Yes, 19 years ago this very day, 14th December 1999, I bought a 2nd-hand pair of Zeiss Dialyt 7 x 42 binoculars , the ones I'm still using today .... and they're absolutely brilliant. They've been overtaken by "Swarovskibins" these days, but I don't care. They've been to Lithuania you know. And back. And France. And back. They've been to Adlestrop and Bryher and Cley and Dartmoor and Eastbourne and Fishguard and Glasgow and Holyhead and Ipswich and Jarrow and King's Lynn (see what I did there ?) and Minsmere and Norwich and Oxford and Plymouth and Queensferry and Ranworth and Scilly and Trawsfynnydd and Ullswater and Vilnius and Walberswick X-eter and Yarmouth and Zennor. I've lent them to loads of unknown people so they can look at Waxwings and Pallid Swifts and Melodious Warblers and Foxes and Ospreys and Red Kites and Jays and Dolphins and Whales and Wilson's Petrels and Bee-Eaters and Puffins and Helicopters and Brocken Spectres, but not that huge UFO because there was nobody else to show it to. ... I wish there had been . I don't mind lending them to people because I'm a big, rough-looking bloke and they know just by the look of me that they won't get more than a yard if they do a runner with it. I've also used them the other way round to examine moths and woodlice and beetles and flowers and ants and hoverflies and my fingernails. There's just one very odd thing. Very odd indeed. I bought them because (a) I had got paid quite a bit for some overtime that I did and [b] My mum had very generously given me a lot of money for my birthday. That's what I thought anyway. I still think it. But ... there's one snag with that fond memory. I only noticed it yesterday. And that is, my mum had actually died well before 14/12/1999. Quite a bit more. Which, I think you'll agree, is a bit odd. Something's wrong somewhere I reckon. There's only 2 possibilities really... [a] My memory is crap [b] The death certificate is wrong. [c] My memory is crap. [d] Something's wrong with the death certificate. [e] Both. Or, in fact, all six of those reasons. My daughter reckons that I probably put all that money away and waited for a suitable pair of binoculars to come up. She might be right. It's the only sensible explanation, except that I'm not the sort to do "that sort of thing." But ... I expect I did. Now ... here's a song and a ½ ... it's been on here before, if I remember right, which is er, yes, un, er, like, er, ly. But it has. Death Cab For Cutie ... Marching Bands of Manhattan .. uplifting or what ? Anthemic I would say. If I could open my arms
And span the length of the isle of Manhattan I'd bring it to where you are Making a lake of the East River and Hudson If I could open my mouth Wide enough for a marching band to march out They would make your name sing And bend through allies and bounce off all the buildings I wish we could open our eyes To see in all directions at the same time Oh what a beautiful view If you were never aware of what was around you And it is true what you said That I live like a hermit in my own head But when the sun shines again I'll pull the curtains and blinds to let the light in Sorrow drips into your heart through a pin hole Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound But while you debate half empty and half full It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown Sorrow drips into your heart through a pin hole Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound But while you debate half empty and half full It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown Sorrow drips into your heart through a pin hole Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound But while you debate half empty and half full It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown Sorrow drips into your heart through a pin hole Just like a faucet that leaks and there is comfort in the sound But while you debate half empty and half full It slowly rises, your love is gonna drown Your love is gonna drown Your love is gonna drown Your love is gonna drown Your love is gonna
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AuthorThat's the author up there ... I was young and sprightly then. Archives
October 2022
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