It’s Whimsy On A Wednesday and There’s a Lot to Devour
What A Charlie!
The other day I received a letter in the post and nearly jumped out of my skin. It’s the King! Right there, on the right-hand side of the envelope. There was the head of our new male monarch on our Royal Mail postage stamp. This was the first time I’d seen him and I didn’t think he looked as nice as the Queen did. And, I wondered, why hasn’t he got his crown on? I had to go and look that up. He wanted to keep it simple. Only female monarchs wear crowns on coins but he is the first male monarch not to wear a crown on a postage stamp. Charlie is setting a contemporary change. The way I see it, if you’ve got a crown you should wear it and at least make an effort to make the stamps look pretty. At the cost of £1.25 per stamp, I expect to see a fancy fascinator!
Talking of glistening round things…
Last week I was invited to a “paint a pot” party. I’ve done this before and have made many a mug or trinket. This time I decided I’d make an effort on one bowl and take my time being intricately simple… and all that.
I painted a bowl for my Ready Brek so I could porridge my way through a Cornish scene. This took me flippin’ ages to do. You have to paint each colour on THREE times. Everyone was waiting for me and I was getting violently irritated by it. But, oh, just wait. Taking your time does actually pay. Take a look at this coastal crockery and tickle me pasties!
I think I’ve excelled in seaside ceramics. New hobby!
Talking of sea fairing…
This week the mighty Tex has been transformed into the legendary pirate, Tex Blackwolf Thunderbeard!
Ohuhu let me play with the grown up felt tips?!
Somebody got some alcohol pens and let me have a go. I unleashed a “Floral Serenade”
Now I’d like some alcohol markers but I’m not allowed any more creative mediums. Apparently I have too many creative toys and need to stop. I just quote my new book to them, The Artist’s Way.
“How dare you oppress me! We are made to create.” It doesn’t work. And it doesn’t help that in week one I couldn’t stick to the aforementioned book tasks. I had a busy week so it’s not really fair to expect me to. I’m starting again. That was just a practice run. How dare they clip my dream wings!
Talking of winged magic…
I read a thing about cicadas that someone posted on Facebook. Now we don’t have them here in England so when I went to Texas and heard them all chirping I thought it sounded magical – especially when harmonising with tree frogs on a hot, dusty evening under the big melting sky. Right up until someone showed me a picture of one and then I didn’t like them so much.
Anyway, this Spring two different Magicicada broods, one from a 13 year cycle and one from a 17 year cycle are synchronising and emerging together! This last happened in 1803 when Thomas Jefferson was president.
Sounds like it’s going to be rather noisy and a bit pesky but I’ve found a solution for all my American friends.
“You can add them to any of your favourite dishes,” says Borgeson. “They don’t need peeling or prepping. Just pan fry or toast them in the oven. Personally I love them on their own on toothpicks as an appetiser, or sprinkled in tacos.”
Dang it, why don’t you just throw ‘em right into the biscuit mix, you nutter! Eww.
Now I say that there aren’t any in the UK but I just found out from my great encyclopaedia that the last of its kind can be found at the New Forest in Hampshire. That’s probably because someone’s been scoffing them or dropping them them onto their beans on toast with a grating of mature cheddar.
Talking of dark humour and dysfunctional behaviour…
It’s not often I promote a series unless it’s had me riveted to my seat. This show gets better each season. I’ve just finished watching season 3 of “Slow Horses” an espionage drama about a team of second-rate MI5 agents. What a brilliant series. Gary Oldman is superb. I’d like to recommend this to everyone who likes a quality British drama. Season 4 is already scheduled.
That should keep you entertained until next time. You’re welcome.
16 Comments on What’s on The Menu?
LL
24th Jan, 2024 01:01
I watched S1E1 of Slow Horses at your urging, and it’s good! I agree with you.
I don’t know why you’d ruin a guy’s career for screwing up a training op. Not really that much of a screw-up – because he was set up. But that’s the premise of the show.
If Tex was a pirate, he’d be sailing the Seven Seas barking orders at his K-9 crew!
LL
24th Jan, 2024 01:01
P. S. I realize that I’m only a colonial – but from a distant view KC3 seems a bit weird. The stamp is ok, but I’m happy that they don’t make you lick it.
