Emily Cat 176

It's Wednesday and that means poetry.  Today l have a German poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. I believe that poetry is a universal language and you can find wonderful poems in so many countries.  I know that I'm enjoying my research.  Next week I'm thinking of maybe looking at Japan, or maybe Czechoslovakia.  What would you like to hear? Can you recommend any poets from your country.  Let's start a conversation. 

I saw this film/documentary on Friday.  It was very confronting.  Now, l  will admit that l am a vegetarian who is fast becoming a vegan but, l do accept that other people are not.  You may be asking yourself why l am telling you that about myself when I'm talking about a film. It's because this film lays bare the damage that over fishing , and big trawlers do when they rake their nets along the seabed.  Whole ecosystems are left baren like moonscapes. There is no hyperbole or graphics used. Cameras were mounted on nets and showed exactly what happens when they use them. The film also shows the magnificence of the world below. It also talks about solutions that include sustainable fishing. It really was a wonderful film/documentary. If you get the chance to see please do. Can l also say thank you to David Attenborough for all that he has given to the world over his very long life. He's 99 years old now and, as he says coming to the end of his life his wish is th...

 I have said before that l mainly listen to audiobooks these days and often l listen to more than one at a time. I dip in and out depending on my mood. Recently l borrowed a book from borrow box by M C Beaton. I was expecting a cozy English mystery and it has been all that and more. For some reason l thought these books were written in 1920s and had been written by a man. Boy, was l wrong.  M C Beaton is one of the pen names of Marion Chesney. She was Scottish and began writing the Agatha Raisin novels in 1992.  A spoonful of poison came out in 2008. That explains the modern phrases l was hearing.  Marion Chesney 1936-2019. The latest book to come out is the 35th in the series and was published in 2024. Of course, Marion didn't write this one; R W Green did. Yet another case of someone else using the characters created by a deceased aauthor.Its a trend these days to continue on with characters long after the author has died.  So that's my story about M C Beaton....

I am reciting poems from all over the world and this is the first poem from Bolivia.   As you can see Donald the Cat had other ideas and just had to make an appearance.  If there are any countries you would like me to look at let me know. Poetry is a language all around the globe and l never want it to die out. That's why l recite a poem every Wednesday.  Hope you enjoy.

 I went and saw an exhibition by Yayoi Kusama recently. This exhibition has been so popular and was coming to the end of it's run. I went on one of the final days and it was still crowded.  This is what l saw as soon as l entered the  door A personal message to my city. It put a smile on my face. This is a photo of the artist as a young child.  She grew up in Japan,  left and lived in America for a time before returning to live in Japan after her father died.  Can l say how much l liked her work. She uses a lot of dots along with very interesting art forms. She is also known for her collection of pumpkins. Just think of the patience needed for the piece below. It was an impressive body of work and l could have shown so many more photos.  There were also some short films too. The dots were a repeating pattern, but, l never tired of looking at them. Yayoi as she is today.  She is in her 90s now and I consider her a living treasure.    ...

I received 2 book recommendations this week. I was talking to someone who told me about what they had been reading.   Now, l admit, l don't read much anymore. I bought 2 books with me as l started this block of house sitting and l have to admit that l haven't even looked at them. It has been a busy week and l am doing different travelling. It is so much easier to listen to audiobooks rather than carry around books that get heavier and heavier as the day progresses.  Tomorrow is the last day for this first house, but, l am coming back next week so l will leave these books here. Hopefully I will read them.. Now, back to the recommendations.  They were for 2 books by different authors.  Charles Todd is one and l have to admit that l haven't heard of him before.  The book is called A fatal lie. The other book is called The ghost orchid and it is written by Jonathan Kellerman.  It got me thinking; I've never read any of Kellerman's books. I've heard the nam...