I’m having fun at the moment writing some stories about meeting famous people from the past. I may put one or two on here if I don’t end up sending them somewhere but it’s a lot of fun trying to imagine how, say, C S Lewis might react to modern life. What things would shock him? What would be familiar? What might he understand and what would be totally alien? I’m imagining that the person gets some sort of orientation before they arrive in the present, but that it’s inadequate and their guide has to fill them in.
I’ve also started reading Westwind, a resurrected Ian Rankin from 1990. People have been a bit unkind about this but so far I like it; it doesn’t read to me like a beginner’s novel. I’m also happy to report that today my mouse is quiet and well-behaved. I gave it a thoroughly good wash with a cotton bud and some screen cleaner and at first it went a bit mad but after I dried it off it settled down and is now perfectly docile. So far.
I’ve just received an email about a food waste campaign for October. I deleted it because – and I don’t want to sound smug here – we waste very little food in this house. OH is always up for eating leftovers (veggie leftovers are classified as vegan) otherwise leftovers are incorporated into the next day’s meal or frozen for future consumption. Bread crusts, onion skins, fruit peelings and any other food waste is composted so nothing goes to landfill.
From a yoga point of view there’s very little prana or energy in reheated food, so I usually pep it up a bit with fresh veg or some sprinkled cheese. Sadly this usually results in more leftovers as the resulting meal is too big – but you can’t do everything right.
I was thinking about this yesterday as I went round the supermarket; about how intolerable it can be to have all manner of ethical constraints when you’re shopping. Is it wrapped in plastic? Is it fair trade? Is it organic? What about the ingredients? Is it healthy? It’s rare that something ticks all the boxes and by the time you’ve done all your shopping you can be exhausted. Sometimes I long to be the sort of person who can pile their trolley with plastic-wrapped pizzas and not give a toss. But this is really an argument for better supermarkets, not for abandoning hope.
Though I might abandon hope just a little bit, the way things are. Don’t even get me started.
New short story serial coming tomorrow…
Kirk out
Sarada Gray 
I love the idea of putting historical characters in the present: I think “it’s got legs”, as probably nobody in the industry says 😉 You should do it. I also like Ian Rankin’s work, so whenever I see one of his that I’ve not previously read, in the library, I grab it eagerly! Cheers, Jon.
Thanks. Glad you like that idea, it’s something I often think about. I follow Rankin assiduously so whenever there’s a new one out I always try to get hold of it. I usually have to read each one about three times before I get the ins and outs of the plot
His plots can be somewhat devious, but I suppose they need to be to keep our interest, and avoid the possibility of our guessing the culprit too early! Incidentally, one of the ITV channels is showing repeats of the Rebus series, starring Ken Stott, on a Sunday night, quite late, so I’ve been recording them to watch later. I know they are a bit dated now, but it’s always interesting to see characters we’ve already fleshed out in our minds shown in the real world: so far, this hasn’t been a disappointment with Rebus. I’ll probably read the books more than once when I find them again, as I generally forget all the details and who the murderer was! Cheers, Jon.
I like Ken Stott – he’s much more my idea of Rebus than John Hannah
You remind me of something I read about Freddy (A. J.) Ayer. (which I can’t now find on the internet). He rarely went in shops but on one occasion he bought some clothing in Marks and Spencer and asked the assistant to whom the cheque should be made payable. When she told him he asked “Is that spelt as in the poet or the political philosopher?”
I vaguely know the name of A J Ayer but I can’t remember who he was. I know what he meant by the philosopher but who’s the poet?
Reblogged this on Sarada Gray and commented:
Another one from last year
Some progress at my local Tesco in recent months. (Sainsbury’s nearest branch is 18 miles from where I live, so I never shop there) They now supply red meat on ‘black or grey’ trays that are recyclable. The bags for selecting your own vegetables are now thin brown paper that is recyclable. (They don’t hold much weight though)
But most chicken and soft fruits are still in plastic boxes, and they have resumed wrapping uncut bread in clear plastic, citing that’s because of ‘Covid handling’. One step forward, one back.
Best wishes, Pete.