Send three and fourpence, we’re going to a dance.
by Nics
Today's guest post comes from Roger Stowell, you can read his blog here, and follow him on twitter here. I first met Roger on Twitter, when he posted, that he didn't understand why anyone would want to learn Gaelic, we had an interesting conversation, as I feel that a part of my hertiage is lost from not knowing how to speak my native language, while Roger feels it would be a waste of my time. After we had chatted I visited Roger's blog, and was drawn to his pithy writing and sublime photographer. His photographs of food inspire me on a daily basis, I hope someday to visit him and his wife in France, to take part in one of their Photography courses.
Over to Roger ...
“I get no kick from Champagne” sounds good in a song but not in a drinking companion. The strange grammatical construct would also suggest that this drinking companion had been getting kicks from whatever it was that rhymed with champagne although, come to think of it, the lyrics suggest a strong denial of any such behaviour. It’s unusual that this should have come to my attention as not hearing lyrics, or not hearing the words of a song clearly enough to decipher their meaning, has been a nagging annoyance, though sometimes an advantage, throughout my life...
This “deafness” to detail can manifest itself in any situation and often indicates that I’m not very interested in what’s being said, sung or shouted at me and am probably thinking of something else. A childhood spent under the watchful eye and moral rectitude of black winged Jesuits left me happy in later life to follow their regularly droned advice of not being led into” Thames Station”, which station I took absolute care to avoid, and was therefore able to spend a life thoroughly enjoying the pleasures of not resisting temptation.
Having missed, misheard or slept through so much measured wisdom and information it becomes clearer to me with each passing year, as I’m sure it does for everyone but Stephen Fry, that I am just about ready to start listening and learning. Being both teacher and pupil, not so much a two handed version of a triumvirate but more of an odd couple, allows me to simultaneously enjoy the power of imparting knowledge to myself whilst having no qualms about not paying attention. The shortcomings in this situation soon became apparent when I got fed up with teaching someone who just wasn’t listening so, together with my wife Jenny, we opened Camerahols – http://www.camerahols.com
This week I will be mostly
- Reading “Les Gouteurs de Provence” which recounts the day trips spent rediscovering their patrimoine by the Patron of a restaurant, famed for its truffles, with one of his childhood friends, who had left Provence many years before to live in Paris. I’m reading this in tandem with Jeremy Paxton’s “The English” which makes for an interesting mix – rather like the 100 years war
- Listening for the silence, that should be amongst the joys of living in the middle of nowhere, and realising that the countryside is very noisy
- Pondering why all the political systems that man has ever devised are complete failures
- Eating and drinking enough
- Thankful for today
- Visiting the places where the good pictures hide.
Roger Stowell
Reader Comments (3)
Another brilliant piece by Roger - listening for the silence...I can relate to the that. Used to live in London and I am sure it was quiter than here Up the Mountain!
Beautifully written post and those photos are breathtaking!!!!
Another clever and entertaining post from Roger... Thanks for sharing :) and thanks to Roger for introducing your blog to us, is wonderful!