Taking the long view

Today is the third anniversary of my blog. I thought I'd commemorate it with a theme of taking the long view. In the first two instances, I'm referring to enjoying the view outside of the premises we live in, and incorporating them into the experience we have inside.

These first two images are from the second floor of the castle in Scotland, where we are lucky enough to stay when we want a change of lifestyle. The second two are from the flat we live in more than 30 floors up in Bangkok, of the view of the Chao Phraya river, as it snakes its way towards to Gulf of Siam.

Unfortunately the picture above is now partially obscured by a new condominium development - The Sukhothai Residences, which is nearing completion.

In due course some of the panoramic view to the right of the second photo will be obscured by another condominium development. These changes are the price of progress in a developing country. In a landscape so flat the new additions actually provide a little bit of interest, especially as the new buildings are not too close, and their design and landscaping is easy on the eye. The idea for these borrowed landscapes is not dissimilar to that which the late David Hicks created at his farm in Oxfordshire.*my uploaded YouTube sems to have some audio problems, in which case click on the highlighted link above to watch it instead.

Sometimes blogging provides unwelcome challenges, but the reason to go on, to take the long view, is very much based on the interest shown by so many, and the comments that keep this hobby alive for me. Thank you to those of you who qualify.

And finally it seems only appropriate that I should use the opportunity to remember the terrible natural disaster in Japan, with it's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear explosions. But for this I am also taking the long view. In time these terrible events will eventually heal, although with the bombardment of 24 hour news broadcasting, and repeated images of the horror unfolding, it is hard to imagine how any country, let alone one with such extraordinary wealth, can overcome the difficulties it faces today. The stories are heart-wrenching, but also show the finer side of human nature, and the dignity and stoicism of the Japanese people.

Many thanks to blog reader Petra

Many thanks to Petra of Art & Interior, who has advised me of the solution to the disappearing thumbnails:

I finally found the answer for the missing thumbnails:

please check my post:

http://artandinterior.blogspot.com/2011/03/blogging-missing-thumbnail-images.html

Blog spit

Has anyone discovered why thumbnails of other bloggers, which previously appeared together with updated posts, in "My Blog List" has stopped appearing? Others seem to have the same problem.

The Blogger Help Forum does not seem to have any helpful answers. Your assistance welcome!

Enough about me, let's talk about saffron

Lindaraxa nominated me for a Stylish Blogger Award. The little minx.

The Stylish Blogger Award is given by bloggers to other bloggers in recognition of....

having generous friends who make kind remarks about your blog whether deserved or not.

As I had been nominated for a similar "award" recently, and not wishing to warble on endlessly about myself, I promised that if I could come up with something amusing, I would respond with that. Sadly, my attempts at creativity have sounded pretty hollow to me, so I shall just have to leave it with a very big thank you to Lindaraxa, and a bouquet of croci - Crocus tommasinianus - photographed above during our stay in the Borders, in September.

As the crocus produces the spice saffron, it seems entirely appropriate that my bouquet should consist of a variety of this plant - presenting it to one of the best cooking blogs I know. And as a Cuban, Lindaraxa will appreciate the use of the spice in quite a lot of their recipes. I'm sure she might oblige us with one of them.

Art appreciation by wartime housewives

Windsor town, railway and the Curfew Tower and Horseshoe Cloister, Windsor Castle c.1941-4

The Round Tower from the roof of St George’s Chapel c.1941-4

These are two of 26 watercolours commissioned by Queen Elizabeth and are in the Royal Collection.

I have recently started reading the blog of Wartime Housewife and I am particularly enthused by her post entitled "Off the Wall", which I have linked here. This is a very sensible expression which encapsulates the piece:

The appreciation of art is something that should be intrinsic and accessible to all of us.  Not necessarily just staring at paintings or pots or piles of ceramic seeds, but having the understanding that the things around us should have an element of beauty.

With her reference to the works of John Piper, I thought of another wartime housewife, who commissioned rather dramatic images of Windsor Castle, for posterity, lest the Luftwaffe's endeavours rendered them to a pile of rubble.

An international tale

The author of Lindaraxa's Garden has very kindly invited me to write a guest post about the soufflés we cooked the other night. Please go and read it here, and all the other terrific recipes that she makes. The story of Lindaraxa's Garden is written here. I have not yet been to the Alhambra Palace in Granada, so initially I assumed this was the author's garden at her home in Florida. However, it was also the same name of her home in Havana, which she left in 1960, so my initial assumption was not too wide of the mark.

By one of those extraordinary quirks, it has now turned out that the author of Lindaraxa is related to a friend of mine that I have known for a very long time, since my days in Hong Kong. I had not been in touch with him for a while, and last thought that he was still living in New York, but he has moved to Miami, and we have been in touch. A small world, and indeed an even more international tale, all thanks to a soufflé.

Rest and be thankful

Maurice Prost (1894 - 1967), Paris. Panther, c. 1928. H. 30 cm; 63 x 9 cm. Made by Susse Freres, Paris. Bronze with black patina, slate base. Sold for EUR7,100.

Desire

Unusual Blonde Oak and Slate-Top Architectural Center Table, the rectangular charcoal slate top raised on a base in the form of a classical temple, the frieze of traditional form with triglyphs and metopes raised on a series of fluted Doric column supports, the base in the form of a stepped floor, h. 33-1/2", w. 62-1/2", d. 30-1/2".

One way I could happily commemorate my second anniversary date for blogging, today, would be to buy myself this stunning table, at auction next week. But then I'd have to stump up USD7,000-10,000 that it is estimated to achieve, which would be wildly extravangant, to say nothing of the shipping from New Orleans to Bangkok. So, unless someone surprises me, a more realistic alternative, will be to make it a virtual gift to myself. Much more practical really, all round.

My Porch with The Corinthian Column

The erudite and interesting Thomas at My Porch came to visit Bangkok as part of his South East Asian odyssey, and through the wonders of the blogosphere we managed to get together for drinks chez nous, and to go and have a bite at a nearby eatery, which he and his partner very kindly paid for. As well as that generous gesture, Thomas brought a fascinating book about three skyscrapers in Manhattan - The Empire State Building, The Seagram Building and The World Trade Center, written by a friend of his, Benjamin Flowers, which I'm dipping in to, and enjoying very much.

As Thomas notes in his blog, the meeting of four strangers in a far off place, (for them), did not result in any terrifying or unhappy ending. Read the other posts about Thomas's visit to Siem Reap to Angkor, Bangkok landmarks, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, and places in between, with his excellent photographs.