Things for which I give thanks this week…
Grateful to keep my hand in with surveying and drawing up buildings. My boss met a fellow Pakistani entrepreneur whilst on a recent business trip to China (Its a small world) and we went to Bolton for me to draw it up with a view to creating a self-storage warehouse…
I had to take Barbara for a blood-test in Skipton and thefar bank of the stream which runs past the surgery, was lined with Angelica. I love the sweet, herbal taste of Angelica. I once infused some stem and some Fennel heads in gin – a great success… Angelica, whilst not rare, is rarely seen in such profusion hereabouts…
And also at the peak of its blossom this week, is Elderflower. I remember my parents attempting to make Elderflower Champagne but every bottle exploded…
I have not shared a texture photo for a while but I happened upon a sleeping dragon and quietly photographed its scales!
After the blood test, Barbara and I drove to our son’s house in Leeds to deliver an important medical letter (he is still registered at our surgery so his post comes here) – it was raining as it has all month and so harly suitable for an outdoor coffee (outside for smoking unfortunately) but unwilling to drive staight home, we made ourselves post-men. It was a two-hour round trip so I put mt Spotify on to entertain us, and more than once, i found myself tearing up at the tracks that shuffled on. The first time I found myself unable to sing a song (accompanied by my ukulele), was Elvis Presley’s In the Ghetto – both the sincerity of Elvis’ delivery and the nature of the song made it impossible for me to sing it. On our trip to Leeds, on e tearing up was The Walking Song – paean to friendship by the late Kate McGarrigle and her sister Anna. The other was Strange Fruit – the Nina Simone cover, although Billie Holiday’s original is equally if not more powerful.
It occurred to me, that this tearing up is a form of gratitude – for the life and musical contribution of a singer no longer with us, or for a deep sentiment painfully articulated…
A pen-pal of mine wrote a poem for her acquaintance, the late, great Sonny Rollins which you can find here…
On which note I wish you all a safe and happy week…
You awarded yourselves a bonus outing, and with good purpose too. That’s great.
The lyrics of In The Ghetto are quite touching and move the heart. In my opinion, the lyrics of the songs win the vote. My favorite here is from E. Presley; catchy tune yet poignant in meaning because of the lyrics.
I certainly am still unable to sing that one through Cai, I often wonder if this affects profesional singers…
over here (southern New England) we’ve received a bit of a respite from the 45 days-behind in normal seasonal weather.
good to retain skills, it’s very much a part of maintaining one’s timeline.
thanks for being a part of this here bloghop here. (new set of codes will be out (emailed) late today/early tomorrow.
have a good week
Thanks, Clark – did oyu look into a white list on your blog – I would love to be able to comment there…
Ah elderflower. Blooming everywhere around here at the moment. It smells lovely, although the flavour it never set well with me. I hope all is well with Barbara, and that you’re well also.
Thanks, Marilyn, I am well but Barbara is still struggling with depression which is such a cruel and insidious foe…
I loved your photo of the sleeping dragon car front grille.
Thanks, Frank – couldn’t resist it…
Wait, those bottles can explode?
Oh yes! Elderflower has a lot of natural yeast so if you don’t use very thick bottle – kablooey!!!
loved the photos…. the days of going for a drive has long been forgotten… it was great reading your all your adventures that you added to the purpose of your trip… i use to love when we passed the hops growing outside the brewery… i could smell it before i saw it…. i now use it as a potpourrie with lavender and lemon time with rose petals… my friend would make elderberry syrup every year… she added honey making it sweet… music is a big deal… elvis was big, really big.. it’s too bad his life his music the legend he was ended in such a way… nina simone wow she was way beyond her time… i don’t think a lot of people understood her…
I didn’t imagine the poppies had a scent so I looked it up and the perfume’s history is here -https://www.google.com/search?q=california+poppy+perfume+1950s+discontinued&oq=California+Poppy+perfume&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgFEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyBwgBEAAYgAQyBwgCEAAYgAQyBwgDEAAYgAQyCAgEEAAYFhgeMggIBRAAGBYYHjIICAYQABgWGB4yCAgHEAAYFhgeMggICBAAGBYYHjIICAkQABgWGB7SAQkxNzM1OWowajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8