Arcane Post - 2

I recently posted on the subject of A Cynical View of Jars.  I said at the end that it was an arcane post.  I think I thought that the word meant not only little known and esoteric but also rather of very limited interest (ie boring).  I’ve since looked it up and it doesn’t.   Anyway a number of other things often spring to mind of equal arcaneness and I thought I’d occasionally burden/enlighten you with them.  I shall adopt the format used by Katherine for her Eye Candy although I cannot guarantee that my posts will have the same aesthetic appeal.

The first is a wonderful article of packaging that I received the other day.  Pills usually come in blister packs or round containers.  Round objects take up quite a lot of space and packaging is rather more awkward than the very practical solution just adopted by Healthspan for their vitamins.  It certainly takes up far less room in my medicine box.

In Harris

When Wendy and the children and I spent the day in Harris, Wendy drove home so I had the opportunity to take a few photos. 

Looking South West down West Loch Tarbert

Looking North from Ardhasaig into the Harris Hills (The Forest of Harris – which has few, if any, trees!)

I’d rather be me than them!

 Over the hills and looking North into Lewis

A Conundrum

A few evening’s ago when a friend and I were having dinner I looked up to see a rock pigeon on a bird feeder.  I raised my arm and waved.  Despite the distance the pigeons are usually so aware of any movement that they fly off.  One did.  The rest followed suit.  Except for the one on the top of the feeder.  Puzzled, I went to see why.  I opened the study door and walked out.  The pigeon didn’t flinch.  That’s unheard of.  Then I realised that what I had thought was something in his beak was, in fact his beak.  And here’s the rub.  I would happily do away with the pigeons even though I abhor killing any creature (except wasps!) but I suddenly felt desperately sorry for this bird who was, presumably, beyond caring because, with a beak as damaged as that, she could not be far away from death.  Leastways I assume that to be the case.

I’m Ashamed

I have been having difficulty with the Times 2 crossword.  This is NOT, I hasten to add, The Times Crossword which is cryptic and completely beyond my comprehension.  Although I did once get a clue – about 30 years ago!  Anyway one clue on Monday for the Times 2 was ‘Successor to Julius Caesar’. Hmm.  Claudius lived about then.  Correct number of letters.  Fitted with two of the other clues I had.  Gave it a shot.  Later having almost finished it I had to re-examine it because what I thought was the answer to one of the other clues wouldn’t fit.  Eventually I decided that I didn’t know (mind blank time) and looked it up in one of my many reference books.  I take the view that in an emergency one can confirm or find information using a book.  It’s only cheating if you Google it!  That’s what you do when you realise there’s no hope!

The list of Roman Emperors didn’t include Julius Caesar.  Huh!  Julius Caesar was a Roman Emperor.  Wasn’t he?  No.  He wasn’t.  Apparently.  I am totally ashamed to say that I had never realised (or if I ever did know, I’d lost the knowledge long ago) that the Roman Empire started after his reign.  Julius was Caesar of the Roman Republic.  He was followed by Augustus, who was the first Emperor.  I’ve spent ages this morning reading it all up on Wikipedia.

So now I know.