Sunday night...
First the Buffy quote...
Buffy: Do I like shrubs?
Xander: That's between you and your god.
Buffy: (to Willow) What'd you put?
Willow: I came down on the side of shrubs.
Buffy: Go with shrubs! Okay!
(I loved those little bits of conversation.)
Second a conundrum...
I had a dream last night that I met James Bond... the Daniel Craig version (lucky me). Which then started me on a day long thought process involving trying to figure out what "Quantum of Solace" means. I was leaning towards (something) of Peace, maybe moment of peace. Eventually I involved my current hosts in my brain activity. We then came up with "Measure of Peace". Of course I had to go to the Google Fairy... which helped not alot. "Quantum Of Solace" is actually an Ian Fleming short story. It focusses on the telling of an account of a marriage breakup and how there should exist a common humanity between two people, and when that is gone there exists no 'quantum of solace'or as Bond explains it - “the amount of comfort. When the other person not only makes you feel insecure but actually seems to want to destroy you, it’s obviously the end. The Quantum of Solace stands at zero.”
I guess that sort of fits given that the new film starts where the last one ends. Hmmmm.
Lastly, and most importantly, can I just say how much I have enjoyed showing midnightsjane and her sister my part of the world. I'm glad to say they seemed very comfortable in my little house and I'm happy that they did. Staying with me is very much a 'you stay for more than an hour you are part of the family so make yourself at home' kind of affair. And meet my family they did. My family I think had misgivings about whether I would be able to provide food for my guests, a legitimate worry given my lack of culinary leanings. So my sister came over with my mum the first night to cook, then later that night my Dad rang offering to cook the next day, but we already had plans for sunday lunch in a country pub, so they joined us there. Then there was the chippy and a very good local restaurant for two further nights. Jane cooked for one night. It all worked out. And if they go home thinner than when they arrived we can put it down to all the sightseeing, most of which involved walking.
My hightlights of last week include...
... Chester Cathedral: Just as we got to the south transept to admire the huge Organ, the organist got up to start his practice and the next half hour we toured with the wonderful sound of the organ in the background. Then we had the Deacon say a prayer, and afterwards he was joined by a historian who both proceeded to gossip about points of history. It was a lovely personal touch that made you realise that we were not visiting a relic of the past, but a continuous history and an active congregation.
... Napton-on-the-Hill: An unexpected pleasure. Right off the tourist trail it was a place very beautiful and very personal to my guests' history. While there we again met a couple of local gentlemen who could not have been more helpful, in the usual understated way we Brits have.
(On the same day I was very impressed by a certain young Archer at Warwick Castle and made my guests see THREE of his demonstrations, I only hope they enjoyed them as much as I did. ;-)
... Driving over the Peak District to visit Chatsworth House. I love that drive, I would, and do, drive that road for pleasure. Okay, part of it is officially the second most dangerous road in the UK, but it turns out that my driving made Jane's sister a bit nervous so I'm glad I didn't mention that. My joy of driving aside it is the most amazing drive in terms of scenery. Often visitors imagine that England is just about patchwork quilt visages of rolling hills and pasturelands, and we did see alot of that, but I much prefer the wild parts of Britain. That kind of landscape gives me a sense of an ancient Britain of secrets and mists. It's the Britain of the Bronte's not Jane Austin that I love.
There was so much I enjoyed about the last week with Jane and her sister, I can only hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. Oh, and Archie adored Jane too. I will not forget the image of Jane watching TV in my lounge with Archie curled up on the cushion behind her, resting his head on her shoulder. That really was a 'welcome to the family' moment.
Buffy: Do I like shrubs?
Xander: That's between you and your god.
Buffy: (to Willow) What'd you put?
Willow: I came down on the side of shrubs.
Buffy: Go with shrubs! Okay!
(I loved those little bits of conversation.)
Second a conundrum...
I had a dream last night that I met James Bond... the Daniel Craig version (lucky me). Which then started me on a day long thought process involving trying to figure out what "Quantum of Solace" means. I was leaning towards (something) of Peace, maybe moment of peace. Eventually I involved my current hosts in my brain activity. We then came up with "Measure of Peace". Of course I had to go to the Google Fairy... which helped not alot. "Quantum Of Solace" is actually an Ian Fleming short story. It focusses on the telling of an account of a marriage breakup and how there should exist a common humanity between two people, and when that is gone there exists no 'quantum of solace'or as Bond explains it - “the amount of comfort. When the other person not only makes you feel insecure but actually seems to want to destroy you, it’s obviously the end. The Quantum of Solace stands at zero.”
I guess that sort of fits given that the new film starts where the last one ends. Hmmmm.
Lastly, and most importantly, can I just say how much I have enjoyed showing midnightsjane and her sister my part of the world. I'm glad to say they seemed very comfortable in my little house and I'm happy that they did. Staying with me is very much a 'you stay for more than an hour you are part of the family so make yourself at home' kind of affair. And meet my family they did. My family I think had misgivings about whether I would be able to provide food for my guests, a legitimate worry given my lack of culinary leanings. So my sister came over with my mum the first night to cook, then later that night my Dad rang offering to cook the next day, but we already had plans for sunday lunch in a country pub, so they joined us there. Then there was the chippy and a very good local restaurant for two further nights. Jane cooked for one night. It all worked out. And if they go home thinner than when they arrived we can put it down to all the sightseeing, most of which involved walking.
My hightlights of last week include...
... Chester Cathedral: Just as we got to the south transept to admire the huge Organ, the organist got up to start his practice and the next half hour we toured with the wonderful sound of the organ in the background. Then we had the Deacon say a prayer, and afterwards he was joined by a historian who both proceeded to gossip about points of history. It was a lovely personal touch that made you realise that we were not visiting a relic of the past, but a continuous history and an active congregation.
... Napton-on-the-Hill: An unexpected pleasure. Right off the tourist trail it was a place very beautiful and very personal to my guests' history. While there we again met a couple of local gentlemen who could not have been more helpful, in the usual understated way we Brits have.
(On the same day I was very impressed by a certain young Archer at Warwick Castle and made my guests see THREE of his demonstrations, I only hope they enjoyed them as much as I did. ;-)
... Driving over the Peak District to visit Chatsworth House. I love that drive, I would, and do, drive that road for pleasure. Okay, part of it is officially the second most dangerous road in the UK, but it turns out that my driving made Jane's sister a bit nervous so I'm glad I didn't mention that. My joy of driving aside it is the most amazing drive in terms of scenery. Often visitors imagine that England is just about patchwork quilt visages of rolling hills and pasturelands, and we did see alot of that, but I much prefer the wild parts of Britain. That kind of landscape gives me a sense of an ancient Britain of secrets and mists. It's the Britain of the Bronte's not Jane Austin that I love.
There was so much I enjoyed about the last week with Jane and her sister, I can only hope they enjoyed it as much as I did. Oh, and Archie adored Jane too. I will not forget the image of Jane watching TV in my lounge with Archie curled up on the cushion behind her, resting his head on her shoulder. That really was a 'welcome to the family' moment.