Nov 17th, 2008
The Scent of Green Papaya
I revisited one of my favourite films last week. Every time I see it I love it more. Masterfully directed by Tran Anh Hung, it follows the life of a Vietnamese servant girl in 1950s Saigon.
Jun 28th, 2008
The Dog With 9 Lives: A Fond Farewell
Yesterday our dear family pet, Rosie, went back to Dog Heaven. She was small even for a Miniature Dachshund, and her recent illness made her slighter still, but I cried myself to sleep last night to think I would never see that little bundle of fur again, chuckling intermittently at memories of our 14-year friendship [...]
Jun 1st, 2008
Digging For Victory: Sky Farmers and Guerrilla Gardeners
Old News: Gardening is In Once again in the UK it has been suggested that we are behind the eco-friendly times, now caught red-faced and red-handed with basket-full of imported vegetables. The production and transportation of food is responsible for 23% of our carbon footprint; above home energy, personal travel, and running shared services like [...]
May 3rd, 2008
Cowfish Out Of Water
I was in the sea, snorkeling I think, or maybe diving. It was a long time ago. The sun heaved magnificent light into an already magnificent ocean, and all was bathed in lucid unearthly beauty below. I was very fond of cowfish. They were like cartoons, little horns like raised eyebrows, boxy bodies puffing happily [...]
Mar 15th, 2008
Dolphin Saves the Whales
While I’m on the subject of life-saving miracles, the BBC reported this week that it’s not just humans who take an interest in whale conservation. A bottlenose dolphin, known in her local neighbourhood as Moko, is taking it as seriously as any dolphin can. Mr Smith and his team of humans were getting nowhere fast [...]
Sep 30th, 2007
Mouse & Mortality: A Small Poem On Being Small
Beeches shook their auburn curls like closely clustered giddy girls chattering to pose and tease whispering jokes into the breeze Peaceably beneath I trod an early dark and dewy sod wondering that all was good deeply in the wandering wood A fungus there, a cobweb here a brown birdsong above my ear every sense at [...]
May 29th, 2007
The Smallness and Greatness of Ants
I am no stranger to the inspirations of nature. The loyalty of dogs, the industry of bees, the humility of grass; do they not far surpass our own? Today I read an article in The Independent about the incredible selflessness of ants. Researchers put planks of wood along the feeding route of a colony of [...]
May 1st, 2007
Truly… Nothing’s Small
I found this image yesterday on Flickr.com. Not only is it an exquisite shot (one of many exquisite shots by Maureen F), but I find it symbolic. The entire sun is clasped by a tiny fragile petal. It reminds me of one of my favourite pieces of poetry: “And truly, I reiterate, . . nothing’s [...]
Mar 5th, 2007
Meadow Revival
“There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,The earth, and every common sightTo me did seemApparelled in celestial light,The glory and the freshness of a dream.It is not now as it hath been of yore;–Turn wheresoe’er I may,By night or day,The things which I have seen I now can see no more.”William WordsworthFrom Ode [...]
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