Titsey Place - House and Gardens
After an entertaining and excessive party recently we woke up gently the next day at our friend’s house to bright sunshine and a bacon butty. Paul, one of those celebrating a birthday, lived here and he took us out to where he worked at the grand and historic Titsey Place near Oxted. He spends most of his time out in the gardens and use his woodman skills to create impressive arches and other woven wood structures for the kitchen garden. It was a wonderful place with lovely different garden areas to stroll through and to slowly recover from a hard night before.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Poynter Pointing Party…
We enlisted the help of Sue’s family (the Poynter’s) to fix the mortar pointing around the windows at the back of the house that had been left neglected for many years and had crumbled away in areas exposing large gaps that let the weather in. Sue’s brother Dave and his eldest son Nick did the work as they have experience in building work, while I acted as gofer. Sue and her mum did domestic chores and prepared a sumptuous meal for us in the evening when Sue’s other brother and his wife joined us.
Writing unblocked...
I have finally got around to more writing, this time it was a short (2000 word) story for the Guardian Short Story Competition. I did rework something that I had started a few years ago, but after the initial fear about putting pen to paper again, I found I quite enjoyed the process. Hopefully this won’t be the end of things now. I will have to keep my eye out for other competitions where the deadline and restrictions give me focus.
A Picnic in the Park...
Reigate Priory
We took an afternoon off recently and went for a picnic in this delightful park on a Sunday. It is a large space with a variety of areas for perambulating, sports, children, views and lolling about. It was nice to see so many people out and about, families together, groups of friends and work colleagues and couples.
We took an afternoon off recently and went for a picnic in this delightful park on a Sunday. It is a large space with a variety of areas for perambulating, sports, children, views and lolling about. It was nice to see so many people out and about, families together, groups of friends and work colleagues and couples.
I know wot I like….
I have been asked to make a few musical recommendations on folk music. I can’t say that I am an authority on any genre as I tend to dip into many different styles of music, but I know what I like. These that I have chosen here a generally English folk, though they are more modern than traditional and so are influenced by the country’s more cosmopolitan nature.
Musical Recommendations – English Folk
Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby
The most traditional of the four albums selected here, Kate has a clear and sweetly regional accent that lends itself well to the gentle and clean sound that she creates. This is a beautiful album for either background music or quiet contemplation. I would say this is a good album to introduce you to the folk style.
The Imagined Village
This is something quite different in that it is a determined attempt at moving the genre along to better represent the modern world. A great collective of people mixing folk stalwarts such as Martin and Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Chris Wood and Billy Bragg, with new borrowed cultural music from Sheila Chandra, rock influences like Paul Weller and Trans Global Underground and even poetry from Benjamin Zephaniah. This might not be for the old traditionalist, but it is very relevant to the new audience of today.
‘The Imagined Village is an ambitious reinvention of the English folk tradition, embracing modern-day culture in all the diversity. Classic folk songs are skilfully reworked with the sounds and voices of today, updating the tradition for a new generation.’
The Boy Bands Have Won by Chumbawamba
Folk has always had its political and protesting side to it and this band, like the Imagined Village, have set out trying to push the genre forward into the future. They are a very considered and thoughtful group who have a point to make even when you don’t realise it as you listen to the catchy tunes and often humorous lyrics.
‘The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, wether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.’
Burlesque by Bellowhead
This is a big band with a big sound that is quite a contrast to the gentle sounds of Kate Rusby, as they relish the wall of sound that the mixture of instruments can achieve. They are all about entertainment and they take the traditional folk songs and add colour and lights to the sound.
‘M’Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure – oh yes – to present these rare and glittering gems, these dazzling and delectable delights, these precious sparkling stones from the gilded coronet, the diamante tiara that is indeed the English music tradition.
So without further ado, pray sit back, recline and repose whilst we entertain and edify you, courtesy of the bold and brazen brass, soothing soniforous strings, rich and resplendent reeds, pantechnicon of outré percussion, and of course, vivacious, nay, effervescent vocals, that conjoin and coalesce to form the truly singular sui generis that is: Bellowhead!’
Musical Recommendations – English Folk
Underneath the Stars by Kate Rusby
The most traditional of the four albums selected here, Kate has a clear and sweetly regional accent that lends itself well to the gentle and clean sound that she creates. This is a beautiful album for either background music or quiet contemplation. I would say this is a good album to introduce you to the folk style.
The Imagined Village
This is something quite different in that it is a determined attempt at moving the genre along to better represent the modern world. A great collective of people mixing folk stalwarts such as Martin and Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Chris Wood and Billy Bragg, with new borrowed cultural music from Sheila Chandra, rock influences like Paul Weller and Trans Global Underground and even poetry from Benjamin Zephaniah. This might not be for the old traditionalist, but it is very relevant to the new audience of today.
