Bran Tub # 1 … Usain Bolt, Wallenstein, Hapsburgs et al …

Yes, you never will know what is going to pop up next – another type of series … short and sweet perhaps?!  (Must remember this sentence!) …

'miles ahead'

I spotted that Usain had been to Waldensia Primary School in the Caribbean – strange name for a school in (what was British) Jamaica … and where had I heard that name before?

Waldensia's pupils singing their Olympic Dream song

In case you’re checking those little cells, it’s that man: the Usain Bolt – regarded as the fastest man ever timed – that Usain … or bolting Bolt at all running championships – Olympics et al …

Wracking my brains … but during my sojourn without the internet I had been reading “A Time of Gifts” by Patrick Leigh Fermor … I really needed the internet to reference so many words and places …

… the book has an amazing array of words that are no longer in general use, but obviously were a hundred years ago … Fermor’s book takes us along with him, aged 18 (1933), on a journey from England and London in the 1920s and 1930s to Istanbul …

The places he visited along his route (to the Czech - Hungarian border)
 are all marked - he wandered off up to Prague ...
... the only major deviation from the river route

… starting at Rotterdam … I have only read the first book … up to where he reaches Hungary … oh! by the way he walked, and had very little money … but carried and wrote a diary en route ... 

He follows the Rhine upstream … and generally wherever he finds solace he stays for the night.  He has a great background of knowledge … architecture, art, genealogy, quirks of history and language … he passes these thoughts on – just my type!

A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor

It is fascinating as a book, amazing story … and then the history of 500 or more years … we’ve been studying the Reformation period for history in our University of the Third Age class – and have covered many aspects of this period … the Hapsburgs, Luther, Calvin, Knox, geography, etc, etc ...

Then the names of things – each country often names its rivers, forests, area etc with its own name … ie. Vltava and the Moldau (Czech and German names for ‘their’ river) …

Waldenstein Palace entrance

I have digressed from Usain Bolt and Waldensia School … in Fermor’s book he mentioned General Wallenstein (1583 – 1634), or von Waldstein, as a military leader in the 30 year war, and politician in the services of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II … hence I was able to draw a link … well to my memory if nothing else!

The Waldstein Palace (Valdstejn Castle) was owned by the Wallenstein family, despite falling into disrepair … but as the ravages of Europe through the centuries occurred – the Waldsteins became Germanized, expelled from Czechoslovakia and their possessions seized, moved to Salzburg and Vienna – where some remain, but others returned to Bohemia.

Vltava River running through Prague

Bohemia will get a mention during August … another connection from Fermor’s book …

But with Usain St. Leo Bolt just about to go to the Rio Olympics having easily won the 200m at the Anniversary Games here in London – celebrating the London Olympics 2012 … I had to mention Waldensia – and that connect the dots link …

'Lightning Bolt stand'

Also St Leo – I wonder if the St is pronounced Sinjun … as we do here for St in a name … then that linked to hilarity … we know who that belongs to?!

I popped off to look this aspect up … and found this in Behind the Name forum:   

“Now I mention just for hilarity's sake, if you've ever seen "A View To A Kill," one of James Bond's aliases is 'St. John Smith.' When someone calls him [SAYNT-jon SMITH] he corrects with the riotously English pronunciation [Sin-jin SMYTHE].”

Wonders will never cease … well that’s me and the first Bran Tub posting … allowing me to lucky dip ideas together …

My Bran Tub idea – hasn’t shortened this post … but looks like the lucky dip concept will continue on …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Talc ...

Talcum powder … mostly known as ‘talc’ or baby powder … but this is a clay mineral of the softest kind, listed as such on the Mohs hardness scale.

Block of talc - greeny, grey, cream colouration

'Monti' Montague Sykes, artist, sculptor, writer and blogger, wrote a piece on her Montana talc sculpture … I was fascinated – she’s a great blogger/writer-artist combining the creative art forms … but I’d never thought of the possibility of sculpting from baby-soft talc …

Bozeman - capital of Gallatin County,
Montana - on the eastern side of the
Rockies, USA

I then went searching just to gain a little more understanding … first things – Montana Talc … now that mine is owned by Imerys … a global organisation.

Where had I come across Imerys before – well: at the approaches to The Eden Project in Cornwall – a favourite of my mother’s, which therefore holds many memories. 

Eden Project with meadow plantings ...
c/o Visit Cornwall

The dramatic global garden housed in tropical biomes that nestle in a china-clay pit crater the size of 30 football pitches … is a gateway to a better understanding of relationships between plants and people … a unique resource for many …

Imerys own the China Clay lands of south-mid Cornwall … and announce the fact as one drives through their landscapes … I’d been used to English China Clay … now Imerys.

Waddesdon Manor - bequeathed by the
Rothschild family to the National Trust 

Imetal founded in 1880 by the Rothschild family had combined a few of their many subsidiaries in metals and mining industries, which then became known as Imerys.

I have to say I’d never really associated the Rothschilds with mining – but of course having amassed the world’s largest private fortune in the 19^th C – it’s not surprising to find that their business enterprises cover many areas, over and above banking.

This wonderful coloured depiction - shows the
structure of  talc (see Wiki for detail)

So back to Montana and baby bottom talc … Monti’s piece is titled “Emerging” sculpted from talc … the form is definitely transpiring and becomes revealed … the mineral looks so soft …

You may have experienced soapstone – which is a metamorphic rock composed predominantly of talc … it can feel ‘greasy’ to the touch.

The word talc derives from Medieval Latin talcus, which came from Arabic, derived from the Persian … and covers various related minerals, including talc, mica and Selenite.

Monti's sculpture: EMERGING ... you can definitely
see the form ... 

Who would have thought talcum powder would take us on a world tour – China Clay … started in China – that’s another story … but knowing how soft and easily damaged soapstone can be …

… talc’s story unfolds so appropriately using Monti’s wonderful sculpture “EMERGING” … a human form sculpted from this softest – as a baby’s bottom – stone …

National League of American Pen Women ... art and poetry on view

Mary Montague Sikes blog and her post:
     Seed Work for Authors and Artists - Visiting the Trees

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Blog Sandwich Update 10 … ebb and flow noises, tide time and sea views …

Moved … and got greeted with both these – the view is magnificent - and I now live as described above …

Chalky cliffs at edge of Downs - Beachy Head is just
around that bluff

The move was fine (movers excellent) – it’s the rest that had stressed me out, and is keeping me stressed out … but I, thankfully, mentally turn the tables and say all will be sorted out and life will improve.

It was delicious ...

We’ve had an interesting three weeks … the Queen has just returned to Buckingham Palace to welcome the new Prime Minister … Her Majesty has now seen off twelve other Prime Ministers – some achievement.

I voted “IN” … can’t say I was surprised at the result of ‘LEAVE’ – it was an horrendous campaign … I do hate all the back-stabbing, the uninformed comments, the lies spread about and the bullies that seem to think they can rule the roost – when they can’t discuss their point of view … or won’t understand how the rules of governance work …

One of the interesting by-the-byes ... is that people were happy to say which way they would vote or voted ... 

Regardless of what we do - we will still need to comply;

Mind you this could have been my packing ... croissantly
straight to fill the boxes!

I did campaign – much to my surprise … not really in my nature – but I belong to the European Movement – which is an informative body about the EU and how it works … it’s been in existence for 69 years … (our branch in Eastbourne has been around for over 40 years and is the strongest branch outside of London).

Still we’re out now (or will be) – and after all the fall outs, the Parliamentary parties’ voting positions … still ongoing with Labour … I hope people can be civilised letting the country go forward to settle things as quickly as is reasonably possible … it won’t be soon – that I think is the main thing … care and consideration with ideas (and strategy) are the essentials now.

View from flat - sailing towards Beachy Head ...
tanker glinting in the deep water of the
English Channel heading who knows where ...

We need to all set higher standards for ourselves and promote a civilised society – be it at a family, local, town, city, state/county and country level … at whatever role in society we hold … set our sights above normal and encourage others to do the same …

So many unnecessary deaths – why, oh why … how can we get to this in today’s world … we now need our leaders to lead – my thoughts to all who grieve … let us bring peace for each other …

The company I used were professional
and very helpful ... 

I welcome the new Prime Minister – she seems to have lots of strengths … many that we can all learn from … here’s to our second female Prime Minister.

Lots of moving vans this week around 10 Downing Street ... 

Life seems to have rattled by – taking my mind off other things … but all grist to the mill, and to the character building aspects that I didn’t expect to come across!

The reef ... as the tide ebbs

I’m around – recovering still and dealing with a lot of challenges – but at least BT did their stuff efficiently … a youngster of 19 (by a few days) … turned up – he was clean, well turned out in a boy-scout kind of way … shorts and heavy boots … but he solved the problems and broadband was up and shining blue … good job done.

Ever changing seascape ...

I’ll be over to your blogs … as and when … enjoy your summers – I hope ours will come … still my views keep me happy … and tide time is quite cathartic, while the wave noise keeps other noises at bay!

Oh yes … our new Prime Minister was born in this town … more claim to fame for Eastbourne …

I started this yesterday when rain was on hand ... now it's a glorious day ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories