Chatterbox

[jeral Profile]

Joanbunting, how utterly heart breaking; I've been watching it on the telly and it still looks a long way from being under control. I read that the major part of the framework is timber so the prognosis isn't looking good. TV is saying that stone pillars of the nave have caved in under the weight of the roof falling and worse that the construction is interlocked all along so even the twin towers are in jeopardy

This link gives interesting facts, although there are probably lots more:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/556629/f ... -cathedral

I don't suppose much can cheer you up, but near the bottom of the page, the link gives facts about the Eiffel Tower, including that it receives a "paint of coat" every seven years.

[Renee Profile]

I could hardly believe what I was reading, so looked on the BBC news. Utterly heart-breaking! What a tragedy. I did visit Notre Dame many years ago with my school and remember the beautiful rose window.

[Sakkarin Profile]

It's 43 years since I was there, but I still remember its grandeur...

[Alexandria Profile]

The Notre Dame Cathedral ..

23.00 ..

We caught the Spanish News, and we have been
devasted ..

An absolutely horrendous awful catastrophe.

[Joanbunting Profile]

We went to bad feeling very sad indeed but this morning the news is not of utter devastation but that much has been saved thankfully the rose windows and the major part of the stonework and also more artifacts than had been feared.

The spire was a replacement and a mere 200years old !The roof however.........even though it has been restored several times was priiceless.
It is the cultural loss as much as the religious significance
The interesting thing about Notre Dame to me is that, it is truly the very heart of the city built on the island where the city strated and as such France started. It is the cultural loss as much as the religious significance because France is a secular state. Religion is considered to be a matter of personal choice and upbringing.

A couple of years ago we went to see the newly restored Sainte Chapelle which has always had a special place in our hearts. There was a group of recuits to the fireservice being taken round and lectured on it's significance and importance. The teacher was so good we tagged along behind.

Hundred of millions of € have alreay been donated and I suspect that will only be a start

[jeral Profile]

Yes, certainly more cheerful news this morning about Notre Dame than it might have been, even though of small comfort.

It's probably as well that generous wealthy donations are coming in as I imagine relevant insurance companies will be scouring their contracts for loopholes with the same alacrity as those searching the debris for anything and everything that can be salvaged.

Has there been any comment yet as to whether it is good that the scaffolding is intact, i.e. will it be useful for the rebuilding when it eventually starts, or will it all have to be dismantled and re-erected as relevant?

[dennispc Profile]

Notre Dame; tragic, we visited September 2013. Trying to be positive, experience at Windsor and other great houses such as Uppark meant students from specialist artisan courses were able to have practical experience and could earn during their holidays. Of course it won't be the same but ...

The stonemasons who built the great cathedrals of the continent knew a thing or two about fire – they basic structure was always strong solid and wood was plentiful so they could replace roofs quite cheaply and churches were usually very rich. It's reported the structure of Notre Dame is OK.

It will rise again, perhaps with greater significance, let's hope so.

IMG_0033.jpg

A couple of days ago we just happened to be looking through old photos to remind ourselves of good times we'd had as it's not been good for us. In February OH needed two emergency operations within 36 hours – scary. However, she's improving albeit slowly.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Thank you for the lovely photo Dennis. Hope your OH is improving and that the memories of happy times are halping.

Jeral the news about insurance is not good. Lloyds of London have just said they believe it was inadequate. Notre Dame is owned by the satate though. Not that the French are in any better state to pay out several billion on one project when, like most countries there are so many things that need it! Think about the Palace of Westminster!

[Stokey Sue Profile]

Lovely pic Dennis, hope your OH gets better soon

I visited Notre Dame properly in 1980, and I’ve seen it since

But I flew over it in the evening in I think 1969 and I could see the Ile de la Citė lit up, like a boat moored in the Seine

[Renee Profile]

Thank you for the lovely picture Dennis. I'm so sorry to hear about your OH and I'm pleased that she's slowly making a good recovery.

I'm sure that it would be almost impossible to insure because of the many fire hazards in the structure.

[Suffs Profile]

I’m pretty sure that, having been exposed to heat and other stresses it will be decided that the scaffolding will have to be removed and reinstated ... you don’t want to be sending workers up there unless it’s 100% safe ... it’s a long way down from there and builders don’t bounce

[Alexandria Profile]

Petronius,

All my best wishes to you and your spouse for a Speedy
recovery ..

Sorry to hear ..

[Sakkarin Profile]

I had a very good Burmese lunch at a Rangoon Sisters pop up, the first dish was Lahpet thoke, pickled tea leaf salad

I was shocked to look back and see that the Lahpet (misspelt Laphet) I made as the final Burmese dish in our last Burmese food project was nearly seven years ago!

[dennispc Profile]

Thank you Joan, Sue, Renee and Member 461, she's starting to help with the washing up so that's good. At least cooking's been fairly straightforward - fish, eggs, and chicken mainly. Can't take fibre - original cause of problem - so I just add cabbage, carrots and potatoes to my plate.

A while ago someone posted about difficulties of cooking fish. My break through came when HFW said fish is cooked at 55C. Brush both sides of fish (fillet) and baking tray with olive oil, season, into oven for about twenty minutes at 180C.

However, yesterday OH said, 'Sod it I'm bored with what I'm allowed to eat' so it was ham, egg and chips. Ham and loose frozen chips from farm shop and fried eggs done by herself. Another plus.

[jeral Profile]

Petronius, I always think it's a great sign when an ill person is well enough to become angry about anything so is feeling better in him/her self, as we say. To OH: You go girl!

Do things still count as fibre if you blitz the heck out of them? If so, could avoid with e.g. Knorr Spring Vegetable packet soup, well broth really (strain out the bits). It's always been one of my favourites for taste. Can add egg noodles and/or bacon or garlic flavoured croutons. Or dribble strands of a beaten egg in whilst simmering.

Of course, your being a connoisseur of decent chips, chip butties dipped in gravy to keep calorie count up spring to mind

Best regards.

[Lusciouslush Profile]

Petronius, you, and your dear other half, have been thro' the mill - this year especially - I sincerely hope all goes well with your dear wife's treatment and you are taking great care of yourself too.

You are her rock...…………..

[Joanbunting Profile]

Very well said Lush xxxxxx

[Renee Profile]

Lovely words Lush and from me too.

Thanks Dennis for the fish temperature, which I had heard but completely forgot! I will write it down.

[Rainbow Profile]

I'll echo Lush's words, too. All the very best to both of you and good to here your OH is on the road to recovery.

[Pampy Profile]

And me... Don't forget to look after yourself, too. Hope things continue to get better for Mrs P.