Miscellaneous
I think this blog has gone as far as it is able to go. If I thought I was making any real difference to anything by writing it, I would of course continue. Although we all face huge challenges for the future, I know far too few people who have any kind of true understanding [...]
No doubt you are all familiar with this oft-quoted snippet of Cherokee wisdom but, in the true nature of myth and legend, it does no harm to repeat it. In fact, whilst we search for new stories to tell ourselves in this failing world, this one might help to draw us in the right direction. [...]
A conversation between Blackadder and Baldrick . . . (with thanks to Chris and Peppa Tolley and whoever they got this from) Baldrick: What I want to know, sir, is before there was a Euro there were lots of different types of money that different people used. And now there’s one type of [...]
Continue reading about The intelligent person’s guide to the Euro
Good day today, with a fruitful inbox. I am now $130,850,000 better off since this time yesterday, following two lottery wins and four bequests from persons unknown. I’ll soon be able to think about retirement . . . And the sun is shining too! Does it get any better than this?
Hmmm. Bad day, by the looks of things. I’ve checked my inbox, and it seems that no funds are coming my way today. A little irksome to say the least, as I’ve been averaging $16.5m dollars a day this week. Take yesterday, for instance – a total of $7 million from two separate lottery wins [...]
Landed safely back at base after a brief mission to the dark side of Dinbych-y-pysgod. Close encounter with the people of Eglwswrw and their allies from Pantyrheddwych, but no trouble this time. There is life in these wild places, of course, but not as we know it. Object of mission, to survey and update the [...]
Somewhere amongst the archives of the old Aspen House diary is a story that I like, and I have been reminded of it recently after seeing cider being made on one of the local farms. It’s the story of a Herefordshire wagoner whose wages were paid partly in cider. I’ve looked for it but, with [...]
Many visitors to Aspen House have noticed the mysterious hooded figure who stands like a silent sentinel overlooking our gravel yard. Well, if they had gone along this week to Puzzlewood, just outside Coleford in the Forest of Dean, they would have seen another twelve of them lurking spookily amongst the gnarled yew trees and [...]
Continue reading about Ars gratia artis – inspirational wood sculpture
Among the many fine presents I was given this week by way of celebration of yet another birthday was a bottle of Bruichladdich organic Islay malt whisky. Anyone could be forgiven for thinking that the concept of organic whisky might simply be a clever marketing gimmick, unless one were to read what it says on [...]
Reminiscing about Killorglin Puck Fair brings to mind many a memorable incident, but don’t worry – I’m not going to ramble on. There is however, one more moment I might share with you. The year I went to Killorglin for the Puck Fair, I was in the company of an assortment of lawless folk musicians. [...]