‘The brain is an enchanted loom where millions of flashing shuttles weave a dissolving pattern’ Charles Scott Sherrington
Prosopagnosia = face blindness. An untreatable neurological condition that results in an inability to recognise faces, even of loved ones.
‘…with a mother who, distrusting tap water, drinks only vodka, whittling herself down to the size of "a skin bag with chalk in it, far too light to be human". Brawler, Lauren Geoff
‘Hospital is an intriguing word. It shares its root with host, hotel, guest and, of course, hospitality. It ought then to be a place of welcome and care. Yet at some point in the past century the contemporary hospital became a kind of machine in which everything was subjugated to process, hygiene and efficiency - understandably. But in that evolution much was lost.’ Edwin Heathcote FT
Makeshift
In her book The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt wrote, "totalitarianism replaces all first-rate talent with crackpots and fools, whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty."
He didn’t want to die, he just wanted to visit.
‘The treasures of Venice are like dreams told before breakfast. When they leave the light of La Serenissima they turn to dross.’ ……. ‘The air smells of trash and salt and, at this time of year, honeysuckle-to me, the scent of Rome.’ Two Cities, Cynthia Zarin
Spirit Level
In Search of Otto
In Italy, to fail at something, to draw a blank, is a buco nell'acqua. A hole in the water.
Of a time when we used to catch rabbits and tickle fish.
