Second Thoughts

This is not "second thoughts" in the sense of having doubts about the wisdom of this venture - although of course I have doubts - but is a natural continuation from the title of the first post. I may not proceed to "Third Thoughts" - perhaps something more eloquent for then - but I reserve the right to revert to this titling at random.

I made an impulsive journey to Cowes the other day, or as impulsive as one can be while depending on a means to cross The Solent. I think deep down it was an attempt to recapture my seafaring days, but the fare was significantly higher than it was all those years ago. While my shipmates at the time could boast of their exploits sailing the seven seas, they often joked about me sailing the Seven Sisters. They were not renowned for their jokes. Nor for their sailing. Anyway, the destination reminded me of the Proverbial Farmer Giles, for that is how we referred to him down on his farm. He often recounted his milking exploits over a pint or two of scrumpy down at the Proverbial Village Pub, because that was what was written on the sign swinging gently on its rusty hinges. One of his favourites was the time he had his new-fangled electric milking apparatus repaired by the blacksmith, so-called because he was not very good and often got himself burnt on account of not fully understanding electricity. On this occasion, his improvised re-wiring meant that the machine was on "blow" rather than "suck", with humourous consequences for Daisy who rose slowly to the roof of the barn as she inflated. Daisy the Dirigible was a sight to behold. Anyway, her fame spread far and wide and she became a popular part of various pantomimes over the years, so no hard feelings.

Anyway, the moral of this story is that to err is human, but to forgive is bovine.

First Thoughts

I think it was Aristotle who said that we are best described by what we do most. I owe my existence to sheep, for what is a shepherd without sheep? This is the kind of thinking that keeps me awake at night after I have been counting sheep all day. I live a kind of paradoxical life.

I leave you with the first of my re-workings, from that great French philosopher Irene Haycartes - "I think, therefore I lamb".