Unco-operative Cat!

The stubborn (adorable) little madam wasn't having anything to do with the nice hat I wanted her to wear!














"Get me away from this mad woman!"














Treating the (alleged) photographer with purrfect (sorry!) contempt:

Oh well, I don't think we're ready to join the 'star' cats on the 'Stuff on my Cat' blog just yet!

Cat Blogging!

According to Dave Walker: "Every blogger gets around to posting a picture of the cat eventually."

As I had thus far overlooked said inevitable cat-blogging I will go and find the cat and post her on here a.s.a.p....!
While we're on the subject of cats, have you seen the cats with stuff on them blog - or something like that, hang on... it's Stuff On My Cat?

Pledge of Allegiance...

This blog has now been in existence for just over two weeks, so it's about time I mentioned London's finest... COME ON YOU SPUUUUUURRRSSSS!!! There I've done it, I feel much better now.

Charing Cross Road... Again!

Have been back in Charing Cross Road today, shopping for books again! Today's heavenly little book-spree took place mainly in Blackwells - though I did pick up a copy of '84 Charing Cross Road' in Any Amount of Books. It's amazing actually how many little (how do you spell the plural of oasis?!) oasees(?) there are in the centre of London. From the racket of the street, I stepped into Blackwells and was transported to another (obviously quieter, but safe-havenish too) little world. I was amused though that I followed in a rather arty looking bloke who could have been auditioning for the ministry of silly walks - he was the sort you only find in London - or perhaps Cambridge (we lived there for a while) - young/straggly/arty/academic looking sort, trying to encapsulate all of that into the way he propelled himself along. Wish I'd been quick enough and brave enough to take a picture! That's one thing I want to get a bit braver about (I've already put something like this in the comments on the London Underground Blog - the entry on Tube ads - because I wasn't brave enough to take a photo of one on the tube platform at Holborn!). Now doesn't that sound pathetic!! It doesn't bother me in places where you get lots of snapping tourists - like Trafalgar Square, but I wimp out when it's a less obvious photography spot. Maybe this is just an irrational phobia - like my friend's: she is a most confident and assertive person, until she gets anywhere near a shop assistant and then she turns into a squirming paranoid wreck!
My one attempt at taking a photo of the characters and hustle and bustle of CCR today resulted in a pathetic blurry street sign half blocked by a traffic light because I tried to take it in under a second while pretending to be invisible! Hmmm!
Anyway, I'll have to work on that a bit, here though are my couple of piccies from Trafalgar Square:














St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church- where you can get a decent and reasonably priced cup of tea (Chelley's Teapot has been somewhat deprived lately of mentions of tea breaks!) as well as refreshment of a more lasting kind.














The 'new' statue by and of Alison Lapper - I'm not that keen - not due to the 'controversial' nature of the piece, just personal preference - I don't generally go for the shiny, modern pieces. I love, for example, the Tudor Rooms of the National Portrait Gallery (which I also managed a quick wander round today) more than the contemporary stuff - medieval is much more my cup of tea (purely accidental mention of tea there!) .

Cinema Firsts...

For some reason I was just thinking about my earliest visits to the cinema. Bit of an age give-away this - but I suppose I've done that before by talking about the wonders of Trumpton and Camberwick Green and confessing to being a Goth in the 80's! Anyway, first memories of cinema (which was still called going to the 'pictures' back then I seem to recall) were seeing 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' and 'The Empire Strikes Back'. I remember finding 'Empire Strikes Back' rather boring back then, though I love the Star Wars films now (yes, even the supposedly rubbish 'Phantom Menace' with Jar Jar at his most ridiculous!). I can't remember which of those two came out first (so which was my first big screen visit?) - will just go and have a little net trawl to find out...
Well, I'm a bit stumped as B&B was apparently released in 1971 (when I was one!) and TESB in 1980. I did find some suggestion that B&B was too long when it was first released so it was shortened - maybe they released it in the cinema again later on in the 70's? Well, it's likely to be my 'first' then anyway! I'll have to grill my dad and see if he can remember (it's not likely though - it's a bit of a standing joke in our family that my dad remembers everything totally differently to everyone else - perhaps a parallel universe has been involved somewhere along the line?). Anyone else out there remember their first cinema visit and what they thought of it?

