In The Pink

I have a young daughter, and while I want her to appreciate equality fully with regard the sexes, and not think that 'girls are best' (although sometimes they are :0)) I also want to make her aware of the incredible women that have proven over the years that women are just as capable as men. Both sexes bring something to the table, we are both needed. But sadly women do not have equality globally. Anyway, that's all a bit heavy for a Friday morning! And my daughter is very young. So we are starting gently. But through the Little People Big Dreams books, she has become aware of Emmeline Pankhurst. She has also seen Mary Poppins.  So, this morning we have been celebrating the Suffragettes through this awesome anthem sung by the incredible Glynis Johns.

A few years ago we bought a jigsaw for my husbands parents for Christmas depicting bears standing on their hind legs in a meadow as swarms of butterflies ascended around them. It is the most beautiful jigsaw I have even seen and the image has stayed with me. Recently I have started looking for another copy to do myself as the image is so calming and it finally occurred to me to search for it online.  That lead me straight to the artist himself, Robert Bissell, and if you are not already familiar with his work I highly recommend you visit his website and have a look for yourself. I would dearly love to post a picture of his here but feel it unfair even with image credit without permission. So please believe me when I say it is worth a look. If nothing else go on Google Images and type in Robert Bissell Bears and Butterflies, or click HERE. I am also delighted to say that his website features a shop selling jigsaws, prints and note-lets amongst other things and anticipat...

I have been getting a classical music play list together this week and to that end decided to expand on my collection by raiding the CD's at our local library. I have always liked Wagner but been quite ignorant of his work. I am of course aware of The Ring Cycle but knew little about the actual story, until today! I was pleasantly pleased to learn that it is steeped in Norse Mythology which is a subject I have a particular interest in.  I managed to get parts 3 and 4, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, from the library and read the synopsis while listening to them but then I also found this little gem. Serious fans please don't take offence, it is a 3 minute animation with narration that tries to explain the whole story and I include it here as an educational tool only so anyone who like me had no idea what the tetralogy was about can get a grasp of it before possibly finding out more.  There are numerous versions available on DVD whic...

I came across these amazing sculptures via a blog post by This I Do for Sky Watch Friday and had to share them. They are 30m high sculptures created by Andy Scott to acknowledge and horses that worked for many years on the adjacent canal and took 8 years to construct. I find them absolutely stunning. The name Kelpies relates to the mythological beast, a shape-changing aquatic spirit said to haunt rivers or streams usually in the shape of a horse, and possessing the strength of 100 horses. I do so love blogging, I always learn something and enjoy exploring and sharing our amazing planet.  Image Credit BBC Today I have learned what Kelpies are, who Andy Scott is (the most amazing sculptor) and added somewhere to my list of places to visit.

This is my friend! AND, this is my friends debut novel. Louise Jensen has been an author for years writing for various publications and now has her first novel in print. As a friend I could not be prouder, except that I am because she is truly talented. I have my copy on pre-order (I wont let her give me a copy as I want to buy my own, that seems fair) and cant wait for it to grace my bookshelf. Louise writes under the genre Crime and Psychological Thriller, if that's your bag, or its not usually but you just fancy something a little different, I urge you to pick up a copy and slip between the covers, you will not be disappointed. Louise Jensen Website

Ronnie Corbett passed away yesterday, and while sad I remember him with such fondness. The Two Ronnies was a show we watched as a family when I was growing up. I remember some people used to refer to the part in the show when Ronnie Corbett told a joke from his chair as the bit when you popped and put the kettle on but I loved this bit. The jokes were simple and funny, as only he could make them, and he had such a kind and friendly manner about him I could have listened to his yarns all night. With a career spanning over 65 years Ronnie Corbett has been a part of my whole life and, along with his comedy partner Ronnie Barker, has brought me much joy and laughter. Thank you Ronnie, you will be missed by so many.

1. Albert Finney, and of course Ewan McGregor, in the film Big Fish. A tale of myth intertwined with the often unbelievable truth of life, and a scene between husband and wife that makes me weep without fail every time I watch it. (Currently watching the film, it's just started.) Don't worry, he puts the fish back in the river; yes it's that sort of film :0) No words really... and yes that is Danny de Vito with a stick in his mouth. By the way, isn't it perfect that Danny de Vito is married to Rhea Perlman? What a fantastic couple they must be. 2. Michael Gambon, in anything. Most recently after seeing Dad's Army, as Godfrey. I can't take my eyes off this man; even if he is sitting in the background during a scene where the actors front stage are engaged in debate, if he is sitting in the rear, I still notice him more than anything. In our house it's called the Steve McQueen effect. 3. Medieval History, specifically 106...

