I was reading the news yesterday and came across some interesting information. I've mentioned repeatedly how rainy and dreary this fall and winter have been, and the BBC has put that in perspective: "The period between July and December last year was the wettest ever recorded in the UK, with records dating all the way back to 1890. Autumn rainfall was 22% above average, according to the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology."
OK then! It's good to know that I'm not just being whiny about the weather. I feel like I haven't seen more than momentary sunshine in at least two months. And I keep wondering why I'm not motivated to take more photo walks?
Of course all this rain has had disastrous ramifications in some areas. The BBC says there are more than 500 flood warnings and alerts in the UK at the moment, mostly in central and southern England. Fortunately flooding is something we don't deal with in our immediate neighborhood, surrounded by modern sewers and living on a hill, unless you count the boggy garden -- which is so muddy that Olga trails quantities of it back into the house on her feet every time she goes out.
We're also about to get much colder, with nighttime temperatures dipping into the low 30s this coming week (right around freezing). Time to bring in the sensitive plants again.
And to top it all off, we have an imminent tube strike that promises to paralyze London transportation. Thank goodness Dave and I live close enough to walk to work.
I stayed inside most of yesterday, going only to the grocery store at lunch to get some soup. I wound up buying a couple of hellebores to plant in some empty flower pots, because of course we can't have empty pots sitting around. I mostly just felt sorry for them, sitting outside at Waitrose looking unloved.
I've been on a Hitchcock movie kick the last couple of days. I watched "North by Northwest" on Thursday afternoon and "Rope" yesterday. I think it may be the first time I've stayed awake for all of "North by Northwest," which isn't boring but it is long-ish. Usually, when I've watched it at night, by the time we get to the scenes in that modern house overlooking Mount Rushmore I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. And I don't think I'd ever seen "Rope" at all, which so clearly came from a play because it's only about 80 minutes and all takes place on one set. Very interesting Hitchcockian camera work.
(Photos: From my recent walk along Church Street. We can't figure out what those things in the bottom photo are -- if they're electrical outlets they're pretty old because modern plugs don't have round pins. Don't they look like a singing chorus?)
Effects of climate change have been tip toeing since the late fifties, peaked, now on a run away train headed down a steep hill. Unavoidable, so now we are faced with a decision of where to spend the next twenty years. Minnesota? For me having only spent four and a half months in the big smoke, I can say it would not be my first choice. There are more people in London than in NYC by a couple million, in a tiny area. Not the best place to adjust to climate change . Olga yearns for a parcel of land in Minnesota, land that perks, enough trees to harvest for warmth in a two room cabin…
ReplyDeleteThe plug-chorus is darling. Great shot.
Ok then, get out the woolies and hot water bottles, it’s going to get chilly. I will be gone this time next week. Thanks so much for hanging out with me/ us. Lovely to see you as always.
Pirate has identified the sockets for you... generally associated with the London Underground, they are fireproof, and as you can see from the round pins, old
ReplyDeleteThe Hitchcock films are both very good but it is years since I saw them. Some things are best left unrevisited.
ReplyDeleteOur tv news reported the flooding in England tonight, and warned us we are gong to get flooding tomorrow.
Low 30s temp, like Manitoba. I did a double take. I remembered 32F is freezing, so lower than 0 degrees.
The sun is shining this morning.
ReplyDeleteIt has been pretty rainy here too in Virginia, but I don't think as much as what you've dealt with. Fingers crossed that there is no tube strike. That would be disastrous for many commuters.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen North by Northwest ever so I should look for it.
ReplyDeleteI like that Hitchcock shot Rope in such a way as to make it look like it was done in one single take, though I think they are two cuts in it, from what I've read.
The first time I watched it I looked for the spots where the camera would linger on a stack of books or a phone or something and then start up again as new film was loaded into the camera.
Plus, you know Farley Grainger was kinda cute.
Ha! I did think of a choir.
ReplyDelete31F here in NYC. Somehow, I’m managing. I guess it’s easier without San Geraldo’s whining… although I do miss him.
We're getting a lot of rain here too. Not as much as you. It rained all night last night and it's gray and gloomy today.
ReplyDeleteThe Streisand book has a lot of talk about movie-making in it. She was fascinated with the process and why shots were made the way they were. Of course she went on to direct some movies of her own.
I know this sounds ridiculous but Hitchcock gives me the creeps. Of course his movies are supposed to do that but something about HIM and the way his camera views women is not healthy in the least.
I find Rope fascinating. Love Hitchcock. Did you notice in NxNW the scene in the shop (?) restaurant (?) where someone is shot. Right before the gunshot, a kid is in the shot and covers his ears! Britbox is on a Cary roll with the mini-series Archie and running many of his oldies. Rear Window is still my favorite.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you can get gloomier than Michigan has been since November. Minimal snow (barely dusting or if more, sticking for more than a day) but perpetual rain and drizzle. Maybe it's prep for England!
If n by NW is the one where the hero is chased by a plane, I've never stayed awake till the end! Hitchcock used to do tiny cameo roles in his own movies, bus passenger, that kind of thing, fun to find. I agree with Mary, he's creepy though.
ReplyDeleteSo it really has been rainy there, not just Steve grumbling! The UK has been hard hit by weather in recent years.
I expect local stores know how to move those last plants "see that guy? It's Steve. He'll take them, quick, put them out!"
We have a bit of snow this morning but not too much so right now it looks so pretty out.
ReplyDeleteI liked the photo of those sockets and wondered why the one in the middle looked different from the others with the 2 big eyes.
I almost hate to say that after the last three horrible winters in a row with arctic feather coming and staying, this winter has been more normal...so far. trying not to invoke the gods here.
ReplyDeleteIt is currently 26° at 8 a.m. in S. Colorado. 42° is forecast for the high today! Snow had been forecast for about 4 or 5 days, but that has been changed to none now!
ReplyDeleteTimes and climes are a-changing, folks!!
We had a few days of dreary weather here last week. The sun is back now but the temperature has fallen. It's 39 as I write this. Brrr.
ReplyDeleteThat thing in your last photo is very strange indeed. I have no idea what it could be.
It's been dreary here too and now we're looking at chilly temps and possible snow. 'Tis winter!
ReplyDeleteThere are many Hitchcock films I've missed including North by Northwest, but my favorite of those I've seen is Rear Window. I can't count the number of times I've watched it.
ReplyDeleteTalking about your weather makes me think how cold and snowy Dickens portrayed England. I know it was nearing the end of a "little ice age" at that point
The Singing Sockets! I see a career in show biz! Great pic, Steve. And once again tonight and tomorrow will tell us the Weather Gods are really to be worshipped or just stringing us along again. Snow is predicted, one to three inches here. But. We'll. See.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen North by Northwest so it's time to give it a look.
ReplyDeleteFor most, I'd say Winter is the least favorite season. Lack of sunlight impacts us all. It has started to snow in Massachusetts (8 PM). I am looking forward to waking up to a white snow cover. It will be quite beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love Rope. North By Northwest is good, too. Rear Window is my favorite. I've watched it many times and the tension always grabs me and won't let me go. We haven't seen much sun here either, but New Year's weekend was nice enough for me to mow the front yard. The back has been muddy for weeks because of frequent rain. I don't know how the dogs avoid getting mud on their paws.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I like the photo of the pipe chorus and hope the Tube strike doesn't happen.
ReplyDeleteI think I have North by Northwest somewhere on a USB but don't remember a thing about it. Don't even remember if I liked it.
Linda Sue: I know you're ready to leave so you'll be happy to get out of the Spidey hole!
ReplyDeleteGZ: Interesting! These were not located near an Underground station, but maybe they're general purpose for outdoor or industrial settings.
Andrew: We are right around freezing. This morning it's 34º F (which is 1º C) and it will be colder in coming nights.
Rachel: It wasn't here! We had cloud cover.
Michael: Oh, I don't think it's a case of "if." I think it's happening.
Bob: Yeah, Farley was easy on the eyes! I loved the camera work. I especially loved the scene when the group is talking and we're hearing all the dialogue but the camera is focused on the maid clearing the dishes from atop the trunk holding the body.
Mitchell: Absence makes the heart grow fonder! Right?
Ms Moon: I don't think that's silly at all. I think part of Hitchcock's persona and appeal is his somewhat menacing presence.
Jeanie: Ha! YES! I did notice that kid in the scene!
Boud: It's possible that the plant retailers are watching for me, that's for sure! LOL
Ellen D: Yeah, I don't know why that middle one is turned. I'm not sure any of them are functional.
Ellen: Yes! Be careful about tempting fate!
Marcia: We're getting all your moisture, apparently.
Sharon: Wow, that's cold for where you are, isn't it?!
Margaret: Yeah, I mean, it IS January. I guess we shouldn't be surprised.
Kelly: "Rear Window" is a GREAT movie -- I've seen it many times. I remember pictures of my grandparents from 100 years ago that showed them in heavy overcoats with feet of snow piled around them -- not something we see as much today.
Catalyst: Keep us posted if you see the white stuff!
Red: Yes, it's well worth watching! But do it in the daytime when you're not likely to fall asleep. :)
Susan: Snow is a pain to drive in but it's beautiful on the ground. We haven't had any yet this year.
Janie: I think dog paws are made to repel mud, though Olga manages to track it in!
River: When I watched the latter parts I remembered struggling to stay awake in previous viewings! But as I said, it's not boring. It's worth a watch.
I'm not sure how they calculate these things but I saw a map a month or so ago that gave numbers to the extreme drought we have going on. Just last year, we had a deficit of 18 inches of rain. Normally we count on winter to recharge things but that would require nearly 18 feet of snow, something I have never even come close to seeing. So I'm steeling myself for another dry year this year... unless you care to send some of your excess my way.
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