Lilacs In May

Happy Feet

I've had bloggers block. I think it may be linked to the fact that for over 2 months I have been unable to walk more than a few yards without pain, it has finally been diagnosed as tendonitis in my achilles. I can only walk comfortably in trainers - with orthopedic gel inserts. Not a great look, and I am not sure how long it will be for. I really miss walking.

Then yesterday, I saw that Claire Lomas completed her London Marathon, 16 days after the race was started on 22nd April, supported by her family and friends. Claire was paralysed from the chest down in a riding accident five years ago. But she walked 26 miles in 16 days, with the aid of a £43,000 balance detecting 'robot suit'. In the process she has raised over £90,000 - so far. No whining, no complaining that the robot suit made her bum look big, just getting out there and doing something positive and useful. As she didn't complete the course on 22nd April she doesn't qualify for a medal, and when Matthew Pinsent, the rower, tweeted about this he ended up receiving 15 medals from other marathon competitors - giving their medals to Claire. She has raised enough money to fund a three year research project into spinal injuries. Claire was cheered by huge crowds as she crossed the finishing line on the Mall.

Today the Dalai Lama tweeted, 'Actively promoting the positive inner qualities of the human heart will be appreciated by all'. You know, I think he may be on to something.

Reign or rain?

I took this photo back in March. John Lewis were stocking up their shelves with Diamond Jubilee souvenirs. It's taken on another relevance with our continuous April showers.

Have a great weekend.

B*tches In Bookshops

Where do they go?

The days? Photos from my one photo a day challenge. One photo, one word.

woody

Maycombe

gold

sweet

breakfast

doors

kneeler

sad

Experience

Bling!

flip!

favourite

crashing

early

hope

medieval

fragile

waking

dedicated

Enjoy your weekend, wherever you are.

Answers

Over on rosiepblog, Rosie has posed a few questions for her readers. As I am nosey and like reading others answers, I thought I would share mine;

Your favourite flower? Lily Of The Valley
The last time you went to the theatre - what did you see? Billy Elliot
Tea or coffee? Tea, large mug
Favourite film? Moonstruck with Cher, Nicholas Cage and Olympia Dukakis.
What book are you reading now? Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
Have you ever made your own bread? Yes, my favourite is red onion, sage and olive foccacia (above)
When did you last visit a museum? Last October, The Victoria and Albert, again
When did you last visit a big city? (other than your own if you live in one)? London in February
Favourite footwear (sandals, shoes or boots)? walking shoes, it means I'm out in the fresh air
Where in the world do you still want to visit and why? Venice - because of Jan Morris, I'm going in June
What makes you happy? A day out with my family, books, sun, walking, meeting up with friends & chocolate

Happy Days!

The dark months are over! Green shoots and lighter days are on their way.

Top Tips

I have been reminiscing by exchanging my favourite Viz Top Tips with a friend over the last few days. Here's my top 3;

avoid buying costly binoculars simply by standing closer to the object you wish to view

paint a large blue rectangle in your garden, then people flying overhead will think you have a swimming pool

and finally..

always carry a packet of lard in your pocket, in case you get your head stuck in railings.

Have you got any?

image: http://moblog.net/view/279954/viz

Don't waste money buying expensive binoculars. Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Cat and Tatie

The Paris Wife is the story of the first marriage of Ernest Hemmingway to Hadley Richardson and is based on known facts. At the beginning we meet Hadley, a woman in need of a life raft to rescue her from a family that threaten to pull her down into it's undercurrents. Hadley's father is dominated by her mother, becomes a drinker and ultimately loses his own battle to stay afloat, Hadley's mother is domineering and controlling, and her sister wants Hadley to stay and keep her company in her own toxic marriage. Unsurprisingly, Hadley is desperate for love and escape.

Then along comes Hemingway, a force of nature, but also a man in need of his own life raft. Hemingway wanted to escape his domineering and controlling mother, and the emotional injuries which he sustained whilst fighting on the Italian front in the First World War.

Very quickly Hemingway and Hadley met, fell in love, got married and moved to Paris to hang out with the literary demi monde; the Fitzgeralds, Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound and James Joyce.

The marriage had many challenges; Hemingways attitude towards women, his fast and loose attitude to friends, his constant need for adventure and his ferocious literary ambitions. Paula McLeans portrait of Hadley is of a gentle, if a somewhat naive woman, who loves her husband but struggles with his huge personality and with life in bohemian, literary Paris in the 1920's. Hadley held on tight, but it was a bumpy 6 year ride; from 1921 to 1927.

Even though I knew Hemingway was married 4 times, I needed to know what happened to Hemingway and Hadley, or Cat and Tatie as they called each other. I read The Paris Wife quickly, over one weekend, but it will stay with me for much longer. I would like to read A Moveable Feast next, Hemingway's account of his life in Paris, which he wrote when he rediscovered his notebooks in 1957, stored at The Ritz, in Paris, for nearly 30 years.