Time

Pictures from London (2009)

On a visit to London in autumn 2009 it was wonderful to
revisit some of the places I had been so many years earlier
when on my travels.

Even though it was autumn in London, the streets seemed vibrant
with colour and the flowers in Hyde Park were magnificent.  Hyde Park
is beautiful with the Serpentine Lake and on this visit I enjoyed walking
through the park and admiring he autumn colours of the leaves. 

Brightly
coloured baskets of flowers were hanging from balconies and I had also
noticed this in Los Angeles.  This was noticeable as I made my way
to the British Museum.  It was so wonderful to visit these places and
hope to return.
  At the British Museum are wonderful exhibits of Egyptian
jewellery and artifacts which are also quite fascinating to view. 

By the Embankment/Temple area of London by the Thames is the place
where John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster had his great palace of the Savoy,
with terraced gardens going down to the river and pennants flying high so
all could see from a distance the Savoy Palace.  It is fascinating to wander
around this area where there is also a medieval church from tudor times.
Looking down the Thames River from a bridge can be seen all of the
wonderful splendour and architecture of London.  Domes, spires, cathedrals.
Even on an overcast day of autumn the magnificence seems to tell its own story.

I wrote this poem earlier in the year:

TIME

Through these splendoured Halls of Fame

Whence the courtiers and kings came

In the whirls of worlds before

In the in-between shadows

and times forestalled;-

Of life and love

and a reign supreme-

As time turned around

from before

the in-betwixt time

the kings and queens also did shine:

Time is an open book, they say:-

Never to stop,

Not look back

and which, in its path

all life must brook

As the jackdaws at a tower do stalk;

Bells chiming merrily

beside the Thames-

And good wishes from all her friends-

Beautiful London,

green and treasured,

magnificent city

Palaces and shrines;

Old London Town,

which could tell

A thousand stories

many glories;

As Henry VIII and his six wives

moved on,

at a relentless pace,

From a time, the Pilgrimage of Grace;

Reformation, new ideas, - queens

The tower for two, divorce for two,

Survival for one, loss of another one.

And now at the Abbey did she shine:-

Kate looking happy,

“The Most Happy” -

Anne Boleyn's motto

From a not so distant past:-

Westminster Abbey,

beautiful, serene,

a resting place

of kings and queens,

and poet's corner;

A Magnificent Setting,

A Perfect Wedding Theme:-

And now today

the accolades and cheers

A Duchess of Cambridge

at the Stairs:

A magnificent history of Time-

And from whence now,

The King James Bible doth shine:-

400 years, this year,

an anniversary,

1611;

2011;

and now time revolves again,

A Thousand years of history

And the Wedding Bells did chime

A beautiful, London Wedding fine:

The silver line of

Old Father Thames-

beautiful, picturesque postcard

reality;

Atop the bridge,

Tower Green,

the saddest place on earth,

tells its own story;

From along the banks of the riverside-

A feast of sights,

of old churches, domes, beside

Stand out prominently

beneath the gaze

of a traveller who looks in wonderment

at this maze:-

Old London Town comes alive

with its cobbled streets,

horses and carts,

akin to the time of Shakespeare;

and later,

of the Globe and theatres

of the time of Nell Gwynn:-

Herein also lies a story,

Of the magnificent restoration of Charles II

to the throne.

London with its stories

old and new

will never cease to amaze:-

And we can all lift our hearts

to praise:

Mighty London

and strength of kings,

Therein lies a secret

of a Destiny:

The Kaleidoscope of Dreams

 

Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Romantic Road, Germany from wikipedia:

 

Old Town of Dubrovnik from wikipedia:

Renaissance splendour in Venice at Ca Rezzonico:

A wonderful travel evening of European travel

was held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre last week.

This was an enjoyable event to attend.

Refreshments were served and there was a great deal of

interest in the European evening with many in attendance.

Wonderful slide shows and presentations were given

of the various options available for touring in Europe.

The beautiful, wonderful scenery of the Romantic Road

of Germany with images of the magnificent towns and

castles found along the Rhine Valley.

In so many places

it is as though travelling in time for the unique aspect of the

medieval architecture of the towns and cobblestone lanes and

streets.

The markets of France, the spectacular scenery of travelling

by train in Switzerland, the different and unique advantages

of travelling on a river cruise boat were some of the insights

given.

