Winter colours in the park

I have a few pictures at this stage which depict the brilliant winter foliage of the trees in the park on the Gold Coast, Australia:

 Sunlight filters through the leaves creating a wonderful display of beauty and light and colour:

By the pond:

Autumn colours with pictures

Autumn Colours with pictures
Autumn and winter can be quite a magical time on the
Gold Coast with the brilliant sunshine of June shining
in a blue Queensland sky which brings forth its marvellous warmth and light
into the parks and forest and filters through the trees.
 This creates a
shadow effect of the leaves and branches dancing in the breeze and playfully
making shadows with glimpses of dazzling rays of sunlight seen amongst the trees.  Amongst all of this beauty is to be heard the song of birds in the park.  I have noticed ducks on the pond and beautiful white swans which give
wings to flight when suddenly they fly to the highest tree.
The winter foliage is abundant with beautiful yellow and a soft mulberry shade on the banks of the pond and also russet and green leaves.
These pictures were taken in April, at the beginning of the autumn weather:

  I will include some of the winter shades on a later post,

  My best wishes

Listen to the Wind

While looking around the outside grounds of the Kremlin, Moscow, in September 2009 I was
quite mesmerised by the beautiful shimmering leaves of trees which seemed to shimmer in the
breeze as the wind whistled through them.  It was so quiet and almost uncanny, as the guide was leading
a group around the premises and giving a talk about the place.  The leaves in the trees were so noticeable
and I so clearly remember as though it was a message, brought by the wind and on the leaves.

  On the Gold Coast in a park the other day I noticed how beautiful the tops of the trees were
swaying gently in the breeze with the sunlight glinting on their tops and shining brilliantly on the sunlit
leaves against a vivid blue sky.  It is quite cold out of the sunlight
at the moment on the Gold Coast but brilliant in the sunshine.

  I will send some pictures of the brilliance of the autumn colours on the Gold Coast in autumn, however,
at present I am on a public computer.

  A beautiful rendering of a song about listening to the wind is by Hayley Westenra from The New World :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nq-X70DRrA

  Best wishes

The brilliance of Chekov

The Brilliance of Chekhov

  I have been watching a BBC adaptation
of plays by Anton Chekhov which I have found
to be full of wit, satire and brilliance.  A
great perceptiveness of people, their foibles
and characteristics is shown.
This collection of plays is wonderful.
I have enjoyed watching "A Wedding" which I found hilarious.
Anton Chekhov certainly knows how to spin a story with comedy
and also in a way parody the people in certain situations. 
Perhaps he may have found society pretentious at times and this
certainly does sometimes show in the plays.

A more dramatic play is "The Seagull" which I enjoyed for giving
such insights into the life of a writer and artistry from an artist's
perspective.
This play was also a tragedy in many respects.
 The lake, tree and leafy scenery
was spectacular with the greenery combined with wonderful clothing of an
earlier
era.
Chekhov certainly had an uncanny ability to portray characters in a real
sense,
not artificial, with all of their quirks and charms.  There is often spark
and
life in the dialogue.
An interesting aspect of "The Seagull" was the story line, the seagull, and
also
the parallel story of a young girl who is identified as similar to the
seagull
in the story.
The outdoor stage setting at the beginning of the play is quite magnificent,
with concepts of old and new techniques in the art of theatre on show.
This play had many qualities on a different level as regards the imagery and
the story, also that as the writer would write or make comments for his
story,
this seemed to give another dimension to the play as it does appear that what
was written in a book or his notes did seem to take relevance
 as regards the young girl, Nina and the writer.
The other characters in this production are also played manificently.  Masha
who is
in love with the
playwright, Constantin, but who marries a school teacher and Constantin's
mother,
 Madame Aarkadina.

It is almost as though with the plays of Chekhov the viewer is seeing real
life.
Chekhov had a great understanding of people and society, similarly as
Moliere,
with his plays which in the form of satire often parodied society of
seventeenth
century France.  At one time Moliere's plays were banned.
There is a scene in "The Seagull" where the writer, Trigorin, mentions that
he loves
scenery but more than being a word painter he also loves people and his
country as
he is a citizen of Russia, and as such he also loves to write about people.

  I will continue to watch some more of these plays and write another review.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

My comments on Gold Coast BookCoasters regarding the book
"The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards:

I have recently finished reading “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards.
What a wonderful book! On a different level altogether. The humanity shines through this novel, the personalities and the intricacies and also uncertainties
of life.
I would recommend this book as it gives a good understanding of alternative values,
which sometimes may occur, especially in the setting of earlier times and a more repressive system which people often adhered to as regards human frailties, as
described in the book.
I loved the story, the wonderful story telling , which was often on a personal level, understanding the people and the reasons for their actions.
The descriptions in the book of scenery, countryside, cities, farmland echoed in the story
with a vibrance and vitality giving authenticity to the very telling of the story.

  There are also discussion questions regarding this book,
as also discussion questions regarding "Wolf Hall" by Hillary Mantel and The Tudors.

All the rivers run

A wonderful mini series, which I have been watching is "All the Rivers Run" starring
Sigrid Thornton who begins a new life in Victoria, Australia in the 1890's.  The settings
of rural Australia at the time are authentic, as also the river boat trade, the costumes,
dresses and there is also an elegant way of life portrayed, even though the rural folk endured
many hardships.  Victoria was quite English in many respects.

  The paddle steamer is reminiscent of the paddle steamers of the Mississippi River and
also of South Australia.  I am reminded of the books of Mark Twain which were set
along the banks of the Mississippi River.  There is a river culture and a countrified sense
of community amongst the river folk.

I look forward to watching more of this mini series of "All the Rivers Run."  It
evokes a by-gone era quite beautifully with a full cast of believable characters who have adapted well
to the challenges of living and surviving  in early Australia.

The story is also wonderful to follow of Philadelphia, played by Sigrid Thornton, in the character role
of a young woman finding her way in life and her love of painting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14DRkJjaoeo

The Great Magician by Christian Jacq

The Great Magician by Christian Jacq

What a wonder was the boy Mozart,

who often did seem to play with fire

at times in his young life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story by Christian Jacq

of the young Mozart's life and early attempts to

establish his career.

So many difficulties he encountered but with the

presence of valuable friends and his own parents

Mozart made his way and made an impression with

his musical talent and skills.

The Great Magician was a wonderful book to read,

with great dialogue, settings and character portrayals.

It was brilliant in this respect.

The book is quite compelling reading and portrays the

early life of Mozart, his travels, disillusionments and

the difficulty of obtaining a suitable postion at a court.

Despite the setbacks in the young Mozart's life, the story

is also inspirational for meeting challenges against disparate

odds in life and Mozart does not become disillusioned or crushed

by the weight of burdens which he encounters.

The musical world of the day was competitive and wordly. He

realised towards the end of the book that his musical talents

were not going to be recognised in Paris.

His parents were guiding influences and also his friend, Thamos,

Count of Thebes, whom he had encountered from a young age. This

may have been the beginnings of an interest in the ancient ideologies

and civilizations of Egypt, hence the Freemasons in Europe at the time.

This is a fascinating and compelling story which runs parallel with the

story of Mozart in the book. The dramas and political in fighting, the joining

together of some of the various lodges, as though they are

setting a stage for something grand in the future.

The Great Magician was their hope for the future, a gifted and talented

musician who through his music would bring light to the world. His middle name

was “Gottlieb” or “Amadeus” which signified “Beloved of God.”

It is possible to relate to Mozart in the story who is a real character and not artificial, who cares

about his music, wishes to compose and exercise creative freedom, but seems to be held back

from progressing in life. This is due to many factors, including the politics of the time and also

to a certain extent, his own personal ideals.

There was much artifice at some of the courts where he was obliged to play. He felt at home amongst friends in places like Mannheim and Strasbourg, where he enjoyed the company

of other musicians. One friend, a horn player, admired Mozart's talent.

Mozart returns to Salzburg at the end of the book I of the series, The Great Magician, after

many travels in Europe.

The book would adapt well to a play on the stage with the wonderful

music and beautiful settings, especially in conjunction with the second

book of the series, “The Son of Enlightenment” by the same author,