"Our Time of Troubles... commenced with the catastrophic events of the year of 1914... Our civilization has just begun to recover." - Arnold Toynbee

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Last of Autumn







The old bridge from the L------ estate burns a bright autumnal fire (built c. 2002). I remember playing on it in the summer of 2002. That was the summer I learned to love the hemlock groves. Farewell, my "barefoot boy" days.

 

Monday, October 7, 2024

Ode to a Nameless Piper

A MacDonald of Glencoe (McIan), from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands (1845); wikipedia.
 

A piper ne’er tires of his host
Who ofttimes serves him beer and roast,
For hearty tunes he’s played a’fore,
To greet the guests before the door.

For coins of gold and silver none —
His wealth’s not in purse or silken spun.
He rather lives for voices at the gate,
And smiles in hall and at table late.

But for a bed and dear friends amassed,
He’d live and love and die at last.
So, loosing oft’ his pipe from tether,
He stoops and doffs his cap and feather.

(Not as good at Scott - but the sentiment of The Lay of the Last Minstrel is there.)

Thursday, July 11, 2024

Good Eats

Tea and Scones

Mincemeat pie and chips



Full English "fry up" breakfast
Shepherd's pie
meat pie
breakfast mushroom and egg wrap

Another "fry up."
Tea and scones
fish and chips
Fry up

pie and tea
Couscous and chicken
 

Sunderland and Newcastle