100 word Challenge for Grown ups – Week#58 …
As the apples fell or more important before they fell and become damaged we at MERL celebrated. We will again on 20th October; Apple Day ; when the museum and its friends come out and enjoy the last days of the summer sun, apples and orchards.
There is an opportunity to taste different varieties of apples, chutneys and apple juice. There are activities for children such as apple and spoon races and the longest peel competition.
The day would not be complete without a book from a local publisher. We have it in the library and is the best memento of the day … and will be heralded indeed.
Apples Berkshire cider : the A-Z guide to apples, apple-growing and cider making in Berkshire written by Duncan Mackay designed and lettered Pip Hall and illustrated by Peter Hay, Two Rivers Press.
Wednesday’s Wise Woman …
Maria Teresa Leon; a Spanish writer, activist and cultural ambassador (1903-1988) was the daughter of an itinerant army officer; although privileged her life was nomadic. A lifestyle that would have a deep and lasting effect on her life. She had a liberal spirit; described by Shirley Mangini in Memories of the resistance; reading books by Victor Hugo and Dumas; considered then as ‘filth’ and expelled from school. This didn’t distract from her education, she continued to read well and went on to get a BA in Philosophy at the Free Institute oF Education.
Her first marriage didn’t last and she lost the custody of her two beloved sons and moved back to her family home in Burges. Where she contributed articles to a local journal; that dealt with current affairs, culture and women’s rights.
In 1928 she went to Argentina where she met the poet Rafael Alberti; they married in 1932. That year she was awarded a grant from the Board of Advanced Studies to research the European theatre movement. She visited much of Europe and the Soviet Union where she met many so called ‘revolutionary writers.’
In 1933 Maria and Rafael founded the journal Octubre and she returned to the Soviet Union to attend the Congress of Soviet Writers. Later that year she went the United States to raise funds for the workers affected by the October 1934 Austurian Miners revolt; which became an armed attack against the Spanish government in which 2000 people were killed including priests, miners and army personnel. In response to this the Peoples Front was formed; joining together all the leftist factions.
When the Spanish civil war broke out Maria and Rafael returned from Ibiza to Madrid; here Maria became Secretary of the Alliance of Anti Fascist Writers and founded the magazine El Mono Ozul which lasted almost until the end of the war, Many Spanish and non-Spanish writers contributed including Pablo Neruda and Maria Zambrano.
Maria served on the Board of Defense and Protection of National Artistic Patrimony and saved the works of art in various museums from bombing raids. By removing them in camouflaged trucks to a safe location in Valencia.
In 1939 after the republican defeat Maria and Rafael fled to Paris; where they stayed for a year.Then they sailed to Buenos Aires where they joined other Spaniards who had fled their country earlier.
From South America she was able to write about her country without the fear of Francoist censorship. It was during her exile in Argentina that her daughter was born. (1941) During this time Maria was able to make public performances with the soprano Isabel Kruemer, reading her work to raise funds for Nazi victims and striking workers in Argentina.
When Juan Peron imposed political and artistic censorship in Argentina life became difficult. So after 38 years in exile in 1977 Maria and Rafael left Argentina and returned to Madrid. Maria was already suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and she died in 1988 in a sanatorium
Maria reflects on her exile with much melancholy and sadness in her book Memoria de la melancola calling her world a ‘lost paradise’
Being away from her country must have been difficult; to be estranged from her dear sons must have been unbearable.
Weekly Photo Challenge … Everyday!
When I saw this week’s photo challenge I was almost pleased; because I ‘do’ everyday! The world according to Nela Bligh is my oyster. I will simply take my camera to work. Whilst it is not easy to photograph myself ‘doing’ everyday things; surely I can create an image that expresses my busy-iness. As you know I am not a photographer; I do not keep a stash of photos, ‘ I did earlier’ to post as if fresh and new. I have no illusions of ‘their’ lasting qualities.
So my response is always almost immediate; Monday I prepare to post at 5am on Tuesday.
So with a nice challenge I find myself on Monday morning not at work among a bunch of everyday images; but instead at home nursing a throbbing ear ache and the remains of an infection, weak and wobbly. Struggling to get out of bed; let alone consider an image that will rock the Word Press fraternity!
Then I remember a spider I had seen down the garden the day before; making a web and lording it in the centre … an everyday for a spider! I venture out to find him in the sun; but he scurries away as I set up. Next door’s cat comes over the wall and does everyday things that I find less attractive and I shoo him off.
So the spider has no desire to perform his everyday life, I go back. I take a picture of myself taking a picture of the washing up! We all do that don’t we? Everyday!
I did take some pictures of the spider … I will never will never be a photographer of creatures … you have to have patience and huge skill which I loudly applaud.
Last week I learned that … all is not lost!
