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finncullenI've been away for a while. Last weekend but one I suffered a stark reminder of how feckless, treacherous and disloyal some members of the human race could be and since I seem to have lost some of my armour against this sort of nonsense (it is called 'recovery' I believe) it affected me more than it usually would have done.
So I went on holiday for a week - up to a lonely little spot in North Yorkshire where I could get away from it all and regain my usual savoir faire and casual equilibrium.
Anyway I'm back now and here is an update of various thoughts in no particular order
First a greeting to fellow Storyforgers past and present:
Secondly I seem to be in the minority in that I liked the latest Dr Who episode with the Silurians. Well I am unapologetic about that. It made a refreshing change to see a story where the antagonists expressed internal division, where there was not a childishly clear cut moral choice to make ("they are out to destroy the universe, they are teh evil"), and where there was no ridiculously deus-ex-machina solution to everything. Plus it was not a clear 'win' for the Doctor, which is always refreshing. My biggest gripe is that the Silurians have lost their third eye.
Thirdly I have rediscovered the pleasure of Linley Dodds' writing. Little Finn always enjoyed the elegant rhyming stories of this New Zealand author and her nursery stories about dogs, cats and so on. Yes, they're for kids but the poetry displays an effortless perfection in meter and rhyme that many supposedly more mature poets should strive for.
"With their tails in the air they trotted on down
past the shops and the park to the far end of town
They snooped at each shadow and sniffed at each door
When suddenly out of the darkness they saw...
Scarface Claw! The toughest Tom in town!"
This is a paraphrase from years ago, so it may be a word or two astray, but I've maintained the meter I believe. I saw some of her books in a small shop while I was away and flicked through them for old times sake. Marvellous. I'm vaguely reminded of John Betjeman's work in that his poetry too seemed almost naive with 'simple' rhymes and rhythm... but keeping up that simplicity and still producing powerful and evocative poetry is the sign of a master in my opinion.
Some of Betjeman, just for jollies:
Kind o’er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy,
White o’er the playpen the sheen of her dress,
Fresh from the bathroom and soft in the nursery
Soap scented fingers I long to caress.
Were you a prefect and head of your dormit’ry?
Were you a hockey girl, tennis or gym?
Who was your favourite? Who had a crush on you?
Which were the baths where they taught you to swim?
Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,
Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,
Home and Colonial, Star, International,
Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.
Trace me your wheel-tracks, you fortunate bicycle,
Out of the shopping and into the dark,
Back down the avenue, back to the pottingshed,
Back to the house on the fringe of the park.
Golden the light on the locks of Myfanwy,
Golden the light on the book on her knee,
Finger marked pages of Rackham’s Hans Anderson,
Time for the children to come down to tea.
Oh! Fullers angel-cake, Robertson’s marmalade,
Liberty lampshade, come shine on us all,
My! what a spread for the friends of Myfanwy,
Some in the alcove and some in the hall.
Then what sardines in half-lighted passages!
Locking of fingers in long hide-and-seek.
You will protect me, my silken Myfanwy,
Ring leader, tom-boy, and chum to the weak.
Another gentle dig at homeopathy...
I'm home now after a splendid and eventful week divided between arguing with myself (I won, narrowly) and visiting some places of interest nearby - Whitby a couple of times (including a rather storm-tossed voyage on a replica of Captain Cook's ship), a bird of prey centre and a zoo where I saw lions and tigers and meerkats (oh my).
So I went on holiday for a week - up to a lonely little spot in North Yorkshire where I could get away from it all and regain my usual savoir faire and casual equilibrium.
Anyway I'm back now and here is an update of various thoughts in no particular order
First a greeting to fellow Storyforgers past and present:
Secondly I seem to be in the minority in that I liked the latest Dr Who episode with the Silurians. Well I am unapologetic about that. It made a refreshing change to see a story where the antagonists expressed internal division, where there was not a childishly clear cut moral choice to make ("they are out to destroy the universe, they are teh evil"), and where there was no ridiculously deus-ex-machina solution to everything. Plus it was not a clear 'win' for the Doctor, which is always refreshing. My biggest gripe is that the Silurians have lost their third eye.
