Wednesday, December 05, 2007

Chit chat

Aside

Cranford continues on its delightful way, on BBC1, although I must say the cast seem to be dropping like flies. First we lost Mattie’s beloved sister( played by Eileen Atkins - so a great loss} then the younger heroine’s little brother fell victim to the croup – in spite of the administrations of the two doctors, but the loss that made me gasp with dismay was when Mattie’s long lost love went to meet his Maker. After a separation of thirty years and only a few weeks into their reunion he had gone off to Paris to give her time to think, got ill and died. It made me think how lucky MTL and I have been, after our 30 year separation, to have had 28 years.


In one of their rare moments together he gave her a book of Tennyson’s poems, as well as a bunch of primroses in bud. After his death she read aloud one of the poems which I thought was beautiful but I couldn’t remember it. On googling Cranford I came across this, which although very simple, seems apt.

My Husband - Poem

by Lillie Beard Cranford

My husband is a handsome man

Although he's old and gray.

To me he's still the same as when

We met one summer day.

His step was firm and very proud

And oh so debonair.

To me there is no one on earth

That with him could compare.

And as we journey down life's road

If I can hold his hand,

I'll have no fear while he is near

Life's hardships we'll withstand.

Lucky for me there is a repeat of last week’s episode on Sunday - before the next one, so I shall discover the name of Tennyson’s poem.

I am going today with the girls, to have coffee with an old Guild friend. Last week the girls brought Melissa here for coffee and we had gorgeous biscuits with lots left over and now I’m falling off the wagon at bedtime (the biscuit wagon that is) and eating them. Do not tell Kim. You remember Melissa is in her nineties and said the one thing she regretted was not sleeping with more men. Sadly she is getting very frail and we had a few tears and lots of hugs and kisses.

Here’s a bit of Wodehouse before bed- time (its Tuesday night here):-

All the unhappy marriages come from the husbands having brains. What good are brains to a man? They only unsettle him.

The Adventures of Sally

27 comments:

Shane said...

You bring to mind the idea that all days should begin with a line from Wodehouse. That would win my vote.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Love this post....Except, I do not like knowing what happens in Cranford...Oh Dear....Well, maybe by the time it plays on TV here, I will have forgotten all those deaths...LOL!

I love your 90 year old friend saying she regrets not sleeping with more men....I think ultimately I will regret Dieting for years and years, though I know it was healthier...There comes a point where you just have to say...The Hell With it!

You and your MTL are lucky to have had all these years after that 30 year dry-spell...Well, you know what I mean....lol!

Pat said...

Shane: that's quite an idea.

Naomi: I hope I am not spoiling it for you. If you are anything like me you certainly will have forgotten it by the time you see it and it is one of those productions that one doesn't tire of, so I often watch the repeat if I am around.
I think the thing I would regret is all the angst from worrying needlessly. Not that there wasn't anything to worry about but the fact that worrying didn't help.

Unknown said...

Here is the poem from Cranford - not complete just selected lines from Locksley Hall by Tennyson :-)

‘I have hid my feelings, fearing they should do me wrong;
Saying, ‘Dost thou love me,?’ weeping, ‘I have loved thee long.’
What is this? His eyes are heavy; think not they are glazed with wine.
Go to him: it is thy duty: kiss him: take his hand in thine.
Cursed be the social wants that sin against the strength of youth!
Cursed be the social lies that warp us from the living truth!
Well–tis well that I should bluster!–Hadst thou less unworthy proved–
Would to God–for I had loved thee more than ever wife was loved.

Pat said...

c19: that is so kind of you. Thank you! It really is beautiful.

Kim Ayres said...

We missed the first episode of Cranford - the DVD recorder decided not to follow the instructions I gave it. We couldn't find a repeat (we can't get digital in this corner of Scotland yet), so have ignored it since, hoping the whole thing will be repeated one day

Pat said...

Kim: the repeat is on the same day - Sunday before the next episode - round about 6pm. Give it a go:) We can get digital but have forgotten how to get DVD to work. Its question of fiddling with plugs but a son should fix it this week-end. Then no doubt I shall lose the ability to record - until the other son comes.

Anonymous said...

Just wondering: Does your "happy marriage" quote at the end imply something about YTL?

:)

Cheers.

Pat said...

Randall: both my husbands had/have brains so I would say that Wodehouse was correct 50% of the time.

Sam, Problem-Child-Bride said...

I'm sorry to hear Melissa is not doing so well. She might not know it but it is very, very useful for we younger wans to hear what it is that people truly regret at the end of their lives. I love that she was so candid. It furthers the human story for the rest of us coming along behind, and keeps us all honest.

She sounds like a great lady. I hope she isn't suffering too much.

Pat said...

Sam: the good thing is that she has a loving family close by and I'm sure is a stoic most of the time but it is when we are with the age that really understand about getting old and all its blasted accoutrements that we can let the guard down and accept some loving comfort. Today there were seven of us semior ladies which really brought it home. More later.

gautami tripathy said...

I liked that poem. Thanks for posting it.

I like what you say about husbands..:D

Michele sent me here.

Daphne Wayne-Bough said...

Melissa sounds like my kind of gal. All my best to her, and may there be 72 Chippendales waiting in heaven (for both of us).

Dr Maroon said...

We are without television I therefore find myself unable to comment. Not that a lack of knowledge has stopped me in the past.

Anonymous said...

Since Bear has been indisposed and I've had control of the television, my daughter and I managed to see the last two episodes of Cranford. Is it unkind to hope he'll be in bed a bit longer?
sablonneuse

Pat said...

gautami: we are as one:)

Daphne: you're right. Here's hoping.

Doc: Is that from choice? If so my admiration reaches even greater heights. You and Zinnia Have the right idea and so much more forceful than saying 'I never watch it.'

Sablonneuse: don't know about it being unkind but its bloody human.

Lia said...

Hi, Michele sent me. (Famous tagline, right?)

Your Wodehouse quote made me think of this fractured paradox: If a man speaks in a forest and nobody hears him, is he still wrong?

Pat said...

Hi Lia! That has me puzzled:)

barbie2be said...

i love that poem!

michele sent me over today!

Joe said...

Hello! Good to see you again this week! Michele sent me, but I would've come anyway.

I do like that quote about husbands. In a way there's a certain, perhaps twisted truth to it.

Pat said...

Hi bebarbie2be: the one in the comment box is great also.

Joe: always welcome. You said it - not me:)

Karen said...

Interesting to hear regrets from someone who is 90. Wise words, perhaps, although I don't think I'd have the same regret...although not for THAT reason! Ha!

Hi from frigid Wisconsin! Michele sent me!

Pat said...

Karen: I just hope it doesn't inspire impressionable people to sleep with everything that moves:)

kenju said...

I hope I do not get to be 90 and have that as my one regret.....LOL

I love the quote about brains and men!

Pat said...

Judy: One wonders what would be the accepted number?

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

I don't know whyyy I can't post comments at nights, hm, maybe the internet goes to sleep here or something.

I was going to say that poem made me remember a song one of my aunts love, Silver threads among the gold, sung by Walt somebody or the other.

Pat said...

GG: I remember it also.
“Silver Threads Among the Gold”

Darling, I am growing old,
Silver threads among the gold
Shine upon my brow today,
Life is fading fast away.
But, my darling, you will be, will be,
Always young and fair to me,
Yes, my darling, you will be,
Always young and fair to me.

There's loads about it on Google. this is just a snippet. It is the same sentiment as the poem.