while you're ahead...

– 2018/99 – macrame plant hanger no 2

Monica Dunkley

May 31, 2018

It’s half term around here and yesterday was one of those days that found us, unusually, all at home at the same time, all busy in our own way but together under one roof and it felt really nice. As the boys grew and we’re beginning to think about university or gap years and when there’s another car in the driveway and independence loom closer, I ‘m starting to values these moments more and more. I totally didn’t appreciate how hard it must have been for my parents when me and my siblings left… I just couldn’t wait, not because I didn’t like my family life, but just because the world was calling me so loudly I needed to go… I don’t think I even give a small backward glance and I feel really bad about it!

The house had a good atmosphere and I swear even the dog barked less. I managed to annihilate the biggest ironing pile known to mothers of three boys helped in the feat by two episodes of The Crown. Sigh… am I the last person on earth to watch that programme? Why didn’t you tell me before?

Anyway I also helped No 1 child to adapt a Jedi robe into a medieval monk habit for his A’ level photography project, did four sets of washing (I now have another pile of ironing to do, obviously), cooked a delicious-that-everybody-ate curry (thank you Bill Granger, your butter chicken recipe is da bomb)… and made a macrame hanging planter.

Why is it that we are most productive on our busiest days? And sometimes I have no plans or duties ahead of me whatsoever and achieve absolutely nothing… Very odd.

I used the dreamiest mustard colour cotton cord and kept it very simple.

… and then I remembered I had some big wooden beads stashed away somewhere… took awhile to find which box but I think they fit just right, just a little bit boho, a little bit rock n roll…

I need to place the plant in a pot without holes on the bottom though… guess how I discovered that…

doh.

I also hang it from the ceiling by myself although people who shall not be named are taking bets on how long it’ll stay…

… wait till I macrame that swing I have in mind… or maybe not!

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– 2018/98 – 48 years of books (2013)

Monica Dunkley

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May 30, 2018

Careless people by Sarah Churchwell

What can I say about this book… I did enjoy it. It’s interesting like a good documentary is interesting… I wouldn’t say it’s edge of your seat gripping but it does keep your attention. It’s a slow read though.

Sarah Churchwell attempts to tell the story behind ‘The Great Gatsby” by exploring the Fitzgerald’s life after the moved back to New York in 1922, a life of excess and parties and drinking and scandals in the middle that was then described as the Jazz Age.

The smallest details are unveiled from diaries and newspaper articles, no stones was left unturned and all of this was really captivating and does give you a clear image of their life in that period for that particular society set.

The author, in parallel to this, talks in great details about a double murder that gripped America at the time, and that was never solved, and that’s when the book get a bit jumpy for me… a bit of this, a bit of that… I’m not sure it deserves that much attention. Maybe it’s me and I’m just missing the point.

I loved to read about their crazy, selfish, opulent, morally loose life… but it felt at times more like a scholarly thesis than a novel. As I said: interesting but slow.

2018 Mr Hanckock and the mermaid

2017 – Magari domain resto (Lorenzo Maroni)

2016 – Upstream (Mary Oliver)

2015 –

2014 – Annihilation (Jeff VanderMeer)

2013 – Careless people (Sarah Churchwell)

2012 – Wonder

2011 – The Paris Wife (Paula McLain)

2010 –

2009 – Let the great world spin (Colum McCann)

2008 – The White Tiger (Aravind Adiga)

2007 –Animal, Vegetable, Miracle (Barbara Kingsolver)

2006

2005 – Never let me go (Kazuo Ishiguro)

2004

2003

2002 – Everything is illuminated (Jonathan Safran Foer)

2001 – American Gods (Nail Gainman)

2000 – Coram Boy (Jamila Gavin)

1999

1998

1997 – Paradise (Toni Morrison)

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991- Regeneration (Pat Barker)

1990

1989 –The Joy luck club (Amy Tan)

1988

1987 – Norwegian Wood (Haruki Murakami)

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981 – The colour purple (Alice Walker)

1980 –

1979– Sophie’s Choice (William Styron)

1978

1977

1976 – Wilfred and Eileen

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

1970

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– 2018/97 – poetry Monday

Monica Dunkley

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May 29, 2018

Migraine Poem (by alexandre arnau)

a torn bit
of light
beating ceaseless
hidden codes
behind my
frail bleeding
eyes
tugging on
wires of thin
grey fire

i raise my hands
to shield my mind
there is no refuge
in my hands

the drone
and clang
and shriek
of reality
unleash
white furies
from barren temples
to tear and gnaw
at my soul

there is no refuge
in my hands

a blood filled face
snarling hate
and passion
from mirror shards
of reason
blue lines
blossom
from black pits
of refracted light

there is nothing
in my hands

the hollow roar
mark the hammerfalls
against me
until that time
when nothingness
blessed nothingness
will reach my shores
and i will
dreamily
happily
slip under
taking relief
into my hands

– 2018/96 – RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Monica Dunkley

1 comment

May 25, 2018

There are certain ‘dates’ in the yearly event diary of this country that are so unmistakably English, so entrenched in the psyche and fabric of life of the people here that to miss them, or to ignore them is to really miss out on something that would help you to understand what it is like to be English, to live in England, to have friends who are English and to have married one.

