A PLACE FOR SIDEWAYS TRAINS OF THOUGHT
In the 1990’s, when the grandfather of the current Kim was North Korea’s Great Leader, I spent a week in Pyongyang working as an interpreter for the Italian delegation at a huge conference which was attended by most of the world’s nations. I have decided to note down what I remember now, before the place... Continue Reading →
If any of you have ever done ear training you have almost certainly encountered the method for recognising intervals which is based on memorising the first couple of notes from songs you know. For example, first two notes of: Isn't She Lovely - Minor 2nd Frères Jacques- Major 2nd Greensleeves - Minor 3rd Oh, when the... Continue Reading →
When the British assembled their empire, they took their games and sports and moustaches with them, even to the hottest places. Some people were bemused, as in this anecdote, relayed by Jan Morris in her book Hong Kong, when discussing the early days of the colony. An old tale tells of the Chinese gentleman who,... Continue Reading →
Dear Sir, It is with great agony that I wish to bring to your kind notice the callousness shown by some employee of your deptt. What a way to begin a complaint! It certainly grabs my attention. This is a letter on the Indian Consumers Complaint Forum addressed to the passport office in Jaipur. And... Continue Reading →
I recently came across these two short films by the French director Chris Marker (1921-2012) from Bestiaire (1990). The first one is a cat sleeping on a piano. And the second a series of owls, mostly swivelling their heads rather amazingly. Looking at the cat, I realised for the first time that sleeping can be... Continue Reading →
(Listen to the poem here) Swaying in his walking mother’s arms The two-year old is studiously Extracting strands of moonlight From her long and precious hair. Phillip Hill 2017
If you have watched any royal ceremonies involving the Queen of England, you may have noticed that she is the only person who doesn’t join in when “God Save the Queen” is sung. She can’t, of course. It would make no sense. But I am sure that there have been times when she has sung it... Continue Reading →
Some people (I call them explaneedfuls) need an explanation for everything and often an explanation of the explanation as well. A long time ago I met one of them. I was asked to go to a TV studio in Italy to assist the host of a programme covering the Oscar awards ceremony. I thought I... Continue Reading →
(Listen to the poem here) Some people tell me that they feel compelled to read books to the end, no matter how brainless and repetitive the plot, how many unattractive characters, or how nobody ever seems to learn from their mistakes. Me, I’m not like that. If I’m fed up (and it could... Continue Reading →
When I look at of the books in my library, the only thing I can remember in most cases is whether I have read them or not. Books in the second-largest category trigger one single anecdote or image and nothing else. One image which has been in my head for decades now comes from a book by Alberto... Continue Reading →