Men blasted off to the moon …

Hey Diddle Diddle,

The cat and the fiddle,

The cow jumped over the moon.

The little dog laughed,

To see such sport,

And the dish ran away with the spoon …

… while men blasted off to the moon …

Sufficient has been shown, said, relayed in recent days to remind us of those times … I’ve been wondering why I don’t remember … and think I’ve worked it out - to be revealed early August …

c/o CSIRO - The Parkes Observatory is a radio
telescope observatory in New South Wales, Australia;
this picture, taken in 1969, shows the Parkes
Observatory’s main 64 metre (210 ft) diameter
radio telescope dish, around the time it received
transmissions from Apollo 11, with a crescent moon
 visible in the background.  The photo is part of
CSIRO's Science Image archive.
  

This photo was featured as Wiki’s image of the day (20 July 2019) – which I think is wonderful …

… and a reminder of the collaborative effort to achieve and record this momentous technological advance …

Australia played an important role in helping NASA reach the Moon and send TV images to millions around the world. 

Forty years on, it is still one of the most advanced telescopes of its kind. A gigantic structure of steel and concrete, the telescope soars nearly 55 metres into the sky.

Country Meadow

Albert Schweitzer (1875 – 1965) brings us back to earth with this quote:  

"In the hope of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet."

Have we gone too fast … or are we just curious … and the only way we find out is to start …

Anyway – here’s to that man on the moon … so many of us will have memories from or of those days …

Clever logo?!

Wikipedia's page on Parkes Observatory ...  

CSIRO's Science Image archive ... 

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) runs Parkes Observatory.  CSIRO is an independent Australian federal government agency.

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Mesothelioma Awareness Day - Heather Von St James who lives on with the silent killer of Steve McQueen ...

Who would think this vibrant looking woman has a life-threatening disease … her story is well worth a read and will give us all a greater understanding into Asbestos Induced Diseases.

Mesothelioma is rare … but there have been a few notable patients (c/o Wiki) … Steve McQueen, the well-known actor, was diagnosed after perhaps being exposed in the US Marines, or from the insulating material in the racing suits the drivers wore.

As Heather explains so poignantly, hers came about because she loved her father and wrapped herself up in his jacket when she was a youngster and he was home.  It manifested itself over 25 years …

Asbestos Mountains as drawn by William Burchell

I hope that you will read more of her journey at Mason’s post (and all the other participants) and particularly Heather’s own.

Blogging as we all know opens our eyes to so many things – we learn so much – and this is another facet … an appreciation of others’ illnesses and the conditions they have to cope with.

 

Fibrous Tremolite Asbestos
on Muscovite

We can get inspiration and admiration from their stories and raise awareness that each and everyone of us can be kind, considerate and thoughtful to others: we don’t know what’s going on – there could be a ‘Heather Journey’.

I gasp and cry as I read of people with major illness and of their families who remain positive, and intend to live their life to fulfilment – completely and utterly …

… this has to help with the future memories – of how they and their families never let the disease stop them – and how their get and go attitude gives impetus to Awareness days and sends out threads of knowledge to more of us.

 

Heather and Cameron

I wish Heather and her family all the very best and express my admiration for them … long may she live, before her inspirationally moving legacy kicks in.

Here is Heather’s site - and there is an amazing video by Heather, her husband and daughter ... very well worth a watch.

Here is Mason’s site: Thoughts in Progress - Mesothelioma Awareness

Our UK site gives a good overview – politics intervenes – I won’t pass my comment … but I am interested in seeing the narrative.  From this site can be found links to the Australian, Canadian and South African sites – while the main .com is the American web page.

 

Cameron, Lily Rose and Heather

So please spread Awareness of Mesothelioma to all who might be interested or need to be made aware of the disease.  It is a hidden killer …

Here is Heather’s wonderful blog post that puts “TheImportance of Support” into context … I can relate to this and can definitely think of another disease that took a small life, where this post totally resonates.

Please support Heather – you know I’m not good with social media aspects – but please all of you who are ‘experts: poor or good!’ … do what you can to spread the word.

Thank you,

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Preparedness and on the Couch with Denise Covey …

Timber ahoy! – last Friday  I had the ultimate example of preparedness … and how things might go wrong, or just get stuck for a while … and knowing that I might be ready to return to blogging realised I was not prepared.

