- Granddaughter Alice and her boyfriend Tom
We drove up to Leicester to see their chic little flat. Tom graduated a year ago and is now a policeman - we drove by his station - just walking distance from the flat.
Alice graduated last week and she now does a P.G.C.E to prepare her for teaching. She already does voluntary teaching and we saw the school in the same street as the flat.
I read Alice's dissertation :
Presentations of Masculinity in Postwar American Literature and Its Film Adaptations
It included 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' 'East of Eden', and 'Streetcar named Desire.' so no hardship for me.
Leicester has quite a cosmopolitan feel and we had a pleasant lunch in a sunny square. Tea at the above was not perfect; I had to send back a rock hard dough nut.
'Can I get you anything else?
' Just a fresh doughnut please.'
'Oh that's the only one we've got.'
Alice, Jenny (Alice's Mum) and I shopped for Britain including some incredible shoes for A's graduation day then J and I drove back to Herts. Exhausted but happy.
There you are! Nice to see you. And the family. I don't *think* I sent this to you yet but apologies if I already have. Here's a smart article on Jane Gardam that ran in the New York Times.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/28/books/jane-gardam-on-her-books-which-capture-a-greater-britain.html?_r=0
Exile: thank you. Now I have time to read it. I always bless you for introducing me to the blessed Jane:)
ReplyDeleteYou could have called in to say hello!!! I'm only 8 miles away! :-(
ReplyDeleteNice to have you back and to hear you had a nice time.
ReplyDeletejohn: ouch! I wish my geography were better.
ReplyDeleteHelen; thanks:)
What a lovely photo and visit.
ReplyDeleteLove the Tea and Doughnut story !
cheers, parsnip
I love that your granddaughter and hr Beau live so close to their work places----very smart---it saves so much time in traveling to and fro.....
ReplyDeleteHer dissertation sounds right up my alley---and two Williams films covered....it really sounds Wonderful....!
Welcome back, dear Pat. You were missed.
Naomi: and literally being able to walk to work is a blessing.
ReplyDeleteYes I knew you would like the subject matter of the dissertation. Alice spent a year of her university in America which must have been helpful.
Parsnip: I don' t often fall for the temptation of doughnuts so it seemed very hard luck at the time but we got laugh out of it.
ReplyDeleteI spent some time reading all the posts you wrote while I had stopped my blog. You posted some truly beautiful pictures of flowers and also those on Norway. We took a cruise in Norway in 2009 and I still have not written posts on it … Your grand daughter is very pretty and very smart. I am slowly reading all my friends’ blogs and that will take me a while. I enjoyed reading all your posts.
ReplyDeleteVagabonde: lovely to hear from you and I really appreciate your comments.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many customers sent back the only doughnut?
ReplyDeleteSx
Not sure if this comment got through the first time!
A doughnut is never too old or too hard. Don't you know how to dunk a doughnut? Love seeing your beautiful granddaughter and her sweetheart.
ReplyDeleteScarlet: the same thought crossed my mind:)
ReplyDeleteGranny Annie: I have to admit - I'm a virgin dunker but hey it's never too late:)
What a great looking couple! Alice is so beautiful, she looks very similar to you, I guess everyone says that. That dissertation is right up my alley too, two of them are my fave movies. Though I can't imagine writing a long piece these day, I procrastinate enough with just my short articles.
ReplyDeleteA rock hard donut would make me mad, I do love my donuts.
ALW: I've always envied Alice's thick straight hair. I have just been staying with them and her mother told me that my mother used to shake with laughter watching Alice as a tiny girl teasing her brother.
ReplyDelete"I'm sorry Jenny - she's her grandmother all over again."
Charming!
It sounds like an excellent visit.
ReplyDeleteAnd first-hand experience of the Great Leicestershire Doughnut Shortage.
Rshbre: ha ha! Got it in one:)
ReplyDeleteI live very near Leicester and I'm in the centre of Leicester shopping most days, it's a pity we didn't meet up for a coffee or something.
ReplyDeleteKeith: great shame! You and John G both.
ReplyDeleteShame about the doughnut!
ReplyDeleteI did a P.G.C.E year too after my degree, and then never became a teacher. Kind of a waste of time really, but a great experience anyway.
I love reading about your outings, cheers me up immensely.
ReplyDeleteIsn't family wonderful? How I miss mine.
Joey: I think it is a great experience to have under your belt.
ReplyDeleteGG: that makes it worth while just writing about them:)
Yes there is nothing quite like family.