A deliciously idle day, I’m afraid. I’ve worked peacefully
on weaving in Dathan ends. I’m within about a foot of the finish, and tomorrow’s
rugby should see it done.
For tomorrow is Calcutta Cup day. It used always to be at the end of the tournament, but now they just slip it in any old where. Alexander and his family don’t come over for it any more – there is an unpleasant edge to it nowadays. They’ll be here later on for Scotland v. France. That one’s always fun.
Still, the Calcutta Cup is the Calcutta Cup. I always plan the celebration knitting, although I am not often called upon to do it. This year, I think, a Fair Isle vest for my niece C (Manaba’s baby’s grandmother). Or with sleeves, if she’d prefer. So if the improbable happens tomorrow, I won’t even need that package from Jamieson’s for a while.
Reading
I’ve finished the Finzi-Continis. It’s good, to the end. I then wanted something light and went, by mistake, for The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club (Sayers, early Wimsey). She allows her murderer to take the Gentleman’s Way Out and blow his brains out. I don’t approve, in a purportedly Christian writer, although it was not uncommon in murderers of that era.
Looking it up, I was pleased to see that Waugh’s “Decline and Fall” was published in the same year. In that work, Captain Grimes, as I remember, when they left him with a pistol and some invigorating whiskey, just got drunk. Waugh was a serious Christian. Do read it, if you haven’t.
I’m now reading a late Montalbano in Italian. There’s lots of dialect, but it’s manageable if taken at a running jump.
Thank you for posting all the photos...your knitting is lovely!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love all the pictures. I'm not a great rugby (or any sport) enthusiast, but if I start watching it is very addictive!
ReplyDeleteBecause the world is too much with me right now, I have been rereading Dorothy Sayers including The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club. It was okay. Just finished Busman's Honeymoon which was more enjoyable but with more marital psychology ca 1937.
ReplyDeleteI too am revisiting Sayers and LPW. I have a 30 plus drive each way now to work and am listening to Ian Carmichael. I have read all of the books and find it interesting to listen. Started with SP and now am doing Nine Tailors. One of my favorite. Carmichael is really good at the character voices. I do love listening to him. Even though I think Petherbridge was more my ideal LPW. And of course Walters brought out the prickliness and hurt of Harriet an inspired casting. Anyway. I am unpacking after a second move in two years and was arranging my Sayers In order and am intrigued at the spacing between the quartet of Vane Wimsey books.
DeleteFingers crossed for Scotland!
ReplyDeleteI like what you said about taking Montalbano at a running jump. I generally get bogged down in looking things up when reading in another language and if that gets too onerous I end up giving up. How much better to keep at it even if you don't get every word.
ReplyDelete