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Blessing Ormolu Alarm Clock



That beguiling Blessing Ormolu alarm clock produced in Germany sits right behind my writing chair next to the Thinking Angel Cherub by Rosenthal Classic. If I do not hear its entrancing tick-tock when I am scrawling away I feel as if something were dreadfully wrong. Its timekeeping is like fuel to my creative fingerprints. How very intriguing indeed that little things make such a difference in the mechanics of daily life. How we cannot do without what we are used to. And how it can affect everything around us in more ways than we can possibly imagine.

I had published that couple of days ago on my Facebook wall, and a dear friend Meghna (Vakada) responded to my reflections such –
 
“Time in itself, absolutely, does not exist; it is always relative to some observer or some object. Without a clock I say ‘I do not know the time’. Without matter time itself is unknowable. Time is a function of matter; and matter therefore is the clock that makes infinity real.” – John Fowles, Áristos

The pleasure of having friends who are consumed rather patently by the unquenchable thirst for wisdom is something that adds great lustre to life!


History of Blessing Clock Company

The Blessing Clock Company, or otherwise known as Blessing-Werke AG Company existed in Waldkirsch/Breisgau, Germany, in the mid-eighteenth century up until the nineteenth century. It is believed to shut shop sometime in the year 1977. The timepieces created in their workshop are absolute works of art in filigree ormolu. They were all carved by hand. Once wound, the soft clockwork is magically mesmerising. To find them in working order is a boon. Thankfully mine has kept time since I have had it in my possession.


Photograph has been taken by me on my iPhone 6S Plus. Copying it or distributing it without my prior permission is an unlawful offence. 



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Politeness. Gentleness. Doug. And More...



I observe lately that when you are freshly introduced to somebody they tend normally to exclaim, “What’s up?” and in certain extreme cases, “Sup”. Label me as coming across as most old-fashioned, but I find the resonance of those words tasteless, almost uncouth. Methinks, the correct manner of acknowledgement would be to shake hands rather firmly, and express with a sociable smile – “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Or, “Most delighted to meet you.”

I dare say that politeness and gentleness, as some claim, do not make you appear stuck up or even stiff upper lip. They are manners as rudimentary as foreplay is to orgasm, and alas, such etiquettes have been lost to the shabbiness of existing times.



One must let the world do as it chooses, yet, if one finds that one has fallen a victim to such absurdities, the sensible thing to do would be to re-examine and reclaim your conduct to its former repute. Remember, and always, that it is never too late to make amends, with life, or yourself.

On a somewhat serious note, when struck with self-doubt, do look up Douglas Booth on Twitter @DouglasBooth. He is a refined gentleman. And the world knows that it requires a role model for keeping the bearings of its youth intact. If not anything, idealising Doug will certainly help in setting you back on your path to balance and finesse considering that he is somebody who reflects the evergreen charm of yesterday, today, and not without the genteelness most required for you to manoeuvre the world tomorrow with grace and gallantry.



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Farah Ali Khan by Subi Samuel



Sorrow, says prudence, makes us all children again — destroys all differences of intellect, and when confronted with such circumstances, the wisest know nothing.

My big brother Subi Samuel happens to be a sensational photographer that the world admires for his ingenuity. Couple of days ago he shared something by his friend Farah Ali Khan on his Facebook wall. The message that Farah had inscribed merited a mention here. If I say more it would end up diluting the essence of her words, so I am accompanying it with a snap of Farah that Subi had shot.


My 13-year-old son’s friend in school lost his father yesterday to a heart attack. He further went on to tell me how Ansh had come to school and how they all spoke to him of everything except the incident because they did not want to cause him pain. However, I asked my son to go back to his friend tomorrow and extend his hand and tell him that he knows he is in pain, and if he would like to talk about it to him, he should, because pain expressed is better than pain kept within. I write this post out here so that we all can ask our children to help ease their friend’s pain, whatever the circumstances be. It’s easier to share joy and step away from pain, because we feel we will cause more. But most of the times it makes sense to reach out to the ones in pain for even though they may not say they need help, they do. We all do.”

Farah Ali Khan
14th March 2016
15.49






Disclaimer

The image copyright belongs to Subi Samuel and Subi Samuel Photography. Copying/Distributing/Forwarding/Printing/Sharing (electronically or otherwise) of the image without prior written permission from Subi Samuel is an unlawful offence.




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A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN



To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA, and thus, to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up ‘revocation’ in the Oxford English Dictionary.)

Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘colour,’ ‘favour,’ ‘labour’ and ‘neighbour.’ Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters, and the suffix ‘-ize’ will be replaced by the suffix ‘-ise.’ Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (Look up ‘vocabulary’).

2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as “like’ and ‘you know’ is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter ‘u” and the elimination of ‘-ize.’

3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you are not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you cannot sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you are not ready to shoot grouse.

5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although, a permit will be required if you so wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth – see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one’s ears removed with a cheese grater.

11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game, which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It has been driving us mad.

14. An internal revenue agent (i.e., tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4PM with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

God Save America!
Oops, the error is regretted.
The Queen will save America!




The author(s) of this hilarious message is unknown. The message appears to have evolved from numerous authors over time. I have tidied up some slips and added adequate punctuation wherever required. The closing three phrases are mine as well. 



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