Friday’s library snapshot
This week in the Reading Room we had a reader looking at an Elizabethan poem. I am not sure of its provenance, the catalogue record just said ‘Elizabethan Manuscript by Dr Claire Cross [MS 233 NAD 5396]’
Although it is neatly written in English, it is very difficult to read; although the visitor had no difficulty making sense of it!
I just gazed at it ‘oldness’ and beauty and looked at the the transcript that too didn’t make much sense. Nonetheless, I don’t often have the opportunity to capture some thing so rare and old.
‘Muse at som maydes which mariage frequent
with a vew for all virgines before they consente.
I cane but muse whenas this things
doth com into my mynde
yet many it to pas do brynge
by dayly profe I finde
its case I se, in som degre
mayde are to marryage founde
and after wysh, although they myse
that they this they hade shunde …. ‘
Alphabe Thursday B is for Button
I like buttons simple because they have round cheerful faces. Jewels without the harsh facets (?) As a dressmaker I go to great lengths to buy the correct one! I have a small collection that I have accumulated over the years. I like to tip out and sort through, sewing my favourites onto a canvas into a picture. I always remove them from clothes before I put them in the rag bag. If the clothes are fit to go to to a charity shop; which often isn’t the case I replace the pretty buttons with not such nice once! That is a guilty pleasure!!
So this week’s nursery rhyme is perfect for me
Buy any Buttons’
Buttons, farthing a pair,
Come, who will buy them of me?
They are round and sound and pretty,
And fit for the girls of the city.
Come, who will buy them from me?
Buttons, a farthing a pair.
Wednesday’s Wood Engraver
I was given a book as a gift this week; I was very pleased; it really is my cup of tea. Not only did it contain some lovely wood engravings it gave me something to think about!
It is called The story of poetry by David Hopkins and Tom Mason with wood engravings by Hilary Paynter.
As the title suggests it is about poetry and for me it answers some questions that I have wrestled with over the years. I missed out on poetry at school I am not sure why. I am fairly confident I was not entirely to blame; but suffice to say I have struggled since to understand most poetry. While I am sure this book will not convince to read more; I am heartened that I am not the only one who failed to come to grips with these stories in verse with their complex allegories and metaphors.
Two poems I did enjoy and studied quite fully (when I did my Classics Degree) were the Iliad and Odyssey so I enjoy a hero; rather more a heroin . This is perhaps hoping to much in classical poetry.
This story of poetry that spans millions of years and contains a thousand characters, has a hero. The protagonist’s soul takes on different forms in various bodies at different times and miscellaneous places as the story unfolds.
So while the story follows the hero it is finely illustrated by Hilary Paynter who is a major figure in the current revival in wood engraving. Her images are varied; from landscapes, geological forms, domestic and even subtle socio-political it is poetry in pictures.
Weekly Photo Challenge …. Twisted
I have a funny twisted relic hung on my dining room door handle. It is a gentle reminder of my dad who was a boat builder and sailor. He would make and use fenders a little like this one; although his were stitched (by his hand) canvas stuffed with old rope. They were used to protect the hull of the boat when docking beside a quay or another yacht.
We sailed regularly, as children, my little sisters and I with charged with the duty of placing the fenders outboard either port or starboard as instructed when we we neared the shore. They were very heavy and cumbersome for little girls. We had to be careful we didn’t hurl ourselves over the side as well. We soon learned to half hitch them to a cleat in the deck; losing a fender over the side was a not less than loosing a child.
However, it was a joyous ritual that we enjoyed; also stowing them after the event as we pulled out into the channel to continue our journey; or return home. This, ‘putting’ way was important for my dad who was appalled by those who sailed with fenders dangling untidily.
Monday … Bank Holiday
Not just due to the inclement weather, me and my partner decided to stay at home this Bank Holiday weekend. We did hope to take a walk along the Thames but even that hasn’t yet been an option. However, it has been a time to think a little about my projects that are looming large at the moment and consider a way forward. I am preparing for a workshop in Newcastle; so I have been drawing some images to make into wood engravings. This has been a bittersweet experience; while I can draw in real space it is difficult to bring the impressions down to 2×3 inches. So this remains a work in progress.
I also have some dressmaking to do and until I make those first cuts into the fabric; I am disturbed by the job still to be done!
Then there is my journal; I have keep a diary for years as a so called ‘therapeutic tool’ to mark my progress in and more importantly out of depression. I did hope it might be useful for my blog and it is a good source for information when searching for a personal connection to not so personal facts.
However it is mainly a place of self-pitying drivel and mostly not for human consumption. These rantings are not always true also I rarely honour the less hideous things in my life. I malign all attempts to drag myself into the truth.
So as I finish the umpteemth jourmal; yesterday I replaced it with a booklet of unlined paper in a bid to stop myself writing and instead make shapes and mark shoping this might address at least one of my above mentioned ‘problems’
I did begin to use a beautifully bound book at the beginning of the year … but I put in to one side when my recent malady took a regressive hold. I was, and still afraid to sully it with untruths.