‘The Imagined Village is an ambitious reinvention of the English folk tradition, embracing modern-day culture in all the diversity. Classic folk songs are skilfully reworked with the sounds and voices of today, updating the tradition for a new generation.’
The Boy Bands Have Won by Chumbawamba
Folk has always had its political and protesting side to it and this band, like the Imagined Village, have set out trying to push the genre forward into the future. They are a very considered and thoughtful group who have a point to make even when you don’t realise it as you listen to the catchy tunes and often humorous lyrics.
‘The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, wether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.’
Burlesque by Bellowhead
This is a big band with a big sound that is quite a contrast to the gentle sounds of Kate Rusby, as they relish the wall of sound that the mixture of instruments can achieve. They are all about entertainment and they take the traditional folk songs and add colour and lights to the sound.
‘M’Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure – oh yes – to present these rare and glittering gems, these dazzling and delectable delights, these precious sparkling stones from the gilded coronet, the diamante tiara that is indeed the English music tradition.
So without further ado, pray sit back, recline and repose whilst we entertain and edify you, courtesy of the bold and brazen brass, soothing soniforous strings, rich and resplendent reeds, pantechnicon of outré percussion, and of course, vivacious, nay, effervescent vocals, that conjoin and coalesce to form the truly singular sui generis that is: Bellowhead!’
More of wot I have seen…
Public Enemies
We recently saw this movie in the small cinema in Reigate. It relies a lot on the action and momentum to carry it along, which it does apace. The characters were fun too, if a little two dimensional, but that fitted with the almost cartoon feel to the story
We recently saw this movie in the small cinema in Reigate. It relies a lot on the action and momentum to carry it along, which it does apace. The characters were fun too, if a little two dimensional, but that fitted with the almost cartoon feel to the story
Fiddly French fingers…
Seen recently at the Dorking Folk Club was this artist who had amazing skills in guitar finger-picking. The intros to the songs were longer than the songs themselves. He was also a nice guy with a good sense of humour.
‘Claude Bourbon - A breathtaking fusion of Blues, Folk, Jazz, Classical and Spanish guitar. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision and instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz.
A formidable performer, Claude may have his roots in the blues, but he is inspired by music from all around the world, taking these sounds and weaving them into a performance of melodies that defy a label, all delivered with a gravely voice that has given him the nickname of "The Frog with the blues".’
‘Claude Bourbon - A breathtaking fusion of Blues, Folk, Jazz, Classical and Spanish guitar. This accomplished artist offers tender, compelling performance through highly developed precision and instantly creates ambience – from haunting Spanish moods to lyrical, romantic jazz.
A formidable performer, Claude may have his roots in the blues, but he is inspired by music from all around the world, taking these sounds and weaving them into a performance of melodies that defy a label, all delivered with a gravely voice that has given him the nickname of "The Frog with the blues".’
More wot I have read…
The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton
This was the second book from the same author that Sue enjoyed and suggested I read. Like the first one it too was slow to start and the author spent a lot of time setting the scene and fleshing out the characters. This story spanned several time periods and geographical locations but was nicely resolved. A good period drama.
‘Before her eyes the garden changed. Weeds and brambles, decades in the growing, receded. Leaves lifted from the ground, revealing paths and flowerbeds and a garden seat. Light was permitted entry once more…
1913
On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without trace.
1975
Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell’s journey after all these years.
2005
On Nell’s death her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds – secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why young Nell was abandoned all those decades before’
This was the second book from the same author that Sue enjoyed and suggested I read. Like the first one it too was slow to start and the author spent a lot of time setting the scene and fleshing out the characters. This story spanned several time periods and geographical locations but was nicely resolved. A good period drama.
‘Before her eyes the garden changed. Weeds and brambles, decades in the growing, receded. Leaves lifted from the ground, revealing paths and flowerbeds and a garden seat. Light was permitted entry once more…
1913
On the eve of the First World War a little girl is found abandoned after a gruelling ocean voyage from England to Australia. All she can remember of the journey is that a mysterious woman she calls the Authoress had promised to look after her. But the Authoress has vanished without trace.
1975
Now an old lady, Nell travels to England to discover the truth about her parentage. Her quest leads her to Cornwall, and to a beautiful estate called Blackhurst Manor, which had been owned by the Mountrachet family. What has prompted Nell’s journey after all these years.
2005
On Nell’s death her granddaughter, Cassandra, comes into a surprise inheritance. Cliff Cottage, in the grounds of Blackhurst Manor, is notorious amongst the locals for the secrets it holds – secrets about the doomed Mountrachet family. But it is at Cliff Cottage, abandoned for years, and in its forgotten garden, that Cassandra will uncover the truth about the family and why young Nell was abandoned all those decades before’
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