An Ex-Ex-Pat’s thoughts on the woman, her reign, and her passing. Everyone knows that no one lives forever, but Queen Elizabeth seemed like a possible exception. She always appeared in public with dignity but not austerity, with warm smiles and that vertical hand-wave. And of course the pocketbook. Always perfectly coiffed and dressed, except for… Continue reading Queen Elizabeth II
Category: In the Village, England
More Rhubarb
Rh I love to eat rhubarb now, but when I was little I didn’t, especially stewed into a gluey pink mess and served for breakfast. Disguised as pie, however, with strawberries added and mother’s melt-in–your mouth pie crust, it was not the same vegetable at all. It seemed miraculous to me that such a sour… Continue reading More Rhubarb
Rhubarb
Well, that’s it. Symptoms of advancing years popping up, or maybe creakily- becoming- vertical, with each passing day. I walk down to Collins’, the green-grocer in the square to – What else? buy veggies and fruit. This walk in itself is a Good Thing, as it not only conserves gas, but helps keep my… Continue reading Rhubarb
The Bridge over Upper Street –
The village of Shere is several hundred years old. The church dates from the 11th century and several houses date from Tudor times. Ours is new-ish, built in 1635 or so, newer than the first settlements in the New World. One family has ruled over Shere for about 500 years; a Bray was granted the… Continue reading The Bridge over Upper Street –
The Frost is on the Pumpkin —
Actually, it isn’t. Not yet, anyway. After a relatively balmy September and early October, the temperatures have plummeted from daytime low 70’s F to low 60’s, and night times approach, but don’t attain, freezing. The days are “drawing in”. Long, 18 hour summer days have gradually decreased to 10, and by Christmas it will be… Continue reading The Frost is on the Pumpkin —
Battle of Britain
It is the 70th anniversary of Britain’s entry into war against Germany, and the battle of Britain took place. In honor of the brave young pilots who fought so valiantly and brilliantly, a Hurricane and a Spitfire landed at one of the airports used as an airfield back then. It isn’t too far from us;… Continue reading Battle of Britain
September
Our gift this month has been soft, sunshiny days and warm nights. Autumn is my favorite time of year, the time when I feel nature take a deep breath before plunging into winter's profound sleep, after the explosive growth of spring and summer. The trees still have their leaves, although you can feel the trees… Continue reading September
Painting al fresco
It is the time of year in England when you know where Wordsworth got his material. "Clouds of golden Daffodils" brighten the verges of the roads, sweep across meadows, and pop up in our gardens. I wonder who started planting them in the first place, if an army of ladies in tweed skirts and men… Continue reading Painting al fresco
Art Class in Albury
Wednesday mornings I go to a painting class in the nearby village of Albury. Our teacher lives off Rectory Lane just down the road in Shere. I’m not feeling much like a painter, today. Well, yes, a painter, but rather of walls than of canvas. The thing is, this man is really teaching us to… Continue reading Art Class in Albury
Snowed In
We awoke yesterday to a snowfall which had been going all night. Roads were invisible beneath 6 to 8 inches of snow, sidewalks indistinguishable from them. I jumped out of bed –a very unusual occurrence for me – eager to discover our transformed world. We also wanted to get down to the corner store to… Continue reading Snowed In