Today has not been the best of days for various reasons but one thing does amuse me: David and I are on the guest list to an exclusive event at the Scottish Parliament.
My life sometimes surprises even me.
A Visual Feast
The art and architecture of Le Corbusier. It's interesting to note how the architecture in the third image matches our expectation of 'modern' but not the furniture and the art pieces.. I'm also rather enamoured by the sixth image (that ceiling! the colours!).
Making Conversation
Work: "Hi! How are you? Hope you're feeling better. Just to let you know, we're implementing some new anti-fraud measurements. So, HR needs to know where you were working between October 2006 and February 2007?"
Me: "Er, I was working for you guys.."
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A few completely unrelated and random links:
+ Is this cake scary or awesome? I just cannot decide.
+ I had a long conversation about the Theremin the other day.
+ Renewable clothing by Fernando Brízio. Art or not?
+ This page makes me so, so happy. I'm clearly weird.
+ Doctor Who: I Love the World. Heavy spoilers for Season 4, so beware.
And, yes, Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is up and running.
Mind-Reader
And two hours after having written about wanting one, my partner brings home a 1950s sewing machine. We need to buy needles and some spools, but otherwise it appears to be in top condition.
Ace.
Dedicated Follower of Fashion
Kamicha of Yarned makes me feel that I should
a) go through my entire wardrobe
b) reconsider my aversion to blandness neutrals
c) reconsider my decision to avoid bulky knitwear
d) reconsider my decision to avoid shapeless dresses
e) forget about my hypermobility and dig out my high-heeled shoes
f) re-invent myself as a sophisticated fashionista
but I think I'll continue with my faded cords, wacky colours, fine-gauge knits and slightly disorganised style. In my head I'm sort-of preparing myself for a sewing machine purchase down the line and I'll have a go at this dress at that point. Not very fashionista, neutral or refined but I think it's awesome.
Back To Books
I may have injured my wrist through too much knitting. Yes. Really. I'm going to see my doctor tomorrow for my usual 'why do I keep keeling over, Doctor McKay?' thing and might just ask him about my poor overworked wrists. I suspect the answer may be to lay off with the knitting for some time. At least that will give me time to finish various reads.
I'm currently halfway through Iain Pears' An Instance of the Fingerpost which reads like a mix between early Julian Barnes and Umberto Eco with a dash of classic whodunnit. David gave up on the book after about 200 pages but I find myself enjoying its slow pace, Pears' knowledge of 17th century science (unlike, say, Ross King whose Ex Libris was so, so, so inaccurate that it nearly made me cry) and the novel's multi-narrative structure. My partner bought Pears' The Immaculate Deception from Oxfam Books yesterday. It looks to be a light read, though. I might keep that for winter. I tend towards light books during the dark months.
Also on the backburner: Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping. Back when I was in the process of moving countries, I read her Gilead. It floored me with its precise language, its exploration of 'home' and 'family' and the slow, deliberate move towards its dénouement. At that point of time, I was living out of a suitcase whilst spending nights on friends' sofas. I was susceptible to Gilead, in other words. Robinson's Housekeeping is bleaker and I cannot quite muster the calmness that her novel demands. I still adore her way of using language though.
And then there are the books which have suffered. Maps For Lost Lovers by Nadeem Aslam and Old Men In Love by my beloved Alasdair Gray (signed 1st Ed - I should scan the dedication). They're on my bedside table and deserve far more attention.
If everything else fails, of course, there's always my growing stack of knitting books..