Up holden

Upholstery comes from two Middle English words, up and holden, which means in effect- to hold up. At the moment I am covering a very long cushion for the seat of my pew! My long, heavy, dark, gothic oak pew from the Old Baptist Church in Cambridge, Mass.
When it ceased to be a church it became a dancing school and they needed the pews to go, so I bought it for a pittance and could have had many more! Getting it home was another matter though, especially without a car. Finally on a little trolley with wheels and the help of a neighbour in white socks and no shoes we pushed it all the way home and then another neighbour helped me carry it up to my apartment on the second floor!
I got off the subject a little however. What I wanted to say was that I love going and learning upholstery! Tonight I made 11 yards of piping! I could have swung it like a lasso! It is so much fun learning a new skill and making something with one's hands. Not to forget the baked goods at break time. I ate mince pies like there was no tomorrow!
It is very satisfying making something which looks difficult but actually is not.
Next I will have to...

Anna Mae Bullock born today in 1939 ...

...aka Tina Turner! Happy Birthday to one of the sexiest 68 year olds I can think of! I just love going to her high energy life-loving life-living concerts. Once in Basel, Switzerland when she played and Joe Cocker was the warm up- Imagine that!, I broke my right arm jumping from one tram to another trying to get to the stadium in time.
Did not feel a thing until I was riding the train back home late that night after the concert!

Today is the day that...

...Betsy Salkind was born. Happy Birthday Babe!
Here she is with Kev the cat. Betsy is a comedian, activist, writer, actor, and in general a very unique and wonderful person!
Hip hip hurrah!

Robert Woof anniversary

Today Dr. Robert Woof was buried in Grasmere, under the mountain and near Wordsworth's Dove Cottage, a few years ago in 2005. Above you see him with his wife Pamela. Incredible people both of them, larger than life as the expression goes.

The November Full Moon

Moon in the water by Pat de Groot

The Adoption Papers

Yesterday we went to see The Adoption Papers by Jackie Kay at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester.
It was publishefd as a book of poetry originally and then later adapted to the stage by Jackie Kay herself.
Performed by three actresses in a black box theatre where we sat in the square as it were. The staging was very simple and effective. 3 chairs in a triangle form several paces apart, and three large clear perspex panels suspended from the ceiling in order to create different spaces for the actors.
One was the birth mother, the second the adopted mother and the third was the adopted daughter. A very tight and emotionally honest piece and it was really good.
The only improvement could have been in a clearer ending, some sense of closure or a natuaral point of leaving off. As it was we were left hanging and not knowing if the piece was over or not. It may not have been in the writing per se but rather in the staging or even acting I am not sure which. I would like to see it again very much.
It can be read as The Adoption Papers published by Bloodaxe Books. The three voices are made clear by different typefaces.
A very thought-provoking piece and it also really helped me get into the problematic and issues of adoption and what it can bring up for all the different individuals involved.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I confess I feel nostalgic about this holiday. I used to love it when I lived in the States. A group of friends getting together with great food, conversation, walks and talks and togetherness. Of course each year was different since I did not have "family" as such there. I enjoy looking back over the many Thanksgivings and remembering each one's pros and cons. One year when Greg cooked his first turkey, the turkey was the other red meat!
I especially loved the ones I spent on Cape Cod! Local cranberries picked and used for the cranberry sauce and relish.
In any case this holiday is the least commercial and the most about being. Eating in good company and enjoying it. Hopefully!
However the Native Americans do not celebrate this holiday since it led to a massacre when they so kindly came to share their food with the starving pilgrims.