Back One More TIME for TGF…doing good and have a reception to attend tonight, I could dig getting into this Art scene…Abstracts, Picasso, oil, acrylics, blue light specials—no wait that’s something else from by-gone days.  Anyway up and going again so let’s do this one more time.

“Don’t be afraid. There’s the two of us now.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander      tags: jamie-fraser

I tripped him neatly and landed on his stomach with both knees as he hit the floor with a crash that shook the house.

“You mean to tell me that you married me out of love?” I demanded. He raised his eyebrows, struggling to draw in breath.

“Have I not…just been…saying so?”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander    

LAST OUTLANDER OF THE SEASON 9 ON SATURDAY 5/30

I’d hurt Black Jack but he just might like that.

“I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander   (Jamie Fraser to Claire Fraser)

 Over Sized NISSAN COMPETITION Callendar 1990

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“Oh, aye, Sassenach. I am your master . . . and you’re mine. Seems I canna possess your soul without losing my own.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

OK so we’ve been doing Scotland with a few references to our show but today I tie it all together with the present situation of our characters included.

With the Death (murder) of RIchard II (1377-1399) and the crowning of Henry IV (1399-1413) we begin a period of English history  that leads to the War of the Roses (1399-1485)with Lancasters Kings  (Red Rose emblem)  which included the afore mention Henry IV, who left his kingdom secure at the cost of his own mental and physical well being; as well as Henry V (1413-1422—last great warrior king and the man who led an outnumbered English force against the French at Agincourt and defeated them, but who died before he could accomplish much else; and Henry VI (1422-1461 and 1470-1471) who became king as a babe–less than a year old and managed to loose all the French properties won by his father and sank into madness in 1453, he lost his crown, his son and eventually his life.

“Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone,
I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One.
I give ye my Spirit, ’til our Life shall be Done.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

The Stewarts:     During this time the Stewarts (Richard  II 1371-1390–his big claims to fame seems that he fathered over 21 children, legitimate and not  and III who was crippled and whose name was actually John 1390 – 1406 –he was so inept at ruling that his 20 year old son was put in charge, but was arrested by the Duke of Albany who managed the low lands and left the prince to die in prison) while Albany set the throne of Scotland.  Meanwhile the English caught the second son James and held him captive for 18 years while they tried to gain power over Albany .   When Albany died  in 1424 James I was allowed to return to Scotland to assume the throne.  James II – James V (1437 – 1542).  All of these King James inherited the throne as children with an average life span of 34 years (4 of them by violence–5  if you want to count Richard II).

“I had one last try.
“Does it bother you that I’m not a virgin?” He hesitated a moment before answering.
“Well, no,” he said slowly, “so long as it doesna bother you that I am.” He grinned at my drop-jawed expression, and backed toward the door.
“Reckon one of us should know what they’re doing,” he said. The door closed softly behind him; clearly the courtship was over.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

So we begin The War of the Roses with another Royal house coming to power the Yorks (White Rose emblem) first with Edward IV (1461 -1470 and 1471-1483.  Tall handsome, charming and interested in the arts he was a popular king, but his preference in women would come back to haunt him, (in addition to his queen he seems to have an insatiable taste for the fairer sex and rich food) when he died of natural causes leaving his crown to his son who was still a child (Edward V) but his legitimacy was questioned (seem father Edward married his queen without getting legally released from an engagement which in those days were legally binding and had to be annulled) by his uncle Richard, Edwards brother–you know the one was recently found in a parking lot,  who took the crown for himself  (Richard II 1483 – 1485).

“For where all love is, the speaking is unnecessary”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

ENTER THE TUDORS  DYNASTY that people are still talking and talking and talking about.  Henry VII (Lancester–1485-1509) who’s claim to the thrown was horribly threadbare wrestled the throne by force from the unpopular Richard III (who died in battle) and began to consolidate the nation.   Henry married Elizabeth York, eldest daughter of Edward IV uniting the fractions and claiming another ify blood line.  His son Alfred died young passing along his Spanish princess wife to his son Henry (whom we will speak more later) and his daughters Margaret (became Queen of Scotland) and Mary (Queen of France).

“And I mean to hear ye groan like that again. And to moan and sob, even though you dinna wish to, for ye canna help it. I mean to make you sigh as though your heart would break, and scream with the wanting, and at last to cry out in my arms, and I shall know that I’ve served ye well.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

Mary Queen of Scots (1542 – 1567).  Her mother was a French, Catholic noble woman (second wife of James V nephew of Henry VIII).  Mary was orphaned when sorely beaten by  Henry VIII’s (1509 – 1547) armies in his attempt to get James to agree to Mary’s marriage to Henry’s son Edward (VI 1547 – 1553) James V went into a decline (worsened by the news that his heir was female) he died when she was only 6 days old  What followed was a tragic story that I could spend a week on but let it be said that the 2nd of Mary’s three husbands was Lord Darnley, (one died of a brain tumor, the second murdered in an explosion of the home he was in and the third in prison after raising an arm to take her son from his self appointed regent her bastard  half brother)  with strong royal blood lines and when Henry’s last child died (Mary  I 1553 & Elizabeth I 1603)  with out giving England one heir James VI (of Scotland and the first of England) become King eventually uniting the two realms (though not always peacefully).   By this time  his mother Mary had been executed for treason against Elizabeth I.

The Stuarts (note the spelling change) ruled from 1603 – 1714 but  we’re more interested in is first  Charles I (beheaded by Parliament after a major Civil War 1649) then Charles II who was restored  to the throne in 1660 (to 1683) two years after the death of Puritan leader Cromwell).  Charles  died with many mistresses and at least nine children but none legitimate and so the throne went to his younger brother another James.

“And if your life is a suitable exchange for my honor, why is my honor not a suitable exchange for your life?”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

 Bonnie Prince Charlie for whom Dougal is raising funds was the son of James II, who was smuggled away to France as a baby (born 1720).  Added to the fact that he was from a long line of Scots and the fact that he was Catholic made his cause particularly important to the Highlanders whom were like the Makenzies and Fraser (remember the wedding)  mostly of the Roman faith.

The French Connection.  I have already mentioned the fact that James II fled to France and that Mary Queen of Scots had a French Mother but it is also noted that  Mary was also Queen of France (her coat of arms shown above).   Scotland and France had agreements  in place in the late  1200’s. They  even provided the French with large numbers of troops after their armies were destroyed at Angicourt.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/europe/features_europe_auldalliance.shtml  Prior to this Norman Invaders expanded into Scotland,  not by might but by land grants from the King  and Church.  For instance Jamie’s name Fraser (meaning strawberry (the fruit), and fraisiers, strawberry plants. ) and  the French motto:   I am ready.

So in our story all of this has gone before and our highlanders are poised on the edge of destiny awaiting the return of Bonnie Prince Charlie.

To find out more try these nonfiction:  http://www.ranker.com/list/jacobite-rising-books-list/reference

and historical fiction covering the period.  http://www.historicalnovels.info/Eighteenth-Century.html

“Gentle he would be, denied he would not.”
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

Keepin’ busy yesterday dropped off an item to a customer…highlight of my day.  Tonight starts my weekend with dinner and a movie…fun (hopefully).  What kind of food do you like?  Italian, German, Cajun...so much to pick from–not fond of Icelandic–don’t ask.

Many miles away there’s a shadow on the door of a cottage on the Shore of a dark Scottish lake.

KEEP WATCHIN’ TO FIND OUT WHY JAMIE FRASER WILL NEVER BECOME A SAILOR.

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My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.

Mike Myers

OK it’s History 102 today with a look at Britian’s last invasion and up to the last Scottish Royal Line

Look at Scottish guys wearing kilts – you could look at them and laugh, but the way they carry themselves, how can you? You can wear some of the weirdest things and be cool. If you believe in it, that’s what makes it cool.

Andre Benjamin

 

 1986 NASCAR Atlanta The WINSTON POSTER

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Yesterday was just work—oh and remind me to Tell you about Loch Lomond (the sang I’m using to title the blog this week).  See that Sea World is putting in a 200′ rollercoaster…no thanks…

Let’s drink to our next meeting, lads,
Nor think on what’s atwixt;
They’re fools wha spoil the present hour
By thinking on the next.

Lets Drink Till Our Next Meeting—Traditional Scottish Drinking song

OUTLANDER:  where the woman wears the pants.   http://www.ibtimes.com/outlander-season-1-finale-promo-videos-reveal-how-cows-will-be-used-jamies-escape-1936520

Years have roll’d on, Lochnagar, since I left you!
Years must elapse ere I tread you again.
Though nature of verdure and flow’rs has bereft you,
Yet still are you dearer than Albion’s plain.
England, thy beauties are tame and domestic
To one who has roamed over mountains afar
Oh! for the crags that are wild and majestic,
The steep frowning glories of dark Lochnagar.

Traditional Scottish Songs
– Lochnagar

Continuing on with Scotland and the background that might make the show a bit more understandable.

Today it’s basic history 101.

Farewell to the Highlands, farewell to the North,
The birth-place of Valour, the country of worth!
Wherever I wander, wherever I rove,
The hills of the Highlands for ever I love.

Farewell to the Highlands, Traditional Scottish Song

Britain has been populated for thousands of years with indigenous peoples that we know minimal about.  Popular history has placed the introduction of the Celts sometime in the Iron Age (I will not get into the fact that the most recent studies both deny they were Celts and feel that their movement into the isle was in minimal numbers.)

No sky shines so bright as the sky that is spread
O’er the land that gave birth to the first breath we drew —
Such radiance but lives in the eye of the maid
That is dear to our heart — to our heart ever true.

To Our Own Land and Loved One

We do know (for sure) that the Romans finally got around to invading in 43 AD.  And while they remind on the Isle until the 5th century their occupation here was much less of a presence than in most of their other conquered countries.   There are Roman baths and villa scattered about what is England now itself but these were apparently built by Romanized  Brits  themselves.  A BBC article estimated that by AD 300, almost every one in Britannia was Roman by legal means and  culturally by adapting the Romans building, legal and other traits but the language was “Celtic”  http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/british_prehistory/peoples_01.shtml

I ‘ve loved thee, old Scotia, and love thee I will,
Till the heart that now beats in my bosom is still.
My forefathers loved thee, for often they drew
Their dirks in defence of thy banners of blue;
Though murky thy glens, where the wolf prowl’d of yore,
And craggy thy mountains, where cataracts roar,
The race of old Albyn, when danger was nigh,
For thee stood resolved still to conquer or die.

Old Scotia

Only Britian (including Cornwall and Wales) came under the Roman heel while Ireland and Scotland did not.   Coalitions of tribes in northern Scotland (collectively called the Picts) though loosing battles managed to win the war–and the Romans built a wall many miles across to keep them on their side of the border.   The Picts eventually disappear from history and there is much debate as to their departure.  I am much into the fact that they just got mixed in with the lowland Scots and their genes wanders thought the genetic make up of many a Scot especially those of Highland distinction such as James Alexander Malcom McKenzie Fraser http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/british_prehistory/peoples_01.shtml

It’s ower the moss and doon yon glen,
And ower the bonnie blooming heather,
Nicht or day he bears the gree,
The bonnie lad o’ Gala Water;
Braw, braw lad.

Braw La o’ Gala Water

Shortly after the Romans took their leave the Saxons moved in to take their place.  These again were assorted clans with a convenient label.  There has been much speculation about how they started, the favorite one being some of them being hired as mercenaries (successfully defeating the Scottish Picts) and deciding to fight against their former employers for the rich lands of the island.  By the way it is in the early days of Anglo-Saxon (barbaric Germanic tribes whose language gave birth to modern English) invasions that historians places King (more likely war lord) Arthur.  With their pagan, uneducated ways they destroyed the Roman influence and brought Britain into the Dark Ages.  And while some of the southern part of Scotland were acquired by the invaders (not until 7th century), the country as a whole remained independent.   They remained in power till the 9th century.

Come let us climb auld Arthur Seat,
When summer flow’rs are blooming;
When golden broom and heather bells
Are a’ the air perfuming.
When sweet May gowans deck the braes,
The hours flee past fu’ cheerie,
Where bonnie lassies bleach their claes
Beside the Wells o’ Wearie!

Bonnie Wells o’ Wearie

With invasion came the Christian Monk introduced in Roman times and then pushed out by the pagan Germanic tribes but this would change by the end of the 6th century when St. Augustine came to Britain and converted King Offa (who’s Frankish wife was already of the Church of Rome.)  While popular in the main lands of Britain, it didn’t do as well in strong Celtic area like Wales, Scotland and Ireland where there was a fusion of traditions and beliefs often at odds with the main Church.  These areas have been credited with keeping scholarship and learning alive through the dark ages.

Ae morn of May, when fields were gay,
Serene and charming was the weather,
I chanced to roam some miles frae home,
Far o’er yon muir, amang the heather.
O’er the muir amang the heather,
O’er the muir amang the heather,
How healthsome ’tis to range the muirs,
And brush the dew from vernal heather.

      O’er The Muir

But by the middle to late 8th Century the English rulers (still the old Saxon strain but much removed from their early beginnings) were to experience another invader–the Vikings, traders, raiders and inventor of the word Berserk.  In the final decade of the 8th century, Norse raiders attacked a series of Christian monasteries located in Britain. This started in 793, with an attack on the monastery at Linddisfarne (east coast of  Britian)   and Scotland’s first raid was 2 years later and on the Iona Abbey.   By 876 they had captured and controlled York in northern England colonizing the area that became known as Daneslaw.  This continued with several islands including the Orkney’s being held by the invaders.  There were eventually two kingdoms one Saxon rule and one Viking and another invasion also by Vikings in 996 AD.  This Viking presence accounts for Jamie Frasier’s red hair along with a lot of other Scots or those of Scot descent like my grandmother and brother.  By the way the Scots remained free and their first king Kenneth mac Alpin was crowned in 841.   Encyclopedia of Royal Britain Phillips

‘O happy be the woodbine bower,
Nae nightly bogle make it erie!
Nor ever sorrow stain the hour,
The place and time I met my dearie!
Her head upon my throbbing breast,
She, sinking said: “I’m thine for ever!”
While monie a kiss the seal imprest –
The sacred vow we ne’er should sever.’

By Allen Stream

By the 11th century the England  was under the rule of one king again Edward the Confessor (1042 – 1066) who died without an heir and became at saint (not for that reason, having no heir was gonna result in a serious and last invasion).   His body is buried in Westminster Abbey in  a locked area  which you can see if you take the tour.  During this time Scotland had 4 kings including Macbeth (1040-1047) made famous by Shakespeare. All the kings of Scotland up thru this time were of Celtic descent.   Kings & Queens: The Concise Guide Cavendish

I hear the pibroch sounding, sounding
Deep o’er the mountain and glen
While light springing footsteps
Are trampling the heath

March of  Cameron Men

For historical novels about the Celts try   http://www.historicalnovels.info/Medieval-Celts.html

From Beauly’s wild and woodland glens,
How proudly Lovat’s banners soar!
How fierce the plaided Highland clans
Rush onward with the broad claymore!
Those hearts that high with honour heave,
The volleying thunder there laid low;
Or scatter’d like the forest leaves,
When wintry winds begin to blow!

Culloden

Fareweel, fareweel my native hame,
Thy lonely glens an’ heath-clad mountains,
Fareweel thy fields o’ storied fame,
Thy leafy shaws an’ sparkling fountains,
Nae mair I’ll climb the Pentland’s steep,
Nor wander by the Esk’s clear river,
I seek a hame far o’er the deep,
My native land, fareweel forever.

Scottish Emigrant’s Farewell

THIS WEEKEND I spent time with naked men (see above) at the Albert Polasek Museum/Gallery   http://www.polasek.org/  where we wander the gardens (the naked man didn’t join us but the cutest half grown kitten did (http://www.polasek.org/   )    then on to the Morse Museum  (http://www.morsemuseum.org/  )                     of all things Tiffany.   Also did a Turkish Restaurant (http://www.turkishbarandgrill.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjws5CrBRD8ze702_2dyjYSJAAAJK9yo3c-9DJBR6j4xhRYFI6Zf-wPDWkYC7CTx1Ei1rjZ6RoCPKbw_wcB) that I like lots   (http://www.turkishbarandgrill.com/) and a Birthday Party plus an evening with Friends for drinks and another with other friends for BBQ.  

My heart’s in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart’s in the Highlands a chasing the deer; Chasing the wild deer, and following the roe; My heart’s in the Highlands, wherever I go. Robert Burns

No I didn’t have time to watch the Outlander Marathon this weekend..I will re-watch in the next Droughtlander which will began on May 31st.

The most patient people grow weary at last with being continually wetted with rain; except, of course, in the Scottish Highlands, where there are not enough fine intervals to point the difference. Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson

As my regular readers know I’m addicted to Outlander

So I thought this week my subject will be Scotland generally as well as how all this is related to THE show.  But even if you’ve never seen Outlander or don’t like it…try my offerings as I hope to please you all.

In the Highlands, in the country places, Where the old plain men have rosy faces, And the young fair maidens Quiet eyes. Robert Louis Stevenson

Scotland is part of the United Kingdom along with Northern Ireland, and Wales.   The UK’s size is closest to Alaska in the US.  In addition to the isle it’s self there are close to 1000 islands surrounding it.  http://www.ask.com/geography/u-s-state-comparable-england-size-2e236730e7d98a61

Give me but one hour of Scotland,
Let me see it ere I die.
William Edmondstoune Aytoun

 Scotland lies (on the same Island) to the North West of England and is about the size (almost) of South Carolina and claims some 787 UK islands (130 of which has inhabitants).  http://www.scotlandinfo.eu/scotland-facts-and-figures/

Green grow the rashes, O;
Green grow the rashes, O;
The sweetest hours that e’er I spend
Are spent among the lasses, O.
Robert Burns
Green Grow the Rashes, O.

EDINBURGH is the capital (one of my all time favorite places) and the Castle Rock (see the castle looming over everything to the rear left) has been occupied since 1000 BC.   Oh and you never say Edin-Burgh, it’s Edin-Burrow.). given it’s vantage point over the surrounding territory all the way to the Firth of Forth  (not seen in picture)  that was pretty much a given.   Of note Edinburgh plays a part in one of the later Outlander novels–but I’m trying not to have spoilers so that’s all I can say.   Given all that you’d have thought it was a shoo-in for the capital but that didn’t happen until in the late 15th or early 16th center (before the Outlander Story begins.).

Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty’s in every blow!
Let us do – or die!
Robert Burns
Scots, What Hae.

This first book of OUTLANDER and the first season takes place in the Highlands.   When we (Americans especially) think of Scotland our images are of the Highlands with their clans and tartans, whiskey, bag pipes and heather (the first time I was in Scotland there was a blight on the heather and there was some concern about loosing it) . In other words what we visualize as Scotland is most likely the highlands.  http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/europe/scotland/highland-region/

From scenes like these old Scotia’s grandeur springs.
Robert Burns
The Cotter’s Saturday Night.

Scotland’s topography is generally extremely mountainous with wild heather and moorlands in the north and west, pine forests mixed with quality pastures in the middle, fertile farmland in the east and, south the rounded, grass covered hills of the Lowlands.  (Scotland: Eyewitness Travel Guide  Cough et al.
Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the rye,
Gin a body kiss a body,
Need a body cry?
Robert Burns
Comin thro’ the rye.

The Northern Highlands with great lovely mountains, the glens, lochs and burns.  Inverness and the densely populated strip to the north; and the far north–barren undulating moorland and pet bog.  Around Scotland Slavin.

The Scots are steadfast – not their clime.
Thomas Crawford

The story starts in Inverness     http://www.inverness-scotland.com/ where Claire and Frank Randall stay at a bed and breakfast (I don’t think they called them that then but…..) and do research on his ancestor in 1945.   This city is the unofficial
“capital” of the highlands and the largest city in the Highlands.   There were two castles here  one which would have been there when our couple made their visit (Inverness Castle) built in Victorian times and second one–well really the first–never mind time travel is too confusing–blown up by  the Young Pretender which was there for our 18th century group.   Inverness is Celt for Inbhir Nis pronounced [iɲɪɾʲˈniʃ], meaning “Mouth of the River Ness”   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverness   to which Catholic missionaries came in the 6th century to convet the Picts.

Scottish by birth, British by law,
Highlander by the grace of God.
Anonymous

Two sites you may have heard of near Inverness are”

LOCH NESS (of Monster fame–I took a tour but didn’t see anything but a few ordinary fellow tourists) which is mentioned briefly in one of the novels where one of the regulars sees the monster surface–and there is some indicated that it too may have gone through some stones to get there.

