Journal Entries
On reading words...
Posted Sep 19, 2003
I just have to share this with you. It makes perfect sense to me and I'd love to get more details of the research.
"Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe."
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Latest reply: Sep 19, 2003
On reflections and the summer as it passes
Posted Sep 6, 2003
September is upon us.
Nights are drawing in. I get up before the sun. The birds are quiet at dawn, then they mob the feeding station. Apples are red. Plums are done. The heather is in flower. Leaves are falling.
Oh, and I pay my daily respects to Mars as I head for bed.
It's still hot and dry as I write this. But rain, wind and cool temperatures are on the way: according to the BBC weatherman at least. The extraordinary summer weather has resulted in everything ending early this year: anything that fruits is almost done. I've begun to strip bean and pea plants, clear veg beds and dig them over for the winter frosts to penetrate the soil. The fruit trees need picking too: apples and pears are ready for storage.
The heat has reduced the need for many clothes: what bliss. It has put me in mind of my years in the Australian tropics, where clothes were worn to cover up the bits of the body that are socially unacceptable. At home and on the ocean, there was no need for clothes. Rather than make me sad about those days passed, the Scottish heat of 2003 has resulted in a conviction that I shall return: as soon as possible. I felt a lightness of spirit, a freedom of mind and a soothing contentedness that I simply do not experience when it's cool and I'm encased in clothes.
So now I shall study my finances, look at costs, think about how to earn enough once I'm there... and dream a few dreams.
Life's not too shabby.
In the meantime, there's apples to be harvested. Now where's the step-ladder?
Frenchbean
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Latest reply: Sep 6, 2003
August 2003: on heat and gardening
Posted Aug 12, 2003
This weather is fantastic. Even here in Scotland we've had days of 33C. In the countryside there's a breeze, greenery to soak up the rays and rivers to leap into at hot intervals.
I love the feeling of being warm (ok, hot) all over, without any cold extremities.
And the feeling of skin and air being in real contact.
And having to wear sunnies.
And a hat.
And I know it's really lacking in sense, but I do love my skin when it gets a wee bit of colour in it. (All the social conditioning of the 60s and 70s just won't wear off, even though I know better.)
The garden is really spectacular thanks to the heat, although I've had to water the veg beds for the last 2 months. (No hint of water restrictions here and therefore no associated guilt about getting the hose out.)
My obsession is growing fruit and veg, so I'm in heaven this year. If you can't get it right in 2003, you're doomed I'm afraid.
It's a safe obsession - one of the least contraversial in the universe I suspect. OK, it can be tedious, mysterious and boring for some, but for fellow-foodies (of whom there are a comforting number about), it's a joy to meet another gardener.
We sit and discuss the merits of different sources of manure (horse vs chicken especially); varieties of marrow, pea, beetroot, apple; the best time of day to sow lettuce seeds (2pm); the most innovative way of cooking a potato or a damson; organic vs chemicals.
It may sound sad to some, but I have the power and the knowledge to feed myself. Who knows when that might come in useful?
And gardening (well, harvesting this month) in 30C+ is perfect.
One happy Frenchbean.
The real trouble with all of this is that it WON'T LAST.
But I shan't contemplate that just now. The sun is still shining and the nights are still long, the beans need picking and there's iced cucumber soup to make.
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Latest reply: Aug 12, 2003
Oysters and white wine
Posted Aug 2, 2003
Wow! I just sat down and ate 6 oysters kilpatrick (home-cooked of course) and drank a glass or two of collldddd white wine. What a gastronomic delight!
It reminded me of evenings spent in The Bottom Pub in Cooktown, where we'd sit at the bar eating oysters kilpatrick and drinking a jug of margaritas... Good times.
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Aug 2, 2003
Oysters and white wine
Posted Aug 2, 2003
Wow! I just sat down and ate 6 oysters kilpatrick (home-cooked of course) and drank a glass or two of collldddd white wine. What a gastronomic delight!
It reminded me of evenings spent in The Bottom Pub in Cooktown, where we'd sit at the bar eating oysters kilpatrick and drinking a jug of margaritas... Good times.
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Aug 2, 2003
frenchbean
Researcher U236943
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