Men getting prepared to chop the trees

Dark and Gloomy - the day was too ...
but the thickness of the trees gave us privacy

I am always thinking – ah! that could be great content for a blog post … wherever I go and whatever I do … the brain is triggered into contemplating … that could be a great example ... I could write about that, or at least incorporate it.  Trouble is I rarely settle to write … I ‘keep’ it safely locked away, or squirrel it away in various paper nests!

Denise's caption  header: Cafe Writer

I love the colours here

Denise’s Couch called to me to return on the day Queen Elizabeth II will become our longest-reigning monarch; as at today +/- 17.30 pm Greenwich Mean Time … the Queen will have surpassed Queen Victoria’s long reign of 23,226 days, 16 hours and 23 minutes on the throne!!  (63 years and 7 months to put it more simply!)

Was I prepared to return? … as these tree fellers were … no!  The Queen however had had some time to prepare … just over fourteen years from Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936: which must have been a huge shock … a stumbling block – which the family overcame.

She has served us with a willingness that few show … there will have been and will be many programmes on her reign and the Royal Family  - so I’ll just tell one snippet, which amused me …

The Winkle Club in Hastings is a famous charitable organisation formed in 1882 by Hastings fishermen to help the underprivileged families of Hastings Old Town.

Apart from some specially selected local residents, Winkle Club members have included a few very illustrious personalities such as Sir Winston Churchill, Neil Hamilton (American actor) and HRH Queen Elizabeth II (who became a member in 1951, when she was still Princess Elizabeth), who were/are honorary members.

A painting recording Churchill's Membership

Each Winkle Club Member (or ‘Winkler’) carries a winkle shell which they must produce when challenged to ‘Winkle Up’: failure to do so results in a fine which goes towards the local charities.

The Queen and Prince Philip both appear to be in rude health for an 89 year old, and a 94 year old … who still appear to be very much in love – as Victoria was with Albert, her Prince – so long may she reign.

The Winkle statue on Winkle Island -
a pavement area between the town
and seafarers

I am looking forward to being back and being involved again – it’s been helpful to have had this long break – but I enjoy the stimulation.

Denise’s Blog gives us great variety … on Australia, on Writing, on Travelling – she seems to spend a lot of time in the middle of the Pacific on amazing islands! – and on time in cafes … yet her passion is obviously cake, cake, cake and more cake … always tempting us to visit her Café … and couch, as I am today … telling a little of myself …

Trees down, with one lopped

Last Friday we had the Leylandii Cyprus trees cut down – they were pushing the paving up in the housing association flats opposite … and taking their light.  The second sycamore (the other came down 2 years ago) has been heavily lopped.  There was an old flowering diseased cherry that was cut off too!

The men turned up, laid out their gear, started with the cherry tree and demolished that … they then started on the Leylandii – which are prolific growers, and have never been thinned out …

Need for thinning

… these trees acquired a section in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 giving people affected with high hedges (often Leylandii) the power to have the trees or hedges taken out or severely reduced in size.

However the stumbling block occurred – the second of the three trees threatened to fall into next door – remedial action was needed.  Man up tree … from the bottom thinning as he went … it was somewhat time consuming – but led to being safely reduced to ground level.

Summer Pasta Salad

So we never know when those stumbling blocks of life may happen … cutting trees, calling on flat renters to watch bemused, wasting the day away … it all happened really quite quickly.

As I don’t own the place, so don’t have a say, what will be put in their place … is totally I should think unthought about.

I've had way too much fun being out and about!

Enough of that … the lady who is an honorary member of the Winkle Club will later on today celebrate an historic moment in the thousand years that Kings and Queens have reigned over us, while that elusive blogger will return to her writing ways.

I’ve missed you all … and look forward to being around – and thank Denise for waiting for her couch visit …



Let's eat cake together ... one of Denise's favourite - Toblerone Cake

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Scarves from Stones … ? Rock Chips onto Silk …?

Liberty & Co of Regent Street – the iconic luxury goods Department Store … sets its Christmas style in January … and no doubt much earlier in its planning mode.

Liberty, Regent Street

The store was featured on tv (Channel 4) going through this process which I found it fascinating ... because we saw the store, learnt more about retailing … and how difficult life is working and selling from a listed building … and I would say not just any listed building ...

Potential suppliers plied their wares – presented their business plan and products to the store’s buyers, managing director etc … the one that caught my eye … had based his scarves on nature … I love geology – it covers so much … and here it was combined with creativity.

 

Agate:
Birth stone for June

Richard Weston, an architect by trade, but who loves minerals and the artistic designs nature gives us in rocks, stones, granite cliffs … developed a way of creating these stunning images.

