Monday 21 June 2010

Rich music breathes in summer's every sound,
And in her harmonies of varied greens -
Woods, meadows, hedgerows, cornfields,all around,
                              
       Much beauty intervenes
Filling with harmony the ear and eye,
        While o'er the mingling scenes
         Far spreads the laughing sky.

             from Summer Images by John Clare

Days of warmth and sunshine are scarce in my neck of the woods.  We have a large amount of rain and grey skies, so it's been glorious to wake up to sunshine and roses.  We've had hot weather for around a fortnight and everywhere you look there are flowers, blossoms and green green fronds, which is certainly a tonic.  The North of England is no longer a mass of belching chimneys, dirty smoke grimed buildings or clattering clogs.  We might now be described as vibrant, cosmopolitans with a unique character, peopling our metropolis with  truly contemporary style-  well that's my story anyway!  We've recently been treated on TV to new opening scenes at the start of, 'Coronation Street'. Now we see rooftops glistening with rain, pigeons fly up from chimney-pots and you just catch a glimpse of the famous cobbles and the public-house sign, Rovers Return.  It's only a matter of time before Betty's hotpot is replaced with Braised Goat Ragout and Crayfish Sushie puts Pork Scratchings out of the picture!

12 comments:

Lynn said...

Isn't it interesting how regions/cities/towns change? Sometimes for the worse, as is the case with most of the small towns in middle America, where mega discount stores have driven away all of the Ma and Pa shops. But occasionally for the better, as with the once-faded and now-rejuvenated spa town I just visited. So glad for your area's rebirth! And just a wee bit jealous of your weather; it is beastly hot and humid here!

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Hi Lynn, it very humid here too alas. We get so much rain as a norm so of course the ground being sodden..up comes the humidity, and mist in a morning sometimes.

I agree with you sometimes in the spirit of regeneration the powers that be strip buildings and areas, and all the character disappears. Although I'm not knocking the new buildings some of them are very striking.

Christine said...

Summers sound perfect in Northern England. Not too hot, lush green colors. I'm a bit envious.

Susan McShannon-Monteith said...

So you are up in the Newcastle area?
I enjoyed the BBC movie "North and South" which revealed all the mills in the North at the turn of the century but alas was still a place of beauty.
Nothing stays the same... including my waistline.
Enjoy the lush green countryside that surrounds you.
Susan x

Graciel said...

Jane,

I am so very sorry to read of George's passing!! But what a story of how he chose you. It was meant to be, obviously. I truly believe cats pick the people they want to be with. All my cats have chosen me and I've been the luckiest girl in the world because of it.

Thank you so very much for your sweetest of comments on my blog and your support in helping "my" 2 strays.

Enjoy the glorious sun!!!
Love, Graciel

Lesya said...

I prefer hot shiny weather and can't imagine myself living in a rainy area; we have enough rain here though. Nevertheless, I love listening to rain drops in a thunderstorm, especially at night, when they lull you to sleep.

I liked the poetic epigraph.

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Oh, I do love John Clare, don't you.
I'm tickled you are enjoying a warm, lovely summer.
We are sweltering here. Edward simply refuses to go outside!

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Hi Christine, alot of rain though...ssheech tons and tons, hence the green (and the rheumatism.)
;)

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

No, not Newcastle Miss Maddies.. further South than that. Most of the mills have been demolished now, or otherwise turned into desirable apartments or places selling bric-a-brac, masquerading as Antique shops. Occasionally there'll be a tall chimney left as reminder but mostly they were blown up by Blaster-Bates or Fred Dibnah. A spectacular dusty sight...and noise!

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Enjoying the sunshine Graciel...and the cats! ;)

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

Hi to the Ukraine and Lesya.
They lull you to sleep...sssssh! ;)

Half-heard in the Stillness said...

I love a huge lot of poets and ever adding to the list, but this John Clare seemed spot-on Pamela!

Edward sounds extremely sensible...and not at all mad! Unlike most English men - you know the saying, 'Mad dogs and English men go out in the midday sun.'
Good old Noel Coward!! ;)