Poly-Olbion ... colouring-in books ...

 

Poly-Olbion is a topographic poem depicting the counties in England and Wales, written by Michael Drayton (1563 – 1631) and published in 1612, with a reprint in 1622.

Part of Cornwall - showing 
St Michael's Mount and the Scilly Isles

Drayton was an English poet, specialising in historical poetry, who came to prominence in the Elizabethan era. Every poem was anthropomorphised … then brought to artistic life by William Hole, a skilled engraver, who died in 1624 (his d.o.b.) is uncertain.

Poly-Olbion came to my notice (somehow) as colouring books– so guess who had to investigate...

Drayton had adopted the concept of celebrating all the points of topographical or antiquarian interest in his homeland …

Title page of Poly-Olbion -
as engraved on copper
plate by William Hole
in 1624

Albion's Glorious Ile – 'Of Albion's glorious Ile – I write.' - Drayton's used the rhetorical device of prosopopoeia throughout his song-poems.

As I didn't understand it – for elucidation: to remind me and let you know … prosopopoeia is when (in this case) an abstract thing is personified …

River Severn - showing south Wales, with
the English of St George on the pennant,
on the opposite shore

England in the 1500s had very few roads, when the rivers were an important and mythologised natural feature – which the poem eulogises …

Part of the blurb 'as we move from place to place: an extraordinary textual repository of English and Welsh history, topography, legends, wildlife and traditions is amassed'.

Possibly depicting Boudica - Queen of
the Iceni tribe - which resided in
Norfolk, by the city of Norwich

Every subject imaginable is considered: Roman builders, English saints, the birds of Arden Forest, Dutch settlers, the great sheep of the Cotswolds, falconry, Robin Hood, sea monsters, Druidry, civil wars, herbal cures.

Quite honestly – that's even more than my brain carries! - it has been boggling at these songs/ poems …

Well I think perhaps I'd better just get to why I'm writing this post … when I was out in Canada I came across adults' colouring art pages … but quite honestly they didn't do anything for me …

Cover for one of the volumes

Then these colouring books appeared and I was entranced – whether I actually sit and colour them in is another matter – being somewhat incompetent in that area …

Who'd have thought the art of colouring was popular during the 17^th century and beyond – when many of the original monochrome copies of these maps would be hand-coloured by both amateur and professional colourists.

Showing a coloured version
from earlier times - this is
part of Worcestershire

If you feel another post could enhance this one to add a bit more information – then I'll give it a go next time …

A few links: The University of Exeter's takes you to the others, with some explanatory details set out … particularly relevant are that the workshops were delivered for children, with Special Education Needs, mainly in the South-West region of England … the Royal Geographical Society was also involved.

Flash of Splendour's logo

The University of Exeter's involvement …

Flash of Splendour Arts …

The Poly-Olbion Project/s … the children's project ran concurrently with the scholarly version …

Michael Drayton c/o Wikipedia

PS - the books are now out of print ... so I was lucky to have found some ... publication was in 2015 ... so time has passed.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Society

The Cornish are a Nation …

 

This was not the intended post … that's coming … but this intrigued me … being a committed Cornishlady …

The three ancient
continental land masses

I must have been looking for something (understatement) but came across this Facebook post from the University of Plymouth … at the boundary of Cornwall and Devon …

… it was subtitled: Cornwall – a different people, a different land! - though I wasn't born there (my mother's family is from St Ives) … this could so easily apply to me.

I've plagiarised/ summarised /messed with their 2019 FB post – but linked back so you can see the whole …

World Heritage Mining Walk
(Botallack is marked -
part of 'The Crown Mine' estate)

Geology has always fascinated me … and coming from the land of the tin mines, it makes sense – in fact my disastrous marriage was celebrated in a tin mine counting house at Botallack … the culinary celebration was very good – the rest: not so …

I wrote about Bewitching Breeches at Botallack for my 'B' post in the 2015 A-Z challenge 'Aspects of British Cornish.

Avalonia

The University of Plymouth believe that a third ancient continental land mass melded this Albion isle … as shown in the image posted above …

It's been known that Avalonia formed most of England, which then formed an attachment to Laurasia … part of the Laurentian land mass, which at one stage formed part of the ancient continent of Euramerica/Laurussia …

It always amazes me that these continental plates 'moved around' so much, and at one stage (long, long ago) we could have walked to north America …

Folded old red sandstone rock formation
at St Anne's, Wales

...the Old Red Sandstone is an assemblage of rocks in the North Atlantic region – which extends from Great Britain, Ireland and Norway across to Greenland and northern eastern Canada and the USA …

Another A – Z post on Aspects of British Coasts – the 'G' post: G is for Geology, Gneiss, Groynes, 'Grippers' … gives another view …

Geology of Great Britain (see Wiki)

I think I've probably almost ruined the idea about the world and its tectonic plates … but there is a link – to my next incredible story … colouring books from the 1600s – who'd have thought?!

