BL: “The Latin word for ‘beggar’ (mendicus) is now believed to derive from an earlier word meaning ‘deformity’ or ‘lack’. Isidore, however, speculates a much more charming story, of a ‘custom among the ancients’ to ‘close the hungry mouth and extend a hand, as if speaking with the hand’ (manu dicere).” His etymologies for “the…
Huge empty East End church by a Wren assistant, burnt in 1850 but apparently un-Blitzed. Nice index from 19th century clock and other curiosities. Can’t spell Betjeman. Sunday evening service: a short dozen adults & half a dozen bored infants seating under the crossing facing south (Mandela, the new Jesus Christ?) with rector & PA…
May resonate with residents of London, whose boom is transforming it into a macro-Brussels-style shithole – lots on top, lots down below, not much in between.
Children can observe that, unlike owner-following cartoon speed lines, blood lost by fleeing real-life stabbing victims forward-propagates: drops land and then spatter quite powerfully in the direction of travel. Hipsters can repeat the experiment with particularly viscous brews.
Sunday a.m., parent-organised rugby practice for small boys on a park pitch up the Lea Navigation, large man clutching and shouting at infant: “YOU ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING VALUE TO THE TEAM! GET INTO THE SCRUM!” Sunday p.m., background chitchat on a walk for early secondary private schoolgirls round the gentrified Hackney badlands: “She’s so procrastinating…
