Tring Book Club - All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I would have normally avoided a novel set before and during WW2, starting in 1934 and alternating at the beginning  between six year old Marie-Laure in Paris and Werner, a German orphan. But their stories over the next ten years are brilliantly realised in wonderful, short, punchy chapters. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr is a highly moving and emotional book, written superbly well and fully deserving it's Pulitzer Prize. The author describes an apartment: "the flat reeks of dead apple blossom, confusion, old age".

The novel is so cleverly constructed, the introduction of a third main character just brilliant. It's the terrific storytelling combined with the perfect characterisation that makes this such a satisfying read. The ending is also highly dramatic. The huge research and preparation that went into this book is there to see. And then there is Saint-Malo. This is the best book I have read in the last twelve months.

Perilous Question, The Children Act and The Secret Place

I hardly ever read non fiction so I'm not the best judge of this particular history book. I thought the nearly 300 pages of Perilous Question by Antonia Fraser could have been condensed into a hundred. The parts which documented the wheeling and dealing to get the act through parliament were very good. But the highly detailed descriptions and background of the leading characters (and sometimes their wives and other sundry people) seemed interminable. I guess Antonia Fraser had to fill her book somehow. Her research of the years 1830 to 1832 is absolutely first class and I just loved the goings on at the Birmingham Political Union.

The parts involving King William IV were good especially the influence and power of the monarch in those days. I wanted to know more about the riots and disturbances but I guess these were just as much about the hardship being suffered by the poor than anything else. We then learn about the power of The Lords and how they were able to kick out any Bill they didn't agree with (and they did): "that is to say, the elected Government of a country shouting for Reform - literally in the case of many demonstrators - was unable to bring it about due the action of an unelected Chamber" and later "the debate in the Lords had been an open declaration of war against the people of England".

It was only the agreement of the King to a critical device suggested by the Whig government that in the end persuaded The Lords (The Tories holding a majority) to pass the Bill. It made me think that our country has fortunately been continually forming our democracy over a long time. The Lords now do not have that power thank goodness and there have been suggestions of an elected Chamber. And so it goes.

A classic Ian McEwan novel, The Children Act is far more enjoyable than "Sweet Tooth" and "Solar", more like his superb "Saturday" and "Amsterdam". A shortish book that grips from the very first page. Always the feeling that something dramatic is about to happen. If there would be one criticism, the main character Fiona Maye (a top high court judge) always seemed younger than her fifty nine years. But we enjoy her company so much. McEwan's writing is as ever intelligent and readable. He is definitely back on form.

Not being a big fan of crime fiction, I was encouraged by the good reviews of this "literary thriller". I wasn't disappointed by The Secret Place by Tana French. The five hundred odd pages flew by. I felt a little like Detective Stephen Moran, uncomfortable at a high class girl's boarding school interviewing sixteen year olds, even though he has new boss Antionette Conway for company. But the dialogue is so cleverly written and the characterisation is first class. I really enjoyed it.

Jurassic World, Mr Holmes and Love and Mercy

Pretty much a repetition of the first Jurassic Park movie. Of course, they tried to change the story-line and include some pretty good aerial shots of a crowded theme park. But it seemed all quite predictable. However it was never boring and the action scenes were helped by the familiar music.

Now here was a movie that was intelligent, well written and directed, and a masterly performance from Ian McKellen as an elderly Sherlock Holmes. The famous detective has relocated to a south coast hideaway after ending his career when a case goes wrong. His new housekeeper (a terrific Laura Linney) is fed up with his obvious cantankerous nature, but her young son is not. There are cameo roles for some great British acting talent, and the film is beautifully shot. The only slight disappointment was the case itself, no blockbuster crime, more the unraveling of a mystery. But I found the whole experience to be rich and fulfilling.

Another brilliant movie; the story of Brian Wilson is so well executed. Paul Dano is excellent as the young Beach Boy, retreating to the studio to record something better than The Beatles' Rubber Soul. There were times when his direction of the musicians burst into a gloriously familiar track that had me reeling. The dramatic segments were very well done and the cutting between those early years and a "recovering" mentally ill Wilson in the 1980's was spot on. John Cusack is very good as the older Brian, but here he is upstaged by a subtle and engaging performance from Elizabeth Banks. She seems to have been in lots of films over the last ten years. I first remember seeing her in the comedy horror Slither in 2006 and then more recently in Man on a Ledge, The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect. This time a best supporting nomination looks a certainty, especially for her scenes with the obnoxious tyrant that is Eugene Landy played by Paul Giamatti.

" A Good Year for the Roses"

With thanks to Elvis Costello (I prefer his cover to the original George Jones recording of the Jerry Chestnut composition), the roses this year are the best I can remember.

October 2015: In the last episode of this year's "Gardener's World", Monty Don also remarked that he thought it was the best year he can remember for roses and others had also agreed.

