Literatea’s Romantic Spot of the Month goes to the M6 Motorway around Birmingham.
Apparently this new bit of road has been constructed using the finest literary pulp…Romantic Novels.
2,500,000 Mills and Boon novels have been pulped at a recycling firm in south Wales as it helps hold the tarmac and asphalt in place and also acts as a sound absorber and is vital in the construction of roads.
Literatea’s Quote of the Month goes to John Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten formerly of the Sex Pistols and currently in the Aussie Jungle for ITV’s I Was A Famous Person Once So Get Me Out Of Here Already:
“My biggest fear, right, is ticks on the testicles.”
Wise, Mister Rotten, very wise. Although you may want to watch out for leeches, too- they tend to like dark, warm and damp places. Just you read Jurassic Park and you’ll know what I’m talking about…
Today, the 23rd of January 2004 is Handwriting Day.
According to the Writing Instrument Manufacturers Association (WIMA) :
“The purpose of National Handwriting Day is to alert the public to the importance of handwriting, stress the benefits of handwritten communication, promote good penmanship and encourage legible handwriting. National Handwriting Day is a chance for everyone to re-explore the purity and power of handwriting.”
Consider yourselves alerted!
Literatea is involved in an exciting new project- The Big Read’s Big Read*
*not in any way affiliated with any project of a similar name by one of the larger broadcasting agencies
The Big Read’s Big Read will be a series of interviews, crossing culture, genre and time to bring you, the reader (I know you’re out there somewhere, Mrs Billings of 9, Trewin Road, Southend-on-Sea), the thoughts, hopes and general answers to Life’s Big Questions of the Literati.
We thought we’d start with a bang, so enjoy the first in the series by diarist Samuel Pepys.
What name do you go by?
Samuel Pepys
What’s your favourite food?
We dined once at the Bull Head upon the best venison pasty that ever I eat of in my life; and with one dish more, it was the best dinner I ever was at.
Who is your dream date?
Deb Willet- endeed she is mighty pretty; and so pretty, that I find I shall be too much pleased with it, and therefore could be contented as to my judgment, though not to my passion, that she might not come, lest I may be found too much minding her, to the discontent of my wife.
Who is your pop idol?
Dutton’s wife sings very prettily (a mighty fat woman)
What makes you happy?
This day by the blessing of God, my wife and I have been married nine years- but my head being full of business, I did not think of it, to keep it in any extraordinary manner. But bless God for our long lives and loves and health together, which the same God long continue, I wish from my very heart.
If you could have one thing in the world, what would it be?
An interesting sermon- 5th Feb 1660, a stranger preached a poor sermon; 17th Feb 1661, a most tedious, unseasonable, and impertinent sermon by an Irish doctor; 27th April 1662, on board the Swallow in the dock, hear our nave chaplin preach a sad sermon, full of nonsense and false Latin; 21 June 1663, So to church and slept all sermon.
What/who are your biggest influences?
The King seeing me, did come to me in Whitehall, and calling me by name, did discourse with me about the ships in the river; and this is the first time that ever I knew the King did know me personally!
Do you have a recommended read for fans?
Read Cicero’s Second Oracion Against Cataline , which pleased me exceedingly; and more I discern therein then ever I thought was to be found in him. But I perceive it was my ignorance, and that he is as good a writer as ever I read in my life.
Oh dear. Q: What do you call someone who deletes their entire log for the day by pressing the wrong button at the wrong time?
A: A Wally.
I don’t:
* have tales of exciting trips to South America involving billowing skirts
* have anecdotes involving wedding dresses
* anything to relate about youth work
* much to say on current socio-political issues
* much to add about anything
This is a problem when one wishes to write their wiblog.
Honestly.
You know something is sinking into the nation’s subconscious when:
1) you go to the fireworks at Blackheath and about twenty teenagers start shouting “BOGEY’S!” at the top of their voices
2) you go to the Christmas panto and the little boys sitting behind you shout “BOGEY’S!” at the top of their voices every time the wicked queen appears
I guess it’s a new year, and therefore time for resolutions. I therefore resolve to blog at least once per week. I’m sure that even I could find a nibblet of time for that.
Two strange things struck me today.
1) I was in my hometown looking for a new 2004 diary in which to journal. (My boyf suggested this week that I may be overdoing the whole journalling thing by having both a weblog AND a diary. Not true. I’m just a frustrated writer at heart. Or something. Perhaps it means I have a deep-seated yen for the sort of life that is so outthere that it needs to be documented…dunno.)
Anyhoo- there must have been a total of 20 diaries *in the whole town*. Not one of them met my requirements. Does this say something about me or about everyone else?
2) I was in Woolworths and as I walked past the toy section something caught my eye. It was the MacDonald’s golden arches sign. Curious as to why there would be such a strange corporate mixing happening I turned down the aisle and (to my horror) discovered a MACDONALD’S MCICECREAM MCFLURRY MCMAKER. Puh-lease. Do we really need all the tie-in merchandise that we have come to know and love as a generation coming from a large, world establised chain that sells fast food? It looks like the line between our personal lives and the retail/corporate world is blurring faster and further…soon enough there will be no “me” and “everything else”. We’re teaching our children, these poor little millennials who are trying to learn how to be people, that identity doesn’t exist. Everything is the same. McD’s on the High Street in Croyon, McD’s on any street in New York, India, South Africa, Your Toybox….it’s all the same.
We’re breeding a new flat-earth mentality. Beware, corporations! Beware, Parents! Beware, Everyone! One day you’ll wake up and, in true Orwellian style, you won’t be ABLE to go to a boutique to buy something “a bit different”. There won’t BE “a bit different”. There’ll be MacD’s (and tie-in merchandise), Next, the Gap and JD Sports.
So there’s a bit of new year cheer for ya’ll. I think I’ll just finish with an extract from a great book by Douglas Coupland- Microserfs. Don’t tell me you’re not the same…
“Todd, I should add, like many 1990’s people*, equates his self-worth with the number of messages on his phone-answering machine. If the red light’s not blinking…YOU’RE A LOSER.”
*you can, of course sub 2000’s people at this point. Next time you’re at the pub, look at the table and count the number of mobile phones nestling among the pint glasses. And don’t forget your own…