No one in Scotland can escape from the past.
It is everywhere, haunting like a ghost.
Geddes MacGregor

and

Culloden    http://www.nts.org.uk/culloden/  lies a few miles from Inverness and will meet its destiny with history later on in our stories.

Glencoe. A gloomy, eerie place, a valley of sorrow
hewn out of mountains of guilt.
Geddes MacGregor

Fort William:  http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/info/towns-villages/fort-william-p236531. (Scottish Gaelic: An Gearasdan [ən ˈkʲɛrəs̪t̪ən] “The Garrison”)   If you remember in Outlander this is where Claire was taken the first time willingly, the second under arrest.  This was long a clan center but grew greatly in size as a settlement when the fort was constructed (the first in the area to be built in 1698) to control the population after Oliver Cromwell’s invasion during the English Civil War and then at the time of our story (18th century) when it was enforced to suppress the Jacobite uprisings.  I’m not sure if it was still there in Claire and Frank’s time as the town’s railway station was built on the site.

The rose of all the world is not for me.
I want for my part
Only the little white rose of Scotland
That smells sharp and sweet – and breaks the heart.

• Hugh MacDiarmid, The Little White Rose

Outlander uses real historical places for their fictional ones:  Check out this site to find out more about the places and the reality of same as well as their actual locations    http://www.visitscotland.com/en-us/about/arts-culture/outlander/

I’m William Wallace, and the rest of you will be spared. Go back to England and tell them… Scotland is free!
William Wallace

For a list of romances set in the Highlands check this out:    http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4095.Best_Highland_Scotland_Romance_Novels

Now the summer’s in prime
Wi’ the flowers richly blooming,
And the wild mountain thyme
A’ the moorlands perfuming.
To own dear native scenes
Let us journey together,
Where glad innocence reigns
‘Mang the braes o’ Balquhither.

• Robert Tannahill, The Braes o’ Balquhither.

By the way all the original (this one and featured image) that I am using this week are ones I took on the grounds of the beautiful Maitland Art Facility which includes a small gallery of art in a very historical and artsy buildings and gardens as well as a small history museum with a telephone museum in the rear which I explored on Sat.  http://artandhistory.org/maitland-art-center/

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Today the final blog of the week I’m finishing my look at how we are remaking our world.

We started with remaking movies, then TV shows and finally remaking the lives, thoughts, disasters and more of those that have gone before us.  Today we look at remaking the world as we have known it.  OUR BASIC REALITY….

FIRST is REALITY TV;  with this we deal with everything from Extreme Home makeovers to the Apprentice with the king of bad hair days.

Apparently we have the Dutch to blame for this for a little show called Number 28 in 1991 which apparently started the trend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television) and since then it has gone berserk–now I am excluding things like Pimp My Ride and home improvement and antique sales, these actually do occasionally  offer good ideas as to work with or let you find out if that thing grandma left you is actually worth keeping or not.

First of all may I say to my black friends that I feel Reality (and in all cases I use this word in an understanding that anything close to my definition of reality is strictly accidental on these Broadcasts) shows have cast you into a set of roles that are neither flattering nor, in the case of the majority of my black friends and acquaintances at least, appropriate.  In these shows black women can’t exist without bad mouthing each other, strutting around and generally being less than the true black woman is.    Depth of character is replaced by loud talk, trash attitudes and foul mouths.  I shutter every time I see one of these commericals.

The worst offender in my opinion on the “REALITY” circuit is  The Kardashians—the family whose only real claim to fame, other than showing us all how unworthy of our attention they are on show after show ad nausea, is that their father got O.J. Simpsons off—Personally I’d rather see a reality show about OJ than this group.  The worst part is people like me who never watch the show can’t get away from them as they’ve become so celebed (my word) that they’re everywhere–I’m expecting some of the new shows to do an update on which one farts next (wait maybe they already do and just haven’t put in the previews  yet).

The Survival shows and running around the world to name a few are basically just petty—when I first started watching them (these I did watch early on but quickly lost my interest) and silly—these people for the most part spend more time whining than surviving.  Turn the camera off, drop them in Hells Kitchen without directions or assistance or protection and see how many gets voted off in the first show….yeah that’s what I thought.  They do have their good points though–at least I don’t have to follow-up on who they are marrying or divorcing or farting with.

The least offensive to me are the talent shows which provide entertainment in the form of dancing and singing etc.  They do provide shows and actual entertainment—rather than listening to foul mouths or divorce  issues.  While I’ve watched a few of these I have friends to spend time with, books to read, things to learn and I just can’t set around putting all my energy into hoping Heather McCartney looses cause despite her handicap she isn’t a nice person—figured that out when Paul said bye bye.

OMG—I almost forgot this one—who ever invented a marriage (couple?) boot-camp show for Reality Shows participants who are having marriage difficulties—sorry I thought that was a requirement of getting on these shows.  Now not only do you have to watch one dysfunctional theme, but you put them together trying to get the worst marriage of all time.  If I hear that Satan ate your soul comment one more time I may go on the show just to get even.  (don’t worry I’m socially weird I just only force the fact on my real friends and not the whole country).

And finally how the computer is changing our world, lives and possibly our definitions of reality and sanity.

First I realize the computer has done so much for so many and made the ability to bank, research, and babble about long held opinions (ops me) to many more than just our long suffering friends so much beyond what it was when I first started school that it’s mind blowing, but I am concerned with what it is doing to us…is the Computer not the Devil eating our reality if not our souls?

It scares me when family after family repeats the same story, their kids are constantly on some electronic device (don’t get me started on texting which I do but) 24/7.  They’re not doing their home work, they doing games,  and social media and watching porn or getting propositioned by sexual predators.

And then they get to be adults these same parents are amazed that they can’t get jobs, rarely leave the house and have no social life (unless you count the porn).    I had one mom say her kid had lots of friends–turned out they were all on line and of course everybody you meet on line is exactly who they tell you they are.

A very dear friend had some health problems and losses and turned to a fantasy game (where you build your own castle and even have other on line minions to assist you with your magic).  Now she (and she’s not a 20 something by any stretch) pretty much lives and breathes in that game and only comes out to eat or go to the bathroom.   It’s not that she can’t leave the house, in fact the doctors has worked wonders with her but she could save her time and money as she needs only a minimal strength to deal with her new world.

The other day I saw a show where scientists (or at least some) have came to the  conclusion that we live in virtual reality like the Matrix—so now we really have a paradox–we are living in our computers while we aren’t really living in the life we have.  Sorry but I’m getting out and wandering–the computer is a tool not my life and I think I’ll keep it that way thank you.

