A fashion post

While out shopping with my daughter, we found this. Now like the Chinese painted quail, this begs several questions, the main one being, WHY? What are the appendages for, exactly? (Access is from the inside.)

Here are some suggestions:

1. Long, droopy boobs (obviously). Being wool, they would be kept nice and warm, but retain their characteristic droop.

2. To keep a spare pair of socks. One in each pocket.

3. Newborn twins (though they might suffocate).

4. Your packed lunch.

5. Kittens. People like kittens.

6. In fact anything else you want to keep about your person.

So it (they) could be useful. But attractive? Well, judge for yourself. And guess what. It was in the sale, so the buying public do have some sense. Phew.

(Any ideas/suggestions welcome. I really am bewildered.)

There's always someone worse off...

This is a Chinese painted quail (you see? You're riveted already; admit it). This bird spends most of its time on the ground, which is just as well, since when it takes off, it flies in a straight line until it bumps into something.

This poses one or two interesting questions, the major one being: if this bird is only capable of flying in a straight line, why is it not obsolete? After all, there are only so many times you can bump into things (while flying) without sustaining fatal injuries. Even the dodo didn't fly into things, and look what happened to that.

There. You've learnt something today, haven't you? And I haven't even mentioned the R word.

 You're welcome.

Totally blown away by...

...Gone with the Wind. I read it many years ago, and forgot it all, so I've come back to it fresh. It is a riveting, astonishing, wonderful marathon of a book. I've lived, breathed and dreamed it since starting it nearly three weeks ago (it's very, very long), and will be bereft when I finish it (soon). If you've never read it (and most people I've spoken to say "I've seen the film, but..."), you have a treat in store. It is one of the most amazing books I have ever read, and I think it must rank as one of the best novels ever written (and yes, I have read War and Peace).

I'm already grieving for it, for the end is in sight. Whatever can I read next that will come anywhere near it?

This one's for Adrian

Come on, Adrian. You can make one of these...can't you (works better if you look to one side)? As for me, I don't begin to understand it.

Now, back to work.