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Richard Walker

Lost and Found

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Edited by Richard Walker, Saturday, 14 Nov 2015, 23:49

The object below is an Iron Age (Celtic or early Roman) brooch that was found near here.

It's actually bronze—not gold as the photograph makes it appear—and about 30 mm across. The style is 'La Tène III', named after La Tène in Switzerland where an enormous cache of artifacts in this characteristic style was excavated in the 19th century.

It took me a long while to work out what the geometry would have been but after looking at lots of pictures and consulting a friend I now have a reasonable idea. There would have been a pin, wound round one end to make a spring, and at the other end a catch for the pin, something like this


The missing parts being more fragile have broken off, or possibly just corroded away. Indeed it's possible the clip breaking caused the brooch to get lost, or perhaps when it broke the owner simply slung it away. It would have been the budget-friendly jewellery of its time, and very large numbers of similar brooches are found.

All the same I felt a thrill to handle it and reflect that until a few days ago no other human being had touched it for two thousand years.

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Richard Walker

Romano-British Cheese Challenge

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How many British cheeses can you find that are named after former Roman towns?


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Richard Walker

Face To Face

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If I could climb trees
It wouldn't do any good.
Hello Bear.
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Richard Walker

Autumn Deer Haiku

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When night fell
A deer ran past my gate
We both knew it was Autumn.
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Richard Walker

A Walk in the Woods

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Edited by Richard Walker, Thursday, 12 Nov 2015, 00:51

Today I caught a snatch on WKSU radio

Therapy...Japanese...Forest...

I found this is 'forest bathing', Shinrin-yoku. The idea is that visiting a forest may calm and relax us, as we breathe the woodland breeze.

It seems intuitively plausible that this might be therapeutic, and there is some scientific evidence of the beneficial effects. I'm biased-pro though, because of my love of trees. Here's a thought I have had many times but only now expressed.

I'd rather breathe my last on a woodland path.
Dying on a hospital corridor would be much horrider.


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Richard Walker

Joke 🎶

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What composer is hard to find?

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Richard Walker

Autumn Wind Haiku

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The leaves are dying
But the autumn wind
Still reminds me of summer.










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Richard Walker

Kitchen Haiku

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I think of poetry almost constantly
When I should be washing the dishes.
Ah well.
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Richard Walker

One Liner

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My life coach said I should take stock. I was like "Whose?" and "Should I take shares also?"

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Richard Walker

Clerihew

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Edgar Allen Poe

Wanted his cheeks to glow.

So he wore blusher.

When writing The Fall of the House Of Usher.

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Richard Walker

Alla Barnen

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Edited by Richard Walker, Thursday, 5 Nov 2015, 01:10

'Alla barnen = 'All the kids' is a children's humorous verse form, from Denmark and Sweden. Like Scandinavian detective writing it can be a bit dark. But still funny.

Below are some classics rendered into English. Google Translate did the heavy lifting but I applied some finishing touches, here and there, such as making the rhymes work.

All the kids loved the World Wildlife Fund, except Amanda.
She shot a panda.

All the kids were bored at the party, except Jack.
He'd brought his own crack.

All the kids enjoyed their burgers, except Tony.
It was his pony.

All the kids looked into the washer, except Doug.
He went glug.

And here is a distasteful one of my own.

All the kids worried about the smell, except Ed.
He was the one that was dead.

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Richard Walker

One Liner

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They've just built a new bus shelter in the village. Trouble is, it's too small for the bus.

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Richard Walker

One Liner

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I was grilled about my favourite cheese. I had to answer carefully.

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Richard Walker

Ice Bridge Haiku

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Edited by Richard Walker, Tuesday, 3 Nov 2015, 02:14

We cross the ice-bridge one by one.

Will it bear my weight?

Far below I hear the beautiful sound of falling crystals.


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Richard Walker

A Short Conversation with Time

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"Time, why do you hurt us so?"

"It is my fate. And you would never wish to share it."

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Richard Walker

Walking the Plank

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Edited by Richard Walker, Monday, 2 Nov 2015, 00:59
Forward we go
But what else.

I'm scared. Hold my hand.
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Richard Walker

The Indescribable Beauty of Snails

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If you wish to learn

The indescribable beauty of snails

Just cast your eyes humbly down.

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Richard Walker

A Haiku of Regret

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I never said anything

Because there was too much to say.

And now it's too late

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Richard Walker

One Liner

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Go for chicken stir-fry? Defrost some fish? I was stuck between a wok and a hard plaice.

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Richard Walker

One Liner

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Edited by Richard Walker, Friday, 30 Oct 2015, 00:06

I'm going to Bury St Edmund's in the morning. It's a big job.

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Richard Walker

Non omnis moriar

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Edited by Richard Walker, Thursday, 29 Oct 2015, 02:48
My shade was watching
As you found the little brooch
After so long. Your touch told me
I have not entirely died.

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Richard Walker

If I could come back as an animal...

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I'd like to come back as a wildebeest. So I could start a gnu life.

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Richard Walker

More Tom Swifties Than You Can Bear

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Edited by Richard Walker, Tuesday, 27 Oct 2015, 01:53

Tonight's connecting theme will be obvious. Sleep well!

"This bear should be given a title", Tom asserted.

"Someone's being hiding our bedtime toys again", Tom noted.

"This bear is sick", Tom reported.

"This bear should not be moved", Tom stated.

"My soft toys are losing their stuffing", Tom indicated.

"Bears for ever!", Tom orated.

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Richard Walker

The Breath and the Heart

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Edited by Richard Walker, Sunday, 25 Oct 2015, 02:20
Your heart's a bag of pebbles
Each breath a tiny wave that
Polishes them in sharp manners.
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Richard Walker

One Liner

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Ours was the smallest possible steamship company.

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