Contrasting Signs in the Garden

Feeling somewhat lacking in blog inspiration today I thought I'd go in the garden (for garden read 'meadowy type chaotic wilderness place!') to ponder a daffodil or two!
Here for you are my signs of Spring... (British Summer Time ha ha!)

This lead me on to other ponderings in the 'garden'. Not only were there visible signs of Spring, but also visible signs of Saturday Night:

I am delighted (if you are not used to the English form of 'wit' - I am being 'ironic' here... 'sarcastic' - never!!) to be able to offer a handy fence, over which cans (predominantly) and burger wrappers can be lobbed. There are very clear signs that the tipple of choice for the natives (of the alleyway) is Stella! At least they miss the daffs when lobbing the cans over!

An Excellent Book...

Here's my book recommendation of the day/week/month/year*:

(*depending on how soon I decide to recommend another one!)

"Tarquin Hall had never set foot in the East End. But returning to London after ten years abroad - and priced out of the leafy suburb of his childhood - he finds himself living in an attic above a Bangladeshi sweatshop on Brick Lane. A grimy skylight provides the only window on his new world, where drug dealers and prostitutes parade openly and police sirens wail through the night... But below Brick Lane's unlovely surface [they] encounter a rich human landscape."

It's great - buy it!

The Hidden Goth

For all you one-time Goths out there what do you make of the following quote from an article on Goths and how they turn out?:

"The moment their teenage son or daughter dyes their hair black and starts getting creative with eyeliner can be a nightmare for parents. But a report suggests it should be a time for celebration. Goths are likely to grow up to be doctors, lawyers or architects, the study by Sussex University says. They are refined and sensitive, keen on poetry and books, not big on drugs or anti-social behaviour. They are also likely to carry on being goths into their adult life. They have an ability to express their feelings and are believers in romance rather than one-night stands, it says. In fact, the only things dark about them are their clothing and their sarcastic sense of humour. " (Read more by clicking the title link above - and the woman in their picture doesn't look like a Goth to me - far too bright!!).

It's scarily accurate in my case! Having gone from black hair, black clothes, black make-up - but purple lips! (and should have taken out shares in black eye-liner), shopping in Carnaby Street (when it was an 80's Goth shopping 'paradise'), boots with buckles up to the knee, lots of crushed velvet, nights at Kentish Town & Country club and Hammersmith Palais, much listening to The Cult and The Mission (and even Doctor and the Medics!) - I seem to have emerged a responsible member of the community (though not a doctor, lawyer or architect). I also fit with the liking of poetry and books and was never into drugs or (significant!) anti-social behaviour! I haven't carried on being a Goth into adulthood (though there is still that 'hidden goth' tucked away somewhere!) - but I do still wear a lot of black (I found a job that positively encourages it - and I'm not a nun!).

Londoners and Northerners!

I thought I'd draw your attention to this excellent blog: 'Route 79 - Reflections on a Bus Journey Home'! I was particularly amused by the following snippet:
"In London - the term 'up North' means anywhere north of a London town called Watford - although I have to say that this term is used as a deliberate form of ignorance designed to upset 'Northerners' who go about life believing that Londoners are completely self-centred and think that the universe revolves around London."
I also grew up on the expression that anything north of the 'Watford Gap' was considered 'up north' (at least to us southerners!) - the Watford Gap being the motorway services on the M1. There is a village called Watford very near to Watford Gap, so there are a variety of 'Watfords' to consider as the gateway to the north (unless you're a northerner in which case, I imagine, none of them would count)!

Cadfael and the many sleuthing sisters

For tea break time today (I hope you have a nice cuppa to hand?) I want to share with you (or perhaps remind you of) some of those wonderful old 'clerical detectives'!
Who would have thought that I could stumble across a whole site dedicated to this eccentric species! It would seem that a love of sleuthing sisters, investigating monks and crime-fighting clergy is not just a little idiosyncrasy of mine but is a fairly common peculiarity!
Top of my own list has to be that medieval delight Cadfael:
Once a man-of-the-world, he's now a contented monk, growing herbs in the abbey garden. The added appeal, I find for Cadfael and many of these books, is their often very accurate historical setting and glimpse into a bygone time.

