Happy New Year and Year End Thoughts …

As 2014 ticks away and we are gathered up into the embrace of 2015 … so often we are thinking of our goals, our ambitions for the year ahead …

 

Happy New Year to 2015

… this year I’ve been struck by messages from the Queen, the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa’s new book …

We agreed the Queen’s Christmas Day speech was a good one – yes it reflected British things, but importantly as head of the Commonwealth she reached out beyond our shores to her people, and then there was the wider audience of those who respect Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, as one of the great leaders of this era in history.

The United Nations encompassing logo

The Queen touched on Reconciliation, Truces, Sport as a way to bring peoples of different nations together … the form of Reconciliation was thought about … Ireland, Scotland, war zones, Ebola …

Then she mentioned “Christ’s example has taught me to seek respect and value of all people of whatever faith or none” …

The rainbow peoples of this world

… with finally to the haunting sounds of “Silent Night” a reminder to us all that “even in the unlikeliest of places hope can still be found” as in World War One when the Christmas Day football game in the trenches in 1914 took place, when the War was meant to be over.

The Pope has not been frightened to take the bull by the horns (I wonder if that’s where the term ‘Papal Bull’ comes from? – I doubt it!!) … and to quote from Kathleen Kelley Reardon’s Big Think article “What ManagersCan Learn From Pope Francis’ Christmas Missive”:

“It takes courage to stand up to powerful others who can make our life miserable.  That does not appear to be Pope Francis’ concern.  He knows the mission of his church and has every intention of saving it from the hands of those who have lost sight of why they’re there.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury was recently out in Sierra Leone supporting the Ebola health workers … disease does not have any truce, nor does persecution of Christians …

We can do more, when we are healthy

This down-to-earth man, our Archbishop, who was a business man, knows about leadership and reaching out to one and all … to lead by example the peoples of this world, who are or who will be inspired by his faith …

… sadly he has pneumonia and was unable to give his Christmas Day sermon – a lesson to us all that our health and balance of all things needs to be remembered too – in the daily fulfilment of our duties and life.

I just liked these phrases/ ideas / steps ... 

I will hold notes on Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s new book until our Ubuntu post in February, which I am led to believe Michelle Wallace, Writerin Transit, will once again instigate next year.

Taking time out to reflect, to think, to read in different areas will enlighten us the more as 2015 starts its journey … may you all have joyful, successful and blessed 2015s …

Her Majesty The Queen's Christmas Day broadcast

The Pope's Christmas Missive - c/o Big Think

The Archbishop's Christmas Day Sermon

Happy New Year to you all - may we have healthy lives, an easier time ... give more, need less ... see you in 2015!

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

The DejaVu BlogFest - Ubuntu, Survive and Thrive with the Big C, FoodBanks and the loss of the A-Z Swedish lady maestro …

Such a difficult decision … I cannot chose – I would probably go for one of my A-Z articles on the British coast … but instead I will  link across to some posts which impacted on me …

 

D L Hammons BlogFest

Michelle Wallace’s Ubuntu bloghop … “I am; because of you” or “I am what I am because of who we all are” – this latter phrase I prefer.  Michelle will be doing this again in 2015.

Londolozi – a Zulu word meaning “Protector of All Living Things” … after which a Game Reserve in South Africa has been named.

Boyd Varty’s TED talk – one of Londolozi’s owners …

 

c/o Londolozi

Survive and Thrive Blogfest articles – where I linked back to my (and thus our) Cancer posts – and I listed all the conditions bloggers had written about …

Remember the food banks …

Then lastly … Tina, the Sunflower Lady – whose light went out on 23^rd August … she was a master administrator for many of us who participate in the annual A-Z challenge in April …

As Tina would say ... Life is Good … live life, be generous and thoughtful, encourage everyone, be flexible and help where you can …

c/o Barnados - card designed by
Harry, aged 8, who is supported by
Barnado's Actions with Young Carers

