Category Archives: Messaged from the Outhouse

Terry Pratchett’s ‘Nation’

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I can’t remember the last time I cried while I was reading a book, but Terry Pratchett’s Nation certainly did produce a bit of a sniffle today. The first book by Pratchett not set on Discworld since, er, Good Omens, I think, is not only a philosophical masterpiece but also side-splittingly, laugh out loud funny. I think only Pratchett (and sometimes Dawkins) can get this combination right.

In ‘Nation‘ we witness the ancient struggle between belief and reality: If the gods (or god) exists, why is there so much  wrong with this world? Is the proof for supernatural belief a loads of of old twaddle? These age old questions are set on an idyllic island in an alternative reality Pacific Ocean that has just hit by an enormous tsunami, wiping out it’s population. Only a 13 year old inhabitant and an English girl (that was stranded with the schooner she was travelling on) are left on the tropical paradise that is slowly but surely filling up with refugees. In between making beer, defending the island from cannibals and negotiating with the British Crown these two have to come to terms (no, not with their sexuality. This is not Blue Lagoon) with their inner and cultural daemons. While I was looking forward to another Discworld and some Shenanigans of Vimes and his posse, this book is very welcome in a time when the secular western world is under attack from the Sarah Palins of our time.

‘Nation’ is tender, humane, a delight to read, very moving, and has maybe the best ending of all of Pratchett’s books.

I’ll now read it again.

The Dahon D7. An interim review after 2 months of commuting.

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It’s now more than 2 months that I commute 1 km with the Dahon D7 from home to the train station and on arrival in London another 6 km to work (and return). It’s been easier than I thought: my fellow passengers on those busy commuter trains seem to be ok with me and the folded Dahon. I always make sure to enter the train last, after the initial rush, just to avoid any irate travellers with chain oil on their trousers/skirts. The actual bike ride continues to be a joy, and the bike seems to be taking it well.

Apart from a slight reduction in break power due to a natural decline of the break pads everything is working spiffingly. A change of shirts and a wash on arrival at work reduces any complaints of body odour (I am still not fit enough to arrive at work semi-drenched) and so far the weather has been kind. 

I am sure there will be rain drenched morning where I will be refusing to take the bike, but so far there was no reason not to take the bike in the morning. Even my two favourite local Indian/Bangladeshi restaurant have been kind enough to just accept me wih bike and let me place the folded Dahon behind my seat.

I have gained an considerable amount of shape to certain regions of my physique and the best girlfriend ever has been very complimentary about the overall effects. 

Would I recommend it? Heck yes. Those daily kilometers on the bike don’t only increase my fitness, but they also add a considerable amount of fun to my commute, reduce my carbon foot print, keep my budget healthy and shrink my weight and bloodpressure. 

What’s not to like?

Curiosity killed the Cat

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Sometimes it is important to acknowledge one’s past, even if it might sound daft or trivial to others. In 1987 I pretty much heard only one song: ‘Down to Earth’ by Curiosity killed the Cat gave me so much joy for such a long time that it’s worth to remember them from time to time.

So here they are, thanks to YouTube and a speck of nostalgia:

Shall we move our affluent booties? Shall we?

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Last night the best girlfriend and I went to see perennial favourites Hue and Cry. On the day they launched their new album “Open Soul“, a good natured crowd of ca 1000 punters in their early forties gathered in the exceptionally beautiful Bush Hall to celebrate the Kane Brothers’ remarkable career.  13 albums over a 21 year career ain’t bad, and the songwriting has never been better. So what if nobody under forty knows them: at least the gigs are peaceful. And so was last night’s: a happy, peaceful crowd that knew all the lyrics by heart danced, cried and hopped around to the Kane’s impressive band of musicians. Pat Kane’s Glaswegian twang needed a bit of translating from time to time, but the brothers were definitely in good mood, and the suited Pat wriggled himself happily around his microphone cable. Accompanied by a funky trio of bass, guitar and drums and the luxury of horn and saxofone, the band was tight and, as the best girlfriend said ‘quite funky’. High praise indeed.

The new album was showcased, but always interspersed with the highlights of Hue and Cry’s impressive back catalogue. ‘Looking for Linda’, ‘Ordinary Angel’, a raucous ‘Labour of Love’, ‘Stars Crash Down’ were greeted with enormous cheers, and even the new Single, ‘The last Stop’ was celebrated. When the Kane’s suddenly started to channel Beyonce with an amazing version of ‘Crazy in LOve’ everybody started to go wild.  Finishing the regular set with ‘Labour of Love’ and then giving a little more measured encore ended an excellent gig. Me, I din’t get my ‘under neon’, but the best girlfriend ever commented that this was probably the best gig she’s seen in a long time.

I think I might agree…