All Purls. No Swine.
I see that today, February 8, 2023, is the 102nd anniversary of the death of George Formby, Sr. That implies the existence of a "George Formby, Jr, and indeed I see that the younger Mr. Formby is the one I'm familiar with via my family's interest in comedy and music hall songs of the 1920s… Continue reading George Formby, Senior and Junior
Seventy-one years ago today, upon the death of her father, King George VI, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary ascended to the throne of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and all her other Realms and Territories. She spent the next seventy years of her life cheerfully (to outward appearance) doing her duty and serving the people she… Continue reading Queen for a Day Three-Quarters of a Century
As reported in several places: XX= Woman XY=Man YYY=Delilah In an effulgence of political correctness/cowardice, the Welsh Rugby Union has announced that the Tom Jones hit song Delilah will no longer be played as part of its approved song list. Because, you know, "misogyny." Thankfully, and as I had hoped, it's foolish and pointless to bet… Continue reading Meme: YYY, Delilah!
The house of delusions is cheap to build but drafty to live in, and ready at any instant to fall--A.E. Houseman The last time I wrote a post on this quote from one of my favorite poets, was in August of 2021. It was on a completely different subject, but I ended it thus: Sometimes,… Continue reading QOTD: “The House of Delusions,” Take Two
Crimenutely. Subsequent to the leak of an English-language copy to The Guardian, and the "accidental" release--a week before its scheduled date--onto Spanish bookshelves of Prince Harry's autobiography Spare (known in Spain as En La Sombra--In the Shadow), the revelations have fallen thick and fast: Prince William once shoved Harry into a dog bowl, causing Prince… Continue reading Private Parts: The Memoirs of Captain Harry Wales
Cross-posted from Ricochet: Oh, “dear, dear, dear.” I tried out that phrase, beloved of my father when dealing with a screaming infant, on my 18-month-old niece a few days ago. She immediately picked it up and responded, “deoo, deoo, deoo,” thus instituting the first two-way conversation we’ve ever had, even if only over the phone. I’m… Continue reading Music Hall Memories
The word "for" is not a pronoun. That's a fruitcake. Herewith, my dad's much-loved recipe for mince pies--one which I have shared many times, both online and in-person--from the Farmhouse Fare cookbook: Plum Mincemeat 4 lbs plums 2 lemons 1 cup water 8 large cooking apples 4 oz currants 4 oz raisins 4 oz sultanas… Continue reading Post #582
Well, peeps. I’ve spent quite a bit of time investigating and watching much of the latest “Harry and Meghan” outpourings on Netflix, so you don’t have to. (A Nigerian prince will be contacting you shortly and directing your gratitude-filled donations to me. Please follow through. Trust me; I deserve them.) As many of you know,… Continue reading “Infinite Wrath, and Infinite Despair”
First they came for the meat: A [London ] university has banned the sale of beef in campus food outlets in order to help tackle the climate emergency; Could Scotland Ban Meat? Parliament Considers Petition to Transform the Food System. But many of my neighbors raise and process their own pigs, beef, and chickens and are happy… Continue reading Merry Holiday Christmas Shopping in the UK!
“I have to be seen to be believed”–Queen Elizabeth II The only British monarch of my lifetime died today. She was crowned in June 1953, slightly more than a year before I was born. I was named after her, “Elizabeth,” and–for my middle name–after my grandmother who was to die when I was only a… Continue reading We Saw Her. We Believed. And Now She’s Gone.