A place to park those random thoughts, stolen images, hidden conversations and incoherent babble from beyond the wall of sleep. Odd bits of music and so-called worldly wisdom may creep in from time to time. Don't expect too much and you won't feel let down.
Belladona: Feeling like I'm undertaking some heroic, maverick wizarding activity from the Harry Potter universe, maybe working undercover for the Ministry of Magic on a special project or for the Witchfinder General. I'm purging the Belladona, aka Deadly Nightshade, from the garden. It's an insidious weed that's taken a hold in at least three places.
Strangely enough it pulls out, by the root, with little resistance. It poses a real and imagined danger, like magic I suppose, but there's no magical power keeping it in the earth. No screams of agony or ecstasy as it fights back against being sent to destruction in the spiritual void of the deep and final brown bin.
It is however really poisonous though apparently useful for sustaining birds and insects, so there was some inner conflict about getting rid of it - but it's ruin is for the best, maybe. The time of terror and tribulation is now over (until the next time of terror and tribulation that is) .
In a week where I've been buffeted by tasty scones and confused over the thickness of store bought cream, I redeemed a tiny part of my soul with my in depth knowledge of Eve's pudding. Something I've never tried I must add. I just knew that it was out there, loose in a harsh world of appetites and not on many menus these days. It was a pub quiz question that I managed to sneak a correct answer in on. Now I want to try said pud.
In a few days I know I'll forget this, that's how it goes with knowledge and desire. Like fellow travelers they are with you for a bit but eventually they fall away to be replaced by Aldi lentil snacks or lemon San Pellegrino or an iced latte in a random coffee shop. None of which will quite match up to their fantasy tastes, textures and effects. Farewell then "Eve's Pudding". I must move on. There are sunny uplands to walk upon they say ...
There, that's something else now re-imagined and placed in a bigger but less accurate AI universe. The four symbols await their own repackaged fate. This fine distortion is a destination that we may all end up trapped in or imprisoned by, one fine day. I'm not looking on the bright-side on this and that may be the best of best ways to be. Stay wary but stay curious.
Franz Kafka is credited with saying: "Everything that you love will probably be lost but in the end love will return in some other way."
Some time in Germany's fourth city - in terms of people. A sunny, busy, crazy place. The pictures are all my own work, unsurprisingly. I have a phone with a sticky screen. Maybe it's my brain and fingers that are sticky. In the city I try to look up but I fail miserably at making forward progress. Street level, street view is all I see so I miss a lot but I'm less likely to stumble over on the pavement.
Spotted in the bushes near to the Hawes Pier, SQ. Somebody's pride and joy has suffered an undignified end and a rapid cremation. For clarification I was not actually in the bushes beside the motor cycle, I remained steady at a safe distance. You don't mess up a crime scene. The wreck is clearly visible from the path, the ashes are cold and the fire had gone out a while ago.
A year on in the cultivation of asparagus and this is what we have created. Growing this vegetable is a long process, last year nothing really happened, this year just some spindly growth progress. Next year (year three) there is a chance of actually cropping some. Of course you could easily buy a pack of as much as we'll ever grow for £3.00 or so in any supermarket. None of that matters, we're already looking forward to the wild antics and celebrations at the annual Asparagus Folk Festival that takes place in the distant fields of muddy Fife. We'll qualify as virgin exhibitors you know (a very special category). As illustrated below.
Maybe some ownership and a sense of belonging would be better, not sure how to graduate towards that. I'm too mean and used to free stuff and we've all seen how services rise and fall, come and go. Loyalty isn't encouraged. There'll be another one along in a bit ... I suppose.
Free is OK, good for a while but we take it for granted, click past the ads, ignore the messages, refuse to join up and avoid being stung. So if they pull the plug, change the algorithm or switch around the tools or format you'd better suck it up or just roll on elsewhere. It's evolution but not as we know it. (Turns out Google Photos just wants your money not your precious content, imagine that).
Today we said goodbye to our beloved cat Clint. He was the only kitten in the litter without a name so he became Clint as per the Clint Eastwood western film tradition. He was a crazy, affectionate and adorable cat who loved the outdoor life but also cuddling up warmly indoors. We had him for about 16 years and he was always funny and curious and interested in everything that was going on. He'd been ill for a few months and it was sad watching his health decline and his strength slip away. In the end he died peacefully and, like his mum Missy, we miss him loads.
