We had a particularly hungry visitor for breakfast today. Usually the garden is full of LBJs because we have a hedge. 'Sadly', there appeared to be none about. After a glorious few minutes our visitor decided on 'breakfasting' elsewhere!
Monday, March 03, 2025
Tuesday, October 01, 2024
Federal Belt and Bracing
A Mr Lee, Governor of Tennessee, twitted that:-
"I'm proud to proclaim today, September 27, as a voluntary Day of Prayer & Fasting across the Volunteer State." This just prior to landfall of Hurricane Helene. Other Governors and States are available and were likely to be blasted. They looked to the Federal Gov. and FEMA (possibly in addition to the almighty) for assistance.
It appeared, somewhat belatedly, possibly grudgingly, Mr Lee decided to ware a belt as well as bracing and approached the Federal Authorities.
Amen!
Hat tip to Heather Cox Richardson for alerting me to this on Sep 28, 2024 in her grown up person's substack.
Friday, September 13, 2024
Pain(e) and Truth
A visit to Thetford, to dentist and optician, since you ask.
While waiting for the dental numbing to subside I visit the gold statue of Thomas Paine, appropriate as Mrs Wikipedia tells me he was born Thomas Pain, but I digress. The plinth on which the imposing figure stands contains an inscription
"IT IS AN AFFRONT TO TRUTH TO TREAT FALSEHOOD WITH COMPLAISANCE"
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Mountain High!?
Here's one I didn't take earlier. A trip up Everest as noted on X
Chinese drone maker @DJIGlobal shared a breathtaking video of its DJI Mavic 3 Pro flying over Mount Everest on Weibo yesterday. The drone ascended 3,500 meters from the base camp to the summit of the highest mountain in the world.
The Link is below:-
https://x.com/yicaichina/status/1811012739361653196
Hat tip to Mr Naughton for this.
Not much more to say really, just enjoy it while the link lasts.
(Did I ever mention my fear of heights...? Ed)
Work, yes, heights, no!
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Ear, Ear!
A visit to bigtown to make an appointment to have ears
syringed as a solution to pain! £70 gov and £6.50 for
a bottle of olive oil (10ml) while you are at it!
Surprised to hear rock music, surprised to hear anything.
Is it some thoughtless person with a car radio
making the most of the sunshine!
In fact it is a junior and very putative rock band in front of
M&S, other shop fronts are available.
Relating this later, I quip that Los Lobos are still safe.
Are they still alive was the swift reply?
(Oh very good. I see what you did there. I'm just speechless ...Ed)
And I'm a deaf, half blind, pinball wizard!
Monday, June 17, 2024
Bird Tunes
A visit to Wingfield Barns for a concert given by Miranda Rutter and Rob Harbron. Rutter, a folk musician, fiddle and viola player, composer, performer and teacher, smashed it for us. The project Bird Tunes: a suite of newly composed tunes is inspired by birds and birdsong. Very enjoyable! The Barns are in a lovely spot and the birds showed up to provide ambient sound. Asked if they had ever considered using the concrake (known to the friends of Coll as Cornflakes) as inspiration - no takers? However, The Blackbird Schottische is a real cracker.
Friday, October 13, 2023
In Time of War(s)
Long, long ago, in a university common room I saw a crumpled man with a crumpled face in a crumpled jacket smoking a cigarette. (It was a long time ago.) Keith's Mum said he was a poet. Here is part of a poem what he wrote.
...I and the public know
What all schoolchildren learn,
Those to whom evil is done
Do evil in return...
At an early age I was vaccinated against poetry but I think this has something to say, now.
Within the crumples it seemed there might be great experience, humanity and compassion. Who knows?
Hat tip to John Naughton for reminding me.
(Ehmm, ehmm! Would we not have to get permission from Mr Auden for the use of September 1 1939 Ed.)
WH is late of his parish and we claim fair use which is more than I have had out of you, recently!