h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Two things of note happened yesterday, one good and, depending on your point of view, one not so good.

First the good one, while browsing the 'local' bookshop I found, and subsequently purchased, a set of photographic plates. These were titeled China and the collection was edited by China Pictorial, a kind of Chinese Picture Post, and with an introduction by Soong Ching Ling, who was Honorary President of The People's Republic of China. The collection appears to date from the early 1950s and is in fairly good condition. While trying to find out more about it I managed to find one other copy for sale on the internet. The asking price for this other set was US$115, needles to say this is not how much I payed for my copy. I'm fairly chuffed about that.

Now the second item. Last night when I was walking Shona she was attacked by a cat. Understandably she wasn't too impressed with this, picked up the cat and threw it against a hedge. The cat, seemingly realising that it was out matched, decided that doing a runner was it's best option. Shona , still angry about being assaulted, shouted after it as it ran off up the road. When we got home we discovered that the cat had scratched Shona 's ear and caused it to bleed. Her ears are very sensitive and she is known to hold grudges, I doubt she'll forget that cat and it, the cat, would be well advised to avoid her in future.

Apropos 'China', I just heard a report on the radio to the effect that the Chinese White Dolphin has been declared extinct. The species was living in the Yangtze River. It seems a combination of pollution and dam projects sealed its fate. It's the first dolphin species that homo sapiens has wiped off the face of the planet.

Hope your dog gets better soon. You may have to put a bucket over its head if it starts scratching its wound. It won't be pleased about that.

Hi TB, thats one mad taking on a dog. Even my mad moggy,aptly named Loopy wouldn't be that dumb.

As for the plates I've had similar sort of thing. I rescued a picture from a rubbish heap where I used to live. It looked like a print, lanscape type of a village secene from the 50's. I cleaned the frame and glass, hung it on the wall never thought anything more of it.That is till a visitor one day asked where I'd got it from and was I aware the artist was very 'collectable'.I said thats as maybe but it's a print of a picture,not an original. He begged to differ.Cut a long story short turns out this pic is a water colour and though slightly faded I've been advised by an auction house that if it were to go in a speciallist art sale to put a reserve of £5000.00 on it!!

I shall hang on to it for now as 'insurance' for a rainy day.

Poor Shona. I hope her ear is alright.

Shonas ear is ok, a teeny bit sore but it's not bothering her.

Hey ST if it's a watercolour then fading can be a big issue. You should really keep it in the dark and protected from air and moisture.

Poor puppy. That must have been a very silly cat to try and take on a dog with a person there. Hopefully there was nothing seriously wrong with kitty.