Non-musical chairs I keep thinking that I must do something about these aged chairs, which have stood outside through wind, hail and rain for many years. There’s something touching about their quiet endurance, and now I need to make amends. … Continue reading →

The art of conversation What French cafes are for. Quote of the Day ”Republicans want smaller government for the same reason crooks want fewer cops; it’s easier to get away with murder. James Carville Musical alternative to the morning’s radio … Continue reading →

I Protest A lone demonstrator outside the old Chinese Embassy in London in the winter of 2014. Quote of the Day The first step in AI enterprise deployment was giving everyone Copilot, which mostly failed and is continuing to fail. … Continue reading →

Norman Conquest 2.0 The British Museum in Bloomsbury, seen on a rainy afternoon a while back (when Britain still could make the rains run on time). From today it’s the temporary home of the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts events leading … Continue reading →

PHEW! WHAT A SCORCHER! As the front page of British tabloids used to put it. Quote of the Day ”When people are least sure, they are often most dogmatic.” John Kenneth Galbraith Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Cavatina … Continue reading →

A rose by any name… … is still ravishing. Just noticed these as I was sitting at the table, with my favourite picture (HCB’s Rue Mouffetard) in the background. Quote of the Day ” We don’t love qualities, we love … Continue reading →

Street scene, London Snatched in true Cartier-Bresson style. And in B&W too. Quotes of the Day The American republic celebrated its so-called 250th birthday on Saturday. Here are two excerpts from speeches marking the occasion. First, Trump, speaking in Dakota … Continue reading →

The Beeline Imagine how attractive these flowers would look if you were a bee. According to the invaluable Plantnet app, it’s Verbascum chaixii ViLL. Which is ‘Nettle leaved Mullein’ to the rest of us. Quote of the Day ”The only … Continue reading →

Fuchsia I think this is still my favourite flower. If you’re ever in Kerry at this time of the year you can drive down country lanes where the hedgerows appear to consist of little else. Quote of the Day ”If … Continue reading →

Café life Quote of the Day ”Criticism and Bolshevism have one thing in common. They both seek to pull down that which they could never build.” Noel Coward Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Abdullah Ibrahim | Little Boy … Continue reading →

Deux-Chevaux de luxe Beautiful example of French ingenuity. Quote of the Day ”Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil.” Thomas Mann Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Wagner | Tristan und Isolde, Act III: Liebestod| Karajan and the … Continue reading →

Through a glass, brightly A window in a lovely old Yorkshire hotel Quote of the Day ”The markets are moved by animal spirits, and not by reason.” John Maynard Keynes C.f. the current AI ‘investment’ bubble Musical alternative to the … Continue reading →

I’ve been reading Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed by Quinn Slobodian and Ben Tarnoff). And so has another reader of this blog who had a terrific idea for an experiment. He (or she) fed the text of the book … Continue reading →

Farewell to Venice On our way to the airport. Quote of the Day ”I don’t mind growing old. I’m just not used to it.” Viktor Borge Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Mozart | Così fan tutte, K. 588, … Continue reading →

In-flight refuelling A hoverfly extracting nectar from an obliging flower. I was reminded of aircraft in-flight refuelling methods. Quote of the Day ”Male domination is so rooted in our collective unconscious that we no longer even see it.” Pierre Bourdieu … Continue reading →