SIRENS to sirens

In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous bird-women, portrayed as seductresses, who lived on an island called Sirenum scopuli which was surrounded by cliffs and rocks. Seamen who sailed near were decoyed by the Sirens' enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast. Although they lured mariners, the sirens were not sea deities. I think I heard the Sirens when I was on Lewis - I was certainly being lured there.

By contrast, the sirens here in Pensby belong to emergency vehicles. There was one evening at GB’s when we heard a lot of vehicle sirens. It was cause for much comment when Jane called in for a chat. Today I have lost count of the number of sirens I have heard. They are quite normal here. In fact, the only reason I even thought to blog about them was the fact that one just went past our house at 11.15 at night at what sounded like about eighty miles an hour . (We live in a 30mph limit!) I am not exaggerating though I accept that judging speed by siren sound is not a precise art.

I think I preferred the Sirens with a capital 'S'.

AND Shades of Nana

When GB and I came down through the Lakes it was absolutely full of memories from our youth. In the distance is Helvellyn - one of the few Lakeland peaks over 3000'. Immediately below it in the picture is the conifer covered hill Great How but we never knew it by that name.



Nana once said it looked just like a tea cosy and the name Tea Cosy Hill stuck for ever after. I couldn't even recall its proper name without turning to the Internet for a map.



As you can see from the windscreen, even the weather was reminiscent of many a Lake District day - rainy!

SHADES of Mum

GB and I came back to Pensby through the Lake District. This is the first time I’ve been to the Lakes since getting a digital camera so all my previous pictures are transparencies. The first sight to greet us was that magnificent piece of Skiddaw slate – Blencathra.



Its nickname is Saddleback – appropriate as you can see – but whilst Mum used to call it that I used to insist on its proper name of Blencathra with its wonderful Old English overtones. The friendly argument would rage back and forth – “Saddleback”, “Blencathra.” “Saddleback.” “Blencathra”.



The fell pictured below is Skiddaw. Having no other name one might think it was less cause for controversy but we still managed to debate wherther it should be "Skiddaw" or the local pronounciation of "Skidda'"...

KABELEWSKY and Co

One of the great things about being at GB’s was having classical music playing at the sort of volume one can really appreciate it. Back home I am conscious of the need to take into account Jo and Richard. Classical music is not Jo’s favourite and that would be an understatement where Rich is concerned. So only when I have the house to myself do I feel it fair to play it loudly. And if I’m moving from room to room I don’t have the linked speakers that GB has.

Not only was the volume a great thing but as a bonus I discovered a load of new composers among his vast CD collection. These were

Kabalevsky - Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky (December 30, 1904 – February 18, 1987) - Russian Soviet composer. Kabalevsky is regarded as one of the great modern composers of children's music. He helped to set up the Union of Soviet Composers in Moscow and remained one of its leading figures.



Busoni - Ferruccio Dante Michelangiolo Benvenuto Busoni (April 1, 1866 – July 27, 1924) - an Italian composer, pianist, teacher of piano and composition, and conductor.

Raff - Joseph Joachim Raff (May 27, 1822 - June 24 or June 25, 1882) was a Swiss composer, teacher and pianist.

Tcherepnin - Alexander Nikolayevich Tcherepnin (born January 21, 1899; died September 29, 1977) - a Russian-born composer and pianist. His father, Nikolay Tcherepnin, (pupil of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov) and his son, Ivan Tcherepnin, (a member of the Harvard University faculty) were also composers. His son, Serge, was involved in the roots of electronic music and instruments.

Granados - Pantaléon Enrique Costanzo Granados y Campiña (July 27, 1867 – March 24, 1916) - a Spanish pianist and composer of classical music. His music is in a uniquely Spanish style and, as such, representative of musical nationalism. Enrique Granados was also a talented painter in the style of Francisco Goya. This wasn't a discovery insofar as I had already known some of his works but GB gave me his complete piano works. As I write this posting I am listening to some it and enjoying it immensely.

FRUIT and VEG.

I worked in Liverpool's wholesale fruit market during some of my college holidays. I don't know if this is the reason I "have a thing" about fruit and vegetables or not. Whatever has caused it, I just love wandering around greengrocers and looking at their displays on the pavement. On the way from Merseyside to Lewis I photographed this shop in Penrith.



And on the way back down I saw this one in the House of Bruer and could not resist getting the camera out again.




Dirty Carrots at Penrith



Clean Carrots at Penrith