If you haven’t visited one of four blog posts then please check in … thank you …

Happy Christmas, Happy New Year, lots of happiness and joy in 2015 – and here’s to success with your writing, your projects, your art, poetry ... and all creative ideas …

For other participants please visit D L Hammons blog …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Star Gazey Pie – Mousehole …

Our Cornish family by birth or by addiction, 
or near birth appearances down there and regular visits all these years: 

View eastwards over Mousehole, towards
Penzance and the Lizard - our mother had
a cottage up here for a few years

… we always have a good fish pie on Christmas Eve – only a few days to go …

If there’s a symbol of Christmas in Cornwall

It has to be the StargazyPie, served on

23^rd December in the homes and pubs around

the Cornish village of Mousehole

It is said that in years gone by, this pie

was made to celebrate the brae fisherman

Tom Bawcock, who’d once ventured out into the

stormy seas and caught a record haul,

which - saved the village from starvation;

… the entire catch was baked into a huge pie,

with the heads poking through the crust

to prove there was fish inside.

Variations on a theme in making the dish can be used … Cornish pilchards (the smaller version of a Cornish Sardine) … 

c/o SeaSalt and their blog  and five of the seven fish

... along with a creamy white sauce, extra fish, hard-boiled eggs and potatoes … making a rich pie – out of which could be seen pilchard heads or tails … ensuring the veracity of the pie.

Tom Bawcock’s catch at Mousehole that day included seven types of fish … pilchards (sardines), mackerel, ling, dogfish, sandeel, herring and a.n.o. ... what ever other fish was caught ... perhaps a shrimp ... a touch of crab ... 

The fish heads on poking through the pastry “appear to gaze at the stars” … and as the whole fish is used in cooking, the goodness of the oil content seeps in to flavour the dish.

The harbour entrance at Mousehole

The Cornish tale be told in true Cornish dialect …:

"Merry place you may believe, Tiz Mouzel 'pon Tom Bawcock's eve
To be there then who wouldn't wesh, to sup o' sibm soorts o' fish
When morgy brath had cleared the path, Comed lances for a fry
And then us had a bit o' scad an' Starry-gazie pie
As aich we'd clunk, E's health we drunk, in bumpers bremmen high,
And when up caame Tom Bawcock's name, We'd prais'd 'un to the sky"

Cover for the book

The children’s book “The Mousehole Cat” by Antonia Barber is inspired by Tom Bawcock’s Eve … it is the story of Tom Bawcock and his loyal black and white cat, Mowzer;

Mowzer - c/o The History Telling Hour

... a lovely tale of Mowzer purring the storm to rest – so they can return safely to harbour … and thus to cook the imaginative Star Gazey Pie.

An individual Star Gazey Pie ...

My mother had a cottage in Mousehole – possibly round about where the photo at the top was taken – for a couple of years, from where she had lovely views across to Penzance Bay and further east to the Lizard.

An Australian friend came down years ago, before I went off to South Africa, and said only you could live in a place called Mouse Hole ... pronounced impossibly in Cornish dialect as "Mauz'l" ...

Enjoy a good fish pie over the Christmas Season …

Much of this information comes from a wonderful Cornish website promoting all things Cornish:  Seasalt ...

Their blog has the details re the fish pie, the folk story, Nathan Outlaw's recipe ... et al ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Paddington Bear – the film …

Now this is a very British fun film … a complete mix of all things we probably do best in this country … with our own quirky, eccentric and accessible take on Michael Bond’s authorial talent in writing Paddington in the first place in 1958.

With a pedigree of all things British, a cast of superlative actors and actresses – with one Aussie import – Cruella look alike … the film touches on many aspects …

• made by the producers of the boy wizard films, Harry Potter

Julie Walter's take on cleaning: feet on dusters,
dancing to music as she dusts the rocking horse
(she plays the housekeeper)

• Heath Robinson concepts … with Wallace and Gromit type stunts …

• a touch of Cruella de Ville, in this case Nicole Kidman

•  typical British characters …

• stunts inside the National History Museum …

•  some cracky whacky escapades …

• Dr Who indecisiveness of character portrayed ...

