Robin McKinley's Web Site .:. Robin McKinley's Blog

Robin McKinley

Official Web Forum

Members

Help

Home

Home » Discussion Forums » Blog Post Discussion » Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire

Show: Today's Messages :: Show Polls :: Message Navigator

Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15358]

Sun, 26 April 2009 19:31

jmeadows
Messages: 3149
Registered: September 2008
Location: Virginia, USA

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire

Smooshes!

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15359 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 19:58

jmeadows
Messages: 3149
Registered: September 2008
Location: Virginia, USA

Senior Member
[Moderator]

It does sound lovely there, but wow, does sound hilly! I'm imagining it must be like the mountains here. (The valley where I live is pretty flat, but the mountains are, well, mountainy.) I'm sure the local gardens will appreciate your attention. The cottage sounds adorable as well. Looking forward to the pictures!

Smooshes!

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15360 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 20:11

b_twin_1
Messages: 2597
Registered: September 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Only getting lost once is a great effort!

It all sounds wonderful. (I'm a sucker for stone walls and buildings). Maybe the grey fixtures in the bathroom were trying to blend in with stone?? (hahahahaha)

I hope the lads settled down enough to enjoy the holiday. Smile

Looking forward to seeing the photos!

I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ~ Blackadder

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15361 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 20:37

southdowner
Messages: 981
Registered: September 2008
Location: England

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Those Gloucestershire hills! Last year I got increasingly lame (having worn a new un-broken-in pair of posh shoes) at a christening in a similar Gloucestershire village, where walking from the church to the grandparents' house for the "do" meant tottering down steep cobbled inclines between the backs of cottages, across streets, and down other similarly vertiginous alleys, ending in a spectacular garden which hung over a valley cleft. Spectacular, but definitely mountain goat gardening Smile

Hope the hellhounds relaxed once they'd unpacked their luggage, and of course you had to seek out plant food - no gardener could bear to leave sad plants without at least a little cheering up...

Someone says "pie" and we all go on alert, like meercats. "Pie? Where?" - Blackbear

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15362 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 20:37

Black Bear
Messages: 3216
Registered: September 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Stolid midwesterner that I am, the mere THOUGHT of all those hills makes my legs ache. That's a bit of England I've not been to, I look forward to the pictures with great anticipation!

Oh, and welcome back, we missed ya! Jodi only set a few things on fire in your absence.

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15363 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 22:30

Ithilien
Messages: 703
Registered: September 2008

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Yes, I hope no one will miss those haystacks...

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15364 is a reply to message #15363 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 22:48

b_twin_1
Messages: 2597
Registered: September 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Actually I would be more worried as to what the ferrets have been up to. Wink

After all, they are in the weasel family. Hehehe

I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ~ Blackadder

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15365 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 23:01

boddhi_d
Messages: 70
Registered: October 2008
Location: Tennessee

Member

now I think I will take THE REST IS NOISE and go to bed

Oooh, is this the one (I forgot the author) about music in the 20th century? It's on my list of Books to Get Back to. I checked it out from the library one afternoon last summer, and spent the rest of the day fascinated. Then, of course, I got busy again with everything else, and the book was due back at the library, and---as I said, it's on my list. My only issue with it is that it cries for a companion CD set, with music/ sound selections from the book.

Welcome back!

dawn in tn

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15366 is a reply to message #15365 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 23:08

Diane in MN
Messages: 2733
Registered: October 2008
Location: Twin Cities, MN, USA

Senior Member

boddhi_d wrote on Sun, 26 April 2009 22:01

The Rest Is Noise, by Alex Ross. There is a "free audio companion" at www/therestisnoise.com/audio. I am reading this now, but haven't checked out the listening bits. Good book!

_{"The point of books is to have way too many but to always feel you never have enough . . . " Louise Erdrich}

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15367 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Sun, 26 April 2009 23:54

Diane in MN
Messages: 2733
Registered: October 2008
Location: Twin Cities, MN, USA

Senior Member

I think I will take THE REST IS NOISE and go to bed.

