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My life without a barrage of news

Did you hear the news? That the news is corrosive and cancer-causing? It calcifies your organs with anxiety and fear. It gets into your processing pipes and fills them with congealed sagging lassitude and indifference.

Well no, not really I just made that up because inside of my body I feel news weighing upon it like a burden unspoken and futile.

Why worship false idols like celebrity and gory distraction and death by economic comparison, the legitimate idols of news soothsayers and advertisers?

Since I’ve stopped consuming news I’ve felt the weight lift off me and suddenly I have my life and peace back. The peace of a thousand puffy clouds and uninterrupted cerulean blue yonder.

Never before have I been so keenly aware of my own privilege in living in a peaceful part of a peaceful nation than since I’ve removed the news.

I am knowingly thankful every single day for having blue skies above me and vast endless sea at strolling distance.

Despite not keeping abreast of senseless violence, murder, chaos and greed, courtesy of human nature on steroids, I still inherently know it’s all going on, out there. If you remove news like I have, you can begin to see your own humble impact on those around you, you can ringfence a sighing breath or two, or a lifetime, and gaze wonderingly into the vastness once more. Gaze inward and witness yourself unhindered and unmediated by rabidly nosy technology. If you choose to, if you choose to not read the news and instead – read yourself.

The heartwarming story of Hachiko, Japan’s most loved dog

Hachiko the loyal and legendary akita inu

In the heart of Tokyo, a tale unfolded that would etch the name Hachiko into the annals of Japanese urban folklore. Born in 1923, the Akita dog named Hachiko became a living symbol of unwavering love and devotion. His story began as a tiny pup in a quaint town in Japan, quickly evolving into a life intertwined with his owner, Professor Hidesaburo Ueno.

Every day, Hachiko accompanied the Professor to Shibuya Station in Tokyo and awaited his owner’s return at the same time every the evening. This routine continued until one tragic day in 1925 when Professor Ueno did not return, he passed away from a sudden heart attack at work.

Professor Ueno and hachiko the akita inu.png — Professor Ueno and hachiko the akita inu

The poignant later life of Hachiko

After the death of Professor Ueno in 1925, Hachiko’s life took a poignant turn. The Akita dog continued to return to Shibuya Station every day at the same time his owner’s train was due to arrive, waiting patiently for a reunion that would never happen. Hachiko’s vigil at the station lasted for nearly ten years, during which time he became a familiar sight to the station’s commuters and residents of the area.

Initially he was treated dismissively by Shibuya locals. Over time though he cemented his presence in the Shibuya district and was given food and treats by workers and commuters.

An enduring national icon of canine bravery

For the past century, Hachiko’s story captured the hearts of the Japanese people, and he quickly became a national icon of fidelity and devotion. His story was covered by newspapers and he has been the subject of countless books and films in the decades since.

In 1934, a bronze statue in his likeness was erected at Shibuya Station, a tribute to his faithful waiting. Even after his death in 1935, Hachiko’s legend continued to endure. The statue became, and remains to this day, a popular meeting point and a symbol of enduring loyalty, not just in Japan but around the world.

Remembering Hachiko a century later

Fast forward to November 11, 2023, the Shibuya Scramble Crossing shopping centre became a canvas of celebration, marking Hachiko’s 100th birthday. Crowds gathered, not just to remember a dog, but to honour his legacy that speaks to the heart of dog-human connection.

I was fortunate enough to be at this event in person and even purchased a small plushie of Hachiko on the date of his anniversary.

Hachiko’s story, passed down through generations, continues to resonate deeply not just in Japan but broadly all over the world. Hachi symbolises eternal loyalty and the profound bond between humans and their canine companions. This centennial celebration was a vibrant tribute to Hachiko’s life and the timeless tale that turned a regular Akita into an icon.

Understanding the Akita: A Noble Breed

The Akita, the breed to which Hachiko belonged, is known for its dignity, courage, and loyalty. These large, powerful dogs possess a noble and intimidating presence. Akitas are incredibly family-oriented and protective, making them excellent guardians. However, their strong-willed nature requires consistent and experienced handling, making them less suitable for first-time dog owners. They are known for being aloof with strangers and can be aggressive toward other animals. Their thick coats also mean they require regular grooming, and their size and energy levels demand ample exercise.

Is an Akita inu right for you?

Owning an Akita is a significant commitment and not a decision to be taken lightly. They are best suited for those with experience in handling large, strong breeds. Prospective owners should have a firm, consistent approach to training and be ready to provide plenty of socialisation opportunities. These dogs thrive in homes with ample space and a securely fenced yard. Due to their protective nature, Akitas are not ideal for households with small pets. On the other hand, their loyalty and affection make them wonderful companions for those who understand and respect their characteristics. Remember, owning an Akita, much like Hachiko’s story, is about mutual respect, understanding, and an unbreakable bond.

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Book Review: Weatherland by Andrea Harris

#BookReview: Weatherland by Andrea Harris is a weeping panoramic and magical carpet ride through the #history of #England using a quirky metric for the changing culture – the #weather and people’s relationship to it – fascinating 5 stars!
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Weatherland by Alexandra Harris is a sweeping panorama and magic carpet ride through the history of England using a quirky weathervane to measure the changing culture – the weather.

Author Alexandra Harris’ debut book won The Guardian’s Book of the Year. It’s no surprise either because this is a far-reaching, expansive book written in an engaging, poetic and erudite way.

Harris casts her curious eye and nimble mind over how weather has been portrayed since ancient times in literature and art in Britain.

In the times before the Norman Conquest, the Anglo-Saxons were living in a wintry and cold world where danger hemmed them in from all sides by invaders. During the more stable farming times of the Middle-Ages, the language and art becomes a little more rosy, with a lot of literary chatter about cuckoos, blossoms and the augurs of thunder. One of my personal favourite bits is the medieval rhyming calendar of the agrarian year, which I have already swiped out of the book and written about on this blog.

This book is beautifully written and introduces some ancient authors and texts that I would never have otherwise read like Beowulf or Chaucer. There are some unusual and quirky insights into the people of different times in history, how they thought of themselves in relation to their environment and how their inner worlds were a reflection of what they saw outside of their windows. This is perfect for Anglophiles and fans of English history, art and literature. It’s populated by the strong voices and distinctive personalities from history like the Shelleys, Ruskin, Shakespeare, Keats, Wordsworth and more.

The prose is tight, imaginative, deliciously inventive. You are swept along as though you’re reading a great fictional novel. This is no prosaic story of a mundane subject. Instead it’s a majestic and all-encompassing history of England as a whole, and it’s beautiful. I relished every page and was sad when it ended.

The conclusion is suitably ominous. Harris cautions that we have arrived “at a critical juncture in the story of weather. Unless decisive action is taken very soon, the next generation will see the last of the weather we know.” Well worth a read for anyone who is a fan of English history, medieval history, quirky facts, the English countryside, English literature or if you are an Anglophile. 4.8*/5

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #114

Edition #114 of Interesting Things features heavenly art, ethereal ships, cosy cats, yummy food, get twisted with an ouroboros and much more so please take a look #ContentCatnip
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Mysterious ouroboros by Zteve T Evans

The ancient symbol known as the ouroboros is a snake, serpent, or dragon with its body looped in a circle. Its mouth is open, and its tail is adjacent to its mouth. It is not easy to tell if the snake is biting, eating, regurgitating, or even giving birth to itself. Interpretation depends on the culture and situation where it appears. Usually, it is considered a symbol of renewal – the eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth, and immortality, but there are other interpretations.