Visiting the RHS Chelsea Flower Show had always been on top of my list of things ‘to try’ so when a friend of mine invited me to go with her I was super delighted.

I did my homework before I went, I watched the BBC programs, I knew to go wearing comfortable shoes, carrying an umbrella, be prepared for crowds and make sure to have a Pimm’s (or two) (or maybe even three…ahem…). Check, check, check and … check!

So, if you like flowers and gardens and have a few minutes to spare, come with me for a walk through the show…

The Chelsea Flower Show has been held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, London every year since 1913, apart from gaps during the two World Wars. It is organised by the Royal Horticultural Society which was founded in 1804.

We were quite overwhelmed by the sheer number of people when we first entered, but that was because we’d gotten caught between the morning crowds leaving and the afternoon visitors, like us, entering … phew. Yes it was busy, but we had no problem seeing the gardens and the exhibitions at all once we got out of that mayhem…

The big thing at the Show are the Gardens… all designed by leading designers and new talents and whilst “displaying world class plantsmanship and design, many also explore solutions to some of today’s most pressing, social, economic and environmental challenges.” (from the guide). There are the big Show Gardens, the Artisan Garden and this year also a new category the Space to Grow Gardens.

Let me show you a few that I particularly liked:

M&G garden designed, Gold Medal winner, designed by Sarah Price.

LG Eco-City Garden, Silver Gilt medal, designed by Hay-Young Hwang.

The Morgan Stanley Garden for the NSPCC , gold medal winner and best in show, designed by Chris Beardshaw (pictured in the middle photo.)

The Trailfinders South African Wine Estate, silver gilt medal, designed by Jonathan Snow

VTB Capital Garden – Spirit of Cornwall, silver gild medal, designed by Stuart Charles Towner

Urban Flow Garden, gold medal winner, designed by Tony Woods

Silent Pool Gin Garden, silver gilt medal winner, designed by David Neale

Myeloma Uk Garden, silver gilt winner, designed by John Everiss

New West End Garden, gold medal winner, designed by Kate Gould

The Super Shoes Laced with Hope Garden, silver medal winner, designed by Laura Anstiss

Still with me? ok, have a rest, because I’m about to send you in sensory overload now…

I was really tired when I got back in the car… all I wanted was to shut my eyes and recover from all the colours and smells and visual inspiration…

Gorgeous day.

Might even have inspired me somewhat… and people who know me know I’m not a ‘gardening person’!

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-2018/95 – macrame lampshade (part 2)

Monica Dunkley

1 comment

May 23, 2018

The lampshade is finally done and I couldn’t be happier.

Here it is in its place in the conservatory:

and look how warm it looks when it’s lit!

It glows.

good night. Sweet dreams.

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– 2018/94 – an afternoon with the Stones…

Monica Dunkley

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May 22, 2018

Believe it or not, Mr M had never seen Stonehenge before Sunday despite living all his life less than two hours away… that had to be remedied.

The boys were busy (and had already been anyway) so we had an impromptu date and drove through the glorious sunny British countryside, yellow fields, not a cloud in the sky and slightly giddy for what it felt like a mini vacation.

Since my last time at Stonehenge (this was my fifth visit… I’m not that obsessed but visitors from abroad always want to go and I’m a good host…), English Heritage, the organisation that looks after ancient monuments such as this one, had built the most amazing visitor centre:

It’s contemporary but at the same time it echoes an ancient building.

It feels organic and at once with the landscape thanks to the irregular placing of the thin supporting steel columns and I can imaging that on a typical English grey day the ageing wood cladding would make the building almost disappear…

I also like the fact that it was built away from the site therefore not ruining the magical first sighting of the stone circle.

There is a really interesting museum explaining the history of the region taking you back 5000 years with interactive displays and lots of archaeological artefacts, and I really recommend popping in for a mooch. (Oh, and there’s a lovely cafe too, with ice-cream… just saying).

There’s also a ‘sample’ stone (huge!) and a cute reconstruction of a neolithic village on site:

When you’re ready to hang with the Stones (I’ve been saying that joke all Sunday and Mr M just didn’t get it… sigh… there’s no hope for the man) you hop on a bus that takes you just over a mile to the incredible stone circle.

Or you can walk. We chose to walk half the way because we didn’t know you could walk all the way so we just got off the bus when the driver suggested it… the paths are easily cut on the grass and you can walk to other ancient sights like the burial burrows across the valley too. We didn’t.

