'A Bracelet at Tiffany's ...'

A lady walks into Tiffany's. She browses around and spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to look more closely, she breaks wind.

Very embarrassed she glances around to see if anyone has noticed her little accident.

As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her.

Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady with, 'Good day, Madam. How may we help you today?'

Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her little 'accident', she asks, 'Sir, what is the price of this lovely bracelet?'

He answers, 'Madam, if you farted just looking at it, you're going to shit yourself when I tell you the price.'

Lotus or Lily Feet - Foot Binding ( 纏 足) in China

I'd just pigged out on a heavy beef comfort food stew - it's winter and yesterday the coldest of the year - and was wandering around the living room when my gaze fell happily on a little pair of highly embroidered ladies shoes bought in China in the late C19 by my great aunt Mimi.

My Great Aunt Mimi (centre, front row) at the time of traveling the world in the late C19

Great Aunt Mimi was absolutely the most cheerful, out-going and positive adult I have ever known. She had no conspicuous abilities or talents - just an enormous sense of delight in life and an uncomplicated unguarded openness with people.

My strongest memory is of her teaching me, in the 1960's at the age of three or four, the song 'Little Brown Jug' with a loving affection and an endless enthusiasm I remember to this day. Her merriness was irresistibly infectious.

My Great Aunt Mimi in her 90's - I knew her in the 1960's, I was 3 or 4

My great aunt never married. She left the family home ...

My Great Aunt Mimi - Standing in white

... to live with one of her nine brothers - till he married.

Then she established her own household.

And took an extended Grand Tour of the world. Not only to the the usual stations of the cross - Paris, Rome and London - but through the Far East, India and China. She was not at all short on courage! And all this journey-ing with a glass eye.

I have always thought of Mimi when I noticed the little Chinese shoes in the various places they have occupied in the places I've lived.

Though I only became fully aware of the accompanying horrors they meant for the wearer as a teenager.

The practice of foot-binding developed in China in the C9 primarily as a symbol of wealth - lotus-footed persons did not require the mobility needed by working people.


Binding began between three and six years of age ...


... to achieve the optimally beautiful and ideal adult lily foot of three inches.

The practice became illegal after 1949 in New China, though it continued in outlying provinces into the 1960's.


The shoes themselves are often beautiful when viewed as works of handicraft. The first two below are deliciously fanciful examples of children's shoes. And the remainder, shoes for adults reflecting varying degrees of wealth.











When I was living in China, you still used to see older women who had undergone foot-binding (not my photos below).



I found this quite good Chinese documentary on the subject, if you'd like a bit more.

'Nick's Music' Blog - Up and Running Again

After issues with clips failing to play and smirkingly informing me 'This video is no longer available', all now appear to be working.

And have over 50 videos posted!

So I'll keep posting and see what happens!

I'm gunna be looking for gay focussed clips, like 'Back to You' ...

Enjoy guys

Music Video - Adam Rickett 'I Breathe Again'

This is a great 90's dance music clip - with a pretty compelling visual.


The backing sound reminds a bit of the Pet Shop Boys.

Newton's Third Law of Motion

Newton's Third Law of Motion states 'For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction'.

No further comment!

Though perhaps TWO complaints could be made to the RSPCS - the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Skateboards and Skateboarders.

Cesaria Evora - 'Besame Mucho'

cesaria evora besame mucho 2004(live)
Uploaded by tblogosphere

Pigeon Sashimi!

Reckon I prefer I bit of in-the-oven-work before downing my pigeon! Or a lot.



But each to his own I guess!

Some New Children's Book Titles, Not

Here are some new children's books you may not be seeing in your local bookstore in the near future.




Though you might find them in the Adult Section of the store - in brown paper dust covers!

Artificially Breeding Super Cute Pandas in China

At the Sichuan Wolong Panda Protection and Breeding Centre in China, there are currently 16 super super cute baby pandas being reared in their artificial breeding program.





Sorry to fall into cliche and hyperbole, but ain't that the cutest group photograph you've seen in a long long time!

Dorothy Parker Encore - A 'Combination of Little Nell and Lady Macbeth'

To be quite honest, Dorothy Parker is one of the very very few writers who make me roar out with laughter - loud and long:

Oh, life is a glorious cycle of song
A medley of extemporanea
And love is a thing that can never go wrong
And I am Marie of Romania.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

'Dear Mary, We all knew you had it in you!' (Telegram to a friend who'd just given birth)

On being told of Calvin Coolidge's death, Dorothy Parker remarked - 'How do they know?'

I love a martini
but two at the most
Three, I'm under the table;
Four I'm under the host.

The earlier post - 'Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) - A Blog Writer Icon' - was on 5 November 2007. If you want a few more belly laughs.