Well Grandma’s still alive (although not exactly kicking, I’d presume) so it’s no use moping around and feeling miserable about it all the time. Of course my overall mood tends to drop towards melancholy when I think about her but grieving in advance will not lessen the amount of actual grieving one bit, when the time comes around for that. So, preparations have been made and steps have been taken to perk up and not feel sorry for myself and the inevitable loss. One has availed oneself of alcohol in large quantities, causing bodily tiredness but also smoothness of mind. One has ordered the sun to shine and quite amazingly, against all odds and expectations, during the past few days it has done just that, shining very brightly and nicely in an entirely non-Novemberish way. One also summoned one’s brother and his family to visit for one’s brother’s kids are of the variety whose company is guaranteed to put a healthy (and at times weary, too) smile on ones’ face. This didn’t fail to happen this time either. It’s impossible not to feel better after having observed one’s nephew (pictured here in his pacifier-ridden phase of life) derive such pleasure from intently running some 50 times around a single pillow placed on the floor. And to top it all, one popped into the internet and booked a flight to London for oneself and one’s Loved One, with hotel room reservations and a firm resolution to visit all kinds of museums, restaurants and bookstores but also to enjoy the much needed leisure.

THIS WEEKS’ GLIMPSE INTO VISUAL ARTISTRY:
To me the name Rubens brings to mind only ladies with generously proportioned bottoms. Quite a generalization, I know, what with the works of this Old Master apparently being amongst the most valued paintings of all time. Still, my only impression of him is his fixation on large and exposed female backsides. Or was, until I saw his portrayal of the Roman God Saturnus, in the act of devouring his own son. Fearing a prophecy that one of his children would overthrow him, Saturnus ate each of his children upon their birth. No secretive smiles and exposed backsides here but sheer naked terror and anguish, in graphic and ghastly detail. I was aware of Francisco de Goya’s take on the same subject, being a lot more familiar with the works of Goya in general, but the earlier version of Rubens is way more disturbing and frightening, with Saturn oozing cold calculation and determination but not insanity at all. This lack of the absolving cushion and the excuse of madness makes the scene way more shocking and effective. See for yourself.

Hmm. The two pictures of this post may seem a bit contradictory to some. But not to me and I can safely say that although they both feature a boy child the similarities are purely coincidental and I wouldn’t be interested in devouring my nephew at all, him being the entirely lovely little fellow he is, and me not being a paranoid member of the pantheon of Roman gods at all.

Anyway, returning briefly to the painting itself. It didn’t make me a big fan of Rubens but it made me pay more attention to his works. “Two Satyrs” somehow reeks of evil too, in a very unsettling way. Look at those eyes.

THIS WEEKS’ BOTTLES OF CHOICE:
Chianti Colli Senesi from Tuscany, Italy. Lasagne needed company and chianti was an apt and fitting choice. This was during a dinner party for four people, and after a bottle of cava (Castellblanch Cristal, my current favourite when it comes to cavas) for aperitif and another of albarino with the antipasti I must admit that my recollections of this chiantis’ specific characteristics are a bit on the hazy side. In the light of this it’s a bit surprising that the after-dinner bottle of Santa Helena Varietal Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile left such a clear and positive impression. For the price of 6 euros this is a remarkably good wine, somewhat yeasty of taste, pleasantly light and mildly sparkly at the tongue, although the wine itself definitely wasn’t sparkling at all, it just tasted that way. Warmly recommended whenever in need of budget priced red wine that’s easy to drink. Might be a decent partner for some kind of food as well. Might not be worth the bother of finding out which food, though.