2014 — 7 April: Monday
This morning's weather variation — currently, at least — has been to open the cold tap a little further to increase the flow. Still, April showers are clearly bringing my flowers. Pity is they seem unable to bring me my morning cuppa in bed, dagnabbit.
Looking...
... on the slightly brighter side, however, the slightly-enhanced IBM pension payment is now wagging its little tail as it settles comfortably into my online account. I'm (slightly) amused to note that the net result after tax is actually £3-20 more than the gross amount of the monthly uptick. I assume my tax-free pocket money allowance has therefore also twitched upward; could we possibly1 be approaching the next general election?
I've just...
... heard (the now late) Mickey Rooney and (the long late) Judy Garland singing "I wish I were in love again" by Rodgers and Hart. That's the one with the wonderful couplet:
When love congeals, it soon reveals, The faint aroma of performing seals.
:-)
In a galaxy far away...
... I bought a paperback copy of "Doctor Zhivago". It had been re-published to accompany the David Lean film I'd then just seen in the cinema. I have to admit I found it quite hard work, and was unmotivated to try much more Russian literature. For by no means the first time, I'm reminded of this:
No one can read Russian. That is why their books must be translated. The Russian language is very queer. It is very much like English in many ways, but it has not the jollity of George Gissing or AE Houseman. Go, little translator, and render the big Russian books into your little-mother-tongue.
Well, guess what? It turns out the CIA used Pasternak's book as anti-Soviet propaganda. I wonder what US books the Soviets used in a similar way? (Link.)
Having listened...
... to BBC Radio 4's Film Programme, on which I heard Darren Aronofsky discussing his new film about Noah, I've just been browsing the corresponding chapters of Genesis, as well-illustrated by Robert Crumb. It's a puzzling piece of mythology. What, pray tell, is the passing reference to the Nephilim all about? I gather they're offspring either of Seth or of angels... and 10% of them may have been left, as it were, knocking around as demons after the flood, to try to lead humans astray.
Speaking of which — leading people astray, that is — this afternoon's snailmail included my first-ever printed phishing scam from China Construction Bank. It details their deceased (and rich, naturally) client John (who shares my surname), who "was involved in an accident in Mainland China, which means he died intestate" and whose funds they now, after a delay of a decade, wish to split 50-50 with me. I do hope Mr Chao Xu isn't holding his breath while awaiting my reply.
Can it really...
... be 36 years since Bonham's auctioneers in London had, for the fourth time, obtained for sale (again from an unknown source) some of Queen Victoria's underclothes?
Mad fools that we are, we're hoping to manage a walk (or a swim?) tomorrow. Fingers crossed.