Today I'm off to Africa. Not literally (travel of that kind isn't on the cards for, I predict, I fear, a long, long time) but visually. Sent to me from the wonderful C, a plastic package of postage stamps from the African continent.
Beautiful stamps, some only marginally bigger than my thumb nail, from the Republique Autonome du Togo and surrounds. And from the Republique de Dahomey, a little educational lesson about the do's and don't when it comes to the wildlife... it's best not to get in the path of a lion.
My little dally through Africa (with one of these tucked under my arm) was just the ticket. (Thanks again, C.)
And, now for some mid week collages... no African stamps in there yet, but shortly, my friends, shortly. In due course, they'll appear, I promise.
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And for all those waiting for my oft promised, potentially fantastical invention, the seemingly simple Wire Time Trap - progress has sadly halted due in part to a spanner in the works and a shortage of time. Rest assured, I'm still working on it. In the meantime might I suggest you make like a flâneur and employ a turtle on a leash in order to set your pace a little slower. It may not be ideal however it's sure to generate conversation. So make like the "idle man-about-town" and see what eventuates.
As a flâneur in my own home, minus the tortoise (my menagerie is far too large and too far out of control to withstand a new addition), I was fortunate enough to see a single white feather floating down from the rooftop above. An earlier, unseen skirmish on the roof had taken place between a cat and, so it would now seem, a pigeon. One lightly floating feather landing at my feet to the sounds of many dogs barking in the distance.
Mid week links to keep travel on the mind:
The Travellers of Europe, with Improvements and Additions, published in 1852. "Five players take the parts of The Travellers, who are from different nations, Austria, Sweden, Russia, Prussia and England. They must make their way to their respective capital cities each starting from a different city in Africa, or on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. They play with a teetotum or spinner with four sides marked N, S, E, W representing the directions they must move in. The game was first published in 1852 and the rules booklet that goes with this game is dated 1849, making it earlier than the game itself."
Things Magazine for links to Invisible Cities, fictional cities and even the Map of Mongo.
Become a flâneur:
Saunter, stroll, dawdle.
Loiter, linger.
Happy strolling and (please) be sure to send me a postcard along the way...
