Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Wednesday 23rd April - lovely weather

 That is, if you are a duck...

The garden will be erupting now, with the combination of a fee warmer days and then the rain.

Books

I gave in and started the fifth of the Elizabeth Falconer novels, 'A Barefoot Wedding'. It's quite a travelogue; an idyllic house in the Channel Islands,  another in Oxford, a run- down near derelict pig-farm in the fens with no electricity, gas, or running water, and now a glorious villa in Italy. The descriptions are lovely. Even the pig-farm in a bleak January... maybe not 'lovely' in that case, but very evocative. 

The book club choice is 'I, Julian', a fictionalised biography of Julian of Norwich. The 'all will be well, and all will be well, and all things will be well' lady. I have not the slightest desire to read this, so will just - not read it. What a rebel I am!

Music

One of my all-time favourite film theme tunes... for Ladies in Lavender, starring Judi Dench and Maggie Smith.

The choice is inspired by the cover of 'Wings of the Morning', showing lavender fields in France;


What's not to love about the film? Cornwall (not France!) in Summer, the beautiful 1930s period setting, music, mystery, romance... and of course the wonderful Maggie Smith and Judi Dench.

The theme is played by Joshua Bell; the first time I heard this I was bowled over by the way he kept the sound of his violin going so smoothly and continuously all the way through. 



14 comments:

  1. Thank you for today's music choice. Mum had advanced dementia and we watched Ladies in Lavender with her many times. The music was played at her funeral. It was lovely to hear it again.

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    1. I only watched the film once, but it's one I'd like to see again. I'm glad you enjoyed today's music, thank you for telling me about your Mum.

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  2. I really enjoyed that film. I think I watched it once by myself and once with Mum.
    That book does sound rather dry. I'm past the stage where I can even be bothered with some books

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    1. I've just seen that it's £2.99 on kindle so I might download I Julian so show willing...

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  3. I am with you on not reading a book if it does not grab you straight away. I skim read our last book group book. Too pot boilerish for me (no such word but you get my drift). I love Ladies in Lavender, both the film and the music. Thank you. Regards Sue H

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    1. Our book club is a bit 'Booker prize' - ish, if you get my drift. I joined because a lot of my friends were members, and I wanted to 'upgrade' my reading from my usual lightweight chicklit and whodunnits, so I can't really complain if I'm getting what I wanted!

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  4. I haven't seen the film and will have to look for it, to watch on my own.
    We've had some rain and could really do with some more.

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    1. We had more rain last night... garden is loving it!

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  5. Ladies in Lavender is a film I have not seen for many years. No rain here and we would love some.

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    1. Even the April chapter in my current audiobook, Next to Nature by Ronald Blythe, is discussing the lack of rain... it's not a recent book!

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  6. Lovely book! Every so often I re-read the whole set!

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    1. Only one left now....I'll be so sad to reach the end of them....

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  7. I Julian is an absolutely brilliant book. Give it a go!

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    1. Well, on your enthusiastic recommendation.... how can I not!

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