Half term happy holidays! Yes - the October half term saw us in France (Paris), Wales (Tintern Abbey and the Brecon Beacons National Park), as well as our home in Caterham. It's been a sensual assault on all sides. Tough to pick five (and a bonus) but here we go... 1 La Guerre des étoiles
The LOML was keen to find a print like the one she found a few years ago (an equine school etching) from a place beside the Seine. No luck, but I found this Star Wars poster. It;s hilarious!! Check out Luke (with a six pack) and a chesty Princess Leia!! Those flirty French!! 2 And it stoned me to my soul
After the Euro trash assault on the senses (Av. des Champs-Élysées is not for the faint hearted), I needed something altogether grounded - so we headed to Wales. Tintern Abbey did the trick, and some.
3 Caves at Dan-Yr-Ogof
Admittedly, the halloween inspired trappings in the caves were ott, but it was still fun and the scenery was spectacular. 4 Waterfall in Wales (before dinner)
5 Paris Disneyland
Senses assaulted left and right in France earlier this week: smells - too many smokers and vapers; sights and sounds of the big halloween parade; body spam; taste - American hotdog! Overtime - NoSound (sol29) The beautiful music from NoSound soundtracked our journey around the Brecon Beacons. Perfect fit!
The London Underground map as it was in 1909! More here. 2 MCU (that's Marvel Cinematic Universe to you)
3 Poetry corner
Imaginary
Conversation
You tell me to live each day
as if it were my last. This is in the kitchen
where before coffee I complain
of the day ahead—that obstacle race
of minutes and hours,
grocery stores and doctors.
But why the last? I ask. Why not
live each day as if it were the first—
all raw astonishment, Eve rubbing
her eyes awake that first morning,
the sun coming up
like an ingénue in the east?
You grind the coffee
with the small roar of a mind
trying to clear itself. I set
the table, glance out the window
where dew has baptized every
living surface.
Linda Pastan (2015)
4 All those books I've bought but not read... There's a word for that apparently - tsundoku 5 How The Beatles logo came about Roll up, roll up, read all the news about it, oh boy!
Another day, another royal wedding. Jacky thought this dress was 'stunning' so this article is for her. 2 Poetry corner Numeric Values
The Prime Mover The Second Sex The Third Wheel The Four Seasons (see also Horseman) The Fifth Dimension The Sixth Sense The Seven Hills (see also Dwarves) The Eighth Wonder (see also Octomom) The Nine Muses The Tenth Inning The Eleventh Hour The Twelve Tribes
Elaine Equi (2015) 3 BBC 2 idents
4 Weird
The image, a street in Macau with the Grand Lisboa Casino looming in the background, is thought provoking (photograph by Paul Tsui, National Geographic), but the Twitter thread is also a wonderful dialogue. 5 More great poetry In which Raymond Carver brilliantly sums up the joy of rain (and relaxing about life's mistakes): Rain
Woke up this morning with a terrific urge to lie in bed all day and read. Fought against it for a minute.
Then looked out the window at the rain. And gave over. Put myself entirely in the keep of this rainy morning.
Would I live my life over again? Make the same unforgiveable mistakes? Yes, given half a chance. Yes.
Raymond Carver Overtime A story abour LeBron James and the most innovative school in America. Interesting reading. What have you got to lose?
1 Senses on the move part 1 I had to travel to Warwickshire this week to attend a course for work. Along the way I called into a service area, just outside Warwick, for the day's Guardian, which I read in the bar that night.
Shock moment was reading about Marty Balin's death. I hadn't realised he'd had a heart attack a few years ago and had lost the ability to sing as a consequence. That's a tragedy! He's a genuine connection to my sixties/seventies/eighties self. And that's always sad - when a connection is severed. 2Senses on the move part 2
Another purchase was a CD from WH Smith to while away the time in the car - one of those multi-pack compilations of usual suspects rock songs for a rawkus solo singalong (imagine Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire)
3 Senses on the move part 3
A mocha and an armond and raspberry slice from Costa Coffee hit the spot. 4 Geoff Emerick
Another good man done gone. Here's his Guardian obituary, along with this great photo. 5 and Overtime Marty Balin Songs of the week went to Count On Me and Miracles
