Weekly Photo Challenge: Free Spirit
Free spirit
A surprised overseas trip to a Kelong (floating house) in Indonesia in August defined free spirit: late night fishing, sampan travelling, swimming and snorkelling in the glistening sea. Continue reading
Visiting my elderly parents in Singapore from England, I sense my 80 year-old mum’s distinctive taste, sealed in her belongings.
Chinese tin drinking cups
1) I drink from an English floral fine china mug. My mum drinks from a Chinese tin cup, which also comes with a lid. Why? I asked. “You won’t understand. These tin cups are excellent. They won’t break. And, it’s important to separate old people’s cups from young people’s.”
Real calendar — you tear off a page each day
Weekly Photo Challenge: Movement
Two weeks ago, in Winchester, I captured the movement of Winchester high street, from the top of the hill.
I was at the top of The Westgate Museum in Winchester with my son Ben. The Westgate is one of the two surviving defensible gateways of the original five that stood along Winchester’s city walls.
I could see the stunning view of the city. Winchester was still donning the Union Jack flags and bunting, and everyone was seen wearing a jacket on a British summer day. The high street market was bursting with colour, joy and personality.
Winchester: view from the top of the Westgate Museum
Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moment
I’ve been bogged down with work recently, so my Weekly Photo Challenge is late this week. Very late indeed. Just a few hours before the deadline ends.
Juggler with 3 fire batons in Oxford
It’s better late than never, however.
I was in Oxford on June 30. The high street was heaving with people. Various religious people popped out in the street to shout out about their gods. In the same street, a fire juggler and musicians were busking.
That was the only English summer day we have had this year with some sunshine.
Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship
My friend 十年人生 (10 Year) is very special, because we met through WordPress blogging.
Our WordPress friendship has developed into true friendship.
We started by admiring each other’s writings. Then we linked each other. Later we met in London.
We were invited for a lovely meal with her family. They prepared the most delicious Chinese Hot Pot, where you put an obscene amount of meats and Chinese cabbage in a boiling hot pot and eat until you’re stuffed. Continue reading
We dropped off our son Ben at Foxlease campsite yesterday in New Forest, as Ben joined the Scouts for a week’s exciting activities.
We then went to the picturesque Lyndhurst, a small village, for lunch. A small gift shop called The Blue Bella caught my eye. It’s not a typical gift shop, though it does sell cards, mugs and soaps.
It’s indeed a magnificent gallery with 100 years of embroidered history. “Stitches in Time ” is a permanent exhibition of over 20 unique, large hand embroidered panels, all by the 70 year old Heather Hems.
It has taken Heather 17 years, working an average 12 hours a day (previous typo: a year), to complete all 23 works of art — totalling 100 ft.
Heather was so dedicated to her artwork that she suffered from injury that required surgery in 1991. Heather said in an interview that one of the big panels was very heavy to hold and, eventually, “all the bones in my shoulder crumbled.”
Heather’s artwork depicts 100 years of the 20th century history. Her work covered:
I was speechless when I stood in front of Heather’s embroidery. My photos do not do it justice, but hopefully you get a taste of it. Continue reading
Queen Mother’s last minute visit to Hinton Ampner, 1972
38 years after the Queen Mother’s surprised visit to Hinton Ampner in June, 1972, there was a confirmation from Windsor Castle of her handwriting.
(Follow this link to my previous blog post: Queen Mother’s letter: ‘a positive jungle’)
The Queen Mother (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Here is a letter from Jill Kelsey, Deputy Registrar, to Hinton Ampner, on 16 August 2010.
“Thank you for your letter of 22 July and for sending the copies of the pages of the letter.
From the handwriting and the cypher I can confirm that the letter is from Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother but, unfortunately, Continue reading
We visited Hinton Ampner during the spring holiday with some friends. We’re members of the National Trust, and with only £70.12 a year, we get to visit many historic spots, stately homes, gardens, woodlands and many more.
I was very intrigued by a handwritten letter by the late Queen Mother, who paid an impromptu visit to Hinton Ampner in June, 1972.
The Queen Mother (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A week after her visit, the Queen Mother wrote a letter of thanks, in which she joked about her own garden as being “a positive jungle” – I found this comparison rather amusing.
H.M. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visit the Canadian Pavilion at the World’s Fair . (New York City, United States). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
“Dear Mr Dutton,
It was such a delightful and unexpected pleasure to pay you a visit last week, and I greatly enjoyed seeing the lovely garden, and your beautiful house so full of treasures. Continue reading