The name “ouroboros” comes from Greek. The “oura” part means tail, and “boros,” meaning “eating,” so together, it becomes “tail devourer,” or ouroboros

The results are in – people bond together better by moaning and jointly hating things

This comes as no surprise to me having started an environmental movement where people constantly voice their hatred of palm oil and bond over it. Their connections are rock solid and loyal…totally unbreakable!

And let’s all face it, moaning work colleagues make some of the best friends and always have juicy banter. Whereas always positive work colleagues can be a tad boring and irritating.

To be seen and accepted at your sulky, self-pitying, irrationally angry or unfair worst, and to be trusted with someone else’s worst self in return, is precious
The Guardian

Enter action with boldness

Writer of Mastery and 48 Laws of Power, the incredible Robert Green tells you to be bold, be yourself, not listen to petty voices and to after what you want in life. I’ve found Robert’s advice absolutely outstanding and he has helped me loads in life.

The mystical Slavic isle of Buyan

In ancient Slavic myth, the island of Buyan was in some lore considered to be invisible and to others the land disappeared when approached. It is the place where many things on earth have their origins or are placed for safekeeping according to Zteven T Evans and his wonderful folklore blog

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A cool guide to the ocean floor

This gigantic vintage poster gives the impression that dragons live on the seabed, I kind of love this idea! Via Cool Guides

Japanese tofu and miso curry recipe

Warming, comforting and cosy vegan curries packe full of veg just how I love them

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Sad but interesting

Tatyana Murova’s nocturnal wonderland of circus delights

I am not sure of the title. Just gorgeous! Via Helen Warlow

An amazing look at different British accents and why some are considered evil and others are more friendly

Hint: if you have a posh accent is it easier to be cast as a villain in a film. The least villainous accents are Scottish. How I love a nice Scottish accent, it feels like a warm hug. This is a fascinating channel to subscribe to on YT.

Early morning fog in Gdansk, Poland

Manhattan Beach dark Port vintage — Early morning fog over the harbour in Gdansk, Poland

William Blake’s Fairy Funeral

“I saw a procession of creatures the size and colour of green and grey grasshoppers, bearing a body laid out on a rose leaf, which they buried with songs.” Via Clay Johnson on Twitter

Jane Dougherty: Fishbird myths

An evocative very short story about Paul Klee’s Fish Magic by the always enchaning Jane Doughtery

It’s a purple lie,’ she said, watching evening clouds drench the flame of sunset. ‘Nothing lives in that hue not even when it leaches into the lake water where mermen carve their names in the rocks.’
I listen to the murmur of her words and the woodpecker-tapping beneath the smooth oilskin.
‘They’re creating,’ I said,’ like all men do, stone feathers. Will they ever fly?’
She laughed. ‘Only the sun births firebirds and wraps them in eggshell blue, and moon births silver water, where fish glide in winged suspension. Meet me here at indigo midnight, and I’ll show you.’

Alexander Volkov ‘Evening Rose’

Find out the population density of your city or town in 3D – mesmerising!

Edinburgh/Glasgow

Auckland

Try for yourself!

Cosy ASMR video of old women making mochis in Japan surrounded by cute cats….no words needed

Quite peaceful! I love how their little furry faces look on with curiosity and amusement as the woman soaks the red bean for the mochis…hehehe!

Did you enjoy this collection? let me know what you think of it below. Thank you for reading my dear friends!

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Comforting Thought: The Past

“The past is our definition. We may strive with good reason to escape it, or to escape what is bad in it. But we will escape it only by adding something better to it.”
~ Wendell Berry

Every Picture Tells a Story: Roaring at the sublime

Comforting Thought: We see into the life of things

Comforting Thought: We are in a tight spot girl sitting on beach gif

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Vegetable ekiben on the Tokaido shinkansen

Just a quick postcard from my current trip to Japan. I had to jot this down right now while the exquisite flavours swirl in my belly and the remnants of enjoyment are in my mouth. I am on the fast train between Tokyo and Osaka known as the Tokaido shinkansen.

I wasn’t aware that vegetable could have as many flavours and textures as was contained within this little box!

Spicy and sweet plums

Umami and earthy mushroom

Licorice flavoured something

Salty and briny pickled cucumbers

Fluffy and creamy tofu

Sweet and chalky chestnuts

Salty and sweet sticky rice

Zingy and zesty ginger

Edamame reminiscent of crunchy green undergrowth

Sweet and spicy stewed fruits – reminded briefly of Christmas

A thousand years of collective memories and traditions all packed into a little container. It all sang in harmony together like a humble orchestra played for one.

Oishi!!!

10 Creepy Things I Found for Spooky Samhain

Spooky and delightful vintage Halloween cards

Samhain or All Souls Night is a pagan religious festival that originates from the archaic Celtic spiritual tradition. In the Northern Hemisphere, this is the time to usher in the dark half of the year. For us antipodeans, it’s the other way around and we welcome the light with open arms. Here in the unterland, we celebrate Halloween with flowers, frolicking lambs, swollen flowers and abundance.

During Samhain, the barriers between reality and other realms become weak and permeable. It is possible to glimpse through the mist at what is on the other side. With this in mind, here are some spooky, amusing and downright creepy discoveries that I made for this Samhain, or if you prefer, Halloween.

Spooky and delightful vintage Halloween cards

Why does everything old and from a by-gone era always look so creepy after a few decades? Here are some now Public Domain Halloween cards to surprise and delight you

Old and Creepy Japanese music…

Anyone seeking out creepy sounds for Halloween night is in luck here…this is an atmospheric mix to really get you in the mood!

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Even old Windows computers can be creepy sometimes

Gorgeous pint-sized strange ceramic familiars by Sophie Woodrow

Covetable small figures, uniquely crafted by master ceramicist and artist Sophie Woodrow. Quirky enough for Halloween but easily loved for the whole year round. Via Sophie Woodrow.

Puffy the Persian tomcat hypnotises a woman with his fluffy, puffy noggin and saucer-shaped eyes

Just look into his eyes and I dare you to try and look away!

Puffy the Persian tomcat hypnotises a woman in New York

DAF – Der Räuber und der Prinz 1981

Electro-clash and dark electronic pioneers of the early 80’s, Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft (DAF) made this very spooky video clip filled with murderous looking dolls:

The trees have eyes

Ukrainian artist Diana Yevtukh displays her surreal textile art in the nooks and hollows of trees Via Women’s Art on Twitter

Four Demons in Watercolour c.1775 from a German and Latin grimoire

Four demons, in watercolour.

From a c. 1775 German and Latin grimoire (book of spells, rites and incantations). Roughly translated title = A Rare Compendium of the whole Magical Art, by a Celebrated Master of this Art.

Courtesy of @ExploreWellcome.#FolkloreThursday pic.twitter.com/y0FwpeT6X3
— Thomas Waters (@DrThomasWaters) December 5, 2019

The mystery of the miniature coffins found on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh

Around 200 years ago, a group of boys found a series of creepy miniature coffins on Edinburgh’s landmark mountain park – Arthur’s Seat. Were they satanic spells, superstitious charms or relics of Edinburgh’s underworld criminals? The artefacts are now at the National Museum of Scotland and the video and website helps to untangle the mystery.

Jamie XX – Gosh

This one has been around for a long time but it’s still very creepy. There is a cinematic quality to how it’s filmed and the location (a fake Paris located in China) gives the video a post-apocalyptic, tribal vibe

These medieval beekeeper outfits seem a bit OTT

No face….no worries!

This wasp nest on someone’s garage

The power of Christ compels you!

This is a wasp nest that has grown around the flood lights on a garage and yes you will see it in your nightmares tonight pic.twitter.com/LdHByaBoHf
— Rob (@thegallowboob) August 30, 2020

I hope you are feeling a bit creeped out now…let me know what you think below!

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