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!

(At the point of need? 

Nye where are you when we need you? 

... On the  rotisserie again.)

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?

Bamba, Bamba

(Oh very good. I see what you did there. I'm just speechless ...Ed) 

And I'm a deaf, half blind, pinball wizard!

A Loss

 Mr Memex (John Naughton whom god preserve) provides some sad news in his daily dozen. 

The Irish Piper Paddy Maloney has died. The power behind the Chieftains Group, I enjoyed his music greatly,  a pleasure for many years. John provides a link here to a Beeb4 programme about the Chieftains. 

If you don't get round to that just watch these two, Paddy and Liam both now gone, make music and mischief here. Just watch for the half wink Liam gives Paddy part way through (43 sec). 

(Liam was never one for overemotion. May they both rest in peace... Ed)

A Joyful Week for Some.

 

We met up with some friends at Minsmere for a walk and a picnic. The sky was overcast, the sea was a muddy brown, the tide was in but the day warm enough  to light  a glow in us. We have not seen our friends or many others for some time (Isn’t your other friend in Australia...Ed?) and it did feel good just to chat!
I had my first real meeting of the Avid Crime Readers yesterday since 2020 and again I enjoyed the experience of being with people.  As I’m sure you can guess, we did not spend much of the time discussing the book. I’m certain I made some of the points below but again it was good just to talk, face to un-masked face. In preparation for our email meeting I had set out a few notes. You may be interested - yes you at the back!
Ian Rankin - In a House of Lies. 2018
Back in the game again. It's like a big cup of tea and a slice of chocolate cake! Straight  into the tapestry of the plot,  first the body, then Siobhan, the new team, Foxy and finally the wiley coyote himself, Rebus. As prickly as a pear and obscure as a dreek Sunday afternoon in February on Carlton Hill.
The plot developed  with sufficient complexity to hold my attention and provide  enjoyment. I'm not sure it would be the same for a first time buyer. However, there is a quality to the description of people and places that fills expectations from Rankin. A convoluted affair but life is seldom pure and never simple. That would be an apt thing to chisel onto Rebus's headstone. The characters have developed, Shiv and Foxy heading uncomfortably to middle age and John wheezing his way down the coughing road to that headstone. The supporting cast is well drawn with the 'Chugalugs' and Big Ger yet again  sufficiently believable that you could draw twirly black mustaches on them and get away with it. The reveal(s) and resolutions are just, immoral,  or amoral as you wish but they gave a satisfactory ending to a wet Sunday afternoon. Now where is that chocolate cake?

(Can I congratulate you, things seem to be on the up. The corvid business has served you well...Ed.)
But not many others and mind you don’t get your feet wet in that downpour!

The Old Bull and Johnson

 I have in my hand a copy of the Beer Drinker's Companion by Frank Baillie. It was published in 1973 and my copy is dated 1974. It is a comprehensive guide to the beers that were available at the time and, full disclosure, of which I took refreshment. In addition, I own a well used Edinburgh Pub Guide - The Lore o' Reekie's Howffs and Hostelries - Published in 1976 by ' Pubs Board' (nothing to do with drinking I suppose...Ed?) Edinburgh University Students Publication Board since you ask. The Star Tavern ( 63 in the book, now the Star Bar.) was my local when I lived in Edinburgh. Very local I lived about 5 metres verically from the front door. The point is that despite my current  state of sobriety I know that of which I write and so...

 It is with great sadness, therefore, that I have to announce the death of the Pub.

Having survived years of religious persecution, a reletless bombing campaign by the Luftwaffe, the IRA and various rightwing and homophobic individuals the PUB was finally dealt the Coup de Grace by a Mr Boris Johnson, a Prime Mincer, who is described being as fit as an undertaker's dog, possibly.

The PUB RIP 2020

 

 

Black Lives Matter

A family member pointed to this article in the Grauniad.

I was very grateful to rekindle memories of youthful cricket.

Learie Constantine was a hero of mine ever since I was able to lift a bat and book. I believe he appeared in a charity match at my local cricket ground in Salford. I was not there but I did grace the ground myself once.  My contribution to the sporting conflict which I believe was a friendly was confined to plying the opposition's fielders with pints on the boundary while I waited for my undistinguished turn at the tail end. Neither activity was edifying or effective.  Another man I admired Terry, recounted the following story about the charity match involving Learie. The match started and progressed with good humor and when Learie took the crease, a deal of excitement. Since he had by then  spent more time in the House of Lords than on the pitch he was not on top form. It was understandable, therefore, that the first ball he faced took the edge of his bat and headed in a gentle arc towards the gloves of the very competent keeper. The keeper was not only very able but also astute. He was momentarily blinded by the sun, which witnesses later claimed was directly behind him, and put the dolly down. Sir Learie went on to make a good score which was greatly enjoyed and cheered on by the crowd and a grand day was had by all. According to my friend Terry, that is. He could be a most unreliable witness!

Anyone There?

(...Hello! Is there anyone there?...Ed)
Ah! There you are. I was wandering. Good to see you again. Nice of you to drop in. Tea?
(...Two months, nearly, without sight, sound or sniff. I was beginning to worry to say nothing of the back pay! There are laws of employment, I'm told, contractual obligations...Ed)
Good of you to ask. I have been well and enjoying life. A brief holiday, most agreeable. Has much happened while I've been away- births, deaths, marriages -resignations, elections  -plague, famine and war, rumours of war? So, not much change there then. Herself deplores starting every other sentence with so, so I thought I would give it a try. Can't have the Language Police rule our lives completely. So, I think it rather suits me. Takes twenty years off my prose if I am not mistaken!
I brought you back a little something. I know I shouldn't but you can't keep real life out of your work, I know. No need to say anything.

I am creating a substantial cultural legacy in these parts.  I sing regularly in a little ensemble, the Barn Owls, We entertain in the local villages, quite a creative footprint now if you ask.
(Don't barn owls screech?...Ed)
There's the phone. Have to go, could be La Scala, they've been after me for weeks.
Soave sia il vento as we say in these parts!

Buckets and Books and Urns.

A villager confessed to me recently, on his election at the local urns,  that it was one of the things that he could now tick off on his Bucket List.  I'm not sure that I have ever had such a thing but if I did it is now, much reduced, to a Book List. Living the dream one book at a time.

To my eternal shame it is the first time I have ever voted for the blue corner. It did contribute to preventing the black shorts getting in. My reasoning was that politics is the art of the possible and it is possible to vote against. The English are not very good at doing that.
It seems we are going to miss the opportunity to obtain a postal vote in the forthcoming Europole because the  local Gauleiters have bollixed getting the postal vote out in reasonable time! And now for something completely different:-

A calming little picture!

Speakers' Wives

What japes! Mr Speaker Bercow intervenes in a long and sorry saga. By their wives' bumper stickers ye shall know them - the eyes to the right the nose to the left.

Ain't DNA Wonderful

This is what DNA gets up to when no one is, usually, looking.
Clever Stuff!

(I suppose you could call it a hard boiled egg, 6 minutes... Ed?)

DooH!
Many thanks to Memex, as usual.

Felinity

My parents had a saying that some thing or person was useful in a house where there was no cat.
You may take this surreal and gentle barb any way you wish! I am not a great lover of cats (Oh god no! We will be plagued now by cat lovers and the anti cat defamation society, by the owners of Tiddles and Pussy Willow and all manner of the felinatious fraternity. We should publish a retraction- immediately...Ed!)

... However, I  was taken by this fellow the other day.

I offer my sincerest apologies if it is a female or LBQTRSVP or some other thing! I was reluctant to pursue the matter further!

Meurig

A message. Muerig, a friend and a lovely man, has died.
I thought of this song, Fair Love of my Heart sung by Ishbel MacAskill, as a fitting reminder of what a gentle, good humoured, man he was.

Meurig
A rolling Moss,
A gentle smile and a hearty chuckle
from a small frame browned by the sun of many summer camps.
A truer of wheels and young minds buckled by potholes of existence.
A generous sharer in the water of life.
Sadly, one day, we will all come to the end of the bottle. 

Gene, Genie

I have been reading a book, courtesy of the Wonderful Librarians of SLIPS, very interesting as your man would say.
Siddhartha  Mukherjee - The gene

A short ad break 
I am provoked by this tome to start a crowd funding activity to discover the definitive GENE for a bad hair day, let's say we name this gene  BPBHD17. Now, I intend to throw the entire resources of the Buddhist Pizza Research Institute for Advanced Studies in Genetics to seek pending patents on this unique genetic material and will, after due process, form a profitable association for the generation of lots of spondulicks. You may participate if you wish and make contributions via our representatives in the Cayenne Island -usual t&c's, including the pledging of your firstborn as security, apply and will be provided (grudgingly...Ed.) on application.

Disclaimer - I am not a lawyer, accountant or business advisor (IANALABA) and you should seek professional advice where appropriate.
 Sponsored by Buddhist Pizza Enterpises End

A grand wee book (nearly 600 pages, you wouldn't want to drop that on your foot... Ed!)
Some wonderful writing, turns of phrase and ideas that knock your socks off!
On p340 dealing with on the evolution of humanity and the dispersion of the human ' race ' he makes the point that

"We were on the same boat, brother."

A thread running through it is that there is only one race, really, the human race. Recently my feeling is that we are not odds on and close to the possibility of losing it, in a Windrush!

(Is this Blog thingy  not getting a bit wordy, dull and uninteresting... Ed?)

I'll have my photographer rustle a few pictures later on, maybe stone washed Levi's, Wranglers or would you prefer flares?

Transhumance

Yourman Macfarlane has transhumance as his word of the day.
The tweetings that follow it are really interesting/charming. I suppose it is acceptable in a week which has a Monday/Tuesday before it is Good Friday (good anyday I'd say...Ed) enough of that and in which we stuff ourselves with the output from Chocolate Hens which have hot cross bums! Amen.

Dead, dead and never called me muvver!

The season for dying. Always a touchy one. Still, a certainty for us all.
Some this season cause sadness and some pass by like clouds casting the shadow of mortality over us!
The traditional piper Liam Óg O'Flynn died at the age of 72  reported yesterday by RTE

He has appeared in this blog before in the guise of Planxty at a time of sadness

The wailing of the pipes is a representation of our grief but it can also be an outpouring of great  joy.
(Nuff said... Ed)
For once!

Breakfast

Best meal of the day, really, but as we progress in age (and wisdom and grace as well surely...Ed!)
I've told you before not Shirley!
On these cold and grey days a little later perhaps. However, that gives herself time to fill up the birds' feeders. I spotted this fella as I was munching on my mixture of seeds nuts and oats.

Marvellous things proton pumps, have I ever mentioned it before.

Frankie and Johnny

So they weren't lovers after all!
I read in my Grauniad today:-
Split in lay order after senior official was dismissed over distribution of free prophylactics and the Holy See hierarchy sought to intervene.
 (Those subs get away with murder. Split and prophylactics in the same sentence. Fast cars, big cigars, even faster women. They probably wear red white and blue braces. How unlike the code of conduct and dress code of our own humble publication...Ed)
Not many people would wear braces to hold their pjs up, I grant you. 

Wake Up Call

Imagine my surprise listening to Late Junction early this morning on the Beeb's marvelous catchy uppy iplayer type thingy.
(Late Junction 5/04/2016 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b075prfv ) There at 00:55 - Ed Lee Natay  Zuni Sunrise Canyon Records. He was  singing his socks off to get the horses up and all us idle bu**ers out of bed. Sam Lee (no relation as far as I know), who was the guest on the programme, describes his recognising this track and first hearing it as the arise song at FSC. I recognised it too though I was probably singing it (I could in those days, sing that is.) Is it as haunting as I think or is it just  an association with the great outdoors and a very happy time?

Sam was on  after his own programme went out on Sunday - Taking It All Back Home 3/04/2016 BBC R3 . In it he explored how archives and institutions around the world are looking to repatriate sound recordings.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b075p6n9  If you miss the link or don't have time it is downloadable.

I particularly liked the division of people into coyotes and others!

Reflections on Memory

Interesting article in the Grauniad on art, identity and memory by SJ Watson.

 (Oh I see what you did there, smart boy wanted, very good, very good. Speaking of bright young things I believe one of the related's saucepans has had some success  with the fiddle..Ed)

See for yourself at 1:58. You do have the Swedish do you not? I don't know what I would pay an editor for if it wasn't the Swedish.

(PAY...Ed!)

Do No Harm

Stories of life death and brain surgery may not be your cup of tea but I read Henry Marsh's book, Do No Harm, for a variety of reasons. I came across neurotmesis  in the eponymous chapter 14.  Having herself returned to me after life saving surgery, but not alas the function of her lower left leg, I was interested to see it defined in another context.  Mr Wikipedia has it as a peripheral nerve injury, the most severe, which in most cases cannot be completely recovered from even with surgical repair. It led me to the thought that - Life is so precious and hangs by such a frail thread that when it is cut.

Marsh seems like an interesting cove. I listened to his Private Passions last year and I think they are still available, as a downloady mp3 thing in good old you kay at least. On p195, in chapter 18 charmingly titled Carcinoma, he relates moments in the days before  his mother dies. He is, with his sister, caring for her. She is carried to the bathroom, washed and tenderly treated in the full knowledge of the three of them that the end is near. He describes their love for her in such terms that even a brick would weep...

"It felt quite easy and natural for us both, I think, despite our intense emotions. It's not that we felt anxious - the three of us knew she was dying - I suppose what we felt was simply intense love, a love quite without ulterior motive, quite without the vanity and self-interest of which love is so often the expression."

(Are there any perks for us in promoting this Marsh fellow, private brain surgery or what...Ed?)

Herself still has a very strong right leg which she needs to exercise! 

Flights of Fancy

A bright sunny day tempted me to take my nose for a run. The local heath provided exercise and a measure of solitude for myself, various dogs and their owners and assorted family groups. The, relative,  peace was disturbed by a micro lite, or some such, imitating a Singer (sewing machine) with a bad cough going at full belt! But the day was such a delight that it was easy to let it slip by with some grace. I moved from the light into the shadow of the trees to hear the raucous call of a bird. I saw a RookCrow challenge a much bigger bird.  Beyond this a buzzard was taking advantage of rising air to circle above the fracas. Its partner left the RookCrow with a disdainful flap and joined the stately dance. Like unwhirling dervishes they slowly precessed up and away. A ghostly half-moon looked on and down.