Fungi Festival!

It's been another glorious 'Blue Sky' Autumn day; not something, so, I wondered out to enjoy it.
I had, been invited to 'lunch-time drinks', but declined.

Anyway, my walk, as usual eventually brought me into town; where I discovered there was a Mushroom Market on!
Italian chef & restaurateur Carlo Carluccio, the other year opened a branch of 'Carluccio's', his cafe chain, in Dreamingspires Castle complex.
He was sponsoring the foody event, to advertise his books & food...The market was also, on yesterday, when I missed an hour long cookery demonstration by the man him-self, which was a real shame.
Today, besides every type of mushroom imaginable available...There were lots of anti-pasta, Italian meats & Parmesan for sale...I succumbed to some tasty olives & Parma ham.
And, also sampled 'Risotto ai funghi', made with fresh wild Ceps; new to me, but the said 'King' of the Italian mushroom world. It was delicious but very rich!

I really fancy dinning in Carluccio's Cafe'/ Restaurant, so I peaked in.
The entrance takes you into a deli, which stocks a range of upmarket Italian foods including freshly-baked cakes, cheeses & cooked meats.
It's a bit like his market stalls today; ie with lots of dried goods, books & untensils too - a tempting mix.
As for the menu - a range of Italian delights but no pizzas.
On afternoon's like this, I wish Little Buddy was around!
We'd wine & dine & be so happy there together!
Why?
Because some of our happiest moments were in Italy!

ABC Wednesday Round 3 - H is for...!

Here we are @ the letter H.
Dreamingspires & the University have many literary connections, that tourists habitually come in hunt of.
The most obviously probably are authors C.S Lewis, Tolkein, Lewis Carol for Alice in Wonderland and Colin Dexter for Inspector Morse, but there is another newer one.
My H is for hero Harry Potter...And, his Hogwarts...How come you may ask?
When it came to filming J.K. Rowling's first novel "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", locations were hunted for.
A scout happened upon Christ Church College, viewed its grandiose 550-person dining hall with high vaulted ceilings, arching stained glass windows, hung with huge royal portraits, & complete with high table & the longest tressle tables ever and hailed it Hogwarts Hall...The film crews & Harry descended on the college & set up house.
However, after a couple of weeks shooting, it was decided the dinning hall was just too small, only three rows of tables, the book specified four.
So,the technicians de-camped & hastily built an scaled up exact replica in a empty plane hanger!
Only, Hogworts staircase is the genuine article...But, that doesn't seem to matter to Harry fans who in gowns & wizard hats hang out in the city before visiting the Hall...And, as I have to have a hound, H is also, for howler...ABC Wednesdays host is Denise.
The home for posts is HERE!

Camera Critters Sunday - BC Wildlife Rescue!

