Watch this Space

I have had a really lovely weekend.  Sorting out flowers for the Bride as per my previous post, and then to Aida in the evening at the English National Opera, which I will blog about soon, stunning new production with designs by Zandra Rhodes, and then today a drive to Aldeburgh through country side full of gloriously coloured trees all gold and red, to meet Sarah Bower, author of The Needle in the Blood and to talk to her about this terrific book and garner news about her next and, once I have all my notes written up, will post about it.

I arrived at Aldeburgh at 10.55 am and had time to join a short Remembrance Service on the beach.  Rifles were shot in the air at 11 am and then the two minute silence.  Standing there on the edge of the pebble stoned beach with nothing to hear but the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the seagulls crying, was quite moving and then totally wrecked by two people chomping along very heavy footed and chatting at the tops of their voice.  And no, not a teenager in sight, but a 50+ pair who should have known better. They came grinding to a halt at the hissing sshhh they received.  Beyond belief.  Then the rifles again, the last Post and salute.  All very understated, simple and essentially British and I was so glad to have been there.

After lunch and chat Sarah and I bid farewell and I went for another walk around the High Street and the beach and the little back streets and took some photos and, of course, visited a second hand book shop and came away with this hilarious book, illustrated by Shepherd (he of Winne the Pooh fame).  And for the princely sum of £3. Ventured into the back room where the children's books were heaped, and I mean heaped.  They were in no order whatsoever so you immediately get that nice feeling you might find something.  Not this time alas though I did find a rather nice edition of Children of the New Forest with lovely illustrations which I dithered over for a bit, but in the end decided to leave it on the shelf.

Anyway, so lots to write about and will be doing so over the coming week, but now it is chicken in the oven, feet up, results show for Strictly Come Dancing and then slap in the next disk of 24 Series Six and remember I have work in the morning and so it would be a good idea to go to bed some time.

I wonder if I will......

Comments

[ohsovintage]

How fortunate that I was reading your blog 5 minutes before the 'Come Dancing' result as I had forgotten all about it until you reminded me. I agree with all your comments on your next post too. I also found a good second hand bookshop in Tonbridge Wells at the weekend and managed to buy two books at 10p each!

[Mary Cavanagh]

Hi Elaine
I was steeped in envy with your Aldeburgh weekend, and so wished i was on that beach with you to hear the sounds and drink in the wonderful atmosphere. My husband and I have a holiday caravan at near-by Sternfield and we go there at least six times a year. Where's the s/h bookshop?!!!!!! With only one Charity shop in Aldeburgh I need this palace of delights.
Love M

[Teresa]

Blimey Elaine what a packed weekend. I'm glad you enjoyed the opera. I love Aldeburgh and can imagine how moving a Remembrance Day service must be down on the beach considering how vital a part they were to play in the war.
Your conversations with Sarah over lunch were interesting, I bet.