The Dark Side – Page 21 – Boadicea's Chariot

This is a pile of gravel similar in size to mine. I’ve just spread 10 cubic metres of the stuff around our yard and entrance area, with a little help from my wheelbarrow and a shovel. I reckon that’s enough to fill a fair sized minibus. So now I’m knackered/stoned/laid but proud/relieved/superior.

Do any of you lay claim to stupendous physical achievements of late?

Radio Blah

In this digital age it remains a mystery how the “before its time” digital watch never took over the world. A useful invention for people who didn’t understand the Roman numerals on their dial or the intricacies of hour and minute hands, the digital version had in some versions red neon numbers. A special button also illuminated the watch in the dark. And the stopwatch, wow, this was ground breaking stuff. Now obsolete at least we have digital radio to amuse us. So many stations, so much choice. I like the soap operas on Radio Blah. These everyday gothic soap stories might not be to everyone’s taste as yarns ain’t like they used to be.

The laptop with the faulty battery

Continue reading “Radio Blah”

Welcome , Marvin, to our world!

Sing along to the tune of Walzing Matilda

Boadicea’s Chariot, Boadicea’s Chariot
Cyberspace’s answer to Baden Powell’s brigade!
We’ve got cubs and we’ve got brownies
And growed-up scouts – and girl-guides too.
We are the stuff of which glory is made!

Once upon a time we chatted oop at t’Big House
And some of us left, some were booted right out!
But we followed the Bear
(Does he do it? Yes, of course he does!) –
We’re cherished and we know it and we all proudly shout:

Just (or unjust) thoughts

Criminal justice is a wriggling fish. You think you’ve grasped it and then it slides away into uncertainty (at least for me).

In India endemic rape and murder are being fought with the ultimate weapon, the death penalty; while in Norway mass murder is being treated with ‘civilised’ understanding, even some attempt to teach a lesson, whatever that may be.

I know the cherished hawks here will have a ready answer but I’m really not sure which ideas are the moral way.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/delhi-gang-rape-men-sentenced-death and

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/12/anders-breivik-university-oslo

From Backside, alias Worried, Tunbridge Wells

Another cherished colleague may have noticed that a UK soap-opera-star has just been acquitted of offences against an anonymous female minor. So far, so good.

Except that the girl, the only ‘witness’ and supported by no forensic evidence, remained anonymous throughout the trial, seen only by the judge and counsel. Except that we, the people, have no way of knowing whether the accused even knew the girl, spent time with her during the many years he is accused of molesting her or what possible connection she claimed to have with him.

The jury, rightly, acquitted him – probably on lack of evidence. But he didn’t have the chance to be anonymous.

So I’m worried that something is rotten in the UK judicial system. I don’t condone the alleged abuse or have any reason to believe or disbelieve either party. I’m just worried.

Dontchya just love ’em?

A newly discovered painting by the peerless (and earless) Vincent Van Gogh has been dubbed ‘clogged and clumsy’, an ‘uncharismatic daub’ by a Grauniad hack. So judge for yourself.

Backside reckons he would like it on his half of the wall, even if he had to excuse his affrontery whenever a self-acclaimed art journalist dropped in. Luckily, being mere punters, we are brave enough to say we like it.

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2013/sep/10/van-gogh-sunset-at-montmajour

Bienvenue, Marvin

dull drunken tourists sway and stare
along the brash bare-breasted boulevard

deep purple doored on Place Pigalle my own
brocaded boudoir’s broad divan du monde

we sip encore un verre de vin
is this the coda? you say oui

and who should care? who sees you leave
but for another faceless paying guest?

(by Angelica Cinnamon Bunn for Epic Tours, Paris)

https://charioteers.org/2013/09/02/epic-september-poetry-competition/

Lost in translation

I’ve often wondered whether signs written in foreign languages akshully say what the translation suggests. In our local town a warehouse door sports a warning in Danish to the effect that unauthorised vehicles obstructing it will be towed but tantalisingly there’s a Russian version to deter – well – Russians, I suppose. But does the Russian say the same thing?

Mis-translated bilingual road sign

And now the Beeb reports this case from Wales (where’s Christina when you need her?). The Welsh version states: “I am not in the office at the moment. Send any work to be translated.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7702913.stm

Peer without peer (or pier)

It’s fragrant Archer day in the meeja. Hisself is singing the praises of the resort formerly known as Bombay (hardly his eponymous Weston with its new pier), while ‘er indoors is singing his.

Married for 47 years: Mary and Jeffrey Archer

What is he up to this time with this shameless relaunch? Does he think that we have memories as selective as his? Does she still need to justify playing Tammy Wynette to his Walter Mitty?

Or will we have to swallow another round of grease-laden wisdom from his unctuous pen?

Here ‘s the stuff: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/celebritytravel/10261973/Jeffrey-Archers-Mumbai-My-Kind-of-Town.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2401204/Most-men-need-wife-pump-ego-Jeffrey-needed-puncture-A-fascinating-insight-famously-colourful-marriage-MARY-ARCHER.html