The magpie holds up her collection of words for the day: Just read a lovely essay from Paul Knight's words on the 'Turn of the Season, the local awakening of our valley. The curlews are back and though the weather still shows the extremes of temperature life streams back. You will note, if you read the words that is, the local meetings at chapels or mills, not necessarily for religion but for the welcoming back of the season and the old tradition of 'mummers'.
I have a problem with this part of Yorkshire, I loved North Yorkshire, its bucolic quietness suited my frame of mind. Towns such as Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside and Pickering were far removed from protest marches. I will not ever get used to large towns being so near with their complexity of transport and people rushing around. But so be it. At least Knight frames a landscape he loves and writes about with such skill.
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Marina Hyde, who has a tongue like a whiplash and is a favourite writer of mine describing Henry 6th compared to Trump. Taken from the Guardian
For now, perhaps we are living through the ideal conditions for an American break with Rome. When the English pulled the trigger on the Reformation, of course, they were ruled by a sociopathic malignant narcissist, who emptied his pram of toys when Rome didn’t sign up to his obsession of the hour. He was also extremely given to kleptocracy, and couldn’t really see a policy position without reconfiguring it as a material benefit to himself. I dunno: something feels familiar, I just can’t put my finger on it.
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Has anyone come across Jay Vail, an American who I think lives in London, his observations on the English way of life, I can only probably give you a F/B link, but his quiet satire and understanding are good.
I enjoyed Paul Knight's writing. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNormally he puts a few photographs of the moors with his young son in his blogging, which introduce the different areas around. His walks and talks must be very good.
DeleteYou read a lot of interesting pieces, Thelma! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe thing is Ellen I don't read so many books now, so my only source is on the computer. Also I find You tube has so many sources to see.
DeleteThat Marina Hyde quote is excellent -- she really nails it, doesn't she?!
ReplyDeleteAnd I've just been watching some of Jay Vail's content. Hadn't heard of him before but he's hilarious!
DeleteVail is a competent American observer and very droll, he has completed his five year apprenticeship and now is a citizen of this country. I never knew you had to pay £1000 to the NHS every year during those years. As for Marina Hyde she has a clever wicked tongue. But I found when I read her book that past essays are not so good a read in the present.
ReplyDeleteVail is interesting to listen and it makes me wonder if US minorities can see their country with rather different eyes to many in his country. Mind you, there are plenty of US YouTubers in England who do look objectively at the differences between the respective countries, and the longer they are in Britain, the more reluctant to return to the US they seem.
ReplyDeleteThe UK must seem a much safer country to people from the US but so much smaller. It makes me laugh when I hear them complaining of our narrow lanes. An American friend when holidaying in Wales with us was upset by all the hedges because she could not see over them. So different to the people who campaign ferociously for more hedges to be made for wild life.
ReplyDeletePaul knight's thoughts seem so very relevant. I do wish I could put a finger on why, exactly.🙄. I have a question though. Your king is coming. I wish he weren't. It just lends an air of self importance to our wanna be king. But an American made a post saying she thought the king should cancel his visit. I commented that I did not think the king could arbitrarily decide that he wasn't going to come. As I have always understood it the monarch's role is a ceremonial one. He does not actually govern. That is the role of the parliament and the prime minister. Starter promised this visit. He must be the one to call it off. I was beset upon by your citizens telling me I was stupid and full of it. Am I? How does that work. I thought I understood, but perhaps I am wrong.
ReplyDelete*Starmer. I think autocorrect is full of it actually.
ReplyDeleteWell I suppose it is down to diplomacy Debby. Also the 'adults' in the room are perfectly capable of turning their backs on Trump. Europe has, as well as Mark Carney and even Starmer refuses war talks. Vail in one of his videos on freedom in Britain, says we have one freedom that America doesn't have and that is the freedom from guns. So sending King Charles into the maelstrom that is the Trump scenario, actually worries me for his safety.
ReplyDeleteBut........... the economy has to be kept running world wide and appeasing Trump, who by the way is being sidetracked by a lot of American people anyway, is the name of the game. Also he doesn't seem to be very well. After the Mandelson affair, again a trick to send someone who would butter up Trump also failed on morality, King Charles is a good envoy. That is how I read the situation anyways. Thelmax