Last week it seemed that the Empty Nest Syndrome was an unrelenting condition. After many years of tender parenting the shock of a child leaving home and its waves can hit like a thunder bolt. Then, out of the blue when life seems to be so cruel a gentle reminder makes everything worthwhile again.
Fortunately, this roller coaster for us has become less painful; and we have learned little tricks that lighten the load.
On my daughter’s birthday in August we had a Skype breakfast together. We prepared identical food and white wine and cleverly placed our laptops so we could eat and drink together. Even being 5 hours apart didn’t dampen our sense of occasion. After her breakfast and our lunch; I took the ‘tablet’ around the house so she could see the ‘old place.’ We in turn saw about her tiny home where we had spent a happy holiday earlier this year.
This very weekend my daughter sent me poem via Facebook by Ceciala Meirles and another by Violeta Parra arrived by Royal Mail a week earlier . Today, I recieved pictures by email from Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil where Antony Gormley has an exhibition.
My daughter so far away brings me much joy and I will never regret her leaving home … I honour her and her family in Brazil.
… trying to remain silent.
To remain silent for me as you know is difficult; although it is almost quiet here … a couple of magpies also find silence uneasy.
The day stretches a ahead with a million things to do … including a Sanskrit translation.
However a long awaited translation of a Cecilia Meireles‘ poem appeared from Rio. It jerked a few tears and reminded me of a previous post and fills a gap in my vast un-knowledge
I placed my dream in a ship
and the ship on top of the sea;
—and then parted the sea with my hands
to sink my dream in the deep.
My hands still drip with water
from the blue of the waves thus parted
and the color that runs from my fingers
colors the sands, now deserted.
The wind is approaching from afar,
the night in the cold submits;
under the waves lies dying
my dream, in the hold of a ship…
I will weep as much as needed,
so that I might the sea increase
and that my ship might come to the bottom
and that my dream might cease.
And then, all will be perfect:
the beach smooth, the waters ordered,
my eyes, dry as stones
my two hands, shattered.
Silent Sunday …
Sun reflects red
leaves berries
mustard slippers full-stop
This is a Silent Sunday post inspired by Mocha Beanie Mummy. Check out the rest of the entries using tag #silentsunday on twitter.
Saturday haiku …
I have recently returned from holiday in Spain. In theory refreshed and ready to go. Instead I find myself back on the joyous roller coaster. That could easily become a monster out of control or a production line of nothing in particular. I keep telling myself it is a work-in-progress and it is. However, I leave myself no room for improvement. I rush from one week into the other; leaving little time or space for reflection and self attention.
So I am going to address this today
with some poems …
Slow mind
Saturday
slice momentum
Light dims
candle flickers
mind sees
Eliminate power
feel tender
trap of nothing
Saturday Centus …. Words
Supplication to the goddess of blog
While I chose my words; allow them to flow from my pen. It would be preferable if the spell check did not kick in; better if the thesaurus was a thing of the past. How would it be if my sentences were perfectly formed; subject, object and verb. With a strategically placed adjective or adverb conveniently poised. Is too much to ask that similes would roll off my tongue? Or that metaphors would pop into my head without effort? Oh Yes! Let me not be confused with tenses, mood and voice. After all it is only words and words are all I have.
Please!
Friday’s Library Snapshot … Rowley Atterbury
For the next few weeks in the entrance hall here at Special Collections; we have a little exhibition of works printed at the Westerham Press founded by Rowley Atterbury (1920-2011). After the war Rowley joined Faber & Faber and learned design and printing. In 1950 he began his own printing company in his family garage.
He began printing for the Mermaid Theatre, British Council and the Arts Council. It was not long before he had outgrown these premises and moved first to Biggin Hill in 1959. Where he experimented with colour printing and lithography. Then, in 1965 Westerham Press moved to a purpose built printing works.
As his company grew he was in a position to employ the best craftsmen; printers, artists and designers such as Charles Mozely, David Gentleman, Robert Harling, Ruri Maclean and Jan Tschihold, names that I have become familiar with while classifying books for the Printing Collection here in Special Collections, University of Reading.
The little exhibition is a joy and a taster of the work of Rowley Atterbury who ‘pioneered technology in computer typesetting and colour printing’ and earned an ‘international reputation for three decades in producing work of distinction’ (Printing World, January 30th 1985)
Book Jacket by Berthold Wolpe
Christmas card by Charles Mozley
Designed by Stuart Barrie
Book jacket by Lynton Lamb
A parade of Cotton Fashion 1954 by Roger Nicholson and to the right a little red image Contempory Embroidery 1955.
Alphabe Thursday … Q is for Quentin Blake.
There is little I can tell you Quentin Blake; He is so big!
However; this little poetry book might not have come to your attention. The illustrations of Quentin Blake complement Carol Ann Duffy’s tender words.
Coat Hanger Doll's House 