Meanwhile; I took this picture of my garden a moment ago from my kitchen window. I was making the first cup of tea of the day. (A joy I must document more! both the tea and the garden) I point out a little walnut tree. I have other trees in pots including a ginkgo biloba out of shot that I cherish. Back to the walnut tree (given to me by the tallest, ugliest Hell’s Angel I have ever seen; who is also a kind and generous neighbour) that love perhaps more than myself; it is beginning to show signs of life. I was concerned about its survival in my backyard; I didn’t want to tell my friend I had killed his gift. So already a good impression.
So onward and the new journal …
Silent Sunday
Saturday …
Today the first day of the Bank Holiday Weekend; Whitsun when we celebrate the ascension of Jesus into heaven six weeks after his crucifixion at Easter. While I don’t profess to adhere to any particular religion, while this one offers me a day’s holiday from work I will enjoy it!
Also, it marks two months to when I go to Brazil, not to partake in the World Cup shenanigans but to visit my beloved daughter and partner.
Perhaps it is worth mentioning it while celebrating they are both recovering from their accident 4 months ago today!
I do have much to embrace but I do find this continued hair loss less enchanting. I am increasingly irritated by the cliche much banded ‘at least its not life threatening’ … it ain’t for sure … but is not a pretty sight and being inexplicable makes it worse!
On a lighter note, yesterday I celebrated 2 years as a blogger! This is no mean achievement especially as I never expected it to last. So much so I grabbed a silly name out of the air, so in the event of failure I could duck out and know one would know!.
So while I am not sure what I am sharing today except that I am particularly grateful and in debt to those who have supported,visited, commented and followed.
I send you many good wishes for this weekend and your celebrations
From Nela AKA Aitch, Hells, Helly, call me what you will but never too late for Tea!
These images are from preliminary sketches for my next attempt to linocut reduction in the style of Paul Cezanne (may he not turn in his grave? )
Friday Library Snapshot …
This week has been busy in Special Collections; I have a few dead lines and some balls in the air! So playing at being a researcher rather than doing my ‘proper’ job was not an option. I did collect some interesting items for a reader (some requests although not many are not so interesting) But time was not on my side, so I could only take a peek at one book, published in 1900; called the Square book of animals with rhymes by Arthur Waugh and illustrations by William Nicholson. This particular copy was presented to Reading University Library by Professor Seaby and contains a note on the printing method used for this edition of the book written by Allen W. Seaby.
I was unable to look closely at the item but impressed by the images; went home and found a reproduction on Amazon for a fraction of the cost of the original. Not perfect by any means but at least I have access to the real thing when the workload slackens.
Alphabe Thursday … A is for Apple Pie
We start again with A; so I thought I would look more closely at alphabet books and came across this nursery rhyme well known during the reign of Charles II. In 1671 , John Eachard, an outspoken cleric quoted it in his book ‘Some observations upon the answer to an enquiry into the grounds & occasions of the contempt of the clergy’ It would seem preaching the gospels was not as easy as ABC!
It was considered in to be a good aid when teaching children to spell in the Coopers’ spelling book ‘The child’s new plaything’
Later in the century it featured often in the chapbook series; the usual title was the Tragical death of A, Apple Pye who was cut in pieces and eat by twenty-five gentlemen with whom all little people ought to be very well acquainted.
The rhyme was a favourite for ABC instruction in the 19th century. Kate Greenaway made a book of it, A, Apple Pie which is still reprinted.
A was an apple-pie;
B bit it,
C cut it,
D dealt it,
E eat it,
F fought for it,
G got it,
H had it,
I inspected it,
J jumped for it,
K kept it,
L longed for it,
M mourned for it,
N nodded at it,
O opened it,
P peeped in it,
Q quartered it,
R ran for it,
S stole it,
T took it,
U upset it,
V viewed it,
W wanted it,
X,Y,Z, and the ampersand
all wished for a piece in hand.
Want to understand UKIP? Look at their bike policy
Doing a bit of reblogging to day as a cyclist of many years I have a right …
Not beloved of UKIP
Conservative Week continues. Having looked at the philosopher who represents the best of conservatism, we look at the party that represents the worst of it: UKIP. I argue that their policy on cycling is microcosm of their ugly worldview
Ummm…wouldn’t their policy on Europe be the key one?
Not really. It’s not the most salient issue for UKIP supporters by any stretch.
Ok but bikes certainly aren’t either
No but it’s a microcosm for their wider attitudes.
So what do they say about bikes?
Their 2010 manifesto had the following to say:
10.2 We believe that there needs to be a better balance of rights and responsibilities for pedal cyclists, with too much aggressive abuse of red lights, pedestrian crossings and a lack of basic safety and road courtesy.
10.6 UKIP would consult on the desirability of minimum third party liability insurance cover for cyclists –…
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Coat Hanger Doll's House 