Travelling on a river gives a different perspective as many

of the old towns and villages are accessible which may not always

be seen when travelling by coach or car. The rivers were also the mode of

transport for the trade of goods from the earliest times.

Russia and Eastern Europe have opened up more for travel since the fall of

the USSR and these places also offer wonderful attractions.

Beautiful medieval architecture and magnificent little villages and towns.

Krakow in Poland, once the old capital of Poland and home of the kings

has beautiful architecture and is a popular destination.

Warsaw is also a city of beauty. I remember admiring the beautiful colours

and architecture of the city and the rolling green fields of the countryside.

Warsaw was rebuilt after the war to the specifications of its appearance

before the war. A city

of unique splendour.

Romania with its folk-lore and images still of horses and carts. I recall seeing

a procession of a brightly coloured wagon and horses and gypsy travellers

once travelling in the rural areas of Romania. I once visited a folk lore

museum in the city of Bucharest, which unfortunately was heavily bombed

during the second world war.

Dubrovnik, the city of marble, was also shown. A picturesque walled town on the

coast with crystal clear sea for swimming.

The Dalmatian Coast and Italy were the first holiday destinations and the

Dalmatian Coast was also

popular with royalty in the earlier years.

Pictures of Montenegro were also shown which looks pristine and beautiful.

Magnificent Russia and its unique and beautiful cathedrals and architecture

is a splendour. Gold domes of churches and monasteries bring magic and opulence

to splendid views and the bell towers and cathedral of St Sergiyev

is a wonder.

Set in a quiet and peaceful setting of gardens and trees

the cathedral is a centre of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Peterhof Palace with its fountains of beauty, statues and gardens

on the Baltic Sea is a place of beauty.

The Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg with its

collection of paintings and beauty is wonderful. This is a magnificent palace

of the Tsars, formerly the Winter Palace.

St Petersburg is a beautiful city, built by Peter the Great in 1703

with European concepts of architecture and design. He had spent time

in Western Europe and some of the designs would have been inspired by

the architecture of France, England, and the Netherlands.

Many of the palaces in Russia were renovated.

The Amber Room of Katherine's Palace was also described. It was also replaced

after the war.

For art, architecture and beauty European travel does seem to have much to offer.

Also the colours, the magical wind-mills, the tulips in the spring time and the reflections

of beauty cast on the rivers by the magnificent castles and palaces, to see Paris in the fall when the colours of the leaves are changing on the trees, it is all a splendour of magnificence.

Well recommended.

So, a feast of places to think about for future travel!

What can I say but a kaleidoscope of dreams!

Last Christmas I booked to go on a trip to Mont St Michel in France, Giverny

(to view the gardens of Claude Monet), Chartres, Normandy towns and villages

and chateaux of the Loire Valley of France and also to Venice for travel in April of

this year.

Beautiful Venice with its magnificent palaces glimmering in reflections

on the waters of the Grand Canal and the lively colours of fishing villages on the islands

of Murano, (famous for glass blowing) and Burano. These are places

which I still hope to visit though unfortunately did not get away this year.

St Michael's Mount in Marazion, Cornwall, England is spectacular, a marvellous castle overlooking

the beautiful sea where can be seen windsurfers and the yachts of sails. I thought

at the time that this was a magnificent setting. There is a causeway to walk across

when the tide is out. I expect that the famous Abbey of Mont St. Michel is similar

also set in a dramatic setting of sea, landscape and sky. Wonderful!

Campfire Poetry

Poetry in Paradise celebrated a wonderful

evening with poetry under the moon and stars in the

wilderness area and mountains of Mudgeeraba

on the Gold Coast.

An enjoyable evening was had by all with some

wonderful renditions of poetry. Bush poetry is

often a favourite of the group of Poetry in Paradise.

Lovely damper cakes (similar to rock cakes with raisins) had been freshly baked by Dawn and

the evening was quite enjoyable.

Banjo may put on a similar camp fire poetry evening

next year, depending on the level of interest of the group.

There was a very good turn out with wonderful friendly folk.

Poetry by night was very nice

and the evening was cool and clear.

For further information Joan Small also has a link regarding the

Campfire Poetry Evening: a fascinating time:

http://www.joansmall.com/2011/11/08/energize-your-life-with-variety-poetry-campfire/

The Golden Book of Venice

The Golden Book of Venice: a Historical

Romance of the Sixteenth Century

by Francese

Litchfield Turnball

What a splendour this book is,

an absolute gem!

