and my enormous satisfaction, she said, "I really like going away with my fella, and that can't be bad after thirty three years, eh?"
Anyway, back to the house alterations, as I am forcibly reminded by the sound of the electrician's drill carving out new conduits for the cabling in the kitchen. What with new appliances and plinth heaters and possibly underfloor heating, there is lots to employ the electrician before the new kitchen units arrive next week. He did make me smile as he solemnly informed me that there was a fault somewhere in the system. Before he discovered it, I had guessed where it might be. On the day of my heart attack, back in January 2007, I was installing a rack on the kitchen wall from which to dangle saucepans and frying pans (this was at the height of my domestic revolution). I realise now that I shouldn't have been doing so as I was more than a little out of it. Anyway I did manage to twice hit a cable with my drill before I realised I really wasn't in the mood for DIY. I remember distinctly thinking I would return to it afresh the next day and turned my attention instead to the stew I was slowly cooking in preparation for the Best Beloved's return from her school day. I am pleased to say that after I was installed in the Assessment Ward at QA, my family did return home to find a stew to eat for their supper prepared by their absent father. Well, suffice it to say, the new kitchen and its wiring will be in perfect condition from now on. I can say that also applies to my heart and its new wiring as well.
Monday, August 11, 2008
A new season begins
I love name dropping so here goes: I had quite a long chat with Shaun Gale, the manager of the Hawks (Havant and Waterlooville FC) on Thursday. The Hawks were the team in the FA Cup who put Havant on the map. During the season if you flew to other countries and people asked you where you came from and you said "Havant", they knew where you meant. The exploits of the Hawks culminated in the match at Anfield where the Hawks led mighty Liverpool in the first half of the game and a Cup shock like no other was definitely on the cards.
Anyway I was attending a sustainability conference at Havant College on Thursday and Mr Gale was the guest speaker. We arrived in the car park and I engaged him in conversation on the way in. He was then grabbed by the organisers to go over the arrangements but he came back over to me at the refreshment table before the conference started so we could resume our conversation. Note that, please, he came back over to me not me hanging wailing on to his tracksuit until he gave me some attention. (I am not beyond using such tactics in my search for celebrity attachment but it was unnecessary on this occasion).
My credentials for talking to the Hawks' manager was that I had been at the Hawks v Pompey game on Tuesday of last week. I try to attend the Hawks' home games at West Leigh as they tend to coincide with Pompey away games. I don't know whether my non-attendance of Pompey away games makes me a poor supporter but at least I support both home teams to some degree. I must also confess to looking at Bradford City's results with hope in my heart. Little Brother's early season assessment is "possible promotion strong squad this year" (You heard it here first, folks)
I know Pompey won the Tuesday game 4 - 0 on Tuesday but Hawks were certainly not taken apart by the premier side. I think defence and midfield of the Blue Square side looks strong and capable of doing well in their league, which is why they are tipped as promotion favourites before the season begins. Ben Sahar was the difference in class as he took his two goals with aplomb. The Mvuemba 30 yarder was a scorcher delivered with hardly any backlift and through a crowd of players - the Hawks' goalie had no chance. The fourth goal scored by glen Johnson after a neat reverse pass by Richard Hughes would have been conceded by most teams at any level. I am hoping to cheer Hawks on at the Monday league game tonight. Shaun (or Mr Gale) says it is quite usual to play an away game on Saturday and a home game on the Monday - although it sounds quite knackering to me (and can you imagine the fuss with a Premier league side were required to do that?). He also said attendance is better on a Monday than on the usual Tuesday or Wednesday.
Watched Pompey play in the Community Shield yesterday and have to concede they were poor. Man U played without a forward whereas we had Crouch and Defoe. The difference is in midfield. Last season I thought we were without a cutting edge because of poor strike force. We now have a strike force bar none but poor service limits their effectiveness. Crouch only touched the ball six times in the entire match. Man u passed the ball 307 times compared to Pompey's 177. Fletcher, a midfielder, had the best chance of the entire game. Pompey midfield is incapable of switching from defence to attack swiftly enough. For me, Diarra is an attacking midfielder who should play in the space behind the striker(s) and therefore should share that role with Kranjcar. The latter has had a £12 million offer made for him and is being courted by clubs like Arsenal. On yesterday's showing I would grab the money. I would pay good money for someone like Shaun Wright Phillips who has the ability and the pace to turn defence into attack admittedly down one flank only - although he could do some damage over on the left wing too occasionally. He would provide a reliable outlet to relieve pressure on the defence. He would also provide some service for Crouch and Defoe. I cannot understand why Diop is preferred to Sean Davis. The wardrobe is hardly the most mobile attacking force and isn't that great as a stopping midfielder either. Sean Davis can and will do both. Pedro Mendes is a neat tidy passer and player and would play in my midfield but I am not sure I would use him as a defensive midfielder or enforcer. The great Sol was caught out a couple of times and it is mainly to do with pace. The pace of the attacking midfield is the problem and is our main lack.
