Christine West - writing, poetry, photography

7/7 : A picture a day - week 14

Hugh West — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 14:02:00 +0100

The weather gets colder as we wait for our little granddaughters to arrive with their mother from Cornwall.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 14

The Threshold

Hugh West — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:02:00 +0100

I'm searching, along with Susan, for anyone who has read The Threshold by Dorothea Rutherford.I found my second hand copy when working at the age of 16 in Foyle's Bookshop in London's Charing Cross Road. Published in 1954, it was already quite battered when I picked it up. I read the first page and was immediately enchanted. I've read it every few... Read The Threshold

7/7 : A picture a day - week 13

Hugh West — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 14:01:00 +0100

It was too cold to go out to take photographs this week. Temperatures in Central France dropped to -12c (10f) with extra chill factor in a nipping wind.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 13

Friday night

Hugh West — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:19:00 +0100

Last Friday night, at about ten o'clock, we heard a roaring noise in our chimney. The flue from the woodstove was glowing red hot. Our old house has beams and hidden timbers which could quickly take fire. We called the sapeurs-pompiers - our local firefighting men and women. Six came to attend to our problem. We were extremely relieved to see... Read Friday night

7/7 : A picture a day - week 12

Hugh West — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:31:00 +0100

A quiet week - until Friday evening when our chimney caught fire.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 12

The seed eaters

Hugh West — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:17:00 +0100

Every day we feed the birds which come to our garden. French birds refuse to eat the organic wholemeal bread crumbs we've tried putting out for them. Instead, they wait their turn in the nearby trees and bushes and swoop down to the hanging feeders and these stone benches for sunflower seeds. I have seen very few blue tits so far during this... Read The seed eaters

7/7 : A picture a day - week 11

Hugh West — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:45:00 +0100

All the pleasures of winter... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 11

Winter

Hugh West — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:07:00 +0100

I made my bergamot lemon marmalade in two batches. Twenty full jars (including some tumblers as I ran out of jam jars). The winter sun shone brilliantly as I worked enveloped in lemon scented steam. We left the warm house to walk down to the horses. It's been quite a while since we visited Sienna. She hasn't forgotten Hugh. He dug into... Read Winter

7/7 : A picture a day - week 10

Hugh West — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:21:00 +0100

The weather's changing - colder and brighter this week.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 10

Marmalade time

Hugh West — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:49:00 +0100

We were shopping at our local bio (organic) coop today. I've been waiting for the arrival of our favourite bergamot lemons. I found a crate of them, glowing modestly in a corner. 3 kgs (just under 7 lbs) of these rich little fruits - they're smaller this year - will soon be made into mamalade. Let's hope I'll find enough empty jars!... Read Marmalade time

7/7 : A picture a day - week 9

Hugh West — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 11:06:00 +0100

A mild week, for January, with low light and chilly rain, but lots of time spent with Robin and the family.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 9

In praise of blogs

Hugh West — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0100

Every evening, I give myself a little treat: half an hour on-line reading my favourite blogs. Five of them. This beautiful little girl grew up to become an accomplished artist and an outstanding teacher. She lives and works in Los Angeles, travels whenever and wherever she can and delights her many admirers with colourful, humourous reports and... Read In praise of blogs

7/7 : A picture a day - week 8

Hugh West — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:19:00 +0100

New Year's Day! I wish everyone a wonderful 2012.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 8

Boxing Day

Hugh West — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 17:48:00 +0100

The cake looked pretty on the table on Boxing Day. Robin liked meeting the little wooden people again. I was a bit disappointed in the cake recipe. Everyone said it was delicious but I could see how it might have been firmer in texture. Perhaps I'll go back to my old tried and trusted one next year. After tea and pulling crackers, Robin... Read Boxing Day

7/7 : A picture a day - week 7

Hugh West — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:12:00 +0100

Today is Christmas Day! A very Merry Christmas to everyone I know and love.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 7

Keeping it simple

Hugh West — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:05:00 +0100

I was very late making our Christmas cake this year. Ideally, it should be made in September or October but I wanted to wait until I could buy the dried fruits from England. Abandoning my usual National Trust recipe, I decided to try one from the Food magazine. Food is published in Cornwall and is full of wonderful ideas for holiday feasts and... Read Keeping it simple

7/7 : A picture a day - week 6

Hugh West — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 16:06:00 +0100

This last week has been all about the run-up to Christmas. I tried a new cake recipe this time. It's looking very promising.... Read 7/7 : A picture a day - week 6

Cornwall in December - Falmouth Maritime Museum

Hugh West — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 12:44:00 +0100

I like museums, especially the old-fashioned kind, the ones without too many buttons to push. The National Maritime Museum in Falmouth is modern without being too patronising. This poster shows the beautiful winding estuary of the River Fal. The port of Falmouth, at its mouth, is the third deepest harbour in the world. It has been, and still is,... Read Cornwall in December - Falmouth Maritime Museum

Cornwall in December - the Truro Christmas Livestock Show

Hugh West — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:55:00 +0100

Who doesn't love a Fatstock show? (Well, Chris our vet friend for one. I think he's seen more farm animals than he's eaten hot dinners, as the saying goes). But we absolutely loved crowding into the marquee with all the real farming folk. It was a treat to see beautifully reared animals. I tried not to think about the reason for their existence.... Read Cornwall in December - the Truro Christmas Livestock Show

Cornwall in December - St Ives in the rain

Hugh West — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:13:00 +0100

St Ives is probably the most visited town in Cornwall. In summer, the beaches are delightful, the restaurants and cafés have something for everyone and resident artists (there are dozens) are inspired by the beautiful quality of the light. Between heavy showers, I managed to snatch a few photographs. The little white houses were huddled together... Read Cornwall in December - St Ives in the rain