The black cat reads voraciously, leaping from book to book, seeking always to lose herself in the pages.... What to read next? What to choose from the piles beside the chairs? Holidays measured by the days spent reading, evenings saved from the wasteland of television by stories spun in the imagination.
Rosemary, this is for you. This is the Richmond Birdwing butterfly. I fell in love with it a million years ago when I belonged to a Science Club and we raised money to save its habitat. We sold t shirts and I've still got mine, with a very faded print on the front (and a hole where I caught it on something in the garden). Here's another picture, this time a REAL one.......
Today is so wet underfoot that most of my day has been spent inside, or dashing between raindrops to get under cover (when I did venture out to replenish the pantry shelves). So its inside, heater on, draught stopper against the door, papers spread out on the table........ Thirteen things I have read today are......... 1. The Age, dated Tuesday 11th June, because I forgot it was in the bottom of my basket 2. a business card to check whether a missed call was the person I thought it might have been 3. a recipe book to check ingredients for biscuits I'm making for a friend 4. a text on my phone 5. a letter informing me that I've been called to jury service in a week or two 6. the blurb on the back of a book I cant remember buying 7. The Age, dated Wednesday 12th June, because I knew it was there but I hadn't read the edition from the day before 8. some facebook posts from my friends 9. the list of ingredients on a package 10. my shopping list in the supermarket 11. today's edition of The Age 12. my holiday itinerary 13. a blog post which reminded me that today is Thursday ...and the day is only half way through. But the biscuits are baked and the house smells wonderful, the rain continues to fall, and that new book beckons.
Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure
in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts
and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without
monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help
bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then
work through to gain a better sense of self.
That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. I say ... and you think ... ?
After this morning's exercise........13 things about walking
1. walk with a friend 2. keep to the left 3. remember to take water 4. .....and a raincoat 5. don't get between a waterbird and its favourite puddle 6. stop and take in the view 7. look out for bicyclists on a shared path 8. b-r-e-a-t-h-e 9. take the alternative route every other day 10. listen 11. avoid piles of duck poo 12. bring a hankie 13. .....and don't forget which pocket the car keys are in.
Rosemary, this is for you. This is the Richmond Birdwing butterfly. I fell in love with it a million years ago when I belonged to a Science Club and we raised money to save its habitat. We sold t shirts and I've still got mine, with a very faded print on the front (and a hole where I caught it on something in the garden). 