I am hoping that we are still in the transfer market and that Pompey will make me eat my words. PUP!
Anyway I was attending a sustainability conference at Havant College on Thursday and Mr Gale was the guest speaker. We arrived in the car park and I engaged him in conversation on the way in. He was then grabbed by the organisers to go over the arrangements but he came back over to me at the refreshment table before the conference started so we could resume our conversation. Note that, please, he came back over to me not me hanging wailing on to his tracksuit until he gave me some attention. (I am not beyond using such tactics in my search for celebrity attachment but it was unnecessary on this occasion).
My credentials for talking to the Hawks' manager was that I had been at the Hawks v Pompey game on Tuesday of last week. I try to attend the Hawks' home games at West Leigh as they tend to coincide with Pompey away games. I don't know whether my non-attendance of Pompey away games makes me a poor supporter but at least I support both home teams to some degree. I must also confess to looking at Bradford City's results with hope in my heart. Little Brother's early season assessment is "possible promotion strong squad this year" (You heard it here first, folks)
I know Pompey won the Tuesday game 4 - 0 on Tuesday but Hawks were certainly not taken apart by the premier side. I think defence and midfield of the Blue Square side looks strong and capable of doing well in their league, which is why they are tipped as promotion favourites before the season begins. Ben Sahar was the difference in class as he took his two goals with aplomb. The Mvuemba 30 yarder was a scorcher delivered with hardly any backlift and through a crowd of players - the Hawks' goalie had no chance. The fourth goal scored by glen Johnson after a neat reverse pass by Richard Hughes would have been conceded by most teams at any level. I am hoping to cheer Hawks on at the Monday league game tonight. Shaun (or Mr Gale) says it is quite usual to play an away game on Saturday and a home game on the Monday - although it sounds quite knackering to me (and can you imagine the fuss with a Premier league side were required to do that?). He also said attendance is better on a Monday than on the usual Tuesday or Wednesday.
Watched Pompey play in the Community Shield yesterday and have to concede they were poor. Man U played without a forward whereas we had Crouch and Defoe. The difference is in midfield. Last season I thought we were without a cutting edge because of poor strike force. We now have a strike force bar none but poor service limits their effectiveness. Crouch only touched the ball six times in the entire match. Man u passed the ball 307 times compared to Pompey's 177. Fletcher, a midfielder, had the best chance of the entire game. Pompey midfield is incapable of switching from defence to attack swiftly enough. For me, Diarra is an attacking midfielder who should play in the space behind the striker(s) and therefore should share that role with Kranjcar. The latter has had a £12 million offer made for him and is being courted by clubs like Arsenal. On yesterday's showing I would grab the money. I would pay good money for someone like Shaun Wright Phillips who has the ability and the pace to turn defence into attack admittedly down one flank only - although he could do some damage over on the left wing too occasionally. He would provide a reliable outlet to relieve pressure on the defence. He would also provide some service for Crouch and Defoe. I cannot understand why Diop is preferred to Sean Davis. The wardrobe is hardly the most mobile attacking force and isn't that great as a stopping midfielder either. Sean Davis can and will do both. Pedro Mendes is a neat tidy passer and player and would play in my midfield but I am not sure I would use him as a defensive midfielder or enforcer. The great Sol was caught out a couple of times and it is mainly to do with pace. The pace of the attacking midfield is the problem and is our main lack.
I am hoping that we are still in the transfer market and that Pompey will make me eat my words. PUP!
More research needed
On my sister page, "Bench Hamlet 2008", part of my musings concern a personally remembered history of the Bench Theatre. I have based the articles so far on my own remembering rather than referring to any archive materials or memoribilia. This means that some of the anecdotes are factually unsound but , as I often tell the Best Beloved ( my editor in these sort of endeavours), I am not going to ruin a good story for the sake of the truth.
