Jane at Levant: June 2011

Tuesday, 28 June 2011

The Letter X for ABC Wednesday

X marks the spot

X is for a kiss

X is eXhiliarating, eXasperating , X is eXciting - eXtraordinary - and eXtrovert.

We have Xmas - X boxes - and Xrays

How about a trip to EXeter - OXford - or Oxwich

We could eXfoliate - have eXtensions - and of course eXercise to the Extreme to get that X factor

We could search for EXcalibur and listen to tales of old

But we must eXperiment to eXtend our eXperiences

What an eXtravaganza

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Abc Wednesday and W is for Wales

W is for Wales - the home of my ancestors - with its incredible mountain and coastal scenery - above the sun catches the waves at Aberfforest bay at sundown

Wales is a land of myths and legends with castles and poets and tales of fearsome dragons

The sunsets at Abereiddy are magnificent and wonderful to watch - we stayed a while ago in a cottage pretty much on the beach and gazed most evenings at the sun slipping down below the horizon

Treasures always to find on the coastal path a myriad of spring flowers - and of course hidden away secretly in the mountain range - the Snowdon Lily - which I have not seen - but I live in hope! I have attached a pic that I found on the web - this plant lives high in the mountains on shady ledges - likes cool misty conditions and this is the only place it grows in the British Isles

Wildlife supporters are desperately trying to save one of the finest views in Snowdonia Wales - the national trust has to raise £1 million to save Llyndy Isaf Farm - this includes the beautiful Llyn Dinas lakes (short video in the side panel) I hope!

The mountains that tower over the lakes are steeped in mythology , holding secrets and many a tale - of how a raging battle took place between a white dragon - which represented the Saxon invaders - and a red dragon - which represented Wales - the red dragon won and the white dragon was banished into the lake - the red dragon became the the national emblem of Wales.

Tuesday, 14 June 2011

V is for Violets and Violas

Vibrant and Versatile they vary in variety adding valuable colour to borders, pots and hedgerows.This is my contribution to ABC Wednesday to celebrate the letter V

Viola odorata - the wild violet

Folklore:

The ancient greeks considered the violet a symbol of fertility and love,so they used it in love potions

Midsummer Night's Dream

I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows
Where oxslips and the nodding violet grows
Quite over canopied with luscious woodbine
With sweet muskroses ,and with eglantine
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night
Lull'd in these flowers dances and delights
And there the snake throws her enamell'd skin,
Weed wide enough to wrap a fairy in.

William Shakespeare

New additions to my garden - Viola Martin - Spider - Victoria's Blush - bought from a local plant fair at Hodnet Hall

Gardeners tip given to me on that day - always grow violas in deep pots - to give maximum root space and clip back hard in September to encourage new healthy growth.

Friday, 10 June 2011

Classic Cars and Classic Dogs

What better to do on a summers' evening than to cruise along to a classic car rally.

The annual rally was held at the Wharf Tavern at Cheswardine in Shropshire alongside of the Shropshire Union Canal.

A balmy evening - boats on the canal and classic cars everywhere

It was a fun night for all - I think you will agree that these dogs appear to be as proud of their cars as their owners!

Tuesday, 7 June 2011

Up Up and away

Up Up and away, what better than a balloon flight to celebrate the letter U.

This balloon silently moves over the Shropshire countryside, on a misty morning - the Stiperstones range waking up beneath.

Upside down - well goodness me I hope not, but I must admit this thought passed through my mind when I went 'up up and away'from Ludlow Castle to mark a major milestone in my life.

That's me in the blue corner - and up up and away and a birds eye view of the castle - a perfect day - the flight ended with a glass of champagne in a corn field after quite a bumpy landing! -

Wednesday, 1 June 2011

T is for Tramway

It,s ABC Wednesday and T is for Tram - the Llandudno Tram in North Wales

The Tram Travels along Tracks from the Tram Station to the Top of the Great Orme at Llandudno

We visited a few months back and experienced this exhiliarting ride - the Great Orme Towers above Llandudno an old Victorian seaside Town.

The Orme is home to its own copper mine and also the wild khasmir goats roam the hillsides and if you are lucky you may catch sight of them

There are Tremendous views of the Town from the Tram as you Travel To The Top Tram station

A sculpture of a wild goat stands proudly close to the summit for all to see

To catch a glimpse of the real thing is of course more special.

For the record the Tram is the UK's longest standing cable hauled Tramway- it has been in operation since 1902

FAIRY -LED

The fairy people flouted me,
Mocked me ,shouted me
They chased me down the dreamy hill and beat me with a wand
Within the wood they found me ,put spells on me and bound me
And left me at the edge of day in John the miller's pond
Beneath the eerie starlight;
Their hair shone curd -white
Their bodies were all twisted like a lichened apple tree
Feather -light and swift they moved,
And never one they loved,
For all were full of dreams and dark designs on me.

With noise of leafy singing
And white wands swinging
They marched away amid the grass that swayed to let them through.
Between the the yellow tansies
Their eyes,like purple pansies,
Peered back on me before they passed all trackless in the dew.

Mary Webb - from the Spring of Joy

Three softly curved white sepals veined with light,

Three green-lined petals,guarding frugal gold,

And all so strong to fold or to unfold!

Snow thunders from the bending pines.How slight

This frail,sheathed stem! Yet all unbent it springs,

So swift in stoopings and recoverings.

In the pale sunshine,with frail wings unfurled,

Comes to the bending snowdrop the first bee.

She gives her winter honey prudently;

And faint with travel in a bitter world,

The bee makes music, tentative and low,

And spring awakes and laughs across the snow.

Mary Webb

Found on the Web Part One

Short Jokes of the day

Dress Code.

It is advised that you come to work dressed according to your salary. If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise. If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise. If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.

Sick Days

We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work.

Personal Days

Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturday & Sunday.

Found on the web !! Part 2

Toilet Use
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet. There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls. At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken. After your second offence, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin board under the "Chronic Offenders category". Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sanctioned under the company's mental health policy.
Lunch Break
Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy. Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure. Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.
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