A black cat in Montmartre

In the old days, Montmartre was the end of some Metro lines. “Direction Montmartre”. Not any more. It’s actually hard to find the appropriate station to go to “Matha’s hill”. I recommend Lamarck-Caulaincourt. No stairs, just walk up from the back. (The first half of this post has just been wiped out by WP. Grrr.…

My Lord Buddha and the elephant

“What is your name, my son?” “My name is Philip, my Lord. Man calls me Tembo, the elephant.” “Where do you come from, my son Philip? You do not look like your cousins from here.” “I was born in Tsavo my Lord Buddha. In what Man calls Africa. My family was born here for thousands…

A morning walk Paris

Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois. This pretty little church sits at the side of the Louvre. Though the oldest standing part dates back to the 12th century, there was a church there as early as the 6th century. It is often closed, for lack of personnel but well worth visiting. No queues. Adam and Eve at Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois.…

The Red Lord

I am the High Lord, Red is my colour, Hatred my word, I have no honour. I am the red Lord Sweet is the song of blood Quick is my sword Slaughter, massacre and flood Are my trade. To no end, Mercy you bade. I am the last fiend. Terror is your fate Carnage my…

Pot-pourri in colours

Red. Cuernavaca. Easter 2019. Beige. (Fallen) angels, Cachivaches, Bogotá, December 2017. Blue. Breaking news: “Where has Theresa May(be) been (hiding) in the past few weeks? Some sources in Blackburn, Lancashire put her on holiday. But no. She has eloped with Macron. Brigitte is reportedly devastated.” Terre de sienne. Amboseli National park, Kenya, 1988. Azul. Mexico…

Wildlife then.

Wildlife is under a death sentence everywhere. Those giraffes (and ostrich, look closely) I saw in Kenya in 1969, fifty years ago (!) are being snared by poachers. What for? For giraffe hair bracelets? To turn their skin into a carpet? Pointless. As a teen, I was fortunate enough to see the last of the…

King Quake

  Super quake, Saint Tremor, King Tremor, Great Earthfreak. Riftmaker. Great splitter, terror of the CuauhtĂ©moc Earthly indigestion, urban rattle.   Thirty years ago, in Eighty-five, From Acapulco to the District We felt your fury, O King of the Quakes.   Today along the city streets Between car and tortilla fumes, The rumour spreads in…

A morning walk, Bangkok

Security guard at the Palace. The pay is good but the uniform heavy. Glamour. Commuting. Bangkok art and culture museum.   War. 1914. 1939. The centre has very fine modern art and had an expo with photos of the late King Bhumibol, who was a keen photographer. The delicacy of Wat Arun temple. The Jim…