This opening is by way of an apology for a recent posting about Wrong Way Corrigan. The family historian and archivist, my little Brother, has written to me to point out a large error in my retelling of the story. Apparently Douglas was a contemporary of Charles Lindbergh and an American (Irish-American, though), who flew from America to Ireland and not the other way round. I think the essence of the story is correct but the "begorrahs, oi must have flown the wrong way" in a stage Oirish voice doesn't bear close inspection. My little brother has researched the said Wrong Way Corrigan, hence the title of this posting. This is the long but accurate link for those seekers after truth and enlightenment: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.100megspop3.com/bark/Corrigan1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.100megspop3.com/bark/DouglasWrongWayCorrigan.html&h=378&w=500&sz=33&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=lgQGLnvseHCStM:&tbnh=98&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCorrigan%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4GGLH_enGB273GB273%26sa%3DG
On Friday got a text message from my agent asking about my availability on September 9th and 10th: "Playing 1920's aristocracy in TV programme for Japan." Naturally I threw my hat into the ring replying well before the deadline of 1430 (I always worry whether the message gets through because you have no real way of knowing, do you? Simple non-technical answers appreciated) so am now awaiting the result of the casting director looking over hundreds of CV and photos and hopefully picking me. I am now locked into that state of suspension so well described in the Natty Chap's blog recently (see link to right of The World of Nathan Chapman). What makes me smile though is the description of the job. If given the chance of "Playing 1920's aristocracy" , I would be in danger of typecasting as I played 1930 German diplomat in my last assignment, with short back and sides and all. Anyone who has ever met me will testify and a glimpse of a photo of me (here I will attempt to insert a headshot of moi) will show that I am of a particular stock that could get away with 'noveau riche' (please let me win the lottery) rather than ancient landed aristocracy. I am hoping that the casting director sees the bluff Englishman that could be lurking within- you know - the Dr Watson, the Colonel Pickering, the Agatha Christie squire, the ex pat absentee lord of the manor. The trouble is it all depends on the photo.
I wouldn't mind playing any of those parts by the way, if there are casting directors out there reading this or directors looking for a Colonel Pickering or Dr Watson. I could just about manage the song from My Fair Lady.
I did miss out on playing a taxi driver in a Rimmel commercial. Now you must admit I could get away with playing a London cabbie with those looks, yeh? With pretty girls around though, my concentration would be sorely stretched. Finally on this subject, I love the idea of making a TV programme for Japan. Surely, this means I would never really have the chance to see it. ("Stop calling me Shirley" - quote from an iconic movie)
Sunday, August 03, 2008
A Plan
Sometimes you need a plan and I love the quote from Die Hard 4.0 when, John McLaine is asked whether he had a semblance of a plan, he replies, "Find Lucy. Kill everyone else!"
Notice the simplicity of the plan and the whole plan contained in five words. I can see the drawbacks if you applied that plan generally but I do like its brevity.
When I make a plan it tends to go on for pages and by the time I get to the end of the plan I have certainly forgotten how the plan starts and indeed what the plan is for.
Nowadays I rely upon "to do"lists as if I plan I become rigid ( I am a belt and braces man at heart) and inflexible. If I have spent the time drawing up a plan then the plan will come to fruition at the allotted time or there will be tantrums. The Best Beloved has tried to make me more flexible but the result is I usually end up floppy and indecisive. That last bit doesn't sound good but is accurate I believe.
I am not very good thinking quickly on my feet. I prefer to muse on a problem for a while before coming to a conclusion - the trouble is, once I have made my mind up, I am as stubborn as can be (see Wrong Way Corrigan in previous posting). I invariably regret snap decisions made on the hoof. Yesterday I was expecting to read a short scene with David P at the Havant Arts Centre 30th birthday bash but the ambience wasn't right and we ended up doing theatre games. I am not sure these were the right thing in the circumstances either but on the spur of the moment could not come up with anything better. The Bench needs a street theatre arm or training in order to do these sort of events justice. Our sedate theatrical approach is not conducive to the mobile disinterested crowd situation.
This has been a weekend of celebrations. Friday was Yorkshire Day (official) so I was nearly a month out with my celebration (see previous posting). It was also the 30th birthday of our Firstborn. We spent the day helping Kat move into her new flat and then had an evening meal with the Firstborn at the Sussex Brewery. I wasn't great company as I was very tired after my day as a removal man. although I left most of the lifting to ToyBoy and Natty Chap. Saturday saw the 30th birthday celebrations of the Havant arts Centre as above and I think I can claim to have directed the first ever theatrical production at the Havant Arts Centre back in 1978 (see Bench Hamlet 2008 in links to the right). Today (Sunday) Firstborn is holding a joint Birthday garden party in South Street, Havant, with Vicky Wakelin (whose birthday is August 8th). The weather could be better but the spirits are cheerful. Tomorrow sees the 6th wedding anniversary of the Firstborn and Natty Chap to round off this weekend of familial fun.