Jules Smith
24th Jan, 2024 08:01
Excellent! Keep going, LL! They get better. It will become a firm favourite.
Tex should be a pirate. It’s his best outfit so far I think!
Jules Smith
24th Jan, 2024 08:01
Charles has a difficult job following in the footsteps of his mother. You can’t follow that so I suppose he has to be more humble and tread gently. Let’s see how he fairs. He’s had good training.
Yeah – NOT licking that behind!
Dean
24th Jan, 2024 02:01
I have always loved your art Juju. I’m sad to say what I have left of it is very little. I’ve got a yen for that style you did the pirate in. I want one of me like that 🤣
Jules Smith
24th Jan, 2024 08:01
Thank you! I like a fan!
You want to be a pirate, Dean? Arrrrrrrr! Me too.
Tex is getting preferential treatment because I got a stamp of his face which means I simply must continue with the rest of him!
Masher
24th Jan, 2024 06:01
I got excited at your tip for Slow Horses, as I’m currently in the market for a new box set to binge on. Sadly, it’s only available on Apple tv. I already have Netflix, Prime and Disney… I’m not signing up to another streaming service! Hopefully it will appear on other platforms at some point.
Love the breakfast bowls! Unique.
Best Tex yet.
Jules Smith
24th Jan, 2024 08:01
Ahhhh, Masher. It’s worth the £8.99, trust me. You can binge it all in a month and cancel. Not that you would – my favourite shows are on Apple. They have some good stuff on there.
You gotta do it, Masher! It’s just the cost of a couple of coffees for all that quality entertainment! You’d pay quadruple that for a night at the flicks!
Thank you! I must say my Ready Brek tasted much nicer.
Agreed – Best Tex yet. Now go and sign up for Apple!
the late phoenix
24th Jan, 2024 18:01
that’s not King Charles, that’s his pauper doppelganger, you can tell cuz he doesn’t have a crown
paint-a-pot takes me back to Berkeley, we did the same thing on the creaky wood porches of our hostels. community bonding. the only thing we painted on pots was Andre the Giant’s face
let’s go surfing!!!
Tex can replace Johnny Depp in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride
one time I looked a butterfly square in the eye and the butterfly threatened to flap its wings and change the world
Slow Horses: is that the Mr. Ed reboot?
*)
Jules Smith
25th Jan, 2024 04:01
The crown Jules does not approve!
I didn’t do any community bonding. I sat, tongue out, in deep painterly concentration. The only giant in the room was my imagination.
Tex will sail from Mousehole to the Caribbean and hornswaggle his ship.
Butterflies only change the world one day at a time. Cicadas are a bit slower but take it by storm.
No, its Uncle Sigh’s son. He couldn’t live up to his father’s footsteps- literally. He’s more of an amble than a gallop. *)
Al Kirk
26th Jan, 2024 04:01
Tex would like a parrot for his shoulders, or maybe one of your crows. I’d red dot the floral serenade and hang it in my den.
Jules Smith
26th Jan, 2024 17:01
YES! Why did I forget Polly the parrot?! Don’t worry – I won’t forget the tea when he’s crumpeting with the Red Queen.
Thank you, Al! I’m flattered. It’s not very often art makes it to a salubrious den. Maybe your den needs a good wallpapering with lots of my art! Then you could sell it all on ebay, and if you’re lucky, be able to afford a night out at the chippy!
LSP
28th Jan, 2024 04:01
I’m a firm and resolute royalist, obviously, so I agree, where’s the dam CROWN? Small thing, maybe, but still.
Here in the States there’s all kinds of action on the southern border and about time.
Raise the Black Flag, eh?
Jules Smith
31st Jan, 2024 14:01
Darling, it’s preposterous. Can you imagine if I were Queen? My crown would always be donned.
I see there’s a bit of a Texit thing again. I do like Texas for this. They’re like the YellowJackets of Europe.
LSP
2nd Feb, 2024 03:02
Of course, WEAR THE CROWN. See the heroic Henrietta Maria.
Then there’s Tony Blair, clearly possessed by a mararine demon. Such an utter satan.
But stamps at 1.25? Wow…. rise up and revolt.
Jules Smith
2nd Feb, 2024 15:02
Of course.
Sir Anthony Lynton Charles? Ugh.
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