… and then suddenly you see IT… it must have been such an awe inspiring sight back in the days… there is literally nothing else around… and then THIS.

Bonkers.

I dare you not to be impressed. (My sister wasn’t, but there is definitively non hope for her)

Oh hi. We’re incredibly colour coordinated, aren’t we?

You can’t walk to the stones but there is a lovely path all around it

… oh, it’s very good for people watching too…

Mr M was impressed and now can tick it off his list of things he should have seen earlier in his life. We’ll have to take him to Windsor Castle next… sigh…

… and what a gorgeous day for it it was too (although we did say we’d like to see it in the snow)… We even stopped for dinner on the way home… but don’t tell the kids (fed by grandma)… shhhhh….

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– 2018/93 – poetry Monday

Monica Dunkley

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May 21, 2018

Mindful (by Mary Oliver)

Everyday
I see or hear
something
that more or less

kills me
with delight,
that leaves me
like a needle

in the haystack
of light.
It was what I was born for —
to look, to listen,

to lose myself
inside this soft world —
to instruct myself
over and over

in joy,
and acclamation.
Nor am I talking
about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,
the very extravagant —
but of the ordinary,
the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.
Oh, good scholar,
I say to myself,
how can you help

but grow wise
with such teachings
as these —
the untrimmable light

of the world,
the ocean’s shine,
the prayers that are made
out of grass?

– 2018/92 – a modern Royal wedding

Monica Dunkley

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May 19, 2018

Today’s post couldn’t be about anything else, right?

I know there are people ‘who don’t care’, people who think the monarchy is outdated and needs to go, people who are cynical and simply grumpy… I just think that in the light of recent horrible events, in a world that is so full of hate and ugliness, it is wonderful to sit back and, for a day at least, believe in fairy tales… in dressing up and wearing hats, in celebrating love, in beautiful white gowns and horse-drawn chariots.

There is nothing, nothing wrong with that.

First of all… check out the castle… Disney, eat your heart out.

and Prince Charming…

and the beautiful Chapel…

Meghan looked amazing. Classy, sophisticated, feminine and the dress was exquisite, (designed by Clare Waight Keller, Artistic Director of Givenchy). I loved how strong she looked when she walked down the aisle by herself. You go girl.

Great touch, walking with Prince Charles too…

Sigh…

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex…

The sun shone, the sky was cloudless, the crowd immense…

How can you not smile at that?

My mum came over and my friend Mrs C and we toasted with Prosecco and had scones with cream and strawberry jam…

… and Mr M treated the lawn to a special cut…

I’ll leave you with a great quote by CS Carol: ” … you and I, who still believe in fairy tales, have less reason to wish actual childhood back. We have kept its pleasures and added some grown-up ones too…”

Have a magical weekend.

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– 2018/91 – music Friday

Monica Dunkley

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May 18, 2018

Found this song by chance… but it’s so beautiful…

” MILCK’s second original single, “Quiet”, is a response to the pressures society places on women, and a call for them to be their true selves.

During the Women’s March on Washington on January 21, 2017, there were several flashmobs of women singing this song together. They had practiced on the internet, meeting for the first time that morning. ”

– 2018/90 – macrame lampshade (part 1)

Monica Dunkley

3 comments

May 17, 2018

My love of macrame doesn’t seem to fade… as a matter of fact it’s possibly getting deeper… There are already four wallhangings of various sizes and colours hidden around the house and before things get out of hands on this front I thought better than starting another one.

Bring on the ‘lampshade’. We’ve had to re-do the conservatory because a nasty bug killed off all the orchids and other plants so now instead of a Victorian/Miss Havisham look we’re going to go for a cactus/coachella/70s groove. Bring on the macrame!

There is big table lamp in there with a big dull brass base and a far too neutral shade so I bought a cheap one and removed the fabric and all the bits to strip it down to the frame.

I know you’re wondering why I didn’t de-construct the old one… I wouldn’t have been able to us it because I needed one with a proper frame in order to support the rope. The metal vertical bars, which the old one didn’t have, got covered in columns of square knots.

And then it was time to fill the space. There was a bit of faffing about and not cutting ropes long enough and running out half way and having to un-do it all which made someone slightly grumpy… but I’m delighted about how it’s coming on…

I’m alternating the design of the panels to add visual interest… actually that’s rubbish: I’m doing it because I get bored easily. AND YES I’m aware that there is glaring mistake in the central panel but it’s easily fixed and it will be fixed later after I cooked dinner for tonight and made about three trips to the dump. I’m determined to make a dent in the mess that is the garage.

Sigh.

Why me? In the age of equality I can’t even moan it’s a man’s job… sometimes life bites you in the butt.

Sigh…

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