Retronaut.

I found an awesome website. With lots of great stuff from times past. Photos galore!

This, for example, is very useful advice for the single gal.

From 1938.

Read with your ears.

I went to a poetry reading the other day. Alice Oswald read a condensed version of her 'Memorial'. It was gory in parts, but the horribleness of the gore faded in comparison to the descriptions of the lives of the soldiers. Very powerful.

But that wasn't what I was going to say. I was going to quote something she said after the reading when asked about the rhythm of her poems and the repetition of lines.

Some people read with their eyes and some people read with their ears. Poetry is written for the ears, not the eyes.

Mums mums...

Saw these in ASDA and was reminded that we had these in Bridlington last year. When I say 'had' I mean we made the mistake of buying them, tasting them and then did the clever thing: threw them in the bin.

I do like taking artsy photos.

If I drank wine...

I'd only drink this. Sitting in a window, in Paris. Wearing a red dress with a wide skirt and a boat neck, sleeveless. I'd probably read a novel, in Russian or French. I might smoke a cigarette. My view would be of the river and all the lovers walking hand in hand towards Montmartre. Dusty Springfield would be playing on my grammophone and I would always be running late. My kitchen would be full of mismatched crockery, most of it red. I would sleep until 11 every day and not go to bed until the early hours of the morning. I would never miss sunrise. I would watch Audrey an Katherine in old movie theatres and I would take long walks through crowded streets and see new things every day. I would sleep so close to you every night, with your breath on me and my toes on yours and when I woke up I would make you a coffee and we would sit in our Parisian window until it got too cold and we'd have to go back to bed.

I don't drink wine but if I did...

Happy International Women's day!

If I was in Stockholm someone would have given me a rose in the street by now. Just sayin'.

Here are some links to do with women:

Women work for free in Sweden from 15:51 each day, whereas men get paid until 17:00

Some strong, inspiring women I admire for different reasons.

Sheepish stone age prime minister 'apologises' for 'Calm down, dear' comment (which he originally refused to apologise for). Tries to excuse it, more like. (credit to Mr Clegg for not joining the boy's club and laughing at the very unnecessary comment!)

Should we be celebrating that the pay gap in the UK is now below 10%? or "After all, men's earnings start to outstrip women's from the age of 29 – precisely when Mrs Average now has her first child."

Happy reading :)

Winter

A month ago today. Slight difference...

vår.

Namnam.

We recently bought a slow cooker and it's amazing. So the second soup I decided to make would - obviously - be a root veg one. You know, just like mum used to do.

And I chopped my veg and added some lentils and honey and chilis and other fun stuff (which I'm not sure if mum used to do?) and left it cooking overnight. Got up this morning and blended it all together and tasted it.

Ohmygodit'ssohot. I had it for lunch with 2 GLASSES OF MILK. Milk. Milk!!

It'll do me good I'm sure... Cleanse my aura or something.

Nothing lasts forever, even cold...

Middle of November, it's dark all the time and there's just so much to do that there's no time for anything. Crisp air, quick walks home from work leaving you clammy but with cold cold fingers and a cold cold nose.

It could be more fun at the moment.