Bergamo ochre
Bergamo, however, surprised me from the start. (more…)
Archive for the ‘pleasure’ Category
Food and drink in Lombardy
Monday, April 5th, 2010Dancing the way to livening up this blog
Monday, November 10th, 2008This blog has become stale, and a little dull, even to me. Train stories and socio-political goings on are all very well – and I have a lot to say about them – but I have become somewhat bored so I am going to try and start blogging about different things.
I would like to blog about dancing a bit more. I have always loved dancing but never really taken up the opportunity to do it myself since I left school and most recently I have been very taken with the BBC show, Strictly Come Dancing. One of this year’s celebrity contestants is Tom Chambers, actor. He has compelling in every dance he has performed and apart from a large amount of emphasis on his wedding during the first half of the series, has escaped much of the comment and criticism surrounding some of the other celebrities in the show.
I came across this little video of Tom Chambers recreating a Fred Astaire routine in Damsel in Distress. Tap dancing and drums. It is not worth describing, just watch it! Tom Chambers brings the classic charm and showbiz of the 1930s into the 21st century. How refreshing.
Birdie Radio!
Monday, July 7th, 2008While I lament the loss of several DAB radio stations, including Oneword, I was tickled to find that instead you can listen to birdsong – literally. Twist your DAB radio knob until you find the station, also called Birdsong.
Birdsong was broadcasted when Oneword went off air. It was originally used for the test transmission of Classic FM before its launch in 1992. It was then used three years ago for the station “D1_temp” and was popular with listeners who sent into complaints when it was taken off air in June 2005.
Since April 2008, it has broadcast (most effectively) in stereo.
Devoted listeners should note warnings on the UK Digital Radio website:
Listeners and Birdsong enthusiasts should note the transmission could cease at any time and that the recording is not commercially available.
Please note that the line up of birds featured in the cast may change without warning due to illness, weather and migration.
One listener quoted in a Telegraph Online article said:
It is a lot more enjoyable than some of the rubbish on air these days – and definitely better than debate or phone-in shows full of ‘oiks’ shouting at each other.
Read the Telegraph Online article about the surprising popularity of Birdsong.
As for me, it’s like having the outside inside which as I stare lovingly at the garden from one of the kitchen windows and over the urban valley through the other, makes me feel like I am in some weird kind of aural landscape! I recommend it.
White Nancy
Wednesday, August 16th, 2006
One of my favourite cheeses. Newly discovered at Salisbury Farmers’ Market, White Lake Cheeses of Shepton Mallet specialise in excelling themselves in cheesecraft of the highest calibre. From their 600 goats, amongst which British Alpines, Toggenburgs, Saanens and Nubians the milk is tranformed into this most brilliant of foods.
Lemons, Amalfi
Sunday, January 22nd, 2006
Originally uploaded by courgettelawn.
Having had a very lemony dinner, it reminded me of the lemons I met in Amalfi last year. These were being sold in one of the local green grocers. Amalfitan lemons are too big to hold comfortably in the hand but the feel of their knarled skins sends sparks of rapture through your body. Limone oose the twangiest, most sublime elixir of all the citrus fruits. It is said that the origin of the word lemon derives from the Sanskrit, nimbuka and came into European languages via Persian, limu. Terraces of lemon trees reach up to the heavens all around Amalfi. Walking the streets and climbing the salità, the salty coastal breezes are royal carriages for the seraphic scent of the lemon trees, their leaves, bark and fruit. Breathe in and golden light permeates every pore in your body; breathe out and you smile. Fruits of ecstacy and pleausre.