Who might have guessed that my Loyal Readers would find their weekly pleasure in such a variety of things but there you are. Lockdown has a strange effect on us all. You’d be less surprised to know that animals feature too when it comes to this week’s pleasures. But more of them later.
However, as these lockdown musings are becoming slightly personal I thought it might be interesting for you to know what the qualifies you to become a Loyal Reader of my musings and perhaps to know a little more about your fellow followers. Well, to begin with you’ve all been lumbered whether you like it or not, selected either by me for generally being good eggs or for being foolish enough to suggest you might be interested in receiving them. I have to admit there are some who have been ‘volunteered’ into the group which is jolly bad luck, particularly as there is no unsubscribe option, but there you are. Console yourselves, you’re a member of a very select band.
Now onto what’s given you pleasure this week: Vanessa chose a Callicarpa bush as hers, albeit a remembered pleasure as it resides in the Chelsea Pensioners Ranelagh Garden which is annoyingly shut thanks to you know what. Rosie and I met Vanessa on one of the several holidays we’ve had with Art Pursuits, a small company started by the wonderful Dr Joachim Strupp who had immense knowledge of the history of art and the precious ability to communicate it with fun and enthusiasm. Sadly he died in a car crash a year or two ago and the company hasn’t been the same since. For old times sake - and to educate anyone who doesn’t know what a callicarpa looks like - from (l-r) here’s one, Vanessa & Rosie and Joachim.
Bash (son and Co-Heir) cooked and ate pancakes and reported that he’d broken his tooth, apparently not on a pancake but on a piece of crusty sourdough. I assume the pleasure was the pancake, not the prospect of a visit to the dentist, but it goes to show that these cookery fads - quinoa, labneh, sumac, za’atar, tahini, arugula, chia - even if you can spell them have hidden dangers.
Kim Yashar-Bish’s one word pleasure was Ocado. We know what she means: ordering groceries online is more than a pleasure, it’s a necessity these days, especially if you’re as hard working as Kim and her husband Mahmut are. For those that don’t know, they own a shop in Brighton that’s a treasure trove and the answer to a maiden’s prayer especially when it comes to Christmas. Just click on this link and be amazed: https://www.yashar-bish.com/
Now for the animals: Lesley, who we met when she worked with us at Pots and Pithoi, emailed to say ‘Having lost our beloved Labrador Monty just before lockdown in March - as ever his timing was perfect as visits to the vet became nigh on impossible after that - I am very much enjoying taking out a dear little mongrel of Greek extraction who lives in our lane. His owner suggested it as I was looking lost! As befits a dog who originated in the sunshine, he really hates the rain and has to be forced out. He'd probably be happier with a glass of ouzo and a kebab listening to Demis Roussos. He lives with three Border Collies and so doesn't need me, but I need him for my essential dog fix!’ As a reminder of happier times here’s Lesley with Monty, taken when he was brand new in 2004. I don’t think Lesley will mind me revealing that Monty was, on walks, both openly gay and an obsessive collector of plastic bottles. Hope the greek mongrel is less brazen.
Gemma the lino print genius and Bash’s other half has merely posted a link that’s given her pleasure and amusement. Cat lovers, click on this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CHQcublAg4p/?igshid=8qbu1ctv7xyl
My pleasure this week? More animals and listening to Andrew Cotter, commentator and owner of Olive and Mabel. He was on Clive Anderson’s radio 4 show yesterday evening promoting a book featuring his dogs. If you haven’t seen his brilliant videos, click on this link. It’ll give you enough pleasure to see you through this next week of lockdown, notwithstanding Boris. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPhpJuraz14