We decided to postpone our Devon trip, so I'm sitting here listening to 'The Men from the Ministry' on Radio 4 Extra (memories of cooking supper in our little flat when we were first married when there was a comedy programme every weekday evening at 6.30 when I got in from work) and feeling fairly pleased that the weather is dull so we're not missing out on sunshine and a sparkling sea view.
The view above is Bredon Hill taken with zoom from our bedroom window a few days ago - I was listening to Radio 4 that morning - a programme about A E Houseman which included a reading by Henry Sandon of Houseman's poem Bredon Hill. I'd only known it as a song so to hear it read in Bredon Church was a delight:
In summertime on Bredon
The bells they sound so clear;
Round both the shires they ring them
In steeples far and near,
A happy noise to hear.
Here of a Sunday morning
My love and I would lie,
And see the coloured counties,
And hear the larks so high
About us in the sky.
The bells would ring to call her
In valleys miles away:
'Come to church, good people;
Good people, come and pray.'
But here my love would stay.
And I would turn and answer
Among the springing thyme,
'Oh, peal upon our wedding,
And we will hear the chime,
And come to church in time.'
But when the snows at Christmas
On Bredon top were strown,
My love rose up so early
And stole out unbeknown
And went to church alone.
They tolled the one bell only,
Groom there was none to see,
The mourners followed after,
And so to church went she,
And would not wait for me.
The bells they sound on Bredon,
And still the steeples hum.
'Come all to church, good
people,' ---
Oh, noisy bells, be dumb;
I hear you, I will come.
H hates spoken radio - almost as much as he hates TV - especially daytime TV, and if he had his way we'd live with constant organ and harpsichord music (which sometimes sets my teeth on edge) so I listen in my office, in the sewing room or when I'm alone in the car. I've loved Radio 4 (the Home Service then, I think) since I discovered its comedy programmes in my teens. We'd always listened to The Archers, Woman's Hour, Children's Hour and, of course, Listen with Mother, but my mother's favourite channel was the Light programme - later Radio2 where she was devoted to Mrs Dale's Diary and various light music programmes. Like all '60's teenagers I listened to Radio 1 and pirate stations like Radio Caroline on a tiny transistor, but struggling through the endless homework dished out by Grammar Schools in those days was more bearable accompanied by The Navy Lark, I'm Sorry I'll Read That Again or Round The Horn - or one of the many amusing quiz programmes usually featuring Frank Muir and Dennis Norden. I love the way radio allows you to do other things whilst TV anchors you to the sofa, and a long drive alone is wonderful as you're obliged to listen to whatever comes on and that's often a revelation. I attributed quite a lot of my miscellaneous collection of general knowledge and odd information to constant Radio 4 listening and I continue to learn. Only yesterday I took delivery of some moth traps that I'd heard about on a radio programme - and jolly effective they're proving to be!
The arm's now in a splint for 4 weeks, so still no driving, but it is getting better, and my delightful daughter is around at the moment to act as chauffeuse, so it definitely could be worse!
