Author Archives: spikekalashnikov

And Even the Ranks of Tuscany Could Scarce Forebear to Cheer.

“Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the Gate: “To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds, For the ashes of his fathers, And the temples … Continue reading

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There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

These people live in a boat. What is remarkable is that the boat, or more accurately ship, is on top of a hill. How did it get there?

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Blow into It and Move Your Fingers Up and Down

I so much like doing not very much. Doing nothing bad, doing lots can be bad but doing not much I usually find very satisfactory. On Saturday night I cleaned my flute. My wonderful flute, who has been my partner … Continue reading

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When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator

So yesterday evening I row the boat out to the reef for to go fishing as the sun goes down. I tie up to a convenient buoy that I believe has been left by coral study people. I gently fish … Continue reading

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Of Lepidoptera and Arachnids

The walk from my deck to the beach through a couple of meters of undergrowth reveals this. I wish I could find a butterfly book. The ones you see are of course only those who agree to pose. There are … Continue reading

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There Will Be Blood

Off I go again and this time I turn on the fuel. Sure enough after some coaxing the Black Knight starts. However it is no good, there is no real power and he suddenly stops just as before. Mene mene … Continue reading

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More Bugs

I stand up from my desk to head off to Bedfordshire. There is the most incredible screeching noise and a huge bug flies up from the floor and crashes into my face. It then takes off to the kitchen wall … Continue reading

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Billy, the Big, Badass, Black, Bike-Bug

As I set off for work this morning I notice several things: Big Red has a puncture, there is a big, badass, black, bug sitting on the saddle and that I have forgotten my access badge to the university. I … Continue reading

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Johnnie Scobie

What a remarkable day. The first indication that things were diverting from normality came when I greeted a distinguished guest; composer and director of principal concert venue on Okinawa. On learning that I hail from Scotland he starts to hum … Continue reading

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Science

Visitors, difficulties at work, all these occasions do inform against me. I am unable to do that which I really want to do, which is to put the motor on the boat and see if it will run. I finally … Continue reading

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