Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Discovering the past

If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday. ~Pearl Buck

I was wondering what was happening in Europe in 1840, and what was life like. The year that Monet and my favourite author Thomas Hardy were born.

In France The Belle Poule brought Napoleons remains back from Saint Helena to Le Havre.
In Belgium the saxophone was invented by Adolphe Sax, in the UK the RSPCA was formed, the lovely summertime drink Pims was invented. The postage stamp was introduced, the first, the Penny Black. Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. Scarlet fever was rife and in 1840 at least 20,000 people died of the disease in Britain!

Oh and Adelie land was discovered, Mr Sarkozy is the President and the language spoken is French, it is close to Porquoi Pas Point! discover Adelie Land cute penguins here.

Blu's beautiful views, in Monet's garden

Besoin is the French word for want or need.
Affranchissement is the French word for postage.

7 comments:

LadyFi said...

Lovely shot - spring-like and gorgeous!

ArtPropelled said...

.... and David Livingston sailed to South Africa, as a medical missionary.
Beautiful view indeed. Is that a Jacaranda tree?

Ken Devine said...

A few interesting facts, a few reminders and a creative shot. I'd forgotten all about Monet's cataracts. I remember sitting on a bench at the very spot he sat and looked out at what he saw and wondered if I was seeing a lot more than he would have.

Carol said...

Ooohh, very interesting post!! I love learning tit-bits like this!!

C x

Ken Devine said...

Total Art is great Blu. Your work is great there.

~vagabond~ said...

the photo makes me want to lie down under the tree and watch the clouds float by all day. :)

French Fancy... said...

Two worthy things that I support - the RSPCA (despite the fact they do put dogs down after a short time it is still an admirable organisation) and Pimms (a lovely lovely drink).

I'd never heard of Adelie - All these bits of France dotted around the globe.