zurich weekend

Back "today" (was 21 August 2009)from my weekend in Zurich with Chandrika. Chandrika came from India for her annual 10 day workshop, I from London and Ulrike joined us on Sunday from Freiburg. On Saturday evening Chandrika and I met Runumie, with whom we had been in College in Delhi, and whom I have not seen for thirty years - although had bits of news because Chandrika has been in touch with Runtime over the years. As she has with me. I said this weekend that we are like planets, each with our own satellites and moons, but in orbit around the Sun of Chandrika - an odd metaphor because the root of Chandrika's name has to do with the moon, as I recall.

Anyway, it was quite an international little gathering.

Dorset this week

Langton Herring. Sloes ripening by the side of the road. Copses of deciduous trees fenced off in the pale wheatfields. Elm Tree pub with good Adnams ales. Little squat church, with St George's flag, and Portland stone flagstones. Manor house, apparently one major landowner - from whom one must get permission to row across the Fleet. Blue sky, pink Chesil beach, pale wheatfields, white coastguard cottages, little blue butterflies (Dorset blues?), wheatears, and a deer in the wheatfield.

Uplyme. Campsite at Hook Farm. Romantic setting.

Moreton. Old School house now excellent tea room - dressed Portland Crab for lunch. St Nicholas Church bombed in the war as close to Warmwell airfield. Perfectly restored. Stained glass replaced by etched glass windows. Galaxy window particularly fine. Grave of T.E. Lawrence. Motorcycles still speed down the roads. Ford across the River Frome - shallow, full of paddling children. Thatched cottages. Preservation of heathland - controlling the conifers.

Osmington Mills. Eight mile stroll. Cliffs crumbling, although world heritage site. Boxes of blackberries picked. Sea - blue, turquoise, purple. Many different butterflies - skippers? Red admirals? Painted ladies? Dorset Blues?