I have a couple of meetings this week otherwise my attention is on writing ghostly tales for the Ghost Walk I am doing as part of the Literary Festival at the end of September and planning a Storytelling session I am doing at the Arts Centre as part of the same event. People keep asking for decisions on the two activities and until I have committed them to paper they simply don't exist for me except in the most abstract sense.
Other than that it is hoping we can push on with the foundations for the extension, weather permitting, and that England can restore some cricketing pride by beating the South Africans just once, and that Pompey buy Shaun Wright-Phillips in time for the Community Shield next Sunday.
I am still working on my holiday films and I am obliged to Ian Wegg for his idea of putting "Les Madamoiselles des ecluses de Nivernais" on the cardiac rehab website but I think if I ever finish editing it will appear here or on my Facebook page. I also have a plan for another Debbie Hobbs' cardiac rehab film for her website, www.cardiacrehabphaseiv.com.
You see I have plans: "Find Lucy. Kill everyone else."
Notice the simplicity of the plan and the whole plan contained in five words. I can see the drawbacks if you applied that plan generally but I do like its brevity.
When I make a plan it tends to go on for pages and by the time I get to the end of the plan I have certainly forgotten how the plan starts and indeed what the plan is for.
Nowadays I rely upon "to do"lists as if I plan I become rigid ( I am a belt and braces man at heart) and inflexible. If I have spent the time drawing up a plan then the plan will come to fruition at the allotted time or there will be tantrums. The Best Beloved has tried to make me more flexible but the result is I usually end up floppy and indecisive. That last bit doesn't sound good but is accurate I believe.
I am not very good thinking quickly on my feet. I prefer to muse on a problem for a while before coming to a conclusion - the trouble is, once I have made my mind up, I am as stubborn as can be (see Wrong Way Corrigan in previous posting). I invariably regret snap decisions made on the hoof. Yesterday I was expecting to read a short scene with David P at the Havant Arts Centre 30th birthday bash but the ambience wasn't right and we ended up doing theatre games. I am not sure these were the right thing in the circumstances either but on the spur of the moment could not come up with anything better. The Bench needs a street theatre arm or training in order to do these sort of events justice. Our sedate theatrical approach is not conducive to the mobile disinterested crowd situation.
This has been a weekend of celebrations. Friday was Yorkshire Day (official) so I was nearly a month out with my celebration (see previous posting). It was also the 30th birthday of our Firstborn. We spent the day helping Kat move into her new flat and then had an evening meal with the Firstborn at the Sussex Brewery. I wasn't great company as I was very tired after my day as a removal man. although I left most of the lifting to ToyBoy and Natty Chap. Saturday saw the 30th birthday celebrations of the Havant arts Centre as above and I think I can claim to have directed the first ever theatrical production at the Havant Arts Centre back in 1978 (see Bench Hamlet 2008 in links to the right). Today (Sunday) Firstborn is holding a joint Birthday garden party in South Street, Havant, with Vicky Wakelin (whose birthday is August 8th). The weather could be better but the spirits are cheerful. Tomorrow sees the 6th wedding anniversary of the Firstborn and Natty Chap to round off this weekend of familial fun.
I have a couple of meetings this week otherwise my attention is on writing ghostly tales for the Ghost Walk I am doing as part of the Literary Festival at the end of September and planning a Storytelling session I am doing at the Arts Centre as part of the same event. People keep asking for decisions on the two activities and until I have committed them to paper they simply don't exist for me except in the most abstract sense.
Other than that it is hoping we can push on with the foundations for the extension, weather permitting, and that England can restore some cricketing pride by beating the South Africans just once, and that Pompey buy Shaun Wright-Phillips in time for the Community Shield next Sunday.
I am still working on my holiday films and I am obliged to Ian Wegg for his idea of putting "Les Madamoiselles des ecluses de Nivernais" on the cardiac rehab website but I think if I ever finish editing it will appear here or on my Facebook page. I also have a plan for another Debbie Hobbs' cardiac rehab film for her website, www.cardiacrehabphaseiv.com.
You see I have plans: "Find Lucy. Kill everyone else."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
