Crumbly Cliffs … hot, hot, hot …

 

Life ticks on … I'm still no further forward, yet slowly perhaps things are coming together health wise … debilitating, but not serious thankfully ...

It really was like this - a boiling,
hot day at Birling Gap, E Sx

A friend is off to the Cotswolds to live and I'll miss her – like-minded souls are few and far between … but she's just exchanged house contracts … so time is running out.

The coombe rock is much
softer than the chalk
eroding at a faster rate;
The cliffs are receding at
an average of 70 cm (over
two feet!!) per year

We went off to look at the Crumbly Cliffs in the heat of the day … but with all the tourists' sightseeing (good for economy, I know) not good for their non-awareness of us locals being around … who theoretically know what we're doing and expect!

Electric Ice-Cream van -
we found amusing ... but decided
a proper lunch was better

We headed back into Eastbourne for a peaceful lunch at an air-conditioned hotel, where I'd been the night before for an European Movement dinner – which I've mentioned in the past.

BHASVIC building located in
the Brighton and Hove area

Our speakers at the dinner were four of the eighteen students from Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College who've been joining us for about six months – they spoke on:

- Brexit's impact on British democracy

- The Influence of Political Belief (systems) on young people

- The impact of Social Media on the European Union

- Is Extremism killing the European Union?

This is a book - of the Brexiteers' quotes
put up on billboards around the country:
such an appropriate commentary 

We'd also asked other local schools if they'd like to participate … we had one taker (it is near the end of the school year – so perhaps understandable) … Willingdon School, a suburb of Eastbourne, sent 7 fifteen year olds with a very supportive teacher – they also engaged …

Crumbly cliffs with disappearing
cottages as and when 

It was such a fun and successful evening – that we're going to integrate students into our set-up – seeing as we've been going as an independent branch organisation over 50 years …

This is where they estimate
the coastline will be in 2038
(not long to go)

Now tennis is essentially over I can get back to 'normal', despite this I've another blip added in to the health aspects – age is a nuisance! Somehow I have to get back to blogging fairly regularly … so onwards and upwards: I hope …

This is the other side of the
entrance steps - not far ...
yet here we might be in 2043

Thanks for all your support – life will continue and the crumbly cliffs will keep crumbling, particularly after this extremely hot, dry year – what lies ahead … we do not know … but the crumble of so much will keep on!!

Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form College link

Wikipedia entry for BHASVIC ....

Willingdon School ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Chips Ahoy!

 

What to write – my mojo is around … trouble is I have too many mojos … where to start – but today January continues, named after Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions … which we seem to have succumbed to …

Eastbourne shoreline

So towards food I go … would you like some chips? – they come pre-prepared, par-cooked and lightly salted … if you would – please be ready for a cold dip!! A container's worth has disgorged itself onto our coast … nothing like a view of Beachy Head with chips!!

Chips ahoy!
Beachy Head lighthouse in the background

The walker who apparently spotted them first … could smell vinegar … not what one expects from a shoreline.

These are the British version of chips!!

We've had a few ocean going vessel spills recently – these chips are probably not the worst … except for the plastic bags, they were stored in. People have been down clearing the plastic away … there's a seal colony nearby …

A Canadian blogging friend from days of yore (2010 days of yore!!) … has had a similar health problem to me – so she's offered to give me some clues and I can at least have some idea of what the future holds. I just remembered her situation from a few years ago – and so emailed to ask her for some guiding help: I'm very relieved to say.

Beachy Head lighthouse without being
framed by spilt chips

I've no idea what I'm doing … but this will suffice before February rocks around …

Three Mojo Sauces

However – I'd never realised 'Mojo' is a sauce from the Canary Islands … also that there are a lot of Mojos in the world … live and learn again, I guess!!

We are living in very odd times … take care to you all in the cold, the heat down under and just generally …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Update 2nd … and more life a la E/b …

 

The leaking world continues on … all will be fixed in due course … but it has gone downstairs into the flat underneath … so will be a challenge for the landlady, who lives in Kenya, and the owners of the other flat who live in the States … and the agents …

Africa, Oh! Africa ...

... also it's still ooze-leaking, which I thought it might be … the plumbers will return shortly to replace some pipe … from the 'laundry area' through the wall into the kitchen … it'll be messy-ish. 

I now have no hot water … fortunately there's an electric shower – so a degree of hot water is available … boiling the rest, as necessary.

Flooding from the sea -
in Seaside, 
Eastbourne, 1904

... I've accepted life will take its own course … communication isn't brilliant, repetitive updates – but so be it … health-wise … I'm up and down too – fortunately, I'm fairly convinced, it's not that serious – but, frustrating, as I'm slow and on occasions don't feel up to much.

Recently – before my leaks – we had a mains water burst just up the road from here … that was fixed in about 6 hours, once they were able to get here to repair it …

... the reason for my mentioning this now – is that friends who live in that block asked me if I'd noticed all the sand on the road, and then told me that the repair-waterhole-diggers dug down into sand, rock and shingle (which spewed out) … we do live very near the sea. Eastbourne is built on shingle and chalk – not the world's best land – but it'll see me out …

Marine Gardens,
Eastbourne - 
before it was built up
mid 1700s onwards

The town started to expand over 300 years ago, as in the late 1700s George III sent some of his children down here for a holiday by the sea – the area now known as 'Seaside' … shingly Seaside … so our infrastructure is ageing, as it's been around a while!

It has cooled down and now is very tolerable … another plumber comes tomorrow to sort the cold-water stopcock out … plenty of people coming in and out to look – workmen, health-carers – to sort out challenges … as time goes by life will quieten down and improve, I sincerely hope!

Mackerel Sky - by Tirzah Garwood
(Eric Ravilious' wife/widow - he's known as our
Sussex artist - he died in the War off Iceland)

Enjoy your seasonal times – warm or cold … and here's to more settling times …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Updates … and life a la E/b …

 

What a half week this has been – yes half a week … I was due out on Saturday, but in the end decided I wasn't going to cope – it was still very warm … but I was not feeling brilliant …

Whistling Duck

... so I set about doing some washing, as one does when time becomes free … then the second lot of fun and games started … the floor was wet!!

There'd been a whistling sound, that I couldn't place - but couldn't see anything, so as one does ignored it …

Whistling Boy - 
Frank Duveneck (1872)

Mid-summer's day … the agents didn't reply, nor their emergency plumber … in the end I contacted the landlady, who lives in Kenya, thankfully she picked up the email.

In the end she suggested I contact an emergency plumbing service – he was brilliant, old school, and happily came out at 7 pm … he found the pinhole leak – hence the whistling sound.

I think this was the first edition

Then – thankfully … it was the hot-water service pipe (not the cold water inlet) … after checking he was able to cut out the pipe bit with the pin-hole … it was partly buried in an internal wall. Fix up a new bit of copper pipe – old school ability … and with all the bits and bobs with him in his van. Then we were (or I was) up and running again …

'Ole in wall - to the right ... 

Still no news from the agents … in the meantime I'd been updating the landlady … often! Fairly exhausting … trying to explain what had happened. Behind a v tightly fitted washing machine, which probably hadn't been moved since it was put in – before my time, 7 years.

Sunday no news … at some stage I'd had to call out the NHS … so was dealing with them too – necessity called … not 'the mother of invention' just plain help!

Salmon with Greek salad

Yesterday … I had a food delivery as I thought that would help take the pressure off, the agents came round to see the mess and the 'ole in the wall' … and the NHS came … today I put off the District Nurses til tomorrow – as I have something else on, which I feel I can cope with now.

I used to live in the next road up -
you can see the Town Hall at the top of the pic

Then – the bomb squad came a-calling … thankfully not here – but in the next road to where I used to live!! Today I need to walk past that area to get to the appointment at the library … it is fun and games here.

Summer berries to calm us down

Thursday – the electric meter needs to be changed – as the 'system' won't work due to old age – all meters are being changed.

So you can see – a week is not v long in this little soul's life … and as it's been so hot – I'm way behind anyway … so need to catch up.

Eastbourne tennis - town hall (reddish
building with tower - left top)

I thought I'd better post something … I was going to put up a Stitch in Time post about quilting and the stars … but I obviously managed to delete my early draft – clever clogs am I.

I do wish I wouldn't get mentally curiously diverted … it's exhausting! So much to let you know about … so little time – but I'll get there – let's hope life eases up.

Screen shot from tv ... looking south -
Devonshire buildings - theatres etc
The photo above - may have been taken
from the top of the stand.

Thankfully the tennis is on … green green grass of home in Eastbourne … and I can listen to the cricket … of course I suppose, if I admit it, I get diverted off track.

Thanks everyone – I do hope this wasn't too boring or exhausting to read … I do feel easier today, thankfully …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Tomato … toe-mae-toe/I say to-mat-toe …

 

My mind came to this when I saw a quote, which seems quite appropriate today …

Heritage tomatoes from the
Isle of Wight - as supplied to M&S

"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.”

The bench - now in situ

Attributed to Miles Kington (1941 - 2008), journalist, humorist, and musician, on a memorial bench near where he lived in Conkwell, overlooking the Kennet and Avon Canal … who hated the spot as there was nowhere to sit and enjoy the view – now there's a bench!

Conkwell hamlet

Conkwell – I had to find out about the name of this village … it was mentioned in an Anglo-Saxon charter in 957 as “Cunuca leage”.

"Leage” refers to a woodland clearing, while “Canuca” is a Celtic word denoting “hill” … suggesting a survival of pre-Saxon British people in the area – c/o the Bradford and Avon Museum.

The Canal

Another quote pertinent to today … at least I thought so … came via Sean (we're both 13^th day of the month babies … he October, me January – what that means I've no idea!) - this post I see is the 13th too - but in the month of June ... just enjoy his library - all 10% of it!! ...

Christoph Martin Wieland
(1733 - 1813)

He sent me off to Christoph Martin Wieland from the German Enlightenment era … his thought in English … 

“Only a true cosmopolitan can be a good citizen”.

I and my thoughts have been all over the place … I'm sort of gathering them all up – eclectic mix … from all parts of the awareness … it's quite tiring! … with lots to catch up on.

Eastbourne seafront and
promenade

So finally summer's here – little wind around, perhaps living on the south coast in times like this brings some relief … so glad the summer breeze flitters a bit.

Oh yes – and we have those yellow-green balls down here next week – so there's no parking – not to say I worry, but we could do with more rain – though this week … there was a water leak – and we had no water for 9 hours … I'd heard the tell-tale ping of a text … and seeing the mess – made plans. Before my bath – I'd run it, as I was going out early to History, I saved some 'fresh water' … and left the bath in for the dirty water.

Tennis in Eastbourne - 
ground preparations

After history I came back for some lunch, then realising that the leak wasn't fixed … I went off to town – coming back at teatime as I heard the chap say 'he's just turning the tap back on' … so all is now well again. 

Well not quite – there's still an 'ole in the road … but we have water: thank goodness … and I can't think of other places too much – I just remember how lucky I am.

Strawberry Moon - over Belle Tout
lighthouse and Beachy Head

Oh yes – there was a magnificent strawberry moon – that I didn't actually get to see … but so worthwhile via this pic …

Life toddles on … I'm pushing through … and I'll be around to see you all soon now, I hope …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Floating Lady …

 

The art shuttle bus took Sue and I over to Lewes to the 'new' Charleston in Lewes … a building for exhibitions, community projects, artist-led workshops, gallery activities and educational programs tailored for local state schools, further education and higher education groups …

c/o Charleston in Lewes website

We went to see 'Grayson Perry: A Temple for Everyone' – which I'll post about next … as I need to get my head around explaining it!

