thunking – Page 3 – Ken Macbeth Knowles

Their brogues and their cheer and their utter joy

I’ve connected with friends via social media and even met quite a few people face-to-face who I’d first connected with online. I was rather active on twitter back before it seemed to be mostly brands and marketing accounts, and between that and writing a tea blog, I made the acquaintance of quite a few… Continue reading Their brogues and their cheer and their utter joy

My tail is wagging as I bound through the undergrowth

The sky seems to have moved in closer, and the day slams shut so much earlier. Knowing that sundown is creeping towards us makes me want to pack as much into those depleting moments of sunlight. The leaves that are left are somehow racing to the ground now – they pile up and make… Continue reading My tail is wagging as I bound through the undergrowth

I assume we’re going to keep doing this until we like it

I’ve been laid up this week, which is why I’ve included the photo of Louis prepared to administer first aid. It’s been quite an interesting time to observe current events, and because of a lot of time on my hands, I’ve read my fill of op-ed pieces about the refugee crisis here in Europe. … Continue reading I assume we’re going to keep doing this until we like it

Don’t look at the photo of his lifeless body on the beach unless you’re prepared to do something about it

There’s a photo from Reuters that’s all over the web today. Has been for a few days already, and it’s disturbing. It’s not at all nice. It’s the opposite of nice, even. It’s a shot of a little boy who’s drowned & washed up on the beach. I’m not putting it here, but I… Continue reading Don’t look at the photo of his lifeless body on the beach unless you’re prepared to do something about it

Oliver Sacks has died and I can’t get Rilke’s Der Panther out of my head

‘Sein Blick ist vom Vorübergehn der Stäbe so müd geworden, daß er nichts mehr hält. Ihm ist, als ob es tausend Stäbe gäbe und hinter tausend Stäben keine Welt. Der weiche Gang geschmeidig starker Schritte, der sich im allerkleinsten Kreise dreht, ist wie ein Tanz von Kraft um eine Mitte, in der betäubt ein großer… Continue reading Oliver Sacks has died and I can’t get Rilke’s Der Panther out of my head

A church door and a few thoughts about Prague

I’ve heard it said that when you get back from a trip & someone asks how it was, you’ve got a small window of opportunity to answer about your journey. Before long, their thoughts move on to what’s in front of you rather than where you’ve been. So according to that logic, I’ve got to… Continue reading A church door and a few thoughts about Prague

Generosity toward the future

‘Real generosity toward the future consists in giving all to what is present.‘ (Albert Camus) Perhaps it’s a side effect of aging, but I find myself complaining about weather more than I did when I was younger. When I was quite young, my grandmother was obsessed with watching the evening news, and the part… Continue reading Generosity toward the future

Shining in the light of the setting sun

When you’ve got nothing interesting to say, talk about the weather. Right? Well, I’ve got plenty of interesting things to talk about….still the coming springtime is on my mind. This wasn’t the hardest winter, but I’ve been ready to usher it out the door for most of February. I’m not normally like that, which… Continue reading Shining in the light of the setting sun

Fine words butter no parsnips

Well, I was just kidding when I assured Robert Godden that I’d used ‘Fine words butter no parsnips’ in a long ago blogpost. Purportedly, he’s just spent an hour looking through the archives of my various blogs for the nonexistent time I used that phrase…now I almost feel bad, but not really. Maybe he-of-gullible-tendencies… Continue reading Fine words butter no parsnips