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Nature

Butterflies

There’s a peacock butterfly flying around outside the front of the house this morning in pretty much exactly the same place it was yesterday. Buterflies tend to be used as the epitome of aimless, carefree wandering, so it might come as a surprise to a lot of people to know that they are often highly territorial. If you ever play badminton near a Large White, you’ll see it aggressively chasing the shuttlecock.

I nearly wrote ‘if you ever play badminton near a Great White’, which really would be an extreme sport.

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Daily Links

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Napowrimo

napowrimo 14: Μπορίς να φας τον καρπό;

Please use a new blade.
Shave it all off!
I need an adaptor plug.
Can I see it?
Do I need to pay upfront?
I have a doctor’s certificate for this medication.
I regretted it (lit: It came out of my nose.)
Where can we hire an uncrewed boat?
Please give me a slice.
I’ll recommend it to my friends.
I’m not happy with these photos.
I’d like to see the labyrinth.
Can I go in wearing these clothes?
I need a sick bag.
I’d like to introduce you to … (a woman).
dude
I (don’t) like… billiards.
I’m a little sad.
Is this a protected species?
I’m high.
You look like someone I know. (to a woman)
Can I dance with you? sit here? take you home?
Do you want a massage?
Touch me here.
Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself.
It helps to have a sense of humour.
my baby, my darling, my doll, my hunk, my soul, my treasure, sweetheart
You’re just using me for sex.
I’ll keep in touch.
I (don’t) believe in… fate.
I’d rather not join in.
What’s in the collection?
Is it an original or a copy?
I can’t.
I have an injury.
Is there a women-only session?
Where are the good spots?
Can I rent a hat and boots?
I need my racket restrung.
Are there any rockfalls?
Where’s the nudist beach?
I’d like it hot please.
I’d like (a/the)… meal fit for a king.
I don’t want it… boiled, broiled, deep-fried, fried, grilled, mashed, reheated, steamed.
a shot of gin, rum, whisky, tequila, vodka.
The same again, please.
I feel fantastic!
I feel ill.
I’m lost.
Is that a UN zone?
Where’s the demarcation line?
I didn’t do it.
I’m sorry.
Can I have a lawyer (who speaks English)?
I need a doctor (who speaks English).
I’ve run out of my medication.
I have my own syringe.
My … is swollen.
It hurts when you touch it.
Ouch!

~~~

A found poem; although actually ‘poem’ might be a bit optimistic for this one. All lines nicked from the Lonely Planet Greek phrasebook.

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Daily Links

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Napowrimo

napowrimo 13: shoe limerick

An old woman who lived in a shoe
said “what is a person to do?
There’s a hole in the roof
and to tell you the truth
it reeks of old feet in here, too.”

~~~

Not in the mood for real poetry.

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Culture Nature

Parakeet feather on Moleskine



Parakeet feather on Moleskine

I bought a new notebook yesterday for my upcoming trip to Crete. This is the previous one, with a feather I found near the birdfeeders, presumably from a parakeet. I do like Moleskine notebooks. I’ve used masses of different notebooks of various kinds over the years both for birdwatching and poetry, but these are the only ones I really enjoy as objects in their own right.

They’re a fine example of why you can’t judge a product just on its functionality. Any old notebook which contains a supply of paper and is small enough to be portable would fulfil my requirements; I hardly ever use them for sketching or anything, just noted jotted in biro. The elastic to keep the notebook shut, the ribbon bookmark and the built-in pocket are nice touches but not really necessary.

It’s just a likeable object. It looks good: simple, old-fashioned, functional, ungimmicky. Even more important is that it’s very tactile; the oilcloth cover, good quality paper and twangy elastic all make it a nice thing to hold. I think it’s worth paying three times as much to get a notebook that gives me pleasure as well as doing its job. I just wish I got as much enjoyment out of using, say, my mobile phone.