Currently, in law. Earlier, in history. Ah, the joys and the terrors of divided loyalties!storeynicholas wrote:. . . . And what is your work?
Collecting interesting antique canes, sticks and umbrellas
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storeynicholas
Well, my wife and I gave up our jobs early to come here to live and write. In the last year she has sold two books and I have sold one but am writing more. It wouldn't have been possible without cutting the cord - and we intensely disliked the way the UK is going from the over-development of the countryside to the stalinist control. PUT AN H IN CORD THE FIRST TIME OBVIOUSLY I NEED A GOOD EDITOR!!!
Hey, I once spelt an initial section of a manuscript as "forward" and didn't catch the error for months.storeynicholas wrote:. . . . PUT AN H IN CORD THE FIRST TIME OBVIOUSLY I NEED A GOOD EDITOR!!!
The same factors that disappointed you with the future of England are at work in America. I, too, consider the possibility of cutting the c[h]ord: but how could I pay tailor and shoemaker if I did?
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storeynicholas
The worst spelling bloomer that I have come across is one that could not really be corrected. The great comic actor, Ian Carmichael, starred in a film called 'Brothers in Law', about lawyers, and gave someone associated with the film a silver cup engraved with the word 'Council' instead of 'Counsel' - which brings me on to something slightly different: the office of the Privy Council specifies that members should describe themselves as 'Councillors', rather than 'Counsellors'; although, if you look in the OED, the spellings have had a chequered history.
How would you survive, sartorially, if you moved? The answer lies in the question of how much you already have and how much you actually need. In Brazil hardly anyone, hardly wears anything much at all and I am set for life with the clothes which I have; although I have to check them frequently for signs of mould; generated by the sea spray and warm air. As I sit and write this, at the close of play of the local Carnaval, I am just wearing swimming shorts and a pair of comfortable plastic sandals, which I bought in Buzios for = US$ 5; so, no need to worry. It's nice to have well made things but, at the end of the day, if I needed to go back to Blighty for something important and, in default of already having something appropriate, I'd just have what I needed made for the occasion: it's the knowledge that's far more important than the things themselves. However, there are, I believe, jobs out here (although you'd need better Portuguese than mine) and also in many nice hot places, where English is spoken, but stalinist control is either spent or doesn't stand a chance of taking a hold.
However, I am reminded now of an advert on English TV a few years ago, for some long-term investment. A man is running through the jungle of his own private island and the viewer is led to believe that he is in just his birthday suit; the commentary goes something like: age 20 get readymade suit; age 25 get made to measure; age 30 get bespoke suit; age 45 burn suit! - which despite all that I know about it (an accumulation of knowledge from my earliest years, encouraged by my paternal grand-father (who wouldn't even go into the garden without a hat)), I am afraid is an angle which I fully understand. Maybe this is a surprise and a seeming contradiction - but I am 48 years old and maybe you haven't got to that stage yet but you probably will!! Moreover, any spare cash from now on will go to my children or, spare over that, to Water Aid - a charity that for GB£1,000 can build a well which serves 500 people denied drinking water; bar a several mile walk; lugging it around like beasts of burden.
best,
Nicholas.
How would you survive, sartorially, if you moved? The answer lies in the question of how much you already have and how much you actually need. In Brazil hardly anyone, hardly wears anything much at all and I am set for life with the clothes which I have; although I have to check them frequently for signs of mould; generated by the sea spray and warm air. As I sit and write this, at the close of play of the local Carnaval, I am just wearing swimming shorts and a pair of comfortable plastic sandals, which I bought in Buzios for = US$ 5; so, no need to worry. It's nice to have well made things but, at the end of the day, if I needed to go back to Blighty for something important and, in default of already having something appropriate, I'd just have what I needed made for the occasion: it's the knowledge that's far more important than the things themselves. However, there are, I believe, jobs out here (although you'd need better Portuguese than mine) and also in many nice hot places, where English is spoken, but stalinist control is either spent or doesn't stand a chance of taking a hold.
However, I am reminded now of an advert on English TV a few years ago, for some long-term investment. A man is running through the jungle of his own private island and the viewer is led to believe that he is in just his birthday suit; the commentary goes something like: age 20 get readymade suit; age 25 get made to measure; age 30 get bespoke suit; age 45 burn suit! - which despite all that I know about it (an accumulation of knowledge from my earliest years, encouraged by my paternal grand-father (who wouldn't even go into the garden without a hat)), I am afraid is an angle which I fully understand. Maybe this is a surprise and a seeming contradiction - but I am 48 years old and maybe you haven't got to that stage yet but you probably will!! Moreover, any spare cash from now on will go to my children or, spare over that, to Water Aid - a charity that for GB£1,000 can build a well which serves 500 people denied drinking water; bar a several mile walk; lugging it around like beasts of burden.
best,
Nicholas.
We've strayed so far from the initial theme that we probably ought to remove the dialogue to PMs; but I'll give a thumbnail of a reply, Nicholas.
I was jesting regarding tailor and shoemaker, though I would prefer to make my wardrobe a bit more ample before a major change. Were I to leave, I'd certainly look for a milder climate. Brazil, though, appears too moist, too rough, too unstable for my own taste. The southern cone does beckon. The questions are how long I can resist (were I to move, I'd very much like to write: history, perhaps, more likely novels and poetry) and, frankly, whether I could sustain myself there without falling back into a work-aholic routine.
I was jesting regarding tailor and shoemaker, though I would prefer to make my wardrobe a bit more ample before a major change. Were I to leave, I'd certainly look for a milder climate. Brazil, though, appears too moist, too rough, too unstable for my own taste. The southern cone does beckon. The questions are how long I can resist (were I to move, I'd very much like to write: history, perhaps, more likely novels and poetry) and, frankly, whether I could sustain myself there without falling back into a work-aholic routine.
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