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Good morning here I am again…worked in the yard today, and now working at the computer.  I’ve also set up a luncheon for a meeting with someone who wants to lists her jewelry with me.  Are you a communist or a capitalist> >>>A Democrat or a Republican>>>>young or old….Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan or none of the above….What makes your day, gets you high, gives you satisfaction?  Do you golf, ride cycles, read, or surf the net?   I’d really like to hear from you and I’d really like to stop hearing from those idiot spam pornographers who waste my time.  Maybe I can get a reverse spell to all of them from one of my Wicca friends.

No OUTLANDER (at least not new) until 5/30—Jamie Fraser has to stay nailed to a table while Claire views fuzzy coes’ and Black Jack gets his jollies  and then after that how long do we wait for the next season (cause this is the last one this season)?

OK so we’ve done remakes of movie, and TV shows—so it’s just the normal course that brings us to Reality Remakes

I’m talking about making movies about reality—well sometimes when applied to movies and TV that is a much abused word with a seriously stretched realism.  But so often we take accomplishments, disasters, historical events and/or lives among others and place them in books or just straight to scripts that end up on stage, screen and the boob tube for all to see and in some cases remember more than the actual person, place or thing that it was based on.

We seem to be obsessed with disasters and the most glaring of these and one undoubtedly the most dealt with is the Titanic.  That unlucky and obviously not “unsinkable” ship that went down on it’s maiden voyage when it sideswiped a ice berg–berg 1  Titanic a big ZERO

I do not know what public TV would do without this ship (and Adolph Hitler).  There have been countless studies and every other week there’s a new “final theory” on why she went down so fast (hint big whole in her side), whose fault it was and what the major contributing factors were.  There are also issues with the number of deaths in steerage vs. those in the more expensive classes.  (if you don’t believe the rich and famous have it better than the rest of us just look at the punishment given to celebs for crime as opposed to the poor slob on the street) and on and on and on.

The first film about the disaster was made 49 days after it happened and is actually about the star’s surviving in a life boat (which she really did http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Titanic_in_popular_culture ) told a bit more graphic and in flash backs.  There were two more produced that year (one German and one French both silent) and another (Danish) the next.

Since then there have been 22 more movies made on the subject and 23 TV movies or  Titanic-themed episodes on regular shows.

Other disasters that made cinematic history are

San Francisco Earth Quakes    1906 Disaster by the Bay: The Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 (2006)

and 1989:  Surviving the San Francisco Earthquake of 1989 (2004, TV movie)

Even the Great Flood of Biblical Fame:  The Great Flood (2012)

and Historical Legend:  Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

To name a few.

Yes disasters plague our dreams, fill our news feds, enlarge our libraries and feeds our legends.

Then there are people some wonderfully kind and humane like Mother Theresa and some horribly bad like the afore mentioned Hitler, but mostly like the rest of us somewhere in between, but thru genius, bravery, birth or a combination of all those plus a bunch more they caught the conscience of the —if not king–then more like commoner who reads and/or watches.

Case in point one Elizabeth Tudor, lived in a broken home, mother died while she was still young and she existed through a series of step mothers (two died young as well) and divorce and re-marriage.  Even abuse at the hands of an older sister.  This could describe millions out there, but this particular young woman went on to be one of the longest reigning as well as most famous monarchs of England and hence she became a story to be told and re-told.

Les Amours de la reine Élisabeth  (1912)
(Queen Elizabeth, US title)  was the first movie I could find about her was and was actually French and about her affair with Essex–naturally.

The earliest talkie movies about Elizabeth was about one of her sea captains—Drake of England  (1935) and another about one of her cousins: Mary of Scotland  (1936), whom she eventually had beheaded:  (with Hepburn in the title role).  Young Bess  (1953) featured her princess years and Jean Simmons in the title role.  Other actresses who have brought the character to life include Betty Davis, Dame Judith Anderson, Glenda Jackson, and Helen Merrin.  My favorite is Cate Blanchette who played the queen in two excellent movies:  Elizabeth  (1998) and the last one on the queen that’s been made The Golden Age  (2007) which is the 27th counting movies she plays a major part in on both TV and movies and one documentary.  

Other royalty in the public eye include Cleopatra (famous for Roman lovers, rebellion and snakes), and Nicholas and Alexandra (actually related to English Royalty as well as their weird adviser Rasputin, all of which ended badly) and Nell Gwyn who while not royalty spent a lot of time up close and personal with the king.   And there were the Bible kings Saul and David.

Bible Characters abound including Jesus, Moses (most recently) as well as  Noah and Gabriel to name a few.

Outlaws (Billy the Kid), Warriors (Joan of Arc, General Custer and David Crocket barely dint this category) and Presidents (Lincolin–getting murdered results in another disaster film category) are just a few of the arenas that films have pointed their camera on.

Obviously there’s other categories in the realm like warfare both new and ancient (some of which like the Little Big Horn could also be filed under persons and disasters as well), sports (from high school through the Olympics) and romances (like Elizabeth and Essex) and so on and so forth.

“Each of us is a book waiting to be written, and that book, if written, results in a person explained.”
― Thomas M. Cirignano, The Constant Outsider

Ok another item delivered to the post office and I’m doing blogs and things like that…not exactly exciting but it keeps m out of trouble for a minute or two at least.  Allergies crazy this time of year–One of those few people that like President Obama and Michelle Obama is such a beautiful first lady.  How did you like the Mad Max rant yesterday.  Can somebody but stupid spammers send me a comment am so tired of those stupid people.

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IT’S TERRIABLE when your only salvation is the Devil himself.  Outlander has only one show and that is to be on 5/30……then it’s back to a count down to the next season.       no Wentworth is here.

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Yesterday I looked at remakes and the reason for same in moviedom—today I’m looking at an even worse remake medium–TV.

I’m sorry but taking a movie about a sick mother and son relationship and making it into a pre-quell (which technically isn’t a remake but since this is my blog and I’m making the rules it’s close enough) still doesn’t save it from being just weird (and not in the same way —as in it’s worth watching–as Hitch’s classic Psycho which showed you could have a  good thriller with no actual scenes of carnage).  TV has long been with it’s lesser budgets and shorter shooting times etc.  a poor attempt to imitate it’s betters.  Some of this has shown some changes and improvements with the pay-for-view original offerings, this unfortunately isn’t one of them and poor Mrs. Bates must be turning over in her grave—they did take her out of the chair didn’t they?

There was also a made for TV movie spin off in 1987.  Also Anthony Perkins also did two more Psycho movies (theater), and needless to say none of them were worth the effort or the viewings.

There have been a lot of why even bother Beyond WestWorld—from a movie that wasn’t really worth the effort.

and of course the ones where they add “the series” as if the TV audience can’t tell the difference from hoo-hum TV and a really hot movie Blade (there were 3 blades of which I liked the first and 3rd better than 2nd).  It always amazes me that they take a movie like this and try to put it into the restrictions of TV censoring, though this is not so severe as it use to be and currently you have the cable options like Starz and Home Box Office movie making which gives you almost a free rein.  Grief Outlander just did full frontal male nudity the other night.  And violence if not required is certainly a plus.  But this movie vampire (well half at least) just didn’t make it so well on the little boob tube.