I loved this inspirational story set in Venice

of a historical romance set in sixteenth century

Venice, the times of the magnificence

and pageantry of the Doges.

A scholastic work of art, a prose piece of beauty.

This book is available for download by Project Gutenberg

and details the quarrel of Rome and the Republic of Venice.

Fascinating characters from the nobility to the peasantry, of

gondoliers, artists, fisher-folk and ecclesiastics reflect Venetian society

as it was during these times. The clothing and fashions, including

the decorative attire of gondoliers of the noble houses give colour and also

a sense of the opulence and the exotic in this novel of such wonderful

descriptions which evokes the Venetian world in all of its majesty

of the sixteenth century.

Tradition, pageantry, governance, precedence,

family history and pride feature prominently as do also the

the magnificent lions of St Mark's Square, signifying justice

above all and with the motto of Venice decorated in allegory form

“Strong, just, I put the furies

beneath me and the sea beneath my foot.”

The beauty of Venice forms a

special compelling backdrop to the story and the struggle of

Church and State is highlighted as a main theme of the story.

A son of the nobility, whose name appears in the “libro d'oro”

(the Golden Book of Venice) marries a daughter of the people whose

father lives on the island of Murano, famous for its magnificent

designs and glass works.

The spiritual element of the settings

and inspirational aspect of the story is not lost and

the story gives solace for its beauty.

Descriptions of Venice and the times are authentic. The descriptive

quality of the writing is beautiful. Almost as

a play well rehearsed and ready for the stage.

The story is magical.

An older style book with wonderful turns of phrase and beauty.

Well recommended!

The Maid

The Maid by Kimberly Cutter

Statue of Joan of Arc in Paris from wikipedia:

(of gilt bronze)

A powerful and beautifully scripted story

of Joan of Arc. Magnificent in its scope

and also an inspirational story of an inspirational

young woman who inspired thousands of soldiers

to follow her.

I enjoyed reading this book. It is as though the reader

travels with Joan of Arc through her tumultuous life,

relating to her sadness and also her joy of life.

This book is descriptive and evokes a time in France of

the early fifteenth century when life was very different with

the English and Burgundy in opposition to the Holy Kingdom

of France, as Joan of Arc at the time believed the kingdom was

and that she had been sent on a holy mission from God to

free France and crown the king, Charles VII, at Reims Cathedral,

where all previous kings had been crowned.

The story is quite extraordinary as Joan of Arc was a young peasant

girl without material support or influence initially,

but who showed true faith, strength in opposition and determination.

Unfortunately, there are also gruesome battle accounts in the story

however the author does portray the times authentically and is most

likely reflecting the harsh reality of some of those more distant battles

in the past. Also, sometimes perhaps the harshness of life.

The sword of Charles Martel, who had freed France from the Saracens

was also carried by Joan of Arc. In her magnificent armour and splendid

war horse she must have presented quite a spectacle, a radiant vision, leading her soldiers on to

battle and riding with the wind across the beautiful fields of France holding her

white satin banner aloft with the inscription of Jesu Maria on both sides

and a picture of Jesus on the globe and two winged angels with golden lilies

in the background and was also trimmed with golden fringe.

Joan of Arc showed bravery and was a fearless

warrior. She also had many loyal supporters. She became quite the heroine

after the siege of Orleans.

This book gives an incentive to read more of

Joan of Arc. There is a site “Maid of Heaven” of poetry written by a

contemporary poet of the time, Christine de Pisan who wrote of Joan of Arc.

“The Maid” is a wonderful story to read with magnificent settings in the Valley

of the Loire and the castles where Joan of Arc often stayed with the king and

his courtiers.

The depiction of the characters surrounding Joan of Arc, her supporters and fellow

soldiers, including the The Duc D'Alencon, who had been a prisoner of the English

for five years, gives a personal perspective.

The dialogue is crisp and clear and the story flows from the pages.

A wonderful story to behold! Beautiful.

A Vision of Beauty

A Vision of Beauty

In 1693 at the time of his retirement, Le Notre, the King's gardener,

gave a gift to the King. He invited Louis XIV to select any paintings

he wished from his art collection of 250 paintings.

It is significant and noteworthy that many of the paintings which Louis XIV

selected are now available to view at the Louvre in Paris.

Included paintings of the 20 paintings which the king initially included in his small gallery are:

Albani's “Acteon Changing into a Stag”

“Apollo and Daphne”

“Salmacis and Hermaphrodite”

Claude Lorraine's “Seaport at Sunset”

“Village Fete”

Poussin's “Woman Taken in Adultery”

“Moses Saved from the Waters”

“Saint John Baptising the People”

Significant also that the themes of the paintings selected

were of a mythological nature, beauty (“Sea Port at Sunset” is

mystical, magical, beautiful) and religion.

The king had an eye for beauty, wished to create beauty.

He had a vision of Versailles from a young age. He had

often gone hunting there in his earlier days.

Where had stood atop the hill a little windmill which

his father would sleep in at nights after hunting in the

nearby forest of St Leger. Thereafter a little pavilion

was built by Louis XIII.

Nicholas Fouquet's “Vaux-le-Vicomte” may have been the

time for change and which eventually did inspire him to

start his own building plan. Prior to this time, Louis XIV

had been confined to older style palaces in Paris or Fontainebleu.

Vaux le Vicomte may have given him a glimpse of what was

achievable with new concepts, space and light, entertainment

areas and gardens.

His new finance Minister, Colbert, would have liked to have seen

Louis XIV devote more time and energy to the Louvre. However,

over time Louis XIV became so inspired by Versailles that he actually

would oversee personally the decorating and arranging of art works

himself at Versailles, including the gardens also.

If the king was not in attendance,

as he may have been away, he would write for updates to be given of

the progress of the works, fountains, flowers.

Louise de la Valliere was at one

time an inspiration for the beautiful gardens of Versailles. Being of a serene

and peaceful nature the softer images of the flowers and parterres would have

complemented her beauty also.

The Grand Canal and gondolas which were given by the Senate of

Venice enhanced the colours and magic of the landscaped scene with

their flags and pennants and sailors in bright coloured livery.

Beautiful white swans glided gracefully along the Grand Canal.

The king enjoyed water concerts and fire-works displays but at one time

his doctor told him he should forgo these activities.

In winter the royal party enjoyed sleigh rides and ice-

skating on the Grand Canal. The king's son enjoyed

these winter sports.

The fountains were magical. It was almost as a gift that the two

Francini brothers arrived at the right time to enhance the

fountains and gardens with beautiful water works.

Wonderful arches of spray would form on a summer's day

where the courtiers and ladies could walk

under the jets of water without becoming wet.

So many fountains and jets of spray, at least fourteen hundred.

The Labyrinthe being quite magical was the place of mythological

statues, animals and stories with the figures of Cupid and Aesop

at the entrance. Unfortunately, this Labyrinthe no longer exists.

At the time it was a marvel and admired by many influential people.

There was also a Marais which had belonged to Madame de Montespan,

creating the artificial with nature, lights from a fountain and tree.

Louis XIV ordered the Marais to be

replaced later. As also, the Trianon de Porcelaine, known as a Palace of

Flora, for its beautiful and rare flowers. Flowers of every kind. This was

subsequently replaced by the Marble Trianon. Sometimes in the evenings

the king and some of his attendants and ladies would visit these flower gardens.

There is a note written by an English author: from Project Gutenburg's

“The Story of Versailles” by Francis Loring Payne:

"In the midst of all the austerities imposed upon him by the ambition of Madame de Maintenon, the King went to Trianon to inhale the breath of the flowers which he had planted there, of the rarest and most odoriferous kind. On the infrequent occasions when the Court was permitted to accompany him thither to share in his evening collation, it was a beautiful spectacle to see so many charming women wandering in the midst of the flowers on the terrace rising from the banks of the canal. The air was so rich with the mingled perfume of violets, orange flowers, jessamines, tuberoses, hyacinths and narcissuses that the King and his visitors were sometimes obliged to fly from the overpowering sweets. The flowers in the parterres were arranged in a thousand different figures, which were constantly changed, so that one might have supposed it to be the work of some fairy, who, passing over the gardens, threw upon them each time a new robe aglow with color."

The Hall of Mirrors, the “Galerie des Glaces” was a wonderful show piece.

Thousands of wax candles glimmered in chandeliers of crystal

and silver ware creating an effect of extreme beauty. Silverware, beautiful

views overlooking the gardens, the rays of the sunlight which at different times

of the day would pattern the marble floor would have created a beauteous

and peaceful image.

At sunset the rays would have shone directly into the Hall of Mirrors in all of

its gilded splendour creating a magical scene, sublime with the beauty and

colour of the sun.

The marble floor and silverware, including orange trees in silver vases,

were subsequently replaced.

Flowers, clothing, ornamentation and entertainments created a wonderful

theatre of life.

Louis XIV was a magical king who created a show piece of magnificence

and wonderful landscaped gardens which were admired

and followed by other European courts.

Tradition and ceremony, religion, were all important to him.

He was also loved by the people.

I have visited Versailles three times and each time it is with a sense of wonder

that I first see a statue of the king on a horse at the entrance gates and the grand

setting of the courtyard and buildings which housed so many people when the

court and courtiers lived at Versailles. The centre of court and government.

A scheme of things.

Don't Fence Me In and A Visit to the Park

Once again the poetry of Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson proves popular
at Poetry in Paradise which was held at the library in the week-end.  These
poets wrote bush poetry of Australia and stories of the outback which is a
popular genre.

I include two poems which I wrote for the occasion.
(For poems of Versailles, please refer to earlier postings.)

I have commenced reading the powerful novel of Joan of Arc and read to
chapter 25 last night.  I will continue reading this riveting story and write a
review later.  The book
is "The Maid" by Kimberly Cutter and this is powerful writing indeed!  I
am finding the book enjoyable to read as it is set in early times in rural France,
 Domremy, the little village where Joan of Arc grew up with her family.
I love books which are set in France and also enjoyed reading of the early years
of Louise de la Valliere in rural French towns and villages in the Loire region
of France and Paris in Sandra Gulland's
novel of "Mistress of the Sun."

I sometimes think I would like to write a novel.  The  standard of writing by
new and contemporary writers is quite extraordinary. I am always impressed.

Don't Fence Me In

 

What a wonderful song!

A reminder of old times round a piano

A sing-song

Don't Fence Me In:

The Song would go

From a long time ago:

I think of beautiful meadows

where elk and deer roam free

Tall grasses, wild swan

And trees of glorious colour would see

And the antelope chases down a mountain stream

The Song of the antelope

As a dream

Wild nature at its best

Natural environment forms the rest;

Shingle pathways with wild flowers

Swaying in the breeze

fields and fields of corn and maize

and in the distance

a setting sun

glimmering in its haze-

A Sun's haze-

beautiful, enduring

creating a golden landscape

of spectacle;

The darkening shadows

The land at Sun-fall

Or-

an eclipse, a Star-light glimpse,

where Earth and Sun and Moon collide

“Now you see me,

Now you don't”-

In a magical Earth-like slide

And the Sun and the Moon do glide

In glorious wonder from Heaven's side

“Oh, to be a fairy on a magical Moon trip ride”

Through the celestial stars and skies so wide:

Nature and magic

It is so blessed

A beauteous world

golden, carressed;

Glimpsed with wonder in my eyes

The sparkling lights of Texas lie

Flying across American skies:

So beautiful for sure

This wondrous world

with sights unfurled;

“Beauty” and “Light”

Falls within

and falls without-

Now we know what the Song's about

“Don't Fence Me In.”

As the seasons are now changing and on the

Gold Coast the spring colours are quite vibrant,

noticeable and beautiful I will take some more

pictures and post some of the photos.

Next poem:

Visiting the Park

Visiting the Park

spring colours

Bright and stark.

Oranges, yellows

greens and blue

In shades and shadows

Budding flowers of every hue-

What a gift of nature be

Glorious in majesty:-

Lilies on a gleaming pond

Star-light, Star-bright

A glittering Sun:-

ducklings, starlings

can be found;

In trees of ever-green

bird song echoes

a magical sound

swirling in a care-free scene:

A beauteous light

Patterned bright

sets the scene:

A world is free:-

And here it was

that a golden friend

was met be chance

came across my path:

For as the day

deepened and became dark

He needed shelter from the park:

Golden labrador,

that he was-

His name “Amber” was because:

Amber eyes with golden coat

Knew instructions as by rote:

“Sit Down,

Come here.”-

Friendly, happy

socialised

As with people

he could cope:

Such a good boy

A cherished friend

And to his home

I had to send.