Old age!

I went to Lyme Park today; I knew of it before I went but didn't realise it was quite so beautiful! I spent a good few hours meandering (and daydreaming!) around the place, and, where the weather prevented picnics and reading on the grass, it was very enjoyable and a much-needed relaxing few hours; I even joined the National Trust!! How old am I? It is only £21.50 for the whole year and makes entrance to NT trust properties (and carparks) free so, knowing that had I have paid for everything today it would have cost about £12, I felt it worthwhile and joined!

You say Britain...

A few months ago at work, we had a rap workshop with the young people in the homework centre... Can't say I was really excited about it (?!) but it ended up being a hilarious evening! I even managed to achieve the lofty status of, 'well sick' (and even had the knuckle-bash of respect) with my rap below (posted here for your amusement):

My name is Rachel but the kids call me miss;
Check out my rap, yo listen to this!
What’s your homework, where’s your school?
Stop yo’ messin’, I aint no fool!
You think I’m boring ‘cos I make you work,
But I can make you laugh, make you smirk!
You say that school just pecks you’ head,
But without no learnin’ – your job is dead!

A lovely afternoon

To start this blog (it's been nearly a month since I last wrote anything - how has time passed so quickly into nearly-May already?) I was trying to remember the exact wording of a lovely phrase from Persuasion; it narrates Anne welcoming the chance for a walk amongst friends and family because it offered the unique solace and enjoyed form of being alone that only being surrounded by other people can give; but I can't find it! Grr.

Anyway, I had a really lovely afternoon yesterday which gave me a much-needed welcome peacefulness as found, although unintentionally, in the quote from Persuasion. I didn't really want to be in town; I wanted to get what I needed and get home, quickly - to then relax. I did manage to get what I needed easily but I decided to stop rushing about for a bit and get a cup of tea (and a cake!) in the royal exchange theatre. It was so lovely just to sit and read and relax there for a good hour or so - I can't recommend it enough!

I was very pleased I'd walked into town so, with no car park charge and feeling much better, I headed home. Passing the Whitworth art gallery I remembered I'd never actually been in but, despite knowing I'd enjoy it, I almost had to make myself go in - the, 'there's not enough time, hurry, hurry' was at the back of my mind. Anyway I was glad I did, if you've never been there I can really recommend it! It's such a lovely lovely collection I could have spent a lot longer than the hour I spent there (they were soon closing so I had to leave at 5pm).

Some favourites were:

• The writing desk and other furniture by William Burges.


• Beautiful Pre-Raphelite, Victorian paintings.


• Much of the work by Manchester-based French impressionist, Valette.


• Lowry.


• Ford Maddox Brown's painting of Shakespeare which was quite different (not in a massively shocking way though) to other paintings and my internal image of him.


• The interactive gallery (for children - but I wasn't the only adult enjoying it!)

There were also those striking (but less lovely) pieces like Ford Maddox Brown's (I have much more I could write about his paintings, but maybe another time) 'Stages of Cruelty' - it really was scary! I didn't have chance to see the da Vinci which was on display but I'm going to make my visits there quite regular so hopefully I'll see it before it leaves!

Anyway it's getting late, I'm not really being entirely cohesive so I shall save my ramblings. One final thing these few hours blessed me with was a reminder to rest and be peaceful in God, despite what's happening; don't wait to think, 'new job, this that, one thing, another' to rest and be at peace. God calls us to rest in him, not, necessarily, to be freed form the the things that trouble us or worry us but to know our salvation in secure in him and we have a hope that far surpasses all that happens the short trivialities of this life. It's really obvious stuff that I 'know', I just forget how awesome God really is sometimes.

I also read The Shack recently and Noughts and Crosses by Mallorie Blackman but thoughts on those shall be saved for tomorrow.

Sunshine

Despite only being for something insignificant really, this new advert is beautiful nonetheless...


I also found this great little website when planning an activity at work today. I'm going to try and use interesting words from now on!

Sonnet 29...

... is one of my favourites.

Here's Matthew Macfayden reading it.

That is all!

Amazing!

Bit of a random post but... Last night was my Grandparents' surprise 50th Anniversary/ Grandad's 70th party which was held in the most magical venue ever; a tiny, 14th century castle in their village (complete with moat!) http://www.caverswall-castle.co.uk/!! I always knew it was there (the entrance being opposite my primary school) but never that it was so beautiful! (look at the pictures). It was lovely to celebrate 50 years of marriage in the perfect venue. If I get married someday...

I also saw Macbeth at the Royal Exchange theatre a few weeks back; possibly the best production of any play I've seen, ever. If you have the chance to go, go! There were a few bits I wasn't expecting or really liked (if you've seen it you'll know!) but overall I have never been so captivated, scared, terrified, traumatised (I think is right the word) or engrossed! It was so fast paced and shocking and scary. I don't have any authority to say anything but I'm sure the reactions it induced were just as Shakespeare intended. I know some are sceptical about modern interpretations (complete with laptops, machine guns and music by Pink and Girls Aloud) but this was so befitting the emotion of the play and I'm sure recreated the atmosphere in the theatre like that of those who first saw it. Awesome!

It's as close to a magic spell as words can get

Tonight's episode of Lark Rise was another favourite and left me not without teary eyes! Miss Ellison, somewhat scarred by her father, is troubled by what love really is and whether indeed she is worthy of it, whether Thomas will see her for all she is and still love her. Dear Robert counsels her...

"The way I see it... I can't tell you what love is. I can only tell you what love is to me. I can be myself with Emma and know she will not turn away. She sees what I am and she accepts me. Perhaps with a bit of correction when my pride gets the better of me."

... then later returns to her side with Shakespeare to assist things! "I have something I'd like to read to you. It's only words but if you ask me, it's as close to a magic spell as words can get." The sonnet is not heard (a bad decision on the producers part I thought at the time!) until the very end where his voice is heard narrating Sonnet 116 over the wedding scene:

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Ahh... *sniff, sniff*