Yes I’m sat on the sofa watching the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s New Years Day Concert and I’ve dug out the crochet that I told my Mam I’d do.
It really doesn’t get better than this!
Category: Christmas
The Confusion of Dreams
Firstly a slight back story – When I was in London earlier this year, I picked up a gift for my Dad for his Birthday/Christmas. They are both in December and the second gift would dictate whether this was going to be for his birthday or for Christmas. Anyway – I came home and dutifully put it away (Can you see where this might be going??)
Fast forward 5 months and I was in the local shopping centre, spotted a shop that reminded me I had already made a purchase, but where did I put it? No, not a clue! it’s not in the places I thought it was – and I’m not going to lie, I am panicking! The up-side is that I still have slightly over 2 months to find it – so that’s ok.
Last night I had a dream that I’d found the gift and it was exactly where I thought it was – how lucky is that??? I’ve gone through most of the day with a sense of relief knowing that I’ve found the item in question. Until now that is, when I’ve just realised it was only a dream and I still have to pull the place apart to find out where it is.
I was going to make a Bobby Ewing/Patrick Duffy reference but after a conversation last week in work, I’ve realised that it’s waaaay out of date. But if you get the reference than I thank you!
Do I really have to work?
It’s currently 07:45 and I’m still in bed. However, I’ve already had my breakfast – I made porridge and a cup of coffee and brought it back to bed – so breakfast is finished. I’m now reading “The Christmas Card Crime and Other Stories”, the cat is curled up beside me and ClassicFM is on in the background. Surely this is a Saturday and I can comfortably stay here for a while longer?? Sadly it’s Wednesday and I have to commute into the spare room, which isn’t exactly torturous, but leaving my little idle is! Oh well!
The Big Snow
Here in Ireland we get two types of weather – warm rain and cold rain – ok that’s an exaggeration but sometimes I don’t think that it’s by much. I have to admit I don’t mind the rain and given a choice I’d pick cold rain. However, the weather episode of choice for me is Snow! probably because we don’t get it that often and so it holds its magic. I have a feeling if it arrived every year it would turn tiresome and mundane, but it doesn’t, so it isn’t 🙂
This year I turned 40, yes I know I don’t look a day over 21 but there you have it! There is one snow event that it still referred to in hushed tones of awe – The Big Snow of ’82. I was 6 and a half (always important at that age!) and we had only lived in Dublin 2yrs. As Dylan Thomas said “I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve, or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six”, all I can remember is that it seemed to go on forever.
One of the things that stuck in my memory from that time is Soft Cell and Marc Almonds trousers when he was on Top of the Pops singing “Tainted Love” – he looked like he was wearing black sacks ( I was 6!).
When the snow came people did put black sacks into their wellies and up their legs to keep their trousers dry. Or at least I think that was it – I don’t think we were that trendy in Portmarnock to have those kind of baggy trousers, and if we were you certainly wouldn’t have worn them with wellies!
So what is it that has brought about this bout of nostalgia? Well it’s that time of year again when the papers and websites start to predict snow – the coldest winter in 50 years, since records began, EVER!!!! Happily they are simply reprinting the same stories as last year and simply updating the numbers. In one such story I saw a link to a home video from 1982! Yes, Virginia, A home video – smart phones? – ha! this was the hi-tech end of the analogue age (more nostalgia?) So it’s not as crisp and it doesn’t have volume, for some I suppose the snow isn’t even that high, but for me it was a wonderful time – no responsibilities, no school, randomly no electricity but we had snow and enough of it to make snowmen!
Enjoy!
(And another with more colour and a bit of chat)
SNOW!
If you know me, then you know I have a thing about snow. I love it. Actually, I love what is generally considered bad weather.
I also like to take photos. There are a great many photographers out there that I wish I had but a fraction of their talent, but there is one photographer who takes the photos I’d love to take!
Meet Christophe Jacrot: Facebook, Twitter, Website
On his site he has them all grouped – How about:
Melting Greenland (a sad thought for such beautiful photographs)
and most recently White Iceland the photo on this page that I love is The Orange Tunnel!
this is a sample of his fantastic work:
– not going to make it too big – click on the links behind them holds such beautiful visions!
This is the one thing that isn’t making me smile – he had an exhibition in Paris November-ish time and we just couldn’t get over. Hohum – I’ll just have to keep checking back just in case there’s another one.
Not Exactly A Resolution
Two Of My Favourite Things
Snow & Paris – what more could you ask for in May?
Christmas Reminder
When I miss Christmas, I put a dash of mixed spice into my hot chocolate!
Yummy!
Neujahrskonzert
This is something I love to watch every New Years Day and this year is no exception.
Right now we are waiting for the Blue Danube & the Radetzky March 🙂
We were looking at the concert hall where it is taking place and it really does look like a chocolate box all golden and flowers. In the audience I’ve spotted Julie Andrews – I’m jealous! You know how some people would love to go to Wimbledon well I’d love to go to this concert! Although I’m not too sure I could sit still for the entire thing – right now I’m prancing around my living room pretending to waltz and polka – all of those weekends spent watching Strictly Come Dancing have not been wasted 😉
The Danube has started with shots of the river and SNOW – it looks so magical – it all combines to make the heart swell.
Heston Blementhal’s Perfect Christmas
I’m not treading a fine line on is it too early to mention Christmas? For me it’s never too early 🙂
I saw this a few years ago and there was another one made subsequently but for me this is the one to watch – it’s pure magic!
I’ve been trying to embed it but am not having any luck so please click the link and start to feel the spirit of Christmas even if you don’t tell anybody 😉
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