Thirdly I have rediscovered the pleasure of Linley Dodds' writing. Little Finn always enjoyed the elegant rhyming stories of this New Zealand author and her nursery stories about dogs, cats and so on. Yes, they're for kids but the poetry displays an effortless perfection in meter and rhyme that many supposedly more mature poets should strive for.
"With their tails in the air they trotted on down
past the shops and the park to the far end of town
They snooped at each shadow and sniffed at each door
When suddenly out of the darkness they saw...
Scarface Claw! The toughest Tom in town!"
This is a paraphrase from years ago, so it may be a word or two astray, but I've maintained the meter I believe. I saw some of her books in a small shop while I was away and flicked through them for old times sake. Marvellous. I'm vaguely reminded of John Betjeman's work in that his poetry too seemed almost naive with 'simple' rhymes and rhythm... but keeping up that simplicity and still producing powerful and evocative poetry is the sign of a master in my opinion.
Some of Betjeman, just for jollies:
Kind o’er the kinderbank leans my Myfanwy,
White o’er the playpen the sheen of her dress,
Fresh from the bathroom and soft in the nursery
Soap scented fingers I long to caress.
Were you a prefect and head of your dormit’ry?
Were you a hockey girl, tennis or gym?
Who was your favourite? Who had a crush on you?
Which were the baths where they taught you to swim?
Smooth down the Avenue glitters the bicycle,
Black-stockinged legs under navy blue serge,
Home and Colonial, Star, International,
Balancing bicycle leant on the verge.
Trace me your wheel-tracks, you fortunate bicycle,
Out of the shopping and into the dark,
Back down the avenue, back to the pottingshed,
Back to the house on the fringe of the park.
Golden the light on the locks of Myfanwy,
Golden the light on the book on her knee,
Finger marked pages of Rackham’s Hans Anderson,
Time for the children to come down to tea.
Oh! Fullers angel-cake, Robertson’s marmalade,
Liberty lampshade, come shine on us all,
My! what a spread for the friends of Myfanwy,
Some in the alcove and some in the hall.
Then what sardines in half-lighted passages!
Locking of fingers in long hide-and-seek.
You will protect me, my silken Myfanwy,
Ring leader, tom-boy, and chum to the weak.
Another gentle dig at homeopathy...
I'm home now after a splendid and eventful week divided between arguing with myself (I won, narrowly) and visiting some places of interest nearby - Whitby a couple of times (including a rather storm-tossed voyage on a replica of Captain Cook's ship), a bird of prey centre and a zoo where I saw lions and tigers and meerkats (oh my).
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 08:16 pm (UTC)I personally had mixed feelings about the DW ep. I enjoyed the fact that the Silurians were not clear-cut baddies, and also that it showed a greater range of possibilities... be them situational, type of scenarios/aliens, or merely emotional. I didn't however like the scenes of torture or near torture. I'm really not a fan of those! Also... poor Rory... -sniffs- I enjoyed the dynamic he brought to the Doctor/Amy duo, and I will miss him sadly. And lastly... I found this episode much more intense emotionally than most... and well I enjoy my little comedy/funny moments... which were sadly lacking in this ep.
And now as for North Yorkshire... I am envious of your numerous visits to Whitby. I wish I could have been there instead of at work, trying to convince students that whilst there are only 2 weeks left, they still must work. Did a big bird try to shit on your head whilst on that Captain Hook boat? What about whilst on the beach? They tend to enjoy doing that there! XD
Welcome back!
no subject
Date: 2010-06-04 08:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 01:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 01:42 am (UTC)And I hate when they kill off people I like. Especially when I want them to come back, but I'll be pissed if they come back.
no subject
Date: 2010-06-05 01:21 pm (UTC)I need to find all of Linley Dodds's books! Slinky Malinky! Scarface Claw! KITTIES!