Chatsworth

 

It’s time I return to one of my favourite places 

Chatsworth House in Derbyshire

I was only thinking the other day about when I last visited this grand old house and it must be almost sixteen years ago now.

When I lived in Sheffield, only 14 miles away to the North East, Chatsworth was a favourite destination on a weekend, whether it was for an amble through the house and gardens. A visit to the famous shop, which was located in the old shire horse stables out on the estate, or just to walk by the river below the garden terraces.

In a fit of nostalgia I’ve arranged to meet an old friend from Sheffield there in December 

It’s a four hour round trip for me , but it will be worth going even if it is for just the day 

To say hello again to The Veiled Vestal by Monti will be a highlight

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Environment

Of course there are many useful environmental lessons that might be learned from reflecting  on what happened on Easter Island. The first settlers discovered a sub-tropical Garden of Eden - forested and green with multitudes of seabirds. There they might have made their own lasting earthly paradise but through ignorance and carelessness and other typically human traits, they gradually destroyed it till there were no trees left and the seabird population was decimated. When the first Europeans arrived Easter Island's heyday was long gone. Where once there had been forest there was now nothing but barren grassland.

"The Guardian" newspaper recently announced the winners in an international environmental photographer of the year competition, organised by environmental and water management charity CIWEM and WaterBear, a free streaming platform dedicated to the future of our planet. The awards celebrate humanity’s ability to survive and innovate, and showcase thought-provoking images that highlight our impact and inspire us to live sustainably. (Language from "The Guardian")

I have chosen two of the winning images to share with you, both are from Bangladesh.

In this drone image by Ashraful Islam, a flock of sheep at Noakhali seek water on the cracked earth. J guess there's an anxious shepherd under the umbrella. Though Bangladesh has often had to deal with terrible coastal flooding, in some inland areas droughts have become more frequent and basic survival more challenging:-

The second image is from Chittagong and it is by Subrata Dey. A little boy sits on a rough homemade ladder that reaches up a veritable mountain of used plastic bottles. Plastic recycling has become a significant industry in Bangladesh where much of the sorting is done by hand:-

Shirley and I are pretty scrupulous about recycling plastics, tins, glass, paper and in fact anything else that might be recycled. However, I worry about where our stuff goes. The authorities seem to deliberately shroud their recycling procedures in veils of mystery. I fear that some of our waste plastic might be on that pile or on its way to Indonesia or Malaysia or certain African countries. This is a matter that COP26 might have addressed - to bring about recycling transparency and internationally agreed processes and rules. Sometimes you wonder if they really care.

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Vulnerable

 I’m finding that after all the vulnerability I’m tired.  I don’t regret it.  In bravery comes freedom. I’m humbled that you come to this space daily to affirm me, to love me, and lift me. It’s very humbling for me to be loved and genuinely prayed for simply because of I dared to be bold enough to ask. God has been waiting for me to be bold. And last week, I don’t know what finally got me to break the barriers of my own soul. I thank you for your prayers. Just to know they are there brings me to tears. Thank you. 

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Thankful

 Thankful for

Your love

A good book

And 

Good food

Your turn?

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Food

 I’m back on nights until Saturday morning.

Saturday night I’m having a dinner party

After writing those words, I’ve realised just how old fashioned I am

Apparently people don’t “ do” dinner parties anymore .

They just do food.

Chic Eleanor is one guest and our friends Sara & Pask are the others. Pask is a colourful Italian doctor who is a real natural foodie, which raises the stress of what food to pick somewhat, but I’ve made it easy on myself and have kept things simple . Eleanor will bring with her the starters and the others will bring the desert. 

I will be cooking an all-in-on chicken, rice , olive dish from Spain

Last time they all came, Eleanor dropped some red hot french beans into Pask’s lap, causing him to tear off his trousers, ones that needed sponging down, leaving him to finish the dinner in his underpants.

That was a first at Bwthyn y Llan.

Anyway it will be nice to have a houseful again.

I’ve been collecting a nice set of cutlery over the past couple of years, buying the odd spoon and knife from John Lewis every time I go. I now have enough for four guests to use all at once, but this morning I realised I don’t own four matching cup and saucers, so popped down to Sainsbury’s and bought two to make up a set. 

That’s as far as I go with pushing the boat out.

 

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