The Corner House

A bit of bitching going on tonight.
A few belated birthday phone-calls. My lovely gay boys all singing 'Happy Birthday' down the phone to me.
Then Delphine, who was really sorry she'd forgotten but Clare had mentioned it was my birthday during a phone-call. Did Clare ring me or send a card? No.
Clare antagonizes people. Her and Delphine were the best of friends, once. Clare likes victims and Delphine stands up to her.
So I rang Clare. Why, I don't know.
She's lording it immediately, best pseudo-Edinburgh accent, mentioning the profit she's made on her new flat, her day-trip to Brussells, her new wireless laptop and a lot of talk about Tops, her lodger's cat. I mean, it might have been accidental but I don't want to hear too much about other cats, not just yet.
I said how I was really happy. Which I am. I just love my course. She couldn't understand. And, she's apperently been making snidy remarks to Delphine about how I won't fit in and I'll be too old to get a holiday job.
Then she wanted to know if I fancied going to the Canary Island for Christmas?
I mean, I've already explained how frugal I've got to be for the next three years. How can I afford Xmas in the Canaries? She is so lacking in empathy and imagination.
The only reason she wants me to spend Christmas with her is because her man will be with his kids and she doesn't get on with them.
Bonnie knows what she's like.
'Forget her, how did your lectures go today?'
Clare didn't ask me one thing about how my course was going.
Fabulous.
'Critical theory is making a lot more sense now' I told Bonnie. Her late husband was an expert on Critical Theory. Tom deserves his own post. Eventually.
'Yes,' I was warming to it, 'You know, I remember an old flatmate of mine. Years ago. Thought she was so intelligent. Going on about how she was really into Russian Formulism. That'll be me next. Yes, casually introducing Russian Formulism into the conversation....'
'Oh, for fuck's sake. Make us some Horlicks'!
Wozzat? Did someone in the blogosphere mention pearls and swine?

There was a rainbow yesterday. Pure Disney.
Gabriella cooked dinner - roast pork, brown rice with vegetables plus broccoli. Delicious and very healthy.
Ian grumbling. 'It's like living with three mothers and two wives'.
Bonnie disputed this 'Three mothers?'
Yes.
The third one being Fizz, the dog.

A post for whoknows and menhir.
I could have picked one with more Scottish words in but I like this.
Thanks for comments on Scottish vocabulary.

Sweet Afton
1791
Type: Poem

Flow gently, sweet Afton! amang thy green braes,
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

Thou stockdove whose echo resounds thro' the glen,
Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den,
Thou green-crested lapwing thy screaming forbear,
I charge you, disturb not my slumbering Fair.

How lofty, sweet Afton, thy neighbouring hills,
Far mark'd with the courses of clear, winding rills;
There daily I wander as noon rises high,
My flocks and my Mary's sweet cot in my eye.

How pleasant thy banks and green valleys below,
Where, wild in the woodlands, the primroses blow;
There oft, as mild Ev'ning weeps over the lea,
The sweet-scented birk shades my Mary and me.

Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides,
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides;
How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,
As, gathering sweet flowerets, she stems thy clear wave.

Flow gently, sweet Afton, amang thy green braes,
Flow gently, sweet river, the theme of my lays;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream