Update 3rd - and again slow life a la E/b …

 

Tennis – an elderly friend who would like to watch the tennis … says she can't see the ball on the tv … first it's far too fast, second … why can't they have black balls?, then she could (perhaps) see and enjoy it more … sometimes we have to laugh, and swallow our ripostes …

Handful of tennis balls -
sorry obvious caption!

...then I'd never realised you need to be able to read to play first class tennis … I'd always wondered what the players were doing looking at or weighing the various balls in their hand – now I know – they look at the writing to see how 'wrecked' the ball is … and select the ones with the clearest lettering …

I have to say – I've enjoyed the tennis, and from this end of the world think electronic line calls work well … fewer disputes …

What I call 'village' salad ...
using local ingredients

I was over with friends not far from here, but inland a little, where we all concurred the weather has brought Autumn forward … dry, dry, dry … we had very little rain recently …

As you know it's been rather warm here, so I've been making lots of cold soups and salads … a melon salad over the years I've always made … one can vary it appropriately …

Melon salad ... mine would be
rougher looking than this ... 

... and then (red) Gazpacho … love that cold tomato and veggie whizz up … both of these I'd serve with herby bread … and/or whatever else was appropriate for the family/friends on the day …

Gazpacho soup

I'm no further forward with anything … plumbing-wise here, or health-wise – I had a hospital appointment last week, where I was discharged from that setting, but can go back within a year, when I'm ready … 

Architectural Elements
in a Cathedral - courtesy Cultural Travel Guide
and Abir Pothi - an Indian site 

... but I'm managing on with life … as that meeting gave me some guidance … next is a letter to my doctor (General Practitioner) to see if I can get the ball rolling sooner …

My main priority now is to get a talk for Monday mostly finished, particularly the slides … it's on the building of Medieval Cathedrals … which I'm finding fascinating – a whole newish area of knowledge … and takes me away from fretting …

A brief update – in the next few days I'll be round to everyone's blogs … life says take your time – which I'm doing … and it is cooler - a relief … see you all soon ….

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

Savage Land update/extra for Jacqui …

 

When I spotted the Horned Melon … with names like African Horned Cucumber, Jelly Melon, or even Kiwano … so named by those down under in NZ – it looks to some extent like a kiwi … a prickly one, I'd guess …

African Horned Cucumber

... I thought of Jacqui and her prehistoric fiction … so here's another useful plant – should you ever find yourself stranded in the Kalahari or Namib deserts and need a drink …?!

Paleo Makgadikgadi Lake in
pre-historic times

However – the idea of the taste of these fruits really does tempt the palate to try … what's not to like about passionfruit, with the additional flavour of banana, or cucumber and lime?

It apparently has plenty of useful benefits … so I've included a link below to those suggestions – I do like the way they've summarised each one … but honestly do we need to be told to cut off the spikes before snacking on the peel?!

Illustration found inside the book - which
highlights where subjects may be found 

I've just had a look … and can get them via the dreaded A bookstore and all things beyond … as we can note here! I haven't ordered … they'd make me distinctly poorer … so for now they can rest on their laurels …

This is the book I refer to

One of my notes in last month's post for Jacqui inferred we could manage if we're left to our own devices – but honestly I've come across a youngster who obviously can't cook, orders a delivery-service breakfast at some ungodly hour in the middle of the morning – just about lunchtime! 

Female flower on the vine

I do wonder … she would never survive for very long … nor similar youngsters having not had to fend for themselves … sorry – I sound like a critical geriatric?!

Awaiting the sun to ripen the fruit

Anyway perhaps natural selection will take to weeding the human race?!

Namib - Sand and Sea

I do feel better – the brain murkiness has eased, which certainly helps – the actual clarification needs to be sorted out via the GP … but at least we know what's what … thanks for your thoughts one and all …

Healthline on the Kiwano melon - benefits

Savage Land - my post for Jacqui 

The presumed maximum extent of the Paleo Makgadikgadi Lake in early Pleistocene and the course of the rivers in the early to middle Cenozoic - website here ...

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Paradise and Beyond ...

 

Back to the coal face this past week … which has been somewhat torrid, but all is being sorted out with the NHS … life goes on – and it looks like at some stage an op … but for now back to some form of normal …

The Universe in Verse -
15 portals to wonder through
science and poetry

It was like Piccadilly Circus … people appeared, disappeared, reappeared, sat around, got called up, into one room and out again … then I got a hug from the nurse practitioner and sent on my way.

I took this little book with me for my appointment at the hospital 'The Universe in Verse' by Maria Popova, with illustrations by Ofra Amit … as you'll see from the descriptions I've attached ... pertinent to today for us to consider ... 

In here you'll find an article The Octopus and the Unknown, followed by a poem written by the author, 'Impossible Blues' …

Wislawa Szymborska
(1923 - 2012)

... Pi and the Seductions of Infinity with a poem by the Polish poet, essayist, translator, and the 1996 Nobel Prize Literature winner: Wislawa Szymborska (1923 - 2012) … I highly recommend you check her out …

An appropriate series of illustrated essays through the lenses of science and poetry. A celebration of beauty as we search (wherever we are in life) for the positive and reality.

Symmetry, and the Hidden
Order of Things

So these 15 portals are very appropriate for me at this time … the ups and downs … nothing serious, but something needs to be put into place – which is happening.

Flowers and the
Birth of Ecology

I hope you'll be able to check out this little book – lots of interesting notions and ideas in here … very thought provoking … and I leave you with a couple of notions to contemplate ... 

Without flowers, there would be no us.

No poetry.

No Science.

No Music.

I hope to be back to normal with my posting – which I know is 'never normal' – whatever that is … but I'll be around a bit more …

Thanks for being here …

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Savage Land ... Jacqui's latest book in her magnificent series ...

 

What's more important to life … water, shelter, or food … or …. looking after all of Nature …

Jacqui - very happy with life

The lands our early ancestors explored … needed to escape from … stretched far into the distance … further than their eyes could see … what lay ahead – and how could they take care of their wandering communities.

An area known as "Moonscape" in
the Namib Desert

I can see little reason to not believe that the indigenous peoples of Southern Africa live much as the ancestors Jacqui writes about would not have similarly existed ... so this post will be in this direction ... 

Swakop River - flooding through,
opening up into the Atlantic Ocean,
having been in ephemeral state

Depending on the season our ancestors would reach out across the physical features of earth … following ephemeral river systems … being there when the rains would let lose their life giving waters …

Female Welwitschia plant - showing the cones,
which are ripe and can be eaten raw or cooked

… they knew they had to be near a water source, while they could manage without food for one to two months at a time – the moon cycles – they'd know they needed to find some meat, fish, plants and fruits … and which suited the human system – to keep the clan alive ... 

Mopane Tree

Shelter was essential too – if the area was wind-driven, they'd need to hide away at times, keeping out of the sun … and making sure they were protected in winter …

Mopane Worm on a twig

Those early indigenous peoples would know which parts of plants were edible, where to find them, which season they would appear … and if there were insects living around the plant … they could possibly be harvested … as mopane worms are to this day.

Tamarix, Acacia, Camelthorn, Mopane trees … also provide shelter and firewood – once the indigenous peoples had learnt about fire – these particular trees are known for their hardwood.

Birds would snuggle into the 
lichen hiding their young and eggs

Over millennia our ancestors would have noticed nesting birds, which birds would nest in scrapes, and how useful finding and building shelters would be ... also to access these birds for extra food - eggs and meat ... 

A Welwitschia plant - which can live
over 1,000 years - fibrous trails

Papyrus sedge has been used for millennia, as fossil records have noted, for fastenings … many stringy or fibrous plants … Welwitschia, Papyrus, reed strands would be put to a good many uses …

Dune Spinach - edible

Over time man has grown wily – now our brains are relatively large, with an enormous amount of power … to control the various areas of our life as we progress …      ?? ever forward.

We've managed to use and subdue most things … have we thought about life itself … we in the 21^st century may never know what the future holds for the sophisticated animal that is today's man … but by encountering and mastering Savage Land … we've learnt … or have we …

as Jacqui says in her strap line to Savage Land

Nature Almost Wins …

Man v Nature - Jacqui's series - on how man survived critical events on our evolution ... 

My earlier post in January 2025 ... 

Jacqui's introduction to my delayed posting - apologies to one and all - tis here now ... 

Thanks for visiting ... and do buy/read Jacqui's books - they're very readable and enjoyable ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories