Thursday, August 30, 2012

Solid as a ...

Words are funny things. I was reading this morning that it was the anniversary of Prince Charles and Lady Diana's divorce only a few days ago - and was thinking that there was a marriage that was rocky ... and then wondered how "rock" and "rocky" could have such divergent meanings - if something is "rock solid" then it is a world and a half away from being "rocky".

Thursday, August 09, 2012

In the moment

It's amazing that we can so easily miss things. Driving in to work this morning (or, more precisely, the coffee shop I go to before I go to work) I noticed the sky was starting to get a pink glow - what does that mean? I know there's that old rhyme - red sky at night = shepherd's delight; red sky at morning = shepherds take warning. But why? Is it rain? Cold? Heat? Alien abduction? Something else? The red sky did come - and as I took out the iPhone to take a photograph, I had to wait for the "updating database" which was taking so long I changed to the native camera application - more time gone - and then so was the colour in the sky. Missed it - the photograph anyway - but at least I noticed it was there. And wondered how much of the colour was because of volcanic ash drifting across from New Zealand following the eruption on the North Island.

Friday, August 03, 2012

Settle ...

I don't know about anyone else but I feel a little sorry for Australia's Olympic Contenders. There has been some talk recently about the young lass who didn't manage Gold and was distraught about placing second. They even called off a press conference because she was too upset. So, since when has coming second been such a crushing defeat? Well, as we all know, no-one who goes to the Olympics wants to come second ... but, of course, there can only be one winner and it depends on their performance on the day. And while it's disappointing not to win, it seems that the media could help by not fuelling discontent over placing rather than winning by saying things like: he had to settle for second! Settle? Settle? What are they thinking?