The clocks went back so Phoebe had a 25-hour birthday with red velvet cake and dim sum and first dibs on holding baby Theo who happily went full circle round the table from auntie to uncle to grandparent to parent like a very superior version of Pass the Parcel.
Gosh Jane, what a wonderful piece to wake up to this morning. A transport of delights, just magical. And those beautiful artworks, which take ones breath away. I have been on a journey this morning, one I will ponder on throughout this autumnal day, and I thank you for sharing your recollections and thoughts with us. We are truly blessed. Happy Sunday to all
You write such good stuff Jane. I’ll try to be more Bloomsbury, although I’m next door to Haworth, so there’s a Brontë feeling here. Not the same thing!
Not the same, I agree, but just as evocative. I've only ever been to Haworth in dreary weather and going into the Parsonage is a lovely bright contrast.
The photo was taken in Sicilian Avenue I think, just off Bloomsbury Square near Southampton Row so not far off Holborn. I used to live in Bedford Place in my student nursing days in the 1970s and we’d walk down there regularly. I’m definitely in Bloomsbury mood myself reading an absorbing biography of Charlotte Mew and am retracing all my old haunts from my sofa, so thank you for another dose.
A lovely piece Jane. Thank you. Instead of feeling like I need to be home from dawn til dusk I now feel like enjoying walks in the dark. And the idea of popping out for a new pencil at sundown fills me with excitement and anticipation. X
What a lovely post Jane. I'm going to keep it in my inbox to remind me to luxuriate in this time of year and not waste it dreading deeper winter coming.
I really enjoyed this. I'm ambivalent about Bloomsbury too, in part because they were so obnoxious to Lydia Lopokova and one of their most celebrated members, Maynard Keynes, whose story I've told in two novels. I think of them most positively in summer - and Vanessa Bell's glorious garden at Charleston - but this gives a new perspective.
I love a quiet, grey, late autumn day - in fact we have one today. Perfect for a walk without battling wind and rain in your face, then home to tea and a toasted teacake. I seem to be living a Bloomsbury life without realising......
Your Sunday Yarnstorms are the highlight of my week. I forward them to a friend in Kentucky & she adores them. So thank you from Jackie & me.
My devout Catholic paternal granny had a copy of The Angelus in her house. Along with her wedding ring, 2 small china flower brooches, a couple of old wicker baskets & carpet beater I inherited the picture. At primary school we stopped learning and had to say prayers when the Angelus rang at 12:00.
Such an evocative piece of writing, Jane - brought back memories of when I lived in the UK for a short time, and the shock of late autumn - I’d never encountered weather so drear.
My seasons are flipped here in the southern hemisphere but I will bookmark this piece to come back to in May when the evenings begin drawing in.
Definitely going to try to be more Bloomsbury this Autumn. Thanks for the Vanessa Bell exhibition mention as well. I hadn't heard about it and we're not too far from MK so definitely planning to see it in the new year.
Thé bookshop reminds me intensely of the shop my great uncle had in Paternoster Square in the early 1960s. The few books we had at home were a beautiful (to me) complete set of Dickens, with which I became very familiar and somehow absorbed without ever reading.
Thank you Jane for including the DH Lawrence. I recognised it as the lyrics to Nick Mulvey’s song Cucucuru which has always been a favourite. What a lovely post as always. Thank you providing and sharing your gentle inspiration.
I love the idea of “a daily timetable of structured bohemianism”, could you give an example please? I feel this is something I could do with more in my life
Gosh Jane, what a wonderful piece to wake up to this morning. A transport of delights, just magical. And those beautiful artworks, which take ones breath away. I have been on a journey this morning, one I will ponder on throughout this autumnal day, and I thank you for sharing your recollections and thoughts with us. We are truly blessed. Happy Sunday to all
You write such good stuff Jane. I’ll try to be more Bloomsbury, although I’m next door to Haworth, so there’s a Brontë feeling here. Not the same thing!
Not the same, I agree, but just as evocative. I've only ever been to Haworth in dreary weather and going into the Parsonage is a lovely bright contrast.
Oh, how I loved this, thank you! I had to smile at the title, as I LOVE the Bloomsbury group (esp. the Stephen sisters). I have this print propped up on a bookcase full of Bloomsbury-themed books :) https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/805630183/be-more-bloomsbury-linocut-print?
I hadn't seen this - it's great!
The photo was taken in Sicilian Avenue I think, just off Bloomsbury Square near Southampton Row so not far off Holborn. I used to live in Bedford Place in my student nursing days in the 1970s and we’d walk down there regularly. I’m definitely in Bloomsbury mood myself reading an absorbing biography of Charlotte Mew and am retracing all my old haunts from my sofa, so thank you for another dose.
Thanks for locating the photo - lovely part of London
A lovely piece Jane. Thank you. Instead of feeling like I need to be home from dawn til dusk I now feel like enjoying walks in the dark. And the idea of popping out for a new pencil at sundown fills me with excitement and anticipation. X
What a lovely post Jane. I'm going to keep it in my inbox to remind me to luxuriate in this time of year and not waste it dreading deeper winter coming.
I really enjoyed this. I'm ambivalent about Bloomsbury too, in part because they were so obnoxious to Lydia Lopokova and one of their most celebrated members, Maynard Keynes, whose story I've told in two novels. I think of them most positively in summer - and Vanessa Bell's glorious garden at Charleston - but this gives a new perspective.
Ambivalence is a nice, polite way to put it! There's a lot of Bloomsbury I am very ambivalent about.
I love a quiet, grey, late autumn day - in fact we have one today. Perfect for a walk without battling wind and rain in your face, then home to tea and a toasted teacake. I seem to be living a Bloomsbury life without realising......
A lovely read, thank you.
Your Sunday Yarnstorms are the highlight of my week. I forward them to a friend in Kentucky & she adores them. So thank you from Jackie & me.
My devout Catholic paternal granny had a copy of The Angelus in her house. Along with her wedding ring, 2 small china flower brooches, a couple of old wicker baskets & carpet beater I inherited the picture. At primary school we stopped learning and had to say prayers when the Angelus rang at 12:00.
I’m definitely going to try this Bohemian lark!
Sounds just the ticket to brighten up November.
Delighted you enjoy them!
Such an evocative piece of writing, Jane - brought back memories of when I lived in the UK for a short time, and the shock of late autumn - I’d never encountered weather so drear.
My seasons are flipped here in the southern hemisphere but I will bookmark this piece to come back to in May when the evenings begin drawing in.
Definitely going to try to be more Bloomsbury this Autumn. Thanks for the Vanessa Bell exhibition mention as well. I hadn't heard about it and we're not too far from MK so definitely planning to see it in the new year.
Thé bookshop reminds me intensely of the shop my great uncle had in Paternoster Square in the early 1960s. The few books we had at home were a beautiful (to me) complete set of Dickens, with which I became very familiar and somehow absorbed without ever reading.
Thank you Jane for including the DH Lawrence. I recognised it as the lyrics to Nick Mulvey’s song Cucucuru which has always been a favourite. What a lovely post as always. Thank you providing and sharing your gentle inspiration.
Thank you for pointing to that song. I took a listen and I love it!
I’m off to Bloomsbury later today then, very inspiring x
Such wonderfully evocative writing, and immediately reconciling me to the season to come… Thank you!
I love the idea of “a daily timetable of structured bohemianism”, could you give an example please? I feel this is something I could do with more in my life
Snap!