Oh, no! It’s the equinox: the point at which we are poised, as at the top of a slide, for the descent into winter. I hate winter, and it’s not made any easier by our house lacking any proper heating – I got the halogen heater out of the cupboard yesterday and the convector heater is warming the sitting room as we speak. The Swedish are very good at winter: well, they get a lot of practice. A friend of mine who once lived in Sweden brought back with her a collection of candles, including one which was like a ball of wool with an end sticking out. As it burned you slowly unravelled the wool. I can’t imagine what it must be like to live six months of the year without any sun. Oh, wait – I forgot – we live in England, so I can. I’ve just finished reading some short stories by Tove Jansson (the author of the Moomin books for children) –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tove_Jansson
– although she’s not Swedish but Finnish. I liked them, not for the greatness of the writing – though they aren’t bad – but for the individuality of the voice and the totally different way of life they portray. The stories are all about winter, so maybe now is a good time to get that book out of the library:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winter-Book-Selected-Stories-Jansson/dp/0954899520
At Tomatoes this morning I am giving a talk on ‘the camel and the parrot sketch’. If you want to hear it you’ll have to come along to the Martyrs at around 10.30.
http://www.martyrs.org.uk/tomatoes.htm
Gategate
It had to happen one day – a scandal involving a gate, leading to the inevitable title ‘Gategate’:
http://www.news24.com/World/News/UK-chief-whip-sorry-for-insulting-police-20120921
So – did he use the ‘p’ word, or did he not? What’s interesting is that calling someone a ‘pleb’ appears to matter more – at least on the radio – than the four-letter swear-words he is accused of employing. But says he didn’t. So, who believes him? Come on now, hands up! Or perhaps we could have a – ahem! – pleb-iscite.
LOL.
Yesterday I had a haircut. I may post a photo if I get enough requests.
And finally, did anyone see the little green ‘meteors’ yesterday? If so, please comment below:
Kirk out
Sarada Gray 