Sunday, September 30, 2018

Thistles and Toadstools...


A beautiful walk in the autumnal woods for the last day of September, complete with ferns, fungi and fleeing deer in the distance...


On the way there, tall thistles rose up proudly from the hedgerows, towards the sun, whilst in the woods, toadstools and fungi formed mysterious clusters on the shaded floor.


No sight of any wild boar; although their traces were everywhere, as were the hunters, out in force, in other parts of the woods, fortunately.


Sunday, September 23, 2018

Beauty and Beasts in a Car Park...


Still battling away with the basics of driving this car... Actually getting out of the underground car park is a feat in itself, as I keep stalling or crazily revving up the slope for fear of getting stuck beneath the metal door!


A great deal of practice may be involved before even the slightest pretention of perfection...


It was pouring with rain today, but I did force myself to drive off into another car park - this one situated in the depths of  Place d'Erlon - the main square in town.


The first trip here in the summer left a lasting memory as I tried to control the car, winding its way down and down the spiralling lane to reach the fifth and final floor, far below ground level. Not really a moment of glory for me, so I thought I'd better go back and face the beast again. Still work in progress.


Emerging from the pit of this car park, you encounter various Medieval sculpted works displayed on each floor as you head up towards the light of day.


Sadly, most of the facial features have been lost, but you can see the beauty of the forms themselves and the symbolic motives that underline the importance of Reims as the Cité des Sacres - the holy site of coronation.


The habitual fleur-de-lys and keys of the city flourish next to eager beasts in the forms of lions and unicorns. These all really made my day - and I think I only stalled the car twice when leaving this particular car park!


Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Harvest Evenings...


The sun is still out but the evenings are drawing in, leading to beautiful light at dusk. Although the summer days are sometimes mourned, I love the changing seasons and all that this brings, especially in the autumn.

                               Harmonie du soir - Charles Baudelaire.
            Voici venir les temps où vibrant sur sa tige
            Chaque fleur s'évapore ainsi qu'un encensoir;
            Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir;
            Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!
            Chaque fleur s'évapore ainsi qu'un encensoir;
            Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu'on afflige;
            Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!
            Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir.
            Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu'on afflige,
            Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir!
            Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir;
            Le soleil s'est noyé dans son sang qui se fige.
            Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir,
            Du passé lumineux recueille tout vestige!
            Le soleil s'est noyé dans son sang qui se fige...
            Ton souvenir en moi luit comme un ostensoir.


 The hedges and fields offer the strangest fruit - bright berries and fantastic forms that are a tribute to the prettiest petals from just a few months ago.