Archive for July, 2007

Trusty blades

I’m fond of lists. They tell you things. Here’s one about swords with names and the people who wield them. Some are more obscure than others. . . . . .

King Arthur and Excalibur

Roland and Durendal

Charlemagne and Joyeuse

Sigurd/Siegfried and Gram/Balmung

Aragorn and Anduril

Eomer and Guthwine

Theoden and Herugrim

Elendil and Narsil

Fingolfin and Ringil

Turin and Gurthang

Bilbo and Sting

Frodo and Sting

Itto Ogami and Dotanuki

The Gray Mouser and Scalpel & Cat’s Claw

Fafhrd and Graywand & Heartseeker

Drizzt and Twinkle & Icingdeath

Harimad and Gonturan

Aerin and Gonturan

Gwydion and Drynwyn

Elric and Stormbringer

Tanis Half-Elven and Wrymslayer

There. That’s not half bad for off the top of my head. Now here’s the challenge – how many of the sources for these characters can you name?

Book review – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I just finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Wow.

I’ll say that again.

Wow.

Ms. Rowling, you have concluded Harry’s tale in fine form.  Thank you.  I have enjoyed the ride, and will again for many years to come.

Life, and things like it

Wow.  It’s been six years since I sailed away, and I just made Halifax yesterday.  Well, not quite that long, but I realised that there’s no point in having this blog unless I post things on it, so here’s a random sample from Life As I Know It.

New stuff:    New job.  Yay!  Still doing the law thing, but with a different firm.  New computer.  Runs Windows Vista business, which has the disadvantage of being a Windows product, but the advantage of enticing me into playing around with and learning how the OS works.  Also nifty is Openoffice, a free alternative to MS Office.

This year, I’ve also re-discovered just how much I enjoy gardening.  Vicky and I started with a front lawn and a gravel pit out back.  Three years later, the front lawn is mostly replaced by flowerbeds, rock gardens and a bog garden.  The back, while substantially still rocky, has a lawn that we planted ourselves (no sods), and rockwalled flowerbeds nourished by the compost from our two bins.  Snowpeas, squash and spinach are nestled alongside the house.  There are at least 7 different colours of iris.   And we did it ourselves, we and our friends-and-relations to good-natured to say no to our invitational Dirt Parties.

I can look out my front window down to the wetland at the bottom of the hill, where you can see/hear ducks, ducklings, frogs, loons and who knows what else.  I’ve even seen osprey fishing there a few times.

The sun has just about gone behind the hill. Katherine and the dogs are all asleep.  There’s a soft breeze coming in through the window and there are birds chirping outside.

This is a good life.


Flickr Photos

Grey Whiskers

Border Collie profile

As far as the ice can sea

You can walk to Shoe Cove

Sea Ice

More Photos

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Humble Wanderers since June 2006

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