Sophie licks the inside of the yogurt pots clean. Then she licks them again. She does it a third time in the hope that they will have refilled themselves. She gives Angus a look that makes it quite clear that he should be doing more to resolve the situation.
In the little market town a garden that has been taken over by rampant self seeding euphorbia. Bet that wasn't the look they were hoping for when they planted it.
We go to the little cafe by the Abbey. This morning it is sporting its solitary tulip in a bottle look.
The Victoria pineapples from La Reunion return the greengrocers after an absence of six months.
A break of day funeral in the church. A hundred cars parked on the village green and the verges leading up to it. A late teen farmers son from a neighbouring village out with his girlfriend on Friday night. Alcohol, testosterone and a twelve year old VW Golf with a 'sporty' engine did the rest. The girl will be interred in her village church at noon. The boys family have opted to have their ceremony here. There is the hint of family ''differences" in this arrangement.
Shock here over Notre Dame. It's as if we've all lost an old friend. Coming out of a restaurant in the big market town last night we found that people were gathering by the cathedral steps. Some were crying. In the 21st century national symbols still have the power to move. This video of Notre Dame looking her best has been posted on the blog before : https://youtu.be/QWhLVeowPBs?t=1203
14 comments:
The shock over the Notre Dame fire is felt all over the world. A visit to the great cathedral in the heart of Paris a must on any traveller's itinerary. One hopes that the lessons of the Glasgow School of Art fires will be learned and an effective sprinkler system will be installed at an early stage in the restoration project.
Hari OM
Coming across the news of the Notre Dame this morning, my cousing and I felt chilled. Having both enjoyed visits there long past, it is indeed like losing a friend. As Gail says, between this and the GSA it can only be hoped that lessons are learned for further resoration works.
Sophie - if only... YAM xx
We stayed up way too late watching Notre Dame on the news. Just terrible.
I think it is unlikely they will choose to install a sprinkler system. Most heritage buildings do not, because the water does more damage than the fire.
How sad - for two teenagers to die for such silly reasons. But it happens the world over doesn't it?
Notre Dame is headlining the news here in New Zealand as well tonight. So sad to lose such history and beauty in the fire.
Of course there will be an investigation but it is likely to be a tragic accident. Restoration is a known risk with many best practice regulations in place. The lessons have been learnt decades ago, at other heritage sites, and sometimes these things just happen. It is now an exceptional opportunity to train a new generation of conservators and artisans.
I grew up in a small rural town and the deaths of drunk young people in motor vehice accidents were certainly far too frequent. Less common now I think than 50 years ago.
The public is in shock over the damage to the cathedral, but heritage professionals have seen it all before. We know there is a silver lining. Still utterly devastating for a few weeks if you are a custodian of the building in question
Rough day on all fronts.
Gail replies: In my line of work (oil and gas exploration) to say "sometimes these things just happen" would NEVER be an acceptable explanation in the wake of a serious disaster, and it should not be in the 'heritage' business either. There are always new lessons to be learnt.
For me, the news of Notre Dame is heartbreaking.
We are crying here also.
xx
It's heartbreaking!
Angus, I neglected to mention in my comment on yesterday's post what a lovely serene photo you took of the olive branches in the abbey doorway. The beauty of simplicity. And then I learned via today's post of the devastating Notre Dame fire. My heart is filled with tears. And then for the young ones whose lives were cut short by a needless accident. On a different note, that certainly is some robust euphorbia, but my eye is drawn to the wonderful tree in the background. Stephanie in Northern California
I am encouraged by news that the lovely windows were almost all saved and that the entire cathedral was mapped electronically some time ago, so there are pictures of everything. That, and as Susan said, the professionals are on the job. Still, there were many tears.
And how sad and needless for those two young ones to die that way. I know it happens, i've seen it closer to home, but oh my.
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