Patience is a virtue … thanks for reading though …

The ancient Celtic tribes of southern
England (Dumnonii - Cornwall and Devon)

University of Plymouth Facebook post September 2019;

Avalonia – c/o Wikipedia

Laurasia – c/o Wikipedia

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Pigeon Post ...

 

We had to use up our stamps by July 31^st … the deadline was looming … I had a few – not enough to worry about swapping out for the new ones, but definitely not waste.

One of the old stamps -
featuring our Eastbourne
band stand.

I thought of whom I could drop notes to (not proper letters) … mostly, believe it or not, bloggers – so the cache were scattered out onto the table … as I had 1p (one penny stamps), 10p, 5p ones- dating back to who knows when … well I guess the 1990s, when I came back to live here.

I also had to ascertain the cost of stamps in July … we had moved on to … I had some 'World stamps' and some 'Europe' ones … a right mix – but the priority became more urgent as the July days ticked by.

The particular version - I sent to Damyanti

Competition kicked in – business ideas changed etc etc … so I guess the change up in July was to be expected … now that we had a new monarch: King Charles III (first time I've written that).

Amazingly the British postal service was founded 507 years ago – when Henry VIII was on the throne. Name changes have occurred – and it is now the Royal Mail as a brand – the government's remaining share was sold off in 2015, ending 499 years of state ownership.

Louth (Lincolnshire) to London Royal Mail
(1820) by Charles Cooper Henderson

These Origami inspired crafted letter-envelope combinations appeared at our Towner art gallery and I always rather admired them – so decided they'd make a few journeys across the seas or up and down the country: using up said expiring stamps.

Apothecary Pigeon ones

Pigeon post – suggest you send a pigeon. 

Here we have Apothecary Pigeon letter-cards ... Fern, honesty, witch hazel ... these medicinal marvels were picked from the artist's (Jake Lever) garden.

Simple instructions for the letter Reinvented:

                    Write.

                                    Fold.

                                                Send.

Feel more connected – send a Pigeon.

I dutifully followed instructions: I may have sent them in plain envelopes … so I (or the various mail systems) didn't mess up the actual design.

Wildflower ones

Their motto – 'A more satisfying way to communicate' – I couldn't agree more … I've heard back from most – perhaps they haven't arrived, or sickness reigns, or it's summer holiday time still …

… and one post from Singapore appeared – jogging my posting mind that this could be my first autumnal one, getting into the way of normality again (I don't do normality – but there we go!).  Damyanti has/had nesting birds on her balcony - so this choice of pigeon post was appropriate.

So another reminder for us all – do write hand-written letters … they can inspire and uplift friends or family.

To round this off – here's a quote from the long poem Musophilus by Samuel Daniel, first published in 1599 in his Poeticall Essayes:

O blessed letters that combine in one

All ages past, and make one live with all,

By you we do confer with you who are gone,

And the dead living unto counsel call:

By you th'unborn shall have communion

Of what we feel, and what doth us befall.

Thanks for visiting – and congratulations to the IWSG group, Alex in particular, which/who celebrated 12 years yesterday … my first A-Z, which led me to IWSG, was in 2011 … and I know many of you have been around for as long as I have.

Midnight Garden Pigeon ones

I certainly wouldn't still be blogging if it wasn't for this incredibly supportive group of blogging friends ('you' in other words) … and learning from each and everyone of you.

Damyanti's post: When was the last time you wrote a letter by hand?  

Pigeon Post website ... well worth a visit ... 

Please Read the Letter prompt for the WEP entry in June 2022 - here's my entry ... 

Musophilus - see Wiki entry ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Dinner and Food Wrap-up …

 

Well that's that … one major week in the life of a daughter (now blogger) … cow invasion, cocktails for 80, dinner for 30 …

Platter of cheeses to finish off a meal

… definitely some guests – my father's younger sister: her husband was the uncle I spent time with, she'd asked me to look after him … all happening in the first 12 years of this millennium … when my mother was also in her last months – easing their ways onwards …

I'm sure we'd have finished with port or brandy … a platter of 1960s cheeses – cheddar, Stilton, camembert … about the only French cheese readily available …

My father had given up smoking (never cigars),
but some friends still did ... 

I'm sure everyone rallied round to help us clear up – I cannot remember that part … and no doubt left overs were Sunday lunch.

The denouement happened early the next week … I'd applied to become a chalet girl – ie work at a ski lodge …

Look to You tube to learn
'how to Make Hospital 
Corners'  ( no link here)

… I think I could cook, organise, plan, clean – but not do hospital corners on beds (but easy to learn n'est pas?) etc …

… so the interview comes around – I'd gone to London – no zoom in the 1960s … I can't remember much except the one question – which I answered truthfully … how would I make pastry … well I said I'd buy it …

Mayerhofen, Austria

Pastry wasn't something we'd had much of at home … as we were away at school – no suppers/evening meals needed – so I'd no idea about it …

… well that solved that - the interview: failed – I was not accepted as a chalet girl … on t'other hand looking forward – I wouldn't be here now … so a fork in life's road led me here …

Autumn in Tennessee -
here it is bucketing with rain

Back to normal: eclectic posts … as per my whim … take care and here's to a happy Autumn or Fall …

To finish off background to my ability to cook … my mother was a very good cook – I'd learnt at home … after school I had a short stint with a French lady, I guess a post WW2 refugee, who gave classes for 8 – teaching us how to cook all the basics – I still have her recipes … we rotated cooking, preparing, cleaning, washing up, time watching etc … it was an invaluable start to life in the kitchen – not to say I became a housewife as such …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

New Home celebration … 'mains' … 3/4

 

Now we've had desserts c/o WEP (my last post) we backtrack to the mains …

Fillet of Beef waiting to be cooked

I'd decided to offer fillet of beef, with new potatoes, a medley of vegetables, green beans and anchovy bread … but frankly to my surprise I can't remember …

I was, now looking back, very confident that I could prepare all the dishes … brash = today's description.

We had a similar cream Aga

I know I cooked the beef fillets – because they caused me a minor blip … but the rest – I'm really not sure about … and back in those days we didn't have global vegetables and fruits available …

I'd grown up using an Aga … and though I'd moved onto a refurbished gas oven in my London flat – bought from a friend, who had had it converted to North Sea Gas – when I left for South Africa … it was again sold on to some friends for their flat … recycling at its best.

In the house my father had bought, there was no gas, we had an electric oven … another adjustment required by the 'cook' (me!).

Anchovy or herby bread ... I still can't fathom why 
each slice isn't cut through ... I always do mine
wrapped in foil, opened up for the last few minutes

The beef fillet would be served at room temperature – being sensible I'd realised I wouldn't need to have hot food on the go … as serving 30 would be hard enough …

The instructions said roast the fillet at 400 degF, or gas Mark 7 for about 35 minutes and then leave to cool. Absolutely fine – simple … wouldn't take long and all would be well …

Green bean salad

When I opened the oven on the three fillets I was cooking to serve the guests … it dawned on me – that they were not remotely ready. So being the brash confident me of 20 or so … I shut the door and let them continue cooking …

After over an hour – I determined they 'had to be cooked' … and so on I went …

One sliced fillet of beef being 'aspic(k)ed

The fillets were sliced, laid out 'prettily' on serving dishes before being coated with three layers of aspic jelly and left to set.

The back door to the house – it was probably the local Victorian rector's home, as it was next to the church – had an entry passage – off which were a few small store rooms …

New potato salad

Useful for Victorian pickles, jams, storing fruit and vegetables … which we didn't need to use – but they were brilliant for storing the goodies/clutter for the dinner … including leaving the aspic(k)ed beef to set …

Made my life easier certainly … eventually we were ready to back track to the dessert as posted for the recent WEP prompt …

Courgette salad

One last wrap up post to follow next week …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Write … Edit … Publish … Bloghop /IWSG hop: Like Water for Chocolate … 2/4

 

Finger licking as kids … she remembered back – they'd lick each others' chocolatey fingers … then together entwined off to the sink for a wash … those were the days, occasionally repeated – sticky fingers …

This magical mythical, moving
story of love, sacrifice and
simmering sensuality ...

She was always in the kitchen – he often watched her … her favourites were a Gateau Diane, decorated with chocolate caraque; also chocolate truffles … the mixture rolled out, leaving the little globules to set, before sensually rolling in dark chocolate powder.

Life moves along … yet here they were again – so near, yet so far … not yet touching – but that yearning was there … she could see his – and felt sure he felt hers as his fingers often gently touched her.