The Comedy of Errors - Globe Theatre Live

Apart from some good reviews since it was performed last year, the main reason why I went to see a recording of the Globe Theatre's production of The Comedy of Errors was that it was directed by Blanche McIntyre. I have been fortunate to see her productions over the last three years from The Seagull, to Tonight at 8.30 and Arcadia. But this is the first time I have seen her direct a comedy. This is what she should do more of, it was very very funny. It would have been even better to have been in the audience who had a ball.

The play starts with a ten minute piece of  solo unscripted silent comedy, courtesy of Jamie Wilkes as Dromio (above on the right). Absolutely brilliant, from someone who doesn't like mime. Perfect for the proximity of the Globe's audience. The diction of the cast was superb, I think I heard every word. And being on the big screen, we get every pause, raised eyebrow and facial expression that is all part of this wonderful humorous experience.

The Time Comes - Nina Gordon

Track 13 on Nina Gordon's bleeding heart Graffiti is the brilliant The Time Comes. There are no lyrics in the album sleeve and no website has got them right. So here they are:

I wait for the day to break me

I look up to the sky

I look back on the life that graced me

When you were mine

(Chorus)

The time comes

The time comes

The time comes

The time comes

The time comes

The time comes

And then it goes then it goes away

Don’t try to read the silence

Don’t try to live it down

‘Cause I’ve learned a thing or two about patience

And I have found

(Chorus)

I wait for the day to break me

I look up to the sky

I look back on the life that graced me

When you were mine

(Chorus)

I have been waiting for ages for  a new album from Nina Gordon (this 2006 album was the later of her two solo recordings) however I now find she has rejoined Veruca Salt. So that's goodbye to the Nina songs that are more to my taste.

A Week in the Lake District

Although we were not due to start our week in the Lakes until the Saturday, we travelled up on the Friday to stay in the guest suite of Arlington House in Stockport where Alison's father Ray has an apartment. We stopped first at the NT property at Dunham Massey where we arrived around 1pm. Just the right time to have lunch in the brand new cafe. Our walk around the deer park and gardens was very nice, except that it was very chilly and we were glad of our coats. On the way to Stockport we shopped for a buffet tea that we had with Ray and Alison's brother John.

We were up early in the morning to make the Marple Parkrun, my first time there. Alison ran with her sister Anne and her friend Lucy. The course was very pretty but undulating, part through woods and down to the river. Unexpectedly we were invited to Anne's for a brunch that her husband Chas put together. The bacon sandwiches were very welcome. We left around 12.30 for the Lake District, encountering heavy rain on the way to and up the M6. But it brightened as we turned off for Kendal.

A food shop at Booths in Windermere and then on to Coachman's Cottage in Grasmere. Lyn gave us a tour and after unpacking, it was lovely to sit outside in the late afternoon sun. We watched the swallows swoop into the bin store where they had a nest. They were a lovely feature of our week.

On Sunday morning, I walked into Grasmere and to buy a Sunday paper. Anne and Chas were arriving early afternoon so we had time to run to the Lake, round the shore and back. About 4 miles with some quite steep bits. After a late lunch with our visitors, we all started up the path closest to the cottage that was signposted to Silver How. It winded it's way around the NT property of Allan Bank (maybe to be visited another year) and up the hillside with great views over Grasmere and the surrounding fells.

We went up fairly high on a very attractive route up.

We were trying to find the crossing path to Silver How but could not find it. We were nearly at the top of Lang Howe (414m) and returned on the same path, finding later that we needed to have gone over the top to find the Silver How path, but we had no time on a late afternoon.

Arriving back in Grasmere, we went for drinks in Tweedies Bar, just on the opposite side of the road to our cottage. Chas and I partook of the triple tasting beers.

We travelled to Ambleside for a superb dinner at Dodds. It was called Mr Dodds one of the first times we went there in 2001.

Monday promised to be a fairly dry day, so we planned our major walk to Easedale Tarn, Sargent Mann and High Raise, a walk Alison and I had made three times before. We used the Wainwright Guide for both our ascent to Sargent Mann (734m) and the return from the nearby High Raise (762m) through Far Easedale.

We love the route up to Easedale Tarn and the rest we have when we get there.

Then up past Codale Tarn and some scrambling up the stony gulley. It is worth it for the views when you reach the top. We couild see Windermere, Coniston, Elterwater and a long way to the South East.

 

It was a good spot to have lunch, even though the weather was worsening as it tends to do on the peaks. We made it to Sargent Mann  with fabulous views to the Scafell Range and Morecombe Bay in the distance.

It began to rain on our way to High Raise so we didn't stop on what Wainwright describes as just "rounded, grassy slopes" but a "fine panoroma" on what could be considered as "the most centrally situated fell" in the lake District. We missed the path down the grassy slope in what was now fine mist, but coming steadilly down the fellside we know we eventually meet the crossing path to Far Easedale at Greenup Edge, and we did.

It is quite a long trek down Far Easedale (5.5 miles according to Wainwright) and having to come down 2,350 feet. But it was dry with some sun and we had the added amusement of the two men carrying their bikes down the valley. I think we must have been out for about 8 hours (my notebook says 6.5 hours the last time) but I'm sure the mountains have got higher and the scrambles steeper than when we were last in The Lakes seven years ago. Or is it just my age?

We were very glad to get back to a great chilli made by Chas with some lovely wine and super evening sunshine.

The following day (Tuesday) found most of us quite tired after the exertions of the previous day. After a late morning we headed for Tarn Hows via a scenic route which included the ferry across Windermere.

We were lucky to find a parking space at Tarn Hows, and after an ice cream (thanks Anne) we started with a short climb down the hill to see Tom Ghyll waterfall.

Tarn Hows is owned by the National Trust and we found the following map.

It was just right to stroll around the lake in nice, mainly sunny weather.

The dead tree trunks filled with coins were of some interest.

Alison insisted on photographing some other dead wood, so I could not avoid including one here.

I preferred the views as we came to the end of our circuit of the lake.

On our return to the cottage, we were able to sit outside for drinks and nibbles, while Anne and I had a tour of the spectacular garden with Lyn. Another beautiful evening. The only disappointment of the day came with nearly an hour wait for our food at Ash Cottage. Fortunately we had had those nibbles, and the food, when it arrived, was fine.

Anne took her husband Chas to Windermere Station very, very early as he was due in work on Wednesday. But she had the bonus of visiting Holehird Gardens, the home of the Lakeland Horticultural Society. It had been recommended by Lyn and Anne agreed it was fabulous. Definitely on my list for another year.

After she returned we took the car and parked in Elterwater and started a walk to Little Langdale. We stopped at Skelwith Bridge and took a takeout tea and sausage rolls from Chesters and sat by the river. Anne and Alison found a distraught bee that couldn't fly and found that he would take the nectar from the flowers they offered. Hopefully he recovered. Our next stop was Colwith Force.

We missed Slater Bridge as we left the path too early and crossed the river by an earlier new wooden bridge. We found the familiar Three Shires pub where Anne treated me to an ice cream.

Another dry day, mainly cloudy but mild. Anne was leaving that evening so after packing we took both cars to Ambleside for dinner. Dodds was busy so we went to the Toi Inton which is a terrific Thai restaurant and where we first visited in 2001. So glad it is still going. We said goodbye to Anne and returned to Grasmere.

Thursday was a dampish, light rain on and off most of the day. So Alison and I parked again in Elterwater and had a run down the Great Langdale valley. We started of on the high path (by mistake) by Sawrey's Wood which meant some sharp inclines. But we turned off to join the flat Cumbria Way ona  good, made up footpath. We made it as far as Dungeon Ghyll car parks and just over Rossett Bridge. The return leg was flat all the way and ended up doing 7.68 miles. It was mostly dry for the whole run. Back to the cottage and a late lunch and our first quiet afternoon in. We took turns to walk around Grasmere in the wet.

Friday was a rainy day so we headed for Ambleside quite early for some shopping and a look round. We were back to the cottage for lunch. We needed to pack as we had a very quick getaway the next morning. Another circuit of Grasmere to buy the special gingerbread, post cards etc. The rain cleared at 4pm so we had time for a decent walk from the cottage to the lake and back via White Moss.

It had turned into a really nice early evening, so after packing the car, we sat outside for drinks and nibbles and to say goodbye to Lyn who came out to see us.

We had to leave early on the Saturday to find our way to Fell Foot Park, the NT property at the bottom of lake Windermere for our 9am Parkrun. We were there in plenty of time and found there were just as many visiting Parkrunners as regulars. Fortunately it was dry and mild with odd bits of sunshine. The course is so lovely, super scenery and quite undulating. The far end of the course (which is two laps) is through a wild flower meadow. This photo is taken later with Alison at the top of this hill.

We run on the bank at the very bottom of the lake. Quite a spectacular course.

Afterwards, we had sausage and bacon rolls ( filled to bursting) and tea at the Boathouse Cafe where we sat outside.

We were in no rush and retraced the course by strolling round after changing out of our running gear. The path at the bottom of the picture is also part of the route.

We left at midday and had an uneventful drive (by Alison) home. A very nice holiday, made even nicer by spending time with Anne and Chas.

Coachman's Cottage, Grasmere - Review

 

Without question this was the best self catering accommodation at which I have stayed. The most dramatic aspect is that all the rooms are on the first floor, the ground floor is given over to utility rooms. So the spectacular views from the living room takse in all the fells that surround Grasmere.

All the following photos are taken through the living room windows. This is the view over to Silver How.

Next is the view to Helm Crag.

The following is Seat Sandal. Somehow I missed Stone Arthur.

In the distance is Heron Pike, part of the Fairfield Horseshoe.

There is a fell in the distance (maybe Stone Arthur?) but it is the rhododendron that wowed us every time we came back to the cottage.

But apart from the views, which are even better sitting outside, the rooms are spacious and well kept. Someone wrote in 2009 that the bed was uncomfortable. Now I am very fussy about beds and I found this to be at least as  comfortable as mine at home. The equipment is all first class and having a drying room downstairs essential for walking in the Lakes. The parking could not be better and the quiet situation on the edge of Grasmere was perfect. We look forward to staying here again.