With no new 'critter's' photo's taken this week; too, too busy watching tennis I guess!!! Am once again visiting memory lane.
Whilst on Vancouver Island last June, stopped @ the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre, near Errington.
Founded in 1984, it's aim is "to care for the ill, injured & orphaned wildlife and to educate the public on wildlife concerns".
They run a specialist bear rehabilitation programme & try to rehabilitation of all the other wildlife bought there.
At the time of my visit, they had three, one year old, Black Bear cubs in their care. As the youngsters were being groomed for release back into the wild, contact with humans was being kept to a minimum. But, their antics in their isolated den could be watched via a 'live' video camera link. They were so funny playing together.
The Centre had one permanent resident bear, with a huge, well fenced outside territory, but he was no where to be seen - typical.
So, the only bears I got to photograph were in the Museum of Nature...
But, did see many Bald Eagles recovering from a variety of injuries. Those being rehabilitated were held in a restricted viewing flight hanger, whilst oneswhose flying abilities were so poor they couldn't be released were more visible - photo taken through glass...Also, saw a very greedy toothy chick - LOL...Swainson's Hawk - Elvis, who was found tethered by a rope on a balcony & is so man imprinted, he can't be released either....And of course Brian, the Bald Eagle, the Recovery Centre's celebrity.
Named after the dentist Dr Brian Andrews from Nanaimo, who gave of his time to help him. Brian's upper beak had been blown away by a gunshot, leaving just the tip attached by a thin piece of cartilage, it had to be rebuilt. Dentist Brian took various moulds & over a period of time constructed a permanent prosthesis tinted yellow to match the rest of eagles beak.
Brian's flight cage was just too floodlight with sunshine & shadow, for me to do him him photo justice, so this image comes from a postcard I bought there...The Recovery Centre does amazing work.
Camera Critters is hosted by Misty Dawn HERE
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Comments Recieved:-
Aileni said...
Great memories, Blue. The Centre does valuable work.
06 July 2008 10:32
Michele (Rocky Mtn.Girl) said...
This is a great post and this Centre does wonderful work!!I hope you are doing well and having a great weekend.
06 July 2008 10:35
i beati said...
enjoyed the post a lot
06 July 2008 11:36
Kerri said...
WOW! What a wonderful service the dentist provided to this Eagle!
06 July 2008 11:53
B. Roan said...
Brian has a mighty handsome beak. Not too sure about that toothy chick. Now that's a funny shot!
06 July 2008 12:06
Reader Wil said...
What a good post. I wholeheartedly agree with you that we should always protect animals. I am a member of WWF and Green Peace.What you do is great!
06 July 2008 13:32
babooshka said...
My kind of post. I abhore cruelty towards animals. Wll done for highlighting such a fantastic place.
06 July 2008 13:44
~TAMY 3 Sides of Crazy~ said...
I love lesson posts - thanks for sharing! Brian is beautiful!
06 July 2008 15:43
Dragonstar said...
I can't begin to imagine what my dentist would say if asked to work on an eagle's beak! That centre obviously does excellent work.
06 July 2008 17:00
Raven said...
Great photos and interesting information. That greedy chick was really cute. If you haven't visited her site, you would probably really enjoy Tracey Huston's wilderness photos.
06 July 2008 17:01
Gretchen said...
Awesome shots!
06 July 2008 20:08
Misty Dawn said...
This is a fantastic post! I'm so thankful you shared this with us!
06 July 2008 22:10
April said...
Great post on the Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington - I'm glad you were able to see it while you were on vacation. I'm about a 14 hour drive from Vancouver - close to Prince George, B.C. I haven't seen any black bears yet this summer - sometimes we'll see them at the edge of the highway. We've only had two in our yard, close to the house, in the thirty years we've lived here. I don't really want to encounter one on the trail - I'd be petrified! Have a nice week, and thanks for stopping by earlier.
06 July 2008 22:53
Teena in Toronto said...
Looks like a fun place to visit!I played too :)
06 July 2008 23:00
B.T.Bear (esq.) said...
Ahhhhhhhh.......... I like to heer abowt peeps hoo carfter Bears!
07 July 2008 13:04
Lilli & Nevada said...
Wow these are all good but i like the close up of the last photo that is neat. Come see mine
07 July 2008 15:32

Favourite Things Thursday - The colour Blue!

Now, I really, enjoy participating in the various weekly photo meme's I've joined. With Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday's morning posts, happily tied up with them, I'm now occasionally lost, as what to blog, first thing on Thursday & Saturday!!!

So, I've decided to start my very own meme!!!

Well, why not?

If, friends want to join in all the better; but, if not, so be it.

I'm sure everyone, knows this song, sung by Julie Andrews in the film 'The Sound of Music'...

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens;

Brown paper packages tied up with strings;

These are a few of my favourite things.

When the bee stings,

When I'm feeling sad,

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so sad!"

My meme is Favourite Things Thursday!

We all have 'Favourites', whether it's a place or a type of coffee.

I, find it impossibe NOT to have Favourites.

So it shouldn't be, that difficult to play!

The subject can be anything - person, animal, inanimate object!

It can just be photo's, or written words or preferably both, explaining your chosen Favourite

Just, leave me a comment to say you're participating.

~

So, what's my 'Favourite Thing', this inaugural week?

"Let's start @ the very beginning"

Sorry!

I think it has to be the colour Blue, as it's so much part of my life.

I have Blue Wooden Roses...

Collect Bristol Blue glass & Blue Clementine Wedgwood bone china

It's been my very Favourite colour since, way back when.

Why, is more difficult to explain.

Maybe, because as a little girl, each Summer I went to the coast.

A sea-side holiday, with Blue skies & sunshine & Blue sea!

This is me, on Weymouth beach in 1958, paddling...

Still a Favourite activity when @ the sea even now.

My stunning outfit was Aqua Blue with brightly coloured nursery rhyme figures - I remember it clearly; as my mother, never throw anything away!

From childhood, Blues been my Favourite colour to wear.

My mother & I both in Blue @ Hampton Court in in 1962...

Even before, I was 'Colour me Beautiful', colour coded, in the early Eighties in Canada & declared a 'Spring' with Blue, my dominant colour; it was firmly established in my wardrobe.

I love it's clean coolness, besides which, it suits me!

But, vanity aside, I'm fascinated with natures Blues.

The sea's Blue hues, the ever changing Blue sky...

The rarity of Blue beauty of flowers...There is still no genuine true Blue rose, despite the Japaneses best efforts, do read my post A True Blue Rose.

And, @ some stage, I also realised, Blue, had a darker side & represented my more melancholy moods.

When I came to choosing my blog name, it was a no brainer, it just had to be Blue!

So, there you have it, my first Favourite Thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Comments Recieved:-

Sarah said...
Those blue wooden roses certainly don't look like wood - I was thinking they were lovely roses!
26 June 2008 08:58
Maggie & Mitch said...
What a cute little pup you were, Blue! Mom says she wishes that she could make wooden roses! Love ya lots,Maggie and Mitch
26 June 2008 09:47
Girl Girl Hamster said...
Woh blue flowers look nice.... Your favorite things look pawsome~ Girl girl
26 June 2008 10:29
Agatha and Archie said...
You were so cute as a tyke!!!! A+A+PL2
26 June 2008 13:51
B. Roan said...
Okay, I've posted my Favorite Thursday Things. I love your blue roses. Funny thing, during the Betsey Reed Festival, I hit the Wooden Roses booth to buy you a blue rose, but they only had pinks, reds, and yellows. I didn't know you already had some. Now I'm not as disappointed.
26 June 2008 13:52
euthymic said...
I love the picture of you and your mom, both in blue....my favorite thing? lots, but one thing i gotta have everyday is COFFEE!!!!!
26 June 2008 14:33
Jonna said...
This will be fun. I assumed that you would start your favorite things out with BLUE! lol. Mine is up. And, off we go!
26 June 2008 15:25
Michele (Rocky Mtn.Girl) said...
Ooooohhhh... you are soooooo cute... I love the picture of you with your mother! I love the blues you have shown here. The blue wooden roses are lovely... what a unique ornament! And the blue snowman sweater...ahhh... that's just adorable!! Love 'em all!!!
26 June 2008 18:06
Dragonstar said...
Blue, this is a beautiful post! Thursday's my only meme-free day, so I might join in with this. I'd considered posting thoughts or things, but being lazy I hadn't got any further than that. You could have saved me some trouble here!
28 June 2008 09:34
nonizamboni said...
I am the last of the 'lazy Libras' and I'm really sorry I let this fly by. I was thinking of the many wonderful things I love and lost track of time. Sheesh! But I'll be in for next Thursday, for sure. I apologize but love you lots even though I'm a dimwit :O)
29 June 2008 19:04

Camera Critters Sunday - Bunny Park!

Last week, I missed Camera Critters because I was away with no Internet connection but I'm back.
And, for once with NO dogs!
It's a year since my last Canadian Vacation.
I made 5 BC trips in 15 months.
When ever I arrived in Vancouver, I stayed out in Richmond, a city in it's own right & a very pleasant one too.
My hotel, home from home every time, was the Ramada, which backed onto the local peaceful oasis, Minouri Park.
So, named because of the delightful looking chapel there...I'd always opted for a room with a small balcony overlooking this vibrant green space...It's a wonderfully pretty park...But, what fascinated me, on every single stay, were the bunnies.
I re christened Minouri Park, Bunny Park.
These guys weren't wild rabbits, but domestic ones, pets let free!
They come in all colours, shapes & fluffy sizes...And, they seem to live quite happily in the park, even surviving the Winters, which thankfully, usually aren't that severe.
There's plenty of undergrowth shelter; they have no visible predators, I've never seen a single cat in the area; and with lots & lots of grass and the locals dropping off apples & carrots for them to nibble, foods not a problem.
So loved & tolerated are they, the parks gardeners just protect their new plantings from them when needed...I've spent hours watching them, especially the kits; yes, these bunnies successfully do what bunnies do, have off-spring.

Sadly, the youngsters were always too shy to capture on photo's.

One would need a decent zoom lense, which I still lack.

To join in Camera Critters or just view more photo's please go HERE, Misty Dawn, our hosts site for this meme!

"Blackbird singing @ the dead of night!"

Well, I'm back to Thursday afternoon theatre matinees!
Dreamingspires Playhouse's production this week is 'Blackbird' by David Harrower, on it's first UK tour.
This drama had THE most overwhelming reviews in its pre-publicity blurb, of any play I've seen to-date this year...
"A dance of death to the music of love and betrayal" Whats On Stage
"An extraordinary no-holds-barred drama" The Daily Telegraph.
"Gripping... Thrilling... a Sensation" The Sunday Times.
"An unmissable image of obsessive love" The Observer.
" Five Star! One of the most daring plays of recent years" Scotland's Sunday Herald.
" The gifted David Harrowers's intense and emotional play is a miracle" The New York Times.
And, I could go on!

Before seeing the production, I also, learnt that 'Blackbird' had been written for the Edinburgh International Theatre Festival in 2005; had, had highly successful seasons in both London's West End & on Broadway: had picked up the Laurence Oliver 2007 award for 'Best New Play'; and was recently premiered in Sydney directed by Cate Blanchett.
So, to put it mildly, my expectations were extremely High!!!
However, I was still totally unprepared for the quite extra-ordinary, in many ways disturbing but brilliant drama I saw unfold on stage.
It was not one for the faint hearted or narrow minded!
I belatedly realised why it not suitable for the under 16's too! All I knew of the story line was that it was about Ray, who has to confront his past when Una arrives unexpectedly @ his office & intense scenes followed, as they recollect their passionate love affair of some 15 years earlier.
But, from the first moment the couple meet on stage, it's obvious that all is not what it immediately seems.
What is quickly revealed, instantly has one's emotions reeling.
When Ray first talked to Una @ her father barbecue party, he was forty plus, she was just twelve!!!
The relationship that followed, resulted in him being charged with & convicted of paedophilia.
Yet that's not what the plays really about, as it looks @ that very grey area of 'love' between to individuals, divided by a forbidden unacceptable age gap.
It becomes clear that Una, was old for her years, developed an all enveloping crush on Ray, & pursued him.
While he became unhealthy obsessed with her.
She tempts him, & he takes advantage of a young girl when he, as the adult, should have know to behave better.
As a consequence of his deeds, Ray went to prison & was badly treated as convicted paedophiles are; when he was released he made a new life for himself with a new identity, Peter, in a different place.
But, Una was unable to move forward & escape, trapped in her local community, branded by her neighbours, shunned by her friends & berated by her parents, she's grown up disturbed, unable to let go of the affair.
As tensions rise, we learn, that both have more to tell each other about what actually happened in the past.
Ray & Una ran away together, with plans to flee the country .
In a Guest House in Tynemouth, waiting for the ferry, they have illegal under age sex. He leaves her in bed to buy cigarettes. Una now, berates him with "You left me alone. You left me in love"
He appears not to come back for her, she panic's & runs out into the town in search of him & is found distraught.
The police are called in & the story of the affair unravels.
But, in truth he didn't abandon her.
He went for a drink for 'Dutch Courage' @ a pub, before returning to the Guest House for her, finding her gone, he searched the town in vain & then fled, before handing him-self over to the police.
After these recollections, they draw close to each other again...
And, it's very clear they still hold strong feelings for each other. For one moment, I thought I really was going to actual sex on the stage, as physical passion boils over!!!
As they draw apart & then seem to reach some point of common ground & understanding and we the audience grapple with the concept of when is love abuse; Ray's new partners young daughter makes an appearance, bringing home the enormity of his sexual folly.
He frantically tells that Una, that she was his only 'child' love.
She desperately pleads with him to stay with her, but he leaves, leaving the truth hanging in the air???
It was all so mesmerising when this final scene ended, we, the audience were too stunned to immediately clap.
Or, I should say applaud loudly & enthusiastically!
This was some, gripping highly charged emotional play.
And, not the easiest to review!

There was no interval, so no let-up from the relentless barrage of powerful feelingss - anger & love & laughter, yes laughter there was, and misery a plenty.
The single set was a rubbish littered dreary office staff room, I'm guessing, it was meant to symbolise messy lives!!!
The two actors, both recognisable British TV stars; Robert Daws, from ITV's 'The Royal' & more familiar to me, Dawn Steele from BBC's 'Monarch of the Glen - she played Lexie; were superb. The raw emotions they brought to their parts was spell binding.
Robert as the now aging sagging Ray, dragged unwillingly out of his safe new life into the past, inspired both initial distaste then genuine sympathy & understanding.
Dawn, as the nervous, permanently damaged Una was touching, & so believable as the attractive young woman who on the surface has everything, looks, good job, nice flat but was so deeply scared inside.
It certainly wasn't the most comfortable play to watch, but unlike the Clean House which touched another raw nerve with me, this one I'm strangely glad I saw, differcult as it was @ times to watch!
I think all the praise lavished on the production is well justified.

From the lyrics of the Beatles 1968 song 'Blackbird'
"Blackbird singing in the dead of night,
Take these broken wings and learn to fly.
All your life,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise."
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Coments Recieved:-
Simba said...
The play sounds really interesting. Simba xx
25 April 2008 10:01
Maggie & Mitch said...
What a gripping story this must have been to see in person! Great review, Blue!Love ya lotsMaggie and Mitch

A True Blue Rose!

This story I found in the Telegraphs on-line news pages.
It's been posted by their Toyko correspondant.

My love is like a blue, blue rose
Love-struck Japanese will be able to celebrate St Valentine's Day with blue roses next year after a whisky company perfected the unique blooms.
Suntory Ltd, more famous as the distiller of the Yamazaki brand of whisky, is presently growing test batches of the genetically-modified blue roses in Australia, but plans to start marketing them in Japan in 2009.
It took Suntory scientists 14 years to develop the blue rose, which is likely to fetch a premium price. "Experts said it was impossible to make a blue rose, which is why we went ahead and did it," said company spokesman Atsuhito Osaka "We wanted to rise to that challenge."
They were able to create the flower's distinctive colour by identifying the gene that leads to the synthesis of the blue pigment Delphinidin in pansies & iris's, and transplanting that into a rose. No blue pigments occur naturally in roses.

Examples of the roses on display in Tokyo on Monday, displayed a soft mauve tint that the scientists say is just the starting point for what will be a variety of bluish shades.
The 'blue' rose, as yet un-named, is to be aimed @ people in the higher income bracket, looking for something different for that special occasion.

A while back, I found a web-site for a company called the Blue Rose Florist, based in Toronto. They mention the Japanese project to create a 'genuine' blue rose. But, in the meantime, they're creating their own, 'Blue Rose Exclusives'. Cut white rose buds are cultivated in a blue solution for a short period so that the blue colour can grow into the petals as well as the leaves & stems.
This technique produces a very deep colouration.
I've seen the results, it's very artificial...They are even too blue for me!!!
I'll prefer a true blue one, if, I'm lucky enough to be ever given one.

"Blue roses will blossom in the snow,

Before I ever let you go.

Blue roses will grow up to the sky,

Before I ever make you cry."

Paddy McAloon -English singer/songwriter
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Comments Recieved:-

Mack said...
Wow Blue,Those are really blue!My mom has found a rose called the "blue girl" and while it's not a true blue and certainly not anything like what you found, they are still sortof bluish and very pretty too!
February 5, 2008 5:27 PM
Maggie & Mitch said...
How pretty! Mom loves blue flowers in the garden too but a blue rose??!!Love ya lots,Maggie and Mitch
February 5, 2008 5:57 PM
Queen of Halloween said...
What's next...black ones? I prefer yellow roses and relate the red ones for funereals. The mauve ones do look pretty but so anyone could make lots of money off them seems unfair to me. I guess it keeps the flower growers in business? QoH
February 5, 2008 6:12 PM
Nick said...
Hi Blue,Sue and Sarah have started blogging - http://ladies-with-bottle.blogspot.com - and have found a wine made for dogs! (It's not alcoholic and is made from chicken and beef broth). Have a look!Can I give them a link to your blog on Blue Roses please? They are covering all sorts - wine in fashion and cosmetics, new drinks and gossip (and driving me bananas with lots of "how do you do this?" etc!)CheersNick
February 6, 2008 2:24 PM
Jeannie said...
oh my, I just love the poem at the end. Paddy McAloon,he of the band Prefab Sprout. I like their music, and I love those words.J xxxxx
February 6, 2008 4:25 PM
Katherine and Pippa, said...
I thought blue roses had been around for ages.When I was a kid we had Blue Moon in the garden.
February 6, 2008 9:36 PM
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This post has been removed by the author.
February 6, 2008 9:36 PM
Agatha and Archie said...
That is VERY blue...We still like pink and red and yellow Love A+A