Thursday, January 18, 2007

Photos from a visit to Chatsworth house in December, right before they shut for Christmas. Chatsworth is simply stunning. I can imagine living there centuries ago, with beautiful gardens and panaromic views. Sigh... The Revelation






This one's from Stratford, Anne Hathaway's cottage. The wooden frame beams are extremely unique!

Had a Polish Christmas eve with a Polish family at Coventry. They usually have fish for their Christmas eve dinner, really salty herring. It's nice, but I think one slice was more than enough. After that, we went for a Christmas eve service at Coventry Cathedral. The choir was fantastic, the best I've ever heard.
Christmas was the day after. I had a lovely English Christmas celebration complete with the roast turkey and Christmas cake! The only thing missing was the snow. I heard from my friend that it's due to snow next week. How very unfortunate of me to miss the snow by a week. Oh sadness!



Saturday, January 06, 2007

12 Days ... After Christmas

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves,

Partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Three French hens,

Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Four calling birds,

Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Five golden rings,

Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree. On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Six geese a-laying,

Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping, Ten lords a-leaping, Nine ladies dancing, Eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, Five golden rings, Four calling birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, And a partridge in a pear tree!

"The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which tuned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud, to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend"
Quoting from my favourite book, 'Pride and Prejudice'
Took the meaning of the song from a source on the net because I was too lazy to type out the explanation from the booklet given at Chatsworth.
Religious symbolism of The Twelve Days of Christmas (The 12 Days of Christmas)
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

Took the pictures on a visit to Chatsworth House. It's one of the finest stately homes, very lavish and grand. Is it exactly like you see it in Pride and Prejudice (the latest version featuring Keira Knightly). They were having the 12 Days of Christmas exhibition in the house, and I thought it was appropriate to put the pics up today simply because it's Epiphany today. And I simply love the gardens. Anyone who knows me well enough knows I like gardens a lot, but I'll put the pictures up another time ( which may mean sooner or later or never) . I had a good start to the New Year and hopefully, it will carry on throughout the year! All the best to everyone else!