Chocolate Caraque being made - always
chocolatey fingers ... 

Her memories came flooding back – she never forgot, could never forget … that pitter-patter of her heart, she couldn't control her emotions – now those erotic times and fantasies were once again at the forefront of her senses …

Ignition for their hearts

... matches on the chocolate cake set off the sparkling little bursts of intensity – so challenging to keep hidden – yet she thought he too felt similarly … another brush of the fingers across her palm … oh! that magic awaiting its future …

For now they couldn't talk … but silent times brought all the other senses to the fore … she was always aware he was there, while his eyes saw her …

Gateau Diane - chocolate caraque on a 
dessert of meringue and chocolate ganache

… some chocolate concoction was needed – it would keep her hands busy … her mind not so much … the kitchen and her grandchild opened that door … what to make …

Child and 'la Dona' had gathered the ingredients … dark chocolate for the caraque, cocoa powder for the truffles … the meringue dessert had been made, it was awaiting its decoration … the truffles also were ready for their final roll …

Cocoa powder ... 

… oh! oh! … pitter-patter in her chest … her heart was pumping, thumping, trembling …

Close up of Caraque ... tasty, flaky shavings 

Memories – the caraque reminding her of how often his fingers touched her palm, now a little rougher … but then: more to taste, to touch, to feel … just more …  

... her nervous activity needed to hide her emotions – she just knew they had to be together … too much water under the bridge from those early days – the sensual chocolate would come to the fore ...

She'd find it nigh impossible waiting for another deep lingering kiss – or truffled hands rolled in cocoa powder – all to be slowly, deliciously, silently enjoyed – as they sank into each other, as she remembered from days gone by …

Tag line:

Like Water, Like Chocolate … both life long intimate companions …

PS - If you haven't read 'Like Water for Chocolate' by Laura Esquivel - I highly recommend it!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

New Home celebration Dinner Party … 1/4

 

Frankly I cannot remember what I served as the first course for my father's party … but I do remember a few other facts …

Champagne Cocktail

I'm not sure how long he'd been in the Northamptonshire house – but it was as he wanted it … and we were expecting 80 for drinks beforehand, then 30 were staying on for dinner … my mother by then was in Cornwall, I was in London as well as betwixt and between ...

We were living in the 1960s era … so it was going to be pretty posh – not the relaxed way we (some) live today …

All expected drinks would have been available – but as the main on offer was a Champagne Cocktail … I remember a baby bath full of ice and champagne bottles … with brandy awaiting in the glasses …

… also sugar cube on the side … apparently it keeps the devil away, or slightly sweetens the champers – as in the early/mid 20^th century – it'd have been much drier than many champagnes tend to be today …

Angostura bottle

Angostura Bitters was also added … to aid appetite and digestion … and to balance out the drink … I enjoy a few drops of Bitters in a tonic water – it is very refreshing …

Cattle in the pasture by 
Thomas Sidney Cooper (1881)

My father had been putting in a lot of work in the garden – and it was looking tidy and well kept – until Tuesday morning … when, while he was in London, I was about to start preparing the food elements …

Muddy damaged bank

… 'about to start' being the operative part of this saga … I heard rather a lot of noise going down the drive towards the tidy garden – which had three tiers of grassy banks … towards the lawn …

'Separated, not divorced!' - the
title by 'Cow Cooper' (1874)

… horror upon horror – I looked out of the kitchen window to see a herd of cows walking through! They are large animals and that tidy garden was no more – I dashed round to the drawing room (as we called it) to look out to see a very muddy garden full of cows!

… there wasn't much I could do – though the after-effects, once the cows had been herded out along to their normal pasture, were pretty soul-destroying … ah well! … a distant memory now … but a good excuse to put up the paintings by 'Cow Cooper' …

... we carried on – my father's sister and hubby arrived to help – by now it was probably the day … as I was into making fruit salad … my aunt somewhat floored me by asking if she should de-pip the grapes … that was the era …

Grape - cross section c/o Wiki

We survived and everyone had drinks and mixed, no doubt admiring the house – and then dinner came around … as I mentioned – starters … I can't remember … next comes the dessert, which forms part of WEP … the mains I do remember!

Northamptonshire - a map by
John Speed (1611)

Intimidating cows in the garden – good memories, de-pipping grapes – I'm sure I paid a bit more attention as the years ticked by!

C is for Cattle … and Cow Cooper … 4 April 2017

WEP 'Chocolat' Flash Fiction Challenge runs from 16 – 18 August … Desserts shall appear!  Do join us ... it's fun ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories