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Hi jazzy
The Lark Ascending is one of my favourite pieces of music and I always feel tear ful when I hear it for some unknown reason ,to me it is England in a piece of music or perhaps as it used to be.Weather here is pouring rain so am reading and ignoring pleading looks from dogs and sour looks by the cats as if I had made it rain

hi doglet
Yes, it affects me in the same way. Pass the tissues...
The music follows the exact movements of the skylark as it soars high up above you and then suddenly descends to the ground before rising again.
Another piece which affects me in the same way is "The Banks of Green Willow". Both my dogs used to love swimming in a placid part of the river in the park, where the willows overhung the banks. It was so cooling in the hot Summer.
After the last dog died, I collected his ashes and was driving home with them. I switched on Classic FM in the car and "The Banks of Green Willow" was the next piece of music. I could hardly see where I was driving for the tears.
I must get a grip.....

Hi jazzy
I also think that the first of the sea interludes from Peter Grimes is very evocative,I have friends who live in Aldebugh and whenever I hear it I am back on the beach there usually in the freezing cold

Jazzy, I have just listened (you tube) to Banks of Green Willow and am still recovering from the emotions it stirred - If you have listened to it through U Tube and watched the Video they put as a background, you will understand. I'll say no more so that you can discover it if you don't already know it>

Sorry I don't give the link, but you will soon find it on google.

i thought this might be of interest,
http://tinyurl.com/qax3twd

I am going to find it too emotional to watch, but maybe this is the one you have just seen pigale ?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P8Q9dz1kse8

Thank you tRevor . I did not know of the QCC Caff but will drop in for a skinny latte and a pastry

Hi again,

It was another one Jazzy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs2jP23U2aw
Vivid contrast between peaceful river banks scenery and suddenly pictures of the trenches, an explosion, war -
It took me so much by surprise, I was not expecting that !

My very favourite piece of music is The Moldaw by Smetana - You might spell it different - our music teacher told us it was like a very young and happy river at first, which became a torrent later on, and then became lovely and peaceful again. I have never forgetten this explanation.

To All Of You

I would like to apologize for the bad thundery weather I am sending you ! Just thought you might want your share of the heavy rain (finally ! ) and Thunder (grrr...)
Will be sunny again afterwards, promise !

Thanks pigale. I may look at the clip later.
Meanwhile, re Smetana and "die Moldau" as my music teacher called it. She played it to a group of us when I was about 11 years old and she also gave us words to sing to the main theme which runs through the piece. I once, mistakenly, started singing along to the piece while my husband was listening to it, and he never forgave me, as he couldn't get the words out of his head. I dare not show the poetic words here, in case it ruins anyone else's enjoyment!
Only a few showers here and no thunder as yet. The sun has just appeared.

Hi, Rusty!
Well, lunch was a bit of a disappointment! We were intending to go for a curry, but on arrival found that the restaurant was closed! So we ended up having pizza!
I arrived back home in time for grandson's arrival! He is fast asleep at the moment - worn out! I shall have to wake him soon though to have his tea!

My new Brewers arrived late this afternoon - just in time to look up your queries!
I couldn't find "donkey's ages" but "donkey's years" - which is the version I know - is there.
It means 'a long time' and is probably derived from the pronunciation of 'ears' as 'years', helped by association with the length of a donkey's ears.
And "yonks" funnily enough has a similar derivation. "Yonks " is a sang word meaning 'a long time', and apparently might well be a shortened form of "donkey's years".
Are the words not in your own copy?
Neither is in my 'old' Brewers! so I now feel doubly justified in having bought a 'new' one!
Incidentally, apart from one very badly creased page, the book is in excellent condition.

Now, to further incense you regarding The Times crosswords.......in today's QC by Orpheus.....
7 D: Traverse East London district, to get weapon (8)
(Take a deep breath...don't throw anything! see if you can do it! even if you don't know much about London, you may be able to get it from the play on words?)
But yes, I definitely can see what you mean - this expecting folk to know about London districts must be getting somewhat trying for a non - Londoner!!!
(I can tell you the answer later if need be?)

How was your day?

Hi, Doglet!
Sorry for the late reply - I've been out for lunch!
Thank you for the information on hedgehogs. Fortunately I had read that one shouldn't give bread or milk, so when I do encounter the odd one in our garden , I give it cat food and water!
I'm surprised that Ziggy likes them - our cats have always been very wary of hedgehogs! they are apt to paw them suspiciously!
You do a very good job re-homing them!