Thursday 30 July 2015

Treasures of Britain; St Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral


                   

When the Great Fire of 1666 swept the City of London, it was the fourth time a church on this site-which had once contained a Roman temple to Diana- had been destroyed. A wooden strucuture, dedicated to St Paul in 604 by St Ethelbert, King of Kent, burned down 70 years later. A second cathedral,built in stone in 675-85, was laid waste by the Vickings in 961. A third burned down in 1087 and the Norman cathedral-larger than the present one-was begun straight away. Stone was brought by sea from the quarries of Caen,and the spire(to be struck by lightning in 1447 and destroyed by fire in 1561)was the tallest yet built. After the Fire, Sir Christopher Wren was commisssioned to rebuild not only St Paul's but another 51 churches throughout the City as well. His design, with a traditional cruciform gothic groundplan and a tall steeple, was finally accepted in 1675 and building began immediately. But the Cathedral that was officially declared finished-after many rows and delays-in 1711 did not bear very much resemblance to those original plans. Gone was the steeple reaching the sky; instead there was the great classical dome, ingeniously constructed so that the imposing outer roof is 60 feet (20 m) taller than the inner ceiling. The lantern tower that crowns the dome is-together with the two fantastic western towers designed as late as 1707-distinctly baroque.




James Thornhill painted the frescoes of the life of St Paul wich adorn the inner dome. These are the best seen from the Whispering Gallery, 100 feet (30 m) high and famed for its acoustics. The Golden Gallery at the top of the dome offers spectacular views but entails a climb of 530 steps. Among the great craftsmen employed by Wren was the master-ironworker Jean Tijou, who made the gates to the north and south chancel aisles plus the balustrade to the elegant geometrical staircase by master-mason William Kempster. Grinling Gibbons, at his most inspired, carved the choir-stalls, bishop's throne and organ case. (the organ istself was played by both Handel and Mendelssohn)






Wren died in 1723 aged 91 and appropriately was one of the first to be buried in the whitewashed crypt. An inscription in Latin above his modest marble slab, composed by his son, reads; 'Reader, if you seek his memorioal, look about you.' Positioned immmediately beneath the dome is Nelsons's impressive black sarcophagus. Wellington's sarcophagus is towards the east of the crypt, while his massive memorial almost fills the north aisle above.


Because I love art and these painters so much I payed more attention to their graves down in the crypt; a lot of them from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. 



© KH

Monday 27 July 2015

Becoming the real you


Everyone knows it probably or has experienced it; other people always know best how you should be, or should live your life or should behave etc. So have I in my life; people always know better how I should be, what I should say or not, or how I should look. Be careful, what will others think of you? Well, I've finally come to a point in my life that I really don't care anymore what others think of me. If I ever did. I have stopped a long time ago to listen to the negative people who not always have your best interest in mind. Almost never actually. Only you know what is best for you.

The one thing that was bothering me was me being overweight and having low energy all the time. I started eating more healthy but still it didn't help. Until one day I walked into a shop where they sell homeopathic stuff and I just out of the blue (even surprised myself) to the sales-girl if she had something that could help me lose some weight and still being healthy. She recomended green tea pills to help burn fat easily and drink only pure green tea. I started doing that and felt better after a few days. Of course I missed my coffee as I am a lover of the stuff but I saw what it did to my skin alone! I started changing my daily meals, less meat (hardly any) more nuts and mushrooms and beans and rice or quinoa and more green veggies and fruit.
I had a painful, sore spot under my ribs on the left for a long time, and even that is gone now I've noticed, just from eating differently and just watching what you eat! 



Then I came across a book by Tara Stiles 'Make your own rules diet' (in Dutch 'Powerfood, Yoga en Meditatie' ) and what she writes is hitting so close to home! She is saying everything I am saying for so long! Dieting doesn't work (been there done that), you just have to do what feels good for you, listen to yourself more (when did I stop doing that?)and you need to move (you can't sit on your ass all day, which of course I love to do, writing all day after work).
She even encluded recipes which are easy to make and give you all you need. (and make my mouth water)


I even like my green tea better now than when I drink coffee and that's saying something!
I know I still have a (very) long way to go, but I'm glad I'm doing it and thanks to Tara I'm in the mood to get moving again and eating even more healthy.

© KH

Sunday 26 July 2015

Music on Sunday, Italy


On our holiday trip we've arrived in Italy and La Bella Italia has some lovely music; I remember being pregnant of my oldest son when Laura Pausini was in the Dutch charts and wanting to name him Laura if he turned out to be a girl (which he didn't obviously) 
Enjoy the Italian music; 



I really like this, shame they didn't win; 





© KH


Thursday 23 July 2015

Treasures of Britain; Eilean Donan Castle



People who know me and my love for Scotland also know that my favourite castle is Eilean Donan Castle. I really can't explain why, but from the very first time I visited in 1992 it captured my heart. That whole region did but the castle especially. I don't think it was a furnitured castle at the time but when we came back to it in 2005 with the kids it was.



Eilean Donan Castle is near Dornie and is one of the most photographed castles in Scotland. The islet located between Lochs Long, ALsh and Duich is named after a 6th-century Celtic hermit. The castle, built c1220 by Alexander II to give advance warning of Viking raids, became the stronghold of the Mackenzies in the 14th century. In 1719 these fervent supporters of the Stuarts entrenched themselves in the castle with 300 Spanish soldiers who had come to support the Jacobite cause. Two months later the castle was bombarded by three English frigates. It was nothing but ruins when, in the 1920's, Farquhar Macrae and John Macrae-Gilstrap began tthe task of restoring it to its former glory.

Eilean Donan before 1920


Banquet Hall

 Inside Eilean Donan-Kitchen

The film Highlander was filmed here


Eilean Donan and Loch Duich

Sunset. 
No matter from which angle or what sky, you could put every photo of the castle here, they'd all be perfect!

© KH

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Knight in shining armour


Daan wrote a blog last Sunday that made me want to write my own thoughts on the subject.

When I was a young girl I always thought I would grow up and marry a man just like my dad and have kids. There were no ifs or buts about it. Of course now I now my dad had his issues as well as every other man (or woman for that matter) has but as a girl I didn't see them, now that he's gone I'm probably not seeing them either. What's the use anyway, he's not here anymore right?
I never knew what I wanted to be when I grew up, what kind of profession I wanted. Did I need one? I was going to be a mum, that was enough for me! I was a child of the Seventies, mums didn't need to work back then really, so you could not really blame me for thinking like that.

The whole picture in my head as a kid stuck there for quite some time, maybe it never have left. My husband wasn't anything like my dad was. He was very self-centered and to this day I really don't know why he ever married me. I can't imagine he ever loved me, he never acted on it anyway, not after we got kids anyway. He was crazy about his boys but our marriage went downhill.
After we got divorced, I really thought I was done with men and went on to do it all alone. I could do it. It would be hard finacially but I could do it. I know I am a strong woman, hell I have had it hard in my marriage, how bad could it be after the divorce?
But I met my current hub and you don't plan those things but they happen. I love him but he too is not a prince Charming kind of guy to lean on or to depend on. The strong shoulder to lean on has to be my own. The rock you so desperately need, has to be you.




That girl wanting to be a mummy and a loving husband is still inside me, looking for that man like her dad. I keep telling her there's no such thing but she refuses to listen. She still thinks there is. I think she's watched too many Disney films where the princess gets the prince and they live happily ever after. There's no such thing. No matter how many Facebook status you read, it's all a fake. Nobody has that blissful loving family all the time every bloody day! No way!

I believe in Reincarnation and I often say that in my next life I will get a degree, a good job and I will stay alone. I will be that rock, that shoulder, that knight in shining armour to myself without having to worry all the time about a partner or children. No matter how much I love my children and hub in this life.




Do I sound cynical? Perhaps but why teach little girls that they have to wait for that Prince Charming to come along only to be disappointed every single time? Teach little girls to become strong, secure women and their happiness will come with it.

©  KH

Sunday 19 July 2015

Music on Sunday; Germany

To continue our Musical holiday trip we've now arrived in Germany;


To prove it's not all Wein, Weib und Gesang, (or Modern Talking) here are some German songs for you;

One of my favourites;









I know he wasn't German but Austrian but sang in German;









© KH

Thursday 16 July 2015

Treasures of Britain; Holkham Hall, Norfolk



I own a book called: 'Treasures of Britain' which I got from my brother-and sister in law once for a birthday. It's full of beautiful country houses or places to visit in Britain. They are Anglophiles just like I am. So I thought as a new topic each Thursday I'd put a new place to visit or long for (or put on bucket list) here on my blog. 
This week; Holkham Hall, Norfolk a Palladian palace designed for Thomas Coke, first Earl of Leicester by William Kent, who was responsible for the interior and much or the furniture. 

 the entrance

Upon close review, Holkham Hall might look familiar to you.  The 2008 film, The Duchess, was set on location here.  The Great Hall in particular was the setting for many of Georgina’s emotional interludes, including her  argument with Charles Grey after she’s returned from their love affair in Bath.




 the chapel

 the library


 the saloon


 the garden


the garden 

© KH



Wednesday 15 July 2015

Eternal autumn



                             

I always long for autumn
In the middle of a hot summer day
I long for rain hours on end
With dark ominous skies
And gusty winds
I long for autumn always
From the month of May
Until December
And even though time flies
I can never comprehend
Why the weather can’t adapt to
What’s going on inside
To be like an eternal autumn

© KH

Monday 13 July 2015

Never apologize for being you



Sometimes you wonder why on earth you bother to even make the effort. To even be yourself cause others make sure they let you know yourself isn't good enough while you know it is! Because you have moved beyond that so long ago. You have made a journey within and have fought and struggled so hard to be who you are at this point in your life. Maybe you are not there yet but you are so much further than you were years ago! You are no longer the person the people from your past knew, so many years ago, maybe on the outside you haven't changed much, sure you gained too many pounds but on the inside you have fought a battle they have no idea of!

Yesterday I went to a birthday party for my niece at my sis' house. My family came and of course friends of my sis and brother in law. People I hadn't seen in a long time and was happy to see again. It wasn't about those people, they are lovely, it is and always will be about my own family. I really don't know why I let them get to me, each and every time. I shouldn't, I should know better than that by now. I really could do without all the pointless drama already.
My wall is big enough to hide behind for the hurtful words not to touch me you would think. That wall I so carefully built over the years is there for a reason. I let some people in, but mostly it is there to keep those negative vampire people out. My uncle is one of them; he was always my favourite uncle but over the last years I must have outgrown him I think or see him for who he really is; someone with an opinion I do not like, I don't want to use the word 'hate' but it comes close. (his opinions I mean)


My hub has autism and everyone knows that but still some people have to go and trigger him to downright attack him and than say he can't take a joke. No of course he can't; first it's not a joke, second if it were, if I didn't get it he couldn't at all because he thinks differently than us. But that wasn't the worst of it, my uncle always thinks he has to be funny and for him that means to be insulting. So he and an other older guest were just blunt and that other guest even said when I almost fell over my sons feet; 'you would get 'that' on top of you! You would have to go to hospital with that weight!' 'That' being me. I looked at him, turned around and went inside to watch the tennis on Wimbledon. No it wasn't very social and yes I missed all the conversations with those lovely other friends of my sis who I haven't talked to in a long time, but I just had to leave. Even my mother was laughing with my uncle. Now I know that she has changed a lot lately, but this I did not expect.


I have talked to my sis about it and she is much more down to earth about things than I am. I think I care too much (still) about what people think about me. I 'simply' have to stop doing that. I need to distance myself from those kind of people too even if it's family. If it makes me feel bad it's not a good thing. If that means I can't go to a family thing, I am sure my sis will understand that. Sometimes I even think it's just me, I make it out to be pointless drama in my head, but if my hub and my son both say the same thing than it's just not me!

I just don't get why people can be like that; Why some people cannot accept the difference in people or treat people with worth and dignity and respect. If I am to respect my uncle because he's older (and my uncle), he doesn't earn it by treating me this way each and every time simply because he thinks it's funny.
Plus I just need to get over the fact that I should care about what people think about me. That I wasn't very social yesterday by watching tennis (I did want to see it plus it was some sort of hiding away safe place as well) and 'what would people think of me now?' Who cares? Well, I did of course. My sis didn't. Time once again to practice what I preace.


© KH