Easter.

A fabulous sunset yesterday, a full moon last Wednesday, British Summer Time begins tomorrow, a cruise ship in port and a bottle of champagne on ice - in lieu of an Easter egg.  I'm not a big fan of chocolate, but I do like a glass of something lovely, and champagne fits the bill perfectly.  I'll drink mine straight, with a plump frozen raspberry dropped in at the last moment; it makes the champagne fizz and gives it a lovely pink colour.  Mmmm. Happy Easter.

The picture shows the Good Friday sky an hour before sunset yesterday.  To see a few more photos of the sunset over Hythe, Hampshire on Friday 29th March 2013, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/46663496685/the-good-friday-sky-an-hour-before-sunset-and-at

To see the current moon phase, click on the link below:-

http://www.calculatorcat.com/moon_phases/phasenow.php

To visit the webcam for the P&O cruise ship Oceana, click on the link below:-
http://www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Ships/Oceana/Ship-Webcams/

Spring Equinox.

A beautiful sun glowing through a hazy, cloudy sky, late this afternoon, just before sunset on the day of the Spring Equinox.  I wasn't sure I'd get a good photo, shooting into the sun, but pointed my camera in the general direction and hoped for the best.  I was nicely surprised when I saw the results.  I also took a shot of the sunlight on the water; a golden, rippling reflection that actually looked more like moonlight - must have been the haze that caused it - wonderfully romantic and mysterious.

The picture shows the pre-sunset sky, looking west over Hythe, Hampshire, at 17:13 on Wednesday 20th March 2013 - the day of the Spring Equinox.

To see a closer shot of the pre-sunset sky, plus the rippling reflection of sunlight on Southampton Water, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/45845316931/pre-sunset-on-the-day-of-the-spring

To read about the Spring Equinox, click on the link below:-

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/march-equinox.html

Words And Music.

Following on from my previous blog (Baroque Spring), describing the feelings that sweep over me when I'm listening to music; this morning I settled down with a good book and came across these lines:-

"As the grand tones resounded through the church, they seemed, to Tom, to find an echo in the depth of every ancient tomb, no less than in the deep mystery of his own heart.  Great thoughts and hopes came crowding on his mind as the rich music rolled upon the air and yet among them - something more grave and solemn in their purpose, but the same - were all the images of that day, down to its very lightest recollection of childhood.  The feeling that the sounds awakened, in the moment of their existence, seemed to include his whole life and being...."  From Martin Chuzzlewit.

Damn you Charles Dickens, I wish I'd said that!

The picture shows the cover detail from one of the serial editions of The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit (1843) by Charles Dickens.

Click on the link below to read about Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens (1812-1870).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Chuzzlewit

Baroque Spring.

I'm certainly enjoying the baroque music on BBC Radio 3 this month (Baroque Spring 1st March to 1st April 2013).  It suits me down to the ground and I've been uplifted, diverted, consoled and delighted in turns.

Henry Purcell has been one of the Composers of the Week and the opening chords of Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary stopped me in my tracks; I've heard it many times, but it never fails to transfix me. It's a wonderfully heartfelt piece of music that seems to envelop me with warmth and understanding.  It speaks to my soul.

The picture shows the cover detail from my treasured and much played CD.

To listen to the opening march from Music for the Funeral of Queen Mary (1662-1694), composed by Henry Purcell, click on the link below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYELAu9hqdU

To read about Henry Purcell (1659-1695), click on the link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Purcell

To read about BBC Radio 3 Baroque Spring, click on the link below.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012fwtk/features/about

Tulips.

I do like a nice bunch of flowers and these beautiful, pink-kissed, tulips are a delight.  Overall I prefer a scented flower, but at this time of year I find it hard to resist the charm of an elegant tulip;  I love the arching shapes, the broad green leaves and the thrill of watching the petals unfold to reveal their true colour.

Red tulips are my absolute favourite, but you can't have everything....... and if I mention red tulips I'll be reminded of the Sylvia Plath poem ("Tulips" 1961); a fine and poignant poem, but not at all the mood I want to evoke with my picture.

Click on the link below to read about tulips.

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/Profile.aspx?pid=684

To hear Sylvia Plath reading her poem "Tulips", click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=872XCkXdGco

To read about the Sylvia Plath poem "Tulips", click on the link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulips_(poem)

International Women's Day.

Today I salute the life and work of French film-maker Agnes Varda.  I love her films, her honesty and her gentle energy.  A remarkable woman.

The picture shows a still of Agnes Varda from the film The Beaches of Agnes.

Click on the link below to read about Agnes Varda.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnès_Varda

To see Agnes Varda talking about her 2008 autobiographical documentary film, The Beaches of Agnes, click on the link below:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqzSTznliHQ

To see my Agnes Varda film blog, click on the link below:-

http://susanvaleonfilm.tumblr.com/post/44852609804/the-beaches-of-agnes-les-plages-dagnes-france