Brian's Reflection: Wednesday, May 12, 2010

There was a Young Lady of Bute,
Who played on a silver-gilt flute;
She played several jigs,
To her uncle's white pigs,
That amusing Young Lady of Bute.

Edward Lear, English landscape
painter & poet, born on this date,
1812


After my 60th birthday party in Canada, Dennis and I flew to Scotland. We stayed in Glasgow with a delightful woman, a friend of a dear friend – and what a gracious hostess she was! We are most grateful for Jessica’s warmth and hospitality.

One day Jessica suggested a trip to the Isle of Bute – and off we went. A lovely train journey, and then the ferry to Bute. It was a delightful place, homey, with grand bakeries that had several of my childhood favourites: Empire Biscuits, Fern Tarts. Afterwards we wandered the streets – and came across a little antique shop. There we found one of our favourite vices: a key-wind chiming clock, mantle style, with a charming quarter-hour ring, and the hours. From the 40’s. Of course we had to haul it back as hand luggage – but it was worth the trouble, and its chime delights us.

Life needs delight. It makes me sad to think of all the people in this World who live dreary, limited, or even worse miserable lives. Especially when very simple serendipitous moments can so delight the spirit – like limericks! And I think of all the people who could do something – politicians, wealthy folk – to make the lives of their fellow-countrymen better, but who pander only to their own desires for wealth and power.

There are simple ways to delight people. I can’t think of a better way to spend one’s Life.

Here’s a delight: one of Lear’s paintings, called Corfu




Brian+