Changes afoot….

There have been few posts recently as I am making some changes. 

I have just launched ‘Meanderings through my cookbook’.  Please pay my kitchen a virtual visit!

I have transferred recipes and other food related information across to there from this site.  I plan to post a monthly cookbook update which will appear on both sites.

This note will stay at the top, for the timebeing, with other entries appearing below it.

Tour de France 2009 – Stage 6 (Gérone – Barcelone)

Gérone – Barcelone (181.5 km)

Today’s stage of the Tour was over the Pyrenees in Spain.  Among the shots of the cyclists there were good pictures of the sights of Barcelona, which we visited in 2008, including Gaudi’s famous as yet unfinished church, the Sagrada Familia (above). 

Mark Cavendish continues to wear green but is just a single point ahead of today’s race winner Thor Hushovd, with Fabian Cancellara still in yellow.

Winners:
Stage 1 – Fabian Cancellara (to wear yellow for Stage 2) – 3rd Bradley Wiggins
Stage 2 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 3)
Stage 3 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 4)
Stage 4 – Team Astana
Stage 5 – Thomas Voeckler - 3rd Mark Cavendish
Stage 6 – Thor Hushovd

(More cycling information from the official Tour de France website.)

Tour de France 2009 – Stage 5 (Le Cap d’Agde – Perpignan)

Le Cap d’Agde - Perpignan (196.5 km)

The first part of the ride today from Cap d’Agde to Narbonne was on familiar territory from our 2007 holiday, but the latter section was unfamiliar.  The ride was along the coast by the edge of the Etang de Leucate and on to Port Bacarès (pictured) with a backdrop of the distant Pyrennees.

There was an exciting end today with Thomas Voeckler, who did well some years ago but not so much in the Tour de France recently, rode away to victory in Perpignan within the last 6 kilometres, with no one else able to keep up with him.  Mark Cavendish came in third and continues to wear green, with Fabian Cancellara still in yellow.

Winners:
Stage 1 – Fabian Cancellara (to wear yellow for Stage 2) – 3rd Bradley Wiggins
Stage 2 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 3)
Stage 3 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 4)
Stage 4 – Team Astana
Stage 5 - Thomas Voeckler - 3rd Mark Cavendish

(More cycling information from the official Tour de France website.)

Tour de France 2009 – Stage 4 (Montpellier Time Trial)

Montpellier Team Time Trial (39 km)

The time trial circuit gave viewers plenty of time to admire Montpellier, a smart looking city with an impressive 17th Century Arc de Triomphe. 

Today was the Team Time Trial with an exciting finish when Lance Armstrong, riding with today’s winning Team Astana, so nearly managed to get into the yellow jersey, but didn’t.  Everyone wonders whether he will wear it tomorrow.  Mark Cavendish and Team Columbia-High Road finished in fifth place and he will continue to wear the green jersey.

Winners:
Stage 1 – Fabian Cancellara (to wear yellow for Stage 2) 3rd Bradley Wiggins
Stage 2 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 3)
Stage 3 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 4)
Stage 4 – Team Astana

(More cycling information from the official Tour de France website.)

Tour de France 2009 – Stage 3 (Marseilles – La Grande Motte)

Marseille - La Grande-Motte  (196.5 km)

We visited the western part of today’s route two or three years ago.  It was good to see some places we have been to, such as Aigues Mortes and La Grande Motte, plus les Baux de Provence and Arles.  I have previously written about these either in connection with a previous tour or the holiday.  The semi-bare limestone scenery is typical of the region and we saw the Chateau d’Aureille which dominates the town of the same name, similar to Les Baux but on a smaller scale.  Pictured is the Moulin de Daudet at Fontveille which we saw from the circling helicopter as the tour passed by.

Yet another terrific win today for British rider Mark Cavendish and he continues to wear the green jersey tomorrow.

Winners:
Stage 1 – Fabian Cancellara (to wear yellow for Stage 2) 3rd Bradley Wiggins
Stage 2 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 3)
Stage 3 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 4)

(More cycling information from the official Tour de France website.)

Tour de France 2009 – Stage 2 (Monaco – Brignoles)

Monaco – Brignoles (187 km)

Not far from the finish today at Brignoles, here is the Abbeye du Thoronet close to Cabasse, one of many hill top villages passed by the tour.  A fantastic win today for British rider Mark Cavendish, hopefully the first of many, meaning that he wears the green jersey tomorrow.

Winners:
Stage 1 – Fabian Cancellara (to wear yellow for Stage 2) 3rd Bradley Wiggins
Stage 2 – Mark Cavendish (will wear green for Stage 3)

(More cycling information from the official Tour de France website.)

Tour de France 2009 – Stage 1 (Monaco Time Trial)

Stage 1: Monaco Time Trial (15.5 km)

Time for the Tour de France again. As I have said before, I watch for the scenery rather than the men in shorts. This year I will be spending less time recording the minutiae of the race and trying to find just one or possibly two pictures each day of places I have found pretty, interesting or would like to add to my ‘must visit’ list. Mind you, this year will be very interesting with the return of seven times winner Lance Armstrong, who has come out of retirement. We will, of course, particularly be following the fortunes of our British riders: Mark Cavendish, winner of four stages last year, Bradley Wiggins, five times Olympic gold medalist (2004 & 2008) and David Millar from Scotland, British national road champion and time trial champion in 2007 and the only British rider to have worn all Tour de France jerseys. Cavendish is definitely a contender for the green points jersey so watch this space! 

I have never been as far east as Monaco along the Mediterranean coast. A long time ago I got as far as Nice, but I would love to visit the principality if only to see how the other half live! Today there were some stunning aerial shots of the coast with houses and beaches packed in the fairly narrow strip of land that Monaco occupies with the mountains, which are mostly in France, towering just inland. I was particularly interested to see the impressive frontage of the Musée Océanographique, perched on the sea-ward side of a rock face, with the southern slopes of Mont Agel (1,109m/3,638ft peak is in France) as a backdrop.

Winner:
Stage 1 – Fabian Cancellara (to wear yellow for Stage 2) 3rd Bradley Wiggins

(More cycling information from the official Tour de France website.)

Prayer – Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy was today announced as the next poet laureate. This poem by her is one of my favourites. 

Phare Ar-men, Finisterre, France

Somehow the picture of Ar-men, a lighthouse off the west coast of France (Pointe du Raz), seemed appropriate!

Prayer – Carol Ann Duffy

Some days, although we cannot pray, a prayer
utters itself. So, a woman will lift
her head from the sieve of her hands and stare
at the minims sung by a tree, a sudden gift.

Some nights, although we are faithless, the truth
enters our hearts, that small familiar pain;
then a man will stand stock-still, hearing his youth
in the distant Latin chanting of a train.

Pray for us now. Grade 1 piano scales
console the lodger looking out across
a Midlands town. Then dusk, and someone calls
a child’s name as though they named their loss.

Darkness outside. Inside, the radio’s prayer -
Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre.

Carol Ann Duffy (1955-)
From Mean Time (Anvil, 1993)

The map for the shipping forecast covers the North Atlantic from Iceland to Portugal and stretches through the North Sea from Norway to the English Channel. Its list of memorable names gives vital information to seafarers around the coasts of Britain and Northern Europe. Years ago I remember hearing it each day on the radio, but somehow I never catch it now – I must be listening at the wrong time. Full information about daily Shipping Forecast can be found at the Met Office. The map no longer shows Finisterre, which was once located between Biscay and Sole, but since 2002 renamed as Fitzroy.

Every day the familiar liturgy of the names for each shipping area, with its weather information, are announced in the same order with the same measured delivery – rhythmical, almost prayerful, gently but soothingly monotonous even. There is an aching loneliness about this poem but there is also comfort in the realisation of familiar sounds in the world outside and inside on the radio. Rhythms echoing the sound patterns of prayer: wind and movement in the trees, the rattle of a distant train, the piano practice of a child and finally ‘a radio’s prayer – Rockall. Malin. Dogger. Finisterre.’

Finisterre – literally finis terrae or ends of the earth – is the most westerly departement in France, mirroring Cornwall and Land’s End in south west Britain which is equally rugged. A beautiful and wild place but treacherous for those who sail in its waters. We have been to Pointe du Raz (see the official French site for great pictures), which is the most visited but not quite the most westerly point in France – Pointe de Corsen is slightly further west. Just beyond the point are two lighthouses. The nearest is called La Vielle (the old) and can clearly be seen from the coast. Further out into the Atlantic and often not visible is the lighthouse appropriately named Ar-men.

An Easter Carol – Phillips Brooks

Steven B Whatley – The Glory of Christ

An Easter Carol

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;
Death is strong, but Life is stronger;
Stronger than the dark, the light;
Stronger than the wrong, the right;
Faith and Hope triumphant say
Christ will rise on Easter Day.

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

It’s our choice…

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this might be a shock, but
“Happiness comes from within”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life.
My employers will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
this is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
in the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is Hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

(STOP – Now read the text from left to right but from the bottom upwards - the last line up to the first line.)
Lost Generation Original Text by Jonathan Reed. Film created by Oliver at ReThink Presentations