Just Wondering

Blimey, August already? What happened to July?

Which season is your favourite?

Do you have an extra soft blanket that you like to snuggle up in?

Do you have any, well, odd statues erected in your town?

Good Morning

The Weekend So Far

Another sunny day but somewhat cooler than yesterday's 33 C swelter. However, during the heat, we found the Leading Light pub very cool inside. I arrived a few minutes before Ewart and then Phil came to join us half an hour later. I think we spent four hours in the pub.



I walked home from the pub but I do not remember buying a microwavable burger and bun from a convenience store until I found it in my bag this morning. I guess it was the store next to the pub.

Today I was in town again and posted off a book I sold on eBay.

Past Sentence was open again and I bought these for four quid -




Most of the day I was listening to music, especially improv and contemporary classical.

That Exit Again

I was listening to a repeat of a Reith Lecture by Hilary Mantel and when it came to the Q&A session one member of the audience asked her about Brexit. This is her reply from the transcription.

"There has been a gigantic failure on the part of the voting public
in Britain to know their history, to examine the evidence that was put before them, and a
giant failure of imagination. I think the whole thing is shameful, regrettable and I think -time will prove how destructive it may be. All nations have a fantasy of a golden age,
but I would say ours was to come. I'm not so sure, now."

Exactly, and her words resonate even more now.

Brexit Again

I was listening to a repeat of a Reith Lecture by Hilary Mantel and when it came to the Q&A session one member of the audience asked her about Brexit. This is her reply from the transcription.

"There has been a gigantic failure on the part of the voting public
in Britain to know their history, to examine the evidence that was put before them, and a
giant failure of imagination. I think the whole thing is shameful, regrettable and I think -time will prove how destructive it may be. All nations have a fantasy of a golden age,
but I would say ours was to come. I'm not so sure, now."

Book 59 - Isabelle de Courtivron & Whitney Chadwick "Significant Others"

Isabelle de Courtivron & Whitney Chadwick "Significant Others: Creativity and Intimate Partnership" (Thames & Hudson)





Lots of people are famous, but many fewer people are famous and have famous partners. How do two famous people get together? How does the relationship affect their craft? This book examines some of the most important creative couples of the last 125 years or so. This book is an underappreciated gem. If people haven't read about it or heard about it, then they should. The fact that many movies have been made about these couples makes me wonder if screenwriters used this book as a referral.

The book is very diverse. It includes straight, gay male, and lesbian couplings. It includes writers, painters, and sculptors. It speaks of cross-generational couples and interracial couples. Most importantly, it doesn't imply that all these couples lasted forever. Sometimes, it emphasizes divorce and break-ups in its analyses. The book has few male authors; so in terms of subject and writers, it's in many ways a women's studies text.

The book is thick but that is because of the huge endnotes and reprint permissions. The work is rigorous, but it doesn't take long to read individual chapters. I just can't believe I never heard of this text before. It's simply precious and almost priceless.

Birthday Greetings

Birthday greetings goes to jkkitty today.

Hope you had a great day.