A war time childhood and "J'Attendrai" (Jean Sablon)
I think I might use this blog to record some memories of my early childhood. Born in 1941 most of these recollections will in some way reflect what was going on around me in World War 2 in England.
One of my earliest memories is of my father, his brothers and a French Canadian married to a cousin gathering at my grandmother's house when they all had a short leave.They had been serving in France and wanting to show off their French,they sang this song together with my father playing the piano.It still has the power to move me to tears.I can see them in uniform now ,of course I was too young to realise that they never knew if they would see any of us again.
T
One of my earliest memories is of my father, his brothers and a French Canadian married to a cousin gathering at my grandmother's house when they all had a short leave.They had been serving in France and wanting to show off their French,they sang this song together with my father playing the piano.It still has the power to move me to tears.I can see them in uniform now ,of course I was too young to realise that they never knew if they would see any of us again.
T
OVER RIPE BANANAS
The bananas in my fruit bowl are looking like this as the hot weather speeds up the ripening process.Time to turn them into this easy all in one loaf cake.
Banana Loaf
Recipe
100g softened butter
175g caster sugar
2 large eggs
2 ripe bananas that have been mashed until smooth
225g self raising flour
1 level teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons milk
Method
- Heat the oven to 180C,Fan160c,Gas4.Line a large (900g)loaf tin with a baking parchment liner
- Put all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat well for about 2 minutes.Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin.Smooth the surface
- Bake for about an hour until golden ,well risen and firm to touch
- Cool in the tin for a few minutes then cool on a wire rack.
- Butter thick slices if you like but butter is not really needed.
Summer Shoes for Grandma
Summer Shoes
This summer I have had knee problems and have been thankful that I have a selection of Gabor shoes which are so comfortable to wear and support me when walking without looking orthopaedic.They are worth every penny.
This is my latest style, the wedge heel gives me some height and the silver finish some summer glamour.
They are avalable in a wide fitting,just perfect for me.
What Grandma is reading and watching
Books Grandma is Reading, TV programmes she is watching
Tangerine
Two young women with a shared history of going to the same college meet up in Tangiers .A convoluted story which dragged on with various unlikely characters added to hold it together. A silly story of jealousy, love and loss which I finished although I felt like giving up several times.Might be a good read if you are visiting Tangiers.
My Cousin Rachel -- Daphne du Maurier
Seeing the recent film has sent me back to reread this book .A master story teller at work here with the mysterious widow of wealthy landowner Ambrose arriving in Cornwall to stay with his nephew and heir, Philip.Is Rachel a truly heart broken widow or a manupulative adventuress?A beautifully written book ,unable to put it down.The film is good too with Rachel Weisz as Rachel.
Do not buy the abridged Kindle version, it is very poorly adapted.
The Couple Next Door--Shari Lapena
Although on the best seller list I found this book rather tedious with the story going round in circles.
A couple go to a dinner party next door and foolishly leave their baby daughter alone,unattended in their own house.She disappears and what follows unravels the relationships between family members and their ambitions and secrets.An okay read for a journey or on the beach.Silly ending
Anne With An E -Netflix
I loved this adaptation of Anne of Green Gables .A darker view is examined of the welfare of orphans put up for adoption or put out to work in Canada in the late 1800s.The photography is superb, especially the winter snow scenes .Geraldine James as Aunt Marilla is moving and dignified as she finds herself becoming attached to the orphan Anne .
The Handmaid's Tale -Margaret Atwood
This award winning book has been made into a 10 part TV series that is compulsory viewing.Offred ,played by Elizabeth Moss is the narrator in a state run by Gilead.This strict fundamentalist world has become infertile and the few fertile women available become the handmaidens of an elite whose high ranking men try to impregnate them.
Costumes copied from paintings by Vermeer add to the bleak washed out world of fear and repression that has references to the present world of Trump's America.
Since writing this review there as been a second series.Enjoyable but not as good as the original adaptation
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)