I am reading this now and planned to ask you if it had come your way. Excellent book!

Hellhounds are in a state of considerable perturbation of mind anyway, of course, manifested not only in an utter revulsion at the thought of food, but in the way they leap awake every time I do something drastic like go six feet into the kitchen for more peppermint tea.

I've noticed this with Teddy on this trip. He's done wonderfully--has learned all sorts of things about traveling and being good in hotels, and has ben so good with my aunt and the other residents at her building that he probably has a fan club by now--but he's still reacting to almost every move I make. Tasha is an experienced traveler and so less obvious about it, but she's aware of everything going on. They won't entirely relax until we get home.

And I tell pretty good stories.

Yes, you do! Smile

_{"The point of books is to have way too many but to always feel you never have enough . . . " Louise Erdrich}

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15368 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 01:51

Fake Frenchie
Messages: 506
Registered: November 2008
Location: France

Senior Member

Welcome Home, Robin!

I'm sending you a picture. I didn't post it because I don't know how to bring the size down to 100kb.

[Updated on: Mon, 27 April 2009 01:54]

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15369 is a reply to message #15368 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 06:19

jmeadows
Messages: 3149
Registered: September 2008
Location: Virginia, USA

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Fake Frenchie wrote on Mon, 27 April 2009 01:51

Welcome Home, Robin!

I'm sending you a picture. I didn't post it because I don't know how to bring the size down to 100kb.

Try following the instructions here, on the Tips and Tricks page! I think the first one should work for you. Flickr accounts are free. :)

Smooshes!

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15370 is a reply to message #15369 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 06:26

Fake Frenchie
Messages: 506
Registered: November 2008
Location: France

Senior Member

jmeadows wrote on Mon, 27 April 2009 12:19

Fake Frenchie wrote on Mon, 27 April 2009 01:51

Welcome Home, Robin!

I'm sending you a picture. I didn't post it because I don't know how to bring the size down to 100kb.

Try following the instructions here, on the Tips and Tricks page! I think the first one should work for you. Flickr accounts are free. Smile

But I don't want to open a Flickr account. I know, I know. I'm so antediluvian. My husband could resize the picture with Photoshop, but I didn't want to bother him. It's ok to send Robin garden pictures at the site email, isn't it? If not, I apologize.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15371 is a reply to message #15370 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 07:14

Black Bear
Messages: 3216
Registered: September 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA

Senior Member
[Moderator]

It's fine, though sometimes attachments are a problem for Robin's spam filter. Plus WE don't get to see your pics! Smile

Absolutely don't start up a Flickr account if you don't want one. It's handy, but not necessary. I'd say though it's a hassle, you might have your husband or someone run you through the step-by-step of resizing photos--on my ancient copy of photoshop, it's really pretty simple and it's a handy thing to be able to do.

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15373 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 10:32

shalea
Messages: 781
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ...

Senior Member

Robin, I hope you got pictures of the cottage as well as the landscape? As you know, we just don't have nearly that kind of darling-ness in the US.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15375 is a reply to message #15358 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 11:49

AJLR
Messages: 2566
Registered: September 2008
Location: England, UK

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Quote:

The three levels are further explained by the fact that this is one of those infamous straight-up-and-down Gloucestershire villages. I remember this from the last time I was in this area: I look around and think, gods, this is gorgeous, this is breath-taking, big wow in all directions . . . I’m so glad I don’t live here.

Yes, walking 'down to the shops' takes on a whole new meaning in a village like that, doesn't it. Smile

I'm glad it was also 'wow'. In case you'd like a little Gloucestershire local history - or even Hampshire local history - you might be interested in delving into the Victoria County History series at some time. Back a couple of hundred years ago when I was having a university experience involving History, these were a major resource - and I love the fact that a series started in the reign of Queen Victoria is still ongoing.