Slab of Munjina mudstone, Western Australia

This is one of those feel good stories … utilising our 21^st century digital technology, taking those images and turning them into scarves … finding himself in the eye of the storm … every which way the company turned, the scarves became best sellers.

Munjina Stone Scarf

Turn your world upside down or inside out … who would think about scanning the inside of Munjina Stone, or Labradorite … then creating images to hang as pictures, or as clothes, or as satin silk scarves … printed in Italy.

The scarves took off at Liberty … they are now stocked by Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum and Mason, and other leading stores here and in France, Italy, USA, Australia, Japan etc

Stonehenge

The new visitor centre at Stonehenge was being opened … why not stock Stonehenge scarves??  English Heritage, who run the site, weren’t keen on bits being chipped off the old blocks – understandable perhaps …

Scarf from those Stonehenge
chips

… however, where there’s a will there’s a way …. the British Geological Survey does have specimens collected by the great Victorian mineralogist, Matthew Forster Heddle, and with help from the Open University, these chips from Stonehenge were digitally scanned to produce images that could be used for scarves.

As Richard says “Our scarves, for example, come from rock billions of years old, use silk produced as it has been for millennia, yet depends on printing presses only commercially efficient for the last ten years or so.”

 

Labradorite
(a Feldspar mineral)

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder … but that creative force has to be found to turn those “black-fire diamonds” into the magnificent spectral colours we see today – we needed the Huguenots in 17^th century Antwerp to realise that a diamond will cut another diamond … painting was no longer needed: see my previous post for the context.

Polished Labradorite, per
UCL Geology Collection

As here we need a Richard Weston – who has the temerity to follow his passion, and turn his vision into a completely new business venture …

Vogue has described him as that middle-aged Professor of Architecture who is the new talent in British fashion …

Daisies in Copper
c/o Weston Graphics

He has a video blog, all the posts are fascinating to watch and listen to … as is viewing his website … with many more wonderful images and educative information …

Liberty & Co from Argyle Street

Creativity is here all the time – but frankly nature has the best of the lot and it is springing now … Spring time, our planets still evolve giving us new earth … I think this post should get our creative juices thinking … and I hope flowing ... there’s hope for us all.

Weston Earth Images – Richard Weston’s site on the process and products

Richard Weston’s Video Blog 

Richard Weston's video on Labradorite ... and his explanation of Labradorescence .... wonderful iridescence colours - full range: turquoise as here, to reds, oranges, golds etc ... 

English Heritage’s site for its Stonehenge shop

Previous post – Cheapside Hoard … with many gems …

Spring vegetables

… and finally happy St Patrick’s Day … have fun ... not too much green, nor Guinness, but...

May the leprechauns be near you,

To spread luck along your way.

And may all the Irish angels,

Smile upon you St Patrick's Day.

sent from Lenny, who is still recovering ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

Australian Designer, creativity and passion … new Royal Carriage, Ceremonial events ...

Before I get to the new Gold Carriage … the Queen continues on with her ‘rush of events’ … this past week the Duke celebrated his 93^rd birthday with a Garden Party for 8,000 guests at Buckingham Palace … he always puts duty first … he then has had seven other engagements …

The new Diamond Jubilee
State Carriage 2014

The Duke is the longest serving consort in British history and also the oldest serving partner of a reigning monarch … and is one of those veterans of the 2^nd World War serving in the Royal Navy.

I note that the Duke has intelligently succumbed to a walking stick, while the Queen still manages without ….

c/o What's on in London

… today is when “Trooping the Colour” takes place to officially celebrate The Queen’s Birthday – her actual birthday is 21^st April – I have posted before about the military parade that has taken place in London since 1820.

This photo is ‘borrowed’ from “What’s on in London” – and shows the Guards Memorial: Cenotaph with five life-size bronze figures representing the Foot Guards Regiments (Grenadiers, Coldstream, Scots, Welsh and Irish).

The sculptures were made from guns captured in World War 1 and were modelled on real guardsmen.  (see more interesting info here).

A cenotaph is an “empty tomb” or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere.

The Queen’s engagements next week are close to her heart … horse-racing at Royal Ascot (I wrote about the Queen’s Horses last year) – this dates back 300 years being steeped in tradition, heritage and pageantry …

Founded by Queen Anne in 1711, Royal Ascot features a daily horse-drawn procession from Windsor Castle to the racecourse led by the Royal Carriage, an open Landau.

 

The Royal Procession returns to Windsor Castle
having dropped the Queen off

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach used at the Opening of Parliament on June 4th is of a very different calibre – being brand new … the idea of one remarkable Australian.

Jim Freckington, an ardent monarchist with a passion for horses and carriage building, eventually after a stint in the Arctic, came to England and ended up at Windsor looking after the Duke’s four-in-hand team of horses …

Mr Frecklington with 'his' coach

… from there to the Royal Mews, where he was part of the team that looked after the Royal ceremonial horses.  During this time, he also drove the carriages on ceremonial occasions and served as an outrider at Ascot.

His adventurous spirit led him to Canada where he took tours through the Canadian Rocky Mountains from Banff to Jasper, but he was not forgotten by the Royal Household, and in 1977 he was invited to manage the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Exhibition, including two of the most famous Royal carriages, during its tour of Australia.

Sydney: the gold chariot made for the Olympics

He subsequently has worked on a number of artistic initiatives for ceremonial occasions … the Queen’s visits down under, the Sydney Olympics and the Pope’s Lamps of Peace …

This true Aussie, whose family emigrated in the 1850s, was not finished … he wanted to make something in honour of Her Majesty’s great reign and something which represents Britain’s extraordinary history …

… so he set about building something even larger than the Australian State Coach at his workshop near Sydney. 

The labour of love in situ at
the Mews, Buckingham Palace

The construction was a labour of love … all the springs were hand-forged, while the wheels were cast in aircraft-strength aluminium and made by one of Australia’s leading racing car designers.

Mr Frecklington wanted to use the finest craftsmen and women from all over the Commonwealth … so the leather is English, as is the gold silk brocade upholstery from Sudbury, Suffolk.

The oak crown with its 'coach-cam'

The carved oak crown on the roof came from Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory … which houses the royal website’s 360 degree ‘coach-cam’ …

.. the other 21^st century technological additions are hidden controls for the heating and electric windows.

The coach contains relics of all those key moments sacred to Britain and so much of the Commonwealth … historic artefacts from castles, palaces, cathedrals, stately homes, Sir Isaac Newton’s apple tree, Scott’s Antarctic sled …

... a sliver of a Bronze Age sewn plank boat ... three have been found in the Humber estuary ... dated about 1800 BC ... known as the Ferriby boats (we have heard that '-by' suffix here recently .. vis a vis Scandinavian words)

A pre 1918 WW1
Victoria Cross - for
naval valour

… and includes a strong theme of sacrifice – metalwork from a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster – reminders of battlefields: a musket ball from Waterloo – a fragment of the bronze cannon, from which every Victoria Cross is cast …

The whole mind-boggling attention to detail amazes me … and really is a sight to behold and read about … our history encapsulated into only the second royal carriage to be built in a century …

Another snippet around 400 books of gold leaf were used to decorate the vehicle – who knew you could buy books of gold leaf – each booklet contains 25 leaves …

 

A gold leaf

… little wonder this three-ton coach – 18 foot long – has taken 50 people more than 10 years to assemble and will now be on show in the Royal Mews – a place to visit … for the carriages, the tack room, stables and some horses …

Jim Frecklington was allocated a ringside view of the royal arrival at the Palace of Westminster for the Opening of Parliament … his next project is a tribute to horses that went to war.

Jim Frecklington in Australia before the Coach was
shipped over

It seems he has created a little historical magic with his Royal Carriage for a lady he describes as ‘a wonderful example to humanity’, while acknowledging that his mission could not have been accomplished without an amazing team.

I have not done justice to the thought, craftsmanship, people involved … in this incredibly successful project … and I would highly recommend that you check the details out for yourself …

… lead crystal from Edinburgh; intricate heraldic paintwork has been hand-painted by Irish-born Australian, Paula Church; door handles from New Zealand – each is gold-plated and inlaid with diamonds and Australian sapphires; …

An example of guilloche
enamel

… the paintwork – ten coats of paint were used, including three of Jubilee Claret, give the bodywork a mirror finish that changes colour in different light …

… even the bolts which fix the gold-plated hand supports to the bodywork have been finished using the same guilloche enamel as a Faberge egg … and so it goes on ….

Here are a few links to have a better look:

The Daily Telegraph’s website – shows the carriage and highlights many of its delightful and intriguing aspects …

The Daily Mail’s site 

Want a book of gold leaf – or a leaf - go here!

Further information on Jim Frecklington's work - see this Australian site - and the gold chariot, made for the Sydney Olympics .. 

Hilary Melton-Butcher

Positive Letters Inspirational Stories