Looking through my files for a poem with a dog in it to go with this photo, I am slightly surprised just how few there seem to be. There are plenty of cats. And then there are dog ends and dog shit, dog-tooth waistcoats and quite a bit of barking, but very few actual dogs.
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Category: UK
bonnets and bobbles, Tam o’ Shanters and tassels
In Ávila
the church towers all wear
Tam o’ Shanter storks nests

Actually, it’s not just the churches; any tall roof may sport a heap of sticks at a rakish angle like a French beret or a Scottish tam.
Except, of course, when the whole building roof or dome appears to be the bonnet and the nest is just the toorie – the bobble on the top.
Continue reading “bonnets and bobbles, Tam o’ Shanters and tassels”
a flock of bird thoughts
A fragment of an old poem to start off with:
Under the apple treee, a prattle
of tabby-feathered sparrows anticipates
the flick and snap of chequered tablecloth
that signals their breadcrumb breakfast.
I was reminded of the image because I had a newspaper clipping sent to me the other day – yes, there are still people who read printed newspapers, albethey freebies, and who cut out things other than coupons to send on accompanied by real letters to specific people, rather than glancing superficially at on-line phrases and sending irrelevant links to everyone in their email address book. It was a cutting about the Spanish sparrow who is causing a furore in a coastal village in Hampsire.
Continue reading “a flock of bird thoughts”
of poetry, maths and cars

Continue reading “of poetry, maths and cars”
drinks invitation

The festive card in the photo was on the table at a restaurant where I had lunch the other day, offering a number of ‘drinks bundles’ for diners.
I don’t know much about beer prices, but I do know that if a house wine costs £15, getting four for the price of three does make it a much better deal.
Mind you, four bottles of wine is quite a lot, which is presumably why the restaurant felt it necessary to add the rider:
Enjoy alcohol responsibly
Why they felt it appropriate to display the card on a table clearly designed for a maximum of two people, I’m not sure. Suffice it to say, I did not take them up on their offer.