People who inspire...

Earlier today I caught a bit of the repeat of 'The Unteachables' - a programme that took a group of distruptive and, as the title suggests, apparently unteachable young people and brought in a hand- picked education team to work with them. This team included Phil Beadle - Secondary Teacher of the Year 2004 who I would have to place somewhere high up on my list of people who have inspired me. I'm not a teacher, and yet the way this man went about his job and went about working with and caring for these young people, had an affect on me and re-inspired me to be creative in my own job (where I do have the privilege of working with young people). The programme had an extra appeal for me in that I love to see the ones who everyone else has written off being told that they are worthwhile and that they have talents, even if those talents have been hidden under rather a lot of crap for a while!
I have read a variety of comments and reviews of this programme and the teaching methods involved, including from one teacher cynical remarks on the ability to transplant any success into a 'real' classroom environment. Well, I think it worth pointing out that Phil Beadle has been transforming the learning experience and enabling young people to start to fulfill their potential in a much broader and more 'normal' context than this television 'experiment' - click the link above to read a little of his achievement. I am inspired anyway.

How to Write a Blog...

Dave Walker - CartoonChurch.com
Not really much to add to that is there!

Diary of a Church Mouse

Seeing as the last posting, 'Ode to Charing Cross Road' was minus the 'Ode', here for you instead is an alternative poetic offering: a wonderful recording of John Betjeman reading his Diary of a Church Mouse. I love this amusing and insightful view of the Church of England!

Ode to Charing Cross Road

Well, it's not actually an ode, but that sounds better than, "Here's a post about my favourite street in London - Charing Cross Road!" Though perhaps one day I will write an Ode to CCR (feel free to have a try yourself and add to the comments).
For any book lover out there CCR is like heaven on earth - and with plentiful atmos and scope for people-watching thrown in! There are also loads of great little places for a nice cup of tea (which had to be said of course) or indeed a slightly stronger beverage if you're feeling that way inclined. Divert yourself for a moment for a glimpse into Charing Cross Road.








I was well chuffed with my recent discovery in Shipley's: "A History of Illuminated Manuscripts" (well you have to be that way inclined to appreciate it!).
Though if you're more of a musical type have a wander into Macari's - very helpful and friendly little music place.
Shipley
Macari's
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road or Leicester Square

Dinnerladies!

'Dinnerladies' gets my vote for being one of the best comedies. I’ve probably watched it rather too much seeing as how I can now remember chunks of Victoria Wood’s fantastic script! Oh well eh, it’s a harmless enough obsession!
Fancy a brief snippet...? Then click the title link above.

By the Way...

... I am not an old granny with lots of cats and teapots! This is what someone-who-knows-me-well said that some of you in the great blog void out there might think. In fact I have only one cat and a big yellow teapot that gets used infrequently (see 'Have a nice cuppa tea' below for a delightful picture of said teapot). I am in fact relatively young and for some reason (as I have mentioned before on this blog) I relate teapots to cosey afternoons as a child with my Nan, and the idealised 'good old days'! I also have a fair number of tea breaks strewn throughout my day and thought I'd share one or two of them with you. I hope that puts your mind at rest! (If it doesn't or you couldn't care less anyway, then maybe this'll just ease the concern of that someone-who-knows-me-well I mentioned?)
Oh, and by the way I mean no offence to anyone who is in fact an old granny with lots of cats and teapots - I'm sure you are lovely!

Back to Childhood

TRUMPTON AND CAMBERWICK GREEN

I am revisiting my childhood in my teabreak this morning! And who better to share 'Teapot' time with than good old Windy Miller from Camberwick Green. Here's a little bit about him just to remind you (if you're old enough to be reminded!) - from the website linked above:

"Windy lives at Colley's Mill, which is just outside Camberwick Green. The railway runs nearby. Windy makes home brew cider, and whittles wood. When going into or out of his windmill he amazingly always manages to miss the sails. Windy is rather old fashioned and very superstitious - he believes in whistling for the wind, and touching a sweep's collar for luck. He keeps a cow for milk, and free range chickens for eggs. He is referred to as 'Mr. Miller' on several occasions.