• with James Bond music moments …

•  murder mystery stunts …

• constant adverts for marmalade … Paddington survives, thrives and lives on marmalade 

So please take yourselves, your kids, your grandkids, friends who want to see a feel-good move and go see the small bear who is on a big adventure – it’s great fun and you’ll come home feeling warm and cuddly!

 

Released in the States on 15 January 2015  … and will be much loved down under too ... 

 

Something for everyone movie … you really can’t help but enjoy it … happy watching …

Bronze statue of Paddington Bear at Paddington Station - by Marcus Cornish

Worried about WV suddenly appearing .. visit Inger and see Roland and her conversation re resetting your comments area ... I prefer a loose floating comment box - but for now ... I've put it to an embedded one.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Emergency Food Banks … Holiday Food Drive BlogFest …

I wrote about the Food Banks last year … and now we need to remember once again … if we haven’t been able to help a little every month, or hopefully every week since November last year … it’s time for a re-set now!

 

Help others ... 

Having just re-read my post last November – I have to say I found it quite illuminating … so I won’t repeat myself … except to say if youhave a chance please revisit.

MJ Joachim, from the excellently named blog “Effectively Human”is hosting this event … and has asked that we join her in the 2^nd annual holiday food drive.  It’s so sad to think that last year Tina was with us … supporting and guiding us along our blogging journeys – and this one she was co-hosting.

So – pretty please:

• donate to your local food banks …

• give to your church for their distribution to the needy …

• take care of the elderly, disabled or ill around your way …

• smile as we are out and about ...

• open doors for others ...

• be patient at all times ...

• count our blessings, and join Bish at...

Says it all ... 

Thankful Thursdays on the Random Thoughts blog – Bish has started a new linky list for Thankful Thursdays … seems like an excellent idea … I shall be over commenting and thinking about everyone’s entries in the coming year …

Rosey of Mail4Rosey commented “You’ve made me think too … today’s the perfect day before Thanksgiving here, and the kids are off school.  There is ZERO reason why we can’t gather up a car load of food and take it to the shelter or food pantry.”  Now it's our turn …

Lenny's sunshine

No excuses please … JUST DO IT!

Guess who has just posted:  that critter lover – the young man, Lenny, with some Master facts aboutChristmas … he’d love a visit: he loves company …

Another thought – visit those blogging friends who need our support: remember them …

Helping the Poor – these two ideas came from shopkeeper Mr Turner, of East Hoathly in East Sussex, in the 1700s:

His Saint’s day, which happens to be just before Christmas:

St Thomas Day 22^nd December:  I gave 30 poor people a penny each and a drink of beer.

On his birthday in June … My birthday:  I treated my scholars to a drink of beer. 

(Perhaps that’s something we should not encourage … but a gift on our birthday and on our saint’s day to the needy in our area – definitely a good thought – n’est pas?!)

c/o Entyce Creative
Give Tins Instead of Tinsel

In advance ... thanks to you all for doing your bit and helping others ... and thanks MJ for making sure this is annual Holiday Food Drive gets spread around the blogosphere ... 

So as I suggested last year ... with Christmas a-coming and New Year nearly upon us ... let's see if we can, on a monthly basis, help others .. thank you 

PS could everyone please spread by those birdie thingies (tweets), FB link ups et al ... another thank you!! 

Many thanks ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

"Mr Turner" - the film ...

I went to the see film on Joseph Mallord William Turner … being aware from the reviews that the film had divided the journalists as well as the experts …

St John's Church, Margate - painted
by Turner when he was 11 or 12 (1786)

… and one commenter, Helen, on my previous post, who is an artist, had heard from friends of hers that the film was ‘odd’ … so I was forewarned … and when I attended the cinema audience confirmed this … there were mutterings!

