Journal Entries
Cult of Nature continues into Longest Day, and beyond..
Posted Jun 25, 2008
http://gallery.mac.com/flyingants#100008
I've been taking photos in my garden from early May with a fairly basic Kodak dig camera I recently bought. Sharpness of image isn't always what I'd like. Even the best photoshop editing can't entirely solve that. It took me a few weeks weeks to realise the little plastic camera could actually screw onto my SLR tripod...
And also there's been an annoying slight breeze for weeks, that plays havoc with close-ups.
I see an intense almost science fiction quality to the imagery involving close-ups, especially of the Love-in-the mist flowers. And although flowers in general are often suggestive of the female genitalia, these seem very ambivalent in their sexuality. 
and more interesting to me therefore. It's fascinating the way the seed pod structure emerges in the flowers, as they develop. And there is much variety of the anatomy between each flower, even though they are the same species. They are aren't called Love-in-the-mist for nothing, I think. My mother loves them, but I think she may only be seeing the Romantic quality...I like both very much.
I grew the Love-in-the mist flowers from seed about 15 years ago. They were all a few shades of blue. They freely seed themselves each year. After 2 or 3 years they nearly all came up white, which disappointed me. But gradually more variety kept appearing each year. Now the variety of flower structures and subtlety of colours they have is quite extraordinary; though the blues tend to dominate. That brief period of all white was quite funny, looking back...
I so like this idea that such super-powered, intense abundance of nature occuring in a back garden in south east London; as some seem a bit surprised to hear about in my earlier journal entry. Anyone looking at these photos can see what a mixed up way all the variety of plants grow together, and the way 'wild' plants mix in with more cultivated varieties, in my garden. This is the way I love to have a garden. And natually there is no well mown lawn to be seen. You should see my mother's garden though.....
I'm calling these photos, 'Inner City'. I'll keep adding to them probably as the summer goes on into autumn. Because it's essential a documentary of my garden, and my relationship with it, from spring to autumn. It kind of reflects my intererest in both science and art, too, I think.
I may have to update the address at some point, as I think .mac are upgrading the thing in July sometime.
Discuss this Journal entry [109]
Latest reply: Jun 25, 2008
Blackbird and Ban
Posted Apr 3, 2008
Thank you all for your friendship to me during the suspension.
Gif, Novo, Ed, az, Mar, Strangely Strange, la-chupa, blicky, Toy Box, and Kea. Honest Imago. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone.
Also thanks to the eds for changing my ban from a permanent one.
I intend from now on to post my calmly. I must keep my hot bloodedness under control. The ban enabled me to reflect on things.
During the week the blackbird thing increased. I think I'm developping a serious cult of nature. I get it more each year. Unfortunately I do not appear to be mellowing with age.
It all started a few weeks ago when I stayed up 'til 3am to see the total eclipse of the moon. That was a big disappointment from here in London, but the blackbird singing in the darkness completely seduced me...Sleep 'is' still a problem, but it does have its compensations.
I spent more time than usual in the garden, planting stuff, (vegetables, herbs, basil, parsley and some old fashioned, traditional garden flowers; started tomatoes and chilli peppers indoors; putting compost on the soil which I had made over the last year, from food waste and weeds. A big bonfire. I absolutely *love* fires. Though it did singe a bit of the hawthorn. All the stinging nettles are coming up well, which I brought back from the countryside. I use them in cooking instead of spinach. Strange ironish, weird nutty flavour. Also later in the year they are needed for the caterpillars of peacock, red admiral, and tortoiseshell butterflies. The weather has been quite springlike and warmish. My cat's regularly coming out again with me, to sun herself. And then the blackbird does its familiar warning call, which alerts all the birds. Besides the blackbird at night and into dawn there are a great variety of birds chirruping away. Finches, tits, warblers, robin and loads of sparrows. Magpies' harsh squawks and wood pigeons' cooing. It's spring and they are excitable, building nests and announcing their territories to other birds. I'm getting really good at identifying them by their song and ways of flying and hopping around behaviour. Aside from the blackbird, I like the robin's song best. When I'm doing stuff in the garden, the robin comes really close and hops down and grabs worms. Despite living in London, I'm developing a serious case of the cult-of-nature. It gets more intense every year.
A couple of people came round on different nights and I did a load of cooking with stuff bought from my excellent local fishmongers, razor shellfish, oysters and mussels, cockles all sourced off the local Kent coast. And a cod thing. I know its endangered, but it's my favourite sea fish. It was supposedly caught off the coast of Iceland, from sustainable stocks. The Icelanders like their cod as much as we Brits. Also very rare rump steak, my favourite cut. It maybe toughest, but has the most flavour.
I also saw my parents. It was a bit difficult.
I chatted about sports and politics with my dad. As I always do. He still says boxing is his favourite sport. He's in his seventies and still gets in a frenzy when watching it. (That's a dead giveaway for his class despite making it from the very bottom to the very top, which he did, unlike me who spends all their time getting to the very bottom again).
I'd prefer to move on now.I don't want a permanent ban which I might get if I carry on losing my rag here and behaving like an idiot, and half crazed lunatic. That is not an appropriate way for me to behave on h2g2. I am on probation.
The nightingale has a lyre of gold,

The lark's is a clarion call,

And the blackbird plays but a boxwood flute,

But I love him best of all.

For his song is all of the joy of life,

And we in the mad, spring weather,

We two have listened till he sang

Our hearts and lips together.
William Henley (1849-1903)
Discuss this Journal entry [23]
Latest reply: Apr 3, 2008
Paradise Lost
Posted Mar 14, 2008
Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face,
Thrice changed with pale - ire, envy, and despair;
Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed
Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld;
For Heavenly minds from such distempers foul
Are ever clear.
From Paradise Lost, John Milton.
Discuss this Journal entry [16]
Latest reply: Mar 14, 2008
Who killed Schrodinger's pussy?
Posted Feb 5, 2008
http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/06/02/im-in-ur-quantum-box/
It had to be something this funny for me to finally do a journal entry.
With many thanks to Edward Bonobo for pointing me to this.
Discuss this Journal entry [8]
Latest reply: Feb 5, 2008
More fun, Stuck up!
Posted Apr 26, 2006
Stick it up your bonobo! 
Yes I'm a bit of a nutcase, and I quite enjoy it. 
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Apr 26, 2006
Effers;England.
Researcher U1508701
Write an Entry
"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."