notre dame
Some years ago we went to the midnight Christmas service at Notre Dame in Paris. I’d visited earlier to listen to a choral performance. I was not alone; apparently the 861 year old cathedral has more than twelve million visitors annually.
image Pixabay
A devastating fire five and a half years ago destroyed the roof and the spire. The exact cause of the fire has never been determined, but French officials focused on electrical malfunction or a poorly extinguished cigarette. Prosecutors and investigators say the fire was not caused by arson.
Intensive repairs, requiring the input of specialist restorers in many fields, will enable the cathedral to throw its doors open again in time for Christmas. There’s new stained glass, buffed stone walls and renewed frescoes. The opening will be marked by events to celebrate the work of the many engineers and artisans from all over France. The bells actually rang at the at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony, the first time since the devastating fire.
Image Pixabay
This week the 14th century statue of Notre Dame de Paris, Our Lady of Paris, will return to Notre Dame. The statue was removed from the mantel at the south portal and kept in the church of Saint-Germain L’Auxerrois, near the Louvre. Thousands of people are expected to line the route along the Seine and across the river to the Ile de la Cité. The 1.8m (6ft) carving will be home again!
jacarandas
It’s that time of the year when the jacarandas are blooming everywhere. They are very beautiful and I like to go to areas where they were planted as street trees many, many years ago. I know when they were planted as my Mother was a school girl in our favourite area and used to tell us about afternoons spent planting street trees, many of which are jacarandas. They only bloom briefly but are gorgeous whilst in bloom.
Then this morning I read an article about how jacaranda trees can be very harmful. Jacarandas are not native to Australia ( they originated in South America). In Queensland and New South Wales they are considered an invasive weed, as they out compete native species. They flower heavily and produce a lot of seeds, which are wind and water dispersed, which means they enter ecosystems quite easily. They also grow quickly, about 2-3 metres a year in ideal situations. They quickly outgrow native species.
Image Pixabay
Another problem is their invasive root system results in damage to foundations, retaining walls, swimming pools, fences, pathways and driveways. They also cause problems in stormwater drains. If you have jacarandas in your garden, Landcare suggests you suppress their growth by pruning. Most garden centres will suggest you plant native plants instead.
Interestingly, I cannot find any references to avoiding planting jacaranda trees in Western Australia. There’s many nurseries offering them for sale and information about caring for young trees. Our local council has planted several in our street recently to replace trees that have died.
and some other things
⊗ Christmas wrapping paper is on sale everywhere as Christmas draws near. The problem is it all becomes rubbish as soon as the big day is over. Consider buying paper which wrinkles and doesn’t resist scrunching as those papers treated with plastic or foil cannot be recycled. There’s lots of themed drawstring gift bags made from fabric available and these can be used and reused for years. If you’re adept at tying scarves, search online for the Japanese way of wrapping gifts with fabric, called Furoshiki, practiced in Japan since the Edo Era (1603-1867). Reuse the same squares of fabric year after year. Very pretty.
Image Pexels
⊗ Have you made a Christmas fruitcake? Usually I macerate the fruit early in October to make two cakes. This year was no ordinary year and no fruit was put to soak. A friend told me that business was no excuse and to make a boiled fruit cake. Went searching for information about ingredients, time taken to prepare and cook and how long will it last.
The ingredients are basically the same except a boiled fruitcake requires more butter, but it cooks for a similar amount of time, but most recipes advise the cake only lasts about two weeks. We were still eating the last of the Christmas 2023 cake a few weeks ago. I did make two and often forget about them for ages. The smell of the fruits and alcohol when I open the tin to cut some is amazing. I’ll probably make a boiled fruitcake soon.