I still suggest you see the film … but as Helen mentioned apparently my post brought aspects of Turner’s life to her attention, which she hadn’t realised in the film. 

Margate clock tower and sands

I have to agree with her … and I realised there were more points I could draw your attention to that might be helpful, if and when you get to see the film.

First I’d suggest you read both posts … the background, then the insights you read here and check out any of the links I’ve given below.

The film covers the last 25 years of Turner’s life … so he’s established, but has an irascible camaraderie with the academicians of his day – he divides them too …

Our first encounter is with a former prostitute and Turner’s two daughters … all of whom he disdains/disowns too, and has no interest in whatsoever …

Haydon's portrait of
William Wordsworth (1842)

He has few friends, he is utterly devastated when his father dies, but he is faithfully attended by his housekeeper, Hannah Danby, for 40 years … he exploits her sexually … and you see her visibly ageing, especially as she has psoriasis.  (Dorothy Atkinson, who plays Danby, really ages on screen … her performance riveted me).

We come across another academician, who is his own worst enemy – Benjamin Haydon, the landscape painter, more can be found in the link, as the story line features in the film.

Mary Somerville

I’m glad I mentioned Mary Somerville in my previous post – she does feature in the film …

Turner’s visits to Margate are shown … and it is here he develops the only loving relationship he appears to have had throughout his life: with Mrs Booth, his landlady in Margate.  She buys a house in Chelsea, and Turner mostly moves in too …  distressing enormously Hannah his faithful housekeeper at the other house.

Dido Elizabeth Belle - the character
which inspired the film "Belle"

We also see Turner ‘behaving badly’ … he drank to cover his shakes from Parkinson’s, his sight affected his behaviour socially, as well as his palette …

The Slave Ship: Turner's representation of
the mass murder of slaves, inspired by the Zong killings

Turner’s concern about the Slave Trade fleetingly occurs … portrayed in his representation of the Zong Massacre … slaves were thrown overboard – so the owners could claim from the insurers.  Some of this was reflected in the film “Belle” ... another worthwhile film.

Mike Leigh, the director, portrays his films in an instantly recognisable reality with a raw, utterly compromising intensity … films you may recognise are “Secrets and Lies” (1996), “Topsy-Turvy” (1999) and “Vera Drake” (2004).

Leigh felt there was scope for a film examining the tension between this very mortal, flawed individual and the epic work, the spiritual way he had of distilling the world.

The Archbishop's Palace, Lambeth:
Turner's, aged 15, first work accepted
by the Royal Academy in 1790

We do see Turner’s range across life … he travels, paints, learns about the new developments, stays with country aristocracy, visits brothels, spies on fellow artists and his customers when they visit his workshop, and is both celebrated and reviled by the public and royalty …

The film was acclaimed at the Cannes Film Festival ... but I am glad I wrote both these blog posts – as a non-art historian with little knowledge … I’ve learnt here and may well go and see the film again with a greater understanding.

Turner must have been pretty non-communicative a great deal of the time … Spall portrays him as mono-syllabic, shambolic, hungry for an understanding of the world around him … a man not revealing his thoughts … yet he was very competitive and thus innovative for a man of his times.

The film poster

I hope you get to see the film – it is really worth it … we also get to see what life might well have been like only 170 years ago … enjoy … both films are well worth seeing!

Helen Tilston, Painter: - a blogger and commenter on my previous post on Turner

Mr Turner (film) – Wikipedia’s entry

Benjamin Haydon, the landscape artist

Mike Leigh – film director

My first post: Turner, the Tate, Art and Science, “Mr Turner”

Belle (2013 film) – should you wish to look, and another very good film about life 210 years ago …

The Daily Mail article on Belle: and how a portrait with amystery lady inspired Belle – the film

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories