Picture 1 was taken at 8.11pm just as the streetlights came on. The nights are definitely drawing in. Whether or not that is a nautical metaphor I don't know. Stephen Fry is doing a god programme on Monday mornings called Fry's English Delight and the first programme was devoted to metaphor. He points out that as metaphor implies moving meaning from one thing to another, it is interesting that, in Greek, a household removal van is called a 'metaphor'. Apparently also we Brits use more marine metaphors than anyone else.
He didn't make the point but it seems people use nautical metaphors like 'the economy needs a touch on the tiller' when things are going badly. If things are going well we veer towards motoring metaphors like 'firing on all four cylinders'.
The morning started well with a misty daybreak and I thought it was to be a lovely day. But not so.I managed a picture of the robin who has well and truly returned and appears inquisitively all over the place. Although this picture of him feeding in one of the starling-proof feeders makes him seem apparently in a cage he is of course able to fly out of the slightly larger holes in the sides.
As William Blake wrote:
To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.
Please click here if you would like to read the whole poem.
I've had a most restful day - lots of radio, lots of naps, plenty newspapers, coffee, tea and snacks. Done absolutely nothing useful at all.
Comments
Bungus .....Unsteadiness on one's legs is worrying, especially when as AnonymousRob points out, one hasn't imbibed falling-over water. There obviously isn't an answer, except taking care and not hurrying.
Glad you join in the chorus of approval for Rob's picture. I don't think I have ever seen 'treatment' suit 'subject' better and I'm eager to see his final version. But there, is anything artistic ever a final version ? - I have in mind Cezanne's versions of Mont Sainte-Victoire. I think The Hermitage alone has four.
With regard to the female nude - I certainly wouldn't want to exclude Helen Mirren (who I didn't realise you had a letch for) and I was merely trying to set reasonable limits. If Incy Wincy is who I think it is, he and his good lady are naturists and some people are close to grotesque with no clothes on. I am one of that number. The firing squad, with no blanks, it will have to be then.
There is a marvellous story about Coral Browne and film producers trying endlessly to find a young female actress to portray her in her early years. None would suit the great lady. They had one last try and told her they had found this very beautiful, intelligent, young actress who had raven-black hair down to her knees. "Starting from where?" Coral asked.
I loved your 'the priorities of ladies' story.
Your stuff about Cuba was also very good. I researched Cuba's National newspaper Granma please click but, unsurprisingly, could find no trace of the story.
Jill ..... In my description of Y's idea of a flowers - the dead-heading or picking of outfit, I omitted the wide-brimmed straw hat. You are right, it does complete the image. I'm a little disappointed to learn of the Tesco plastic bag. I would have thought Waitrose at a minimum.
Pleased to hear of Jenny's progress along the 'allowed to go home' curve. And also that you got a decent coffee. We too have always been pleasantly surprised at Costa quality.
You certainly are 'game' aren't you? Pushing a wheel chair along those corridors and through awkward fire-doors. Bully for you !
I agree that people should have Yorkshires with whatever they fancy. Bungus will bristle though and anyway, he isn't a lamb fan - with or without.
AnonymousRob ..... The chorus of praise for your Lumsdale picture is well-deserved (see comments above) but of course, you remain the final arbiter.
Re 'falling over' - no worries. As above, I just need to be careful. If I do fall over at your reception, I'll have to do a little break-dancing while I'm down there.
See also the link to Granma, Cuba's newspaper...... I had a good poke around in the Culture section but they don't seem to want to publicise any punk rock scene.
I yield over the 40yrs upper limit. Perhaps up it to 43.
Incy Wincy ...... I seem to remember from my cave-dwelling days that there was a trick where one painted developer on the exposed sheet of printing paper, with a fairly large flat brush, to get a similar effect. There must be a digital way of doing it and I'm sure Rob will find it.
Glad you also feel that the Lumsdale picture in particular is exceptionally good.
Quotation time
"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs"
p.s. for new readers -
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3 comments:
I started a comment, went and put kettle on, came back and it's gone.....
What I was saying was that the goldcrests are back here, I think it is rather early in the year for them to come down south, but perhaps they know something we don't?
The metaphor bit was interesting. I like Stephen Fry, someone I would be like to stuck on the desert island with, he would never run out of interesting information. Other contestants for my desert island are Michael Palin and Bill Oddie.......
I can be unsteady on my feet too, especially after sitting down for a couple of hours. I think all I can do is to go slowly and I hang on to whatever/whoever is to hand!
Smashing picture in all sorts of ways. Deep colours and nice recession into the mist. Highly suitable for a very superior chocolate box (I do not mean that disparagingly).
I have always thought that ‘touch wood’ must be a seagoing expression from the days of wooden ships; ie, if you can touch wood you stand a chance of staying afloat.
I suspect the Phoenicians might also be strong on nautical metaphors.
Talking of caged bird poetry:
”Goodbye, little yellow bird,
I’d rather brave the cold,
Than a prisoner be,
On a leafless tree,
In a cage of gold.”
Remembered from the 1940’s film ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ which was in black & white apart from the metamorphing picture itself which was in startlingly vivid blood-soaked technicolour.
“Is anything artistic ever a final version ?” you ask.
I recall my A Level English teacher, quoting I know not whom,
“There is no such thing as a finished poem."
”Up it to 43”?, you say. Helen Mirren is 20 years older than that!
I hope the new readers understand the webdings code.
Jill:
Sorry to have misled you. RG (I think) and myself do not consider that the edges of Rob’s photo want tidying up. Rather the opposite; we think it wants a more ragged treatment.
I often used a trug, lined with newspaper, for gathering fungi; one end for poisonous, the other end for edibles, uncertains in the centre. I never wore a floral dress. I am more of a Dr Jekyll.
Pleased you were able to give your friend a taste of fresh air. In spite of her limitations and (justifiable) complaints, it sounds as though she is making a good recovery and will soon be home.
I care.
Not to let RG down, I say once more how strongly, crusadingly, I feel that Yorkshire pud should be restricted to beef and sausage dishes only. Anything else is a form of sacrilege apart from the proper Yorkshire way of having it as a starter with onion/beef gravy and as afters with Golden Syrup or Raspberry Vinegar (Sandra’s mother always put the latter on hers with the roast beef).
Anonymousrob:
Sorry if our comments have confused your artistic sensibilities. I THINK Graham and I were saying the same thing but you are right that in the end the judgment must be yours (in the case of YOUR work) and b******* to the critics. Hope you saved a copy!
I have always liked the Sex Pistols’ version of the National Anthem (best since Vic Lewis as observed at Clipstone Welfare, c 1950 - The Johnny Dankworth Seven, with singers Boscoe Holder and 19 years old Cleo Laine, also appeared there) and a few other punk tracks.
Punk started when we had the pub, so it was heavily featured on the juke box; something which tends to lead to eventual appreciation. But my fondest memories are of Sultans of Swing and Rhinestone Cowboy.
I thought the Cuban fine was pretty reasonable and not altogether inappropriate.
Until I discovered that I have a dental appointment on Thur afternoon, I had intended to visit Lidl at Sutton, possibly meeting up for a coffee with Graham. I would have liked also to have visited Elaine’s pub, to meet her before her life changes for ever.
Alas, I fear the dentist will not put me in a sufficiently comfortable state to make your wedding ‘do’ so, unless you call in for a cuppa within the next few days, I shall never have met you either before you get stitched up like a kipper and transformed into an honest man.
Pleased to hear that I have support in praise of the older woman. But please don’t anyone think that I fancy Princess Di’s grandmother.
Stags nicked it again; second in the table for at least a few days!
Jill:
I have never seen a goldcrest.
I think Bill Oddie would soon begin the grate, as would David Ballamy or anyone else with flappy arms apart from Andrew Marr.
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