Sarah Bernhardt's leg*

We were looking at the newspaper in a café a week or so back and discovered that Sarah Bernhardt’s leg had been found. Apparently the leg, which was amputated in 1915 had disappeared in 2000. It was found again in Bordeaux just before Christmas. I wrote about Sarah Bernhardt a year or so ago having spent an agreeable afternoon looking at a poster which featured her image. The poster fetched nearly £2000 because Sarah had ordered all copies to be destroyed because she had not given permission for her image to be used.



Click on the image to get a better view


*Sarah Bernhardt’s Leg is also the title of a volume of poetry.

A question or two

What do you do when you’ve finished reading a book? Do you give it away, throw it, sell it or keep it to read again at a future date? I hoard mine and some I’ve reread several times. I also own a few (but not many) books I haven’t read yet. I don’t like lending books because they might not come back.

Have you ever read a book at different times of your life just to see how your point of view shifts? An interesting exercise, try it.

Which was the most disappointing book you ever read?

Eloise

Part 1
When I was 6 I was given a copy of Eloise which was by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight, for Christmas. I learnt new words like adore, absolutely, unique. I ‘adore’ that book and I’ve even used it to teach English. I was really pleased to see Eloise take a cameo role in ‘You’ve got mail’. I also discovered that there is a website when I was checking up this afternoon

Part 2
Fast forward a few years and I’m a great fan of Barry Ryan’s Eloise. Recently the children introduced me to Deezer so I’ve been busy making play lists and of course I’ve got a Ryan brother’s list. I also rediscovered ‘the Hunt’ which my best friend gave to me for my 14th birthday. I remember my party so well. I even invited a boy but he didn’t turn up. Spending the afternoon with 10 overexcited 13/14 year old girls was just to much for him. Hard boiled eggs cut in half seemed to be my idea of sophistication I remember…

He recently appeared on French TV (which I missed). He’s 60 now and his voice has not changed at all!

Ali

I cried this morning when I watched the video which was part of this post. Perhaps if there had been beating and noise I would have been shocked and turned it off ,but they shaved off all of her lovely hair….

Porte de Menin

I was 14 years old and on a school trip when I was taken to Ypres to see the Menin gate. All I remember was how big it was and so many names….

I’ve since discovered that the names are of missing soldiers and there wasn’t enough room for them all. Bodies are still being found today (from 1914-18) and if they are identified the names are removed. Every evening at 8 o’clock the last post is sounded. This done by the perpetual endowment of Rudyard Kipling whose son John was killed in 1915. The only years missed were during the occupation in the second world war.

Soldier’s Dream

I dreamed kind Jesus fouled the big-gun gears;
And caused a permanent stoppage in all bolts;
And buckled with a smile Mausers and Colts;
And rusted every bayonet with His tears.

And there were no more bombs, of ours or theirs,
Not even an old flint-lock, nor even a pikel.
But God was vexed and gave all power to Michael;
And when I woke he’d seen to our repairs.

Wilfred Owen

Another post on Time and Oft.

'Cellos

As I did on my previous blog, I’m killing two birds with one stone by including Nick Drake’s ‘Cello Song’. When I was at secondary school (as it was called in those days) I was fortunate enough to have ‘cello lessons. I really loved playing the ‘cello and took part in several evenings at school, performing to the parents in the school orchestra. One year we performed in the area school orchestra: All of the school orchestras got together for a morning. It is a most incredible sensation to be playing as part of a big orchestra. As ‘o’ levels approached I gave up playing, something I really, really regret. When we win the lotto I’m going to buy a cello and look for a teacher…

I rediscovered Nick Drake in recent years, thanks to having access to more music on the internet. When I Googled his name to find out what he had become I was really upset to discover that he died from an overdose of amitriptyline back in 1974. Like many brilliant people, he paid the price with depression. Like many other brilliant people from the past he wasn’t really appreciated during his lifetime as he should have been.

the documentary of his life is on YouTube

Discover Nick Drake!

Catch a Falling Star...

First off for my Desert Island Discs choice is a song that I especially loved as a child “Catch a falling Star” recorded by Perry Como in 1957, it was his first gold record. The idea of catching a star and keeping it for a special occasion caught my imagination – it still does!

Lyrics to Catch A Falling Star :

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day

for love may come
and tap you on the shoulder
some starless night

just in case you feel
you wanna hold her
you'll have a pocket full of starlight

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day

for love may come
and tap you on the shoulder
some starless night

just in case you feel
you wanna hold her
you'll have a pocket full of starlight
(mmmmm hmmm)

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day

for when your troubles
start multipling
and they just might

its easy to forget them
without trying
with just a pocket full of starlight


catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
never let it fade away

catch a falling star
and put it in your pocket
save it for a rainy day
save it for a rainy day
[ Catch A Falling Star Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

Now you can listen to it too, I’ve discovered how to do that kind of thing…

Discover Perry Como!

Or have I?