Come live with me and be my love, a nd we will all the pleasures prove  That valleys, groves, hills, and fields, w oods or steepy mountain yields.  And we will sit upon the rocks, s eeing the shepherds feed their flocks,  By shallow rivers to whose falls, m elodious birds sing madrigals.  And I will make thee beds of roses a nd a thousand fragrant posies,  A cap of flowers, and a kirtle e mbroidered all with leaves of myrtle;  A gown made of the finest wool, w hich from our pretty lambs we pull;  Fair lined slippers for the...

Ha I wish! I did however spend an amazing evening with my even more amazing husband watching Depeche Mode, one of my favourite childhood bands, at the O2 in London. I have never seen them before (bit shameful really) and Mr Dancin is not a huge fan so its not something I have pushed since we have been together, there are after all plenty of bands we do both like that we want to go and see; but when they announced their current tour Mr Dancin said I should get tickets....about 60 seconds later they were booked and I was counting down the days. I have not been inside the main O2 Arena before and I liked it, we had good seats but everyone stood up anyway (thank goodness!) and the sound was pretty good. The highlight for me though was seeing wonderful Dave Gahan dancing around, being himself, looking happy and still managing to look damn sexy...even with his shirt off (oh yes!). They could have played any of their songs as far as I was concerned and they played a good mixture I thoug...

Today I am going to write a folk song on my guitar. I am a big folk fan and have always written songs and poems. Its a personal hobby and not something I have ever planned to try and make a career out of! Anyway I have had THIS amazing folk song, sung by John Tams in my head all week and hope to come up with something as simple and captivating. I will let you know how it goes! You may know John Tams as one of the Chosen Men from Sharpe, as seen here in an early episode. And if you are anything like me you will know which episode this is and what line is coming next!

Ok, now I have got the performing highlights out of the way its time for my favourite bit about the IOW Festival, apart from the wonderful company at my camp! Sunday lunchtime, there I was, quietly making my way down towards the main stage to see Joan Armatrading play, when drifting through the air came the sound of an acoustic guitar. I instantly recognised it and thought to myself 'My, that sounds like Nick Harper!' and lo, it was!!! Anyway, I went to say hello, had a lovely chat, and he offered to play a song for me. So I stood there, with my friend Jane, in our audience of two, and listened to him play Karmageddon, just for me! It made my day it did! Thanks Nick! Nick was there promoting two charities he supports (one of which is the Love Hope Strength Foundation ) and the Avebury Rocks festival happening the weekend after next (7th July) where he is playing along with The Levellers! I am currently trying to talk Mr Dancin' into going! For anyone who's inter...

I am a big fan of poetry, both writing and reading, and given my recent blue obscession thought I would seek out a blue poem. Poetry is very subjective and often when I go searching for a new verse it takes me ages to find something that strikes a chord, not so tonight. On my second search I came across this lovely little piece! (Although I have to disagree with him slightly, for me roses yellow are best.) Blue Roses - Rudyard Kipling Roses red and roses white Plucked I for my love's delight. She would none of all my posies Bade me gather her blue roses. Half the world I wandered through, Seeking where such flowers grew. Half the world unto my quest Answered me with laugh and jest. Home I came at wintertide, But my silly love had died Seeking with her latest breath Roses from the arms of Death. It may be beyond the grave She shall find what she would have. Mine was but an idle quest  Roses white and red are best! ...

Tomorrow night I am going to play the piano!!!! I do not have one at present and although I have been kindly offered an organ it is specifically the sound of the piano that I love. (Plus in our current house we have room for neither a piano or an organ!) I had one for rent for a while and was working on the two following pieces by Michael Nyman. The film The Piano may be the only movie I have seen and preferred to the book. The performances were amazing. I found the scenes between Holly Hunter and Harvey Keitel to be incredibly passionate and moving and I hated Sam Neill for years as a result of his performance as the frustrated and jealous husband, although I sympathised with him somewhat. But the music was what made the film for me. Anyway I bought the music score for the film and will be off down to our church tomorrow night to get my eager little fingers on their piano for an hour or two, hopefully as a weekly event, to remind myself of what I had learned of these pi...

Last night we were watching an episode of Scrubs and they played a Del Amitri song in the background. It was at the end of the episode and inspired me to put some Del Amitri on, one of my favourite bands. We ended up having Del Amitri on all evening and I sang my head off! It was great. We usually listen to our music on playlists these days and although I love the random/ duke box quality to it sometimes its just good to listen to someone you really love all night. Anyway I have just been visiting with Scottish Nature Boy over at Breath in and out, now repeat for as long as possible , and in addition to posting some lovely shots of the Lunar Eclipse, that I recommend you go and see, he also posted a fabulous You Tube clip of Floyd at Earls Court in '94 playing Dark Side of the Moon. I saw Floyd on that tour and it brought back some amazing memories, as a result I predict a Floyd day today, in celebration of their awesome music! And I am going to start with this! Join m...