Saturday 29 December 2007

Freecycle


I had my first freecycle experience today. I've been meaning to investigate how freecycle works and use it to get rid of a surplus bed for ages but simply haven't had the time. It turned out that it didn't take any time at all, just a quick google search, set up an account and post an e-mail on Thursday evening. As a freecycle newby my post had to be moderated so it didn't appear on the web site of the Selby freecycle group until Friday morning. By lunch time I had two takers and was able to amek arrangements by e-mail for someone to collect the bed on Saturday morning. Very easy and very quick. So much easier than trying to sell the bed via the local paper or postcards in local supermarkets.

Click here to join freecycleselby
Click to join freecycleselby

Friday 21 December 2007

More Mitford stuff

There was a Channel 4 documentary about Unity Mitford on TV last night. It was part of the High Society season. I hadn't seen any trailers on the TV but spotted a posting on Facebook. I'm a member of a Facebook group called 'The Mitford Sisters Were Incredible'.

It was lovely to see the old news footage of Unity and her parents, Lord and Lady Redesdale, returning to the UK in 1939 after Unity's failed suicide attempt. The highlight for me was the interview with Diana Mosely filmed in 1999. Diana, like her younger sister Unity, was a friend and supporter of Hitler before and during the second world war. Diana died in 2003 and was 89 at the time of the interview. The main premise of the documentary, outlined by the presented Martin Bright in his New Statesman Blog, was that Unity was pregnant with Hitler's baby when she returned to the UK. Unfortunately for the documentary makers the only eye witness who consented to be interviewed said that Unity didn't have a baby.

You can view the complete documentary on 4 on Demand. It is free for 30 days after transmission but may well continue to be available for free after that. I have a copy on my Sky+.
Picture from the Daily Mail

Sunday 2 December 2007

Christmas at Chatsworth

Chatsworth House is open for Christmas from 3rd November to 23rd December with the rooms decorated for Christmas, a Christmas market and a great Christmas lunch in the restaurant. I was particularly keen to go before the house closed for the season (it re-opens in March 2008) because I wanted to see the exhibition about the 11th Duke of Devonshire 'An extraordinary 20th century life' . The 11th Duke was married to one of the Mitford sisters 'Debo' and I've been reading various Mitford biographies, autobiographies (Hons and Rebels) and letters (Decca) since reading a book review of 'Decca' in the Times last year.


When we arrived at Chatsworth the programme for the day had a photocopied insert saying that the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire would be signing books in the restaurant after lunch. It was the highlight of my day. I bought two copies of the most recent book of letters between the six sisters, one for myself and one for my Dad, and had them both dedicated and signed by the Dowager Duchess who is the only survivingMitford sister.


One of the most startling features of the house is the enormous Damien Hirst statue of the Virgin Mother which is over two storeys high and towers over the visitor entrance to the house. I'm not sure if it is a permanent or temporary feature but I'd like to go back to Chatsworth next summer when the weather is a bit more conducive to exploring the sculpures in the garden.