Wednesday October 14th 2009
Click on image to zoom inA lot of people believe that provenance is a very important thing. No more so than in the food and drink sector. That’s why other countries fight so hard to stop rivals stealing their unique food and drink heritage. Put simply their argument is ”if it’s not made here its not the genuine article”. So what a spectacularly sad day it was when Scottish & Newcastle announced yesterday that it is shifting production to Tadcaster, North Yorkshire.
Some drinkers have already vowed to boycott the world-famous brand. I think I’ll just get some in while I still know it’s the real thing.
Tuesday October 13th 2009
Click on image to zoom inI didn’t realise that when the most powerful person in the world moves into the most famous house on the planet he (or in this case his missus) gets a trolley dash round America’s art institutions in order to pick up a few pieces to brighten the place up a bit. However that is indeed what happens and the First Lady has chosen a very untraditional mix of great art to impress the other world leaders when they’re over for tea. I particularly like the Ed Ruscha she’s chosen. Check out the words on the canvas:
”Maybe yes …wait a minute…on second thought…maybe no.” Perhaps it’s to remind the President what reactions he can expect from the Republicans as he tries to persuade them that leaving people with no healthcare cover is actually a bad thing.
Sunday September 20th 2009
I’m working on an idea for a book. And as part of my research I’ve been delving into the life of Sir James Young Simpson.
Simpson was a medical man concerned about the pain patients suffered (especially in child birth) and made it his mission to find a drug that would enable him to alleviate that pain. So, in the fine traditions of Victorian doctors he experimented on himself and his assistants first. On the evening of 4th November 1847 Simpson and his guinea pigs met as usual at his home, to inhale potential new anaesthetics. They took turns trying out the latest possibility, chloroform. In two minutes they were under the dining room table. (Sounds like a particularly good party). Meanwhile his poor wife, her sister and a niece were watching on in horror. If the men inhaled too much it would kill them.
Simpson came round first and declared, “this is far better and stronger than ether, it will turn the world upside down”
What it actually did was start an unholy row with the Scottish church. They declared that he was interfering with the “divine plan” and that by artificially putting people to sleep they were making it easier for “the dark powers” to overwhelm them. And they were especially furious that Simpson was trying to save women from the pain of childbirth, quoting Genesis-:
“In sorrow thou shalt bring forth children”.
Simpson fired back his own quote from Genesis:
“And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept, and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof.”
Luckily the overwhelming response was in favour of Simpson and when Queen Victoria used chloroform during the delivery of Prince Leopold then its use was no longer in question.
Simpson’s brave/mad experiments took place at his home at 52 Queen Street in Edinburgh. Pop down there and you’ll see a plaque on the outside wall which reads “Sir James young Simpson lived in this house from 1845 to 1870 and in 1847 discovered the anaesthetic power of chloroform."
Now, turn your attention to the plaque by the door, which reveals the present occupants of the house. Their plaque reads “Church of Scotland. Simpson house.” Wonder if anyone even realises the irony?
Monday August 31st 2009
Click on image to zoom inI’m quite disappointed that Britain seems to be rushing out of recession (it isn’t, obviously, but certain players in the financial sector want us to believe it so the bonus culture can return, and the housing sector are very keen for us all to believe our houses are soaring in value again).
Obviously I’m feeling the pinch as much as everyone else and will be delighted to see clients feeling confident enough to start spending again (and re hiring their staff again). But what has been nice is the return to simpler values. Make do and mend, women buying new lipsticks rather than new dresses (so L’Oreal said in the press this weekend), rediscovering ways to have fun without actually having to spend (much) money. Staycations (Britain is a great country to holiday in) I think all this has added up to a sense of “we’re all in this together”.
And as you can see from this enormous crop, grow your own is big. And just at the time that the supermarkets are predicting the death of organic fruit and veg because of the cost it’s ironic that a lot of households are discovering for themselves just how good it tastes. And all for a packet of seeds.
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