Unless you’re a grouse of course, in which case you’ll probably want to go into hiding. I am very fond of eating game but as I’m not a particularly good shot (I’ve only tried clays) I’ll let someone else kill it for me.

One day I went with a couple of pals to see a dress. Very exciting, so much so that when I enthused to JD he had to come with me to see it the next day. Gosh, you say, did you buy it? No, it was a very special one, not for sale. The Red Dress was a project set up by Kirstie Macleod in 2009. The dress (or different panels) travelled the world and local embroiderers added to it. Now, it’s finished and Kirstie is taking it around the world. If you get the chance, go and see it. There are a number of bees which you can look for (we didn’t find them all) and some of the work is exquisite. I’ve put a few shots in this Post as I was so taken with it. And I’ve not got many of the other topics.

https://reddressembroidery.com/

We don’t normally watch television, there’s always too much to do. I make an exception for the Olympics. That’s my viewing over for another four years. I hope you all enjoyed the Games, with a very Gallic flavour to the opening and closing ceremonies. Sixty-three countries won at least one gold medal and 91 at least one bronze. Using the conventional measure, Team GB came seventh, with 14 gold, 22 silver and 29 bronze medals. Using the US method of total medals won, we were third in the table, with 65 medals, behind the USA with 126 (who topped the table using either method) and China with 91. Both had 40 Golds so I think we could almost call it a draw.

Assuming you did watch, which new(ish) sports did you enjoy? I was somewhat underwhelmed with the breaking (formerly known as break-dancing), I couldn’t work out the scoring system. Apparently there wasn’t one, the ‘judges’ moved a slider up and down depending how they felt. On the other hand, the climbing and skate boarding had me on the edge of my seat asking ‘how do they DO that?’ most of the time. I dread to think about the state of their bodies as they get older.

In the UK we were not able to see all the sports, I don’t think their agreement on screening was enough to allow this, so instead we had a lot of talking. The commentator Andrew Cotter is always worth listening to. If you’ve not come across him, during lockdown (no sports happening) he commentated on the activities of his two dogs, Olive and Mabel. If you’re needing more entertainment, try his channel on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@mrandrewcotter

Ooh, I’ve just found a new sport, not sure if it’s televised: The US Hobby Horse Championships. The inaugural event was held in Michigan earlier. As well as the USA it’s very popular in Finland so maybe they’ll compete against each other? I’ve checked and the Finns held their tenth event in 2023. What have I been missing! They have dressage, show jumping, the lot! No whipping the horses so no scandal there. It looks to be a sport for the girls but I’m sure boys could join in. (Other sexes are available).

Another week we travelled up to Sunderland to participate in the graduation. Not directly, we‘ve done enough studying, but as supporters. We didn’t have red dresses but we did have rather magnificent gowns made for us (as did others) to recognise our support of the University. We didn’t get to bring them home but they’ll be kept until the next time we parade onto the stage.

We stayed at Seaham Hall in Seaham, located on Lord Byron’s Walk. In the dining room was a well-known painting of him so I had to find out what all that was about. Turns out he was married there (the first time), although he did not like the place. We thought it delightful but too much detail for today. Next time or I’ll never finish this Post. (If you want to know more about the painting, there’s a copy in the National Portrait Gallery, just search online).

https://seaham.gov.uk/index.php/lord-byron

I came across Eldest Daughter Day recently, celebrated on August 26th. As an eldest daughter (in fact, an only daughter. Do I get two days?) I tried to verify this but could only find it on TikTok or Instagram. Instead, on another website, I found that August 26th is also National Dog Day, so Adie and I can celebrate together.

If we overdo it, I am reassured by the fact that it is also National Toilet Paper Day. I have my suspicions that these are American occasions but I’ll take the ones I fancy! As I type, it’s national Middle Child Day but that’s no good to me. Ditto Mother’s Day in Thailand and a few others.

https://nationaltoday.com/august-holidays/#aug-12

Returning to Paris, nearer in time to the previous Olympic Games of 1924, I came across this creepy story, firstly in In A Few Green Leaves by Barbara Pym (who you’ve briefly met in Posts 131 of 4th January 2022 and 154 of December 2023) and then in Hard Time by Jodi Taylor (referred to in Post 127 of October 2021).

The Moberly-Jourdain incident relates to two English academics visiting Versailles on 10th August 1901. As they walked around, Miss Moberly saw a woman dressed in old-fashioned clothes, sketching, whereas Miss Jourdain did not. They saw sights which, it turns out, did not exist in 1901, such as woods in the Petit Trianon, a small bridge and pavilion. These had been there in the 1780’s but since demolished. The two carried out extensive research and could only come to the conclusion that they had travelled back in time. I wonder whether any of the equestrian teams this year spotted any odd people around?

https://the-line-up.com/moberly-jourdain-incident-1901

To finish, a couple of suggestions for you. A cocktail from the other month was called Brainstorm and consisted of 60 ml Irish Whiskey, 15 ml Benedictine and 15 ml vermouth. Enjoyable but one for sitting in front of a roaring fire after dinner. Maybe we’ll try that again in the depths of this winter, if I remember.

This one is more suited to the summer. A Kill Bill cocktail: 45 ml vodka, 30 ml ginger, 30 l lychee topped up with rose & hibiscus soda.