Metaphoric pain

Interesting programme on’t radio coming home, called Metaphor for healing.
Most people will use metaphors in their daily language, but many patients are unfortunately on the receiving end of highly negative diagnoses: crumbling spine, toxic radiation and so on. The power of such language on the brain means that patients can actually start feeling worse, but often [...]

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The Moon Stallion

Finished it overnight, and it was as magical as I remembered the television programme to be.  I remember being quite frightened watching it at the time (I’d have been about 9 years old, I think).
I was interested to see what specifics stuck in my mind: the toad skeleton, the horse magic, the Celtic goddess Epona, [...]

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They’re called WILD Things

Hurray for Maurice Sendak!!!
“The night Max wore his wolf suit” he was a Holy Terror. He chased the dog with a fork. He shouted at his mum. And then he travelled to the island of the Wild Things, and terrified them to the extent that he becomes their king. And then he storms round the island doing all the [...]

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The Trimble factor

Oh good grief, they’re still going on about it.
Look, there are some people with brains that just sook things up. I have a brain like that. It doesn’t make me a better person, or more intelligent, I just know lots of useless things. And that’s the point, most facts are useless unless in the right [...]

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Day 54 – Unchallenged

Monday nights won’t be the same for weeks and weeks. Maybe even months.
Because tonight was the Uni Challenge final, and it won’t be back for another series for ages.
[UC photo to be uploaded here]
I can’t believe the publicity surrounding contestant, Gail Trimble. She knows a lot of stuff and she’s quick on the buzzer. She [...]

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Why reading matters

Programme tonight on BBC4 called Why reading matters. Missed a bit of it waiting for the stupid DVD to load so I could record it. Sometimes I miss video.
Anyway, it was interesting to hear the same stuff I’ve been telling kids for years repeated back at me, especially when the presenter was indicating how new [...]

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Moon Stallion DVD!

Just spotted on eBay – a German release of The Moon Stallion! Where’s the UK version?
Can only hope that this means that it’s been digitally remastered, ready for a release soon. Got my Google Alert  set up, just need to be patient.
I sincerely hope that this is not one of those cherished memories from childhood just [...]

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What’s in the Air

Listening to Celtic Connections on’t radio , I heard a slightly disquieting but beautiful harmonic duo called Robyn and Amie. You can hear some samples on their MySpace page. The sound they make reminds me of the Trio Bulgarka that appear on The Sensual World by Kate Bush. Robyn and Amie are being interviewed on [...]

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Day 10 – A bit miserable

I was really looking forward to the weekend. First chance this week to be outside during daylight hours (and I mean outside, not inside a car) .
What do I get?
Rain.
But that’s OK, I’m Scottish, I can cope with rain. We’ll stick the kids in wellies and go for a walk in the woods. Be a [...]

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Day 8 – Moon

The Moon is cool. I wonder how many poems and songs it’s inspired. SA draws my attention to it tonight:  it looks like it’s flying as the clouds stream past.  I make no apology for waxing (or waning) lyrically about the Moon. It’s stunning.
It’s not quite full, so the shape is a bit dodgy, and [...]

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