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Fictional characters
Names are always buzzing through my head, names of characters in stories that I have yet to write. I was recently contemplating silly Crusader names from the Fens and others: – Sir Gérard de Wisbech – Thibaut de Lynn – Louis, Comte de Ditton – Sieur Jaume de Swaffham – Ranulphe de March Then there… — read more
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A poem on reaching 40
I stumbled on this poem I wrote when I turned 40. First day at forty Looking out and looking back A big sky – high with spackled clouds Evening rooftop in Jerez. Haven’t thought of that these many years Why suddenly now? — read more
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Scottish haiku
From Alan Spence’s Glasgow Zen, versions of haiku by Issa: wid ye lookit the state ae it – me in ma new jaicket! fling doon crumbs the sparras start fightin – ye canny win! poor auld bugger beggin in the rain for a few bob – sorry pal, ah’m skint tae — read more
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A failure of politicians (so what’s new)
In April 2004 a group of very senior diplomats wrote to then-PM Tony Blair regarding the catastrophic US-UK adventures in the Middle East. I post it again now since it seems to me that, 11 years on, things have turned out pretty much as predicted, i.e. crap. Further, no lessons were learned, as the adventure… — read more
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Rene Burri
Some years back I bought a copy of Phaidon’s very large book of Rene Burri’s photographs. This is wonderful. Don’t believe the silly two star review on the Amazon UK site. Since 1983 I have had on or near my desk of the time a copy of his famous picture of four men on the… — read more
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Towards an understanding of art
[…] I again spent two hours in front of a few pictures today; I sense this is somehow useful for me. Would it be instructive for you? I can’t really say it in one breath. One can really see all of Cezanne’s pictures in two or three well-chosen examples; and no doubt we could have… — read more
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The proper spirit of travel
Robert Byron writes in The Road to Oxiana (my reference is to the Pimlico edition of 2004, page 317) about the proper spirit with which to engage in the adventurous kind of travel: One knows these modern travellers, these overgrown prefects and pseudo-scientific bores despatched by congregations of extinguished officials to see if sand-dunes sing… — read more
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Pellicanz
By Thibaut de Navarre (also Thibaut de Champagne):  Dex est ensi conme li pellicanz Qui fet son nif el plus haut arbre sus, Et li mauvés oisiaus, qui vient de jus, Ses oisellons ocit: tant est puanz; Li peres vient destroiz at angoisseus, Du bec s‘ocit, de son sanc dolerous Vivre refet tantost ses… — read more
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Ravilious | Dulwich Picture Gallery
Note to self: Remember to go and see this. Ravilious is one of my favourite artists. via Dulwich Picture Gallery Exhibition – Ravilious | Dulwich Picture Gallery. — read more
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Apollinaire and Me
I always go to say hello to Apollinaire. Usually to Montaigne, too, though this time our wanderings didn’t lead that way. #notso via Flickr http://flic.kr/p/rQnTT9 — read more
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