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Tag Archives: Richard Burton

Leaves, Chillies and Michael Sheen

Coloured leaves, chillies and a treat for you.

Our chilli plant is still going strong. I delivered these five green ones to a neighbour this afternoon.

Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood has been a favourite of mine since I was a little girl when my parents used to play the Richard Burton version on two LPs and I grew to know it almost by heart. I was later able to choose it as a text for my GCSE pupils to study and I hope I instilled a love for these words in some of them at least. I love, here, how Michael Sheen has interpreted the words and given everything so much expression, just perfect. I hope the link works for you. The video is appearing in my draft but not always when I preview……. Maybe give it a few moments.

https://www.facebook.com/nationaltheatre/videos/248706393938250

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 26, 2021 in literature, nature, Photography, poetry, Postaday2021, Uncategorized

Tags: 'Under Milk Wood' Dylan Thomas, Richard Burton

Sunset, Dylan Thomas and Earrings

14 May

Last night’s sunset was absolutely gorgeous! The crimson and golden glow crept across our sitting room so we went upstairs to capture the beauty of the setting sun sinking into the sea.

Today is International Dylan Thomas Day. I love the works of Dylan Thomas especially Under Milk Wood which I used to teach to GCSE students many years ago. I was brought up on this version on two long playing records with Richard Burton as the First Voice and here, for your delectation, is that wonderful voice with the inimitable words of Dylan Thomas.

Some time ago, I was offered the chance to have some earrings made, as a gift while in lockdown. The maker was unknown to me but here today, in the infrequent post, came a beautiful little pair of handmade silver and crystal earrings which I shall treasure. They are just 1″ long and very pretty. Thank you very much Karen.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on May 14, 2020 in Beauty, environment, friendship, nature, Photography, poetry, Postaday2020

Tags: 'Under Milk Wood', International Dylan Thomas Day, jewellery making, Richard Burton

Dylan Thomas, Diamond Raindrop and New Cardigan

02 May

1 As my regular readers will know, I am a huge fan of the writing of Dylan Thomas. I love his poetry and even more, I love his play for radio, ‘Under Milk Wood’. I used to read U.M.W. with my GCSE literature classes before the curriculum dictated only a few plays that we could read. They grew to love his humour and his marvellous use of language almost as much as I did. Of course, they loved that the name of the seaside village where Under Milk Wood is set is named, Llareggub, bugger all backwards! He died in New York having continued his reading tour despite having a serious chest infection and he died of pneumonia at only 39. What a tragic waste of an incredible talent though he has left us some magnificent treasures. I have posted here, here and here about his work. Click on the links for some Under Milk Wood, Poem in October and Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night.

2 I found this beautiful diamond of a raindrop in a newly formed Lupin leaf. Click on the photo for really beautiful detail.

Raindrop in a Lupin leaf

3 Today I have finished of the multi-coloured cardigan for Grand-baby B by sewing in all the ends. I am very pleased with it though I think it’ll be a while until she grows into it. Better that than too small!

For Grand-baby B – I just love the buttons!

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on May 2, 2014 in Beauty, knitting, nature, photography, Postaday 2014

Tags: 'Under Milk Wood', Dylan Thomas, Richard Burton

Under Milk Wood, Bird Visitors and Wild Winds

26 Jan

1 Another duvet day but with the special treat this morning of hearing some of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood on the radio. That is my favourite piece of literature even above Romeo and Juliet! Just listen to Richard Burton reading the opening lines by clicking here. It’s 60 years since UMW was first broadcast. Mum and Dad bought the recording on two 78rpm records and played it often and so I grew up hearing the best radio play ever.

2 It’s the Big Garden Bird Watch today (where people all over the country count the birds in their garden or park for one hour over the weekend) and, feeling better, I took my duvet downstairs to watch for the birds. The weather is still so wild that there were few but in the odd moments between showers and gusts of wind, one or two of our regulars called in.

Blackbird

Magpie

Pretty pigeon

2 The wind has been every-which-way today. The weather vane hasn’t known which way to go!

Blowing West?

…or East?

14 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 26, 2014 in Beauty, birds, environment, literature, nature, photography, poetry, Postaday 2014

Tags: 'Under Milk Wood', Big Garden Bird Watch, Dylan Thomas, Richard Burton

Turkey Broth, Chocolate Truffles and Dylan Thomas

02 Jan

1 Working to banish the bronchitis blues, I served up homemade Turkey broth for lunch.

2 Delicious chocolate truffles, a birthday present from L also help!

Delicious truffles

3 Listening to Richard Burton reading the opening to Dylan Thomas’ masterpiece ‘Under Milk Wood’ is another tonic for the soul.If you want a real treat, just listen to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuPO2Kvqlms

“To begin at the beginning:
It is spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters’-and-rabbits’ wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea. The houses are blind as moles (though moles see fine tonight in the snouting, velvet dingles) or blind as Captain Cat there in the muffled middle by the pump and the town clock, the shops in mourning, the Welfare Hall in widows’ weeds. And all the people of the lulled and dumbfound town are sleeping now.”

‘Under Milk Wood’ by Dylan Thomas

and if I have caught your interest, you may like this link too.