I hope you all had a lovely weekend, and look forward to hearing judiciously chosen parts from it when you have recovered from the travelling. Smile

_{"Never let a computer know you're in a hurry."}

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15397 is a reply to message #15370 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 19:42

Robin
Messages: 6007
Registered: September 2008
Location: England

Senior Member
[Hellgoddess]

It's fine. I'm antediluvian myself. :) When I was (first) having trouble loading photos on some earlier incarnation of this blog I was encouraged to open a Flickr account and post links. No! I don't WANT to! :)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15398 is a reply to message #15371 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 19:44

Robin
Messages: 6007
Registered: September 2008
Location: England

Senior Member
[Hellgoddess]

. . . It occurs to me that even *I* can resize photos. I have to, because Wordpress is a *cow.* So, Fake Frenchie, trust me, *you can learn to resize.* :) And then everyone can see your rhodo in full, ahem, fig. :)

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15399 is a reply to message #15373 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 19:47

Robin
Messages: 6007
Registered: September 2008
Location: England

Senior Member
[Hellgoddess]

I tried, but none of them turned out. Indoors the spaces are just too small and too dramatic, and outdoors it's a little dark lump buried in untended shrubbery. I admit I came home muttering that I was going to have to go to the extreme of looking up the 'advanced' stuff on the camera CD: when I was still using film, I knew how to 'force' various things manually, which I don't know how to do on the digital.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15400 is a reply to message #15399 ]

Mon, 27 April 2009 19:49

b_twin_1
Messages: 2597
Registered: September 2008
Location: Victoria, Australia

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Oh well. Thanks for trying. We'll have to make do with your descriptions. (It's a good thing you are a writer!) Wink

[Updated on: Mon, 27 April 2009 19:50]

I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel ~ Blackadder

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15426 is a reply to message #15366 ]

Tue, 28 April 2009 01:17

boddhi_d
Messages: 70
Registered: October 2008
Location: Tennessee

Member

The Rest Is Noise, by Alex Ross. There is a "free audio companion" at www/therestisnoise.com/audio. I am reading this now, but haven't checked out the listening bits. Good book!

Ooh, thanks for the link. Will listen to soon. Not tonight, because it's already tomorrow morning. Not tomorrow night: Stomp is in town, and it's been years. Not the night after, either: Beau Soleil, whom I've never heard live.

*yawn*

good night!
Dawn

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15432 is a reply to message #15426 ]

Tue, 28 April 2009 06:44

Black Bear
Messages: 3216
Registered: September 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN USA

Senior Member
[Moderator]

Oh, hurrah for Stomp! I'd love to see them in person again, it's been about 10 years.

_{"The time is always right to do what's right."--MLK Jr.}

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15439 is a reply to message #15399 ]

Tue, 28 April 2009 10:32

shalea
Messages: 781
Registered: October 2008
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina, ...

Senior Member

Robin wrote on Mon, 27 April 2009 19:47

Ah well, it's the thought that counts. Smile

In some ways digitals are harder than what my father calls "chemical" cameras.

Report message to a moderator

Re: Friday night from the wilds of Gloucestershire [message #15478 is a reply to message #15426 ]

Tue, 28 April 2009 21:38

Diane in MN
Messages: 2733
Registered: October 2008
Location: Twin Cities, MN, USA

Senior Member

boddhi_d wrote on Tue, 28 April 2009 00:17

Beau Soleil--great band! As for the link, Im sure you've spotted the typo, but it's www.therestisnoise.com/audio.

_{"The point of books is to have way too many but to always feel you never have enough . . . " Louise Erdrich}

Report message to a moderator

Previous Topic:	Yeeep!
Next Topic:	The high cost of tower grabbing

Goto Forum:

-=] Back to Top [=-

[ Generate printable PDF ]

Current Time: Sat May 25 06:11:04 EDT 2013

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.07858 seconds

.:: Contact :: Home ::.