It was fresh and chilly ... 

However … we had a lovely Spring day… on the way up in what to me was rather a 'Brutalist' building … the Floating Lady appeared … my photos don't do it justice against the bright (I know!) light of sunnier days … but the link below shows the sculpture off in all its floating glory.

My pic of her in the staircase foyer

Quentin Bell (1910 – 1996), nephew of Virginia Woolf, despite his talent as an artist, his career drew him to academia and book-writing … however he worked at various universities as a Lecturer in Art History – then ultimately as a Professor.

Charleston Farmhouse with pond

He often came down to Charleston Farmhouse, the Sussex home of the Bloomsbury group (writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in the early 20^th century) … when he wrote several of those books on the Group and the Farmhouse.

Bell as a child had been fascinated with optical illusions … as children they'd been taken in the early 1900s to see the Maskelyne's family stage show. Jasper Maskelyne (1902 – 1973) was a vain man, and though helping out with World War II deceptions, died an embittered drunk.

In situ - outside Leeds University

Bell was dumbfounded seeing the lady levitated – thinking it was impossible … but recalled watching the trick … with the lady eventually lying horizontal six feet from the floor.

So inspiration took hold and the completed fibreglass sculpture was placed over the Charleston Farmhouse pond … before being moved, after the War, to Leeds University, where Quentin Bell was a Professor of Fine Art.

Quentin Bell - late in life

I was fascinated to learn about Bell's interest in Maskelyne Cook's (House of Mystery) magic show … and then his crafting and creation of this sculpture … now back in rural Sussex ...

All grist to the mill … I will be back anon …

The Magician's Scapbook - Maskelyne and Cooke: House of Mysteries

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Blue Moon Rising solved … Suspended Coffee anyone?

 

Originally I could only think of David Niven's memoir 'The Moon's a Balloon' – which on the cover of the French version appears as rising blue and white moon rays …

However 'My Blue Moon' tethered the other day on Eastbourne College's playing fields was a fundraising campaign to provide more school bursaries for children from all backgrounds – they are aiming for 40 fully funded pupil bursaries.

Having friends who used to work at the College, or friends and family who either went there themselves, or sent their children to the school – I hadn't realised that Nigel Lawson's son, once our Chancellor of the Exchequer … and Nigella Lawson's father, is the headmaster: Tom Lawson. Also I'd no idea he lived down here …

Eastbourne College - with 'its balloon'

Tom Lawson appeared with his wife in the 'Blue Moon', which did not rise – as a promotion for this new appeal.

The College was founded 157 years by the town's philanthropic doctor, with support from the local residents.

Bandstand in 2005

The Balloon tethered at the College, and the Bandstand concert in the evening, were the 'headlines' announcing their Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal … including regular giving, one-off gifts, or a financial legacy … however small or large …

The Blue Sky Bursaries Appeal has been based on the Caffè Sospeso film … whereby when a coffee is bought, another is included in the price – so deserving customers can have a free coffee …

Container in Naples where the
'Surprise' receipts can be dropped

Paying it Forward style with an added beneficial twist … and with that long-term commitment added in … I hope they succeed for the kids who could benefit from the Appeal.

I have to say I couldn't quite get to grips with the Caffè Sospeso (coffee suspended) film … but obviously the concept is working around the world.

Volume One bookshop in Duncan, Canada

My mind is scattered … around much going on, much coming up … and the usual – my curiosity … so I need to get to grips with my typing fingers!

Thanks for visiting … and I will be around soon – the fingers promise!

Our logo for five years of 
encouraging posts that we blogged about

You might remember my WATWB post in 2018, about the chap who paid for my groceries – when I quietly nearly died of embarrassment … that post resonated with many of you … after I confirmed I'd paid it forward with a book voucher to a local Early Learning Day Care Centre.

Wikipedia's entry for Caffè Sospeso

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories