Band of Brothers

Remembering my father's family: back row left to right- Joe, my Dad,
Ernest, Ben, Frank, Jack.
Middle row Grandad B and Granny B.
Front row Harold.

There was a daughter Margaret who didn't survive and Granny B died when I was a little girl so all I remember is her black hair and eyes, jet ear-rings, black bombazine dresses and black horse hair sofas. Grandad had a waxed moustache, was very upright and I don't remember any of the affection I had from my maternal Grandad.
Ben, Ernest and Jack served in France in WW1. Ernest was gassed and Jack was awarded a medal
The war afffected their health and Jack - our favourite uncle, was the first to die in his forties. My Dad as a young boy ran away to join up to be with his brothrs but was brought back by Grandma
Joe and Harold served in WW2 and Ben's three sons - Benny , Danny and Ernest also served in WW2. Benny was taken prisoner, escaped and travelled through Spain where he was treated very badly.


This would be in the thirties when the family played a band of brothers from Somerseat( Lancs)
Back row Frank, Harold, Ben, Dad, Ernest.
Middle row Ernest( cousin) Jack, Grandad, Joe, ???
Front row Danny and Benny(cousins)
The game was cricket - Jack was famed for his wicket keeping. Sadly I'm afraid we lost.

The Last of the Fremington photos

Must be a house boat.

The riddle of the sands?

The Williams Arms - further towards Croyde and another good eating place.

Instow is down the coast from Fremington. Going up the coast you come to the Tarka Inn which is a landmark for miles around. We had lunch - appreciating the roaring fire and good food. The great thing is the Tarka Trail runs right along the coast here.




Down the path I reached another part of the Tarka Trail and decided to wander up it to see the lie of the land.


A different atmosphere to Instow
brooding and mysterious

Instow

I waited for ages for them to hoist this boat in the air but they wouldn't play.


Shooting into the sun.

Who couldn't love Instow
?
The dear old Commodore where we have stayed many times.

Cutting Costs.

My eyes are blind,
I cannot se,
I have not got my specs with me.


Time to see the optician. I knew my reading glasses and my sunglasses needing updating but hoped my very expensive Zeiss, varifocals with titanium frames (for lightness) would do another turn. Our optician of many years has now retired but the young Irish replacement was pleasant and seemed to know what he was about. Apparently my eyes have changed over the last two years and all my glasses need updating.


Good news in a way in that at least reading will be easier. Less good was the news there is a beginning of a cataract in one eye which should – he said - be protected from sunlight. My last words to MTL:

‘Don’t worry I shan’t do anything in a hurry. I’ll just get my prescription and think about going to Spec Savers in Taunton.’


So I went ahead and ordered new, but got the optician on my side about cutting costs. I don’t know why I have always had Zeiss- apparently they are more expensive than others equally good so no Zeiss. He agreed that as my reading glasses frames were as new (only used in bed) they needn’t have new frames. He also decided that my titanium frames needn’t be changed and as for the sun glasses he suggested I have transitional lenses on my every day glasses which then will automatically darken in bright light to protect my eyes all the time. So whoopee - no sun glasses and a more reasonable outlay.


So glad I went - the only down side is – for the next week or so - I shall be wearing quite old specs so there may be a few errors- or rather a few more.

Busy week: our son is arriving form Australia for a flying visit – which will be lovely - and it’s MTL’s birthday. Be seeing you – dimly.

Glorious Greco - the epitome of cool in the sixties.

Two TV Treats

On the face of it Jane Austen’s Emma and Alan Ball’s True Blood are worlds apart but both are highly watchable and brilliantly acted and produced. It was a foregone conclusion that I would watch the latest production of Emma - just finished on BBC1- and this was the best I have seen. The eponymous heroine played by Romola Garai looked strangely familiar and I discovered some years earlier she had been the horrid little girl who caused all the trouble in the film Atonement.

I always wait anxiously for the scene on Box hill when Emma makes fun of Miss Bates and earns Mr Knightley’s disapproval.

‘Badly done Emma! Badly done!’

This is quite painful for me as it takes me back to when, aged 19, I had a row with my sister, lost my temper and earned the same reaction from MTL and when we split I believed it was because I too had ‘badly done.’ I recognise Emma’s mortification only too well.

Romola is totally believable in the part and it was fascinating to see the range of expressions flit across her face. Jonny Lee Miller is convincing as Mr Knightley; he is not tall but had a towering presence and the romance was just as pleasing as the one in Pride and Prejudice – if a little more subtle.

Less predictable was my appreciation of True Blood with some graphic sex scenes and – of all things vampires but – rather like The Sopranos, one is drawn in at the first scene and perfect casting makes the series unmissable for me. The heroine Anna Paquin has a lovely gap- toothed innocence – faintly familiar as she played the little girl in Jane Campion’s film The Piano. Some time ago I was asked who I would like to play me if my book ever was made into a film and Anna Paquin would be my dream choice.

The vampire hero – Stephen Moyer is new to me and I can’t take my eyes off him when he is on screen. Every member of the cast makes this a memorable production but a particular joy is Rutina Wesley – a black actress with attitude. I look forward to seeing more of her. The series continues on Wednesday 10pm on Channel 4.

Emma is finished but is bound to be out on DVD before long. It’s a pleasure to see new actors raising the plate and Brad Pitt and George Clooney should look to their laurels.

See photos below