Freda Wild

2007-03-13T10:01:00.000+01:00

lost again

2007-03-13T09:59:00.000+01:00

house/garden/writing/painting/

2007-03-13T09:46:00.000+01:00

Love/hate/commputers

2007-03-07T18:03:00.001+01:00

I finally had to change to the new format which I resisted 'til today. I have to use google why?
I sent a story/first chapter of my novel to an 'Authors' Advisory service. I receiced no advice but a complete hatchet job. The story is called 'The Crimplene Dress' and the 'reader' seemed to react violently to the word crimplene and wrote a paragraph of verocious invective about crimplene nothing about the suitability of the title to the story. Well I didn't slit my throat and I shall continue to write even though reading between the lines of my so called advice I should never do again.
I have fallen behind somewhat in the plant a tree a day front. I hope to catch up by planting two a day.
I really must risk connecting to the net at home as I find it too difficult timewise to use internet cafés etc.

Love/hate/commputers

2007-03-07T18:03:00.000+01:00

Writing

2007-02-08T11:04:00.000+01:00

I have been writing so much lately, short stories and poems and my novel that I rarely have time to write this blog which proves it works!! Reading at the moment also stimulating 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolfe very inspiring. I saw a performance of this some years ago and I didn't understand a word of it; so I never wanted to read the book. I found the book amazing. I am suprised that anyone would want to perform something which works so well in words and is mostly experiencing someones internal thoughts. I found an old copy of Charles Dickens ' Le Grillon du Foyer' in French. It must be one of his early books. I have never heard of it before.

computer success

2007-02-02T15:01:00.000+01:00

At last I have found out how to write longer email messages without the page expiring. I had learned how to do it before on my laptop but didn't realise how to do it in the internet cafe.
I have written a short story and dug out two that I had written years ago. I typed them uo and now I am goitn to send them of to competions. Wish me luck. I normally say nothing when I send stuff away but it seems not to influence my success or failure

Wild about life again at last

2007-01-29T10:32:00.000+01:00

I feel as though I have recovered finally from all the bereavements I suffered in the first year after moving here. I know we never stop grieving but we can continue to live happily whilst never forgetting those we have lost. And the pain never completly goes away.
I am wild about writing and gardening just now. I have started a writing group which had it's first meeting last Friday and gave me a real boost. I haven't stopped writing since.
Also a writer friend in England has been really supportive. We ring frequently for mutual support. Thirdly I have had another letter printed in Writers' Forum. Yeh! I know it's not much but it keeps me bouyant.
In the garden I have constructed a raised garden. I made the sides from woven hazel branches cut from my own tree. I never knew that gardening could be so much pleasure. The daffodils are beginning to show and a friend here has two in flower. My mimosa tree has survived the frost so far but shows no sign of flowering as yet like all the other mimosa trees I seen.

Reading Matter

2007-01-23T15:46:00.001+01:00

I have recently bought a book which was recommended on someone else's blog. The 'Confessions of an Economic Hit Man'. It is really terrifying. I know these terrible things go on but when one reads it in print written by someone with first hand experience it brings the message home. But what to do about it. He begins by working in Indonesia. an area of the world we hear little about. In the Eighties I campaigned for the Islands south East of their in the Pacific. I gave talks for an organisation called women Working for a Nuclear Free and Independant Pacific. I am not sure how effective we were. I have no idea what is happening their today.

blanks

2007-01-17T12:13:00.000+01:00

Why when I am no where near the computer do I have brilliant ideas which disappear the second I sit down at the key board? I have I think/ hope finished the first chapter of my novel. However I then pick up a couple of books that I am reading which make my writing seem so bland and lifeless. When I try to insertt some colour or action it to me artifically. C'est la vie. Must keep trying. Must make meaning for myself.

Computers

2007-01-15T10:35:00.000+01:00

I seem to waste more time trying and failing to send messages by email than if I used pigeon post. Is it me or do others have problems? Hotmail is doing reeeally weird things and won't let me open messages or reply. Even on wanadoo whenI try to write more than two sentences The whole thing disappears. Why doesn't it send a warning to say that the page will close.? Even this stupid thing will close after a couple of paragraphs!

Happy New Year

2007-01-12T11:21:00.000+01:00

Well after all my wonderful celebrations the bug got me. Normally I am a vegetarian and so I avoid this kind of bug. Whenever I am ill my meat eating friends say what you need is a good steak. So on New Years Eve that's just what I had. The result being that I have been laid out for two weeks first of all with the runs and the mother and father of all head aches followed by days of such feabileness I could barely stand. That will teach me to beak my principles.
I am almost back to normal and have kept my tree planting resolution by paying someone else to keep me up to quota. I now have to keep my til now unwritten resolution to write at least one hour a day.
I switched on the radio last week to hear a writer on dessert Island Discs saying '-- 10 hours a day sometimes 10 hours a day. My problem is that I have difficulty stopping.' Well bully for him. So ona hour seems very little and yet so hard to achieve!!
Time has beatten me again!

Time again

2006-12-27T11:06:00.000+01:00

Writing this blog does not help my problem with time. I have to write quickly which is always a problem for me. I have, for most of my life been dubbed slow or dozey. I learned to say, in order to counteract the negativity, ' don't confuse lack of speed with lack of intelligence'. Why do all so called intelligence tests have to be completed in a certain time? Is speed really a sign of intelligence? Anyway if I spend too much time writing this (and the same thing happens when I am writing emails) the xxxing page expires.

Musings

2006-12-27T10:55:00.000+01:00

I always find xmas difficult. I find there is so much hypocrisy around. Why do we take care of people at xmas and forget about them the rest of the year? I remember the Boxing Day when 14 people crowed into my father's tiny room in the Old People's Home where he died a few weeks later. Why couldn't they spread their visit's over the year so that he didn't spend so many hours alone?
Still me not being a christian I suppose I do not under stand the importance of Xmas.
I do however enjoy the decorations. Especially the lights which brighten up the long ( or should I say short) dark days of Winter.

festivities

2006-12-15T10:08:00.000+01:00

Tuesday was a marathon meal and dance at the Salle de Fete, Wednesday was a long lunch with friends in a super restaurant in Lamballe. Thursday was an even longer meal and dancing followed by a show. I can never say no to these invitations and of course I enjoy the events but all the time I am thinking I should be writing, I should be writing. What's more, I doubt that they are the kind of events that I would go to in England. So what's different? I am trying to integrate into the local community and I am succeeding. People greet me by name. I am always included. Everybody talks to me but am I being a hypocrite? How do I express myself more honestly in a language that I am struggling to learn? It's hard enough in my own language.

Time

2006-12-08T11:47:00.000+01:00

Time or lack of it remains a problem. Living through gales and torrential rain safely in a solid stone house I feel so lucky. I met a friend in town who told me that three large lorries had fallen or been blown off the bridge at Vannes in the night. I can see the Rance from my windows today. It is normally hardly visible but today one could sail by in a boat. Fortunaely I am at a safe height. I listen to the news of people who are not so lucky. Is the world mad? Why are developers allowed to build on flood plains and why are we continuing to cut down trees world wide? I have planted 25 trees so far this autumn. I hope it will be a contribution no matter how small.

Life

2006-11-23T16:55:00.000+01:00

Visitors and sickness have prevented me from keeping this up to date. That's the bad news. The good news is that I have been doing some serious writing and I am in the process of setting up a Writing Support Group. I have made a new resolution. I am going to plant a tree every day for the rest of my life or until there is no more room or I become infirm. Computers still push me to the edge of madness. I am still using internet cafes I dare not connect my computer to the internet.
My cats are a daily delight. What did I do before they came? They are such good company. I could prefer them to people especially when one is ill. They are so comforting.

Reading and Writing

2006-11-06T15:17:00.000+01:00

I spend a great deal of time reading but feel I can never read fast enough to get through the waiting pile. I buy far more than I have time to read. How does one decide what to read and what to leave? I often go on friends' recommendations. If I respect the advisors opinion and /or we have similar tastes this usually leads me to a good book. Often one book leads to two or more others . In the past I could not afford to buy books. I had to borrow them from the library. Thank god for libraries. Now I can afford to buy I'm like a hungry kid in a sweet shop. Recently I bought half a dozen books from a charity shop. Then I logged onto Amazon and gorged myself. Last weekend whilst on a course in the south of France an English book shop was opened for the participants. I could barely carry my bargins away. Now Writers' Forum has so many brilliant reviews I'm in danger of needing what ever is the equivalent of stomach stapling. May be then I'll find the time to write, the lack of which I am always bemoaning.

Change of scene:life change

2006-11-02T16:05:00.000+01:00

Lots of people ask what would you do if you won the lottery but since all the things I want to do cost little I'm not sure that it would change my life greatly. However having spent the weekend near the Spanish border in warm sunshine and friendly colourful villages I got to thinking. What would you/I do if you only had six months to live? And if you would make big changes why are you not happy now? Why not do what you really want now, do we / I have to be at death's door before we do what we really want to?
Brittany seemed cold and grey after the South of France. In fact it is cold and grey. But I love the traffic free roads and the warmth of the people. And my house has those three important things location, location, location.

Time Trouble

2006-10-16T11:18:00.000+01:00

All my life I have battled against time. Nothing helps. I've read the books. I've been on time management courses and still I feel as though everyday I step onto a roller coaster. I rush around trying to fit in everything getting more and more anxious. If I do all the things I THINK I want to do I end up exhausted and end up unable to do the things that I REALLY want to do.
The things I really want to do are painting and writing which are solo activities and the other things I'm afraid of missing out on social activities.
I even had a quote from Dorothy Rowe (my guru) on the wall which says 'Every one has to decide whether to spend time alone and be oneself or to spend time in the company of others------' I can't remember the exact quote but it is so true. The problems for me are a) I have no self discipline and b) I am so indisicive
Forget new years resolutions. I make resolutions daily, nay hourly. See what I mean?

internet

2006-10-04T11:35:00.000+01:00

It's almost as frustrating using internet cafés as it is having trouble at home with my lap top. Yesterday Orange would not open up my messagerie and today the café is about to close because being France and it's 12 noon it's time for Lunch.

Decisions decisions

2006-09-27T11:26:00.000+01:00

Everyday starts with 'What shall I do today?' Sometimes when it is raining it's a relief because that cuts down the options. How lucky I am to be able to decide what to do and what's more my choices are exactly that choices. There is very rarely a 'must do' on the list. If there is, it is usually to go to ferry/airport to pick up visitors. This is always a pleasant task because the roads are traffic free and the scenery is charming and I look forward to having guests from time to time.
Last weekend I went to StMalo on our monthly outing to the Thalassotherapy Centre. It's an enormous salt water jacussi with jets for every muscle followed by 30 minutes in the water gym with an instructor who shouts instructions to exercise same muscles. This evening I shall go to the gym class. Tomorrow is Breton Boules andFriday evening is Breton dancing. I have no idea why I do not lose weight. Do you think it could be the five course meals? Or maybe it's the nightly bar of chocolate that I am addicted to.

Back to Normal

2006-09-14T15:04:00.000+01:00

I am so relieved to return to my normal routine. During the summer all regular classes end. Now in September we return to Aquatonic (gymnastics in the swimming pool), Breton Dancing, Gymnastics, French Classes and Breton Boules to name but a few.
The extremely irritating all day cricket broadcasts by Radio 4 longwave will no longer bother me because I shall be 'out to play'.

IT baffles me

2006-09-14T14:47:00.000+01:00

IT is increasingly taking over my life and driving me insane. My friend who died of cancer used to use the phrase 'madness making' and she was correct. I spent the whole morning trying to transfer money from England to France unsuccessfully. I did succeed in listening to various classical music tapes which only served to increase my frustration. At least here in Brittany one is able to conduct ones affairs by dealing directly with a human being. For how long one can only guess but I intend to keep my house IT free for as long as possible. as you may have guessed I am using my local Cyber commune.

Le Grand Parc de Puy du Fou

2006-09-04T13:12:00.000+01:00

Well I got the name wrong but I did get up in time thanx to the kindness of a neighbour and fellow day tripper who rang me at 5 am. Everything went well until I'd loaded the car and returned to close the door and switch out the lights. I realised that I was not wearing my specs.. I searched the house from top to bottom, twice. I knew the coach would leave without me if I wasn't there on time. I grabbed an old pair and was the last to arrive. There remained one empty seat on the coach. Fortunately it was the front seat. I was pleased.
How do I describe Le Grand Parc? Can you imagine something between Alton Towers and the Edinborough Tattoo?
The best thing was that there were no 'rides' like Alton but lots of mature trees. The worst for me was the Grands Spectacles. There were five of these. I saw one at ten in the morning and deciced that enough was enough which is something the designers of these shows do not understand. Suffice it to say that this was called Richlieu et Les Mousquetaires and it took place in a building not unlike Versailles. In the finale the stage was flooded and the mousquetaires on real horses of course galloped around the dancers who splashed and danced in the water. I thought that it was certainly the most over the top production I would ever see. I was to be proved wrong later.
Avoiding the other four spectacles I did enjoy the less spectacular more. Wandering around the reconstructions of the medieval village and the 18 th century villages I enjoyed watching the skills of the old trades being performed for us to marvel at today. A very skilled wood sculptor almost tempted me to buy a beautifully carved panel. ( I decided I should save the money for my much needed dental work.) It was ok to have real crafts men and women but disappointing to see live animals squashed into small spaces in the heat with no water. I enjoythe medieval magician whose tricks were astonishing. I didn't enjoy watching the squealing piglet being made to disappear and reappear.
There was a memory tunnel which told the history of Puy du Fou very powerfully. The most enjoyable for me were the too mini performances of music. One was of old instruments all of which are still used today, accordians, violins and guitars. The musicians were also comedians. Unfortunately my French never gets the punch lines. The other was a quintette of brass. They played on a stage with a back drop of a huge lake. The music was brilliantly executed and the lake played a continuous water ballet of fountains a la Versailles.
'Les Oiseau de Spectres' really was spetacular. Taking place in an ampi theatre in front of about 3000 people with a hot airballon hovering above I witnessed falconery for the first time. There were at least six falconers placed around the theatre amongst the audience. The most beautiful birds astounded us with their swooping, diving, circuling and skimming just overhead. Occasionally one would appeared from the balloon and 3ooo pairs of eyes watched and waited as one falconer tempted it to land on his arm. The finale was a ballet of birds in which dozens danced together, crisscrossing in pairs and groups and never colliding. However the dancing bear left me speechless. I thought that they had disappeared from Europe. I hope the birds are not unhappy as the many notices beseeched us to believe. It certainly took a long time for some of them to return to their perches to which they were secured at the end of the day.
I just managed to find my way to the Hall de Renaissance 5 mins before the alloted time for the evening meal to discover that the leader of the group was searching for me. It seems that although frequently events here begin at least an hour later than the advertised time the same is not true for meals. In fact I am getting used to the fact that if one wishes the best choice of seats it is best to arrive early!
The meal itself was in no way spectacular but the cabaret certainly was. Live horses were involved, galloping in front of the tables between courses. There was a competition between the French and English which began with a Tug of War with teams made up from the guests. Me being the only English person in our party I was unsure who to cheer for. The english were disquallified from this round for cheating as extra men joined the team when it was clear that they were going to lose. The next round was crossing the pole and trying to knock of the apponant with a staff. The English won. Last but not least a 'spectacular' sword fight, obviously choreographed à la Errol Flynn. It reminded me of my child hood when I was a film fanatic.
And this was not the end of the day. It was 10 pm now and 14,000 of us filed into the CineScenic. The seats were arranged in a semicircle. The stage was a field, a large field and a lake. The back drop was a castle flanked by other buildings and the night sky. I believe their were 3000 performers not including the animals, pigs, dogs, sheep, cows, geese and bullocks. And of course at least 50 cavaliers who had plenty of space to gallop freely and frequently throughout the performance around the field and across the lake in front of the castle. We were told the history in detail of Puy Du Fou in detail. we learned of the many times that its men have gone to war and not returned and how the village continually revived its traditional way of life in agriculture and joie de vie by dancing. But It seems that today that technology has replaced the simple things and endless pyrothechnics and ceaseless fountains are the way to celebrate.
It was memorable as I looked up and thought that I was going to disappear in a shower of stars but for me I prefer to take part in a modest performance of dancing or playing than to watch great numbers of others perform.
Luckily I was able to sleep on the return journey. The first thing I saw when I walked in my kitchen was my specs. I crawled into bed at 4am.

weather

2006-08-31T15:01:00.000+01:00

The good weather has returned now that all my visitors have left and the children are back at school. I would like to swim in the sea now that it is warmer but I have a back log of gardening to do. That's life. Decisions, decisions. Everyday poses so many options that I have trouble deciding what to do. Swim, garden, paint, write, eat out, shop, play music, visit friends? But I never forget that I am so lucky to be able to choose.
I have to get up at 5 o'clock tomorrow because I am going on a trip with the club to Le Puits en Fou. I hope it's worth it. I am the world's worst early riser. Will tell all next week.

Fest Noz

2006-08-23T14:48:00.001+01:00

I think I wrote before about the term which means Folk Dance or Ceildhi, a word I have always had trouble spelling and with which no spell checker can help.
The last one I attended was at Jugan Les Lacs which as you can tell by the name has lakes nearby. The Fest Noz was by the lake-side on the local football ground and was attended by about 500 hundred people of all ages. It really is a powerfull feeling dancing in a circle with so many people exactly in step and moving in unison.
There were two bands, one of which was composed of two fiddles and a guitarist. The two fiddlers were young women and the guitarist was a young man. It's nice to see young people playing traditional music and the young man called the dances.
It was free of course. I seem to say that a lot but I have been so used to everything being expensive in England that its such a suprise to find that life does not revolve around money.
Which reminds me that I have to pick blackberries to thank my neighbours for their gifts of vegetables.

Fest Noz

2006-08-23T14:48:00.000+01:00

Hospitality

2006-08-23T14:34:00.000+01:00

I am still suprised and not a little ashamed when we are invited to our French friends' homes for diner. I hate cooking and when I confess this sin to my French friends they are not a little shocked. I do make an effort of course and always return their hospitality to the best of my ability but have far to go to reach their standard of cuisine. Our last meal out was at the home of Pierre and Annick . Pierre likes to play the accordion between the courses with Phil (fiddle) and Alan(whistle). As you can imagine if we begin at 8.00 pm as usual we rarely leave the table until 2.00 am except of course when a Breton dance tune is played and then those who can, leave the table to dance. All of the five courses are always delicious and all are accompanied by fine wine.

Visitors

2006-08-23T14:18:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately for my August visitors they arrived the day the 'canicule' ended. The local Festival de Jazz was not affected. We enjoyed Dixieland, Samba, Salsa, African, Brazilian, Trad and Hot Club rhythms amongst others, all free in a variety of beautiful settings. One day the Festival came to my village and as it was my visitor's birthday the band played Happy Birthday for him. The same day we joined the walk to a nearby lake where we enjoyed our picnic to the strains of the same band. We then walked on to the main festival site exhausted after the 10 kilomete walk where we were renergised by some friends who met us for a birthday drink whilst we listened to three more bands.
My favourite by far was the big Salsa Band who had been to Cuba to learn the rythms and had the hundred strong crowd dancing in the street. I have never seen so much musical dexterity on my doorstep.

Full Life

2006-08-23T11:11:00.001+01:00

I want to write up the last few weeks but feel rushed for time. so much has happened in my personnel life and in the world. First I have to say how I killed my computer. I dropped it on the floor and discovered that the screen looked rather like modern art in its scrambled form. I threw it on the floor again and left it there. Each time I walked near it throughtout the dayI jumped on it. The anger gave me the energy to move my painting equipment from my attic studio to my new studio in a summer house in the garden. As I was throwing the unbreakable items out of the window to save myself the three storied twisted staircase I thought, ' Mmmmmmm.' I took the laptop to the attic and flung it through the window and listened to the satisfying crash. It stayed where it landed for a few days and then I invited visitors to jump on it too which they did with relish no doubt thinking they would like to do the same to their computer but they are obviously not as crazy as me . Yet.

Full Life

2006-08-23T11:11:00.000+01:00

communication breakdown

2006-08-23T10:37:00.000+01:00

I have been unable to blog for the past few weeks as my computer started to do strange things and in my frustration, as I had lost weeks of writing, I killed it.
My son tells me that if I have a new computer I must learn how to save things thoroughly before using it to write important documents. He's right of course but you know what it's ( correct vici ! ) like. Do you ever read the instructions to new equipment/self-assemble furniture etc before trying yourself.
I can't find the question mark on this computer which I am using in my local 'Cyber Commune'.
Having just checked my e-mails I discovered one from Wanadoo my provider to say that during the current weather of violent storms it would be best to switch off phone connections and live boxes. What's that about hindsight being a wonderful thing. Too late.

Club Des Aines

2006-07-24T14:16:00.000+01:00

Sometimes we meet to play games, boules, belotes or scrabble. Sometimes we have outings. Sometimes we have a communal meal.
Last week we had a communal meal. The numbers vary from 100-300 but everyone is found a seat and we are waited on. The meals are usually five courses, sometimes more, and each course is accompanied by a drink. First of all we begin with the customary greetings at the door. Having lived here almost three years I mostly know who to kiss once, twice, three or four times and with whom to just to just shake hands. As you can imagine this takes some time especially when some people stay to chat which I always hope they do because it's one of the few opportunities I get to practise my french.
We began with a choice of apperitifs Ricard or whiskey with crispy nibbles and endless plates of sausages on sticks. I was assured that they were pure meat unlike British sausages which are famous for a variety of ingredients of which meat is often last on the list. Next came the starter which was a salmon steak and salad with a glass of white wine. The main course was freshly BBQ'd steak and chips. This was served with red wine of course. Next came the cheese and more red wine. The bread basket is continually replenished and there is always butter in Brittany. The sweet as usual was apple tart and delicious as was the chilled Champage which came with it. Coffee followed with the square of chocolate and last but not least a digestive. This was a local speciality made by one of our members. My table companion Clotilde gave me the recipe. You heat red wine and add sugar and plums and Eau de Vie and wait as long as you can. Not long for me as it was absolutely delicious rounded off the meal ideally.
During the meal between courses a microphone is passed around the tables and anyone who feels the urge can sing or tell a joke. The Doyenne of the village Simone who is 96 usually makes people laugh 'til they cry with her songs. She is word perfect. She is straight backed and has a lovely head of grey hair. If only we could all be so healthy at that age.
The meal began at midday and ended after 5 o'clock. The tables were quickly cleared away while the band warmed up and then the dancing began. We do mostly ballroom dancing on these occasions but also line dancing and the occasional Breton Dance. I think it finishes at about 8 o'clcock but I am usually too tired to stay to the end unlike most others who are much younger than I.

War Past and Present

2006-07-20T07:23:00.000+01:00

I began reading a book about the history of American Indians but found it too painful to finish. I finished reading the book about Michel Thomas whose life was extraordinary. Being a jew in Poland as a child he knew racial hatred and living in France and Germany during the second world war he suffered indescribable pain. After the war he became a innovative language teacher. He proved over and over again that his method worked but until his recent death was shunned by academic institutons the world over.
Being a pacifist I have always avoided 'war books' although I well remember the spate of 'we worn the war and enjoyed fighting' films that I saw as a child. I was born at the begining of the war and the loudest message I picked up was that we the Brithish are goodies and we are fighting the baddies the Germans. I watched a lot of films in the crap cowboys and indians genre. Same message. White man good, redskin bad. The Michel Thomas biography informed me very clearly about many aspects of the political manoeverings before during and after the war of which I had no idea.
Both books left me depressed and feeling powerless. I can't change the past. But the big problem is that we should be able to change the present. I look around the world and see the same arrogant cruel oppression. Men killing other men women and children. And somehow we've managed to persuade some wome to put on uniforms. That is something else I learned early on. It's OK to murder if you are wearing a uniform as long as you stick to the rules and if
'we' make a 'mistake' (euphemism for killing civilians) all's fair in love and war. What it really means is: Those with the biggest far reaching deadliest weapons of mass destruction can use the worlds resources. You (the other) can have just enough to keep you working to ensure that we benefit from you countries natural resources. If we can invent machines to take you place watch out 'cos then we won't need you at all.
I spent 20 years fighting a personal battle. I spent 20 years anti-war campainging in the wider sense. Now every day in my little paradise I hear jets fly over and wonder why, why why, does it have to be like this? And how did so many people get conned into believing it's a religious battle? and will it ever stop? and is there anything I can do about it?

Factory Farming

2006-07-19T14:48:00.000+01:00

I should mention that many of my neighbours are farmers. Some good some bad and some I wouldn't describe as farmers at all really just manufacturers of meat. Being a political vegetarian here is difficult. I am surrounded by avid meat eaters. I have no objection to eating lamb, pork, chicken and turkey if it is produced in a humane manner but not only is factory farming cruel to animals it is also cruel to humans. When I see these items on the menu in restaurants the memory of the young women I have met with deformed hands who have worked in the meat preparation factories. Also the young mothers I sat next in French class who couldn't stay awake because they had been working since 4 AM packing same meat.
I choose not to eat beef until the third world is allowed to grow crops which they can eat instead of growing crops to feed our beef. Coffee and tea is also a problem. I wonder how many Brazilians, Indians and Africans own plantations? And don't even mention gold. Who works in the gold mines for peanuts and who wears the gold?

Environmentally Friendly

2006-07-19T07:22:00.000+01:00

Most of my neighbours are practically self sufficient. They grow their own veg, salad and fruit. they keep hens for eggs and to eat. They fish in their own ponds and rivers and eat the fish. They bottle,freeze and preserve like there's going to be a seven year famine. When I say that I have been gardening they ask me what I have plant or picked and look puzzled when my answer is flowers, shrubs and trees. No matter what the weather scorching sun, freezing frost, biting wind, everyday I see old people bent double hoeing, weeding and picking. It's their way of life and they just get on with it.
There is no public transport here so many people have to walk to their local destinations. Some have those tiny cars which only go 40 miles an hour; I don't know what they are called.
I inherited two very old apple trees and the first autumn they produced so many apples that the branches broke with the weight and there lay a carpet of apples beneath the two trees. This bumber harvest taught me the meaning of the word abundance and gave me the title of a painting. They are cider apples, so not edible. Oh yes and my neighbours make their own cider too. Also a much more potent potion called Eau de Vie/ water of life which is considered to be a digestive and is consumed at the very end of all the communal meals.
When I first arrived I decided that I would have to choose between produce gardening and painting and writing. I chose to paint and write seriously and to dabble in the garden. Last year a neighbour gave me some strawberry runners which I planted and tenderly cared for. They produced a bountiful crop which the birds promtly ate before I had even tasted one. Last year also I planted just two corgettes in my compost heap. I couldn't eat all they produced but discovered if left the corgettes grew into whopping great marrows. I'm no chef but when something has grown in your own garden you just have to cook it. This year I have been given in total at least a dozen tomato plants by three different people. Two of them have a bumber crop already (plants not people) but are still green. Will I get to eat them before some other resident in my garden beats me to it? There are huge wild brambles growing along the top hedge which produce enormous juicy berries. I ate the last of the ones I froze last year yesterday.
However I don't really need to grow anything. Monique provides me with enough leeks to freeze. Ron keeps me in runner beans. Sue brings cucumbers. Yannick gives me tomatos. (I may have my own this year). Yesterday Janice brought a basket which looked as though she had stolen it from a Monet painting, just brimming over with lettuce, spinach, beetroot, corgettes and cucumbers. I shall have to do a lot of blackberry picking to return their generosity.

The industrial revolution by passed Brittany and the peasants were not moved from the land at gun point to work in factories as in other parts. Unfortunatly outside capitalism is beckoning to the young who are no longer satisfied with peasant life and they are leaving to chase who knows
what? But fortunately an unexpected trend is taking place. The old properties which have been left standing or more often falling (mine was empty for ten years) are being bought and renovated. This is stimulating trade and providing work for local people with traditional skills.
Perhaps some of the young will return to learn the valuable metiers of their fathers's and grandfather's before it's too late for them to be passed on.
Two basic fundamentals we all need and will always need are food and shelter.

What's in a name?

2006-07-19T07:13:00.000+01:00

Quite a lot I think. I have been playing about with names partly because I was wondering if male authers are published more often than female authers and also because I am trying to choose names for the characters in my book. I can't keep on calling them he/him and she/her. Or maybe I'm just having another identity crisis. I usually move the furniture around it's not so drastic.

Blogs Work

2006-07-16T15:31:00.000+01:00

Thank you D-L Nelson for putting me onto blogs. I have no time to blog now as I am up at six most mornings writing and editing. It's as though a log jam has been released.

Breton Culture

2006-07-13T06:53:00.000+01:00

I am always surprised and delighted whenever I attended a local gathering. We had the event which was postponed last week because of the weather and football last night. We met by the church in the village and some of us walked and some of us drove the two miles to Helen's house.
The tables and chairs were waiting for us in the garden but only Pierre sat down. He immediately took out his melodion and started to play. The rest of us joined little fingers to dance the first An Dro.
It is always the first dance. Every Fest Noz (evening folk event) and Fest Diez ( day-time folk event) begins with an AnDro. It is the easiest of all the Breton dances but deceptively simple as are all Breton dances. I have watched many people, as I did when I first arrived, join in the circle thinking, this is easy, and becoming more and more puzzled as they found themselves out of step.
To the uninitiated it looks as though the circle is just shuffling around clockwise but one soon discovers that the tiny steps are quite complex. Of course there are dances which are very dramatic, like the one where the men leap up in the air and kick their legs out sideways to shoulder height defying gravity but these are now only perfomed at the Festivals by the well rehersed teams who perform in the traditional costumes. But the majority of the dances are subtley and gently complex like the polite affectionate characters of the Breton people.

We finish the dancing with our party piece which is very fast and involves much jumping and fancy footwork and requires lots of energy. We sit down at last, breathless, to the greatly appreciated drinks of cider (home-made of course). We eat crêpes, also homemade, with a variety of fillings. It is also someone's birthday so next comes the champagne and we give a birthday toast ( it's always someone's birthday)

As it is the last meeting of the season we have presentations for the musicians. To my surprise I am asked to choose a length of ribbon from three. I thought it was a game but am delight to find that as I chose red I am presented with a large potted plant with red flowers. I only play my clarinet occasionally and even then just one or two tunes. I am astonished. 'It's for encouragement', says Sylvie making the presentation. I am very moved and encouraged.
I love the ambience of these gatherings just twenty or so people dancing, playing and singing together. You have to experience dancing and singing in a circle to know it's power.

Piano Recital

2006-07-12T06:25:00.000+01:00

Last evening I drove about 20 miles on empty roads through beautiful countryside to a tiny village church to listen to a world class pianist, Louis Lancien, play Brahms,
Chopin and Liszt. All of 16 year years old, he has already played in Minsk, Paris, Mexico, Berlin and many places in France.
After the concert the audience were invited back to the organiser's house for drinks where we talked with his parents. Louis is the youngest child of six brothers and sisters. They all play an instrument including the father but excepting the mother! They were proud parents and this was the last tour for them. Louis is going into the big wide world to make it or not alone. Next on the list are Germany, Paris again ,Japon and many other venues.
I am frequently suprised at the generous hospitaliy, warmth and friendliness and modesty of everyone here. I never fail to be amazed at the choice and variety of music available to me on my doorstep.
And I drove home again on clear roads by the light of the full moon.
I saw an owl. My friend tells me that an owl at night means good weather tomorrow, an owl in the morning take warning.

World Cup

2006-07-10T07:30:00.000+01:00

What happened to sport? Am I naive? I still believe that sport/games should be an amateur pastime not proffesional. Tennis seems to have retained sportsmanship why not football?
It makes me think about ' 1984' are they really fighting a war out there? I suppose it is better than machine gunning or dropping bombs or gassing but aren't we doing that too?
I only watched out of a sense of loyalty to France but now feel ashamed. Italy didn't come out of it in a very good light either did they, nor I hear did the England team.

Tour de France

2006-07-10T07:07:00.000+01:00

I wanted to film the cyclists since they were passing so close to my house. As I was walking to the nearest village along the 'route' I called 'bon appetite' to all the groups who had set up tables and chairs by the roadside and in fields to eat lunch. In Brittany you have to 'dejeuner' at 12 noon it's the law. I said hello to people I knew with the usual doubts as to how many kisses, anything from one to six and sometimes just a handshake but always involving touch of some kind. I am convinced that is the reason that Bretons live so long combined with the outdoor life and tradition of growing thier own veg and meat. I was carried along the two mile walk by the festive atmosphere of the crowds lining the route. On reaching the village I bought a' sausisson galette' from one of the many stalls. (I am mostly vegetarian but feel like a traiter if I don't join in the local traditions.) I found a spot by the church wall to steady my camera and waited. I had missed the freebies which are thrown from the cavalcade of vans and cars to keep the crowds happy whilst waiting for the cyclists. Like French trains they arrived spot on time. The crowds cheered like mad for all of five minutes as they sped past at 60 miles an hour then as one they turned to thier cars and went their way. After a cup of coffe in the bar I walked back along a changed route. Just yards beyond the village sign I was alone in the countryside. No cars no people just fields, trees, birds and cows. I have the best of both worlds. Complete solitude and tranquillity or I can choose to join in the frequent low key community events.

Learning Curve

2006-07-08T09:06:00.000+01:00

I seem to have published my last post twice. I'm still not sure of the procedures!!

2006-07-08T09:03:00.000+01:00

Thinking about my favourite books led me to thinking about books which have helped me when I was depressed. Anything by Dorothy Rowe is good but especially 'Beyond Fear'. At the moment I am reading 'The Van Gogh Blues' for the second time and doing the exercises which are proving to be sucessful.
They both stress how important it is for us to have/make meaning in our lives. Hard to do when we are surrounded by war and injustice. We can but strive.

Books and Depression

2006-07-08T08:45:00.000+01:00

Exercise and Fun

2006-07-08T08:43:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I decided that my writing muscle had, had enough exercise for the day but the rest of my muscles needed exercising so I went for a swim. It is wonderful to be able to swim up and down an almost empty pool in any season and then jump into a hot jacussi to relax before driving home on empty roads.
The garden looks very drab and sad this morning after a night of much needed rain.
Sunday promises to be a full day of fun. The Tour de France is due to pass through the next village, 2kms away. They have organised car boot, food stalls and a ball ( that's dancing). There is also the annual music festival at Bobital, 20 kms away, not to be missed and of course the cup final which is going to be shown on a big screen in the town's cinema 8kms away.
I'm not really a fan of football but I have to watch the final of a world cup match in which the country where I live are finalists.

Evening walk

2006-07-06T10:13:00.000+01:00

Last evening we were supposed to have an end of season partywith the gym group, the walking group and the Breton dance group. The event was cancelled because of 'the match' and also because of the thunder storms we'd been having all day. Some of us turned up anyway and as it was warm and sunny and not raining we decided to walk to a nearby chapel. The two musicians led the little group playing traditional Breton tunes on their traditional bagpipes and clarinets.
When we reached the chapel we went inside and danced.
On the return we walked towards the sunset and continually had to pause to look at the stunning cloud formations. Large, multicoloured and billowing one minute, the next completely striated across the horizon. I regretted not having my camera because a series of photo's would have been useful to provide an exercise for sky painting.
On my way home I called at a neighbour's to find out the score. Hurrah for France. 1-0

After the storm

2006-07-05T06:01:00.000+01:00

I didn't sleep in the van after all as an almighty thunder storm threatened just before bedtime. It thundered and lightened most of the night . I have just inspected the damage to my garden which has been thirsting for water. The rain must have been heavy as my front door fuscias are almost flattened but happily there are two fragile, deep red, poppies standing very straight and tall.
Last week I met a couple at a boules match who proudly showed me their secret garden. It was truly magical with winding paths and water features totally enclosed by shrubs and trees and flowers. There were many nooks under the branches with inviting seats to shelter from the sweltering heat. This morning I saw that my acre looked more like a car park than a garden. I have much planting to do this Autumn to realise my dream out there.

beating the heat

2006-07-04T14:42:00.000+01:00

Last night I sleep in a tent on my lawn. The noises the animals made were amazing. Tonight I am going to sleep in my van so that I can look out the window and maybe spot what is making these weird noises.

First try

2006-07-04T13:58:00.000+01:00

After four new hard drives in 18 months I was just about to ditch computers writing and everything then I found some bloggers. I am writing this to overcome Writers' Doubt syndrome. If you suffer from it log on to www.wisewordsonwriting.com Donna-Lane Nelson's website. It helped me.