Along the Path to Ashbourne Grove
David Dunville, 2012
My father is one talented man.
Along the Path to Ashbourne Grove
David Dunville, 2012
My father is one talented man.
I love cake!
(Source: sushiusa)
(Source: adhocnyc, via aubzillatron)
Each one of us is alone in the world. He is shut in a tower of brass, and can communicate with his fellows only by signs, and the signs have no common value, so that their sense is vague and uncertain. We seek pitifully to convey to others the treasures of our heart, but they have not the power to accept them, and so we go lonely, side by side but not together, unable to know our fellows and unknown by them. We are like people living in a country whose language they know so little that, with all manner of beautiful and profound things to say, they are condemned to the banalities of the conversation manual. Their brain is seething with ideas, and they can only tell you that the umbrella of the gardener’s aunt is in the house.
W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence.
Very rich Americans: polite letter
In July of 1952, Nancy Mitford wrote to her friend, the famous novelist Evelyn Waugh, and asked:
“What do you do with all the people who want interviews, with fan letters & with fans in the flesh? Just a barrage of nos?”Waugh’s reply contained the following — a list of the stock responses he used in such situations.
(Source: Evelyn Waugh: A Biography; Image: Evelyn Waugh, via.)
I am not greatly troubled by fans nowadays. Less than one a day on the average. No sour grapes when I say they were an infernal nuisance. I divide them into…
(a) Humble expressions of admiration. To these a post-card saying “I am delighted to learn that you enjoyed my book. E. W.”
(b) Impudent criticism. No answer.
(c) Bores who wish to tell me about themselves. Post-card saying “Thank you for interesting letter. E. W.”
(d) Technical criticism, eg. One has made a character go to Salisbury from Paddington. Post-card: “Many thanks for your valuable suggestion. E. W.”
(e) Humble aspirations of would-be writers. If attractive a letter of discouragement. If unattractive a post-card.
(f) Requests from University Clubs for a lecture. Printed refusal.
(g) Requests from Catholic Clubs for lecture. Acceptance.
(h) American students of “Creative Writing” who are writing theses about one & want one, virtually, to write their theses for them. Printed refusal.
(i) Tourists who invite themselves to one’s house. Printed refusal.
(j) Manuscript sent for advice. Return without comment.
I also have some post-cards with my photograph on them which I send to nuns.
In case of very impudent letters from married women I write to the husband warning him that his wife is attempting to enter into correspondence with strange men.
Oh, and of course…
(k) Autograph collectors: no answer.
(l) Indians & Germans asking for free copies of one’s books: no answer.
(m) Very rich Americans: polite letter. They are capable of buying 100 copies for Christmas presents.
I think that more or less covers the field.
(Source: aubzillatron)
(Source: magnificentspot, via aubzillatron)
(via sefte)
This is nugget.
(Source: aubzillatron)
2012 Chinese Horrorscope
SNAKE
2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929 and 1917
You will love to travel this year. You favour work that involves travel, trading, sales and/or marketing. If you work with cars, airplanes or trades, you will do very well. Your wealth will be proportionate to the distance travelled. There will be many happy events this year, including weddings. A partnership may not be good for you. Be careful with arguments or betrayal. The male snake has more romances than the female one. Enjoy alone time. If you are single, you may not have much desire to get married. This is a healthy year for you. Travelling gives you even more energy.
http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1119619—chinese-horoscope-for-2012