And the classic remake of Casablanca, or in the case of this 1983 series, a prequel (TV loves prequels doesn’t it.)  This actually the 2nd time the film was attempted on TV:

This being the first.  As in the case of Psycho remakes and/or prequels we continue to beat the horse, expecting first rate results from a script that doesn’t lend well to prequels and/or lower budgets as well as lesser sets and less talented actors or at least more appropriate, not to mention the publics expectations of the piece and their forever having certain actors or at least types in their minds for the rolls (i.e. Boggie) making failure almost a foregone conclusion.

Fargo was not a big budget movie and while it was quite good I don’t think you have any of the fan base and expectation that you’d find in some of the previous movies or the character identification either so while I question the need to remake ad nauseum I think this one actually makes more sense.

I note London Burning as it started as a made for TV movie remake and was so popular it went on to be a TV series.  How’s that for covering all the bases.

Interestingly enough more movies have came to TV as an animated feature than those that have been remade live-action.  Of note here is Police Academy that not only did an animated feature based on the movie, but also a live action TV show to cover all the bases.

Then there’s the TV shows to movie route—the most classic is Star Trek which only lasted a few years on the little screen but then went on to do several movies for the Theater —their spin off also made a movie for the cinema.  Now we’re on a new generation of movies with a new cast and new stars reprising the roles…this is to my knowledge unprecedented and an amazing story of Hollywood making a decision and the fans changing it all with their loyal adherence to the show that they wouldn’t let die.

Other movies with multiple spin off movies but not the same cast as the TV show  (unlike Star Trek movies which kept the same cast as the TV show) included The A Team (1), 21 Jump Street (2),  as well as The Adams Family (3)

I list Batman under Other–while there was a TV show there also were cartoons, radio and other media that carried this duo long before they appeared on TV so I don’t think spin off or based on counts in their case.

The movie that became its own thing.  The 3 women and Boz with their mysterious Charlie became a thing when on TV and were ever so much more so on the movie (2) circuit again with a new cast.  The names and themes have become part of our fables.

I blame Dark Shadows for giving us the abundance of vampire books, movies and on and on—that we have today—he was the first “good” vampire–a sad, victim of fate that lives forever and is dark, dangerous and utterly desirable.  There were two movies made by the crew of the show and most recently the Johnny Depp version which, while using the same characters, has little or nothing to do with the original show’s theme itself but is rather another wonderful vehicle for Depp’s insane talent.

While a lot of TV Cartoons went to movies (with the original cast) one that stand out is Dudley Do-Right who on TV was a dumb Mountie, but went on to the movies with a very live (and equally dumb  only in this movie, well and kinda Tarzan–but smart in the mummy trio) Brandon Fraser and cast.  A good example of how silly real actors can be if given a chance.

While I use to watch The Fugitive it was no match for the movie with Harrison Ford as Richard Kimble and the show stealer Tommy Lee Jones as the US Marshal (who went on to do a second movie with this character and without Dr. Kimble) who was hunting him down.  The movie, while keeping the frame work of the original show,  went on to make a wonderfully plotted and fresh story line.  I think this is one of the best of the TV to movie genre.

One must assume that the reason that we do these remakes is for the same reason that we remake movies–the presence of an existing script or at least story idea which is a bird in the hand and a very great reduced budget…then there exists a ready made market–those of us who watched some of these shows, sometime from our youth, made great audiences to watch one or even multiple sequences by pre-programing if nothing else.  They were good enough for us then and we’ll watch them now.

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I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book.   Groucho Marx

SPENT a lot of time alone–No body joined me Friday evening or Sat or so on and so forth….did have company for nails on Sat and then the rest of the day on my own….thanks to Alicia had a great lunch and lake side sojourn on Sunday.  Did do some Cajun, had some gin and tonics, watched some Outlander, and some Nascar event.  Reading about Vampires and generally being my old lady self.

OMG IF YOU AREN’T WATCHING OUTLANDER YOU ARE MISSING THE BEST TV:

As I was straining my brain on what to feature this week I noted an ad for Mad Max….and I thought not again…..and then I thought WHY….and then I thought OK so you have your soap box grab your keyboard and start writing.

Mad Max’s original movie pretty much SUCKED…a lawman in post apocalyptic Australia (as barren as Australia is this didn’t take a lot of staging)  who looses wife and child and goes on an avenging effort—it’s a tried and true formula and though few people outside of Australia have seen the first one, it did bring about a 2nd  movie (Road Warrior) that pretty much made Mel Gibson (who has since totally self destructed himself–but that’s another week theme–how hard do you have to try to fail) and the third with a great Tina Turner role in the Thunder Dome sequel.

The New Mad Max  with Tom Hardy—he had a break thru role in Inception in case you don’t place the name and I’m sorry but he’s another of those actors they produce now that all look alike, but in all fairness I have not seen him act so….—but I do like his co-star:

Chalize Theron who has earned her fame in multiple excellent movies and (as the picture shows) doesn’t mind covering up those famed looks at all.)  Word is she and her co-star didn’t get along very well http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-2015-rambling-reporter-scene-796107  but that’s not my issue….mine is do we need another Mad Max which is described as all the action of the original series but much more craziness.     The movie Fury Road http://www.madmaxmovie.com/   has been panned by some men’s advocates as it added a woman co-hero (as opposed to Tina’s role of villainous ruler of the games where two men enter only one man leaves) which they feel detracts from the genre.

So will it be a success, probably it has violence and no holds barred and more craziness (sounds like an online game) so how can it loose?

I mean there always have been remakes—the hit Three Men and a Baby was a remake of a French Comedy as is

Bird Cage (which was a stage play in the US  with the French title: La Cage aux Folles) but I doubt that one in 100 Americans ever actually saw the French one.

and then there are the classics like Peter Pan and

And War of The Worlds….the first being classic children’s piece that so far has failed to be remade better than Disney did (in my humble opinion only) and the second being done better in the  remake partially because of the new wonders of cinema special effects as well as better acting and production budgets.

The Thing is an example of what can be done with modern movie techniques and good actor–the version with Kurt Russel was a nerve rattling epic from start to finish for those of us that love a creepy movie.  The original doesn’t even deserve a “Boo”—and Arness (he played the title role) was better served as Marshal Dillon.

and what can I say about Dracula    THESE have been made and remade since silent picture days….we have gone from Dracula the heartless blood drinking Villain early on (my fav in these really horror movies of course was Bella Lugosi–no body did it better)…as far as sexy vampire–Frank Lagella—he could bite my neck any day…the best production and stars was the Francis Ford Coppola one who presented the whole thing as a love story for the misunderstood ghoul—come on guys not all of us have stopped reading yet and you are gonna have to twist those between the lines a lot more before you get a Dracula as the lover and hero from Stoker’s story.

Special note—if we started to look at spin offs, inspired and just blood suckers in general it would take you a life time to watch them all…and you’d probably going screaming into the sunset long before that and I don’t mean from fright.

Then there’s THE BECAUSE THEY CAN REMAKES:  When the Rat Pack  made it originally it was because they could—they were a group of stars and Los Vegas phenoms that became legend.  When George, Brad and the rest made it, it was because they were a group of big stars and phenoms.  I actually never saw the first one, but enjoyed the newer version a lot–unfortunately the success of 11 made 12 possible (stink is a kind word for its over all result) and then of course they had to make 13 (which was better, but it would have been kinder to just do one—11 ah….you know what I mean—Just cause you can doesn’t mean you got to.).

Crime always pays:  The Two Scarface movies are as different as night and day, but they both featured well known (and excellent actors) and director–though I think for Producers the older one take the prize–how do you beat Howard Hughes.  Now don’t get me wrong the original is badly dated and won’t appeal to a lot of the present audience (though the Pacino one is moving in that directions as well) still they are both excellent examples of crime and how eventually it doesn’t pay, except at the box office.

Then there I the classic Western like True Grit—I actually never saw either of them, but….I have to stick with John Wayne on this one—though I’ve heard the newer one is an excellent productions.

As I am not big on Westerns so I didn’t see this one either, but I thought it interesting that the remake has (in my opinion) the better actors despite neither of them are American cowboys (Crowe is from New Zealand and Bale from Wales).  By the way the critics agree with me that Crowe and Bale have the upper hand (or the fastest draw) over Ford and Heflin’s performances.

So do we need a remake of Mad Max—no but what are you gonna do—it’s a Hollywood tradition—if it was good once it will probably be good for four or five more tries– and it appears this attitude this has resulted in orgy of remakes which has gotten worse lately in an effort to reduce cost by re-using manuscripts they already own,

OK another day re-organizing my office and storage space and working, listing new things and over all being buzzy but not really any fun about it…watching Sherlock Holmes now, love mysteries and re-watched Outlander—poor Claire and Jamie—so much trouble Nepal Earthquakes and another Bush gonna run….I may be entitled to compensation–so many lawyer ads.  All I want for Christmas is THOR.   Elementary my dear Watson.

Jamie Fraser warming up and using Sam Heughan’s  phone…cute.

OK we’re going a little above—well not really but definitely beyond in our Look at the British center of government and power—the Church of England is centered at Canterbury and as far as I can see has for time on time.

THE PLACE:

WINSOR is a town, a huge Palace Complex and home to HRM Elizabeth I and lots more.

The Castle:   http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle  Is sets above the town on a chalk cliff and the original builder was the same who had the tower started–William the Conqueror in 1070.   Though to us tourists it is an ancient castle it is really now more a large complex much of it shaped in the last century.                                                                                                                             Must sees are                                                                                                                      St. George’s Chapel with its beautiful Gothic architecture (Blt 1478 – 1511) Ten of Britian’s former rulers are buried here including Elizabeth II’s father (also her mother and sister Margaret) as well as Henry VIII and his 3rd wife (mother of Edward VI) who died in childbirth. (It is interesting to note that Henry was buried here rather unexpectedly and his son’s short reign and the further turmoil after his death seems to have consigned Henry to obscurity until much later when he was finally relocated.) There is an impressive monument  to Princess Charlotte who died in childbirth as well as beautiful ceiling, 15th c choir stalls and banners of Knights of the Garter to name a few.      While small by many of London’s edifices standards it makes up in beauty for its size.                         Royal Apartments   now restored and the home of the Royal Collection of Art–one of the world’s finest.                                           Queen Mary’s Doll House .  This is my very favorite with it’s 1/25th life size furniture and working plumbing and lighting that actually work—there are even hand written books and paintings supplied but actually famous artists and writers.  It’s good to be the King’s Kid.

The whole place is magnificent and though a bit pricey admission but well worth it…you can actually catch a train from London and then walk to the castle or the rest of town with little effort.

The Town, has lovely shops, restaurants and tea houses.  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/england/southeast-england/windsor-and-eton  Things to see                                                                                                                                          The Guildhall on High St.                 .  http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/windsor/guildhall/guildhall01.htm   (1707) which I have yet to see but is reported to have been built by Wren (the guy who did all the post fire churches in London) and is complete with fake Tuscan columns (don’t ask).                                                                                                                                           St. John the Baptist Church    http://www.thamesweb.co.uk/parishchurch/parishchrch.html   (19th C Parish)   on High Street                                                                        Royal Mews down Albans St.  has an exhibition of the Queens horses, carriage and state coaches.

The School:  Eaton College  www.eatoncollege.com on Thames St.  On the northern bank was founded by Henry VI (1440) and has produced many important men including prime ministers.  The students wear tailcoats and wing collars.     Museum of Eaton Life gives you history and information on the school and the Chapel has a 15th century wall painting and some lovely stained glass.

I definitely wish to return here next visit..it’s such an easy trip from the city and a nice day of wandering will probably return to the Castle and then see all the other good stuff the place has to offer which I missed before.

THE CASTLE

Hampton Court Palace http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/    While other little girls wanted to be Cinderella and live in fairytale castles I wanted to grow up and visit Hampton Court–what amazes most is that it took me 4 visits to the UK to manage to get here.  This is one of oldest Royal courts that even Wren (yeah that guy again) was involved with (though his south wing was badly damaged in a fire in the 80s.)

First there’s the option of travel–the train is quick (30 min), comfortable and the way I arrived but next time I think I’ll take the riverbus (4 hours) on the Thames which is how the kings and courtiers all arrived here in days gone bye and a scenic view of the Thames Valley.

The estate was originally Cardinal Wolsey’s (the Butcher’s son) but was gifted in an effort to regain favor from his liege lord Henry VIII during the mess that resulted from Henry’s attempt to divorce Katherine of Argon and marry Ann Boleyn, it didn’t work and Wolsey died on route to face charges from his former master.  Henry didn’t give the estate back and there are still intertwined initials that have lasted while the marriage (his second) was alas done in four years.

It is in fact two castles (and acres of gardens one of which contains stock growing from a grape vine that was in fruit at the time of Henry and flourishes still) One built by Wren in the 17th c and the earlier Tudor—oh and that’s another reason I am not fond of Wren—he had intended to tear down all the older palace and build all new–but luckily the kind couldn’t afford it and so we have this lovely Tudor castle that so speaks of the ogre that was Henry and the women who lived and died by his will.

There is so much here I must insist you see it I do not have the words to do it half of what it deserves.

AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Highgate Cemetery http://highgatecemetery.org/   on Swain’s Lane has lots of famous people’s interments, an East (which you visit without supervision and the West (which you can only visit on a tour).  There are more than 50,000 tombs holding approx. 166,000 people, which they have been accepting since 1839.  Its amazing place to visit and you probably can’t see it all ever…but I thought I’d point out a couple of less usual (which if you’d ever been there you’d  been there you realized that unsual is the norm there).

Of course the first one is that showed above.  Frank Thorton’s, a renowned concert pianist with a quote from Puccini on the side, piano tombstone .

Edward Prosser’s stone with tennis racquets and balls engraved on it for a set of mixed doubles, also a cricket bat, stumps and a cricket ball.  Prosser by the way was  a famous Victorian sporting-goods manufacturer. 

Then there’s Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal a famous model in the late 19th c. who died of complications while modeling for a painting by Sir. John Everett Millais’ Ophelia.  Her husband Rosetti (who had a history of multiple infidelities) grieved extravagantly at her death and placed a note book of his poems in her casket before her burial at  Highgate.  He later fell on hard times and his publisher had the casket exhumed (at night by fire light) and the booklet found.   Legend says she was perfectly preserved with a great growth of hair (which leads to speculation of tall tales since hair doesn’t grow after death).  The new book of poems was not a success and the husband lived out his life with guilt at desecrating his wife’s grave.  He even declined to be buried near her.

Most recently there is a story (1960s) of a vampire that roamed the rambling grounds with reports of sightings and mutilated foxes.  http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/england/greater-london/hauntings/the-highgate-vampire-how-it-all-began-by-david-farrant.html     but I’ll save that for another time.

A mighty mass of brick, and smoke, and shipping, / Dirty and dusty, but as wide as eye / Could reach, with here and there a sail just skipping / In sight, then lost amidst the forestry / Of masts; a wilderness of steeples peeping / On tiptoe through their sea-coal canopy; / A huge, dun cupola, like a foolscap crown / On a fool’s head – and there is London Town. -Lord Byron

Another beautiful day—how you’ll doing?  I managed to keep busy selling my items on line and around the house stuff.    No Hot Vampires,  Brad Pitts or Chris Helmsworths showed up–but am watching Limey soldiers all day today–Yesterday it was Katherine Hepburn (it was her birthday you know) But ended the evening with Law & Order.  Kisses to all my NASCAR buddies out there as well.

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He’d get my approval and a hand on his knee?

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THIS WEEK WE’RE DOING (DON’T I WISH) LONDON…I THOUGHT TODAY WE’D JUST LOOK AT A RANDOM GROUP OF SITES ABOUT THE CITY THAT MAKE ME HAPPY:

MUSEUMS:

My Favorite is THE MUSEUM OF LONDON    http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/london-wall/              Which gives a history of London from pre-historic times.  It has so many items from digs in the city itself and even the Lord Mayors over the top coach (above).  See my thing is to see the life and times (old and new) where I’m visiting and this museum meets my interest on this.  I love museums but I’d rather see the history out and about whenever I can, especially in a historic place like this—but this is one of the three major exceptions I make in London.  If you’re visiting here plan for no less than half a day.  Start at the earliest section and work yourself forward.  If you are not real familiar with the city this should be the place to come (after Westminster and the Tower if your time is limited)

2nd is The Victoria & Albert    http://www.vam.ac.uk/   This is not a must but its certainly fun and has arts (fine and applied) from around the world.  If you’re more orientated on the English theme check out the wonderful costumes, tapestries, embroidery and English furniture and architecture.  You could spend a couple of days here.  Don’t have that time check out what is offered and where and then start with your first priority and work your way down—but don’t hurry this museum is too wonderful to be hurried through.  Oh and originally this was the Museum of Ornamental Art  but got its present name in 1899 when the new building (the present one) was opened by the Queen (don’t you dare ask which one).

3rd is BRITISH MUSEUM    http://www.britishmuseum.org/    This is one of the major museums of the world and you could spend weeks here so again plan a day or at least a half and go online and determine what exactly there is to see.  If it’s about Britain try the British and Medieval Antiquities, Prehistoric & Romano-British Antiquities.  Want to go a little farther afield they have a wonderful Egyptian collection (that the Egyptians now would very much like back) as well as Greek, Roma and Oriental.  You can see the Sutton Hoe Mask, the Rosetta Stone as well as the Elgin Marbles (again a sore point as they were removed from Greece) and King Assurbanipal’s Lion Hunt.  I’ve been here a couple of times and have barely scratch the surface of its treasures.

Honorable mentions:  National History Museum  http://www.nhm.ac.uk/  which has dinosaurs and all manner of flora and fauna but for which my greatest enjoyment is the beautiful architecture of the building itself.

And then there’s places:

Trafalgar Square:  http://www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/trafalgar-square      The tour buses go thru here–even Harry Potter was hosted in this wonderful busy center and yet it has so much history.  Around the Square you will find:

North side:  National Gallery with over 2,000 masterpieces from the 13th century to the present.  http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

to the right:  St. Martin-in-the–Fields  http://www.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/about/ (who’s name gives you the correct impression that it predates the square and most everything else in this area)  and its well worth a visit–it even has a café in the crypt (as well as a center to do brass rubbings, a book store and gallery with a daily craft market to the rear) and is the parish Church for Buckingham Palace and the Admiralty.  There are lunchtime concerts here.  The church also has a soup kitchen for the homeless where it has been ministering since 1914.

On the South Side is:  Charing Cross a road widening on which stands a statue of Charles I (he’s the king beheaded in the Puritan led Civil War).  Of more note is a bronze plaque by this spot from which London distances are measured.  The place got its name from the cross placed here by Edward I to mark the last halting place of his wife’s funeral cortege–if you look at the map you will see other “Cross” names that mark Eleanore of Castile’s journey from Nottinghamshire to Westminster Abbey.

And while you’re there check out the Corinthian column with Lord Nelson’s statue standing 160 some feet above–the square gets its name and the statue its purpose as a commemoration of his famous Naval victory  and the statue shows large reliefs of the Napoleonic wars and is made of bronze melted down from captured cannon.

And now for something entirely different

Sir John Soane’s Museum  http://www.soane.org/ is a place I visited my first trip to London.  As is my way I planned out my days (one day in town one day on tours to Leeds or Canterbury and the last four day on  tour to Wales.)  While researching the area I found this Hotel in Lincoln Inn Fields (Holborn and the Strand).  Soane was an architect in the late 18 and early 19th century.  He designed the Bank of England (which has a museum http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/education/Pages/museum/visiting/default.aspx I haven’t made it to yet.)  The Dulwich Picture Gallery (another I’ve missed which reports to be the oldest art gallery ever http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/   ) as well as this house (he bought two houses and remolded them into one) which was his residence as well as a museum of his wonderful collection of art, sculpture, architectural models etc.  The house is unusual, amazing and more than a bit bizarre with is split-level flooring and crammed spaces which results in a labyrinthine.  There are lecture tours on the weekends.  Oh and the basement has windows overlooking the Monk’s Cloister built in the garden and somewhere in all this is an Egyptian Sarcophagus complete with occupant from the 14 c BC.

Sorry no real plan or reason to this out pouring of my thoughts on London but it does give you a nice cross section of the variety this city has to offer  (in this case in a very small scale)

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I like the spirit of this great London which I feel around me. Who but a coward would pass his whole life in hamlets; and for ever abandon his faculties to the eating rust of obscurity? -Charlotte Brontë