The Whelk’s Sham

I have never really liked David Cameron. He’s too slick, too slimy. He is really little more than a British Malcolm Turnbull. I’d hesitate to walk behind him in fear of slipping on the trail of slime he emits. As much as I disliked him personally he never struck me as being stupid. Yet, that is what he has revealed himself to be – tone deaf, stupid. I knew that his “renegotiation” with the EU would not amount to much. Continue reading “The Whelk’s Sham”

Basic instincts

We are all dissatisfied with our political leaders. No change there then – ’twas ever thus according to even the reliable sources.

So what can be done about it? Support radical groups, rabble-rousers and Trump?

Trouble is – gee whiz- we’ll end up with national policies based on our least human/humane feelings about our needs and ambitions. Greed, envy, hatred, hypocrisy, self-obsession and suspicion of everyone else.

So help me out here, please.

Language and Government Interference

Soon the French language with its infamously archaic orthography will, once again, be subjected to government interference. That is, certain words will have their official spellings changed and one of my favourite accent marks, the circumflex, will be removed. The main words that will be changed are:

– Oignon >> Ognon

– Week-end >> Weekend

– Nénuphar >> Nénufar

– Coût >> Cout

– Disparaître >> Disparaitre.

It is their language so I suppose they can do as they wish with it, but it seems slightly absurd. Then again, unlike English with its myriad forms that have been allowed to develop organically French has since the 18th century has been “maintained” by a group of Francophone scholars. Despite arguably being one of the four main global languages, along with English, Spanish and Portuguese French has remained heavily Paris-centred. There is a fair degree of regionalism in the language, of course, but the standards of French are broadly accepted in ways that no form of English or Spanish are. I will no more go along with the new spellings than I went along with the 1995 reforms of German orthography.

Use it or lose it . . .

Since Janus inexplicably removed his latest post a couple of days ago, there have been no further posts from anyone and only one comment, from Sipu.

I have no idea why all you honoured Charioteers have ceased using the site, but of course that’s entirely up to you.

Anyway, and all that, if the inactivity continues for a few more days, The Chariot will be taken on its slow, sad journey to the knackers yard, there to be broken up as spare parts.

So long, and thanks for all the fish. 🙂

Ode to Janus

In his post, Asylum in Denmark, Janus implied, in response to one of my comments, that I was a white supremacist. I posted a rebuttal, not because I was offended by his observation, I care not a jot for the epithets ascribed to me by others, but because I disagree with it. Of course I expanded on my theories and clearly I must have caused a level of indignation because Janus decided to remove that comment almost immediately. Unfortunately I had not saved it and so, I am now going to try to reproduce it, or at least the gist of it, though clearly it will vary somewhat. Continue reading “Ode to Janus”

The prime of life

Next month I’m due yet another birthday.

I’ve grown fond of 72, six dozen, two cubed times three cubed and the year when I was in the wild no man’s land of being 29.

But 73? Numerically boring, even repulsive. But, you say, I’ve clearly got too much time on my hands, if I even think about such trivia.

But anyway I’m planning to milk the max from my last 21 days (3 x 7) of 72. And happily it’s thawing too, so I can commune with nature again; with creatures who understand.

Survival

Yesterday I found an interesting variety of soap sourced from Pondicherry by a relatively local company. It was hand-made and designed for people with my skin type. After a quick sniff I concluded that, despite having a slightly herbal odour it would do and bought it. After opening the box I realised the gravity of my error. It was tightly wrapped. People could inhale the noxious fumes from 3 yards away! Not being one to waste, I’ve started using that soap to the most amusing reactions. It’s really a very good soap and even after a single use my skin looks healthier. The only problem with it is that I smell like an Indian Madame. I’ve changed my name to Miss Lakshmi and am now in purdah. Continue reading “Survival”