Update, Sophocles, ACR, Smithy
May 3 2024 - I'm back
Lucia Tallová was born in 1985 in Bratislava, Slovakia. She is a well-established author of the young generation in the Slovak scene, a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts, Department of Painting.
Update
My wife is unwell, my mother fell over and is in hospital recovering from a broken hip1 and one of my two dogs, Smithy, died…so I’ve not written any posts.
This is short update on the many and various things that have caught my attention recently.
Why am I even doing this?
F.L. Lucas from Journal Under the Terror (1938)
Suffolk Summer
My grand project for the next twelve months is to follow in the footsteps of one John Tate Appleby of the US Eighth Air Force who was based at an airfield in Suffolk. Appleby spent most of 1945 stationed in Suffolk and on his leave days he cycled through the countryside, exploring the villages and churches, talking to everyone he met and gradually falling in love with the county. He kept a journal at the time and eventually published it under the title Suffolk Summer.
My intention is to attempt to cycle on the same days as he, follow his route and see what has changed in the 80 years since that summer in Suffolk.
Books
I recently completed the Oedipus Trilogy of Sophocles the great Greek playwright from 400BC. The trilogy is comprised of Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone. I really can’t recommend these plays highly enough, they are ‘easy’ to read and the subject matter and lessons are still very much relevant.
I’m looking forward to continuing with my exploration of the classics of antiquity, Virgil’s The Aeneid is next on the list.
Music
The new A Certain Ratio album is superb, hard to believe they have been make groovy sounds since the late 70s, labelmates with Joy Division but much lesser known. Post-punk funk at its best.
Smithy
Smithy, Smith, Smit, Smithson, Smithsonian, The Smifter. A good dog. He liked squirrels and sausages. Walked his own way. Much missed.
She returning home today, thank god!
Well written as always, Martin. I’m glad your mum is home, best wishes to the missus, sympathies about Smithy, I know you loved him well. See you soon I hope, stay strong! ✊
Your literary cycling trip sounds grand. Are the roads still kind for bikes? Did you ever read HG Well's Wheels of Chance? It is also a cycling trip (a pursuit to rescue a woman from a cad). I wonder if retracing that could be a reasonable project for me to add to your calendar. Thanks in advance!