Windy Miller, Windy Miller sharper than a thorn,
Like a mouse he's spry and nimble when he grinds the corn.
Like a bird he'll watch the wind and listen for the sound,
Which says he has the wind he needs to make the sails go round."

In Camberwick Green the 'star' of the day's programme would gradually emerge from the music box (well I think it was a music box?) - what suspense and guesswork, wondering who it would be today! My favourite had to be Windy (in fact he's the only one I really remember).
Not that long ago I spent a merry and insane half hour or so with a friend (yes, another adult) debating what noise Windy's windmill had made - would have been a rather bizarre conversation for someone to overhear! In case you are by any chance interested in knowing, then use the link to go and listen.

And then, of course, there was Trumpton with its wonderful fire service of PUGH, PUGH, BARNEY McGREW, CUTHBERT, DIBBLE AND GRUB! What seemed like top class animation when I was 5 is now rather basic and dated - but you still can't beat it (well perhaps Postman Pat is a contender?). Anyway, enjoy a little reminisce with your cuppa this morning. What other favourites do you look back at fondly... Andy Pandy? Bagpuss? The Clangers? Ivor the Engine?

Stress Busters!

The other day I found myself getting rather irritated by a particular situation - and then later, happening to have a conversation about 'Chas n Dave' (like you do!), l went looking for their old classic 'Gertcha' on Napster. Well, strangely enough I was able to tie both these coincidental happenings together and lo and behold - a perfect stress buster! Just accompany Chas n Dave in a belting rendition of this classic and all your frustrations will just slip away.... (well perhaps not totally...). I suppose it helps if you have either slightly dotty tendencies or Cockney roots (both of which I am blessed with).
However, if you just can't bring yourself to this kind of humiliation then I would like to offer a more dignified alternative (I am having amusing thoughts at this moment of several people I know who would be as unlikely to sing C & D as you can get!). The dignified alternative is a little bit of poetry for reflection. Of course, it is even more stress bustingly therapeutic if mulled over with some chocolate and a nice cup of tea!
So, here you go:

The View from the Window
Like a painting it is set before one,
But less brittle, ageless; these colours
Are renewed daily with variations
Of light and distance that no painter
Achieves or suggests. Then there is movement,
Change, as slowly the cloud bruises
Are healed by sunlight, or snow caps
A black mood; but gold at evening
To cheer the heart. All through history
The great brush has not rested
Nor the paint dried; yet what eye,
Looking coolly, or, as we now,
Through the tears' lenses, ever saw
This work and it was not finished?
R.S. THOMAS

Find out more about R.S. Thomas here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Stuart_Thomas

I love 'The View from the Window' all the more for its view of Wales that Thomas would have been describing. I can remember the sky, the sunlight and the snow caps in the distance from our skylight window that I would hang out of for what seemed like hours on end. This stunning, renewable, unfinished painting.
And this view would always bring to mind the words of the Psalmist...

"I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth."
PSALM 121: 1,2

Great use of a Camper Van!

'Mobile minister' drawing crowds
"Reverend Lockett writes his sermons while he is travelling. A curate has hit upon an unusual way of spreading the gospel message - by taking it to his flock in a VW camper. "
For some strange reason I quite like these weird looking camper vans so was pretty impressed to find one being put to such good use (follow the link for full story). I quite fancy drifting around making cups of tea out of it and chatting to whoever passes by. (By the way the reference again to cups of tea is purely accidental... but pretty fitting I suppose as this is 'The Teapot'!)
There was a rather funky little stall at Greenbelt last year selling great little model VW Campers - nearly bought one - perhaps I will do this year - until I can afford the real thing.

Have a nice cuppa tea...

As I spend a fair bit of time each day making cups of tea (usually going nowhere near a teapot but stuffing the bag in a mug) then drinking some and leaving a fair amount to go cold around the house, I decided what better than the 'teapot' blog. It's a cosey little image don't you think - well something like that anyway! Hope you've got your cuppa to hand...

Right, enough of that... Here's an interesting little quiz to keep you occupied during your tea break... http://solo2.abac.com/themole/tubequiz.html
If you get totally stumped and desperate for an answer or two then send a note and I'll put you out of your misery.