Another flower arrangement: this one is meant to portray an icecream
sundae. Amazingly, the night scented
stocks emitted their fragrance in the evening although they were indoors.
I have been invigilating at a local comp, envisaging what I can purchase
with my gains.
My
son came from Sweden for the weekend which called for laying on a scrumptious
afternoon tea for the extended family. I
baked my own birthday cake and made everyone sing happy birthday. Someone’s got to. Unfortunately, my son returned to find his
car, possibly the oldest vehicle on the residents’ car park, had been stolen by
ramming a huge boulder to exit the car park
The Olympic Torch
On Monday 18 June, as we were at the coast,
we decided to watch the Olympic torch pass by in Bridlington.
Crowds lined the streets of the route waving
the flags of St George and the Union Jack and wearing other patriotic apparel, which
I suspect were bought for other occasions.
Children had been given the afternoon off school and many sported homemade
replica torches. No matter, it all added
to the atmosphere including the weather, a break in an otherwise bad
spell. It was a real holiday atmosphere. Residents of the streets on route brought out
picnic blankets, garden chairs and sun loungers (and their cups of tea) and sat
on the verges in front of their homes in extended family groups.
The trucks of the official sponsors (Samsung,
Coca Cola and Lloyds TSB) headed the procession with music blaring and carrying
brightly dressed young people, smiling widely, danced and waved. The police on motor bikes and in jeeps joined
in the festivities, even high fiving the children who lined the route.
Young men and
ladies wearing T-shirts bearing the Olympic logo flanked the worthy torchbearer,
Sophie McMullen, an inspirational 18 year old, displayed the torch
from her powered wheelchair. Despite
having severe athetoid cerebral palsy, she acts as host and co-ordinator for
children who use communication aids from four schools who attend sessions at the
speech therapy department at her college.
Sophie’s condition affects all four limbs and her speech and uses a
single head switch to operate her electric wheelchair, her communication aid,
mobile phone, and to access a computer.
After all the hype, the torch itself was
underwhelming. Was
it worth it; priceless. I may never
again witness the torch in my lifetime and it’s a leveller – not everyone can
afford the price of a ticket to watch the Games but anyone can have the
opportunity to watch the flame which started off in Athens making its way to
the current venue, London.
On our way to our usual cafe, we noticed this tiny park; a wildflower haven
Walk
We took advantage of the fine weather to
take a walk previously undertaken some weeks ago but, after the heavy rains, we
could hardly make out the path as the vegetation was so overgrown.
Radio Presentation on my birthday
The monthly writing group, of which I am a
new member, presented its work, on local, community, radio. The programme went out live and I read my
poem and short story, which was based on the farm at Temple Newsam, without
getting tongue tied.
I really appreciated the thoughtful and
personal good wishes, cards and prezzies I received for my birthday and the
meal out in the evening.
Reading, writing, watching
I am presently reading A.B Yehoushuah’s The
Lover. This was the author’s first novel and follows a
husband’s obsessive search for his wife’s lover amid the turbulence of the Yom
Kippur War. Perhaps being a playwright enabled him to allow the reader to
visualise the settings so clearly. It is
excellently translated from hebrew by Philip Simpson.
I completed
two written pieces for the radio (see earlier in the blog) and resubmitted an
earlier piece which was returned from the publisher for editing which has now been accepted.
Apart from the European Cup which has
dominated the TV, I watched a documentary on Nina Conti, ventriloquist/comedienne
and daughter of actor Tom, as she attended a conference for her profession.
Also watched or caught up with: The Killing (American series 2), True Love (5 episodes
which were separate stories but interlinked by the characters). Not enamoured of the series but the shots of
Margate, where it was filmed, looked stunning.
The Weather
The title of this post was a touch
sarcastic as we have had torrential rain and strong winds which have caused
havoc in my garden. It was only last
month when the drought status was lifted and now many homes have been ruined by
flooding and 350 sheep had to be rescued from the Yorkshire Dales. Puts my crushed poppies and tilted garden
arch in perspective.
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